Nigeria’s youth are set to embark on a nationwide protest today following the impact of youth-driven demonstrations in Kenya.
The social media-driven movement, tagged #EndBadGovernance, seeks to tackle the country’s severe cost of living crisis, marked by inflation rates of 34.19% and food inflation above 40% by June 2024.
Inspired by the evolving demands of Kenyan protesters who initially opposed tax hikes on essential goods, Nigerians are also demanding comprehensive government reforms,
Aware of its waning popularity, the Nigerian government has been cautioning citizens against taking to the streets, while also making impassioned appeals for calm.
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A minister of state has asserted that judging a leader’s effectiveness is impossible within a single year.
Reports of rifts among the country’s influential opinion leaders are growing, as more prominent figures are urging their followers to avoid the protest.
State governors Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq and Dapo Abiodun appealed to Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu’s administration as it tackles the country’s challenges, warning against being used by politician-backed movements.
However, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate has backed the protest. Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have advised Christians and students in Niger State to steer clear of the nationwide protest against the high cost of living and hunger.
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President Tinubu, who recently raised the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000, is now cautioning young people against participating in the protest, claiming the organizers have sinister intentions.
Analysts say the government aims to avoid a Kenyan-style protest, where young people force the government to repeal taxes. Meanwhile, civil society has also condemned Tinubu’s aides for using intimidation tactics to quell the upcoming protest.
The African division of Human Rights Watch is alarmed, “The officials’ rhetoric suggests a troubling readiness to stifle dissent, heightening fears of a violent crackdown”, portions of a statement read.
These warnings are unsettling, given Nigeria’s security forces’ history of using excessive force against peaceful protesters.
The #EndSARS protests in October 2020, which saw military and police personnel open fire on unarmed demonstrators, resulting in at least 12 deaths, are a stark reminder of this reality.
A recent ECOWAS Court ruling found the Nigerian government guilty of violating protesters’ rights during the #EndSARS protests adds to the concerns about the government’s approach to protest management.
To prepare for the upcoming protest, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has instructed organizing groups to register with their state police commands and provide the required information. Additionally, he has deployed officers to protect strategic areas.
In a similar move, Oyo State’s security agencies, including the police, conducted a joint show of force in Ibadan to demonstrate their readiness for the protest. Commissioner of Police Ayodele Sonubi explained that the exercise was meant to reassure the public of their preparedness.
The United States, United Kingdom, and Canada have hinted at the possibility of violence during the planned August 1 demonstration, urging their nationals in Nigeria to exercise caution.
In separate travel alerts, the three countries cautioned their citizens to avoid areas where confrontations may occur between security agencies and protesters, citing past experiences.
But Team Tinubu remains undeterred and is actively enticing young people with lucrative job offers and incentives.
The State-owned Oil Company is suddenly advertising numerous job vacancies, and billions of naira in grants are being offered to dissuade youths from participating in the protest.
In a surprising move, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) posted nationwide job openings on social media for the first time in nearly a decade, prompting a surge in applications that crashed their website.
Additionally, the Ministry of Youth Development has relaunched a 110 billion naira ($70 million) youth investment fund, initially introduced in 2020, to provide grants and stimulate job creation for young Nigerians.
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In the East, Ugandan police arrested 104 individuals during recent anti-corruption protests, with nearly all facing charges of public order offenses, according to a police statement released last Friday.
The protests appear to be part of a broader wave of demonstrations, inspired by Kenya’s recent unrest.
Meanwhile, in Ghana, the police sought an injunction to halt the planned Gen-Z demonstration scheduled for July 31 to August 6, 2024.
The seven-day protest aims to mobilize over 2 million young people in Accra to address pressing issues, including severe economic hardships, which have led to drug addiction, dangerous migrations, and even recruitment into terrorist groups.
The protesters also seek to challenge the government’s imposing taxes, including the contentious betting tax, COVID-19 tax, sanitation tax, and increased internet data taxes, which extremely affect the youth.
Isaac Owusu Nsiah, a Ph.D. candidate in African politics and development at the University of Ghana has attributed the rise of protests on the African continent to external influences from the East and West who “have indirectly managed African economies, leaving leaders disconnected from citizens’ struggle.”
“Decades of socio-economic hardships, including unemployment, inflation, and poor governance, have fueled widespread discontent.”
“Protests and demonstrations, like those in Kenya and the impending ones in Nigeria, serve as a wake-up call to elites, demanding tangible change. The crucial question remains: Can democracy truly drive development, or is it merely a facade for external control?” he said.
