Nigeria – Security Cordon Abuja Eagles Square As October 1 Protest Begins In Lagos

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

There’s a heavy security presence around Eagle Square, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday morning, as protests the ongoing economic hardship in Nigeria is underway.

The protests, which are part of the “National Day of Survival,” began in Lagos amidst rising concerns over the state of the economy.

In the FCT, residents heading to their workplaces faced traffic diversions near the Eagle Square as authorities-imposed movement restrictions.

Security personnel were deployed in key strategic areas around the capital city and its neighboring state, Nasarawa.

Meanwhile, in Lagos, protesters gathered at the Ikeja Under Bridge, led by Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 elections.

The protest, organized by civil society groups under the #EndBadGovernance banner, seeks to highlight the struggles caused by recent economic policies, including the surge in fuel prices, skyrocketing food costs, and the ongoing inflation crisis affecting millions of Nigerians.

This demonstration coincides with Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day anniversary, symbolizing the protesters’ discontent with the nation’s current economic direction.

It also serves as a continuation of the nationwide #EndBadGovernance movement, which saw violent outbreaks in parts of northern Nigeria following a similar protest in August.

The protest organizers, made up of several civil society organizations (CSOs), aim to pressure the government into addressing the economic plight of ordinary citizens, demanding urgent action to alleviate the hardship caused by inflation and the rising cost of living.