Government Officials Alarmed, Police On High Alert As Nationwide Protest Looms Over Hardship

Government Officials Alarmed, Police On High Alert As Nationwide Protest Looms Over Hardship....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

As economic hardship worsens, some Nigerian youths are planning nationwide protests from August 1-10, 2024, according to information obtained by DAILY POST…….. CONTINUE READING 

The protest aims to draw attention to the citizens’ plight and is gaining momentum, particularly in the North and other parts of the country. Since President Bola Tinubu’s administration began in May 2023 and announced the abolition of fuel subsidies, Nigeria has experienced significant hardship, prompting calls to reverse some government policies.

Previously, on February 9, 2024, angry youths and women protested in Minna and Kano against the rising prices of food and other essential commodities. Civil society groups, including the Take It Back Movement and the Education Rights Campaign, also protested on June 12 against the high cost of living and insecurity.

The planned August protest will take place in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. While some organizers, particularly from the North, remain anonymous, Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has been promoting the protest on social media, calling for a revolution.

Sowore wrote: “The REVOLUTION is now knocking on our doors! #RevolutionNow. Let everyone rise at once in August 2024! Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come.”

A flyer circulating on social media, titled “End Bad Government in Nigeria 2024,” lists 10 government policies that have allegedly caused unexpected hardship. The flyer demands the government end the subsidy scam, lower fuel prices, reduce tertiary education fees, restore affordable electricity tariffs, lower import duties, and disclose and reduce lawmakers’ salaries and allowances, among other reforms.

**Police Moves to Halt Protest in Leaked Memo**

The Nigeria Police Force is reportedly planning to halt the protest. An internal memo seen by DAILY POST directs police to mobilize well-equipped personnel and coordinate with other agencies and the military to prevent the protest. The memo emphasizes the need for undercover intelligence gathering and proactive measures to disperse unlawful gatherings.

**Fear Grips Government Officials**

The planned protest has caused fear among Nigerian public officials, particularly lawmakers. The Senate recently debated the potential for attacks by angry citizens. Senator Sunday Karimi Steve and Senator Ali Ndume Mohammed expressed concerns over food insecurity and market exploitation. Former Senate President Ahmed Lawan warned that Nigerians’ patience has run out, and immediate action is needed to address the situation.

Former lawmaker Shehu Sani advised Senate President Godswill Akpabio to avoid certain areas due to protests. A Labour Party chieftain, Kayode Oyeniran, warned that if the protest goes ahead, government officials might need to find hiding places due to public anger over perceived high salaries and allowances.

**Calls for Alternative Solutions**

Goodluck Ibem, President General of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), urged Nigerian youths to abandon the planned protest and focus on farming to combat hunger and food scarcity. He emphasized the need to cultivate unused farmlands and embrace agriculture as a lifestyle.