EndBadGovernance protest organizers have announced plans for an “anti-poor policies” demonstration on October 1 and have formally approached the Nigerian Police for adequate security for participants.
The protest seeks to address rising public discontent with President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, which the organizers claim have worsened hardships across the nation.
This request for police protection was made in a joint statement by several 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, National Coordinator of the ERC, urged Nigerians to join in peaceful protests against what he termed “anti-poor policies.” The organizers stressed the importance of nonviolent demonstrations, appealing to Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, to ensure safety for participants in accordance with the Police Establishment Act 2020.
“In this announcement, we inform the Commissioner of Police of our planned action on October 1 and remind the Police of their duty under Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020 to provide adequate security for citizens at public gatherings, rallies, and protests,” the statement read.
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 warned that this demonstration is a “warning and urgent cry” for the Tinubu administration to address their demands immediately, or face further protests.
They reiterated that the grievances from their “ten days of rage” protests in August remain unaddressed, criticizing President Tinubu for neglecting the struggles of Nigerians while lavishly spending national resources on luxury items for himself and his family.
The organizers condemned the recent fuel price hikes, asserting that “Tinubu has unleashed another round of price increases earlier this month,” with fuel prices now ranging from N900 to N1900 per litre, depending on the region.
They emphasized the severe impact of these increases: “Life has become unbearable for many Nigerians. Many are starving as rising fuel costs have also driven up food prices. Inflation has rendered the N70,000 new National Minimum Wage ineffective, offering no relief to workers.”
The statement highlighted the escalating costs that are burdening traders and shopkeepers, leading to multiple multinational companies exiting 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 price hikes, electricity tariff increases, school fee rises, and naira devaluation.
They also urged the public to demand the release of all #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protesters still in detention, as well as the release of journalists, whistleblowers, activists, and other victims of state repression.