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  • Special Privileges Only APC Supporters Can Enjoy

    It’s been two weeks since the results of the governorship elections on March 18, 2023, were announced. With it, we finally said goodbye to the election season, and now we can focus on surviving the consequences of our actions. 

    However, do you know that if you’re a supporter of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), you’ve automatically subscribed to a shege-free experience in Nigeria for the next four years? 

    Allow me to walk you through some of the benefits you’re entitled to as an APC supporter:

    The police can’t touch you

    It’s not news that Nigerians are often victims of police brutality; after all, it was the reason behind the #EndSars protests in 2020. But, I have great news if you belong to the “E mi lokan” brigade. 

    To be completely free from police wahala for the next four years, you only need to tell the Police that you serve in the Jagaban Army, and they’ll let you go based on esprit de corps. 

    And if you’re not courageous enough for that, quote Portable and say: “I’m a Federal Government liability, I work for the APC, and we own Nigeria”. The police will apologise and send you on your way with kisses and hugs.

    Your properties receive double protection

    On March 28, 2023, the APC National Youth Leader, and Chief of Army Staff of the Jagaban Army, Dayo Israel, shared a picture of his vandalised vehicle in Maitama, Abuja, on his Twitter page. 

    And it’s shocking that despite his position, he doesn’t know that there’s a standard protocol to prevent things like this from happening to APC supporters. All you have to do is follow Sanwo-Olu’s advice – wind up your car windows properly, and voila! Your car immediately becomes invisible to criminals. 

    And besides, everyone knows these things don’t happen in Maitama.

    You get discounts on bus fares

    In February, the Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, slashed the price of bus fares for all state-owned buses by 50 per cent. Although he claimed it was to reduce the hardship caused by fuel and money scarcity, it won’t be far-fetched to think this was to help him in his re-election bid. But now the elections are over, and he got a second term in office, so we’re returning to the status quo.  

    On March 28, 2023, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) released ‘PUBLIC NOTICE’ that bus fares will return to 100 per cent effective April 1, 2023. But again, like I already said, this shouldn’t concern you if you support APC. With your membership card, you can get 50% off all trips.

    I find it amusing how every election, people forget the amount of suffering they went through under an administration. Instead, they’d rather lose their conscience and relationships to help a ruling party keep power. At this point, a nationwide therapy session should be held for Nigerians. 

    What else happened this week?

    Youths Appeal to ECOWAS over Election Results

    The 2023 elections can be summed up with one word: Controversial. 

    While some people have begun to move on from their disappointment towards the elections, a group of Nigerian youths, under the Free Nigeria Movement, stormed the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) headquarters on March 28, 2023. They peacefully protested the conduct of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the results.

    They handed their protest letter to the director of Administration and General Services for ECOWAS, who promised to take appropriate action. It’ll be interesting to see the following line of action the regional body takes, if any is taken at all. 

    Video of the week

    Question of the week

    On March 14, 2023, the CBN released a directive stating in compliance with the Supreme Court rule, the old banknotes will remain the legal tender until December 31, 2023. So far, has this helped with the naira scarcity problem? 

    Ehen one more thing…

    The general census is expected to be conducted by the National Population Census (NPC) from May 3 to 5, 2023. Find out how much this exercise is supposed to cost here.

  • Commercial Bus Drivers in Lagos Have Had Enough

    A popular saying goes, “Life be like standing fan, e go touch everybody”. During the governorship elections in Lagos on March 18, 2023, thugs violently suppressed voters to help the ruling party retain power in Lagos state. 

    These thugs were identified as road transport workers, known as agberos.

    Many people rationalised this behaviour under the guise of protecting Lagos from ‘invaders’. But barely two weeks after successfully ‘saving’ Lagos, it seems the “protectors of Lagos” now have to protect their interests.

    What happened?

    On March 29, 2023, a protest by commercial bus drivers broke out along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, which left passengers stranded. The reason behind this protest is the latest increment of taxes by the agberos. 

    For anyone who stays in Lagos, bus drivers paying different thugs money at almost every bus stop is as normal as traffic on a Monday morning. According to the International Centre for Investigative Journalism, these drivers pay about ₦82.13 billion annually at bus stops to agberos, which is remitted to the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). 

    The money is often collected forcefully, and drivers who resist have their vehicles damaged. During the protest yesterday, drivers complained that the tax increment further reduces their profit margin as they currently pay between ₦10000-15000 daily to the Union.

    Commercial bus drivers thugs agberos extortion protest

    Has the government intervened?

    There hasn’t been an official statement from the Lagos state government yet, but the police have responded to the protest the only way they know how: by shooting. 

    Police officers from the Alagbado police command reportedly opened fire on protesting drivers on orders from the agberos.

    What’s more mind-boggling is that a driver at the scene said the Police officers came with thugs who held cutlasses and chased them into the streets. 

    Commercial bus drivers thugs agberos extortion protest

    Also read: Where’s the Nigerian Police When You Need Them

    Hopefully, the bus drivers win their fight against the extortion they’re facing, but given Lagos’ history with protests, chances are this will, unfortunately, be swept under the rug. 

  • Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti Drove A Car, But She Did More Than That

    Nigeria has  been blessed with extraordinary women across different fields. Dora Akunyili, Chimamanda Adichie and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will be remembered for their vast achievements.  But one woman in our history books appears relegated to merely being the first Nigerian woman to drive a car. 

    Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, once described as the “Lioness of Lisabi”, was an activist, a politician, a teacher and a women’s rights advocate. Let’s take a look at some of her exploits.

    The first female student at Abeokuta Grammar School

    It’s not weird in this age to have more girls than boys in a classroom, but this wasn’t always the case. Ransome-Kuti, born in 1900 as Frances Abigail Olufunmilayo Thomas, was the first female student to be admitted into Abeokuta Grammar School — the first grammar school in Nigeria. She enrolled as a student in 1914, the  same year five other female students joined the school. 

