LOW-PAY PROTEST AT FIRM OF TINUBU’S BILLIONAIRE BUDDY

Nigerian billionaire of Lebanese descent Gilbert Chagoury - a close ally of Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu - is facing demands for better pay and better working conditions from employees at his company ITB Nigeria.

The construction firm was controversially granted a $700-million contract for the renovation of Tin Can and Apapa Ports in Lagos, a decision that faced backlash due to the company's alleged inexperience in maritime infrastructure. President Tinubu reportedly played a direct role in the contract's approval, dismissing expert concerns.

Nigerians are outraged by the strong connections between Tinubu's administration and Chagoury's businesses. Another firm owned by Chagoury, Hitech Construction Company, was awarded the contract for the massive Lagos-Calabar coastal highway - without any competitive bidding. This has fuelled accusations of crony capitalism.

The protests at ITB reflect Nigeria’s most severe economic crisis in a generation. Workers have experienced a decline in real wages and a surge in commodity prices. The lack of transparency in government-contract awards and the absence of protections for workers’ rights have only made the situation worse.