MoreBranches

Author: Enioluwa Adeoluwa

  • How the Nigerian Government Is Trying To Stop The #EndSARS Protest Without Doing Any Work

    How the Nigerian Government Is Trying To Stop The #EndSARS Protest Without Doing Any Work

    The #EndSars movement is continuously growing, and even recently, Nigerian youths have proven that they are powerful enough to stand up for themselves in the face of oppression. From organizing medical care to bailing protesters out of police custody, to donating to fund the protest, handling the logistics of it, and receiving support from Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter. Nigerian youths are proving that they can stand up for themselves without the government, and the government is showing no support. Peaceful protesters have received no protection from the government whatsoever. The Nigerian police force even within the protest to end police brutality has used bullets instead of rubber bullets to restrain protesters, leaving over 15 people dead and several injured.

    Often, with protests, political officials and other targets of protests may offer short-term solutions and propose policy solutions that may not end up being effective but to suppress the protest. One way the Nigerian government has done this is by providing SWAT, which is a replica of SARS but with a different name. The day this development was announced, Nigerian youths took to social media with the hashtag #EndSwat calling for an end to all reforms of the corrupt police unit. The Nigerian government is finding ways to end the protests without finding or developing policies that would provide solutions to the requests of the protesters.

    Pro-Sars Protesters

    On Wednesday, the 15th of October, hoodlums attacked protesters with daggers, knives, and other weapons in the Berger area of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city. The pro-SARS assemblage went on to destroy cars and harass passers-by. Images shared from the location show Nigerian Police officials standing by, doing nothing, and watching as the group attacks protesters. At least five cars were destroyed by the hoodlums, while an unconfirmed number of the protesters sustained injuries.

    NYSC Camps Resume

    The National Youth Service Corps camp has been put on hold since the coronavirus pandemic started. The service year, which is a mandatory year for all young adults who have finished from higher institutions. The National Youth Service Corps orientation camp will resume next month, on the 10th of November, the minister for youth and sports Sunday Dare said.

    Nigerian Army issues threats

    The Nigerian military through a Facebook post by the Army spokesman Col Sagir Musa has issued a warning to “subversive elements and trouble makers” to desist after a week of protests about police brutality. He went on to offer to “support the civil authority in whatever capacity to maintain law and order and deal with any situation decisively”. The Nigerian army has a bloody history of dealing with civilians’ disobedience, as there are many reports of force and brutality when dealing with civilians. Many suspects that this would only make things worse and increase grievances amongst protesters.

    ASUU Holds Closed-door Meeting With The Federal Government

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities has been on strike since February 2020 over the insistence of the Federal Government to implement the IPPIS in the university system. This means that students of Nigerian higher institutions have been at home for nine months without any educational training, which is about a year in the academic calendar. In a day, the government resumes meeting with the union, and plans to call off the strike are already in place. Many have suspected that this is a tactic to make young adults go back to school and possibly reduce the power of the protest.

    Thugs Attack Protesters

    Thugs suspected to be sponsored by the government launched an attack, again, on peaceful #ENDSARS protesters demonstrating at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    It may seem shocking that police and security operatives guarding the state’s Assembly were missing as the thugs arrived in a Government approved BRT bus.

    https://twitter.com/crhedrys/status/1316384901936144384?s=21

    The protesters have now gotten private security to guard them and protect them while they go on with demanding justice and putting an end to the corrupt police unit.

    All Donation Accounts Were Frozen

    We had earlier written about how the Nigerian government had flagged all account for the #EndSars protest. You can read more here.

    EndSars Protest Banned in Abuja

    The FCT Security Committee has just announced a ban on all #EndSARS street demonstrations, protests, and processions anywhere in Abuja.

    Nigerians have been protesting nationwide for over a week for the scrapping of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force, a unit with a long history of abuse of power. The Committee accused protesters of violating COVID-19 guidelines regulating public gatherings, as well as endangering their own lives.

    It is hilarious that the state is using COVID-19 as an excuse as campaign rallies held in Edo and Ondo states with thousands gathered and no one flagged them for disobeying COVID-19 regulations. Also, NYSC camps would be resuming with thousands of young adults sleeping in over-congested rooms, and no one is worried about the safety of the individuals in the centre even as the coronavirus pandemic is still on.

    Where these rallies banned?

    It Is Beyond You

    It is essential that for there to be solutions and an end to the protest, the Nigerian government works consciously to resolving all of the issues raised by protesters. Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana, a singer, actor and son of famous activist, Femi Falana pens an open letter to the President. In the open letter, he calls for a committee to be set up if human rights mattered to the government.

    The government may have made so many promises to the protesters; nevertheless, the protesters vow to remain until they see steps and actions being taken to ensure that these promises are implemented.

  • Queer Lives Matter as Much as any in the Struggle to #EndSARS. In Conversation With Queer Rights Activist Matthew Blaise

    Queer Lives Matter as Much as any in the Struggle to #EndSARS. In Conversation With Queer Rights Activist Matthew Blaise

    The #EndSars protests within the country have continued, with today marking the 6th day of the protest. We have seen youths in different circles stand up for themselves and finding innovative ways to keep the protest on. The LGBTQ community is one of the circles, and they are using the protest to ensure that liberation isn’t for one person alone but everyone.

    In a recent video Queer rights activist, Matthew Blaise dressed in a crop top is seen chanting ‘Queer Lives Matter’ in the ongoing protest. The video which now has over 3 million views and has been retweeted by so many international activists and celebrities such as Jay Versace, Jackie Aina, Bretman Rock and a host of others has been commended not only for his bravery for speaking up but also inspiring others to speak up and stand for their truth.

    https://twitter.com/Blaise_21/status/1314973937533702149

    We spoke to Matthew Blaise whose images are saved on my phone as Icon Living is one of the forerunners of the ‘Queer Lives Matter’ Movement in the country amongst so many others. The activist explains that he has been racially profiled by the same corrupt police unit, SARS based ‘Perceived Gay’ on the 10th of July, 2020 he reports how the police held him up in a series of a thread posted on the social media platform, Twitter.

    https://twitter.com/Blaise_21/status/1281559951706595330

    The hate towards people of the LGBTQ+ community has continuously been a topic for discussion within several human rights groups. In Nigeria, you are liable to face 10-14 years in jail for same-sex marriage and participating in any social group that is LGBTQ+ this was placed in law by the country’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan. Matthew says that;

     The dehumanisation of LGBTQ+ folks in Africa is so apparent. You don’t need anybody to even tell you about it.  Homosexuality is legal in just 22 African countries out of 54. Gay people can be killed by stoning in countries where Sharia law is practised like Northern Nigeria. Life imprisonment in 4 African countries. In Nigeria, we have the ten and the 14 years imprisonment punishment. Just for homosexuality, gay people don’t even have to only deal with the SSMPA here. They have to deal with police officers who misinterpret the law just to extort, blackmail, torture, harass, threaten and justify their unlawful actions. Gay people get denied jobs/local opportunities based on ‘perceived sexuality. No legal backing for gay people. So a gay person can be beaten or killed on the street, and no governmental organisation will do anything about it. It’s that bad.

    Everyone needs to speak up even when it does not affect you. Be an ally and let people know when you stand. He says, ‘You wouldn’t say you care about LGBTQ+ folks, but when LGBTQ+ issues come up, you ignore them. You do not retweet or contribute, especially in a country like Nigeria. You’re a big joke. If you care about Queer liberation, add you wouldn’t know‘

    The activist has sparked a movement, with so many members of the LGBTQ+ community, coming out to speak up and protesting with the hashtag; #QueerLivesMatter. ‘It is a movement, one that has never been seen before in the country but they are not stopping now‘, the activist says that there is still a long way to go, but we are not where we used to be.

    https://twitter.com/Blaise_21/status/1316059381604249603

    “Silence in the face of injustice is complicity with the oppressor”  

    Ginetta Sagan

    Why is it important to speak up?

    We have the opportunity to liberate ourselves only if we allow it, and that is the truth, says Matthew. Despite Nigerian being one of the most homophobic countries in the world, Young Queer Nigerians are using social media platforms to liberate themselves, sensitise individuals and make them ‘know that we exist’.

    It’s better to speak up and let your voice be heard.

    Joanna Oala

    Speaking to Victor Emmanuel who recently came out to his family he says that; the SARS unit of the Nigerian Police have been doing the exact opposite of what they were created for. Instead of protecting lives and properties, they have endangered lives, and as a matter of fact, minority groups have faced their heat in the worst way possible. I consider myself lucky not to have encountered them, yet, but because of my positioning in the LGBTQIAP+ space in Nigeria, I get a lot of reports from members of the community who have had to deal with this menace.

    From my close friends to acquaintances, to people I have never met before, I get complaints, at least twice a week of police brutality meted on them due to their sexuality. The Nigerian queer community as it is endangered, and I’m glad to see queer Nigerians inserting their voices, being loud, during the current #ENDSARS protest. Led by Queer Activist and my very good friend, Matthew Blaise, more queer people across the country have risen and are demanding that their voices be heard too. And I’m very proud to be alive to see it. Of course, more work needs to be done to amplify our voices and ultimately get us our liberation. It opens this energy, this anger, this rage and determination doesn’t waver because as the revolution has started, I believe it only gets louder.

    https://twitter.com/Blaise_21/status/1316057288948568064

    Nevertheless, it is essential to note that the responsibility to speak out does not rest on members of the LGBTQI+ community alone we must continuously speak up through whatever platforms that we have to make our country a safer place for all marginalised groups, including queer people.

     #QueerLivesMatter.

