Like many countries across the globe, Nigeria has witnessed its fair share of protests that not only shook the country but the world as well. There have been several protests that shook Nigeria since 1960. Nigerians protest against various issues including corruption, tax issues, economic hardship, salary increments, police brutality, and gender equality. The #EndSARS protests of 2020 remain very fresh in the minds of the people. Now, Nigerians have taken a leaf from Kenya, whose citizens recently protested against the government over the controversial Finance Bill and economic hardship that has plunged many into poverty.
Ahead of the nationwide protests against Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration, let us take a closer look at the top seven protests that shook Nigeria.
7 protests that shook Nigeria
1. 1964 general strike
Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960, and then became the First Republic on October 1, 1963. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, a northerner and co-founder of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC, was the first Prime Minister. He allied with the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) under its leader, Nnamdi Azikiwe, who became Governor General and then President.
However, Nigeria’s independence which was expected to be a breath of fresh air for the people was the total opposite. Citizens were becoming increasingly dissatisfied by their low wages and bad conditions. Politicians, particularly those in Lagos, were accused of corruption and squandering the nation’s wealth.
As a result, there was a nationwide strike in June 1964. Citizens from all ethnic groups in Nigeria refused to obey the government’s ultimatum to return to work. Instead, they took to the streets in a violent protest that involved the police. Eventually, the people won as their wages were increased. However, many credit the strike as the catalyst that led to the collapse of the first republic and the introduction of military rule.
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2. 1978 ‘Ali Must Go’ protests
In 1978, Nigerian students launched nationwide protests against the increment of tuition fees and the reduction of student grants by the military government led by General Olusegun Obasanjo. The protests were sparked by the then-education minister, Colonel Ahmadu Ali, who insisted on the policy changes – despite widespread opposition.
Hence, there were the “Ali Must Go” protests – which culminated in violent clashes with security forces. As a result, many students died and universities across the country were temporarily shut down. However, the protests forced the government to reassess its policies.
3. Anti-SAP riots of 1989
The 1989 anti-SAP riot was a series of violent protests led by Nigerian students. These were anti-government protests that spread nationwide from May to June 1989.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) imposed the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) as a government policy in 1986 in an attempt to stop the effects of falling oil prices and foster the development of local industries. However, this policy only increased the people’s hardship as there was fuel scarcity/crisis, food shortages, an increase in crime rate and overcrowded student accommodations.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) highlighted a 10-point demand and issued a six-week ultimatum to the government under General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), which fell on deaf ears. Hence, a peaceful protest began at the University of Benin on May 24, 1989, when students processed with a mock coffin and green leaves chanting: “SAP must go, we are dying of hunger in the name of SAP”, “SAP is a vampire” and “We are fed up with the military and SAP.”
The peaceful protests soon turned into a mob riot involving market women, hoodlums and gangsters. Many petrol stations were burned down and about 809 prisoners in Benin City were released. All these were deliberate efforts by the protesters to get the government to listen to them, which failed. The protests subsequently spread to other universities across the country.
However, the SAP policies continued despite the agitations. However, the government was able to provide relief packages to alleviate the agitations.
4. June 12 election aftermath
The first presidential election after the 1983 military coup was held on June 11, 1993. Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) reportedly emerged as the winner. However, the election was annulled by IBB’s military government.
This led to violent protests and political unrest in which over 100 people were killed. IBB was forced to resign and a weak interim civilian government headed by Ernest Shonekan was introduced. However, General Sani Abacha staged a successful military coup and became Nigeria’s new Head of State.
Abiola was arrested and charged with treason in June 1994 after he declared himself president and commander-in-chief. His arrest led to another wave of violent protests and strikes by workers in the petroleum sector, banking sector and academia, which paralysed the government for nine weeks.
Abiola eventually died on July 7, 1998, a month after Abacha’s death. In 2018, Former president Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 as the new date for the celebration of Democracy Day in honour of Abiola’s fight for democracy.
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5. Occupy Nigeria 2012
The “Occupy Nigeria” protest began on January 2, 2012, in response to President Goodluck Jonathan’s January 1 announcement of fuel subsidy removal. Protests took place in major cities in the country and the Nigerian High Commission in London.
These protests were characterised by civil disobedience, civil resistance, strike actions, demonstrations and online activism, especially on Facebook and Twitter (now X). About 16 persons were reportedly killed during the protests, with one police officer arrested and charged with murder.
Meanwhile, the government responded to the protests by announcing the commencement of a ‘massive mass transit scheme’ aimed at cushioning the effects of the subsidy removal on transportation. Also, fuel subsidy was reportedly restored.
6. Bring Back Our Girls 2014
The kidnapping of about 200 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State, shook not just Nigeria but the world. It caused international outrage against the kidnappers, Boko Haram, and the Nigerian government for perceived negligence. As a result, parents and others took to the streets and social media to complain about the government’s perceived slow and inadequate response. The hashtag, #BringBackOurGirls, trended widely on social media, especially Twitter (now X).
The movement was facilitated by former education minister, Oby Ezekwesili, and activist, Aisha Yesufu and became involved in several protests against the Nigerian government’s slow response to the kidnapping. The movement attracted international support from notable personalities like Malala Yousafzai, Hillary Clinton, Chris Brown, Forest Whitaker, the then-American First Lady, Michelle Obama; and Beyoncé.
7. EndSARS protests 2020
EndSARS is the most recent violent nationwide protest and it remains vivid in the minds of many Nigerians, especially the youths. For years, Nigerian youths had complained about brutality by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious unit of the Nigerian Police. However, a movement originated from a Twitter campaign in 2017, using the hashtag #EndSARS to demand the unit’s disbandment by the Nigerian government.
The movement resurfaced in 2020 and led to mass protests of Nigerian youths across major cities in the countries and on social media platforms. The hashtag #EndSARS accumulated over 28 million tweets on Twitter alone and many solidarity protests by Nigerians and sympathisers sprung up.
Within a few days of protests, SARS was announced to be disbanded. However, protests continued and even expanded to include demands for good governance and accountability, amidst unprecedented hardship in the country. As a result, the Nigerian government began repression of protesters, including the reported killing of some demonstrators at the infamous Lekki Tollgate in Lagos by the police and army personnel sent to stop the protests on October 20, 2020.
About seven people were supposedly killed during the crackdown, which led to an international outrage. The Lagos State government did not deny the crackdown but refused to claim responsibility for the deaths that occurred that day. This further degenerated the protests into acts of anarchy as hoodlums allegedly looted businesses, broke into homes, killed people and torched down properties.
READ ALSO: History of riots in Nigeria
