PROTESTS AND RIOTS IN NIGERIA; APPLICATIONS AND IMPLICATION FOR NATIONAL ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

Public opinion expressed through organized protests is a long-standing concept which forms an integral component of the nation's pre-colonial and post-colonial environment, not just in the twenty-first century, but dating back to the medieval ages. Protests and demonstrations have traditionally been at the core of democratic and political discourse. Though the dynamics differ throughout dispensations, one aspect remains constant: the goals of pushing for change and expressly expressing dissatisfaction with a policy. However, the recent trends of violence deflate its importance in political decision-making processes. This paper evaluates the prevalence of protest in Nigeria, its root causes, effects and why protest failed to achieve its main objectives. Getting a glimpse of the past agitation in Nigeria from the following: the demands, the organizers, the setbacks, and the successes. This information is important to assess how these protests and demonstrations affect the socioeconomic welfare of the nation. This paper posits that disunity among protesters, corruption, excessive use of force by authorities, violence amongst others constitute the reasons why protest fail to achieve its objectives. This paper offers possible procedures on how protests can be effective in addressing identified challenges through stake holder consultation, deliberate policy initiation, implementations and application.