The first chapter of the book
INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Purpose of the Research
Demonstrating their displeasure or disapproval of an idea or action, the public participates in a protest. The climax of this protest is the public expression of the people's discontent to the government in the form of a demonstration on the streets.
It was in 2017 when Nigerian teenagers began using the hashtag EndSARS to express their stories of abuse and assault inflicted by the former Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). An unarmed young man was shot and killed by police officers presumed to be from the SARS unit in a video that went viral at the beginning of October of 2020, reigniting the protests. This spurred Nigerian teenagers to go to social media, using the hashtags #EndSARS, #Endpolicebrutality, and many more, to demand change from the Federal Government. As young Nigerians took to Twitter to express their anguish and frustration, the hashtag became a constant Twitter trend.
According to a social media post that went viral, members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS shot and killed a Nigerian teenager before stealing his vehicle and driving off in it. As more and more young Nigerians saw the video and demanded an end to the ruthless police unit that has been torturing the country's youth for years, the hashtag #ENDSARS gained traction.
With immediate effect, SARS members and other Tactical Squad members were banned from routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties, including stop and search duties, checkpoints, roadblocks, traffic checks, and so on, by the Inspector General of the Nigerian Police Force on October 4, 2020.
As part of the campaign for changes in the Nigerian police system, a three-day demonstration by youths in Lagos State began on 7th October 2020 to demand the disbandment of the Nigerian Police Force's Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Young people with banners with slogans like "Protect, not exploit," "Nigeria police stop murdering us," and others were spotted marching to the Force Headquarters in Ikeja, Nigeria (nairametrics.com). It began a 14-day demonstration that became violent and was hijacked by hoodlums, resulting in the destruction, vandalism and looting of both public and private buildings, as well as SME businesses around the nation.
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are companies with less than 500 workers that are not subsidiaries. The exact figure varies from country to country. Small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) are defined by the European Union (EU) as those that employ fewer than 250 people and have annual revenues of less than 50 million Euros. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Nigeria are classified by the Central Bank of Nigeria's monetary policy circular No. 22 of 1988 as those with annual revenues under Naira 500,000. (N500,000). Clarity is sought in the National Policy on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which makes a difference between companies according to the number of employees employed and the value of their assets. A company's capital, project scope and cost, yearly revenue, financial health, and staff count all serve to characterize a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME). In order to do business in Nigeria, these organizations must and may be registered under any component of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are critical to the country's long-term growth and development. Today, governments continue to implement feasible policies and programs that build and prepare the way for their economies to flourish sustainably via the development of SMEs, regardless of how much growth and development there is throughout the globe. National economic growth and development may be boosted by small and medium-sized businesses, according to several research.
Throughout the last several decades, Nigeria has made it a top priority to increase its industrial base by establishing, sustaining, and expanding small and medium-sized businesses. Since Nigeria's return to democracy, this has been a top priority for the country's numerous governments. However, the decline of infrastructure amenities like electricity, vandalism and theft have had a detrimental impact on the growth and development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.
1.2 Problem Identification and Description
Disruption of people's movements and businesses is a common occurrence during protests of any political kind. One of the most important stimulants for individuals to protest is a desire for a shift to something better and better than what they've been exposed to. Demonstrating their displeasure or disapproval of an idea or action, the public participates in a protest. The climax of this protest is the public expression of the people's discontent to the government in the form of a demonstration on the streets.
Because of SARS's brutality against Nigerian youths and the deaths and kidnappings that have resulted as a result of its actions against them, the youth of Nigeria have become increasingly outraged, calling for the disbanding of the unit that has done nothing but harm to them. SARS has also been accused of stalking and spying on youths in public, checking their phones and checking the make and model of the vehicle they drive as well as the type of clothing they are wearing.
EndSARS demonstrations in Lagos State were peaceful rallies calling for the government to dismantle the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit and also to reform the police force because of the brutality of the SARS. The demonstration quickly expanded to other parts of Nigeria. At first, the demonstrations were peaceful, but hoodlums soon took over, and the protests quickly descended into violence, with mobs attacking police officers, demonstrators being killed, and stores and other properties being vandalized and looted.
Nigeria's Lagos State Government imposed a 24-hour curfew at precisely 11:49 a.m. on Tuesday, 20th October 2020, in order to prevent property damage by hoodlums in the guise of an EndSARS protest in the state. During the EndSARS demonstrations, small and medium businesses were damaged and looted. This has resulted in the theft of priceless goods and property belonging to the shoplifting victims. The curfew imposed by the Lagos state government as a consequence of protester blockades and the resulting restriction on mobility has led to lower levels of demand and supply for goods and services, as well as higher transportation costs.
Due to the EndSARS demonstration in Lagos, this research aims to analyze the impact of the protest on small and medium-sized businesses in Lagos.
1.3 The Purpose of the Research
EndSARS protests in Lagos State are being investigated in this research to see whether the protests have an impact on small and medium-sized businesses in Lagos State.
Inquiry No. 1.4
This investigation is guided by the following questions:
Why are people protesting against SARS in Lagos State?
What are the unfavorable consequences of the anti-SARS demonstration in Lagos State?
1.5 Hypothesis of the Research
For this investigation, the following hypothesis was put forth:
This demonstration has no detrimental impact on small and medium-sized businesses.
For small and medium businesses, the EndSARS protest has had a detrimental impact.
The Study's Importance
For the general public, company owners, and the government, this research will help them see how small and medium-sized businesses and the economy have been harmed by the EndSARS protest. The administration and policy makers will be reminded of the need of listening to the demonstrators and making the necessary corrections as a result of this action. Researchers and students interested in this or similar topics might use this study as a reference point.
1.7 The Aims of the Investigation
Small and medium-sized businesses in Lagos State were the primary focus of this investigation on the impact of the EndSARS protest. Small and medium-sized businesses in Lagos State will be evaluated for the reasons of the EndSARS protest. Only a small number of Lagos State-based small business owners are included in this research.
The study has a number of limitations.
The researcher had to contend with several obstacles during the course of this study, including a lack of resources, time, and the capacity to validate the replies of participants in interviews and questionnaires.
Terms and Definitions 1.9
Disapproval or opposition to anything is expressed in the form of a protest.
All offenses related to robbery and abduction are handled by the Nigerian police's Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which is based in the country's capital of Abuja.
protests in Nigeria calling for the dissolution of Nigeria's SARS and against police brutality called EndSARS.
A small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) is a firm that has sales, assets, or the number of workers below a specified threshold.
An effect is a change that occurs as a result of some activity or another.
An event, action, or process may be disrupted by a variety of factors, including but not limited to:
The act or process of destroying something completely.
In the event of an armed conflict or riot, looting is the act of taking things from a location.
Deliberately harm or destroy public or private property by means of vandalism.
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