Thousands of Nigerians have taken to the streets across several cities under the slogan "End Bad Governance." According to the Premium Times, the demonstrations are being held on Nigeria's Independence Day, which organizers have renamed "National Survival Day," highlighting that millions of Nigerians are barely making ends meet.
The protesters attribute the country’s economic hardships to the policies of President Bola Tinubu. In response to the soaring cost of living and economic difficulties, President Tinubu decided against holding large celebrations for the 64th anniversary of independence.
The protests were organized by various civil society groups, including the "Committee for the Defense of Human Rights," the "Movement for Indigenous Change," the "Better Nigeria Initiative," the "Pan-African Consciousness Revival," the "Joint Action Front," the "Alliance for Survival," the "Coalition of Concerned Citizens," and the "Yoruba Revolutionary Movement," all of which have called for mass participation in the demonstrations.
Nigeria’s Police Chief, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered "strict" security measures nationwide. In Abuja and Lagos, law enforcement has cordoned off central squares and key roads. Meanwhile, the military’s General Staff has announced that the troops are on high alert.
These protests mirror the August unrest, held under the same slogan, driven by rising prices, the devaluation of the national currency, the naira, and declining living standards.
According to The Conversation, the root cause of these protests in the 223-million-strong country is the sharp deterioration in socio-economic conditions. Experts estimate that unemployment and rising prices have put 25 million Nigerians at risk of hunger.
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Photo: Bryn Pinzgauer/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS