In parts of Ondo, Ogun and Edo states, commercial activities were disrupted, yesterday over new naira notes and fuel scarcity. Angry youths set up bonfires on the road and blocked major roads over the scarcity lamenting that it has brought suffering to millions of Nigerians.

Youths in Ore, Odigbo council area of Ondo State, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest along Benin/Ore/ Lagos highway, against the scarcity of naira notes and fuel scarcity.

The action came barely 24 hours after the Ondo State Police Commissioner, Mr Oyeyemi Oyediran, warned against protests across the state or any action that can lead to a breach of peace in the state.

Oyediran said available intelligence revealed that certain unscrupulous elements planned to disrupt the peace being enjoyed by the residents of the state.

The protest caused heavy gridlock along the highway and left travellers plying the route stranded for hours.

Similarly, commercial activities were disrupted in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, following a protest by youths, who trooped into major roads in the metropolis to protest.

It was reliably gathered that the protest began from a branch of a new-generation bank in the Asero area of Abeokuta, where customers had queued since 4 am but could not withdraw cash and the protesters had attempted to attack the bank but were repelled by the Police following a prompt intervention.

The protesters, however, blocked the busy Obantoko road, setting bonfires on the main road.

In Edo State, a group, Edo Civil Society Organizations, EDOSCO, yesterday, protested at the gate of the Benin branch of CBN, over the non-availability of redesigned naira notes.

Armed with placards of various inscriptions depicting their grievances, the protesters blocked the Akpakpava Road where the bank is located and created gridlock in adjourning streets.

The leader of the group Omobude Agho said the CBN’s financial policy is killing Nigerians and crippling business activities in the state.