President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to cancel a planned protest against economic hardship, slated for next month.
The protest, tagged “EndBadGovernance,” has gained traction on social media and is scheduled to hold across all states and the Federal Capital Territory in August.
At a meeting with the President on Tuesday, Information Minister Mohammed Idris briefed selected State House correspondents on the President’s stance. “Mr. President does not see any need for the protest. He has asked the organizers to shelve the plan and await the government’s response to their complaints,” Idris said.
The planned protest is a response to the country’s worsening economic crisis, sparked by the government’s policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows. Prices of food and basic commodities have skyrocketed, leaving many Nigerians struggling to cope.
However, the Federal Government has warned against the planned demonstration, with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigeria Police Force, and House of Representatives cautioning against the potential for violence and destruction of assets.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga also warned on Saturday that the protest could degenerate into chaos, similar to the EndSARS protest in October 2020, which resulted in widespread destruction of assets.
In contrast, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Senator Ali Ndume have urged the President to address the demands of the protesters, mostly youths, and find solutions to the economic hardship facing the country.