  • The HashTag Is Simple & Clear – #EndSWAT

    The HashTag Is Simple & Clear – #EndSWAT

    The Nigeria Police Force has announced the creation of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit to replace the recently-dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    The announcement was made earlier today by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu in a press briefing promising that all members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) would also be in Abuja for debriefing, psychological and medical examination. They will be retrained before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties.

    This is clearly not helping the situation get better in any way.

    Nigerian Youths have started the new hashtag #EndSWAT as we are stuck on pushing for the Reformation of the Nigerian Police Force and complete disbandment of SARS not the rebranded version.

    Why doesn’t SWAT work?

    Nigerian Youths have clearly stated what the problem is and what needs to be done to bring a solution and it’s as clear as the #EndSARS hashtag that was created to send this message. Creating another division that is probably modeled after SARS a solution isn’t a solution, one they’ve tried in 2017 when F-SARS was announced.

    Making a new police division with the same existing members does not serve as a reformation, neither does it serve as a solution to the existing problems. 

    Introducing a new system that does not work while protesters are still out protesting, would only fuel protest even more.

    Also, previous statements of the IGP to dissolute the SARS unit has failed to put an end to the protests that started last week.

    Several deaths have been recorded in Oyo and Lagos state in the past few days, with reports of police brutality in places like Nassarawa, Abuja the capital city of the country.

    Youths are calling for the resignation of the IGP as regards the conduct of his officials during the peaceful protests and his lack of authority with dealing with the unit.

    What works?

    Nigerian Youths are asking that there should be an arrest of all officers who have killed and brutalized protesters, especially those who can be identified.

    The message is clear and simple. Reform the police force and put an end to Police brutality in the country.

    As part of law enforcement, police officers have four major responsibilities:

    • Enforcing laws.
    • Preventing crimes.
    • Responding to emergencies.
    • Providing support services.

    Nigerian Police Force has clearly failed in all of these. #EndSWATNOW

  • CBN Disables All Donation Links To The #EndSARS protest.

    CBN Disables All Donation Links To The #EndSARS protest.

    The #EndSars protest has received international attention as Nigerians continue to call for better leadership in Government, nevertheless, the Nigerian government isn’t backing down. The Nigerian government today disabled all donating links to the #EndSars Protest through the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    https://twitter.com/feminist_co/status/1315990586898485248

    To donate please use this link:

    Bitcoin: 1CWdxSTKang1toEv2an1AY3z8cuwiapyno (BTC Address)

    Before now, just like the protest, the funding of the protests have been decentralized. The costs of the protests are funded through donations coming from Nigerians at home and abroad. Nigerian Youths are still not backing down and looking for more innovative ways to fund the protest.

    The Flutterwave links aren’t working right now. Please use these account details in the meantime while it is sorted out:

    7822416977 – Wema Bank 

    Flutterwave Account Funding

    More information to come.

    #SarsMustEnd

  • #SARSMUSTEND: A Faceless Protest and Their Fight To End Police Brutality

    #SARSMUSTEND: A Faceless Protest and Their Fight To End Police Brutality

    Over the last few days, we’ve been covering the #ENDSARS protest in Nigeria. The peaceful protest as a way for young Nigerians to raise their voices against the issue of police brutality and the failure of the President repeatedly turning a blind eye to the outcry of young people all over the country. Nigerian youths have become even more outraged by the senseless killings of at least 10 Nigerians and maltreatment of peaceful protesters across the country in the last few days by the Nigerian police the very thing they are protesting against.

    It is therefore essential to state that the message and demand are clear and Nigerian Youths are not settling for anything else. The protest has continued across the streets of Nigeria, with even more violent occurrences happening in several parts of the country. 8 people have been reported dead in Ogbomoso, Ogun State including a 10-Year-Old boy yesterday, and 2 confirmed dead in Surulere, Lagos State today.

    For the first time since the start of the protest, the President addressed the country publicly, on the morning of Monday, 12th of October, The Governor of Lagos State also visited protesters at the Lekki-Ikoyi gate where protesters have locked up movement from 4:00 A.M in the morning, (a major source of revenue for the state) but Youths are no backing down.

    Both haven’t said a concrete plan of how the police will be reformed and are still maneuvering around absolutely ending SARS and bringing the officers who’ve killed innocent civilians to trial. Instead, both the President and Lagos State Governor have been running social media propagandas making them look like saints.

    https://twitter.com/MoreBranches/status/1315646480988991499?s=20

    During the weekend, the Nigerian Government announced that they have disbanded the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, and moved members of this police unit to other units in the police force. Though this might be a very tiny first step, it doesn’t actually solve the problem especially when you carefully read part 2 & 3 of the statement which essentially says – ‘instead of disbanding the SARS unit, they’ll be getting transferred and to expect ‘rebranded SARS divison’ in the near future’. The solutions did not sit well with Nigerian youths, as changing the Uniforms of persons does not change the person or their character.

    What the youths are calling for is better accountability from the President. Here are the demands from as of today:

    1. Direct address from the President, stating the exact strategic steps been taken.
    2. Release of all protestors who are currently held in custody.
    3. A top-down structural reform of the entire Nigerian Police Form.
    4. An assurance that all ex-SARS officials who have committed crimes punishable by the law to be held accountable.
    5. SARS operatives to hand over their Identification Cards, and state-given ammunition with proof
    6. Immediate resignation of the of IGP based on their inability to prevent violence against civilians by the Police during peaceful #ENDSARS protests.
    7. Justice for the family of the victims who have been affected one way or the other by Police brutality in the country.

    Latest Happenings!

    On Sunday, the 11th of October, 2020. Nigerian celebrities such as Wizkid, Runtown, Teni, Phyno, Don Jazzy, and Olamide joined the Nationwide protest and used their influence for a good cause to speak against Police Brutality in the country. The IGP invited a Nigerian musician, DavidO for a closed-door meeting. A meeting that involved other celebrities such as D-banj (one who uses police to intimidate others too) Segalink, Mercy Eke, Korede Bello, and some others. But the Youths are saying this protest has no leader and this is very essential to the progress of the protests. They are clamoring that any meeting that should be held should be opened door meetings with journalists and they should be able to know what is going on.

    Why The Protest Must Remain Faceless

    Around the world there has been a spring off of protests happening without leaders, leaderless protests movements have drawn thousand of people to the streets. From Hong Kong and Chile to Iraq and Lebanon, and now we are seeing this in Nigeria. People have utilized social media to whip up spontaneous, mostly nonviolent grassroots demonstrations against their respective governments—efforts they have vowed to sustain until all their demands are met.

    The success of these protests can be attributed in large part to social media, which has enabled participants to communicate and organize in a more decentralized way.

    This revolution does not need ahead, it needs a body and soul and we have that and that is all that matters, they cannot stop us now, the power is with the citizens we elected the officials, they should work for us.

    What Bayo, one of the peaceful protesters in Surulere who gave only his name had to say.

    There are no doubts that leaderless protests are more difficult to repress and many would attribute the longevity of the #EndSars Protests to this. Often times, leaders of protesters in the country are often picked up and arrested on the first day of the protest causing the protest to end, but this has no leader.

    Social media has allowed protesters to bypass the top to bottom leadership ladder, a movement you may call Clicktivism. For some others, the leaderless nature of the protest remains the essence of it and the only reason they participate in it says Tayo. After all, appointing leaders makes it easier for governments “to focus on them, to pick them off, to arrest them, kill them, denigrate them,”

    “You will still have a core group of several dozen or more people who will provide a lot of direction, but the rhetoric is very much against the emergence of traditional power structures,” says Tim Hardy, author of the UK-based blog Beyond Clicktivism.”

    Nevertheless, it is important to note that the lack of leaders may aggravate violence and tension as we have seen in recent times when protesters have no one to provide direction on how to confront the authorities. In a decentralized system instead, there are the numbers to call for medical aids, judicial aid, and financial aid during the protest (we have kept their names and numbers away from this article to protect their safety)

    A Consensual Agreement

    For a faceless protest to be successful it is essential that everyone understands the goal of the protest and they work by it. A general consensus about what they seek is essential especially for the future so there is accountability and organisation when the authority doesn’t do as they say.

    This is why it’s important for us all to know why we’re out there fighting, to get educated with the demands and changes we seek from the government and the police force to keep us all connected and unified in our collective fight against oppression.

    It is essential that for solutions to exist it takes both sides to make this work but as long as the Police keep using forceful actions and brutality in a protest against police brutality, there doesn’t seem to be an end to this.

    For many protesters, across the country the mindset is simple: We won’t stop until all our demands are met. They are calling for reformation, a Revolution, a Better country and that is not too much to ask.

  • #SayTheirNames – More Than Statistics

    #SayTheirNames – More Than Statistics

    For every name here, there are hundreds more

    The Nigerian government adopted a law criminalising torture in December 2017. However, to date, no one has been convicted of torture in a Nigerian court. Perpetrators of torture like the notorious Special Anti- Robbery Squad continue to act with impunity as if they are above the law. We must say the names of hundreds of our loved ones who have been gruesomely murdered by these bandits, in recognition that they are not just numbers, neither are they an addition to statistics. 

    Know these names. Say these names. Take action on behalf of these names.

    Adeyemo Rotimi

    Adeyemo Rotimi, a member of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) was murdered in cold blood by a suspected FSARS operative while discharging his lawful duties at his point in Iyana Ipaja on the 28th of November, 2018.

    APO SIX

    At just 25 and 22, when their love story was still budding, Ifeanyi and Augustina were gunned down in cold blood along with four of their friends by trigger happy police officers 15 years ago today in one of the most heinous extra-judicial killings Nigerians can remember. They would have been celebrating 15 years of marriage, if they were alive.

