The planned nationwide #EndBadGovernance demonstrations, slated for August, face new tensions as organizers reject a proposal by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, for confined protests.
During a meeting with the protest organizers on Tuesday, the IGP suggested holding protests in designated locations instead of street rallies, citing security concerns.
“It is not advisable to go on street processions because as you are planning a protest, some are planning violence,” Egbetokun advised.
However, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), a lawyer representing the Take It Back Movement—one of the key groups behind the demonstrations—firmly rejected the IGP’s proposal.
The protests, aimed at addressing economic hardship and governance issues, are set to take place across all states of the Federation and the nation’s capital, Abuja, in August.
The protests have gained significant traction on social media, fueled by public frustration over rising prices of food and basic commodities amidst one of Nigeria’s worst economic crises. The government’s policies on petrol subsidy removal and the unification of forex windows have exacerbated the economic woes, triggering widespread discontent.
The police, military, and the Department of State Services have warned against protests resembling those in Kenya and have expressed concerns that the planned rallies might escalate like the EndSARS demonstrations of October 2020. Despite these warnings and appeals from politicians urging the youth to reconsider, the organizers remain resolute in their decision to proceed with the protests.
Adegboruwa had previously written to the IGP on July 26, 2024, requesting police protection for the demonstrators. In a response dated July 29, 2024, the IGP instructed senior police officers to address Adegboruwa’s request and subsequently requested a meeting with the lawyer in Abuja on July 30, 2024, to further discuss the matter.
Choosing a virtual meeting format, Adegboruwa included prominent figures such as Falana, members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and other representatives to attend the discussions with the IGP.
The organizers have outlined key convergence points for the protests, including Eagle Square in Abuja; Alausa Park in Lagos; Akpakpava Lane in Benin City; School of Agric in Bauchi; Rosewale Filling Station at Iwo Road in Ibadan; Maiduguri Roundabout opposite the State Stadium in Damaturu, Yobe State; Rainbow Roundabout and Pantani Stadium in Rivers; and Freedom Park in Osogbo.
