A planned nationwide hunger protest by citizens looks certain to go on in Nigeria come August 1, 2024, no matter what sub-national and federal governments have been saying about the possibility of wanton destruction coming out of it as seen with the #ENDSARS looting a few years ago. Well, after a federal executive council meeting between President Bola Tinubu and his cabinet yesterday, there was a feeling that the intended demonstration should not go on because practically all the demands being made have been met.

By demands being met from the federal officials’ prism, it means a 50kg bag of rice that the citizens can now buy at ₦40,000 compared to the old costly price that is almost double the quoted amount. But is that enough to calm down the #EndBadGovernanceProtest that has been brewing across social media?

Only government officers would know. Before the renewed hope administration of President Bola Tinubu took charge last year, federal executive council meetings would usually happen mid-week except for unforeseen events.

Under the former Lagos State Governor, council gatherings have now been moved to occur at the beginning of a new week. And so, at yesterday’s plenary, one of the hot topics, or perhaps the main one, was the demonstration that is to go on in two days – how it has to be botched for peace to reign in the country.

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After the council meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris told a press briefing exactly what the government has been thinking. According to Mr Mohammed, the position of the FEC is that most of the demands that the protesters are making are actually being addressed by the Federal Government and, therefore, it is the view of the government that there is really no need for the protests again.

Most of the things that the protesters are putting forward are already being addressed by the government. And like we have said repeatedly, this is a listening government.

The President has listened to the voices of all planning this protest. And the message is that there is no need for it. Indeed, the President is already protesting on their behalf by doing what they want the government to do, the minister said.

Before the federal executive council entreaties asking the largely leaderless protesters to shelve their plans, only deaf ears were paid to the appeals from both the president and the counter-protests by a women’s group telling the organisers not to proceed with the August demonstration.

The President wants the citizens to see the efforts he has already made. Some of these include free conversion of petrol or diesel-powered vehicles to run on cheap, locally produced compressed natural gas.

Also, in July there was the announcement by the government that there would be a 150-day duty waiver on critical foods like maize, adaptable brown husked rice which Nigerians consume a lot. But all these initiatives are futuristic, hence the protesters will not be moved.

How the Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said the president is tackling the issues is that, at the last Council meeting, we announced that 20 trucks had been given to each state governor for onward distribution to those who actually needed them, to the poorest of the poor in society.

But the government did not stop. Rice is also being sold at about 50 per cent of its cost; a bag of rice is being sold as we speak. This rice has been taken to various centres across all the states of the federation and is being sold at ₦40,000. Centres have been created so that those who need this rice can go there and buy this rice at ₦40,000.

In the first instance, about 10 trucks have been made available to each of these states; indeed, this is just the beginning. I know that some of the comments you hear is that it is never enough. The government has not pretended that these supplies are indeed enough. But these are necessary first steps that are being made and more of such interventions are being made in the interim.

Government wants more time to get things rolling, but out there on social media where all the moves are being read and dissected, protesters feel like they cannot afford to continue giving patience on an empty stomach. If the protest goes as planned, there will be an extensive focus on Lagos, the southwestern state that suffered greatly the last time people took to the streets.

#EndSARS Protest started like every other protest before it was hijacked by hoodlums #NeverAgain pic.twitter.com/IgQqgRcL6L

— Fed Min of Info & Nat’l Orien (@FMINONigeria) July 27, 2024

This was during the October 2020 #EndSars demonstrations that saw malls, banks and restaurants getting all ransacked. Now that a new protest is developing, it is raising concerns about what could be next.

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Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.