ActionAid Nigeria Calls for Respect of Citizens’ Rights and End to the Harassment of Protesters by Security Agencies

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria stands at a critical juncture where safeguarding citizens’ rights is essential to maintaining democratic principles. ActionAid Nigeria condemns the recent unlawful detentions and harassment of peaceful protesters, including minors, by security agencies. These actions undermine democratic values and represent a troubling escalation in the suppression of citizens’ rights and free expression.
We are particularly concerned about reports surrounding the treatment of underaged Nigerians who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protests in August 2024. The Constitution and the Child Rights Act make it clear that minors are not to be treated like adults in cases where the law is violated. In this case, there’s no evidence of these children being involved in the act of treason, yet they have been subjected to a reality most kids their age would never know in their lifetime. This shows the failure to uphold the Nigerian Child Rights Act, which guarantees children’s right to protection from harm and neglect.
It is deeply troubling that in a democratic nation, peaceful protest a fundamental human right enshrined in both Nigeria’s Constitution and international law continues to be suppressed with such ruthless disregard. Detaining and humiliating underaged protesters are a blatant contravention of the Nigerian Child Rights Act, which explicitly provides for children’s right to protection from harm, abuse, and neglect. This Act, ratified to ensure the dignity and welfare of children in Nigeria, is starkly violated by the government’s failure to protect, rather than punish, vulnerable young citizens seeking a voice against the hardships that threaten their future.
As a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Nigeria also agreed that minors should be given a shot at rehabilitation, not harsh judgment. The law even demands that minors be kept in separate facilities from adults and prioritises juvenile courts for their cases, aiming for rehabilitation, not punishment. But we saw how the court put a huge price tag on the freedom of these 67 minors granting them bail of ₦10 million each. These children now face a tough task of finding a surety to stand for them.
Nigeria’s leadership is entrusted with the mandate to protect and serve its citizens. Addressing systemic issues of poverty, inequality, and insecurity should be the focus of state efforts. Misusing security operatives and other agencies to limit freedom of expression and intimidate citizens could have a lasting impact on Nigeria’s democratic standing and the trust of its people.
ActionAid Nigeria calls for an immediate review of the circumstances under which these minor protesters were detained. We urge the swift release of those held and ask for a renewed commitment to the human rights principles that underpin a strong democracy. The right to protest is a fundamental aspect of democratic governance, and we believe that every Nigerian deserves the freedom to voice their concerns in a safe environment.
The government’s legitimacy is derived from the people. We encourage an approach that prioritizes dialogue and respect for democratic freedoms to build trust and foster progress for all Nigerians.
In Solidarity.
Signed: Andrew Mamedu, Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria
Editors’ notes
ActionAid Nigeria is a national non-governmental, non-partisan, non-religious, civil society organisation, and an affiliate member of the ActionAid International Federation with presence in 45 countries. It works in solidarity with people living in poverty and exclusion to achieve social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication towards achieving a just, equitable and sustainable world in which every person enjoys the right to a life of dignity, freedom from poverty and all forms of oppression.

ActionAid Nigeria Calls for Respect of Citizens’ Rights and End to the Harassment of Protesters by Security Agencies

ActionAid Nigeria Says Relentless Fuel Price Hikes Have become A Ticking Time Bomb for Poor and Vulnerable Nigerians

By: Michael Mike

ActionAid Nigeria has cried that the persistent increases in fuel prices have brought Nigerians to their knees, and worsening the already dire situations of poverty and hunger in the country, raising the alarm that as Nigerians continue to eke a living with the present situation of things in the country there may be increase in kidnapping, armed robberies, and other violent crimes,

Speaking in Abuja, ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu lamented that the latest series of increases has made life unbearable for struggling families, small business owners, and vulnerable communities who are barely managing to make a living.

He said: “We foresee that this economic hardship and hopelessness may likely create a fertile ground for crimes to thrive, with kidnapping, armed robberies, and other violent crimes, especially during the festive season. Transportation costs have also more than doubled, and food has become a luxury that many cannot afford. As it stands, Nigeria’s healthcare system is also affected, with recent reports indicating that at least 50% of private hospitals have been forced to shut down, while those that remain are barely surviving due to high operating costs. This has devastating consequences for Nigerians, leaving many without access to proper healthcare services. The government’s inadequacies in providing pro-poor policies have created an economic and social crisis that threatens all spheres of our society.’’

Mamedu also lamented that despite a recent drop in global crude oil prices, fuel prices in Nigeria continue to soar due to the naira’s persistent decline against the US dollar.