    She founded the Abeokuta Women’s Union (AWU)

    In 1932, after her education in London and her marriage to Reverend Israel Ransome-Kuti, she founded the Abeokuta Ladies Club (ALC) which was exclusive to only western-educated women. 

    However, the club gradually became more feminist and political. By 1944, it finally became open to market women who were illiterate and suffering under colonial rule. The club became open to all Abeokuta women in 1946 and changed its name to the Abeokuta Women’s Union (AWU).

    In 1918, colonial rule brought changes that made life particularly difficult for everyone, especially for women. One of these changes was a tax imposed on women considered to be of marriageable age and affected girls who were as young as 14 years old. They were required to pay a tax of three shillings yearly. 

    Another problematic policy was the food price control tax placed on market women. When they defaulted on these payments, the women were beaten, stripped or even arrested.

    By 1948, the women had finally had enough. Since protests were banned, they gathered at the palace of the then-traditional ruler of Abeokuta, Oba Ladapo Ademola II, for “picnics” and “festivals”. Ransome-Kuti taught the protesters how to deal with the tear gas thrown at them. 

    Day after day, the protesting women sang war chants calling for the abolition of taxes. They also demanded the removal of Oba Ladapo Ademola II for implementing the colonial policies. Eventually, the women won the drawn-out battle as the colonisers removed the taxes and the king abdicated his throne for two years. 

    She was the only woman in Nigeria’s 1947 delegation to London

    Nigerians often celebrate men like Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe and others like them for their role in the country’s struggle for independence. But many people don’t know Ransome-Kuti was a member of the 1947 National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) delegation to London to table demands before our colonisers. 

    While in the United Kingdom, she stirred things up with an article she used to blame colonial rule for the political and economical marginalisation of Nigerian women.

    She’s the only Nigerian woman to receive the Lenin Peace Prize

    Ransome-Kuti travelled far and wide, and gave lectures everywhere she went to highlight the struggles of Nigerian women and campaign for their rights. In recognition of her efforts, she won the Lenin Peace Prize in 1970.

    She’s a Member of the Order of the Niger (MON)

    After AWU’s win against tax impositionin 1948, Ransome-Kuti created the Nigerian Women’s Union (NWU) to support women’s rights across the country. She set up branches around Nigeria and ensured educational opportunities for girls and women. She also worked towards improving the participation of Nigerian women in politics.  And the government named her a Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) in 1965 to appreciate her hard work

    As we already know, Ransome-Kuti passed much of her activism onto her third child, the famous Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Unfortunately, during a military raid of her son’s house in 1978, soldiers threw her out of the two-storey building, and the injuries she sustained claimed her life at 78. 

    Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti lived a full life and was passionate about Nigerian women and their representation in the country. With everything she achieved, it’s a great disservice if we remember her only for her motor skills or simply as “Fela’s mother”.  

  • Can The Police Stop A Protest In Nigeria?

    Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.

    The Nigerian police are always averse to protests. But things took a different turn earlier today when the Lagos State government, through its official Twitter account, stated that the Lagos State police command has vowed to resist any protests in Lagos State, under any guise or “nomenclature”.

    As expected, a lot of social media users were angry at the declaration. Many people referred to the constitution as supporting the rights of citizens to protests, and they went on about how the police and the Lagos State government were trying to stifle the rights of displeased Nigerian or protesters.

    Curiously, we decided to look at the laws that guide assembly in Nigeria, including if and when the Nigerian police can put an end to protests in Nigeria. Just maybe the police and the Lagos State government were seeing some things we weren’t.

    Read: Who Has Powers Over The Nigeria Police Force?

    1. Section 40 of the Constition

    The most important position of the law for anyone who wants to understand the position of Nigerian laws on protests is Section 39 and 40 of Nigeria’s 1999 constitution.

    Section 39 of the constitution guarantees free speech while Section 40 of Nigeria’s 1999 the constitution states that:

    Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular, he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or association for the protection of his interests.

    This provision states simply that everyone is entitled to assembly freely and associate with other people.

    However, Section 45 of the constitution states that any law against section 40 is valid if it is in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health, or in the interest of protecting the freedom of other people.

    So, the only thing that can affect the right to hold a peaceful protest is if the government makes a law that restricts movement in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health or in the interest of protecting the freedom of other people.

    But the laws on assembly are not finished.

    2. Public Order Act of 2004

    The “Public Order Act” was enacted in 2004.

    Section 1(1) of the act gives a governor of a state the power to direct the conduct of any assembly on a public road or all public places of resort in the state, and prescribe the route any procession may pass.

    Section 1 (2) also states that anyone who wants to convene any assembly or meeting or of forming any procession in Nigeria must have a licence to do so.

    The person must first make an application for a licence to the governor not less than 48 hours before the assembly, and if the governor is satisfied that the assembly is not likely to cause a breach of the peace, he must direct any superior police officer to issue a licence, not less than 24 hours to the assembly, specifying the name of the licensee and defining the conditions on which the assembly to take place.

    If he is not so satisfied, he must convey his refusal in the same manner to the applicant within the time stipulated.

    Section 1 (4) of the Act also gives the governor the power to delegate his powers in relation to the whole state or part thereof, to the Commissioner of Police of the State or any superior police officer of a rank not below that of a Chief Superintendent of Police.

    This means that a state governor has to give a licence before people can assemble in any state, and he can delegate his powers to the commissioner of police of the state.

    But the position of the law is still not over with regards to protests.

    3. All Nigeria People’s Party v. Inspector General of Police (2006)

    In this case, All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) took the IGP to court and challenged the constitutionality of the police permit under the Public Order Act after the police disrupted their rally.

    At the Federal High Court, the Judge stated the Public Order Act is a violation of section 39 and 40 of the constitution, and chapter 11 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Right, and the law is a violation of the right of people’s assembly to free speech.

