Protesters participating in the ongoing #EndBadGovernance demonstrations in Kano, northern Nigeria, have stormed and looted a new Digital Park built by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The incident, which occurred on Thursday, saw demonstrators carrying away equipment including computers and furniture from the yet-to-be-commissioned facility.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, reported via social media that protesters not only looted the facility but also set it ablaze. The Digital Park was scheduled to be commissioned next week and was intended to support the government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme.
Tijani described the incident as a setback for the ongoing programme aimed at empowering 3 million Nigerians with technical skills. He stated, “Sad to learn that our Digital Innovation Park in Kano slated for launch next week to support our technical talent accelerator (3MTT) has been set ablaze and looted by protesters.” The minister added that the facility was also set to host a buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school students starting next week.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which began on August 1 and are scheduled to continue until August 10, have spread across the country. Demonstrators are demanding that the government address the current high cost of goods and reverse policies that have caused hardships for Nigerians. The protests have gained momentum in cities such as Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, and several other Northern States, with reports of confrontations between security agencies and protesters in some areas.
The 3MTT program, a critical part of the government’s Renewed Hope agenda, aims to build Nigeria’s technical talent backbone to power its digital economy and position the country as a net talent exporter. The program started with 30,000 Nigerians and has since expanded to include 270,000 participants in its second cohort, representing 10% of the 3 million target.
As a result of the ongoing protests, businesses, markets, roads, and parks have been shut down in several parts of the country. The looting and destruction of the Digital Park in Kano represent a significant setback for the government’s digital innovation initiatives and highlight the intensity of public frustration with current economic conditions in Nigeria.