He also reiterated that within less than a year, the price of crude oil has reduced from $80.36 in August 2024 for a barrel to $74.05 in October 2024. However, Nigerian consumers are not benefiting from this decline due to the country’s volatile currency exchange rates

ActionAid Nigeria questions the Federal Government’s decision to refrain from purchasing petrol from Dangote Refinery, noting that: “In a free-market economy, consumers naturally gravitate toward the most affordable option. So, is Dangote Refinery’s fuel truly not cheaper? If so, why? Or are there underlying policies or regulatory factors in Nigeria that inflate the cost of this petrol, making imports more favourable?”

Mamedu further decried that Nigeria’s ranking in the 2024 Ibrahim Index of African Governance has dropped to 33rd out of 54 African countries, highlighting the corrosive impact of corruption and poor governance on the country’s development, “with alarming scores in inclusion (47%), equality (43%), and infrastructure (41%), the report underscores the urgent need for institutional reforms. The entrenched corruption and weak institutions perpetuate poverty, affecting 62.8% of Nigerians, while hindering economic growth and undermining national progress.”

He noted that: “To break this cycle, Nigeria must prioritise transparency, invest in critical infrastructure, and implement social protection policies to address disparities in healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, ultimately unlocking its potential for inclusive growth and development.”

The Country Director said: “The nation is witnessing unprecedented levels of poverty, inequality, and hardship. The slow and inadequate response of the Nigerian Labour Union and civil society is also concerning. The situation in Nigeria right now is multidimensional, and to address the worsening economic situation, ActionAid Nigeria demands that the federal government makes fuel prices affordable for Nigerians, improves transparency and accountability in the oil sector, and better manages the exchange rate to stabilize fuel costs. We cannot afford to continually endure the Federal Government’s lack of pro-poor actions. The government must take concrete steps to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians and ensure that the country’s resources benefit its citizens.”

ActionAid Nigeria is a national non-governmental, non-partisan, non-religious, civil society organisation, and an affiliate member of the ActionAid International Federation with presence in 45 countries. It works in solidarity with people living in poverty and exclusion to achieve social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication towards achieving a just, equitable and sustainable world in which every person enjoys the right to a life of dignity, freedom from poverty and all forms of oppression.

ActionAid Nigeria Says Relentless Fuel Price Hikes Have become A Ticking Time Bomb for Poor and Vulnerable Nigerians

33.1 million Nigerians Face Severe Food Shortages by Mid-2025- Report

By: Michael Mike

Approximately 33.1 million Nigerians, including over 514,000 displaced persons in Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara states, are projected to face severe food shortages between June and August 2025.

These findings were presented at the 2024 Cadre Harmonisé National Validation and Consolidation Result Presentation in Abuja on Friday, underscoring urgent concerns about food security as the lean season approaches.

According to the report, a mix of rising inflation, a weakened currency, and disrupted livelihoods has drastically reduced households’ ability to secure sufficient food.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Temitope Fashedemi represented by the Director of Nutrition and Food Security, Nuhu Kilishi cautioned that the situation is critical and demands immediate attention.

He urged that the findings from the Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis be adopted for planning and implementing food and nutrition security interventions across federal ministries, the 26 CH states, the humanitarian community, and other partners active in Nigeria.

Fashedemi said: “The results being presented today are for the 26 CH participating states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The November, 2024 CH results is apt and comes at this phase of economic stress when we are still grappling with the removal of fuel subsidies which has sent ripples through the agricultural sector.

“The major effect is the increased transportation costs due to the high fuel prices, negatively impacting agricultural production. With the spike in fuel prices, transportation costs have soared, squeezing farmers profit margins and potentially driving up food prices for consumers, and not forgetting the daunting insecurity situation which has continued to threaten Nigeria’s food and nutrition security. Obviously, these challenges have led to disruptions in food system (food production, distribution, marketing and even stocking mechanisms), resulting in poor consumption patterns among several households especially, in areas affected by insecurity.

“My Ministry applauds the financial and technical contribution of FAO, CILSS, WFP, Save the children international for the advocacy and level 1 certification training for the remaining ten states. Hopefully, before the end of year 2025, we would work to mainstream all the thirty-six (36) states of the country in the CH analysis.”

The meeting further recommended that federal and state governments sustain humanitarian actions, invest in climate-smart agriculture, prioritize agribusiness SMEs, develop early warning systems, and allocate budgetary support for CH analysis, among other measures.

33.1 million Nigerians Face Severe Food Shortages by Mid-2025- Report