Kimpact Development Initiative, KDI, a civil society organization, has published an evaluation study on the #EndBadGovernance Movement titled “Beyond the Protest” ahead of the trial of #EndBadGovernance demonstrators in the Federal High Court in Abuja on January 29, 2025.
Attendees were the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, Development Partners, and the media. The paper was presented in Abuja.
In a welcome statement, Bukola Idowu, the Executive Director of KDI, had previously highlighted that the publication of KDI’s findings about the #EndBadGovernance protest continues to be a significant turning point in Nigeria’s sociopolitical development.
Idowu asserted that the #EndBadGovernance protest, along with others like #EndSARS, has demonstrated the incredible ability of citizen action to influence the country’s future. He also said that security agencies should take a less combative stance when responding to protests in order to build trust and promote productive communication between the public and the government.
He stated, “Our study delves into the complexities and implications of protests in Nigeria, examining critical dimensions such as regional responses, governance implications, human rights, the rule of law, and the transformative role of social media in amplifying civic action.
“The importance of this study cannot be overstated. Nigeria has a history of protests dating back to the colonial era; however, recent movements have demonstrated that protests are not merely expressions of dissent but powerful catalysts for social change.
“By exploring the #EndBadGovernance movement, we aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors driving protests, their impact on governance and human rights, and the role social media plays in shaping civic action.
“This report transcends being a mere research output; it is a clarion call to action. We aspire for our findings to inform policy decisions, guide advocacy efforts, and inspire ordinary citizens to actively engage in promoting good governance, human rights, and social justice.
However, the KDI boss recommended that, “Protests should not always end at the protest day; after the 10 days what happens? So our recommendation is that protests should not always end on the day. After we leave the streets, what are we doing? And that is exactly our recommendation that we need to take our protests beyond the streets to the boardroom where we engage policy makers to drive that change. Formalized Citizen Engagement; Post-Protest Dialogues; Non-Coercive Responses; Youth Empowerment; and Government Reframing of Protests.’’
During a panel discussion following the report’s presentation, CSP Isuku Victor Edailokun, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), defended the arrest, custody, and arraignment of seven-year-old protesters.