    The judge agreed with Mr Falana, the lawyer for ANPP, that Nigeria’s criminal law should be used to prosecute violent protesters, but the rights to assemble cannot be taken away if they protest peacefully.

    The judge conclusively stated that “sections 1(2),(3),(4),(5) and (6), of the Public Order Act are inconsistent with the fundamental rights provisions in the 1999 Constitution and to the extent of their inconsistency, they are void. I hereby so declare.”

    4. In Conclusion

    The Federal High Court has held, through a continuous order, that the Inspector-General of Police, whether by himself, his agents, privies and servants cannot prevent aggrieved citizens of Nigeria from organizing or convening peaceful assemblies, meetings and rallies against unpopular government measures and policies.

    The Court of Appeal also held, on the same case, that permits for peaceful demonstrations are things of the past, and that protesting peacefully is part of the fundamental pillars of a democracy.

    It is now a settled case that peaceful protests are guaranteed under the Nigerian constitution, and are an important part of Nigeria’s democracy. And they cannot be denied except in a situation where Nigeria or part of the country is in a special emergency like a disaster.

    Quiz: What Are You Most Likely To Get Arrested For?

    [donation]

  • 7 Times Nigeria Has Killed Peaceful Protesters

    Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.

    Let’s start here:

    On the 20th of October, 2020, armed men of the Nigerian army allegedly shot at peaceful protesters in the recent #EndSars movement. It is estimated that at least twelve people were killed in Lagos, and hundred more were injured around Nigeria.

    In light of this unfortunate and avoidable incident, we decided to take a look at all the times Nigeria has killed innocent, peaceful protesters.

    1) The Women’s Market Rebellion of 1929.

    The Aba market women rebellion of 1929 was a largely peaceful protest against the colonial government’s plan to tax women. Inspired by a woman called Nwanyereuwa, and strengthened by the popular Oloko trio, [mostly] market women executed a strategic anti-colonial revolt. The aim was to address social, political and economic grievances. The women wanted more participation in government, removal of direct taxation of women, and better overall treatment.

    The women employed methods like “sitting on a man”, or donning male traditional attires to express their displeasures. In some cases, this resulted in [some] destruction of properties. Especially properties of warrant chiefs who were the direct link to the colonial masters.

    To restore normalcy, British officers were brought in. By the time order was restored, at least 50 [protesting] women were shot dead and 50 others were injured. As a result of the unfamiliar tactics [to the British] used by the women, and the casualties, an enquiry was called for. The name “Aba Women’s Riots of 1929” is how this enquiry was named in the British colonial records leading to the misinformation that the event was a riot.

    2) The Iva Valley Massacre of 1949.

    In 1949, striking miners demanding for better wages and living conditions in Enugu were shot dead by British police.

    In the 1940s, Enugu had become Nigeria’s biggest coal producer and was called the coal capital of West Africa. Two major mines were responsible for this – Iva valley and Obwetti mine.

    The life of a miner was dangerous. They worked 6 days a week underground with low oxygen, low morale, and low pay. To further worsen things, Europeans who worked on the surface and did lesser work were better off than the miners.

    Increased resentment led the miners to a strike action which was rejected by the colonial officers. The miners were sacked and immediately asked to leave the premise after which they refused. British police were called to remove the striking, peaceful miners from the site.

    Not to be intimidated by the police, the miners chanted songs of solidarity. The British officers led by Superintendent of Police, F.S Philips opened fire on them. He would go on to say that the miners were indulging in a war dance and looked menacing. 21 miners were killed on that day and were mostly shot in the back.

    The protest increased agitations and united a large swathe of Nigerians for the first time, and this helped push our final claim for independence from colonial rule.

    3) Occupy Nigeria Protest of 2012.

    In the Occupy Nigeria protests against fuel subsidy removal, at least 12 people died. Two people were reportedly shot dead when the police fired into the crowd in an attempt to disperse peaceful protesters.

    4) IPOB Protest of 2015/16.

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) supporters were allegedly shot at and killed by the Nigerian military between August 2015 and September of 2016. The group and its supporters were protesting for secession and restoration of the Republic of Biafra. The most notable incident was in December of 2015 where 11 protesters reportedly lost their lives.

    6) Shiite Protest In 2019.

    In July of 2019, the Nigerian police allegedly fired at peaceful protesters of the Shia Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) in the capital city of Abuja.

    The protest was to demand urgent medical care for the detained leader of the Shiites, El Zakzaky, and to also request his release. Reportedly, eleven protesters, one journalist, and a police officer were killed. Additionally, scores of protesters were either injured or arrested in the aftermath of the protests.

    7) Lekki Massacre of 2020.

    On the night of October 2020, peaceful and unarmed protesters were allegedly shot and killed at the Lekki toll gate by Nigerian soldiers. The protest was a social movement to call for an end to police brutality in Nigeria. A rogue unit [The Special Anti-robbery Squad] notorious for killing, harassing, and stealing from young Nigerians was the focus of the protests.

    According to reports, in the evening, light was allegedly cut from the tollgate, and the CCTV cameras were removed. It is believed that the aim was to reduce video evidence of the massacre.

    In one of the clips that emerged from the site, protesters can be heard singing the Nigerian anthem and crying as they are shot at. We owe it to them to never forget the incident of 20/10/2020.

    Notable mention is the Agbekoya Farmer’s Revolt of the late 1960s where farmers protesting against taxation were shot and killed by policemen.

    We hope you’ve learned a thing or two about how to unfuck yourself when the Nigerian government moves mad. Check back every weekday for more Zikoko Citizen explainers.

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  • 6 Nigerian Women Tell Us Why They Joined #ENDSARS Protests

    Women have been said to be at the forefront of this protest. Although some people say women should not join the protest, they did anyway. We asked six Nigerian women why they joined the #EndSARS protests.