    Jimoh Isiaq

    Jimoh Isiaq was killed on the 10th of October, 2020 while protesting peacefully in Ogbomoso, Oyo State to #EndSars.

    Chima Ikwunado

    Chima, a mechanic, was arrested by police in Port Harcourt. While in detention, his family was extorted by the police. The police @PoliceNG falsely framed him with robbery to extort his family more. He was tortured more and died in police custody.

    Ifeoma Abugu

    She was arrested by SARS operatives at Lokogoma Abuja on 10 September. The next day Ifeoma Abugu died in SARS custody. Up to now, there were no answers on the circumstances of her death. The police claim she died of a cocaine overdose.

    Linda Igwetu

    Linda who was a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was on her way home with friends around 3 am on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, when she was killed by a police officer, identified as Inspector Benjamin Peters.

    Tochukwu Iro

    Tochukwu was a 42-year-old patent medicine dealer killed in Kano following an allegation that he refused to stop when ordered to do so by the police.

    Tiamiyu Kazeem

    Tiamiyu was a 21-year-old footballer who died after he was pushed out of a moving vehicle by the Special Anti Robbery Squad.

    Sadiq

    Sadiq, a 17-year-old boy, was at home on May 18, 2020, in Gwarimpa Abuja when SARS operatives stormed the house and shot him. SARS bullets damaged Sadiq’s bones. When his family demanded justice, the SARS leadership at Guzape threatened them.

    Livinus Okafor

    Livinus was arrested in August 2014 by #SARS in Anambra state. All efforts by his family to know his fate failed. Till today, no one knows the whereabouts of Livinus.

    Tina Ezekwe

    A stray bullet hit 17-year-old girl, Tina Ezekwe, who was standing at Berger, Iyana Oworo bus-stop in Lagos. The shot, as gathered, pierced through her left upper thigh. She was rushed to the hospital by some policemen, where she died on May 28th 2020.

    Chibuike Daniel Dominic, aka Sleek, 

    Daniel, 20-year-old was shot dead in Elelewo axis of Obi-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday, 19th of September, 2020.

    Kolade Johnson

    Kolade Johnson was shot and killed by operatives of the Gbagada division of the Special Anti Cultism Squad (SACS) of the Lagos State Police Command while watching a football match on Sunday, March 31, 2019.

    Babatunde Ramon Adeniji

    Ramon, a 39-year-old man was shot dead on Friday, 27th of December, 2019 at about 04:20 am around Eko Atlantic Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Emmanuel Egbo

    Emmanuel was a 15-year-old boy killed by a police officer in Enugu on 25 September 2008. He was playing with his fellow children and was unarmed.

    Aneke Okorie

    Aneke who was an Okada (motorcycle taxi) rider, was shot after he failed to pay a bribe to the police at a checkpoint in Emene, Enugu state, on 15 May 2009. He died on the way to the hospital.

    Stanley Adiele Uwakwe & Faka Tamunotonye Kalio

    They were arrested on 10 May and brought to Old GRA detention centre in Port Harcourt. After several days, they were transferred to another police station, but officers there told relatives that the men were not in detention. Unofficially, relatives were informed that the men had been killed by the police.

    NIGERIA: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS POLICE “KILL AT WILL”

    Iloanya Chijioke

    Chijioke was arrested in Nov. 2012 and was detained at SARS Awkuzu, Anambra state. His family has been asking questions and there were no answers; on his whereabouts. Till today, he is still declared missing.

    The government of Nigeria promised; SARS will be reformed in 2015; SARS will be reformed in 2017; FSARS will be disbanded in 2018; SARS will be restructured in 2019; SARS banned from patrols in 2020. However, they run unchecked to date.

    Today, citizens of the country are calling for an end to SARS and its operations in the country. Amnesty International research shows that young persons between the ages of 17 and 30 are at the most risk of arrest, torture or extortion by SARS. 

    Chukwuemeka Matthew Onovo

    Matthew aged 22, left his father’s house in Enugu on the morning of 4 July 2008. He died in a shoot-out by the police. The police claimed that Chukwuemeka Matthew Onovo was an armed robber, but an eyewitness said he was unarmed when he was killed. No one was held responsible.

    Chibuike Anams

    Chibuike Anams was a student aged 23, he was sitting with two friends at a guesthouse in Elimgbu, Rivers State, on 24 July 2009. When the police raided the guest house, he was shot and died on the spot.

    Christian Onuigbo

    Christian was shot on 19 March while he was parking his car in Jiwa, Federal Capital Territory. He spent the night at Jiwa police station and was taken to hospital the next morning. Staff at the hospital refused to treat him without a police report, which was finally submitted at 4 pm. Christian Onuigbo died the following day.

    Chika Ibeku,  Gabriel Ejoor Owoicho, Precious Odua, Johnson Nnaemeka

    All 4, were arrested by police on 7 April 2010. They were initially detained at Omoko Police station, where they were last seen by family members the following morning. Ibeku and three other men reported to have been held in Port Harcourt are now missing. The police’s refusal to disclose the whereabouts of Chika Ibeku is deeply troubling; Amnesty International suspects they were tortured and killed by the police. 

    Godgift Ferguson Ekerete (24), Tony Oruama (21), Harry Ataria (26), Mbakwe Oruama (20)

    GodsGift, 24, was arrested during a police raid in Port Harcourt alongside three others.

    On the morning of 3rd of July 2008, a busload of armed police officers wearing mufti intercepted a group of four men waiting for a bus at Rumuomasi in Port Harcourt to take them to a burial ceremony. The men took off in fear of their lives, and the policemen opened fire on them, arresting all four. According to Amnesty International, were all killed at the police station the same day.

    Daniel Adewuyi Tella

    Daniel Adewuyi Tella was a 27-year-old graduate of Banking and Finance. He was arrested on 7 February 2006 on his way home in Festac, Lagos. He died in Police custody.

    Femi Bello

    Femi Bello was a 300 level student of Economics at Kaduna State University, he had just finished his 2nd Semester exams with the hope of proceeding to his final year. He was tortured and killed on the 7th of December, 2019 by the Police.

    Don’t exactly know what to do?

    1. Understand

    Choose to understand that people who are angry, in pain, and have gone unheard for so long may choose actions they believe are necessary to be heard and to be seen.

    2. Educate Yourself.

    Educate yourself, you may not have experienced police brutality first hand, but many have. Listen to their stories, read up and educate yourself. 

    3. Speak Up

    Awareness and acknowledgement are the beginning steps to change. Silence is damaging. 

    4. Support 

    You can donate to the #EndSars movement here. Also, you can join a protest as so many are happening in the country right now.

    5. Vote

    Our vote is decisive. We can elect leaders on the local, state, and national levels who denounce the unfair treatment of people and put an end to police brutality in the country.

  • Here’s Some Amazing Instances Nigerian Women have Shown up to #ENDSARS

    Here’s Some Amazing Instances Nigerian Women have Shown up to #ENDSARS

    For the past two days, young Nigerians have protested nationwide, day and night to demanding the extermination of the police’ notorious special anti-robbery squad (SARS) unit.

    One thing is certain Nigerian women, online and offline have always been known to show out when it comes to leading protest and demanding for their rights; from the Aba women riots of 1929 to calling out sexual harassment with the Market March movement, these women have constantly proven that they are not afraid to lend their voices when needed and they are showing up once again with the protest against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad

    During the Lagos governorship election 2019, a viral video shows fashion influencer, popularly known as DerinfromIsaleEko speaking to then APC governorship candidate who is now Governor of Lagos state ate a downhill campaign on what he aims to do to improve the standard of living of people of the state when he is Governor. The video has made rounds on social media again, as citizens are calling the video a relevant piece for accountability against the Governor, Babjide Sanwo-Olu even at this time.

    https://twitter.com/derinola/status/1223680539711934464

    There has been a lot of anger and outcry online by the country’s young people over claims of kidnapping, harassment and extortion by the police unit known as the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS). Youths of the country have been protesting against this police unit day and night and the women are lending their voices yet again.

    What the women are doing?

    On Friday, 9th of October, 2020 Nigerian women came out in mass to speak up with chants such as ‘stop killing our children’ ‘looking good is not a crime’ ‘eyin ijoba e ma pa wa lomo mo awon ni ojo ola wa’ meaning (the government, do not kill our children anymore, they are our future) in the popular city of Agege. We are all entitled to human rights. For many years women’s rights movements have fought hard to address inequality, discrimination, killings in the aim of campaigning to change laws or taking to the streets to demand their rights are respected.

    Nigerian Mothers Lead Protest

    The ongoing protest has already yielded some results on paper but the problem is that this is the fourth time the police leadership has announced restrictions on the unit’s operation in four years.

    Oduala Olorunrinu is one of the organisers of the three-day protest which had protesters camping in front of the government house. Her face has made headlines with national news, some calling her ‘the king of boys’ for speaking boldly and being at the forefront of the protest. This is not the first-time Rinu is in the news, she has also been listed as a Covid-19 frontline hero in the country for producing and donating hand sanitizers during the pandemic.

    https://twitter.com/anuissavage/status/1314345461378056192

    Some of Nigeria’s leading celebrities and activists have organized and joined protests across major cities in the country. Tiwa Savage, a Nigerian musician joined the Lekki – Ikoyi protest on the 8th, Thursday, October 2020 urging Nigerians to speak against police brutality.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CGFLfdxIZNL/

    We do not want reform, we don’t need the same barbaric human beings in another fancy uniform under another fancy name, we want an end to Sars completely. Nigeria is for everyone, Today I walked beside my brothers and sisters demanding change, not all young boys are criminals, I have a brother and hopefully one day I’ll have a son, police brutality under any form or name/organization must end says Media Personality, Toke Makinwa.

