11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Due to the freedom of assembly provided by the constitution, opposition gatherings were not allowed and demonstrations in several areas were permitted on a case-by-case basis ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23400]

"The constitution and law provide for freedom of assembly, and the government generally respected this right for progovernment rallies, while opposition gatherings continued to be restricted. In areas that experienced societal violence, police and security forces permitted public meetings and demonstrations on a case‑by-case basis. Police frequently cited the 1990 Public Order Act to disband meetings critical of the government, in spite of the Abuja High Court's 2005 decision to strike down the Act, which required a police permit to be issued for all public rallies and processions. The attorney general and the Nigerian Police Force filed an appeal over the High Court's decision, and on December 11, the Court of Appeal in Abuja declared that it would no longer be necessary to obtain a permit for any assembly and that the Public Order Act infringed upon the fundamental rights provided for in the constitution. On December 14, however, the inspector general of police announced that the police force would appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. The case was ongoing at year's end."

Document(s): Open document

16.01.2008 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Kaduna State: At least 4 people killed during violent protest over three-year power blackout in a poor part of the city of Kaduna ("Basic services crisis turns deadly in Kaduna") [ID 22634]

Document(s): Open document

06.2007 - Source: Freedom House

According to AI, brutal repression of protests remained routine in Niger Delta; the communities protesting were often collectively punished ("Freedom in the World 2007") [ID 20564]

"Freedoms of assembly and association are generally respected in practice. However, Amnesty International reported in 2005 that brutal repression of protests remained a routine tactic of Nigerian security forces in the oil-rich Niger Delta, and that communities protesting in the region often suffered collective punishment by security forces."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Opposition gatherings continued to be resticted ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19721]

"The constitution and law provide for freedom of assembly, and the government generally respected this right for progovernment rallies, while opposition gatherings continued to be restricted. In areas that experienced societal violence, police and security forces permitted public meetings and demonstrations on a case by-case basis. Police frequently cited the 1990 Public Order Act to disband meetings critical of the government, in spite of the Abuja high court's June 2005 decision to strike down the Act, which required a police permit to be issued for all public rallies and processions. Although the acting inspector general of police announced following the court's decision that the police would appeal the ruling, he also stated that police would respect the court's injunction prohibiting police from interfering with peaceful rallies."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Violent police interference in demonstrations ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19723]

"In the spring police disbanded meetings protesting a proposed constitutional amendment to allow the president a third term in office. There were major riots in northern states from February 18 to 19 after police used tear gas and live ammunition to break up peaceful demonstrations to protest the constitutional amendment to allow the president to run for a third term. In Maiduguri a riot ensued after police fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse a demonstration organized ostensibly to protest Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad. In Katsina police shot into a rally of 20,000 persons, reportedly shooting and killing the demonstration's leader. On February 21, police arrested and detained 24 civil society representatives protesting the president's proposed third term agenda during a zonal constitutional review conference held in Oshogbo, Osun State. Police arraigned the protestors before an Oshogbo magistrate court under charges of unlawful assembly. The court granted all 24 persons bail, and the matter was pending before the court at year's end."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

In November police arrested organisers of a meeting of opposition politicians ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19724]

"On November 27, police disrupted a meeting of opposition politicians and activists in a multipurpose hall in Kaduna State. While former governor Alhaji Balarabe Musa was addressing a crowd of several hundred persons, police entered the building and arrested the meeting organizers, who were informed at police headquarters that the summit was "confrontational" and should be disbanded peacefully or the police would halt it by force."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Freedom of association constitutionally guaranteed and generally respected ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19725]

"The constitution and law provide for the right to associate freely with other persons in political parties, trade unions, or special interest associations, and the government generally respected this right in practice."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Police used teargas on a crowd of 500 persons protesting against privatisations ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20063]

"On July 10, dock workers disrupted a meeting between the Nigerian Port Authority and the Bureau of Public Enterprises held at Apapa port in Lagos. The dock workers reportedly protested both employer and union actions in ongoing privatizations. The police, whose presence was requested by union leaders, used tear gas on the crowd of over 500 persons and made several arrests."

Document(s): Open document

09.2006 - Source: Freedom House

Freedom of assembly and association generally respected ("Freedom in the World 2006") [ID 18161]

"Freedom of assembly and association are generally respected in practice. Thousands of demonstrators marched peacefully through Lagos in September to protest a rise in fuel costs after subsidies were cut; police were ordered not to carry firearms."

Document(s): Open document

09.2006 - Source: Freedom House

Niger Delta: Security forces brutally repress protests ("Freedom in the World 2006") [ID 18163]

"However, Amnesty International said in November that brutal repression of protests remained a routine tactic of Nigerian security forces in the oil-rich Niger Delta, and that communities protesting in the region often suffered "collective punishment" by security forces."