    Linda, 21

    Every day I spend on the road, is for the women and the queers. Police brutality affects those two groups strongly, and people

    Elizabeth, 25

    My brother has been extorted by SARS. I don’t consider it centering men, I consider it fighting for family. It’s a family thing now.

    Chika, 27

    Women. That’s it. Women are raped, assaulted, and STILL extorted by SARS officers. They’re the reason I protest.

    Folorunsho, 26

    I’ve been a victim of SARS. They’ve taken some money from me before, and I’m honestly done with the institution. This protest is for me. For what they’ve taken from me.

    Adaeze, 19

    I want a new Nigeria. A safer one for all of us irrespective of their gender and sexual orientation. If by going to the streets every day will get me that, then so be it.

    Dimso, 35

    I do not want to be on the wrong side of history. I want to be able to tell my children that I stood for something as great as this.

    For more women do focused content, please click here

  • #EndSars: 9 Things You Shouldn’t Do At A Peaceful Protest

    As the #Endsars protests continue into the week, some protesters might be losing focus. We’ve heard reports of [some] bad behaviour among protesters. We the good people at Zikoko thought it right to remind us all of the dos and don’ts of a peaceful protest.

    Let’s begin:

    1) No alcohol.

    Alcohol and good behaviour rarely go well. It’s important not to give the government the ammunition they need to end the protest.

    2) No stimulants or drugs.

    These people are the reason why we protest and we must never forget:

    3) No games.

    We should avoid anything that makes our protest look indulgent or unserious.

    4) No carnival/parties.

    Again, please.

    5) No sexual harassment.

    Of both men and women. Especially of women! Keep your hands to yourself and focus on #Endsars.

    6) No bullying.

    If people don’t subscribe to your belief, leave them alone and focus on the goal which is #Endsars. People SHOULD not be attacked for their sexual orientation or beliefs. Leave them alone and let’s focus on ending Sars.

    7) Please, no violence.

    Do not damage government property in the heat of the moment. If you see anyone inciting violence, call someone’s attention. Remember, this is a peaceful protest.

    8) No spraying of money or display of wealth.

    There’s a crowd and we should try to prevent anything that can result in a stampede.

    9) No stealing.

    Please.

    We hope you’ve learned a thing or two about how to unfuck yourself when the Nigerian government moves mad. Check back every weekday for more Zikoko Citizen explainers.

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  • Different Times In History Nigerian Women Have Protested For Change

    When they said train a woman and you train a nation, they forgot to add that when you fight a woman, you fight a community. Throughout history, women have fought for their right to vote, own properties, and be included in government together as a force.

    In light of everything happening in Nigeria with #EndSARS, we decided to curate different times in Nigerian history where women have led protest for change.

    1. Agbaja women protest of 1910s

    When the women in Agbaja area saw a decrease in domestic animals and observed an increase in female mortality, they stayed away from home for a month in protest. These women left their husbands’ villages and went to either Umunumu or to Orie Ekpa (market) with their mats so they could sleep wherever night met them. When their husbands went to ask the reason for their withdrawal, they said too many women were dying.

    The men were forced to cook for themselves and even prepared food in large quantities to be taken to the place the women were encamped. To resolve the issue, every man had to swear on Ala – the earth – that they had not stolen the women’s animals nor killed any woman. Refusal to swear had a death penalty.

    You have to stan these pre-colonial queens.

    2. Calabar women protest of 1924

    In the year of our lord, 3,000 women in Calabar went out to protest a market toll that was required by the government. Imagine mobilising a crowd of 3,000 without the help of social media. Back then, the presence of women associations and market women networks helped the protest movement.

    3. Aba women riot of 1929

    The Aba Women’s riot is also known as the Women’s war of 1929. Nigerian history is incomplete without the story of these women who fought against the injustice of the colonial administration. Before the colonisers took over, women in Igboland had a place in government. They were represented in all meetings and recognised as an important part of the political movement. The colonisers in trying to set things up in their own way completely shut the women out of power, choosing only Igbo men as representatives.

    They tried to establish a “moral order” with patriarchal tactics that backfired when the women revolted against the increase in school fees, corrupt officials, forced labour and the final straw; taxing of women. These women were already burdened with supporting their families and helping their husbands pay tax. Faced with hyperinflation and low output of agricultural produce, the women settled that they would not pay taxes nor have their property appraised. 

    The protest succeeded in giving women representation in government. 

    4. Abeokuta’s women revolt of the 1940s

    These women spent several years protesting the tax increase and the lack of women representation in government. The Abeokuta women believed that until they were granted representation in local government, they shouldn’t pay taxes differently from men. This revolt lead to the creation of Abeokuta Women’s Union (AWU) under the leadership of Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti. This political organisaton, united market women and middle class women. It challenged the colonial rule and patriarchal structure. 

    During the protest, the government promised and failed them. Each time, they regrouped and hit harder with their protest. They continued to advocate for women’s rights in Nigeria and were recognised for the role they played in the Nigerian nationalist movement. The group emerged as one of the first proto-nationalist feminist activist groups in Nigeria. 

    5. Bring Back Our Girls movement of 2014

    After over 200 girls were abducted from the school in Borno state by Boko Haram, all eyes were on the Nigerian government to do something. When it seemed like the government wasn’t making progress, Nigerian women mobilised themselves in Kaduna, Abuja, Lagos and across the country to protest for the rescue of these girls. The #BringBackOurGIrls and #SaveOurGirls went viral and piqued the interest of the international community. Women from all over the world joined the protest and over a million people signed the petition to mobilise world leaders to help rescue the girls. 

    6. Market march “stop touching us” movement of 2018

    Women are fed up with being groped and harassed in market spaces. In 2018, Damilola Marcus started the Market March Movement to bring an end to sexual harassment at Yaba and other markets across the country. The traders who did the touching tried to justify their actions as a business strategy to get customers and in some cases, the women were “indecently” dressed. The march had young women in market spaces demanding not to be touched. Although some people tried to make a joke of the movement, it was effective in raising awareness. They are active on twitter as @MarketMarch.

