TODAY IN HISTORY:OCTOBER 2, 1994-THE DAY PETROL JUMPED FROM ₦3.25 TO ₦15

For a country already struggling under military rule, the news was explosive. Almost 400% increase in fuel price surely meant transport fares were bound to rise, the cost of moving goods would follow, and ordinary Nigerians were once again be asked to bear the weight of a major economic decision. But this time, Nigerians did not stay silent.

October 2, 1994

The announcement had barely settled before the reaction began. Back then when protest was still a thing in the nation. Nigerians took to the streets to protest the new petrol price, and the demonstrations quickly became a national story. But there was more to the anger than the price at the filling station.

Just months earlier, Nigerians had gone through a similar episode. In November 1993, the government had increased the price of petrol to ₦5 per litre. Mass protests followed, and the government eventually reduced it to ₦3.25.Now, it was happening again. Except this time, Nigeria was under one of the country's most restrictive military governments.

General Sani Abacha was in power.

Political activities were restricted, prominent critics and opposition figures were being detained, and the government had tightened its control over civic life.

Still, Nigerians protested.The reaction was strong enough that the government soon reconsidered the new price.

On October 4, just two days after the announcement, petrol was reduced to ₦11 per litre.

But why had the government made such a sudden change?

In his Independence Day address on October 1, General Sanni Abacha had acknowledged that changes to petrol prices could cause hardship. His government said it would introduce measures to reduce the impact, including plans for mass-transit buses and adjustments to some public-service allowances. There was also a significant political development taking place at the same time. Just days before the fuel-price increase, Abacha had dismissed the remaining civilian members of his government and replaced them with an entirely military Provisional Ruling Council. So, while political space was being narrowed and the country remained under military rule, Nigerians were still willing to take their grievances to the streets over the rising cost of petrol.

By October 4, the figures told the story:

₦3.25 → ₦15 → ₦11.

A petrol-price increase. A public reaction. And a government that changed course within days. For Nigerians who lived through that period, what do you remember about the protests and the cost of living during the Abacha years.