Millions of Nigerians are without power as the national grid has been deactivated due to a widespread strike over escalating living costs.
The nation was cast into darkness just after 02:00 local time (01:00 GMT) as union members obstructed operators in the country’s power control rooms from performing their duties and deactivated electricity substations.
Numerous flights have been called off at the country’s most bustling airport in Lagos, and in the capital, Abuja, leaving passengers in a lurch.
Nigeria’s Huge Cost of Living
Trade unions are advocating for a substantial hike in the minimum wage, arguing that the current rate of 30,000 naira (£18; $22) a month is not sufficient for workers to get by.
The government proposes to double this, but security guard Mallam Magaji Garba tells the BBC that this wouldn’t even cover the cost of a 50kg bag of rice, which he requires to feed his family each month.
The price of a bag of rice is 75,000 naira ($56; £44) – exceeding the government’s proposal, even before considering other expenses.
“I am calling on the government to consider us and increase the minimum wage so that we can live and eat decently,” says Mr Magaji, who works for the education ministry in the northern city of Kano.
“It’s not fair that we have top government officials earning millions monthly and the smallest workers earn so little and finding it difficult to feed.”
The 59-year-old mentioned that he occasionally has to walk to work as he can’t afford the transport costs.
Under the collective banner of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, Nigeria’s unions are demanding that the minimum wage be raised to 494,000 naira (£290; $369), which they believe mirrors the current economic conditions.
Nigeria’s Government Views
The government argues that accepting these demands would debilitate the economy and result in job losses, as many businesses would be unable to pay their employees and would therefore have to shut down.
Educational institutions, offices, and hospitals throughout the country have also been shut down.
This is the fourth strike since President Bola Tinubu assumed office the previous year.
Since then, Nigerians have been dealt a double blow with the removal of a fuel subsidy and a plummet in the value of the naira, leading to the most severe economic crisis in decades.
Naira to Dollar Policy
The government has discontinued the policy of pegging the value of the naira to the US dollar, allowing it to depreciate significantly. Whereas 10,000 naira would have bought $22 last May, it will now only purchase $6.80.
Mr Tinubu asserts that these measures are necessary to reform the economy for better long-term performance, but in the short term, inflation has surged to nearly 34% and wages have not kept pace.