Scores of protesters took to the streets of Lagos on Thursday to mark Democracy Day with demands for improved governance and the reversal of several government policies, particularly rising electricity tariffs.
The demonstrators, who gathered under the Ikeja underbridge, held placards bearing messages such as “Reverse Electricity Tariff Hike” and “No One Deserves a Death Sentence for Protesting Against Hunger.”
Despite a visible presence of security personnel, the protest remained largely peaceful, with citizens calling for accountability from the Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Reacting to the development, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, assured residents that there was no threat to public safety.
“Adequate security is on ground for celebrants and protesters alike. No cause for alarm.
Your safety and security remain our priority,” Hundeyin said in a statement.
The protest coincided with national celebrations of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, which commemorates the June 12, 1993 presidential election—widely regarded as one of the freest in the country’s history.
While President Tinubu delivered a speech at the National Assembly reaffirming his commitment to democratic governance and economic reform, many on the streets voiced frustration over rising living costs and worsening socioeconomic conditions.
