Tag: protest

Ago Palace Way in the Okota area of Lagos was unusually quiet on Thursday, August 1, with few cars and people on the major road.

Shops, several filling stations, and the Ago market at Century bus stop were shut down due to widespread fears surrounding the ongoing protest.

The typically vibrant area, known for its busy traffic and active commerce, saw minimal movement, with businesses remaining closed.

Read Also; Make protest peaceful, says NADECO USA

When The Nation visited the streets and major roads around noon, Ago Palace Way was largely deserted.

All the banks along Ago Palace Way were also closed. The Nation observed a security presence at Ago Roundabout.

A local resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed her concerns about the current situation.

“I am afraid to open my shop today. The possibility of being attacked during the protest is too high, and it’s not worth the risk”, she said.

Hardship protesters and groups canvassing support for the government enjoyed equal prominence as protests kicked off in Adamawa State on Thursday, August 1.

The arrangement was for the protest match by the acclaimed hardship protesters to kick off at the famous Police Roundabout in the Jimeta heartland of the state capital, Yola, and to proceed to the city’s events centre, the Mahmud Ribadu Square a few kilometres from the roundabout, but the plan changed.

The pro-government campaigners gathered early at the Ribadu Square, restricting the anti-government protesters at the Police Roundabout; and the protesters remained there, waving placards proclaiming their demands.

The cards read variously: ‘Bring back Fuel Subsidy’, ‘Let fuel sell at most N200 per litre’, ‘Government is Service, not Self-service’, ‘End High Inflation, End Hunger,’ among others.

Read Also; Make protest peaceful, says NADECO USA

A spokesman of the protesters, Ibrahim Waziri, a former member of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, called for a return of fuel subsidy so prices of commodities could come down.

Another protest leader, Danladi Jonah, said the protest was justified by the government’s inability to implement programmes that effectively address the needs of the people.

Holding a placard reading, ‘End Insecurity, Bring back fuel subsidy, Reduce electricity tariffs,’ Danladi said the government needs to be awakened to the acute insecurity and inflation that the masses are facing.

At Ribadu Square, leaders of the pro-government groups who spoke said hardship protest is unnecessary because President Bola Tinubu has done so much to address national needs that should be appreciated.

Speaking as mobiliser of a coalition of Women and youth groups, Mrs Comfort Ibrahim said Nigerians could afford to wait for the answer to prevailing inflation because a president who has ensured local government autonomy, increased minimum wage, and other pro-masses programmes could be trusted to tackle inflation and other challenges in good time.

Also speaking, Convener of United Adamawa Youth Forum, Comrade Yakubu Umar said challenges remain as with every government in any country, but that if Nigerians would exercise some more patience, policies in place to ease hardship would yield the desired solution in no distant future.

Security forces have taken over major highways and streets in the Gwagwalada Council Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following attempts by some youths to stage hunger protests in the area.

The youths and some organisers of the protest converged early on Thursday morning along the Abuja/Lokoja Highway at the Gwagwalada axis but were prevented from going beyond the restricted area at the Tipper Garage.

Our correspondent observed that vehicle traffic along the roads was thin, unlike the normal working days.

The Wazobia Park where motorists embark on journeys to the southern parts of the country was almost deserted.

Read Also; Make protest peaceful, says NADECO USA

A few passenger vehicles were seen, while the motor park and roads had few commuters.

Shop owners along Park Road, and Hospital Road did not open for business on time, while the road towards the local government secretariat was taken over by a combined team of policemen, Immigration personnel, and Personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Gwagwalada remained calm at noon, but soldiers and other security agents watched over the city, and the Highway, and control movements of vehicles and motorcycles.

Also, some members of vigilante groups were seen on motorbikes parading the streets in Gwagwalada. They were armed with locally made guns and sticks to curtail possible breakdown of law and order by would-be protesters.

Protesters, predominantly youth and children, have taken over Hamaruwa Way, the largest street in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital, chanting “bamu yi,” meaning “we are not in agreement.”

The Nation reports that the protest began at the Jalingo market and moved towards the Road Block area of the city, accompanied by security agents.

Read Also; Make protest peaceful, says NADECO USA

The streets were mostly deserted, with few vehicles and pedestrians in sight, and most business outlets were closed.

