Lagos Protests Remain Peaceful as Demonstrators Highlight Economic Hardships and Demand Government Action
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News
4 minutes read. Updated 1:22PM GMT Fri, 2August, 2024
Lagos State witnessed a day of non-violent demonstrations on Thursday despite initial fears of unrest. The #EndBadGovernance protest, which aimed to address significant socio-economic issues, unfolded smoothly in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Starting early in the morning around 8 a.m., a large group of protesters, predominantly youths, began their march from Ikeja, the administrative center of Lagos State. The procession proceeded to Ojota, where they converged with additional demonstrators. The crowd chanted and sang solidarity songs, expressing their frustration and demands through a range of placards. Messages such as “End bad governance,” “We are hungry,” “There is too much suffering,” and “Reverse electricity tariff now” were prominently displayed.
Among the voices from the protest was Mojola Bankole, who shared her personal struggles as a widow and primary breadwinner. Bankole, a single mother of three, revealed the harsh realities of Nigeria’s economic downturn, explaining her challenges in providing basic necessities for her children. “I’m a mother of three; I can’t feed them. I do more than one job just to survive,” Bankole told PREMIUM TIMES, highlighting the severe impact of the economic crisis on her family.
Another protester, Mira Friday, called on President Bola Tinubu to address the escalating cost of living in Nigeria. “We can’t afford to eat one meal a day. Things are getting costly every day. The cost of transportation has also risen. We want the government to bring down the price of fuel and food,” Friday said, underlining the widespread economic strain affecting many Nigerians.
Throughout the demonstration, security was a major focus. Officers from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) were present to ensure order. The police were equipped with riot helmets, ballistic vests, shields, and batons, while armored vehicles and a white helicopter were also observed in the vicinity of Freedom Park in Ojota, the protest’s venue.
The first day of the #EndBadGovernance protest concluded peacefully around 4 p.m., with demonstrators vowing to continue their efforts the following day. This peaceful turnout follows a call by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday for a non-violent demonstration. The governor urged protesters to remember the tragic outcomes of the EndSARS protests in 2020, which began peacefully but were marred by violence and property destruction.
Meta Description: Lagos State experienced a peaceful #EndBadGovernance protest on Thursday, despite initial concerns. Demonstrators voiced their struggles with Nigeria’s economic crisis, with a notable police presence ensuring order.
