BAUCHI: Police fire tear gas at protesters

The protesters had gathered outside the Emir of Bauchi’s palace, seeking a meeting with the Emir but were met with a police blockade.

Despite their insistence on speaking with the Emir, law enforcement used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Nevertheless, the youth remain determined to continue their protest.

As the long-anticipated #EndBadGovernance protests commenced in various cities across the country, economic activities came to a halt.

From Abuja to Abeokuta, and Port Harcourt to Lagos State, banks and businesses were closed, and the streets were unusually empty as protesters defied last-minute attempts by authorities to halt the demonstrations.

In Kaduna, typically bustling roads were deserted as protesters took to the streets to voice their frustrations over poor living conditions.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is grappling with soaring inflation and a sharply devalued naira following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms introduced a year ago.

The protest movement, labeled #EndbadGovernanceinNigeria, has gained traction through an online campaign among Nigerians facing food inflation at 40% and tripled fuel prices since the introduction of Tinubu’s urgent reforms.

In Abuja, security forces blocked access to Eagle Square, one of the designated protest locations, while in Lagos, police and soldiers were strategically positioned, particularly at the Lekki tollgate, where protests in 2020 resulted in violence.

Initial turnout in both the capital and Lagos was modest, with only a few dozen protesters present outside the national stadium in Abuja and police outnumbering the small group of demonstrators in Ikeja, Lagos.

“Hunger has brought me out to protest,” said 24-year-old demonstrator Asamau Peace Adams outside the National Stadium in Abuja. “It’s all down to bad governance.”

A small group of protesters also gathered in the northern city of Kano, according to an AFP correspondent.

On the eve of the protests, government officials had urged young activists to forgo rallies and allow time for Tinubu’s reforms to take effect.

Many Nigerians are struggling with high food and transportation costs, and there are concerns about safety during protests.

However, protest leaders, a loose coalition of civil society organizations, pledged to continue their demonstrations despite what they claim are legal attempts to restrict them to public parks and stadiums rather than allowing marches.

Yesterday, the government outlined measures it has taken to alleviate economic hardships, including raising minimum wage levels, distributing grains to states, and providing assistance to the most vulnerable.

“The government of President Tinubu recognizes the right to peaceful protest, but we must prioritize caution and vigilance,” said George Akume, Secretary to the Federation of Government, during a press conference.

“Our appeal is for Nigerians to pursue a path of peace, dialogue, and collaboration.”

The last significant protest in Nigeria occurred in 2020 when young activists took to the streets to protest against the brutality of the SARS anti-robbery squad, leading to some of the largest demonstrations in Nigeria’s modern history.

However, those rallies ended in violence in Lagos, with rights groups accusing the military of firing on peaceful protesters, while the military claimed troops used blanks to disperse a crowd defying a curfew.

Nigeria’s protests come at a time when Kenya’s President William Ruto has been compelled to repeal new taxes and appoint a new cabinet following weeks of anti-government demonstrations, marking the worst crisis in his nearly two years in office.