#EndBadGovernance Protest To Halt Businesses And Economy

By Sire Franklin

Nigerians have decided to stage a statewide demonstration from August 1st to August 10th, 2024, in response to the ongoing increase in the cost of necessities and the country’s failing economy. Additionally, the shifting dollar-to-naira exchange rate, which has impacted numerous businesses, will be opposed by this demonstration.

The public believes that the demonstration will result in change since they perceive the government caving into their whims and avarice after witnessing their determination to stick to the course.

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The National Bureau of Statistics reports that the average cost of one kilogramme of locally marketed loose rice was N1,021.79. This information is based on the Selected Food Price Watch for January 2024. It shows that the price has increased by 11.31% month over month from N917.93 in December 2023 to N514.83 in January 2023, a year-over-year increase of 98.47%.

Additionally, the NBS disclosed that between July 2022 and July 2023, fuel prices increased by 215.95%. Fuel prices vary by area in 2022 when they were N195 per liter. Prices range from 700–800 in Lagos, the most populous city in Nigeria, and from 800-850 in places like Port Harcourt in the south.

The latest national demonstration took place in 2020 when young people from many states and cities joined together to shut down Nigeria’s streets in response to disrespectful police behaviour.

Up until the county government allegedly attacked its own people on October 20, 2020, at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, the demonstration was mainly successful. Guns were pulled on defenceless bystanders, allegedly killing even those who were waving the Nigerian flag. No one in the nation has been prosecuted for the murders of defenceless individuals as of yet.

Those protesting police brutality shut down streets during these occasions, putting a halt to business operations. But those who wanted to crush the spirit of the handful who genuinely wanted to use a peaceful protest to demand an end to the abuse and murder of young people took over the demonstration.

Businesses were severely impacted by the 2020 #EndSARS protest, which caused days of nationwide lockdown. The transportation industry was put on hold as a result of people being stuck on the road for days while travelling interstate. Under the banner of #EndSars, hijackers also damaged businesses and properties. As a result, banks and other businesses began looking for funding to restore and reopen their outlets to their previous standards.

Given that the transport industry would be the most impacted, the #EndBadGovernment Protest will probably take a similar turn. In a nonviolent protest, youths will take to the roads, and ragamuffins will follow suit, searching for locations to deface. This will restrict the flow of people from one location to another.

Financial institutions are another important business that will probably feel the heat since people think they hold money, and one of the causes for protest is a lack of money circulation. The thugs trying to take over the rally will target banks.

Malls and gadget stores like Samsung, Tecno, and others will not be left out as electrical appliances and phones are expensive to possess and these hoodlums will target such companies because they believe valuable items can be acquired from these firms among other

The upcoming #EndBadGovernment demonstration, which has emerged from the anguish and pain caused by the current administration, is expected to turn out like the #EndSars.

Citing a post on Instsgblog, the Police have made it known that Boko Haram intends to infiltrate the demonstration to advise those who decide to participate in it to exercise extreme caution.

Before the country’s youths take to the streets on protest day to peacefully protest for a better country, people are already defacing properties.

We want a nation where a child of nobody may become somebody without knowing anybody, she stated, citing Aisha Yesufu from #EndSars. All of this is an effort to reach the desired state of economic growth and peace.

Due to the fear of being taken advantage of by demonstrators, people will operate their companies with caution and the demonstration will be affected by past experiences. Though there are limitations, protesting is legal.

Nigeria is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which was established in 1966. The freedom to assemble in peace is governed by Article 21, which states:

The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Nigeria is not a party to the First Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, which allows individuals to petition the Human Rights Committee if they believe the State has violated their human rights as protected under the Covenant.

At the regional level, Nigeria is a State Party to the 1981 African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Article 11 provides as follows:

Every individual shall have the right to assemble freely with others. The exercise of this right shall be subject only to necessary restrictions provided for by law, in particular those enacted in the interest of national security, the safety, health, ethics, and rights and freedoms of others.

Nigeria is a party to the 1998 Protocol on the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, but has not allowed the right of petition to the Court by individuals and non-governmental organisations.

The domestic legal framework on the Right of Peaceful Assembly holds that Constitutional Provisions under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), every person is entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons.

Section 45 permits these rights to be restricted in the interests of defense, public safety, public order, public morality, or public health, or to protect the rights, or freedoms of others.

If the government can abandon the principle of kleptocracy to embrace democracy, would her citizens revolt?

This remains a question unanswered as we await the outcome of the protest from tomorrow.