Protests sweep across Nigeria as people rally against widespread hunger and poor governance, with citizens demanding meaningful change.
On August 1, 2024, Nigeria witnessed protests across multiple cities as citizens took to the streets, driven by growing frustrations over escalating hunger and poor governance. This wave of demonstrations is part of a broader trend of unrest spreading throughout Africa, including in Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana.
The protests quickly turned violent in various parts of the country, with chaos erupting in the northern states of Yobe and Kano. In response, authorities imposed a 24-hour curfew to curb the looting of public and private properties, with scenes of burning vehicles and looted buildings dominating the landscape. In Kano, protesters ransacked a Digital Innovation Park, just days before its scheduled opening, according to Communications Minister Bosun Tijani.
In the capital city of Abuja and neighbouring Niger state, clashes between protesters and police escalated, with gunfire echoing through the streets as law enforcement used tear gas to disperse the crowds. Tragically, reports from local media indicate that at least six people lost their lives in Niger state, while three others were killed in Kaduna state. Abuja also saw tensions flare outside the national stadium, where demonstrators faced off against pro-government supporters.
The protests, organized under the banner of the ‘End Bad Governance in Nigeria’ coalition, were dubbed the “10 Days of Rage,” reflecting the deep-seated anger and desperation of the Nigerian populace. One of the protesters' core demands is the reinstatement of a fuel subsidy that was abruptly removed in May, leading to a sharp rise in the cost of living, including food and transportation.
Nigerians have been grappling with an economic crisis marked by soaring inflation, which has reached a staggering 34%, the highest in nearly three decades. With widespread unemployment exacerbating the situation, many citizens, like one protester who spoke to Channels Television, felt compelled to join the demonstrations, stating, “Hunger … brought me out. I don’t have money to buy fuel … there’s total bad government.”
The massive turnout of protesters across the nation has been attributed to the unifying effect of hunger, transcending political, ethnic, and religious divides. Despite President Bola Tinubu’s call for calm and last-minute government measures aimed at easing tensions—such as the recent law doubling the national minimum wage and tax relief on food imports—the protests have continued unabated.
Protesters are also demanding solutions to the country’s worsening security issues, including kidnappings, banditry, and terrorism, which have severely disrupted agricultural activities in northern Nigeria. With many living in internally displaced persons camps, food shortages have become a pressing concern.
In addition to economic and security demands, the protesters are calling for broader reforms, including reducing the cost of governance and implementing electoral, judicial, and constitutional changes.
This marks the first major nationwide protest since the EndSARS movement in 2020, which also saw violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces. The current unrest highlights the growing discontent among Nigerians, who are increasingly frustrated with watching their leaders live in luxury while they struggle to survive.
President Tinubu is facing mounting criticism over his administration’s spending plans, including the approval of funds for luxury items such as a presidential fleet and residential renovations, even as millions of Nigerians endure severe hardship. As the protests continue, the government's response will be closely watched both domestically and internationally, as the situation threatens to push the nation further into crisis.