    Watch Zikoko exclusive interview with Dami on this movement: 

    https://twitter.com/zikokomag/status/1079417919921111040?s=20

    7. Nigerian women protest against rape and sexual violence

    In June 2020, Nigerian women took to the streets after a series of high-profile rape cases caught the interest of the people. Following the story of 22-year-old Uwa Vera who was raped and murdered in a Church, more stories of women getting raped and killed surfaced online and this led to a protest organised by women. Women mobilised themselves and held a protest in Abuja and Lagos. The hashtag #NOmeansNo trended online as more victims of rape shared their story. There was a movement to stop victim-blaming and to discourage people from enabling rape with their silence. 

    Kindly reply this with other notable protests that were led by women. This list will be updated as you do.

  • #EndSars: Love In A Time Of Protest

    Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.

    We found love in a hopeless place – Rihanna.

    Nigerian youths have been protesting peacefully since Friday. Their major demands are that the government must end the rogue SARS unit responsible for extortion and theft. With demands largely unmet, the mood of these protests ranges from anger to frustration to even hope.

    However, there’s now…love in the mix?

    As strange as it sounds, some people are finding their significant others at protests. We compiled a list of people who have been successful in finding their partners or potentials at these events.

    1) I stan with my chest.

    2) I’m rooting for this person. A lot.

    3) God, when?

    https://twitter.com/SoundsOfCartel_/status/1316061639016353793?s=20

    4) Ahan. We need masterclass.

    5) Police is your friend or something like that.

    6) Lmaooo.

    7) God, I too usually experience shyness.

    Did we miss anything? Kindly let us know!

    If you’re looking to help the protests, click this link.

    We hope you’ve learned a thing or two about how to unfuck yourself when the Nigerian government moves mad. Check back every weekday for more Zikoko Citizen explainers.

  • Self-Care Tips After A Day Of Protesting

    Protesting can be very tasking physically, emotionally and mentally. After a long day of doing the lord’s work (protesting), you should feel very exhausted. Zikoko has curated a few tips you should take to ease off the tiredness. 

    1. Take a long shower

    A warm shower can do wonders for your joints. It also helps wash away any tear gas residue. A cold shower works too but a warm one hits differently. The important thing here is to wash your body of the day’s filth and ease your body into relaxation.

    2. Rest your feet

    You have been standing on your feet the entire day. Chances of sores and blisters are high, even with comfortable shoes. Show your feet some love and soak them in warm water. After a day of running and marching, a foot massage is recommended. This will aid with swelling, irritation and pain.

    3. Eat some food

    After protesting, you must be drained and famished. Treat yourself to a meal to regain the energy lost during the day. You can add supplements for extra measure.

    4. Stay Hydrated

    It is important that you take in a lot of water since your body must have lost a lot of fluid in sweat and tears. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to have a glass of water.

    4. Take painkillers

    For the pains you might feel in your joints, back, waist as a result of protesting can be eased with over the counter painkillers. Just take the recommended dose and relax.

    5. Stretch your body

    A little stretch goes a long way in helping your body unwind. Just take few easy poses that stretch your back, legs and arms. This guarantees a good night rest.

    6. Get some rest

    You’ve had a busy day, it is important that you rest for the night. Your body can only do so much. Sleeping helps your body recharge and regain the lost energy. This will also give the painkillers time to do their work.

    What you do is important and appreciated so don’t forget to take things easy on yourself.

  • A Week In The Life Of A Journalist Covering The SARS Protest

    “A Week In The Life” is a weekly Zikoko series that explores the working-class struggles of Nigerians. It captures the very spirit of what it means to hustle in Nigeria and puts you in the shoes of the subject for a week.

    The subject of today is Femi, a writer at Zikoko. He talks about his experience covering the #Endsars protest in Lagos, how the protest is affecting relationships, and why every Nigerian should support the protest.

    FRIDAY:

    Today is a big day because I’m covering the #EndSARS protests in Lagos. I’m happy because lowkey, I’ve been annoyed about Nigerians not speaking up for their rights. So, seeing young people come together to stage a peaceful protest makes me proud of them. Of us. And that has gingered me to document the protest. As a journalist, it’s my duty to ensure that society works the way it’s supposed to. That’s why I’m up two hours earlier than I’d normally wake up to complete my tasks for the day. 

    My tasks include covering how protesters in Lagos have been harassed by the police. I’m also reporting the demands of the protesters in clear terms. By the time I’m done, I have renewed ginger to take to the protest ground.

    11 am:

    I left my house by 10 am, but I didn’t get to the protest venue [Alausa] until 11 am. There was a bit of traffic caused by the protesters. It’s easy to get carried away by protest frenzy, so I have to remind myself that I’m here in an official capacity. That means before I react to anything, my camera should be rolling. 

    12 noon:

    A thug tried to snatch my phone while I was recording videos. He was surprised that I didn’t let go of my phone easily. I even got a punch in the mouth for struggling. Thankfully, people surrounded us and pushed him away. It’s funny how he just kept on walking like he didn’t just try to steal from me. I’ve texted my friend safety tips for when he’s coming to join me: “Come along with water, snacks, ID cards, cash, comfortable clothes and no jewellery.”

    1 pm:

    The protest has been peaceful so far. We have people volunteering to clean up after people littering. I’ve lost count of how many times someone has offered me snacks and water. There are people here distributing facemasks for protesters. Everything is just so orderly. The one time we had an agitated person, we took them aside to ensure that the protest didn’t turn violent. I’m so proud of everyone here who showed up. 

