CSOs set to hit Lagos streets over economic crisis

Some civil society organisations in Lagos have vowed to storm the streets of Lagos on Thursday to commence the protest against the economic hardship in the country.

The CSOs – Education Right Campaign, Joint Action Front, Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights, and others made this known while addressing a press conference at Abule Egba in Lagos.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the CSOs, the National Coordinator, ERC, Hassan Taiwo, stated that the protest would be a peaceful one, warning that no one should come to foment violent acts.

Hassan said, “The peaceful protest will be held in Lagos like other parts of the country starting from August 1 to 15, 2024 and the take-off point will be at Ikeja under Bridge, Lagos State, at 7 am.”

He stated the demands for the protest which include the reversal of the fuel price to what it was before May 29, 2023.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu during his swearing-in on May 29, 2023, announced that the fuel subsidy was gone. The declaration opened doors for the hike in petrol pump prices across the country and attendant hikes in prices of goods and commodities.

The CSOs also demanded the reversal of the electricity tariff to the initial cost prior to May 29, 2023.

Other demands are: “An end to hardship and hunger, recall all victimised activists, free all #EndSARS detainees, end to the school fee hike, provide study grants, not loans, placement of all political office holders on minimum wage, and reversal of all anti-poor and neo-liberal capitalist policies.”

“We are demanding the fixing of all public refineries and building new ones under democratic control and management, reversal of all privatisation of public enterprises and placing them under democratic control and management. We are demanding an end to insecurity, police brutality, and kidnapping,  we are saying no to illegal demolition/forced eviction,  we are demanding the creation of decent jobs and payment of unemployment benefits to those unemployed, we are demanding the prosecution of all corrupt politicians and return all stolen wealth,” the CSOs said.

They called for an end to the security vote and demanded free quality health care for all Nigerians.

They also called for an end to attacks on press freedom, and the release of all political detainees “including journalists and bloggers.”

They said political parties in favour of the interest of Nigerian citizens should be established.

Other parties and CSOs that backed the 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.

In the same vein, the Lagos State Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, one of the key organisers of the August protest, Adekunle Taofeek, said, “We are not coming out to loot or destroy properties but to demonstrate peacefully to seek for good governance.”

In a statement sent to According Online, he said the protest aimed to put an end to hardship “eating us up.”

“We will also work with the police and be on red alert to hand over any suspected hoodlums in our midst to the police for questioning and trial,” he said, urging the police to cooperate with the protesters “so that what happened during the #EndSARS protest wouldn’t repeat itself.”

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, held a virtual meeting on Tuesday with key members of the Take It Back Movement, including prominent lawyers, Femi Falana (SAN) and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN).

According to a statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the meeting addressed the group’s planned nationwide protest and aimed to ensure citizens’ safety while upholding their constitutional right to peaceful assembly.