#FearlessInOctober protest starts in Lagos, Abuja

The #FearlessInOctober1 protest, a nationwide demonstration, has officially begun today in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. This protest, tagged #FearlessInOctober, follows the #EndBadGovernance protests held between August 1 and 10, sparked by the widespread economic hardship being experienced by many Nigerians.

The demonstration, part of the #FearlessInOctober protest, coincided with Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day, marking the anniversary of the country’s liberation from British colonial rule.

As early as 7 a.m., protesters gathered at the busy Utako Market in the Utako area of Abuja, where the demonstration is currently ongoing.

The Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, voiced concerns over the increasing hardship in the country, attributing it to the policies of the Federal Government.

Also in Lagos State, #FearlessInOctober protesters gathered on Tuesday morning, demanding the government review its policies in light of the ongoing economic challenges facing the country.

The protesters, who turned out in large numbers, referred to October 1 as ‘National Survival Day’ rather than ‘Independence Day,’ emphasising the struggle many Nigerians face due to rising costs and economic instability. At the protest site in Ikeja, demonstrators held placards with inscriptions such as “Reduce Petrol Price to N197 Per Litre; End Scarcity,” “End All Attacks On Democratic Rights,” “Free Adaramola Michael Lenin and Others Now,” and “Reverse Electricity Tariff Hike.”

In videos shared on social media, protesters could be heard chanting songs like “Nobody can say no” and “Eh eh eh, yawa go dey,” as they voiced their frustrations.

READ ALSO: Oct. 1 protest: Ogun court restricts protesters to MKO Abiola Stadium, three other venues

In a related development, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, joined the ongoing protest in Lagos State.

Sowore, who is one of the key organisers of the protests, arrived at the protest ground at the Ikeja Underbridge in Lagos around 8:50 a.m., where protesters had gathered to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day.

The demonstration is being closely monitored by a heavy presence of security personnel, including policemen, officials from the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.