Nigeria increases security measures for upcoming hardship protests

• Nigerian troops and police tightened security in Lagos and Abuja ahead of planned protests over living costs.
• Government officials urged young activists to avoid rallies and allow Tinubu’s reforms to take effect.
• Protest leaders vowed to continue with rallies despite legal challenges.

On Thursday, Nigerian troops and police tightened security in Lagos and the capital, Abuja, in anticipation of planned protests over the cost of living. Africa’s most populous country is grappling with soaring inflation and a sharply devalued naira currency following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms introduced a year ago to revive the economy.

Tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, the protest movement has gained support through an online campaign among Nigerians facing food inflation at 40 percent and fuel prices that have tripled since Tinubu introduced his urgent reforms.

In Abuja, security forces blocked roads leading to Eagle Square, one of the planned protest sites. In Lagos, police and soldiers were stationed at strategic points, including the Lekki tollgate, where protests in 2020 ended in bloodshed. Early turnout in both cities was slim, with only a few dozen protesters outside the national stadium in Abuja and police outnumbering the demonstrators in the Ikeja area of 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 handful of protesters also gathered in the northern city of Kano, according to an AFP correspondent. On the eve of the protests, government officials urged young activists to avoid rallies and give Tinubu’s reforms time to take effect. Many Nigerians are struggling with high food and transport costs and are concerned about security issues related to the protests.

Protest leaders, a loose coalition of civil society groups, vowed to continue with rallies despite what they described as legal challenges aimed at restricting them to public parks and stadiums rather than allowing marches. On Wednesday, the government announced measures to alleviate economic hardship, including raising minimum salary levels, delivering grains to states across the country, and providing aid to the neediest.

“The government of President Tinubu recognizes the right to peaceful protest, but circumspection and vigilance should be our watchwords,” Secretary to the Federation of Government, George Akume, told reporters.

“Our appeal is that Nigerians should please pursue the path of peace, dialogue and collaboration.”

The last major protest in Nigeria occurred in 2020 when young activists rallied against the brutality of the SARS anti-robbery squad. These demonstrations grew into some of the largest in Nigeria’s modern democracy. However, the rallies ended in bloodshed in Lagos. Rights groups accused the army of opening fire on peaceful protesters, while the military claimed that troops used blanks to disperse a crowd defying a curfew.

Nigeria’s protests coincide with Kenya’s President William Ruto being forced to repeal new taxes and appoint a new cabinet after weeks of anti-government protests, marking the worst crisis in his nearly two years in office. In Uganda, officials arrested dozens earlier this month for participating in banned anti-corruption protests organized online by young activists inspired by Kenya’s rallies.

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