Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has affirmed that every Nigerian has the right to protest.
He made the statement on Monday in Abuja while responding to questions from Vanguard amid reports of security forces assaulting protesters, activists, and journalists across the country.
He said, “Everyone has the right to protest. In fact, if I had the time, I would join the protest myself. There is freedom of expression for all. The young people who are protesting have valid reasons—they see certain issues and feel the need to speak up. That’s why they are taking to the streets.
“However, while exercising this right, let it not escalate into something else. We will not allow anyone to destroy the infrastructural developments that support our economy and the progress we’ve made in this country.
“Yes, you have the right to speak, to come out and make your voice heard—even to stand by the roadside—but do not block the roads. Find a peaceful way to express your concerns; people will listen. If I have the opportunity, I’ll be there to speak with them as well.
“Protesting is a normal part of any society, and we are here to listen. No government is saying you shouldn’t protest—but there must be limits and a sense of responsibility.”
SaharaReporters earlier reported that a protest in Abuja—demanding a review of the Cybercrime Act and relief from economic hardship—was violently disrupted on Monday when security forces fired tear gas, scattering demonstrators and leading to multiple arrests.
The protest—organised by the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society groups—was part of a nationwide demonstration against government policies, including the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act, worsening economic hardship, and the political crisis in Rivers State, which protesters described as a “state of emergency.”
Demonstrators had gathered in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), carrying placards with messages such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe,” when security personnel deployed tear gas, triggering chaos as protesters fled for safety. SaharaReporters observed that several individuals were injured in the stampede.
Among those arrested were Bosede Imanah, a prominent activist, and Flagboy, a well-known social critic.
Human rights advocate and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore was also present at the protest, standing in solidarity with the demonstrators.
Peaceful protesters were also tear-gassed in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Monday.
The Take-It-Back Movement had maintained that there would be no retreat from the scheduled nationwide protest on Monday, April 7.
According to the group, the protest aimed to address what it described as the “authoritarianism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, abuse of human rights, and the misuse of the Cybercrime Act.”