    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CGFen4GgQ9O/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    The Nigerian police have consistently been ranked as one of the poorest police units in the world, In 2016 the World Internal Security and Police Index International, WISPI. The report rates the Nigeria Police Force the “worst” globally in terms of its ability to handle internal security challenges.

    Media personality, Tomike Adeoye while at the protest in Lekki on Thursday through an Instagram post expressed her distaste in the Nigerian police force and calls for a scrap of the Special Anit-Robbery Squad.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CGFKNpwF-EO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Today we ended the audio protests and began the physical protests! We are protesting peacefully to put an end to #Sars. We don’t need them! We don’t want them! We are tired!!!

    Nigerian filmmaker and leading actor, Genevieve Nnaji writes an open letter to the Nigerian President through images she shared on Twitter.

    An open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    My niece was harassed by sars for carrying a laptop. Her own laptop. She was slapped across the face for simply asking why her laptop was being seized. At only 13, she has to deal with police brutality. Complaints were made and nothing was done. No one is spared and we are all affected. Mr President, this is the current state of your country. The stability of a nation is largely dependent on leadership. And every head of the house has one chance to build their legacy. Sir, you’ve had two. What our country is today is a reflection of your leadership. Your legacy. I’m getting weary and tired of being optimistic about change but even then I can’t complain. I am one of the privileged few but that doesn’t mean that I get to give up now. So I will speak.

    Mr President, it’s time to lead. I remain saddened by the fact that my country is only an incubator for greatness and not a habitat. The world is clearly moving on. With or without us. What will your legacy be when it’s all said and done? I aspire for mine to leave a mark and not a scar.

    I urge you to speak to us because we do not mind readers. Your house is not in order and way far from stable. The people aren’t being empowered, neither are they being protected. Industries such as entertainment and technology that are currently boosting our economy and empowering the youth are being frustrated. All under your regime.

    WE ARE NOT ALL CRIMINALS and shouldn’t be treated as such. If there is an increase in crime, it’s as a result of the increase in poverty. We honestly do not know the difference between the criminals and the law enforcers anymore. While there are clearly good people in the force, the bad ones are overshadowing them. The lack of value for human life in our country is disheartening and heartbreaking. We would have less crime if we had more job opportunities. Criminals would be fewer and easier to catch. The police need to be our friend and not our enemy. We need law enforcement to work with us and not against us. Contrary to what you may believe Mr President, we are not lazy. We are under-utilized.

    Leaders will come and go, but we the people will remain. We will survive. We always have. But we won’t forget. Right now, your administration is standing in the way of our survival. If the country is unwilling to be great, at least the least you can do is let us be great by ourselves. Mr President, you are the commander-in-chief. I plead with you to command your troops to stand down.

    Sincerely, Genevive NNaji #EndSars #EndPoliceBrutality

    Comedienne, Taaooma used her platform to chip in the issue while speaking with the U.S consul general in Nigeria, General Claire Pierangel to mark the International Day of the Girl Child she says, ‘youths are terrified in the country, we are unsure of tomorrow, I could be walking own the street and I would be shot dead. We need your help.

    Feyikemi Abudu, co-anchor of popular Nigerian podcast, I said what I said, was among the protesters outside the Lagos State Assembly in Ikeja on Friday. Abudu also told CNN she has raised 1.3 million Naira (about $3,390) to buy food for those protesting and for medical treatment for those injured during the protests while Iyameto Mosopemi ensured there were food and water for all protesters through the day by leading the logistics required to make it happen.

    Also, Joy Eze, a Nigerian woman, one of the protesters was shot in the mouth on Thursday Night while protesting peacefully, Nigerians have crowdfunded N5 million for her treatment led by Feyikemi Abudu.

    Odun Eweniyi, cofounder of Nigerian Tech company, and co-founder of women’s advocacy platform, wine and whine announced that the company would be donating 1 million Naira to the cause. It is not the first time the tech company has spoken up as regards issues that deal with women. The tech company set up the #STERAugustDonations which compelled individuals to Donate as little as N500 a week this month to support the Stand To End Rape Initiative in Nigeria.

    Oluwatosin Olaseinde, a finance expert through her firm The Money Africa also donated a sum of 500,000 Naira towards the cause. Other celebrities and activists such as Yemi Alade, Kate Henshaw, Waje, Bolalnle Olukanni, Rita Dominic, and a host of others have come out to speak against police brutality in the country. Systemic, sustainable change is what we need.

    We are stronger when we work together!

  • The Voice Nigeria Is Back!

    The Voice Nigeria Is Back!

    The voice Nigeria announces its return to our screens after its short break with the strongest vocalists around the country invited to compete in the vocal competition.

    The show this year is set to be sponsored by First Bank and Sports betting company, Baba Ijebu. These are new set of sponsors considering the last seasons were sponsored by Airtel and Coca-cola. Nevertheless, we are super excited to see what the show has to bring this year.

    We are guessing the celebrity judges are Falz, Darey, Yemi Alade and Waje although none of them has been announced yet. The event is set to be hosted by Radio host and T.V personality, Toke Makinwa and Nacy Isime.

    The show this year is set to have four stages: the first begins with the blind audition, the battle rounds, the knockouts stage, and finally the live performance.

  • Meet the Influencers: The church dancing internet sensation Harmony Adenipekun

    Meet the Influencers: The church dancing internet sensation Harmony Adenipekun

    You have probably seen him in a viral video that put excitement on your face. Harmony is known for his viral videos but beyond that, he is a law student and a fashion designer. We sat down with Harmony to discuss being a law student, fashion designer and influencer, and how he makes meaning with all of that.

    You are a lawyer, a stylist, and an influencer those are three different jobs. Each one is a task. How do you manage to put all of that together?

    I always say this and it may sound cliché now but there are 24 hours in a day and how you make the best use of that time is left up to you. Influencing isn’t a 24hr job, at least not for everyone. I am not a lawyer yet though, I am studying to be a lawyer in the next few months. I always say know yourself and what works for you, so I have my reading schedule and with being a stylist, time management is really key with that you can know how to get productive with them. I do not have the luxury of time to chit-chat, I create and direct my time to be able to do all these things. Jack of all trades, A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CCHLB4yj4Af/

    What do you plan to achieve beyond what you do right now?

    I guess everyone prays to grow beyond what they are. I want to be an influential person all over the world. Literally spread my tents across the globe. To be a figure that positively influences everyone around me and generations to come. Someone who is respected, valued and known for positive changes and groundbreaking inventions. It’s beyond all of the noise, I want to create something unique that forever remains relevant. Leaving a legacy that everyone remains proud of.

    You became a viral sensation after your dance videos in the church were shared on various social media platforms, was this intentional?

    Naturally, I have been attending my church for over 5 years and I have always been dancing during thanksgiving. LOL everyone knows that. So it’s not about exercising my body or losing weight but me giving thanks to my creator. He adores worshippers and so I love to dance and that moves him. I am also thanking God for future blessings. It is literally just me in my habitat.

    What would you say to other people trying to thrive into the influencer space?

    Before I became a sensation dancer I had been building myself as a fashion influencer. I noticed that plus-sized people like me are neglected in the fashion industry so I decided to be one, one that would not be ignored. You need to constantly drop great content, your art inclination. You have to put the work and the content. Be consistent, you do not just wake up and say. I want to be an influencer. What do you want to be known for and put in the work for it?

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CDN_gLHjq_g/

    What is next for you?

    I am looking forward to being called to the bar. Then travel to study the business of fashion. If I do not do that, then I would be launching my walk-in store. I am currently working on my fashion business, been on in it for three years and I can’t wait for you to see it.

    Thank you for sitting with us, Harmony.

    It is my pleasure.

  • Meet the Influencers: DIY couple Oyin and Sammy

    Meet the Influencers: DIY couple Oyin and Sammy

    The things we throw away and count as unusable anymore are what Sammy and Oyin have turned into an amazing craft. Apart from being the amazing couple on Instagram, that give us all the mushy butterflies in our tummies. These two serve us with amazing creative ideas with their DIY videos.

    You have both been in the spotlight for your creativity and DIY skills. What inspired you to do this,  considering it is a very new niche in Nigeria?

    Sammy and Oyin: I am happy that you can call it a thing now, actually. Years back none of us would have said we were content creators. We have always been creatives even before it had a name to it. It is the ability not to see trash in everything. Everything you call trash could be a beautiful piece. Kind of the cliché, the beauty in everything. Turning what may not be useful anymore to be something you would use. That is what inspired us and it’s fun especially when we do it together. There were so many things that we had done even before we had phones, I think what makes the difference now is because it is documented and you can take pictures and share them. I don’t think there is anyone we have looked up to in the space, not to be boastful but it is a new space. Really! So we are just putting in our best feet forward.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-4b48SDn5N/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    How do you aim  to inspire other young people like you?

    Oyin: I honestly feel that everyone has something to offer, for the things that we do now and the so many things that we are going to do. We just hope that we keep using our platforms to share stories and learn from each other, learning from the stories of other people as well. Hopefully expanding to YouTube, we just document the things we have been through, the things we have been able to achieve and put it out there so that people can replicate and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If it is not replicating the pieces, it can absolutely spark up some creativity in them that they didn’t know existed. We just hope people learn from us as much as they can.

    Let us talk a little about how you guys met.

    Sammy: Oyin is way better at answering this one. LOL, but it was work. I am a radio presenter and at that time we needed a social media manager, where I was working and Oyin is incredible at doing that, she got employed and that’s how we kicked off. We met May 2019 and it looks like we have known each other our whole lives. We have been together for over a year now.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CAuZDb0ATa7/

    Beyond creating content is there anything else you do?

