Organizers of the planned #EndBadGovernance protest scheduled to hold across Nigeria from August 1st to the 10th have refused to back down despite pleas from the government, politicians, religious bodies, traditional rulers and respected leaders of thought.

The nationwide protest is aimed at drawing the attention of the government to the unbearable hardship, hunger, high cost of living, and bad governance and despite attempts by government at different levels and security agencies trying everything possible to dissuade the organizers to shelve their plans, they have insisted on going ahead with their plans of hitting the streets as planned.

The groups numbering over 26, made it known on different platforms that they would take to the streets to protest the prevailing hardship, hunger, and bad governance and there would be no going back.

To show their seriousness, they have to at least 20 state governments and the security agencies seeking permission to use state infrastructure to carry out their civic duty.

Some of the groups, according to findings, include Concerned Nigerians, Nigerians Against Hunger, Initiative for Change, Take it Back Movement, Revolution Now, Human Rights Co-Advocacy Group, Nigerians Against Corruption Initiative, Citizens for Change Advocacy Initiative, Timely Intervention, and Active Citizens Group.

Others are Students for Change, We Coalition, Total Intervention, Refurbished Nigeria, Tomorrow Today, Our Future in Our Own Hands Initiative, Youths Against Tyranny, and Call a Spade a Spade Movement, among others.

One of the organisers of the protest and the Convener of the Revolution Now Movement, Omoyele Sowore, also released a list of locations for the upcoming #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest, scheduled to take place in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Sowore, a former presidential candidate, listed the designated locations for the protest in various states including Lagos, Kano, Bauchi, Enugu, Jigawa, Ekiti, Cross River, and the Federal Capital Territory, among others.

“The listed locations include Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Lekki/Ajah axis, Badagry, Ikeja, and Epe in Lagos State; Kano main town in Kano State; Azare and Bauchi town in Bauchi State; Enugu city and Nsukka in Enugu State; and Dutse and Kazaure in Jigawa State.

“Other locations are Ado-Ekiti and Ikere Ekiti in Ekiti State; Calabar in Cross River State, and Gwagalada and Central Business District in the Federal Capital Territory, among other,” he said.

Another organiser who is the Director of Mobilisation of the Take it Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, said in a statement that the protest was backed by several groups in the country.

“This is not about one group or another. It is about angry and hungry Nigerians who are tired of this system. Protest is our right. Nobody can take it away from us.

“We have already written to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to avail us of the National Stadium built with taxpayers’ money for our peaceful demonstration,” he said.

Adenola said they have demanded the provision of 24-hour power supply, toilet facilities, water, and security for the convenience of citizens who would be camped out at the location.

The statement titled, “Request for use of Eagle Square Abuja for #EndBadGovernance protest”
reads:

“As one of the groups organizing the forthcoming #EndBadGovernance protest, #DaysOfRage starting from August 1st to 10th, 2024, we at the Take It Back Movement write to your esteemed office to notify you of our decision to use Eagle Square as a point of convergence for patriotic Nigerians to demand better governance.”

A representative of Nigerians Against Hunger, Tunde Thomas, who also spoke on the protest, said Nigerians were tired of the hunger in the land.

“Our demands are simple – End hunger. We cannot be the most populous black nation in the world and be hungry.

“The country is in a mess. We need to recognise that. Members of our group are mostly in the Middle Belt and in Cross River. We would come out en masse and make sure we don’t stop till our demands are met.”

While echoing the same resolve, the National Chairman of the Northern Comrades Movement of Nigeria, Jabir Yaro, said:

“Nothing will stop this protest. Nobody in this world can stop this protest. It will happen and everybody should come out en masse to protest. No level of intimidation will stop us.”

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has granted Zambia a compact of $458 million following more than $377 million in previous grant funding.

MCC Principal Deputy Vice President, Kyeh Kim made the announcement on at the MCC Headquarters in Washington, D.C., while celebrating the completed negotiations, while Charles Tembo, the First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Embassy in Washington, D.C., relayed the information to the African country.

In a statement, Kim highlighted that the deal was the fastest ever negotiated in MCC’s history and praised the Zambian government for its dedication to improving the lives of its people.

“This will continue to push for the prosperity of the Zambian people. The compact started about three years ago. I am hopeful that the agriculture sector will improve agro-business,” she said.

She further expressed confidence that the collaboration between MCC and Zambia would yield positive results and emphasized the importance of maintaining the same spirit and cooperation during the implementation process.

Secretary to the Zambian Treasury, Felix Nkulukusa, noted that the preparations and commitment from both MCC and Zambia demonstrated a strong desire to foster economic growth.

“We are sure that the implementation will be in the shortest time. The first compact taught us valuable lessons, and we are confident that the second compact will be implemented even more effectively,” Nkulukusa said.

Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States, Chibamba Kanyama, also expressed optimism that the renewal of AGOA would enable Zambia to increase its agricultural exports.

“The proposed compact is anticipated to target the agriculture and agro-processing sectors, which have been identified as the most promising areas to unlock inclusive economic growth,” Kanyama statec.