#EndBadGovernance organizers have reached out to police, requesting security for the protest scheduled for October 1.

Organizers of the #EndBadGovernance protests have announced plans for a demonstration against “anti-poor policies” on October 1. They have formally requested adequate security from the Nigerian Police to ensure the safety of participants during the planned protests.

The demonstration is intended to address the increasing public frustration with President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, which critics argue have worsened hardship throughout the nation.

This request for police protection was detailed in a joint statement signed by several advocacy organizations, including the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), Joint Action Front (JAF), and Pan-African Consciousness Renaissance (PACOR-Nigeria).

Hassan Soweto, National Coordinator of the ERC, called on Nigerians to engage in peaceful protests against what he termed “anti-poor policies.” The organizers have stressed the importance of non-violent demonstrations and have appealed to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, to ensure the safety of participants in accordance with the Police Establishment Act of 2020. “With this announcement, we inform the Commissioner of Police about our planned actions in October and remind them of their duty under Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020 to provide sufficient security for citizens involved in public meetings, rallies, and protests,” the statement noted.

The Lagos protest is set to begin at 7:30 a.m. beneath the Ikeja bridge, with participants marching through the streets to raise awareness. The organizers warned that this action serves as both a “warning and an urgent call” for the Tinubu administration to immediately address their demands or face additional protests.

The organizers outlined their concerns, stating that the grievances raised during their “ten days of rage” protests in August have yet to be addressed. They criticized President Tinubu for neglecting the suffering of Nigerians while lavishly spending national resources on luxury cars, aircraft, and other extravagances for himself and his family, seemingly indifferent to the struggles of impoverished citizens. They also condemned the recent fuel price increase, noting, “Tinubu has imposed another hike in fuel prices this month, with current prices ranging from N900 to N1900 per litre depending on the region.”

Describing the consequences, they asserted: “Life has become unbearable for many Nigerians. Starvation is rampant as the rise in fuel prices has also driven up food costs. Inflation has rendered the new National Minimum Wage of N70,000 ineffective, providing no relief to workers.”

The statement also highlighted how rising expenses have forced traders and shopkeepers to struggle with sales, while numerous multinational companies have withdrawn from Nigeria due to the challenging economic climate, resulting in further job losses. In response, the organizers have declared October 1, 2024, as a “National Day of Survival,” urging workers, students, youth, the unemployed, traders, and the impoverished to peacefully protest against the hardships caused by “IMF/World Bank-inspired anti-poor capitalist policies,” including fuel price hikes, electricity tariff increases, soaring school fees, and naira devaluation.

Additionally, they called on Nigerians to demand the release of all #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protesters still in police or prison custody, as well as the freedom of detained journalists, whistleblowers, activists, and other victims of state repression.