As Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day approaches, a coalition of civil society groups has announced plans for nationwide protests on October 1st, dubbing it a “National Day of Survival.”
The demonstrations aim to voice opposition to what organizers describe as “bad policies and programmes” implemented by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a joint statement released on Sunday, the organizers called for Nigerians to “troop out en masse and protest peacefully across the country.”
The coalition includes prominent groups such as The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), Joint Action Front (JAF), and Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), among others.
The protesters argue that recent government policies, allegedly influenced by Bretton Woods institutions, have exacerbated economic hardships for many Nigerians.
They specifically cited currency devaluation and the removal of fuel subsidies as measures that have “impoverished more Nigerians” and led to “harsh economic conditions.”
“The Tinubu-led administration’s policies, including fuel price hikes, electricity tariff increases, and naira devaluation, have imposed unprecedented hardship on millions of Nigerians, pushing many into multi-dimensional poverty and monumental misery,” the statement reads.
It further claims that “The middle class has been destroyed, and the rate of suicide is increasing.”
The organizers also expressed concern over what they perceive as an erosion of civil liberties under the current administration, particularly regarding freedom of expression and assembly. They are demanding the release of detained protesters, journalists, and activists, as well as an end to what they term “anti-poor policies.”
This planned protest, tagged #FearlessInOctober, follows a previous 10-day demonstration in August known as #TheEndBadGovernance protest.
That earlier action called for various reforms, including a reduction in the size and cost of governance, lower prices for essential goods and services, and improved security measures.
The organizers assert that Nigeria’s 64th anniversary is not a cause for celebration, given the current economic climate.
“We urge Nigerians to come together on October 1st to reflect on our journey as a nation and decide how to rescue our country from mass poverty amidst abundance,” the statement concludes.