    1:30 pm:

    I’m a bit worried. There are a lot of policemen stationed outside the house of assembly where we’re protesting. Even though it’s a peaceful protest, there’s that underneath fear that anything can happen. The police say they’re here to observe. I’ll soon go on IG live for work. Let me show the people at home how it’s going and that we’re safe. 

    2:00 pm:

    At some point, some agbayas with berets attempted to make themselves the centre of the protest. We promptly shouted them down and didn’t allow them to speak because we don’t want political affiliations with our protest. One of the ways we’re keeping the protest anonymous is to have everyone on equal standing. There’s no one person handling the crowd. There’s no one person talking all the time. The megaphone passes to different people so everyone has a chance to say something at any given time. There’s no central figure, and that’s good because the government can’t pick one person to either harass, bribe or use as a stumbling block to the protests. I think that’s one of the reasons why the protest has gathered momentum. 

    2:30 pm:

    At this protest, there are two types of people. People who urinate in a large drainage near the Lagos state house of assembly, and people who walk the distance to the city mall to use their toilets. Do with this information what you will. 

    3:00pm:

    Some people suggested that we block the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Their reasoning is that we’re not making enough impact at the house of assembly as the traditional media is still ignoring us. 

    We’ve blocked the traffic lanes on the express, and traffic is stretching as far as the eye can see. There are convoys, bullion vans, army and policemen in the traffic. I’m scared of an altercation, but I also understand the importance of this cause. 

    Some people came to negotiate, so we left one lane open for traffic on both sides. Instead of a total shut down, it’s now go-slow. I hope the government is paying attention. 

    4 pm – 6 pm:

    I was worried that morale would drop in the evening.  Apparently, someone has booked a DJ. Another person rented a generator. Someone else has gotten canopies, so there’s ginger at the protest ground. The first song the DJ plays is Fem by Davido, and the crowd loses it. Why everybody just dey para for us? 

    10 pm:

    Some people are hell-bent on passing the night at Alausa. However, I’m going home to sleep. Seeing all these people coming out to air their grievances gives me an overwhelming sense of pride. For the first time in this generation’s memory, we’ve decided to let our displeasure be known to the government. 

    I’m proud, tired, and I can’t wait to hit my bed. 

    SATURDAY:

    I’m up early. Again. 

    Today’s protest starts by 8:00 am, so I have to get there early. I’m thinking about the fact that Nigeria is notorious for human rights abuse, therefore protests require courage.  Every time you attend a protest, you don’t know if you’re going to be bundled away. Summoning bravery is the first barrier many Nigerians have to overcome before deciding whether they want to make their voices heard or not.

    I really don’t blame anyone that doesn’t come out to protest. If you can’t attend physically, you can still help by either donating or aggressively amplifying on social media. 

    I think protesters need to know that in addition to wearing correct gear, they shouldn’t incite violence. If any faction is becoming violent and destroying properties, they should immediately leave the area. It’s also crucial to have a protest partner who knows your full name, address and emergency contact. In case anything happens. I recommend as many protest partners as possible because the more the better. The more details people have, the better chance you stand if anything happens. 

    I’m running late with all this thinking. I need to get up and get going.

    They [government] must not take us for idiot.

    SUNDAY:

    I woke up tired today. Standing and walking around Lagos takes a toll on your body, but my eye is on the prize — our voices must be heard. I know that effort is not wasted, so that’s encouraging. We must keep gathering. We must keep pushing. If we don’t support the protests by our physical presence, we’ll donate. If we don’t have money, we’ll amplify on social media. 

    It’s been tiring, and I’ve had less sleep in the past few days than I should, but it’s for a worthy cause. We’re all fighting for a Nigeria we can be proud of. 

    The most surprising thing for me has been seeing the middle class come out to protest. I think that has given a lot of humanity to the protest. You see people who look like you, went to the same school as you. People who talk like you. And they’re putting themselves on the line. I didn’t think I was going to see Nigerians from different backgrounds protest together. At least, not anytime soon.

    Another thing from this protest is hearing how it’s affecting relationships. A friend called to tell me that he hasn’t spent as much time with his girlfriend in a while. Another friend had a similar complaint. After reminding ourselves why we’re protesting, we came to a conclusion: na person wey dey alive go fuck. 

    MONDAY:

    My biggest fears are coming to fruition. Two people in Lagos were shot by the police today. I was afraid of people losing their lives during this protest because people lose hope when the shootings start. However, it seems like the more they kill us, the more young people are ready to push for basic human rights. I’m concerned the protests will become a full-scale riot, and I hope that we don’t get there. 

    For me, this is bigger than a SARS Protest. We are at the point where Nigerians are finally fighting for what they believe in. We finally have a voice and can demand better.

    We’ve proven to govt and international bodies that Nigerian people will no longer be pushed around. That’s a major win for me even if the protest doesn’t meet its objective of ending Sars. 

    I have to work today, so I’ll support the cause on social media. Tomorrow, I go again. I’m pulling up with my guys physically to make sure that our voices are heard. Or I will stay back to document that we spoke, and the government was silent while we died.

    Check back every Tuesday by 9 am for more “A Week In The Life ” goodness, and if you would like to be featured or you know anyone who fits the profile, fill this form.

  • sexual harassment is wrong

    In different locations all over the world, people are holding protests to call for the end of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

    During these protests, people are demanding their right to live freely without being profiled. However, female protesters are announcing incidences of sexual violence from protesters.

    Sexual harassment is one of the most prevailing forms of harassment women in Nigeria, and Africa as a whole face. It can happen online or offline. Sexual harassment can happen anywhere: places of worship, institutions of learning and protests.

    Unwanted, inappropriate actions towards women or people of any gender should not be condoned. Cat-calling, sexual comments, suggestive words, unwarranted touches, are all examples of sexual harassment.

    Women should be allowed to exercise their basic human rights without fear of sexual harassment. They should be able to protest, work, drive, and even walk on the streets without being sexually harassed.

