A grassroots coalition known as the Nigeria Patriotic Front Movement (NPFM) has announced ambitious plans for a nationwide demonstration to launch on August 1, 2025. Citing escalating poverty, widespread unemployment, and what it accuses the government of allowing—a rule of “Bandit Capitalists”—the group aims to turn public frustration into a potent show of force. Protesters across major cities will rally behind the rallying cry “WE DON’T TAYA TO CARRY SHIT”, a blunt expression of exhaustion in Pidgin English.

This movement follows the #EndBadGovernance protests of August 2024, which began with peaceful marches and later saw curfews imposed in Yobe, Kano, and other states after some violence erupted. The NPFM now seeks to reinvigorate those demands, arguing that economic relief has not reached the masses, and that poor governance continues to worsen living conditions.

Context: A Nation Living on Edge

Since President Bola Tinubu took office, Nigeria has experienced an economic inflection point. Following sweeping reforms—including fuel subsidy removal, naira liberalization, and monetary tightening—cost of living has soared. Inflation peaked at over 34% in mid-2024, with food inflation reaching nearly 41%. Many households found it impossible to afford basic staples.

By August 2024, Nigerians’ frustration ignited under the banner #EndBadGovernance. Tens of thousands of protesters took to streets from Abuja to Lagos, calling out corruption, poor policy, and relentless poverty. Authorities imposed 24-hour curfews in Kano, Yobe, and Borno, and security forces used force. As of that first day, reports counted at least 14 fatalities across states, with another 24 deaths confirmed later in Amnesty reports. Authorities arrested more than 1,100 people in a nationwide crackdown.

Despite these protests, high food prices, runaway unemployment, and insecurity persisted. As of June 2025, poverty and hunger reached critical levels. By that time, 33 million people were projected to fall into food insecurity by the following year. Meanwhile, the IMF urged stronger social safety nets and tighter inflation controls .

NPFM’s Launch and Demands

Announced via flyer and coordinated through social media, the NPFM’s planned protests will begin on August 1, 2025—exactly one year after the nationwide #EndBadGovernance demonstrations. The movement described the demonstrations as citizens’ rising “for every Nigerian suffering in silence,” and listed three urgent demands:

1. End systemic graft and dismantle corrupt government practices.

2. Protect Nigeria’s future, especially for youth facing blank prospects.

3. Empower the voice of citizens without fear of prosecution or intimidation.

Using hashtag #EndBadGovernance, the movement echoes its 2024 predecessor. It signals a refusal to accept hollow economic recovery plans that fail to reach the average Nigerian.

Why Now? Pressure Cooked to Boiling Point

Several factors converged to escalate tensions:

• Surging inflation: Food and energy prices remain unaffordable. Bread, rice, and fuel took massive price jumps.

• Unemployment: Official rates exceed 30%, but youth unemployment may be even higher.

• Security breakdown: Kidnappings, banditry, and communal violence disrupt daily life.

• Economic reforms fallout: Liberalized markets and subsidy cuts have not delivered promised welfare. Instead, many now question whom the reforms truly serve.

NPFM contends that these realities create a perfect storm that invalidates any attempt to portray economic improvements. They argue that real change must start from the streets.

Lessons from 2024: Risks and Rewards

Experts warn that mass protests in Nigeria often shift from peaceful to chaotic due to poor planning and low coordination. In 2024, security forces swiftly responded with excessive force—tear gas, live rounds, detentions—orchestrated shutdowns of major roads, and sweeping arrests. Notably, 24 protesters died, and over 1,100 were detained.

Yet experts also note that this wave of unrest brought attention to poverty, inflation, and inequality. In response, the government unveiled measures such as distributing grains, raising the minimum wage (from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000), creating student loan schemes, and funding infrastructure . However, critics remain skeptical, citing inconsistent implementation and lack of data for targeted delivery.

How Government May Respond

The Tinubu administration has already reacted defensively. Ahead of the August 2024 protests, President Tinubu addressed citizens, pledging to “listen” and calling for patience while promising active reforms. Government agencies issued warnings against protests, while opposition voices suggested some protests risked hijacking.

This time NPFM faces a more hostile environment: security agencies remain prepared, and political leaders continue to condemn protesters as disrupting national stability. Nonetheless, civil society activists argue that depression and desperation are mounting.

Implications and Stakes

NPFM’s demonstration could redefine Nigeria’s social contract:

• If peaceful and well-organized, it may pressure the government to deliver tangible relief: lower food prices, unemployment interventions, and debt relief.

• If it turns violent, it risks prompt crackdowns, arbitrary arrests, and a possible spiral into unrest.

• If ignored, public outrage could fractalize, empowering extremist groups or fueling broader instability.

Heightened risks remain: tissues of unrest across West Africa show that small frustrations escalate, especially under severe inequality and faltering governance.

Looking Ahead

As August 1 approaches, key questions loom:

1. Will NPFM secure permits, or will security forces ban the protests preemptively?

2. Can protest architects avoid violence, or will hardliners hijack the agenda?

3. How will the government balance reforms with order maintenance?

4. Will fears of international and investor backlash deter bold reaction, or will Tinubu’s team follow past patterns of restraint?

In the past, protests have forced transitional minima. Yet Nigeria still has pressing issues: grain shortages, youth malaise, skyrocketing housing costs, and infrastructure breakdown. Without addressing these, civic resistance may worsen.

Conclusion

By mobilizing under “No Food. No Jobs. No Future”, NPFM is tapping into widespread economic discontent. If successful, it could reignite calls for accountable governance in Nigeria. However, the past demonstrates that social movements can either reset political trajectories or spiral into conflict.

Incoming weeks will reveal whether Nigeria’s democracy can absorb another uprising and whether citizens will reclaim political leverage—or pay a high price for it.