The people of Nigeria decided to protest growing living expenses and governance difficulties, and on Thursday, 1 August 2024, they began a campaign to “End Bad Governance in Nigeria.”
Nigerians of different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds made the decision to demonstrate against the current state of the nation on the streets. Many Nigerians were using the hashtag #EndbadgovernanceinNigeria to peacefully voice their complaints against the administration, as is their fundamental right.
Reason for protest
The present economic crisis in Nigeria is the worst it has been in a long time. The yearly rate of inflation is at its highest level in more than thirty years, at 34.19%. The cost of food has increased from the previous year by almost four times. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) estimates that food inflation in July was 24.82% year over year, or 5.33% points more than it was a year ago.
Fuel price has gone up from as low as N189 before Tinubu took office to N850, and even as high as N1,300, following last week’s fuel scarcity episode.
The suggestion that the president should have a new presidential yacht, which would have cost the nation N5 billion, the inclusion of the purchase of two new Presidential Air Fleets in the 2024 budget for a total of N20.5 billion, the president’s decision to spend N61.29 billion on building renovations and N6.82 billion on car purchases, among other similar decisions, are some of the other outrageous actions that have angered the public.
This has been particularly infuriating for Nigerians that continue to be told that there is not enough money within the economy to alleviate the current economic predicament of the masses.
To add to that, there was the removal of electricity subsidies, alongside the removal of fuel subsidies which was the initial reason for the economic downturn.
Nigerians are bearing the brunt of a deteriorating economy, while witnessing its political class receive a sizable stipend, and even more substantial allowances. As a result, many in the country feel that a protest is the only solution.
Tagged the “Days of Rage” under the hashtag #Endbadgovernance, the nationwide protest is set to hold from 1s to 10th of August.
Protesters demands
Depending on who you ask, the protesters have a wide range of demands. It’s inability to identify a single leader or group of leaders has made it so that demands vary depending on where you find yourself. However, there are a few common demands amongst protesters all over the country and below are some of them.
1. Combating Inflation: Inflation has had a significant impact on businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This includes the effects of food and energy inflation.
2. Ensure Nigerians get a better standard of living: The cost of living has increased dramatically, leading to a diminishing of the middle class.
3. Efficiency and Transparency: There is a need for an efficient and transparent government, one that is not afraid to engage in the grassroot level.
Some have argued that the demands need to be more streamlined towards one goal, and more reasonable, while some have outrightly argued that the protest should have just one demand.
The Nigerian Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris Malagihad stated; “Most of the demands that the protesters are making are actually being addressed by the federal government, the president is already protesting on their behalf, by doing those things that they want the government to do.”
He highlighted the drop in price of rice as one of the initiatives the government is taking to meet the demands of the people.
However, the general feeling Nigerians share online is that such an initiative would not even slightly dent the economic hardships Nigerians are facing.
Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra).
Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale).
Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn.
Follow us:
X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073
Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3
LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5
Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.
YouTube: AsaaseXtra.
Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652.
#AsaaseRadio
#AsaasePa
#TheVoiceofOurLand
