Protests erupted in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, as hundreds of residents took to the streets to demonstrate against the Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy.

The protesters, carrying placards, demanded an immediate reversal of the pump price to N210 until July 2023.

They argued that if the subsidy was to be removed, the government should prioritize fixing the country’s four refineries to produce petrol for domestic consumption.

Some of the placards called for petrol to be priced at N210 instead of the current rate.

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The fuel subsidy removal was announced by President Bola Tinubu during his inaugural speech as Nigeria’s 16th president.

Following the announcement, fuel scarcity resurfaced across the country with long queues forming at filling stations due to panic buying and hoarding by dealers.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) subsequently released an adjusted price list, ranging from N488 to N557 per liter, causing further discontent.