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Government Takes Steps to Address Planned Independence Day Protests

Published by Tope Fakinlede on September 28th, 2024.

Government Takes Steps to Address Planned Independence Day Protests

As the government prepares for traditional Independence Day celebrations, certain groups are planning to initiate ongoing protests against what they describe as “bad governance.” This movement, dubbed #FearlessInOctober or EndBadGovernanceProtestInNigeria 2.0, follows a similar series of protests last August, during which thousands demonstrated against government policies in various states.

The previous protests were focused on reversing significant policy changes, including the removal of fuel subsidies, the floating of the naira, and increases in electricity tariffs. Despite appeals from officials for calm, the demonstrations turned violent, resulting in assaults on individuals and property.

To prevent a repeat of the unrest seen in August, the presidency is engaging with protest leaders to seek a peaceful resolution ahead of October 1. Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga emphasized that while the government supports the right to peaceful protest, there are concerns about potential violence.

“The government does not oppose peaceful demonstrations, as it is the citizens’ fundamental right,” he stated. “However, we are concerned about protests escalating into riots, similar to the disturbances we experienced in August and during the 2020 EndSARS protests.”

Security agencies are actively monitoring some of the organizers to ensure that protests do not destabilize the country or become instruments of internal or external forces seeking to undermine the current administration.

Onanuga noted that economic reforms are beginning to show positive results, referencing data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). However, since the August protests, economic conditions have deteriorated further, with petrol prices surpassing N1,000 and the exchange rate exceeding N1,600.