Several civil society organizations in Lagos have announced their intention to take to the streets on Thursday in a demonstration against the economic challenges gripping the country.
The Education Right Campaign, Joint Action Front, Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights, and other CSOs disclosed this during a press briefing at Abule Egba in Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, Hassan Taiwo, the National Coordinator of ERC, emphasized that the protest would be conducted peacefully, cautioning against any form of violence.
According to Hassan, “The peaceful protest is scheduled to kick off in Lagos on August 1 and run through August 15, 2024, starting at 7 am from Ikeja under Bridge, Lagos State.”
The protest’s demands include a return to the pre-May 29, 2023 fuel price levels.
On May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidies, leading to increased gasoline prices nationwide and subsequent hikes in the costs of goods.
Additionally, the CSOs are calling for a reversal of the electricity tariffs to their pre-May 29, 2023 rates.
Other demands encompass: “Ending hardship and hunger, releasing all victimized activists and #EndSARS detainees, halting school fee increments, offering study grants instead of loans, ensuring political office holders receive minimum wage, and overturning all pro-wealthy and neoliberal capitalist policies.”
“We are demanding the renovation of all public refineries and the establishment of new ones under democratic oversight, reversal of all public enterprise privatizations by placing them under democratic control, and halting insecurity, police brutality, and kidnappings. We oppose illegal demolitions and forced evictions, advocate for job creation, unemployment benefits, the trial of corrupt politicians, and the recovery of embezzled funds,” declared the CSOs.
They are also calling for the abolition of security votes and advocating for free quality healthcare for all Nigerians.
Furthermore, they demand an end to assaults on press freedom and the release of all political detainees, including journalists and bloggers.
They propose the establishment of political parties aligned with the welfare of Nigerian citizens.
Notable supporters of these demands include the Yoruba Revolutionary Movement, Mafoluku Community, Amilcar Cabral Ideological School Movement (ACIS-M), Youth Rights Campaign, People’s Redemption Party Vanguard, and the Movement for African Emancipation.
Adekunle Taofeek, the Lagos State Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, a key organizer of the upcoming protest in August, affirmed, “Our objective is not to engage in looting or property destruction but to peacefully demonstrate in pursuit of good governance.”
In a message to PUNCH Online, he stated that the protest aims to combat the pervasive hardships.
“We will collaborate with the police and remain vigilant to hand over any suspected troublemakers to law enforcement for questioning and legal proceedings,” he added, urging the police to cooperate with demonstrators to prevent a recurrence of past incidents during the #EndSARS protests.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, conducted a virtual meeting on Tuesday with key figures from the Take It Back Movement, including prominent lawyers Femi Falana (SAN) and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN).
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the meeting focused on the group’s planned nationwide protests, striving to ensure citizens’ safety while preserving their constitutional right to peaceful assembly.