Fire rages through the Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepal government, in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025, a day after a police crackdown on demonstrations over social media prohibitions and corruption by the government. Nepali youth protesters set fire to parliament on September 9 as the veteran prime minister obeyed furious crowds to quit, a day after one of the deadliest crackdowns in years in which at least 19 people were killed. (Photo by Prabin RANABHAT / AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Anup OJHA has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Byline - Prabin RANABHAT] instead of [Byline - Anup OJHA]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.
A fresh wave of political unrest in Nepal has triggered heated conversations in Nigeria, as some citizens draw parallels between the Himalayan nation’s youth-led uprising and Nigeria’s own history of street protests.
Nepal has been rocked by violent demonstrations in recent days, with Gen Z protesters storming government institutions, burning the Supreme Court and parliament buildings, and ultimately forcing the resignation of the prime minister. The protests, sparked by anger over corruption and political excesses, have since spiraled into deadly violence and widespread destruction.
Inspired by these events, some Nigerian social media users have urged young people to take to the streets against what they describe as elite misrule in the country. Drawing comparisons to the 2020 #EndSARS protests and the 2024 Kenyan Finance Bill demonstrations, activists and online voices are questioning whether Nigeria’s youth will “learn from Nepal.”
One activist, Juwon Sanyaolu of the Take-it-Back Movement, wrote on X:
“In 2020, Americans had Black Lives Matter, and Nigerians were inspired to do #EndSARS. In 2024, Kenya had a Finance Bill protest, and we had #EndBadGovernance. Now in 2025, will Nigerian youths take lessons from Nepal?”
But pro-government voices have warned that any attempt to replicate Nepal’s uprising could destabilise Nigeria even further. Former presidential aide Reno Omokri argued that those calling for protests were ignoring the chaos and regret now reported in Nepal. He cautioned security agencies to remain vigilant against “agent provocateurs.”
Popular comedian Seyi Law also condemned attempts to glamourise Nepal’s protests, warning that revolutions often spiral into destruction: “They will show you burnt buildings and politicians beaten, but they won’t tell you that Nepalis are regretting now.”
The hashtag #StartFromYourStateOfOrigin quickly gained traction on Friday, with pro-government accounts insisting that those calling for demonstrations should begin in their home states, not Lagos.
Meanwhile, civil society leaders say the debates reflect growing frustration over hardship in Nigeria. Enefa Georgewill of the Rivers Civil Society Organisations urged government leaders to learn from Nepal and “retrace their steps,” while rights activist Debo Adeniran stressed that although the context differs, economic hardship in Nigeria mirrors Nepal’s frustrations.
Adding his voice, Reverend Yomi Kasali, a Lagos-based cleric, warned that no country is immune to revolution: “What happened in Nepal two, three days ago can happen in Nigeria. The poor will think all the wealthy men are criminals and corrupt. And the good and the innocent may be killed.”
As tensions rise, both government supporters and critics agree on one point: the widening gap between Nigeria’s political class and ordinary citizens remains a ticking time bomb.
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