Document(s): Open document

07.2006 - Source: Freedom House

Demonstrations occasionally blocked by government; there were incidents of security forces firing on peaceful protesters ("Countries at the Crossroads 2006") [ID 18418]

"Union and other public demonstrations are generally allowed, but the government has prohibited or blocked them on occasion. Several unionists and opposition figures have been arrested at these protests, including Nobel laureate and opposition leader Wole Soyinka briefly in May 2004.19 Security forces fired on peaceful protesters on several occasions over the period of this report, as noted in the case of women's movements in the Niger Delta, or in the case of ethnic-interest rallies in the Igbo, Yoruba, or other regions."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Overview of freedom of assembly ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17099]

"The law provides for freedom of assembly, and the government generally respected this right for progovernment rallies, while opposition gatherings continued to be restricted. In areas that experienced communal violence, police and security forces permitted public meetings and demonstrations on a case-by-case basis."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Security forces regularly supressed opposition rallies ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17101]

"In June an Abuja high court struck down the 1990 Public Order Act that required a police permit to be issued for all public rallies and processions. Security forces had regularly suppressed opposition rallies, citing the failure to obtain police permits, although rallies in support of the ruling party were normally allowed. Although the acting inspector general of police immediately announced that the police would appeal the ruling, he also stated the police would respect the court's injunction prohibiting police from interfering with peaceful rallies. After the ruling, police generally did not interfere with rallies, but in December in Lagos police fired tear gas at a rally of women protesting December 11 plane crash that killed many children."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

On 14 May, rally in Plateau State was cancelled by police for "security reasons" ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17102]

"On May 14, a rally in Jos, Plateau State, to announce the presidential campaign of Zamfara State Governor Ahmed Sani was cancelled by police for "security reasons.""

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Security forces forcibly dispersed demonstrations on several occasions ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17103]

"Security forces forcibly dispersed demonstrations during the year. In February soldiers from the joint task force used excessive force against protesters at the Escravos oil terminal in Delta State. According to witnesses, security personnel fired tear gas, then live ammunition to disperse a crowd of approximately 300 protesters. At least 30 persons were injured, and at least one demonstrator was killed. There was no government investigation or prosecution of those responsible by year's end. On May 2, in Yauri town, Kebbi State, police fired into a crowd of protesters, killing four persons. Demonstrators had gathered at the local emir's palace to protest police involvement in armed robberies; residents had apprehended several armed robbers and turned them over to the police, only to find out that the robbers were themselves police officers. No action was taken against the police who fired into the crowd."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Law prohibits national strikes ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17450]

"The law allows unions to conduct their activities without interference; however, the law also closely defines what union activity is legal. The law provides for both the right to organize and bargain collectively between management and trade unions, and collective bargaining occurred throughout the public sector and the organized private sector. The law prohibits national strikes and strikes on many issues. Workers outside the legally defined category of "essential" had the right to strike, although they were required to provide advance notice of a strike. During the year workers exercised this right sparingly and with very limited scope, encompassing only individual factories or other work places. According to the March labor law, the right to strike is limited to matters pertaining to breach of contract or wages and conditions of work, prohibiting strikes over matters of national economic policy. A worker under a collective bargaining agreement could not participate in a strike unless his union complied with the requirements of the law, which included provisions for mandatory mediation and for referral of the dispute to the government. Workers are specifically prohibited from forcing persons to join a strike or from closing airports or obstructing public by-ways. Stiff fines and/or prison sentences are imposed on law-breakers. While strikes continued to occur in localized areas after the law passed in March, no national strike was called. Instead a new strategy of organizing peaceful protest rallies was implemented. Employers reported unions used threats against members and their families to force them to stay at home during planned strikes. In March oil union members initiated a strike against Tidex, a maritime firm, and detained 45 to 50 expatriate workers the vessels, except for brief periods onshore. The dispute continued for five weeks, when government and the NLC negotiated a resolution and the workers were allowed to depart their vessels. In April crewing agency workers embarked on an indefinite strike to protest a government decision to move them from their union, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, to another union. During the year, there were no strike-related casualties reported, only deaths in vehicle accidents on the way to or from strikes. Also no arrests were reported for participating in a strike. There were no laws prohibiting retribution against strikers and strike leaders, but strikers who believed they were victims of unfair retribution could submit their cases to IAP, with the approval of the labor ministry. The Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP's) decisions were binding on parties but could be appealed to the National Industrial Court (NIC); in practice the decisions of these bodies infrequently carried the force of law. Union representatives described the arbitration process as cumbersome and time-consuming, and an ineffective deterrent to retribution against strikers."

