President Bola Tinubu will address the nation on Sunday, August 4, 2024, amid ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests that have gripped Nigeria.
The protests, now in their third day, are driven by economic hardship and high living costs, with demonstrators voicing their dissatisfaction across all 36 states and the capital, Abuja.
Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, has faced increasing pressure to speak directly to the over 200 million citizens affected by these issues. His spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, announced the upcoming address, stating, “Television, radio, and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to plug into the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) for the broadcast.” The address is scheduled for 7:00 am, with repeats at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm on the same day.
The protests began on Thursday, with opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and prominent political figures like ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, urging Tinubu to address the nation’s youth. These protests highlight widespread discontent over the struggling economy, driven by policies such as the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange windows.
Protesters have outlined several demands, including the restoration of petrol subsidies, addressing food shortages, tackling unemployment, and reducing government spending. They also call for reforms of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to enhance the fight against corruption.
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In several states, including Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Jigawa, and Nasarawa, the protests have turned violent, with hoodlums taking advantage of the situation to loot warehouses and private stores, and burn vehicles. The police reported seven deaths during the protests but denied that security agents were responsible.
Despite the use of tear gas by the police to disperse protesters, civil society organizations have condemned these actions. The resilience of the protesting youths and the critical response from opposition figures underscore the significant challenges facing President Tinubu and his administration.
As the nation awaits Tinubu’s address, the ongoing protests reflect deep-rooted economic and social issues that demand urgent attention and effective solutions from the government.