ABUJA — Tensions over the rising cost of living have reached a boiling point as market women across various states threaten to embark on “naked protests” if the Federal Government fails to address the widespread hunger and economic hardship.
The ultimatum, which has gained significant traction on social media, features a poignant plea from a market woman who warned that “if people cannot protest, we the market women will enter the street with our nakedness and protest because we are tired of hunger”.
A Symbolic Tactic of ‘Shame’
In many Nigerian cultures, particularly among the Igbo and Yoruba, stripping naked by mothers and grandmothers is considered a severe symbolic “shaming” tactic and a powerful curse against the authorities. This form of protest has historically been used during moments of extreme societal distress to demand immediate redress.
Similar threats have emerged from other groups in recent months:
- Plateau State: A women’s group recently vowed to embark on a naked protest over the repeated “mindless and unprovoked” killings in their communities despite heavy military presence.
- Imo State: Women from the Ngor-Okpala area threatened to go naked in September 2025 to protest against alleged land grabbing by top politicians, which they claim has left many families facing starvation.
- National Pensioners: In late 2025, retirees threatened a nationwide naked protest to highlight their grievances over unpaid palliative benefits and pension increments.
Growing Hunger and Unrest
The renewed threats come amid a worsening economic crisis. While the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) battles an outbreak of Lassa fever, the broader population is struggling with food inflation and stagnant wages. Recent months have seen a surge in “hunger protests,” including a National Assembly rally scheduled for February 4, 2026, by N-Power beneficiaries and other aggrieved groups.
Government Response
The Federal Government has acknowledged the hardship but continues to urge patience as its reforms take hold. However, as the Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), admits that the security situation remains “complex,” many citizens feel that the “Renewed Hope” agenda has yet to reach their tables.
The threat of a “naked protest” by the country’s market women—the backbone of the domestic economy—remains a stark indicator of the level of desperation currently felt at the grassroots
