Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called on the Nigerian government to cease efforts to mobilize youths and other groups to disrupt ongoing protests.
Falana’s appeal comes amid widespread demonstrations across Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where citizens are voicing their frustrations over increasing poverty and the high cost of living. The protests are demanding better economic conditions and government accountability.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Falana criticized the government for trying to thwart protests by mobilizing traditional rulers and other entities to undermine the demonstrations.
He urged officials to engage directly with the demonstrators, understand their grievances, and address their concerns rather than resorting to tactics that could escalate tensions.
Falana also took issue with recent court orders obtained by various state governments and the FCTA, which restrict protest activities to specific locations.
For example, court orders have designated protest areas such as the Freedom and Peace Parks in Lagos, the MKO National Stadium in Abuja, and sites in Ogun State, including the MKO Stadium in Abeokuta and Ansar-ud-Deen Comprehensive High School in Ota.
Falana contended that these restrictions have been poorly implemented, partly because the court orders were obtained at the last minute, giving insufficient time for proper notification to the protesters.
He noted that the rush to obtain court orders just before the start of protests often leads to issues with serving the orders effectively.
Falana cited instances where court orders were not served to the intended parties, and in some cases, the orders were directed at “unknown persons,” making enforcement problematic.
He argued that the government should have used the advance notice of the protests—over two weeks in some cases—to communicate the restrictions clearly without resorting to emergency court interventions.
Additionally, Falana suggested that the government could have designated specific protest venues well in advance, similar to practices in other countries, to manage demonstrations more effectively.
He pointed out that protesters in Lagos and Abuja had previously used certain venues for demonstrations before these locations were sealed off by the government, prompting demonstrators to move to the streets.
Falana’s remarks highlight the need for a more considered and transparent approach to managing protests, advocating for dialogue and proper planning over last-minute legal actions that may exacerbate tensions.