Nigeria may be on the verge of yet another wave of protests. Just three weeks after the economically devastating #EndBadGovernance demonstrations, another round is anticipated in October. With the country still reeling from the aftermath of the previous protests, the possibility of fresh demonstrations so soon could mark a critical and potentially dangerous moment.
Dubbed the #FearlessInOctober protests, this upcoming demonstration is expected to maintain the same set of demands as before, though they may be adjusted to reflect the worsening conditions in the country. Damilare Adenola, the Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, indicated that the protest would address the deepening decay in the country. The protests held from August 1-10 were initially meant to voice the widespread discontent over the severe economic hardship plaguing Nigerians. However, what began as a peaceful demonstration quickly escalated into looting, property destruction, arson, and fatal confrontations with security forces, resulting in over 30 deaths and the arrest of more than 1,000 individuals.
The protesters have clearly made their voices heard, and it might be wise for the organizers to pause and give the government a chance to respond before launching new protests. The root cause of these demonstrations lies in the acute hunger and hardship facing the populace. The government urgently needs to address issues such as the depreciation of the naira, inconsistent monetary policies, and soaring food and energy prices that continue to push Nigerians deeper into poverty. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 133 million Nigerians were classified as multidimensionally poor in 2022. The World Bank projected that an additional seven million would fall into poverty in 2023 due to the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the naira exchange rates.
Moving forward, demonstrators should seek to convey their demands peacefully, without resorting to violence or looting. It is crucial that security forces respond with the highest level of professionalism during these times.
The previous protests were particularly intense in the North, where a large number of underage protesters were seen waving Russian flags, looting shops, and vandalizing properties. In Kano, the protesters ransacked the Nigerian Communications Commission Digital Innovation Centre, stealing chairs, hardware, and other equipment. The North remains the region most affected by poverty, with approximately 65% of the poor (86 million people) living there, and over 50% of the 20.2 million children aged 5-14 years who are out of school in Nigeria residing in the region. Northern governors must urgently implement programs to address these socio-economic challenges and prevent further unrest.
In these trying times, the government needs to go beyond merely announcing programs to alleviate the suffering of the people; it must also demonstrate that these initiatives are being actively implemented. Between now and October, the government has a window of opportunity to make the proposed protests unnecessary.
To achieve this, the government must overhaul its communication strategy, which has often been arrogant and counterproductive. Instead of constantly blaming the opposition during a hunger protest, the government should adopt a communication approach that is strategic, proactive, results-oriented, and empathetic. The current communication methods have only exacerbated the problem by offering solutions that seem distant and unattainable.
The government must also focus on addressing the deep-seated issues that have fueled these protests. Communication should be proactive, with messages reaching the public before agitators take the lead. Additionally, there should be widespread sensitization efforts targeted at underage individuals and those who are illiterate.
The Bola Tinubu administration should address the excessive cost of governance, one of the key grievances of the protesters. However, rather than tackling this issue, Tinubu recently unveiled a presidential jet and expensive SUVs, which only served to provide more fuel for the agitators. All three tiers of government must find ways to address the demands related to hunger and hardship before the planned protests take place.
Finally, in any future protests, the government must revise its ineffective security strategies to prevent a repeat of the chaos witnessed in previous demonstrations.
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