Lagos State witnessed peaceful rallies on Democracy Day, June 12, with the Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Olohundare, applauding Lagosians and civil society groups for their orderliness and responsible conduct.
EpeInsights reports that the Police Commissioner deployed officers to major hotspots across the state, including Lekki Tollgate, Ikeja Underbridge, Maryland and Ojota to ensure a hitch-free celebration.
Speaking to The Guardian during an oversight visit to Ojota, CP Olohundare shared that he had earlier met with 15 civil society organisations (CSOs) involved in the protest.
“Our focus was to maintain peace and order. Freedom of expression is fundamental to democracy, and we ensured that everyone exercised this right safely,” he said.
He described Democracy Day as a moment of jubilation, commending the turnout of Nigerians—both those celebrating and those demanding change.
“We provided security for everyone. The protests were peaceful, and celebrations went smoothly across Lagos. Beyond protecting the protesters, we ensured the safety of millions of other Lagosians observing the day in various ways,” CP Olohundare added.
Among the protesters were members of the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) and the Take It Back Movement, who used the occasion to spotlight deep-seated issues plaguing the nation—particularly in educati
on, unemployment and economic hardship.
The National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, Michael Adaramoye Lenin, condemned what he described as systemic exploitation and neglect by the government.
“Every year, over two million students purchase JAMB forms, but our tertiary institutions can only admit 700,000. The rest are left stranded, not because they failed, but because of inadequate infrastructure,” Lenin stated, referencing recent data from the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He also criticized the JAMB system as a revenue tool rather than a fair academic gatekeeping mechanism.
“Is JAMB a test of academic performance or a cash machine? Over 1.3 million students are milked annually, and yet the institutions can’t admit them. That’s a failure of governance,” he said.
The activist further lamented the state of Nigeria’s public education, pointing to a UNICEF report stating that 18.3 million children are currently out of school, more than the population of the Netherlands.
“This is a ticking time bomb. These vulnerable children are easy prey for criminal networks and extremist groups,” Lenin warned.
According to the protesters, the government’s introduction of a student loan scheme under the Tinubu administration falls short of meaningful reform.
Instead, they called for UNESCO’s recommended 26% budgetary allocation for education, a far cry from current figures.
They also decried rising youth unemployment, now estimated at over 56%, and blamed decades of privatization for stripping away public enterprises that once provided jobs and stability.
“Many of today’s leaders enjoyed subsidized education. Now, they send their own children abroad while Nigerian youths, even with degrees, are forced into menial jobs just to survive,” Lenin added.
“From POS vendors to okada riders, that’s the reality for too many graduates today.”