    Sammy: I do not think anyone likes to do one thing. Oyin is a social media manager and a fashion designer and she has plans to push the fashion industry with that, she also knows how to make wigs. I am sure there are tons of other things that she plans to do as well. She is the master of the craft when it comes to using her hands. I am a presenter both on radio and T.V anyway. OAP like people call it.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_0AEY3DqM5/

    Any new projects coming in?

    Oyin: Sammy has a TV-show that he cohosted and it is his first time doing TV and it’s the BWG show. I am starting my YouTube channel soon and it is a bigger platform to meet more people with my DIY and together we do have plans to release a collection. It is a mixture of both our styles, it is warm and it’s beautiful. I can’t wait to see them all.

    How have you coped with the lockdown?

    Oyin and Sammy: I bet it has not been easy for anyone, honestly, a lot of sleeping, eating and staying healthy. Oh! And drinking water. A lot of YouTube watching to keep learning and we are all being creative with the clothing in our cupboard and that is mostly what we have been doing, LOL we are not married so we are in two different places, we literally just use our phones to keep in touch and that’s all.

    Thank you for sitting with us.

    Thank you for having us, MoreBranches. It is a pleasure.

  • Photographer and Stylist Aize Talks About Nigerian Fashion Post-COVID-19

    Photographer and Stylist Aize Talks About Nigerian Fashion Post-COVID-19

    Aize, a photographer and stylist who is based in Lagos recently took a break off the internet to read books, work out six times a week, start cardio classes, write books, and align his spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing.

    Aize Muhammed Paul started working in the fashion industry in Lagos as a couture assistant at Arise Fashion week in April 2011, he worked there for 5 years and grew to become an assistant creative director years before he started styling independently under the brand name ​Zillism.​

    “…….my interest in fashion has always been there, I have always loved fashion, and I think i was exposed to it from a very early age by my mum who I lost at age 9, sometimes I sort of feel I had to carry on her legacy.”

    We spoke to Paul on what he believes the future of fashion would be in the Nigerian space post-COVID.

    What do you believe is the future of fashion in Nigeria?

    The fashion industry in Nigeria is in a thriving stage, it has always been thriving and it is still thriving. Nevertheless, I would say the creatives in our industry are boundless, that is the only word that can suit to describe the efforts of the people in this industry. The industry is not funded, hardly has private investors, it is pretty rare except you are from a wealthy family. It is really hard to get a good income from it or even make a profit but at the same time they are not holding back and creating with their hearts and so much passion and I believe all that energy would pay off one day, the industry would get its merits someday, hopefully.

    How do you foresee Nigerians reaction would be to fashion post-COVID as regards style and trends.

    I think Nigerians are special people particularly we absorb everything, and anything. Particularly when it comes in fashion and trends, I think post-COVID we are going to move on with this. I was walking down the street and saw an old man who was probably in his 60’s. He wore a shield mask and looked really cool. Some other old people may say that it is childish and wear the regular face mask, but you know Nigerians are used to moving on with trends, they go with anything and feel comfortable wearing anything. I remember when skinny jeans became a thing and I mean everyone in Nigeria wanted to wear the ‘ Lady Gaga’s shoes’, the ‘Rihanna take a bow hairstyle’ they both became trends and everyone wanted to rock it. I feel Nigerians are very much into trends so I am not scared to see what people experiment with moving forward and as for events, we do not know what would happen post-corona the limitations to it. I think we would adjust to the new norms, we are Nigerians we would adjust.

    “I was highly influenced by Micheal Jackson growing up. I always wanted to be a designer but gradually I have grown and discovered that I have more to offer in the industry. I started photography full time in 2019, now, I work with other stylists, celebrities and fashion brands.”

    What is your advice to fashion brands and how they can stay relevant even after the economic downturn?

    We cannot overemphasize the importance of benefit and usage of new global technology. It is the new phase of mankind. It is something everyone has to jump in at this time, not only fashion brands but photographers, stylists and basically everyone who works in the industry. We should all be relating to the global village, which is technology. I think you are on the loss if you are not as we would all move to the virtual side of life. In communications, sales, and advertisement, which is a big thing in the market. Every brand should add focus to the virtual side of things at this point.

    Own a stake, put your business online, promote your brands, get your market there, bring your clients on board and hold on to something, because we are moving to the stage of life where we would deal with things online.

    It is obvious that without being told to break a mortar forever, be premium and would still hold water but at the same thing do not let go of what the future says now, which is the internet and I think every brand needs to deal with that and own a stake there.

    Thank you so much for taking the time out to sit with me and discuss with you.

    Thank you for having me. It is always a pleasure and cheers to a successful industry that we all look forward to.

  • Toke’s Story: What it feels like visiting the 36 states in Nigeria.

    Toke’s Story: What it feels like visiting the 36 states in Nigeria.

    The thrill of the open highways, the excitement of exploring the unknown and the utter happiness of doing what you love to do every day. Sounds awesome, doesn’t it? That feeling is far from new for Toke, the young and audacious woman who travelled the 36 Nigerian states, with ongoing plans to touch base at the 778 local governments, including the federal capital territory.

    Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many travellers around the world have had to cancel or compromise travel plans; but if you have the strength of Fatoki Omotoke aka ​Alarinka of Africa you know that you can do anything you put your mind to.

    We spoke to her on what it means to have travelled round the 36 states in Nigeria, and her passion for tourism and promoting culture and heritage.

    MoreBranches: What motivated you to do this?

    Toke: When I started, I just wanted to travel and see what nature has to offer. As I travelled I got exposed to gems that this country has. I lived in Lagos for a very long time and rarely travelled except to school that took me out of Lagos. I never travelled for adventure or to just take time out and see the beauty fo the country. We need promote tourism in our country aggressively, I didn’t know we had so much to offer. We have waterfalls, hills, lakes, everything is here! The culture, you will discover so much that is hidden in plain sight or effortlessness in trying. I was glad I could attain such feat and also bring the notice of people, especially young people to what we’re missing out of.

    What are your important takeouts from travelling Nigeria?

    Toke: one key thing is to never judge a place you have never been before. Don’t judge the people until you experience them and do not judge a culture until you have tasted of it. We need to search deeper, go to places, see things for ourselves. As an internet generation, we’ve leverage so we shouldn’t be making the same mistakes of others. There is so much beauty in the mundane and the diversity of cultures, food, languages, and even fashion that we do not get to see or experience in the media.

    I plan to explore the world at large, go beyond Nigeria and see other beautiful countries in Africa. “I want to do more and be the voice for change, this is why I plan to visit all the 778 local government in Nigeria, I have figured that a lot of these people lack basic necessities, which keeps me pondering on what we can do to help. How can we give back to these beautiful people every time we visit?”

    Through this I want people to learn more about our heritage and cultures, growing up, we hardly visited the the village, because our parents told us there was an ancestral witch there to kill us. LOL. A lot of us do not know why we are the way we are, talk less of our origin.

    I had so many good moments with people, there are very genuine and kind people in Nigeria. People opened their homes to me, offered me food and took me around for nothing in return.

    What impact do you aim to have on people and our community?

    I want to impact people by opening their eyes and minds to our rich history and diversity. I want to tell the African story by bringing positive change to the tourism industries and most importantly, document these things for future generations.

    While travelling, I observed the absence of charitable initiatives or groups in many local governments. Almost like these people were shut out of the word and left to figure it out theirselves. I want my journey through these regions to also mean much more for these people. To bring about change and a shift.

    Did you encounter any problems or bad experiences during your trip?

    Sometimes I had fund issues, all of my travels were self-funded. Sometimes there was no access to these attractions as there is no proper structure or authorities set for most of the tourist attractions in the country especially in the South West. The language barrier was also a problem sometimes, Nigeria is a country with so many languages and tribes.

    Our tourism lacks maintenance, which means we have so much. We pay little or no attention to them. The ones that are well coordinated are mostly privately owned with individual investments”. We need to be intentional about our tourism and the content we put out there. We have improved and I am sure it would get better.

    Thank you for talking to us Toke.

    Thank you for having me, it is a pleasure.

    Fatoki Omotoke completed her journey around Nigeria on the 8th of March, 2020 and we are just as motivated to get on the road too. Connect with Toke and see the world through her eyes on Instagram.

  • Gay Porn: Are Nigerians getting off privately on what they are condemning publicly?

    Gay Porn: Are Nigerians getting off privately on what they are condemning publicly?

    What States are watching gay porn in Nigeria? Let us act like they do not exist.

    Homosexuality is still a crime in ​72 countries​, around the world In Nigeria. LGBT rights are not recognised. according to the ​ILGA-RIWI Global Attitudes Survey on LGBTI People (pdf), Nigeria is described as the most homophobic country on earth and ranked as the ​most dangerous place for LGBTQ+​ travellers.

    There is no legal protection against discrimination in ​Nigeria​. Nigeria is a very conservative country, split between a mainly Muslim north and largely Christian south. Very few LGBT persons are open about their orientation, as violence against LGBT people is frequent.

    Federal law prohibits all forms of Homosexual activities and prescribes up to 14 years imprisonment for those found culpable and a 10-year jail term for Nigerians who belong to a gay organisation.

    In Northern Nigeria, the Maliki form of Shari’a law applied in 12 states have a lesser penalty for unmarried persons, It prescribes the death penalty for married individuals. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Nigeria. The maximum punishment in the twelve northern states that have ​adopted Shari’a law is ​death by stoning but this isn’t stopping homosexual Nigerians from exploring their sexuality, in recent research we did, with certain descriptors, Nigerians are watching gay porn.