Details shortly…

The downpour that began at 11:40 a.m. dispersed the peaceful protesters at the popular Ring Road in Benin, Edo State capital, who were participating in the nationwide protest, tagged “#EndBadGovernance.

The protesters had gathered as early as 7 a.m. and were restricted to Ring Road, where a podium was set up, and music was played loudly, creating a carnival-like atmosphere amid heavy security presence, as indicated by Edo Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, on Wednesday night.

Read Also; Make protest peaceful, says NADECO USA

The major roads and streets of Benin and its environs were barricaded by the protesters, armed with placards bearing various inscriptions.

This paralysed economic and commercial activities, as roads, streets, offices, banks, markets, and other business places were deserted.

One of the protest leaders, Matthew Ojeikere, insisted that they were not sponsored and stated that they wanted an end to hunger and better governance in Nigeria.

Banks and some major businesses in Ebonyi State are under locks in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State on Thursday.

The city remained scanty as of the time of this report.

Most banks visited by The Nation around 10am along the popular water works and Ogoja road were unde locks.

The Automated Teller Machines(ATMs) of the banks were however in operation.

Read Also; Make protest peaceful, says NADECO USA

At a bank along Ogoja road some customers were seen in front of the locked gate stranded.

One of the customers said he came to the bank to apply for a new ATM card but the bank staff told them to go home. 

Popular fast food joints like Chicken Republic along water walks, major Shopping mall Roban Stores at Mile 50 area and major phone company Fine Brothers and others were also under locks.

Some filling stations opened but started closing up. It was not immediately clear why they took the action. 

Security agencies were on constant patrol round the city while many others were stationed at strategic points across the city.

Two armoured personnel career and patrol vans were stationed in front of the old government house with a strong detachment of policemen.

The policemen all tied red pieces of cloth on their arms.

However, there was no sign of any protesters anywhere in the city as of the time of this report. 

The hunger protest billed to start  nationwide against #BadGovernanceInNigeria on Thursday is yet commence in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The Nation observed that most strategic locations within the capital such as Iyana mortuary, Sapon, Okelewo, NNPC Mega station area are peaceful with people going about their private engagements without hindrance or protesters in sight.

Our correspondents sighted residents in a long queue at the NNPC Mega station to buy fuel.

 MKO Abiola International Stadium Kuto, Abeokuta,  one of the designated locations by the State Government for the protest was empty with  no  protesters in sight.

Read Also; Make protest peaceful, says NADECO USA

The Ogun High Court on Wednesday ordered the sponsors of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests to limit their activities to four locations in the State.

The court also restricted the time frame of the protests to between 8 am and 5 pm.

This was sequel to an application by Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), and granted by Justice O. Ogunfowora.

The court directed that all protests under the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria slogan or any other slogan from 1 August 2024 to 10 August 2024 must be limited in place and time.

The judge prohibited the protesters from protesting anywhere in the state except at the MKO Stadium, Abeokuta; Ansar-ud-Deen Comprehensive High School, Ota; Remo Divisional High School, Sagamu; and Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode.

Checks by The Nation revealed that no protest was going on at the MKO Abiola Stadium as of 10.56am and there was also no sign it was likely hold afterwards.

However, a combined security operatives comprising the army, police, Department of State Service (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were sighted at MKO stadium to ensure security. 

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Abiodun Alamutu, said the presence of a plethora of security operatives at the stadium and designated locations was to protect the fundamental rights of every Nigeria and ensure safety of lives and property.

Heavy downpour in the early hours of Thursday forced protesters to abandon plans to storm the streets of Imo State with the roads deserted. 

The group scheduled mobilised for the protest  but unfavorable weather conditions temporarily thwarted their efforts. 

Read Also; Make protest peaceful, says NADECO USA

The roads remained eerily empty with residents staying indoors for fear of the unknown. 

Typically bustling streets like Wetheral Road, Douglas Road, and Bank Road were eerily scanty with offices and businesses closing their doors, adding to the sense of unease and uncertainty that gripped the city.

Police operatives have dispersed protesters at Dutse Government House entrance. 

They were led by Jigawa Commissioner of Police Ahmed Tijjani Abdullahi. 

Abdullahi had led his men to receive the protesters chanting “Bamayi” in Housa. 

Read Also; Make protest peaceful, says NADECO USA

They refused entreaties by the Commissioner and other security heads. 

They started throwing stones and other objects at the Government House, including the security operatives who dispersed them with tear gas.