Protesters gathered at the Ikeja Underbridge in Lagos on Tuesday morning to mark Nigeria’s 2024 Independence Day with a rally against the nation’s ongoing economic challenges. The demonstration, organized under the hashtag #FearlessOctober1, took place under tight security, with a strong presence of law enforcement.
Security personnel at the scene included police officers, members of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and officials from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, led the police contingent, closely monitoring the protest.
Chanting solidarity songs, protesters displayed placards with messages such as “Reverse electricity tariff now,” “End all attacks on democratic rights,” “Reduce petrol price to ₦197 per litre; end scarcity,” and “Profit soars while people suffer.”
Civil society groups, including the Take It Back Movement, Education Rights Campaign, Coalition for Revolution, and Socialist Workers League, played a leading role in the protest. This marks the second major demonstration in two months, as frustrations over worsening economic conditions continue to grow.
Organizers of #FearlessOctober1 stated that the protest was a follow-up to the #EndBadGovernance protests held in August. They cited the government’s failure to address key issues such as rising hunger, inflation, insecurity, wasteful government spending, electoral reforms, and the need for better human capital development as reasons for the ongoing demonstrations.
Photos from the protest captured the energy and determination of those participating.
