Businesses shut in most states of the federation as hunger protest kicks off nation wide; violence erupts in Nyanya, Abuja; Kaduna, Kano, others

Nigerians in Lagos Thursday converged at Ikeja under bridge to begin the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest scheduled to last till August 10.

Business activities in Ikeja and Ojota area of Lagos including the popular Ojota Bus Terminal were shut down following ongoing protests by Nigerians to #EndBadGovernance.

The protesters converged at about 7am in their numbers singing and dancing to solidarity songs holding placards calling for better governance.

The presence of the protest at the time of filing this report is heavily armed security operatives.

Nigerians in the country had raised their voices to protest as a way of expressing their grievances against the hike in cost of food, high cost of living, hunger, high levels of unemployment, and limited access to quality education as major concerns amongst others.

But the nationwide hardship protest has taken a violent turn in the Nyanya axis of Abuja. Sporadic shooting was witnessed as protesters storm the Eagle Square

What seems peaceful in the early hours of Thursday for the #EndBadGovernanceProtest, quickly escalated, forcing residents and commuters to scamper for safety.

Eyewitnesses reported that hoodlums have infiltrated the protest, attacking and vandalising vehicles along the busy Keffi/Abuja road.

Security agents and residents are urging citizens to avoid the area and remain vigilant as they work to control the situation.

Major business premises in the Federal Capital Territory are currently deserted and businesses shut as some business owners decided to remain at home due to fears of potential violence, looting, and concerns for their personal safety.

“My life comes first before any business. I won’t open the market until I receive an alert that everything is calm,” a shop owner said.

Human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, who is also the representative of one of the brains behind the proposed August 1 nationwide protest has transmitted the venues of the protest in some major metropolises across the country to the Nigerian Police.

This was in his response to a letter by Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun requesting a meeting with the organisers of the protest.

The venues include Eagles Square in Abuja, Alausa Park by Secretariat in Lagos, Rosewale Filling Station, Iwo Road in Ibadan Oyo state, and Freedom Park, Osogbo, Osun states.

Others include Opposite School of Agric, along Tafawa Balewa Road in Bauchi state; Opposite Wema Bank, Akpakpava lane, Benin City; Maiduguri Roundabout; opposite State Stadium, Damaturu, Yobe State and Rainbow Roundabout and Pantani Stadium in Rivers State as venues for the protest.