Reflecting on #EndSARS

Unprecedented in its scale and popular support in the country’s democratic era, the #EndSARS protests of 2020 brought to the fore the dissatisfaction Nigerians feel about sections of the Nigerian police force and issues of bad governance more broadly. A grievance with arbitrary abuse of police power which began as a hashtag on Twitter in 2017 suddenly burst onto the streets and caught the world’s attention. 

Not only did the protests manifest the power of social media, they expressed Nigerians’ and especially the youth’s desire for participatory politics outside of conventional and party politics. Though the protests may not have delivered entirely on expected outcomes and lost direction following the tragic events at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos on 20 October 2020, they showcased the determination, inventiveness and hunger for new ideas of Nigeria’s younger generations. Importantly, the protests also saw young women leading in inspiring ways and standing tall in the face of intimidation. 

One year later, there are important questions regarding the protests’ legacy and the way forward to be reflected upon: what is left of the momentum and the enthusiasm about the possibility for change that the protests created at the time? What are some of the lessons for Nigerian politics, intergenerational relationships, and the citizens’ demands for reforms? In what ways can we create spaces for young activists, especially women, to exercise their rights without the fear of backlash?  And, how can we protect the civic space in Nigeria in the face of growing pressures?

The Heinrich Böll Foundation hosted an online dialogue event with civil society leaders and thinkers to discuss these issues and questions. Below are some of their reflections and thoughts.