The United States, United Kingdom, and Canada have issued security alerts to their citizens in Nigeria, warning of potential violence during the upcoming nationwide protests.
These warnings come in response to planned protests against hunger and hardship, scheduled to begin on August 1, 2024.
In separate travel advisories, the three countries advised their citizens to avoid areas where clashes between security forces and protesters might occur.
The US Mission in Abuja urged Americans to avoid the rallies, advising them to stay clear of crowds and demonstrations and keep updated through local media.
The alert mentioned potential roadblocks, checkpoints, traffic congestion, and physical confrontations, stating, “According to media reports, nationwide protests may occur in Nigeria between July 29 and August 5, 2024.
”Protests may involve roadblocks, checkpoints, traffic congestion, and physical confrontations based on past occurrences.”
Similarly, the UK High Commission warned that protests could occur between July 29 and August 10 in major cities like Abuja and Lagos.
British nationals were advised to exercise caution, avoid large crowds, and stay informed via media reports.
“Political rallies, protests, and violent demonstrations can occur with little notice. Get advice on areas to avoid. Take care if you’re visiting crowded public places or attending events that attract large crowds. If you see a threatening or intimidating situation, do not try to make your way through it. Turn around and move to safety.”
The Canadian government also alerted its citizens about the demonstrations, cautioning them to expect disruptions in traffic and public transportation and warning that protests could become violent unexpectedly.
They advised vigilance, adherence to local authorities’ instructions, and continuous monitoring of local media for updates.
The Canadian advisory noted, “Nationwide demonstrations are planned between July 29 and August 5, 2024. They could disrupt traffic and public transportation and could turn violent at any time.”
These advisories reflect heightened concerns over the planned nationwide protests and their potential impact on safety and security in Nigeria.
Some aggrieved Nigerians have scheduled August 1-10, 2024 for a protest to express their discomfort over what they described as bad governance.
