This paper analyses the mechanisms, outcomes, and consequences of the Nigerian protest movement using longitudinal qualitative research. To go about this, the paper looks at the protests in the context of neo-Liberal reforms, the essential trigger of the movement, its objectives, and its achievements are described. The movement started on January 2, 2012 as a direct response to the Nigerian government’s announcement of the commencement of fullscale deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry. The movement took public protests in Nigeria to a new level with lasting impacts on the political system. This paper observes the “non-institutional” mechanisms adopted by the protesters to achieve their
objectives.