The much-anticipated one million-man march organized by leaders of the #EndBadGovernance protest fizzled out on Saturday across Nigeria due to a disappointing turnout. The protest, which aimed to signal the end of a 10-day demonstration against economic hardship, fell short of expectations as protesters shunned their usual meeting points, which were heavily guarded by security agents.

Despite police barricades on all roads leading to Eagle Square, the intended venue for the protest, the turnout in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was noticeably lower than in previous events.

Security forces had previously targeted protest leaders, arresting and shooting at demonstrators. However, after a period of calm, protesters returned to the streets, chanting slogans like “End hunger” and “Reverse fuel subsidy removal.”

Rivers State:
– In Port Harcourt and its environs, residents refrained from participating for fear that the demonstration would be hijacked by hoodlums.
– The Rivers State Police Command deployed officers strategically to prevent any untoward incidents.

Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina:
– Residents in these states carried on with their daily activities, ignoring the call for the nationwide protest.
– Markets, motor parks, and other economic activities continued unfettered, signaling a lack of enthusiasm for the march.

Hope Amidst Disappointment:

– Gogo Wellington, a supporter of the protest, cited fear of violence as the reason for not participating. He expressed hope that the government would urgently address the underlying problems.

While the one million-man march may have faltered, the underlying issues of economic hardship and governance remain pressing concerns. As Nigerians grapple with these challenges, the call for change persists, even if the streets were quieter than expected on this particular day.