October 1 Protest Begins In Lagos Amid Tight Security

The October 1 nationwide protest has commenced in Lagos State.

By 7:15 a.m., hundreds of protesters had already gathered at the Ikeja Underbridge, the designated meeting point.

Wielding placards with various inscriptions such as “Place all political office holders on minimum wage,” “Reverse electricity tariff hike,” “Address the cost of living crisis; create jobs,” among others, the protesters voiced their dissatisfaction with the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

THE WHISTLER correspondent, who moved around the metropolis, observed a heavy security presence, including the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), the military, and the Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC).

Unlike the #EndBadGovernance protest in August, which paralyzed economic activities in the state, major markets visited by our correspondent remained bustling with activity on Tuesday. Vehicular movement was also steady, with commercial bus drivers hustling for passengers at various bus stops.

On Sunday, the Lagos State Government reiterated that the court order restricting protests to two designated venues remains in effect. Addressing journalists, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), urged the organizers to avoid disrupting social and economic activities. He added that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s instructions to the Commissioner of Police regarding public safety are still in force.

In July, a Lagos High Court restricted the #EndBadGovernance protest to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu, following an ex-parte application by the state government.

However, as of the time of this report, protesters remain at the Ikeja Underbridge, with no indication that they plan to move to Ojota or Ketu.