    Women should not have to be wary of male protesters during a protest against harassment and violence. We ask that the people be watchful. Protect the women protesters. If you notice any man making a female protester uncomfortable, ring an alarm.

    Find more information on the EndSARS Movement here
  • #EndSars Protests: Why Is The Nigerian Police Shooting At Protesters?

    The #EndSars peaceful protests are still going on for the 3rd day in a row and Nigerians are refusing to back down until their demands to scrap the SARS police unit are met. Reports reaching us from social media say that earlier today (10/9/2020), the police opened fire on protesters in the city of Ogbomosho, Oyo state, killing two people and injuring others.

    TRIGGER WARNING

    VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

    https://twitter.com/lekan_kingkong/status/1314897040871231488?s=09
    https://twitter.com/jayyth3dope/status/1314889412908646404?s=20

    And in Abeokuta:

    https://twitter.com/CNwadiogbu/status/1314921033254817792?s=19

    The police also shot at and hurled tear gas at protesters in Abuja yesterday (9/9/2020).

    Find more information on the EndSARS Movement here

  • Why SARS Must End Before Police Reforms

    Yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari spoke out for the first time on the #EndSARS protests (he actually tweeted).

    He stated that the there is a determination to end the Police, and that he is being briefed regularly on reforms to end the police brutality and unethical conduct, and to ensure that the Police are fully accountable to Nigeria.

    Where Have We Heard This Before?

    The thing is, we have heard this promise before. The Nigerian government says they will reform the Police and then nothing happens once the people’s anger dies down.

    In fact, the last thing you want to do is hold to on to a promise from the Nigerian government. They over-promise and under-deliver, every time.

    What Must Government Do?

    The Federal Government must actually #EndSARS. “Reforms” can come later, but every operative working under the SARS unit must be drafted somewhere else, with the SARS unit scrapped.

    People have completely lost trust in SARS, and it is impossible to police people that have lost trust in a security unit. So, the government can talk about reforms once SARS has ended. But it must end, first.

    https://twitter.com/zikokomag/status/1314869976088674304?s=20

    Sadly, until there’s a direct proclamation that SARS is now ended, I don’t the Nigerian people have won. And the security situation will only worsen.

    We have a complete that contains everything you need to know about the #EndSARS protests. Access it here: https://www.zikoko.com/stack/endsars-movement/

  • #EndSars: Alausa Protest Updates: Here’s What We Know

    Earlier today, Nigerians protesting the brutality of the SARS police unit moved the protest in Lagos from the entrance of the Lagos House of Assembly to the Lagos Ibadan Expressway because it is the primary link and major route to other parts of the country.

    With the road still blocked, more policemen arrived in riot gear.

    Disu Olatunji, commander of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) was also present.

    One of the protest organisers, Twitter user @SavvyRinu put out a message informing protesters in Lagos that the 72 hour protests have ended due to certain resolutions that’ll be announced later today.

    Find more information on the EndSARS Movement here

  • Can’t Join The #ENDSARS Protests? Here’s How You Can Help From Home

    EndSARs is a thing. Again.

    There comes a time when everyone must take a stand to defend what they believe in and speak out against what they don’t. In Nigeria, it’s the sheer abuse of human rights perpetrated by a special unit of Nigeria Police Force — SARS. One thing is clear: these officers have become what they were created to fight. 

    EndSARS

    As the situation has yet again reached a tipping point, Nigerians are taking a stand and trooping out in numbers to demand an end to this injustice. This is the fight of our lives. And you should join the protests.

    It’s okay if you can’t make it to the frontlines. However, you can still do something to lend a voice, and you can do it all from your phone. 

    1. Get some context 

    If for some reason, you are not sure what these protests are about, you should get up to speed ASAP. Read up everything you can find about the evolution of SARS, their long history of human abuse, the unlawful arrests and detention, extortion and deaths. Hell, read every resource you can find. This article is a good place to start.

    2. Engage with EndSARS posts and hashtags on social media

    People on the protest grounds will be posting live updates and they will be relying on you to share as much as possible. You can’t let them down. Share as many posts as you can find. Do your part to push and trend the hashtags.

    3. Send emails and text messages to your senators

    It’s alarming how elected officials have largely kept quiet about this development. We elected these reps for a reason and they need to step up. You can make them step up. Let them know how dire the situation has become. Find a database of their contact information below.

    https://twitter.com/nkechiogueri/status/1314495872592478208

    Shine Your Eye also has a list with contact details of elected officials.

    4. Volunteer to be someone’s emergency contact

    If you personally know anyone who is going out to protest, ask to be their emergency contact. They might need you. 

    5. Donate money if you can 

    You can also help with money. If you have friends out in the field, you can show your support by sending them money. Chances are that they will need it.

    Also, there is an account you can send a donation to. Please do that if you can.

    Find more information on the EndSARS Movement here
  • The #EndSARS Protests Are Still Ongoing

    Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.

    Young people in Lagos, Nigeria stayed up all night to protest an end to the police brutality caused by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    They remain angry about the extortion that SARS, violence and human right abuses that SARS perpetuates on young Nigerians.

    https://twitter.com/Josh__IK/status/1314316049664413700

    Read: The Police Are Harassing #EndSARS Protesters

    They have stated that this morning’s protest begins by 9 am, and they will be converging at the Lagos State House of Assembly complex.

    https://twitter.com/NotJustSalmanPR/status/1314440263054565376

    They are also keeping an eye on a scheduled meeting of the Lagos State House of Assembly this morning. A few of the protesters are supposed to be invited into the sitting.

    Meanwhile, there are plans for similar protest in other parts of Nigeria, including in Ibadan, Oyo State,

  • Can You Protest In Nigeria?

    Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.

    On Thursday, October 1st 2020, which was Nigeria’s 60th Independence Day, some Nigerians took to the streets to express their anger about poor governance in the country.