    With the descriptor Gay porn’ ‘Nigeria is number 29 in the highest countries with the world search and number 24 with the term ‘gay sex’. With the descriptor ‘man fucking man’ Nigeria comes in 13th place. With the descriptor ‘lesbian sex’ Nigeria comes in as 3rd and as number 4 with the descriptor ‘gay sex pics, number 7 for ‘black gay sex’

    and number 2 for ‘man having sex with man’

    Are Nigerians getting off privately on what they are condemning publicly? 

    State Ranking​ (descriptor- gay sex)

    1. Bauchi

    2. Edo

    3. Anambra

    4. Abia

    5. Imo

    State Ranking (descriptor– lesbian sex)

    1. Bauchi

    2. Kano

    3. Imo

    4. Enugu

    5. Anambra

    The truth is Nigeria has progressed a lot. “The fact is 10 years ago we couldn’t be having this conversation. But today we have LGBT organisations that are visible en masse, we’re able to hold public events and we can do community engagement.” ​Olumide Makanjuola​.

    To act like queer men and women do not exist in the country is to live in utmost denial because they are our friends, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, fathers and mothers. In this month of June, we celebrate the impact they have in our world as we continue to seek for a more loving and better society for queer people in the country. Happy Pride Month!

  • The Unseen Impacts of False Rape Accusations and the Credibility Discount

    The Unseen Impacts of False Rape Accusations and the Credibility Discount

    Some may say we shouldn’t talk about it, or even say, “Eni, you are a man, therefore you are speaking from a place of privilege.” I got discouraged writing about the experiences of men who have been falsely accused, paused and returned at different intervals before I finally decided to write. Not for societal approval, but for the few people that have been, or can be affected by this instance.

    Feminism is trendy these days (and for good reasons, equality should not be up for debate), many people gratifyingly add ‘Feminist’ to their social profiles, although it would be nice if more of them showed up away from the keyboard. Feminism as a concept is almost foolproof, but people aren’t, and people have a tendency to be misplaced in echo chambers.

    While it is a fact that generally, men have more privilege than women, it doesn’t mean we should use privilege to negate masculine pain. Things are black and white only if you wish to see them that way. For instance, believing women are always victims to be protected not only perpetuates the idea that they are the weaker sex and in need of men to save them, but can also give them an unfair advantage in court cases where they are the accused offender, while men are quicker to be deemed capable of causing harm to others. Sometimes this may be true, but it is dangerous to take it as canon. 

    When allegations of sexual harassment are made, they should be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. In Nigeria where a majority of cases of sexual violence go unreported, and sexual victims go unprotected, social media has brought the issue into the open. But there’s one problem—people are quick to publish ‘he raped me,’ ‘she raped me’, sometimes with their entire identity hidden, leaving the accused with no chance of defence. Even with social media, allegations deserve identity to itself, if those, they shouldn’t count.

    As a society, where do we draw the line between two important principles, ‘protect the victim’ and ‘innocent until proven guilty’? Currently, we are walking on a fine line in regards to rape allegations. Do we “believe victims en masse,” or question each person who comes forward with rape allegations? Truth is, whichever road is taken, they both can damage innocent lives. 

    Answering the question, ‘What happens when false allegations are made?’ If not properly investigated can alter an accused’s life or mean the beginning of a whole new one. We have seen it in the autobiographical movies, ‘Brian Banks’ ‘If Beale street could talk’ and other accounts of sexual assaults.  We have seen it on our social media platforms. Where rape allegations are concerned, there is a gray area in some cases. These gray areas include what some consider mixed signals, memories deluded by alcohol, and the misunderstanding of what actually constitutes a sexual assault. Instances of false rape accusations are actually cries for attention or an attempt to cover up what might be considered an embarrassing moment.

    It’s easy to say it’s just 2% – 10% of rape accusations are false and completely dismiss it. After all, 2 out of 100 is such a small insignificant number, right? I believe those 2 individuals would beg to differ. Daniel who was able to get his accuser medically examined, after spending a day in prison, he says “she wanted revenge, I don’t know why she did it, but she did. I am not the same anymore, the anxiety and stigma that comes with it is worse than the vindication” Is it rare? Yes. But should it be ignored? No. We should not minimize other people’s issues based on our biases. Every life is precious, man, woman, or otherwise, and the less we let things like this happen, the better.

    For The Man

    It’s easy to say it’s just 2% – 10% of these cases are false and dismiss it out of hand. After all, 2 out of 1000 is such a small insignificant number! According to Daniel who was able to get his accuser medically examined, after spending a day in prison, ‘she wanted revenge, I don’t know why she did it, but she did. I am not the same anymore, the anxiety and stigma that comes with it is worse than the vindication’ Is it rare? Yes. But should it be ignored? No. We should seek to understand it. And put in place processes to make sure we minimize it.

    You do not have to be scared:

    • Do not touch women inappropriately. It is that simple.
    • If you have not done anything, you do not have anything to hide.
    • Rapists and sexual assaulters who have been convicted deserved it.
    • Feminism is not for women only.

    Nevertheless, it is important to note that rape is never the victim’s fault. We have gone beyond the point where we only tell women ‘how to not get raped’ and spend that energy and time ‘teaching boys to understand consent.’ She does not need you to protect her, she needs you not to harm her.

    To Other Survivors.

    When a false allegation is made, you trivialise all rape victims and survivors, saying to them. “I am sorry for what happened to you, but it is not that important” False charges of rape over consensual sexual relationships serve only to dilute genuine cases and distort the debate about rape.

    Up Against False Accusations? 

    Accept that there is no way you can erase what has happened. Even though the accusations may be unfair and untrue, the situation is real. You need to get out of denial about that in order to deal with it in the here and now.” False allegations are upsetting. No one appreciates being called a “liar” when there’s so much at stake. Still, you can’t let it get to you. Ensure to get legal representation. As much as rapists do not deserve to roam the society, false accusers also do not deserve a place in the society, but behind bars. 

    What To Do:

    The vast majority of rapes are committed by persons known to the victim: only between five and 15 percent of assaults are perpetrated by a stranger. Therefore, the identity of the perpetrator is frequently reported. Proof may be hard to find but there are certain measures to take. Let me state that ‘assumptions do not convict rapists’ do not make assumptions that there are no constitutional centres that would listen, there are centres and organisations that help with rape cases in Nigeria.

    1. Be safe first.
    2. Visit the hospital for a SANE exam. (Sexual Assault Nurse Exam)
    3. Early reports, allow for evidence to be taken. 
    4. If possible,  take pictures of yourself after, it helps in evidence.
    5. Inform a friend immediately so you have an alibi. A voice recording of yourself after the incident could help as well.

    It is important, that rapists and sexual offenders are brought to book and kept behind bars, they do not deserve to be in the society, therefore your prosecution helps us all. Most importantly, note that the shame does not belong to you but your assaulter. Know that nothing you do will ever make rape your fault. Before you even start thinking about preventing a potential rape, you have to understand that if you are raped, it is 100% the rapist’s fault and that nothing you did, wore, or said could have caused you to be raped.

    We need to underline here that a real victim of sexual violence should be believed, report the crime and deserves all the support, encouragement and help they need.

  • A victim of rape should not be forced with a burden of proof.

    A victim of rape should not be forced with a burden of proof.

    The Nigerian social media space has once again been hit with several accusations of rape, with troops of twitter users sharing their personal encounters, experiences and opinions. Rape is nonconsensual, people are assaulted in so many different ways, and no excuses whatsoever justifies this monstrous act.

    Not what the victim was wearing, not who they were with or what they drank. If sexual intercourse was not consensual, it can be classified as rape. It is important that there is a positive affirmation “Yes, I want to”. Never assume that silence equates to consent. 

    Rape, sexual assault and harassment have different meanings, however, any effort to differentiate them can pass attempt to trivialise the act. An act that can alter a victim’s life or mean the beginning of a whole new life for them. We have seen it in the autobiographical movies, ‘Brian Banks’ ‘If Beale street could talk’ and other accounts of sexual assaults.  

    The burden of proof should never rest on rape victims, nevertheless, it is important that accusations have proof and constitutional backing as every false accusation can taint the movement against sexual predators or temper the force of the crime. Refusing to believe a rape survivor, signals to all women, including survivors that they don’t matter, that their bodies can be used, violated and discarded.

    We know that the false reporting of rape occurs in around 2% to 8% of cases.  But we also know that rape is under-reported, and there is a mistaken belief that false allegations are common, truth is they may not be common but they exist.

    “False rape allegations are a reality and are incredibly unfortunate for the accused. Therefore, it is important that we investigate and never dismiss rape allegations. It is important that the accused speaks up, and clears their name. Rape allegations are not one to be silent about.”

    Sexual assault is not solely perpetrated by males, and the victims are not exclusively female. The number of men is most likely drastically higher than those reported considering that society still refuses to accept that men can be victims of sexual assault and rape. There is a common misconception that men cannot be sexually assaulted. We have been taught that men are sexual beings who will never refuse an intimate encounter. 

    What some may see as a mockery of the situation, the preach for consent can never be too much, it is essential that our boys and men are taught in the school of consent. 

    Consent can be withdrawn at any time, even if you’ve already started getting intimate. All sexual activity must stop when consent is withdrawn. Being in a relationship doesn’t oblige anyone to do anything. Consent should never be implied or assumed, even if you’re in a relationship or have had sex before.

    • Consent can be revoked.
    • Coerced consent and consent under pressure is not consent.
    • Consent given out of fear is not consent.
    • Silence is not consent.
    • Consent is given by someone who cannot give proper consent (an underage, an unconscious person) is not consent.

