#EndBadGovernance Protest Organizers Plan "Anti-Poor Policies" Demonstration on October 1
Organizers of the #EndBadGovernance protests have announced their intention to hold an "anti-poor policies" demonstration on October 1 and have formally requested adequate security from the Nigerian Police for their members during the planned events.
The protest aims to address rising public dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, which they argue have worsened hardship across the nation.
This request for police protection was made in a joint statement signed by various advocacy groups, including the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), Joint Action Front (JAF), and Pan-African Consciousness Renaissance (PACOR-Nigeria).
Hassan Soweto, the National Coordinator of the ERC, encouraged Nigerians to join peaceful protests against what he called “anti-poor policies.” The organizers emphasized the importance of peaceful demonstrations and urged Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, to ensure the safety of participants, as mandated by the Police Establishment Act 2020.
The statement noted, “With this announcement, we inform the Commissioner of Police of our planned action on October and remind the Police of their obligation under Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020 to provide adequate security for citizens participating in public gatherings, rallies, and protests.”
The Lagos protest is set to start at 7:30 a.m. under the Ikeja bridge, with participants marching through the streets to raise awareness. The organizers cautioned that this action serves as “a warning and urgent cry” for the Tinubu administration to address their concerns immediately or face further protests.
They pointed out that their demands from the “ten days of rage” protests in August remain unmet, criticizing President Tinubu for neglecting the struggles of Nigerians while using national resources to acquire luxury items for himself and his family.
The group also condemned the recent increase in fuel prices, stating, “Tinubu has implemented another round of fuel price hikes earlier this month. Currently, fuel prices range from N900 to N1,900 per litre, depending on the region.”
They described the situation as unbearable for many Nigerians, with rising fuel prices leading to increased food costs and making the newly introduced N70,000 minimum wage ineffective in providing relief.
The statement highlighted the financial strain on traders and shopkeepers, noting that several multinational companies have left Nigeria due to the challenging economic climate, resulting in further job losses.
In response, the organizers have declared October 1, 2024, a “National Day of Survival,” calling on workers, students, youth, the unemployed, traders, and the impoverished to peacefully protest against the hardships caused by “IMF/World Bank-inspired anti-poor capitalist policies,” including fuel and electricity tariff hikes, increased school fees, and naira devaluation.
They also urged Nigerians to demand the release of all #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protesters currently in police or prison custody, along with detained journalists, whistleblowers, activists, and other victims of state repression.