IN an effort to prevent ‘undesirable outcomes’ from the planned nationwide protests, the Nigerian government has urged for calm and called on the youth to cancel the demonstrations in favour of continued dialogue to address their grievances.
The protests, organised by the youth, are scheduled to begin Thursday across Nigeria, the continent’s most populous country. Protesters are demanding government action to address severe economic hardships amidst a serious cost-of-living crisis.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris addressed the media on Monday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, stating that while the government recognises peaceful protests as a ‘democratic right of every Nigerian,’ it is appealing to the youth to reconsider their plans.
Citing the history of protests in Nigeria, Idris warned that the planned demonstrations could be hijacked by ‘unscrupulous elements’ and potentially turn violent.
‘The president is already addressing their concerns,’ the minister said, listing several government initiatives, including the distribution of food items to the poor, efforts to control food prices, the disbursement of student loans, and the reduction of transportation costs through the country’s compressed natural gas revolution.
Last year, the Nigerian government removed subsidies on petrol and floated the local currency as part of ongoing economic and fiscal reforms. In June, Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 34.19 percent, exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis in the West African nation.
