Amidst increasing hardship, some Nigerian youths are planning nationwide protests from August 1-10, 2024.The protest, gaining momentum in the North and other regions, aims to draw attention to the plight of citizens.
Scheduled to occur in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), some organizers, particularly from the North, remain anonymous.
Since President Bola Tinubu’s administration abolished the fuel subsidy in May 2023, the country has faced economic hardship, prompting calls for policy reversals believed to be causing the distress.
However, Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has been actively promoting the protest on social media, emphasizing that a revolution is imminent with his slogan, “Nothing Can Stop An Idea Whose Time Has Come” #RevolutionNOW.
Sowore wrote: “The REVOLUTION is now knocking on our doors! #RevolutionNow. Let everyone rise all at once in August 2024! Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come. They asked for a revolution and it is here now! @officialABAT once asked for a revolution, even @MBuhari once asked for a revolution and Nigerians now want a real revolution.”
A flyer circulating on social media titled “End Bad Governance in Nigeria 2024” by anonymous groups attributes the planned protest to ten government policies they claim have imposed undue hardship on Nigerians.
The groups demand the government end the “subsidy scam,” revert fuel prices to below N300 per liter, restore previous tertiary education fees, make electricity tariffs affordable, reduce import duties, and disclose and reduce lawmakers’ salaries and allowances, among other reforms.
The Nigeria Police Force is reportedly planning to halt the protest.
An internal memo, dated July 8 and circulated to zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, urges proactive measures, including mobilizing equipped personnel and working with other agencies to disperse unlawful gatherings.
Popular social commentator and investigative journalist @PIDOMNIGERIA shared the leaked memo on his verified X handle, noting that the planned protest has instilled fear among public officials, particularly lawmakers.
The Nigerian Senate recently debated their concerns about potential attacks from angry citizens facing severe hardship.
Former Senate President Ahmed Lawan warned that Nigerians’ patience is running out, urging immediate action to address food insecurity and economic challenges.
Former lawmaker Shehu Sani advised Senate President Godswill Akpabio to avoid certain routes in the FCT, referencing his encounter with protesters in Wuse 2 who allowed him to pass but might not extend the same courtesy to Akpabio.
Labour Party chieftain Mr. Kayode Oyeniran expressed concern that if the protest proceeds, government officials might need to hide.
He emphasized the public’s anger over lawmakers’ perceived high salaries and allowances, suggesting that alternative methods to express grievances should be considered to avoid exacerbating the situation.
Oyeniran highlighted the ongoing suffering, noting the government’s unfulfilled promises, such as the non-functional Port Harcourt refinery and delayed CNG vehicles meant to reduce goods’ prices.
