Protest activity in Nigeria increased significantly during Goodluck Jonathan's tenure, growing from 53 in 2011 to 696 in 2015

  • Nigeria recorded 971 protests and violent demonstrations in 2024.
  • Protest numbers have grown 50-fold since 2000, signalling a consistent rise in public mobilisation.
  • The most significant surge occurred between 2011 and 2015, under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
  • Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure saw the highest number of recorded protests — peaking at 1,008 in 2020.
  • Despite a change in leadership, protest activity remains elevated under Bola Tinubu.

Nigeria has witnessed a steady surge in protest activity over the last two decades, reaching its highest levels under recent administrations. From just 20 protest events in 2000, the number climbed dramatically to 1,008 in 2020 under President Muhammadu Buhari. The data shows that civic activism and public demonstrations have grown in frequency and scale, reflecting both greater social awareness and deepening public frustration over governance, economic hardship, and insecurity.

The sharpest increase occurred during Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure, when protests grew from 53 in 2011 to 696 in 2015. This trend accelerated under Buhari, with the number of demonstrations nearly doubling to a peak of 1,008, signalling an era marked by heightened public dissent. Under the current Bola Tinubu administration, protest levels remain high, with 971 incidents recorded in 2024.

Source:

Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED)

Period:

2000 - 2024
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