A counter-rally to the planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1 across the country has begun in Lagos and Bayelsa states, as many took to the streets with placards saying, “Say No to Protest”.

This is coming as many Nigerians have engaged on social media, calling for protests in all 36 states of the federation to demand an end to bad governance in the country.

Youths, from different locations, stormed Lagos Island to express their support for the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, while calling on others to “shun violent protest”.

Similarly, in Bayelsa State, women were seen in large numbers with placards stating, “Say no to protest in Bayelsa”.

Reacting to the posts circulating online, a human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, stated on Facebook, “Hungry and jobless individuals are protesting against protests. This is outrightly ridiculous. Or, how do you see it?”

Another X user, Ifeanyi, stated, “One of the reasons they said Nigerians should not protest is because hoodlums might hijack the protest and end up destroying things.

“Therefore, they say no to protests. But today, there are some groups of people in the street, chanting ‘No to protest.’ So, are they saying hoodlums can’t hijack such a protest?”

“No Protest In Lagos” protest already started on Lagos Island. Not even a security personnel is present to prevent “hijacking,” an X user, @ayemojubar observed.