    You could get right to the point and ask:

    Can I kiss you?

    Can I take this off? What about these?

    Do you want to have sex, or would you like to wait?

    Can I [fill in the blank]?

    You can also take the opportunity to use open communication about sex and boundaries as foreplay. Here are some ideas:

    I think it’s hot when we [fill in the blank], do you want to do this?

    It feels so good when you [fill in the blank], do you want to do this?

    Can I take your clothes off?

    Can I kiss you here?

    If you’re already in the heat of the moment, you could say:

    Are you comfortable with me doing this?

    Do you want me to stop?

    How far are you comfortable going tonight?

    Calling out sexual offenders and abusers remains a task for us all, one in which helps us to have a more peaceful society.

    Remember, YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME, even if:

    • Your attacker was an acquaintance, date, friend or spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend, parent, sibling, guardian, another relative, or even employer.
    • You have been sexually intimate with that person or with others before.
    • You were drinking or using drugs.
    • You froze and did not or could not say “no” or were unable to fight back physically.
    • You were wearing clothes that others may see as seductive.
    • You said “yes” but later said “no” and were not listened to.

    Things you can do when you’re sexually assaulted:

    Be safe first.

    Visit the hospital for a SANE exam. (Sexual Assault Nurse Exam).

    Lagos State Domestic Sexual and Violence Response Team.

    Call: 08137960048

    Contact @DSVRT you can also dial *6820#

    Inform a friend immediately so you have an alibi.

    We must direct our attention towards those who abuse and then lie to cover it up. We must also apply some scrutiny to the claims made by those who automatically cast those abused as liars.

  • Comedians Like Nasty Blaq Should Know That Rape is Not Comic Material

    Comedians Like Nasty Blaq Should Know That Rape is Not Comic Material

    You may not know it, but you are part of rape culture. You’re not a rapist, necessarily. But you perpetuate the attitudes and behaviours commonly referred to as rape culture. Comedians like Nasty Blaq trivializing sexual assault and sexually explicit jokes are the promotion of the rape culture.

    You may be thinking, “Now, hold up, Eni! You don’t know me”. It sounds horrible and you may even have done it unconsciously, but every time you laughed at that joke that trivialised sexual harassment or used rape as a comic material, you promoted the rape culture.

    The Nigerian twitter space is once again aflame after social media comedian Nasty Blaq released his latest skit.

    The underlying meaning of Nasty Blaq’s actions in the skit is not lost on social media users who promptly called out the comedian for encouraging sexual harassment, but Blaq is not a first-time offender when it comes to such skits.

    In October 2019, Past Big Brother Housemate, Kemen, took part in a skit alongside, Nasty Blaq that showed a woman being sexually harassed on the street in a video that has since been pulled down.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mgKt3jsTh/

    In an interview with Punch, in December 2019. Blaq said his skits are done for the sake of comedy.

    “I don’t feel we are harassing any girl; we are not harassing anybody. All we do is create content and females are aware and are part of the content. I am not promoting rape or sexual harassment. I can never do that. All I do is for the sake of comedy– for people to laugh.”

    However, Twitter users have responded to the recent skit, with various comments as to how they considered it distasteful and trivialising.

    Nasty Blaq
    Nasty Blaq
    Nasty Blaq

    Rape and sexual harassment are not built for comic materials when this happens, you make a mockery of the issue itself and say to victims of sexual assault, that it is no big deal. There is a very thin line between being funny and being offensive.

    All this normalises and diminishes violence towards women: if it is easy to laugh about, it is hard to take seriously.

     Women are always the butt of these jokes. It’s never the perpetrator

    Rape culture sucks for everyone involved. But don’t get hung up on the terminology. Don’t concentrate on the words that offend you and ignore what they’re pointing to—the words “rape culture” aren’t the problem. The reality of the word is the problem.

    Rape culture is not just about sex. Men can confront men. No one is suggesting violence. In fact, that’s what we’re looking to avoid. But sometimes, a man needs to confront another man or a group of men in a situation. Do something. Men can correct men.

    This is also true when you hear the misogynistic language. Speak up. Tell your friend or co-worker that rape jokes are bullshit and you won’t tolerate them. It’s our job to have standards for ourselves, and thus, for all men. Hold ourselves accountable. Don’t limit yourself to being “on the side of men.” Be a good human being.

    When a movement like #MeToo occurs in our cultural spheres, and women the world over are out there sharing their experiences, their trauma, their stories and their personal views; as men, we don’t need to enter that conversation.

    At that moment, all we need to do is listen, and reflect, and let their words change our perspective. Our job is to ask ourselves how we can do better. Talk to family and friends about how you can work together to end rape culture in your communities.

  • Young people are leaving the church, and they may never return.

    Young people are leaving the church, and they may never return.

    ‘You have seen us, walk through the front doors of the Church, often late, walking in majestically while the pastor is about to preach with our tight shorts, tattoed wrists. We’ve lurked in the corners of your church after service, girls with short slit skirts and excessive makeup, boys with blooming beards and ripped jeans, with rings on the finger and necklaces. We come once the schools are on break. Then, we don’t come back.’ 

    At its best, religion pushes us to challenge our own thoughts and behaviours. It inspires us to be better and to examine our contribution to the problems of our world. Religion at its worst focuses on excluding, condemning, threatening, judging, and controlling others by shame and guilt.

    There is no doubt that a high percent of millennials have no interest in Christianity or any religion and doctrines. Early research shows that 59% of Millenials who were raised in church have dropped out. But what about us? The youths you raised? We’re the ones who attended children church regularly, did the memory verse recital in front of the church, cleaned the church on Saturday’s. We listened to sermons. We cried at youth retreats. With hands lifted high, we professed Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour and cried, signing our favourite hymn: I need thee, oh I need thee.

    People leave church for many reasons. Some have been deeply hurt or offended by other members of the fellowship. Some have been deeply wounded by the actions of leaders or official church policies that affect people they love. Regardless of why people leave, it is what they often experience upon exit that makes them never want to come back.

    If you’ve never left the church before, it’s hard to comprehend the experience. For most of us, the church is embedded in who we are. It’s part of our character and our identity. People who leave experience feelings of extreme loneliness, betrayal, and a complete loss of identity. 

    The people you’ve leaned on and trusted your entire life suddenly start distancing themselves from you, avoiding you, pitying you, judging you, or criticising your character and your choices. Not only are you struggling with a deep, personal spiritual battle that you didn’t choose, it also feels like you’re being punished for it by the people who proclaim to once love you most.

    We must not criticise people for sitting back at home, or going to see a movie with their family on the occasional Sunday… or they’ll never come back! We must not guilt trip young adults for the colour shirt they wear to church, or for their facial hair. Instead, we need to express gratitude for their attendance and accept them how they come… or eventually, they’ll leave and never come back.

    We must never refer to our young women who dress in a way we perceive as immodest as “pornography.” This is a terrible, shaming behaviour that creates deep emotional wounds that will drive these young women away… and they’ll never come back.

    The church should not shame young men for looking at pornography, masturbating, or choosing not to go at all. Adding the weight of judgmental words only drives these young men into depression and isolation. They’ll leave… and never come back.

    We must normalize homosexuality as every other sin, and not one that is a curse, which needs a special deliverance session. They’ll leave…. And never come back.

    The church and its leaders should not cast judgment on mothers who choose to pursue a career outside the home. When we judge a woman’s capacity as a mother, it makes her feel small and insignificant and like a failure. These women will leave, and they’ll never come back.

    We must not chastise that man who does not have a job at the moment or can’t provide for his family. He’ll leave….and never come back.

    Can you create a loving space in the church for our brothers and sisters whose faith are different from yours, whether in the church or outside of it? Is there a place in the church for families who only attend services twice a month? Is there a place in the church for that gay member? Is there a space for that sister, who wears the short skirt? Is there a place in the church for a member who swears, or watches R-rated movies? Is there a place in the church for a member who struggles with alcohol, or looks at porn?

    What are you doing to create a welcoming space for these people? What might you be doing to push them away… forever?

    In the end, it’s like two locals telling a visitor how to get into a building. One tells the visitor he must go through the main gate, while the other says to go through an easier side door. The latter fears the main gate is too far away and too hard to enter. Initially, this local appears to make it easier for the visitor to get in, while the other seems to impose a harsher standard—until you find out there’s no side door. While the easier instruction is well intended, it’s sadly just another way of keeping the visitor out.

    The author pays reference to Nate Bagely for his vulnerability and most importantly, his experience in leaving the church. 

  • Marital rape is not an offence in Nigeria hence it is not prosecutable.

    Marital rape is not an offence in Nigeria hence it is not prosecutable.

    Nigeria as of present has no law against spousal rape, that’s not less expected for a country whose age of consent is 12, the lowest in the world. Lately, Nigerians have slowly inculcated the #MeToo movement and the idea of feminism, but a lot is still yet to be said, and we are far from reaching gender equality especially in the home. 

    The issues of sexual and domestic violence within marriage and the family unit, and more specifically, the issue of violence against women have come to growing international attention. Still, in many countries, marital rape either remains outside the criminal law or is illegal but widely tolerated. Laws are rarely being enforced, due to factors ranging from the reluctance of authorities to pursue the crime to lack of public knowledge that sexual intercourse in marriage without consent is illegal.

    Marital rape or spousal rape is an act that has not been addressed in this space, sexual intercourse without the spouse’s consent. The lack of consent is an essential element and need not involve physical violence. 

    Sexual intercourse within marriage is regarded as a right of spouses, not obtaining spouse’s consent is now widely classified as rape around the world. Marital rape is repudiated by international conventions and increasingly criminalized, but Nigeria remains one of the 54 countries who have no legal or social backing to regard this as rape.

