Protest organisers target N4b to continue 10-day siege, N40m already raised

By Ologeh Joseph Chibu

Organisers of the 10-day protest in Nigeria are targeting N4b to be able to continue with the protest.

Already, N40m has been donated by various groups and organisations based in the United States and Western Europe.

The protest began on Thursday fueled by poverty, lack of jobs and galloping inflation.

The organisers plan to raise N4bn using GoFundMe, an online mechanism for crowd funding

Checks by Sunday PUNCH indicated that by Saturday evening, a total of N4.1bn had slated to be raised from local and international donors.

According to Punch said fundraiser, ‘Nigerians in the United States of America and Canada’ as of the time our correspondent monitored it indicated a goal sum of N40,898,750 ($25,000). According to the site, the organiser is located in the state of Washington, US, indicating that the donations would help provide necessary resources for protesters, including medical supplies, transportation, and other essentials.

The newspaper quoted another protester who wrote “Dear friends and supporters, The #EndBadGovernance protest in Nigeria took place today, with citizens bravely standing up against corruption and poor governance. As the movement continues, there are dedicated individuals who will be rallying again tomorrow to demand the change their country needs.

“We urgently need your support to sustain this critical movement. Donations will help provide necessary resources for the protestors, including medical supplies, transportation, and other essentials.

“Your contribution will play a vital role in ensuring that their voices are heard and that they can continue their fight for justice and good governance. We call on Nigerians across North America to show solidarity and support this cause.”

Another GoFundMe fundraiser, ‘Nigeria EO’ indicated a goal sum of N20,950,777.31 (£10,000), which it seeks to have donated by supporters.

“We are raising funds to provide the protesters with much-needed supplies and assistance on the ground. Your donations will help cover the costs of bottled water, snacks, and other refreshments for the protesters, first aid kits and medical supplies in case of injuries, and transportation for volunteers to help organise and support the demonstrations, the organiser wrote.

The Punch reported that third GoFundMe organiser, ‘Endbad Governance’, declared a goal sum of N4,613,379,000 ($2,820,000) while a total of N1.8m has been raised N1.8m for a protester, Ogwu Chijioke, who admitted he had been struggling to support his son’s ambition to become a programmer.