US, UK, Canada Warn Its Nationals About Possible Outbreak Of Violence In Nigeria During Hunger Protests

The United States, United Kingdom, and Canada have warned their citizens in Nigeria over a possible outbreak of violence during the planned #EndBadGovernance protests starting from August 1, 2024.

In separate travel advisories, the three countries cautioned their citizens to avoid areas where confrontations between security agencies and protesters might occur.

Despite pleadings by the Government of President Bola Tinubu and other stakeholders, the protest organisers, have been mobilising youths and civil society groups to protest against economic hardships and waste of public funds by the Tinubu administration.

The US Mission in Abuja, in its advisory, asked Americans to avoid the rallies, advising them to steer clear of crowds and demonstrations and to stay updated via local media. The alert highlighted the potential for roadblocks, checkpoints, traffic congestion, and physical confrontations, stating, “According to media reports, nationwide protests may occur in Nigeria between July 29th and August 5th, 2024. Based on past occurrences, protests may involve roadblocks, checkpoints, traffic congestion, and physical confrontations.”

While he UK High Commission warned that protests could occur between July 29 and August 10 in major cities like Abuja and Lagos. British nationals were advised to exercise caution, avoid large crowds, and stay informed through media reports, noting that previous protests have turned violent with little warning. The advisory read, “Political rallies, protests and violent demonstrations can take place with little notice. Get advice on areas to avoid. Take care if you’re visiting crowded public places or attending events which attract large crowds. If you see a threatening or intimidating situation, do not try to make your way through it. Turn around and move to safety.”

The Canadian government likewise alerted its nationals about the demonstrations, cautioning them to expect disruptions in traffic and public transportation and warning that protests could become violent unexpectedly. They advised vigilance, adherence to local authorities’ instructions, and continuous monitoring of local media for updates. The advisory noted, “Nationwide demonstrations are planned between July 29 to August 5, 2024. They could disrupt traffic and public transportation and could turn violent at any time.”