Takashi Tamai
Japan Association for African Studies 63rd Annual Conference 2026年5月9日 Japan Association for African Studies
Since the 2010s, Nigerian cities have experienced recurrent waves of youth-led protests against the government, amplified through social media. Political events, such as elections, security policies, and economic reforms, have sparked intense debates and mobilization in both online and offline spaces. Previous studies have largely characterized youth as politically engaged “citizens,” motivated by animosity toward the state. The rise of young, digitally connected citizens who mobilize across ethnic, religious, and regional boundaries is often seen as a symbolic moment for democracy.
However, several issues remain insufficiently examined. First, not all young people aspire to participate in protests; disillusioned with the government, they deliberately refrain from participating. Recent patterns of overseas migration, commonly referred to as “Japa,” can be understood within this context. Second, refraining from participating in protests does not imply political apathy, as many engage in social media often labeled as “slacktivism,” whose significance and implications in the Nigerian context remain underexplored. Third, the prevailing notion of the political "citizen" remains highly masculinized despite women’s participation. Fourth, the extremely low voter turnout of 28.63 percent in the 2023 presidential election raises further questions. Despite youth-centered mobilization following the 2020 EndSARS movement, voting was widely avoided even though it is a typical form of political participation.
To address these issues, this study examines the political costs embedded in the lives of urban youth. Political costs are understood as fragmented and affective perceptions shaped by personal experiences, social media, and living conditions. Young people experienced the EndSARS and Obidient movements during the 2023 presidential election less as abstract political ideals and more as concrete political burdens. This study explores three dimensions of these costs: exposure to violence, tensions within family and local relations (particularly during election periods), and constraints on time and livelihood. This paper argues that contemporary youth politics in urban Nigeria sit between protests, low engagement, and slacktivism. The analysis draws on ethnographic fieldwork in Lagos and documentary sources from media, government agencies, and NGOs.