The organisers of the planned nationwide protest scheduled for October 1 have affirmed their commitment to move forward with the demonstration, despite objections from the Federal Government and warnings from the Nigerian Police Force.
The protest, aimed at addressing the growing hardship in the country, is set to take place across Nigeria, with key events planned for the Eagle Square in Abuja.
Activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, one of the leaders of the protest, took to social media on Monday to declare that there would be “no going back.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter),
Sowore wrote, “NO GOING BACK! #FearlessInOctober,” signalling the unwavering resolve of the organisers. He stressed that the protests will be peaceful and will cover all parts of the country.
“The protests will hold across all parts of Nigeria because the scale of the devastation, hunger, insecurity, and hardship that this government has unleashed on Nigerians is national. I will emphasise again that these will be peaceful protests, as they’ve always been,” Sowore stated.
He further addressed the rising economic and social challenges plaguing Nigerians.
“Between the last protest just two months ago and now, petrol prices have risen by almost N300 per litre. The naira has further devalued, and prices have increased in the market. Bandits have taken over and killed off entire communities. Floods are devastating our cities,” he said.
Sowore criticized the government’s handling of previous protests, where demonstrators were met with force.
“The last protests were peaceful, yet the government met the protesters with batons and bullets. We will not be deterred, though. Our only weapon is truth, and no amount of force or violence will prevent us from speaking truth to power,” he added.
Despite the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) stating they had not been formally notified of any protest plans, Sowore reaffirmed the readiness of the organisers.
“We are fully prepared. Our organisers are on the ground and will not be going into hiding. These are revolutionary times, Nigerians will hit the streets en masse starting from 7 am on October 1.”
In Lagos, the protest march is expected to commence at the Ikeja Under Bridge at 7:30 am. Across the country, however, security forces are bracing for the event. Reports indicate that police officers have been deployed in states including Niger, Kano, Kaduna, and Kogi to prevent any potential unrest.
The Niger State Police Command has already stationed personnel and security assets in key areas of Minna, with further plans to enhance police visibility. Wasiu Abiodun, spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, confirmed these preparations, stating, “The Niger State Police Command shall deploy an adequate number of personnel and operational assets for public safety and orderliness.”
In Kogi, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, advised the organisers to reconsider their protest plans, urging them to allow more time for the government to address Nigeria’s economic issues.
The National Director of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, reiterated that the protest would proceed as planned, stating, “Preparations are in top gear nationwide… We have no plans of going underground. We are well within our rights and within the ambit of the law.”
He also criticized the government’s attempts to suppress dissent. “If there’s anyone in the wrong, it is the Tinubu regime who have chosen to turn deaf ears to the yearnings and demands of the Nigerian people,” he said.
As security personnel ramp up their efforts to maintain order, the protest organisers remain undeterred, reaffirming that the demonstration will proceed as a peaceful exercise of their constitutional rights.