Document(s): Open document

04.02.2005 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Niger Delta: 4 ethnic Itsekiri villagers from Ugborodo who were protesting at the main export terminal run by ChevronTexaco, shot by soldiers and 3 injured ("Soldiers kill four protesters at oil terminal, activists say") [#28813],  [ID 14950]

Document(s): Open document

12.10.2004 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Kaduna: 1 boy killed in clashes between police and protesters; Port Harcourt: 1 man killed in similar incident ("Two people killed, trade unionists arrested as strike enters second day") [#26382],  [ID 14951]

Document(s): Open document

10.06.2004 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Abuja: Police injure 2 protesters, as a nationwide general strike against an increase in fuel prices enters its second day ("Police shoot two protestors during strike - witnesses") [#23195],  [ID 14952]

Document(s): Open document

16.05.2004 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Police fired tear gas to disperse an anti-government demonstration against a background of rising religious tension, called by Citizens Forum, and briefly arrested dozens of protesters in Lagos ("Police tear-gas demonstrators, arrest Wole Soyinka") [#22272],  [ID 14953]

Document(s): Open document

14.10.2003 - Source: BBC News

6 trade union activists arrested for demonstrating at petrol stations which failed to comply with a deal on fuel prices ("Nigeria activists charged in fuel row") [#16752],  [ID 14954]

""Six Nigerian trade union activists have been arrested for demonstrating at petrol stations which failed to comply with a deal on fuel prices last week.

They have been charged with criminal conspiracy and inciting public disturbance for allegedly picketing at the petrol stations.

A leader of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) - the senior assistant general secretary, Linus Ukamba - was among those detained by police in the capital, Abuja.""

Document(s): Open document

18.11.2002 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Peaceful protest against oil companies responsible for the environmental degradation was suppressed by the Army and Navy police ("Nigeria: violence against women protesting against the activities of Shell Petroleum and Chevron/Texaco [Case NGA181102.VAW/ESCR]") [#9597],  [ID 14955]

Document(s): Open document

09.08.2002 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Warri: 1 woman shot by policeman when groups of women protesters besieged the premises of oil transnationals Royal/Dutch Shell and ChevronTexaco ("Nigeria: Woman shot dead during protest at transnationals' offices") [#8190],  [ID 14956]

Document(s): Open document

29.07.2002 - Source: BBC News

BBC: Demonstration dispersed by excessive force, several injured, 50 arrested ("Obasanjo visit sparks Kano riot") [#8147],  [ID 14957]

"Trouble has flared in the northern city of Kano in Nigeria after a visit by President Olusegun Obasanjo attracted violent anti-government protests.
Several people are thought to have been injured after being shot at by the police or presidential armed guard, and at least 50 have been arrested. [...]
When police and vigilante groups insisted the protesters leave, they met resistance from the crowd. It turned into a showdown that lasted as long as two hours, until the army arrived in tanks, pointing rifles towards the crowd.
President Obasanjo left the palace shortly after the violence began. Soldiers sprayed teargas and fired at young men throwing stones near the rear of the mile-long presidential motorcade.
Several witnesses say they saw limp "bodies" being hauled into military vehicles.
In the meantime, tens of people were injured as the crowds outside the emir's palace ripped up paving stones to hurl."

Document(s): Open document

04.03.2002 - Source: US Department of State

The Constitution provides for freedom of assembly, and the Government generally respected this right, although some limits remained ("Annual report 2001") [#5760],  [ID 14958]

"The Constitution provides for freedom of assembly, and the Government generally respected this right, although some limits remained. Police and security forces banned several public meetings and demonstrations during the year. The Government continued to nominally require organizers of outdoor public functions to apply for permits, although both government authorities and those assembling often ignored this requirement. The Government retained legal provisions banning gatherings whose political, ethnic, or religious content might lead to unrest. Open-air religious services away from places of worship remained prohibited in many states due to religious tensions in these parts of the country. For example, various northern states, including Plateau, Kano, Zamfara, and Kaduna, banned public gatherings immediately following periods of ethno-religious violence, but they did so in consultation with a number of religious and traditional groups, as well as local governments, in order to prevent a recurrence of the violence. In September the Kaduna State government extended its ban on processions, rallies, demonstrations, and meetings in public places in order to prevent repetition of the violence that followed the announcement of the enactment of Shari'a law in 2000 (see Sections 1.a. and 2.c.). In September a political rally in Zamfara State became violent, prompting a temporary ban on public political rallies in the state. On October 31, the Ondo State government banned open-air religious meetings by both Christians and Muslims in an attempt to prevent religious violence (see Section 5). In October a security forces committee banned all political, cultural, and religious meetings in Plateau State following ethno-religious violence in Jos, the state capital (see Section 5)."

Document(s): Open document