In a bid to maintain public order and prevent potential violence, the Nigerian presidency has initiated talks with protest organizers and key stakeholders to disrupt planned protests on October 1, the country’s 64th Independence Day.
The planned protests, tagged #FearlessInOctober or EndBadGovernanceProtestInNigeria 2.0, aim to express dissatisfaction with the current economic hardship and “bad governance.”
However, the presidency is keen to avoid a repeat of the August violence that marred similar protests, according to Politics Nigeria.
Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga emphasized the government’s support for peaceful protests but warned against potential riots.
He stressed that the government is not against any peaceful protest by Nigerians, rather it is always apprehensive about such protests degenerating into a riot.
To prevent chaos, security agencies are monitoring protest organizers and engaging with them to ensure peaceful expressions of grievances.
The presidency has also highlighted economic reforms yielding dividends, citing indicators from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the National Bureau of Statistics.
Despite these efforts, protesters remain resolute, citing worsening economic conditions, including petrol prices exceeding N1,000 and an exchange rate above N1,600.
The presidency’s measures have sparked debate on the balance between freedom of expression and maintaining public order.
As Nigeria celebrates its independence, the government’s response to the protests will be crucial in addressing citizens’ grievances and ensuring stability.
“Government is not against any peaceful protest by Nigerians. After all, it is their fundamental right to stage any protest.
” But government is always apprehensive about such protests degenerating into a riot as we experienced in August or the 2020 EndSARS protest in many parts of the country.
” Security agencies have been discussing with some of the organisers and they are being monitored so that they do not plunge the country into chaos or allow themselves to be used by internal and external forces which want to subvert the country and the 16-month-old administration”, he said.
