Hunger Protests Paralyse Commercial Activities In Lagos, Rivers, Kaduna, Others 

Nationwide protests against hunger and bad governance erupted across Nigeria, yesterday, as citizens vent their frustration over the country’s prevailing economic hardship.

While many demonstrations were peaceful, pockets of violence were reported in various regions as the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest entered Day One, yesterday.

The nationwide protest, which aims to address various socio-economic grievances, brought economic activities in Lagos, Rivers, Kaduna, Kano and many other States to a near standstill.

In Lagos State, traders observed their weekly sanitation exercise which is held every Thursday and ends by 10 am.

In what coincided with the commencement of the protest, the usually bustling markets in the state remained shut after the exercise.

Major markets in Ikotun, Egbeda, Iyana Ipaja, Dopemu, and Akowonjo, Ayobo were all shut.

There was also a similar sight in the Ikeja and Agege and Ojota areas of the state.

A few traders were however seen loitering around the market areas, anticipating the turn of events, while some residents were seen clustered around their communities, discussing the developments.

Banks and filling stations were also closed down in these areas.

Meanwhile, heavy security presence was sighted along these areas as they were seen manning strategic locations.

The protest tagged, “Days of Rage” would hold nationwide from August 1 to 10.

In Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, a large number of protesters converged opposite the Federal Secretariat, Port Harcourt as early as 9am. They, thereafter, marched to the Government House, Port Harcourt, where the State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, addressed them.

While addressing the protesters in front of Government House, Fubara said, “I thank you for being peaceful. I thank you for coming. I feel your pain. I want to assure you that I will deliver your message to the President.

“Here in Rivers State, we will do everything to make life better. But all we need from you is to support the Federal Government. We know there is hunger but just be patient with the government.”

Some of the protesters who spoke to newsmen called on President Bola Tinubu to address the grievances of the protesters.

They decried the excruciating hardship in the country and called for a return to the fuel subsidy regime.

The police were also seen at strategic locations across the city.

Major streets in Port Harcourt were deserted due to the protest.

The popular Oil Mill market was deserted while others areas such as First and Second Artillery witnessed low activities. Similarly low activities were witnessed at the popular Mile One market.

Our correspondent who moved round the city also observed that most commercial enterprises such as banks and filling stations were shut, while a handful of civil servants turned up for work at the state Secretariat.

Major roads such as the Aba-Port Harcourt Express Road witnessed low traffic as few commercial and private vehicles were seen on the road.

At Artillery, some protesters were seen displaying the Nigerian flag.

There was, however, a twist to the protest when some Keke drivers at the Location Junction in Port Harcourt blocked the road and brought out N200 and N100 notes and teared them to show the worthlessness of the Nigerian currency.

In Kaduna, the protests which began peacefully around the popular NEPA roundabout in the metropolis, turned violent as the protesters attempted to force themselves into the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House.

But the protesters vandalised government property including the office of the Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Agency along the Sokoto Road in the heart of the state.

Part of the office was burnt while furniture and some property in the office were carted away leading to the arrest of 25 protesters

The Kaduna State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, ASP, said those arrested attempted to hijack a peaceful protest.

According to the spokesman, the protesters had been instructed to submit their details to ensure a peaceful demonstration.

“However, some elements within the group defied this directive and turned violent, attempting to breach the Government House and damaging a police armoured vehicle,” he said.

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sani Kila, who visited the scene said, “We have gone round the state and all is calm.”

He also denied the imposition of a 24-hour-curfew in the state as reported by some media.

In Kano State, hoodlums looted the newly built Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) Industrial Park just days before its scheduled launch.

The Digital Innovation Park, designed to support Nigeria’s technical talent accelerator program (3MTT), was reportedly set ablaze and looted during the protests.

Photos circulating online show youths leaving the scene with looted items, including computers, furniture, and electronics.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, who confirmed the incident, lamented the destruction of the technology hub.

“Sad to learn that our Digital Innovation Park in Kano slated for launch next week to support our technical talent accelerator (3MTT) has been set ablaze and looted by protesters,” Tijani stated in a post via X, yesterday.

Tijani highlighted the immediate impact of this destruction on the planned initiatives.

“Alongside #3MTT, this building is set to host our buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school kids starting next week,” he added.

The minister characterised the damage as a setback for the journey to deepening the workforce for technology and creating job opportunities for the youth.

“Millions of Naira down the drain,” Tijani lamented.

In Calabar, Cross River State, several journalists and activists were beaten, handcuffed, and taken by security agents to unknown locations in the State.

The Managing Editor of an online newspaper, CrossRiverWatch, Mr Jonathan Ugbal, was among the arrested journalists.

It was gathered that they were taken by security personnel, along with other activists who engaged in a peaceful protest to an undisclosed location.

The journalists were following some activists around the popular Mary Slessor Roundabout in Calabar, where a handful of protesters had gathered to commence the 10-day nationwide protest.

While monitoring the protest, Ugbal had allegedly posted a video in the morning showing that the surrounding roads to the Mary Slessor Roundabout were deserted.

In a rare display of youthful activism, children aged 8-13 and youths took to the streets of Jalingo in Taraba State to protest the prevailing hardships.

The children chanted, “Bamu ai, bamu ai,” which translates to “We don’t agree, we don’t agree,” to draw attention to the challenges they are going through.

The protest began on the popular Hamaruwa Way and proceeded towards the flyover bridge, a notable landmark in the city.

The participants, primarily children and teenagers, were vocal about their grievances, demanding immediate action to alleviate their suffering.

The protesters were closely monitored by personnel from the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

However, the nationwide protest suffered a setback in the South East as Igbos shunned the hunger protest. Instead, they opted for a sit-at-home

In Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo and Enugu States, many residents stayed indoors as there was no unusual assembly of people and protests, even though some shops were closed, including banks.

The boycott was in compliance with the directives of the Pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, that the South East should stay away from the protests.

In Enugu State, for instance, residents observed the nationwide anti-hardship and misgovernance protest through sit-at-home.

The Tide source who went round the state capital reports that economic and social activities were paralysed as residents deserted roads.

Shops, petrol stations, malls, and event centres were completely shut down as of 10.am.

Although entrance gates of major markets in Enugu such as Ogbete Main Market, New Market, Abakpa Market, and Emene Market were thrown open, there was nobody in those markets.

At ShopRite and SPAR Market, only security operatives were seen moving around.

At Okpara Square, only fierce-looking soldiers and policemen were seen occupying the entrance and road leading into the square.

While the gate of Enugu State High Court was open, no worker was inside except two security men at the entrance gate. At the Federal High Court, the gate was under lock and key.

Commending the Igbo people worldwide for their steadfast support and adherence to the decision to abstain from the nationwide protests, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, in a statement yesterday, said, “We, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, wish to express our profound gratitude to all Igbos at home and in the diaspora for their unwavering commitment to the decision to boycott the nationwide protests.

“The South East region has shown remarkable unity and resilience in standing against external pressures and manipulations aimed at using the Igbo as sacrificial lambs for selfish political agenda.

“The South-East’s total compliance with the directive to abstain from the protests is a testament to the newfound sense of unity and determination among Ndigbo to put an end to the systematic manipulation and exploitation by certain unpatriotic elements and privileged elite.”

However, top government personalities, groups, and religious bodies, including the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Muslim Student Society of Nigeria (Lagos chapter), and the Muslim Rights Concern, and several other stakeholders in the country have called for the cancellation of the protest, citing a palpable fear that it might be hijacked by infiltrators who do not mean well for the country.

Boye Salau & John Bibor