Economic activities are on lockdown across Nigeria as the long-awaited #EndBadGovernance protest kicked off on Thursday morning.
From the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja to Abeokuta, Port Harcourt to Lagos State, banks, and businesses have been shut with the roads unusually deserted just as protesters defied week-long and last-minute moves by the federal government and its allies to stop the demonstrations.
Already, Nigerians have poured into the streets to protest against economic hardship despite the government’s last-minute push to prevent the demonstration.
Inflation has reached 34 per cent owing majorly to the twin policies of subsidy removal and floating of the naira. That has pushed the cost of basic items beyond the reach of millions of Nigerians.
Talks about the demonstration tagged #EndBadGovernance protest had gained momentum on social media, leading discussions among young Nigerians on digital platforms.
Authorities across the country had in the wake of calls for the protest rallied around to halt it. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governors, lawmakers, religious, traditional rulers, regional and pro-government groups had warned against the rallies, stoking fears that it might be hijacked by criminals.
While they admitted to the challenges facing the nation, they urged the organisers to shelve the protest and give the government more time to address the issues raised.
But undeterred, the Take It Back Movement, one of the organisers of the protest said it was not going back on the rallies. Leaders of the group had met with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun in a last-minute move by security agencies to halt the demonstration. They rejected the IGP’s request that the processions be restricted and listed several cities and spots for the protest.
Some of the demands of the protesters include the restoration of petrol subsidies and the forex regime. They also want the government to address food shortages, unemployment, and wasteful spending by those in power. Other demands are immediate reforms of the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with renewed vigour in the fight against corrupt politicians.
In Lagos State, a group of protesters are rallying against the demonstrations. They were in the Alausa area of the State but security operatives told them that the place is not designated for protest. At the Ikeja Underbridge, there is a procession. They are marching from Ikeja Underbridge, en route to Alausa despite orders against street protest.
There is massive deployment of security personnel nationwide comprising personnel of Nigerian Army, Navy, Navy, Air Force, Police, and others.