    Recently, a viral video shows a woman complaining of her husband’s constant sexual appeal to her and shows him being forceful in an attempt to get her back into the home even without her consent.

    Find the video here.

    A lot of Twitter users have gone on to trivialize the video and make a mockery of it, nevertheless, a lot have shared their thoughts on the video and how it is spousal rape.

    Consent must be given in every sexual encounter. Just because you said yes once doesn’t mean you agree to every sexual encounter in the future. Having an ongoing relationship or a history of a relationship isn’t a form of consent. It just means you have a personal bond of some kind with that person.

    …… these laws are ignored if the act is not socially considered a crime. For example, in many parts of the world, where women have few rights, it is considered unthinkable for a woman to refuse her husband’s sexual demands; far from being seen as an act of abuse of a wife, marital rape is seen as an incident provoked by the wife who refused to perform her duty.

    This doesn’t dismiss the need for consent. If they don’t have your consent, any sexual contact could be considered rape or assault. Marital rape is more widely experienced by women, though not exclusively. Marital rape is often a chronic form of violence for the victim which takes place within abusive relations.

    The reluctance to criminalize and prosecute marital rape has been attributed to traditional views of marriage. Muddled with interpretations of religious doctrines, ideas about male and female sexuality, and cultural expectations of subordination of a wife to her husband.

    The country’s criminal code currently says rape is a sexual act committed against “a woman or girl”, in the certain circumstances including, “without her consent”, “if the consent is obtained by force” or “in the case of a married woman, by impersonating her husband”.”This definition is particularly grievous because it perpetuates the socio-cultural belief that men do not need to consent to sexual acts. Traditionally, rape was a criminal offence that could only be committed outside marriage, and courts did not apply the rape statutes to acts of forced sex between spouses but with the #MeToo movement, women need to know that consent remains essential even in marriage.

  • We Should All Be Meninist: Against Toxic Masculinity

    We Should All Be Meninist: Against Toxic Masculinity

    An open letter to society not a redefinition of feminism but for feminism.

    I was born in the famous busy city, Lagos Nigeria, but as a boy, I felt I was born with a disease–being effeminate–you may wonder why it seemed like this to me but the answer is not far-fetched.

    I’m no one’s idea of a Nigerian man and this is how it has always been. It’s not all arrogance, rage and dominance. I don’t watch football. I don’t do cars. I like to play dress up. I love to cook. I hate video games. I care about skincare. I’m scared of guns. I’ve never thrown a punch. I do not smoke.  I don’t view women as sexual objects. I scream when I see rats. I’m a lamb in sheep’s clothing. I do not drink alcohol. I’m not violent. I don’t take pleasure in asserting my dominance. I never bullied. I’ve never laid my hands on a woman. I take “no” for an answer. I say thank you and accept help. I’m patient, kind, vulnerable, graceful and non-judgmental. I talk (loudly and proudly) about my emotions and mental health and I am normal.

    As boys, our lives are still constricted by traditional gender norms, being strong, athletic and stoic and when you are not, you are told to ‘man up’.

    I wish I had grown up in a society where saying to another man, with a warm embrace ‘I love you’ is normalized. A society that normalizes, boys speaking up when they have been sexually abused.

    Toxic masculinity could be silent and unconscious but as you grow gradually, you find out you’ve grown and inculcated the traits too: to Suffer pain in silence, have no needs, never lose, Show no emotions other than bravado or rage, Don’t depend on anyone, Don’t do anything that could be construed as weakness, Never snitch.

    Boys will always be boys now seems like a sort of getting out of jail free card. The truth is boys will be what we teach them to be, boys will not be boys, but men.

    We teach boys not to cry, making them feel like they have to be hard, to be self-reliant, tough at all costs. We teach boys to be afraid of weakness and vulnerability. We teach boys that it is okay to be nasty, dirty or untidy.

    I wish I grew up in a society, where being a man was not an automatic ticket to wanting sexual pleasures at all times, ‘No I don’t want to see your boobs flashed in my face’.

    Don’t teach boys that they shouldn’t express their emotions. Don’t humiliate them when they’re upset. Don’t attempt to ‘toughen them up’.  Tell them ‘It’s okay to feel what you feel, it is normal, it is admirable.

    I want to aspire to an outstanding career, not because of the idea that I  would have a family to feed one day, but because it is something I desire.

    The term ‘effeminate’ itself, I believe is a social construct created for men who act a certain way, as if to say there is a guide book to being a man, or how you should behave like a man. Being effeminate does not automatically make you gay and being gay doesn’t make you any less of a man. We must raise our sons and daughters differently to build a world of happier men who are truer to themselves.

    Boys need to be taught to be human, teach him to stop and say ‘I am scared, my feelings are hurt, I need help’ and not be considered feminine. Boys need to be taught that they can care about their skin, fashion, beauty and still be called Men. Boys need to be taught that if they have traits that are socially considered ‘feminine’ it is okay.

    What if boys were taught not to link masculinity with money, dominance and power. I wish I was allowed to play softball instead of football. I wish I did not have all eyes on me when I walked towards the makeup class and not the woodwork class.

    I want to make dinner and not be appreciated for being that ‘Man that knows how to cook’. My strength should not be proven by how well I can fight or what heavy items I can carry ‘I won’t carry that, because I am a man but because I can, and if she can let her, that does not make me less of a man’

    Allow boys, be the boys they want to be. Focus on his interest and not his gender. He likes pink and not blue. There is no war on men and there is no need for anyone to prove their masculinity through aggression. No one benefits from toxic masculinity, it is patriarchal, and it is failing. It is failing women, it is failing society, and it is failing men themselves.

    Teach boys that there is no such thing as emasculating. Teach boys that it is okay to care about their skin, fashion and beauty.

    If we have feminist conversations with more boys, more men, more people, it allows us to be  truer versions of ourselves in the world. Men opting into parenting and caring roles, and being present in the lives of their children shouldn’t be lauded as special cases. There are more men than we think who are willing to opt-out of patriarchal boxes if the alternatives aren’t shrouded with shame. I think the biggest piece of work is reimagining what the world can be like if we choose not to accept the status quo.

    We are raising a new generation of men.

  • What working from home means for the everyday Nigerian.

    What working from home means for the everyday Nigerian.

    As governments across the world take stricter measures to help combat the spread of COVID-19, social distancing remains the most effective way to flatten the curve. Over 1.5 million cases of coronavirus have been reported globally and more than 80,000 people have died. The outbreak is not slowing down, at least not anytime soon. This difficult reality makes it seemingly impossible for others to vocalise how the deadly pandemic has affected other aspects of our lives.  

    With the Nigerian government declaring a two-week shutdown in Nigeria’s economical and busiest states, Lagos and Abuja, more companies are forced to embrace work-from-home policies. This development is expected to represent a major shift in Nigeria’s work culture and overall technological adoption.

    There are obvious benefits of working from home, including fostering better work-life balance and easing the toll of long hours in Lagos traffic on workers, but long-standing issues such as constant electricity or water supply, data prices remain significant barriers for the country’s working class. Just a few days into the lockdown, some Nigerians have filled the internet with complaints and comments about their new reality.

    Working from home is great, I have an in-house office, so it’s been easy. But i am frustrated, I can’t step out of the house, I can’t see friends and close ones, I can’t even go out to eat.

    Media personality and Influencer, Pamilerin Adegoke. 

    For many Nigerian employees, their offices remain one of the best places where electricity is guaranteed and where personal devices, including power banks and rechargeable fans, are often charged. Working remotely likely means incurring additional costs of powering generators. Then there’s also the problem of internet access costs.

    I hate it, I hate the idea of working from home, there is hardly electricity but the frustration of that is nothing compared to how much I spend on data and internet services.

    Radio and T.V presenter, Desmond Ekunwe. 

    Even beyond electricity and internet services, traditional Nigerian companies will also have to revise aspects of their and organizational culture to embrace remote work than actual productivity.  During this period, The executive of Lagos state has recorded its first-ever virtual meeting which with the state’s official twitter page tweeting “LASG says 14-day restriction announced by President Muhammadu Buhari will not affect governance in the State… As members of Lagos State EXCO  holds a first-ever virtual meeting in the history of governance in the State”. 

    Attempting to find similar workarounds amid the uncertainty may soon become a necessity for even more companies. Remote work seems like a logical precaution for many companies that employ people in the digital economy especially the new tech companies in the state, but for many, it is still a far-fetch.

    I have been often distracted and procrastinating, this is less productive and very slow. Nevertheless, companies are enabling work-from-home structures to keep business running and help employees follow social distancing guidelines. 

    Filmmaker and AMVCA winner Bola Enigma

    If you are working from home here are some tips to help. 

    • Keep it professional. Even if you don’t have a dedicated office, try to set up a workspace and make it off-limits to the rest of your household while you’re working. 
    • Be responsive. Get in the habit of sending a prompt reply whenever you get an email, even if it’s just to say, “Got it,” or, “I’ll get back to you by noon.  And, do your best to be available for conference calls or other collaborations, even if you don’t have strict work hours.
    • Set specific touchpoints with your team. It’s smart to set a time each day/week for regular check-ins with your manager and/or your colleagues. That will not only help you stay accountable, but it will also remind your office counterparts that you’re still an important part of the team
    • Structure your day like you would in the office.

    With the new enacted strict policies for people to remain at home during the coronavirus pandemic, one thing is certain – these distressing times evolve the culture of the Nigerian workplace for a very long time. “I don’t think we’ll go back to the same way we used to operate.

    You can share your own experience in the comment section below.