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LAGOS, Nigeria – Following a surge of deadly protests that have enveloped Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has called for an end to the violence, attributing the unrest to "a few with a political agenda."
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| Police fire tear gas at protesters in Abuja, Nigeria, Thursday, August 1. [Image: AP Photo/Olamikan Gbemiga] |
The protests, sparked by deep-seated economic grievances, have been marked by vandalism and looting since they began on Thursday. Security forces have been accused of using excessive force, resulting in fatalities.
Amnesty International reported nine protesters killed in clashes with police and four more by a bomb. However, the Nigerian police contested these figures, confirming seven deaths as of Saturday.
According to police, four deaths resulted from an explosive device during a march in northeast Borno state, two were due to a car accident, and one was a shooting by a guard during looting.
“I have heard you loud and clear,” President Tinubu said in his first public address regarding the demonstrations.
“I understand the pain and frustration that drive these protests, and I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of our citizens.”
The protests, primarily organized through online platforms, reflect widespread dissatisfaction with economic hardships and perceived misgovernance. Demonstrators are demanding reductions in petrol prices and electricity tariffs, among other grievances.
Tinubu, who assumed office in 2023, has struggled to fulfill his economic promises. His controversial reforms, including the partial removal of petrol and electricity subsidies and the devaluation of the naira, have not appeased the restless population, leading to the current unrest. Tinubu defended his economic reforms, intended to save government funds and attract foreign investment. As such, to him, the protests are driven by those with ulterior motives.
“These protests are being driven by a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart,” Tinubu asserted, emphasizing that security forces would resist such efforts.
The protests underscore frustration with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation and accusations of corruption in Africa’s most populous country. Nigeria, a top oil producer, faces stark contrasts between public officials’ earnings and high poverty and hunger levels.
Tinubu’s aides claim the protests are politically motivated. His election last year, which he won with 37% of the vote, the smallest margin for any Nigerian president, was contested by the opposition. The election also saw the lowest turnout since Nigeria's return to democracy in 1999.
Protesters have drawn inspiration from young people in Kenya, who recently held rallies against a proposed tax hike.
The Nigerian leader stated that his government “will not stand idly” by while looting continues.
“Under the circumstances, I hereby enjoin protesters and the organizers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue,” he urged.
The military has also threatened to intervene to quell the violence.
Analysts argue that the reforms introduced by Tinubu, including the suspension of long-standing gas subsidies and currency devaluation, have exacerbated economic hardships due to poor implementation.
“The economy is recovering; please, don’t shut out its oxygen,” Tinubu pleaded.
In a region plagued by military coups fueled by popular discontent with elected governments, Tinubu warned that the protests could jeopardize Nigeria’s democracy.
“Forward ever, backward never!” he declared.
(with reporting from the Associated Press - AP)
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