A heavy security presence on Thursday morning sealed off the main entrance to Nigeria’s National Assembly in Abuja, halting protesters who had planned to gather there as part of Democracy Day demonstrations.
The protest, led by the Take It Back Movement and several civil society organisations, was meant to draw attention to what the organisers have called “two years of misrule, hardship, and insecurity” under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Initially scheduled to be held at Eagle Square, the demonstration was later redirected to the National Assembly, where President Tinubu was scheduled to address a joint session as part of June 12 activities.
The National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, clarified that the venue change did not dilute the purpose of the protest.
“That we earlier said the protest would be held at Eagle Square doesn’t foreclose the fact that Nigerians cannot organise themselves at the National Assembly to protest the two years of misrule under Tinubu,” he stated.
“The unprecedented hardship and insecurity we have experienced under his government are alarming.
“So Nigerians will be turning out nationwide to protest against this, and the National Assembly is one of those spaces Nigerians can exercise their constitutional rights.”
When reporters arrived at the scene, they observed a tight security lockdown. Officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, alongside armed police, formed a strong cordon around the complex.
Access to the building was completely blocked with iron barricades and a large security truck stationed directly in front of the gate.
The situation remained tense as of the time of this report.