The commencement of the #EndBadGovernance protest on Thursday resulted in the halt of economic activities in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Nigerians, particularly youths, who are angered by the prevailing economic situation in the country, are currently protesting across the 36 States and the FCT.
The protest, the organisers said, was aimed at drawing the attention of both the Federal and State Governments to the economic situation.
The situations, it was observed across the nation’s capital on Thursday morning, showed that major roads were deserted with stranded passengers across the territory.
The ever-busy Berger Bridge and other places were seen a few vehicular movements. Banks and other financial institutions were also closed due to fear of attacks by hoodlums who may hijack the demonstration.
The popular Utako Market was shut down, with several shops and plazas under lock and key.
The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), had predicted that the protest could cost Nigeria an estimated daily loss of N400,000 if not properly managed.
The nationwide protest is expected to last for 10 days, disclosed the organisers.
There are fears that the protest may worsen the security situation in the country. However, it was observed on Thursday that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies were at strategic places in the territory.
In a related development, police officers used teargas on a group of protesters around the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.
The protest commenced by young Nigerians nationwide against economic hardship and soaring inflation today, has been dubbed ’10 Days of rage’ with the hashtag #EndBadGovernance.
There is heavy police presence across the nation as the protest picks up steam.
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court, on Wednesday, restricted protesters to the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
Sylvanus Oriji, the presiding judge, gave the order while ruling on an ex parte motion brought by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the FCT.
Wike sued Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, and persons unknown as 1st to 5th defendants.
However, on Thursday morning, some of the protesters engaged police personnel in a heated argument, insisting that they would not be caged within the precincts of the stadium.
Elsewhere in Kano Capital of Kano State, hundreds of young protesters Thursday shut down the ancient city, in the protest, carrying placards with different inscriptions.
The protesters commenced their actions from within the city, in places like Gama, Tudun Wada, Tudun Murtala, and other similar neighbourhoods. They came out en masse with their bodies painted in different colours.
In other such areas as Hotoro, Maiduguri Road and Ahmadu Bello Way, teenage boys were seen carrying dangerous weapons while some of them were shouting, “we need urgent actions from government”.
There was a heavy presence of armed police officers, operatives of NSCDC and DSS in strategic locations. On Ahmadu Bello Way, police officers responded swiftly to confiscate weapons from the protesting youths.
Some journalists were however, turned back on Ahmadu Bello Way because the protesters were said to have started being wild and violent.
The protesting youths, mostly under 20, were seen matching towards the Government House.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf was quoted as saying that if the protests become necessary, they should come peacefully to the Government House and submit their papers of demands, which he promised to take personally to the president.