    Nigerians under “The Coalition for Revolution”, mobilising with the #RevolutionNow, protested in many cities in Nigeria, including Lagos, while calling on the government to reduce the fuel pump price, electricity price, end nepotism and put an end to the water way bill.

    They stated that they were tired of the Muhammadu Buhari government, and they told it to end insecurity in the country and allow free press, while also implementing  many economic policies that will reduce the effect the Covid-19 pandemic on Nigerians.

    Read: 8 Hilarious Tweets About Nigeria’s Independence Day

    However, just shortly after the protests began, PUNCH reported that over 30 of the protesters had already been arrested in Lagos, alone. In fact, not long after, PUNCH again tweeted that the head of one of its photojournalists had been “broken” by police officers while he was covering the protests.

    This culture of beating up and arresting protesters now makes one wonder: are protests illegal in Nigeria? If not, why are protesters always harrassed by the Nigerian police?

    “They think it is illegal” 

    When I spoke to Dunnex Samuel, a student activist in the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who had been on many protests and has been harrassed by the police on many of those occasions, he said: 

    “They (the police) think it is illegal. They do not see protests as anything legal. Also, the police are more loyal to the government than to the people. They should be serving the people, but they are actually serving the government.”

    Where is the lie?

    Read: Should Burna Boy Lead A Protest?

    What does the law say?

    Section 40 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution states that every Nigerian shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons. Every Nigerian is also entitled to freedom of thought and conscience, as well as freedom of speech and expression, as stated in Section 38 and 39 of the constitution. 

    Meanwhile, every Nigerian is entitled to respect and dignity of their person, and they must not be subjected to torture or inhuman treatment, according to Section 34 of the constitution.

    The only exception to these rights are in the interest of: defence, public safety, public order, public morality, or public health. (Section 45, 1999 Constitution).

    Are protests against public safety and order?

    Well, some protests can be. But many are not. How I see it, most people just want to express their anger about an issue, and they will not resort to violence except if the police incites the violence.

    People usually move to a side of the road to protest, so it’s hard to see how this assembly can violate public order or safety.

    In fact, by tear-gassing and beating people up, the Nigerian police are the ones usually disrupting public order and safety in this case. And if the police have intelligence about a protest that will affect public safety, they can as well do that without violating human rights.

    In all, the solution to this concerning issue is that officers of the Nigerian police force are properly educated on protests and what to do about them – including when to leave people to peacefully protest and when to step in to avert a crisis.

    Read: Is The DSS Abusing Its Powers?

    Check back every weekday by 10am for more Zikoko Citizen stories.

  • Wow, What A Week The World Had.

    Not that we are ones to participate in Suffering Olympics (even though Nigeria wins double gold any day)


    But this was a particularly challenging week for people the world over. From record-breaking earthquakes to worsening humanitarian crises in at least 3 different continents of the world. While Nigeria had her fair share of issues to deal with, what with assault against women being the order of the day — if the week’s headlines were anything to go by, here’s how the rest of the world fared:

    California and Mexico reminded us climate change has both fingers poised for a Thanos Snap on the world.

    This week, Mexico experienced a Summer hailstorm, a none too uncommon occurrence in the city. What was strange, however, was its sheer magnitude. Damaging at least 200 local homes and villages, and 50 vehicles. The hailstorm left at least three feet of ice on the ground.


    California, only yesterday, the 4th of July, experienced its strongest earthquake in two decades when a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit the city. 

    If you haven’t already, now would be a fantastic time to plant that tree you’ve always wanted.

    Hong Kong’s Protests Got Very Heated.

    Hong-Kong as for 22 years enjoyed a semi-autonomous state from China, its previous colonisers; however, when a bill was passed to allow China extradite citizens of Hong-Kong, it was met with a series of protests.

    What started as peaceful mass protests turned ugly, as protesters stormed and vandalised the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.

    Venezuela and its Death Squads.

    This week, the United Nations made accusations against Venezuela, who it supposes has been using its security forces to kill young men in the state. Worse still, the murders are allegedly staged to look like the victims resisted arrest. By May 19th, 2019, at least 1 569 deaths have been ascribed to criminals resisting arrest, by the end of 2018, this figure was at 5 287.

    Crisis In The Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The DRC is experiencing a resurgence of interethnic violence, and just this week, it was described as an attempted genocide by its president – Felix Tshisekedi. At the centre of the current crisis is the DRC’s northeastern province, where the violence has seen scores of its citizens killed, and tens of thousands displaced.

    And let’s not forget, Whatsapp, Instagram and Facebook playing with our emotions.

    Ending in considerably lighter news, this week also saw our favourite social media applications interlock fingers and jump into a black hole or whatever it was that prevented us from accessing them for hours at a time on July 3rd. 

    Luckily, it was all good by Thursday and we were all back to having something to scroll through in the middle of awkward conversations.

    How did your week go?

  • Every day, Nigerians grow a little madder at the inefficiency of government officials and the general rot in the system. Recently, yours truly covered the Lagos Protests which Charly Boy, the Nigerian musician attended as well. Now, he has released a new single ‘Our Mumu Don Do’, a warning to all politicians about a revolution that will come sooner or later.

    Hopefully, more Nigerian artistes will follow in his footsteps. Who knows? The administration might just be forced to listen to us.

    Because this recession is about to kill us o!

  • Even though 2Face announced on his Instagram page that he was pulling out of the ‘massive nationwide protests’ he initially called for, Nigerians still went ahead to protest under the EiE (Enough is Enough) banner.

    1. For every child

    2. For the unemployed youth

    3. Careless security men need to see this

    4. “Nigeria is upside down like this placard!”

    5. For people like you and I

    6. This one is for all of us

    7. Apparently, the government is owing some widows

    8. Seun Onigbinde (BudgIT Nigeria) was also there to lend his voice

    9. Charlie Boy was there too!

    10. Not more than 250 people came out, but at least people turned up!