Lagos, Nigeria — On Thursday morning, police deployed tear gas to disperse defiant#EndBadGovernance protesters at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos. The site, which gained symbolic significance during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality in 2020, was initially quiet but soon became a focal point for demonstrators rallying against hunger and economic hardship.
By 11 a.m., protesters had gathered at the tollgate, holding placards expressing their dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Chanting solidarity songs, they voiced their grievances about the worsening hunger and urged the government to take immediate action.
“We just want the country to be stable. People are hungry. People are dying. We are not coming to fight; we only want the government to do something,” one female protester said.
The protest attracted a significant security presence, including police, soldiers, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers, and Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency personnel. Security agents informed the protesters of a court order restricting their gathering to Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu, both located in Lagos mainland.
Despite this, the protesters, mostly youths, refused to relocate and continued their demonstration until police used tear gas to disperse them.
The nationwide protests against economic hardship, which began on Thursday, August 1, 2024, are scheduled to continue until August 10. These protests, fueled by social media, are occurring in all states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Nigeria is currently facing one of its worst inflation rates and economic crises, exacerbated by the government’s removal of petrol subsidies and unification of forex windows. Prices of food and basic commodities have soared, leading to widespread discontent.
Authorities, including the police, military, and Department of State Services, have warned against Kenya-style protests. Politicians have urged the youth to abandon the planned rallies, fearing a repeat of the October 2020 #EndSARS demonstrations. However, the young protesters remain resolute.
