The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has reiterated Nigeria’s stance against foreign interference in its domestic affairs and highlighted the importance of cordial international relationships.
Tuggar made this known at the briefing of the members of the diplomatic corps on the programme and policies of the Federal Government, in Abuja on Wednesday.
The nationwide #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protest, which commenced on Thursday, August 1, was in response to the hardship experienced by citizens in the country.
Several major highways were blocked, exacerbating the situation.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which gained momentum in major cities such as Lagos, Kano, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Niger, Kebbi, Abuja, and other northern towns, were marked by violence.
In some instances, security officials’ actions were the catalyst for the violence, while in other cases, it has been driven by overzealous protesters or counter-protesters.
Over the weekend, media reports and footage showed EndBadGovernance protesters carrying Russian flags.
In a national broadcast on Sunday, President Bola Tinubu pleaded with the organizers of the nationwide protest to suspend the action as it had gone violent in some states with the attendant loss of lives and destruction of property.
The PUNCH reported on Monday that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force arrested no fewer than 30 EndBadGovernance protesters waving Russian flags in Kano and other states.
Also, one of the flag producers, identified as Ahmed Bello, was arrested with a large quantity of flags in Kano.
The Minister appealed for continued collaboration from the international community to support Nigeria’s efforts in overcoming its current challenges and achieving a better future for all Nigerians.
“While the government continues to work hard through the various reform programs and measures to address the challenges facing Nigeria and Nigerians, it is pertinent to remind us that no nation tolerates foreign interference in its domestic affairs and that of its citizens. Nigeria is not an exception.
“The government would take appropriate action against any foreign entity residing in Nigeria that is found to have directly or indirectly supported the protesters by whatever means or seeks to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.
“Nigeria cherishes and continues to value the cordial relationships that happily subsist between her and your countries and organizations and will not do anything to undermine or take for granted such relationships.
“Indeed, more than any time before now, we solicit your understanding and collaboration in the ongoing efforts of the Federal government in addressing the economic challenges confronting the country, to achieve a better life for every Nigerians at home and abroad,” he explained.
In his address, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reaffirmed the government’s support for peaceful assembly and freedom of expression while committing to investigating the violence and bringing those responsible to justice.
Idris thanked the diplomatic community for their support and assured that the worst of the unrest is over.
He expressed optimism that the government’s policy interventions would soon yield positive results for the nation.
“I want to assure your excellencies that the Federal Government has launched an investigation into the violence that we have seen in the last one week to identify and bring to justice all those responsible.
“We are committed to preventing the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents in the future. I also want to thank you individually and collectively for your support and understanding during that difficult period.
“I want to assure you that the worst is over, and we can now as a nation march forward to enjoy the fruit of all the policy and programme interventions being implemented. I thank you for your kind attention,” he stated.
Organizers of the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest have announced a three-day mourning period to honor the memories of their fallen colleagues who were killed by security agents during the protests.
The mourning period commences today, Wednesday, 7 August and ends on Friday, 9 August with a public symposium and candlelight procession.
In a statement by Hassan Soweto, Ayoyinka Oni and Adegboyega Adeniji, on behalf of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Organizing Committee, Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos State, the organizers said the decision to declare a mourning period comes after a series of violent attacks on peaceful protesters by police and thugs allegedly sponsored by the state.
“Arising from a closed-door organizer’s meeting today, Tuesday, 6 August 2024, we have declared three days of mourning in Lagos State to honor our fallen colleagues across the country who were killed by trigger-happy police and security agents during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest. The three days of mourning will commence on Wednesday, 7 August, with an X Space and end on Friday, 9 August 2024, with a public symposium and candlelight procession.
We hereby urge all Nigerian people and youth who support the struggle against hunger and hardship to do everything they can on a personal level to observe these three days of mourning, which may include wearing black attires as they go out, putting up graphics of the movement on their social media profiles, as well as other individual acts to show solidarity with our fallen heroes,” the statement read in part.
The protest organizers encouraged Nigerians to join collective actions, such as the X Space happening on Wednesday, as well as the public symposium and candlelight procession on Friday.
Explaining the rationale for the three-day mourning, they said it was motivated by two things.
“First, the Lagos State government and the Commissioner of Police have made it clear over the course of the past five days that despite assurances to the contrary, they are not in any way prepared to guarantee the right of peaceful protesters to assemble freely without molestation. This explains why, at any slight opportunity, the police at Ojota, as well as at Alausa, have surreptitiously allowed state-sponsored thugs to attack our members and injure them.
“This happened yet again on Monday, 5 August 2024, as the protest closed officially, when a band of thugs armed with various weapons descended on peaceful protesters under the watchful eyes of the police. The same thing happened earlier in the day at Alausa, Ikeja.
“In both incidents, not only did the police not stop the thugs, but police officers also actually participated actively in dispossessing our attacked members of their mobile phones and valuables. This was only the latest in a permanent cycle of low-scale yet scary violent attacks against us once a little chance presents itself,” the statement read.
Given how persistent the attacks have been, the organizers expressed the belief that the police and the thugs were working together to muzzle their voices.
They noted that this has made Ojota unsafe for peaceful protesters hence the decision to re-strategize and consider other forms of engagement to keep the struggle alive until day 10.
They condemned the unprovoked attacks on peaceful protesters and law-abiding Nigerians. They also demanded a public apology from the police as well as the return of all mobile phones and other valuables stolen from protesters by the same police meant to protect them.
Highlighting the second reason for their latest action, the organizers alleged that it was now clear that President Bola Tinubu is on a mission to divide the country and set it aflame so that “he can continue to keep himself and the corrupt privileged clique around him in power.”
Labour Party chieftain Tanko Yunusa has urged President Bola Tinubu to act swiftly on the current socio-economic protests, warning that ignoring the situation could have serious consequences. “Mr President do not sit on that chair and think nothing can happen to you, help the people, do it now before it is too late,”
During an interview on Tuesday, Yunusa highlighted that the protests in the north represent a significant shift towards socioeconomic issues, marking a departure from the traditional focus on ethnicity, tribalism, or religion.
Yunusa stated that “for the first time in the north they are involved in socioeconomic protest.”
Criticizing the government’s response, Yunusa noted that despite a month’s advance notice, “the government did not take precise position and deal with the issue immediately.”
He also condemned the alleged involvement of the President in sponsoring protests, stating, “Mr President has allegedly said to have been sponsoring protests and nobody has threatened or arrested him.”
Yunusa suggested that addressing issues such as fuel prices could have averted the unrest: “Had it been that the government of the day including Mr President had been able to make one single pronouncement to bring the prices of PMS down to 200 naira per liter we possibly wouldn’t have had this protest.”
He concluded by urging the President to act decisively and emphasized the need for immediate action to address the people’s demands.
BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY BOLA AHMED TINUBU, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE NATIONWIDE PROTEST DATE: SUNDAY 4TH AUGUST 2024
My fellow Nigerians,
1. I speak to you today with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility, aware of the turmoil and violent protests unleashed in some of our states.
2. Notably among the protesters were young Nigerians who desired a better and more progressive country where their dreams, hopes, and personal aspirations would be fulfilled.
3. I am especially pained by the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and other states, the destruction of public facilities in some states, and the wanton looting of supermarkets and shops, contrary to the promise of protest organisers that the protest would be peaceful across the country. The destruction of properties sets us back as a nation, as scarce resources will be again used to restore them.
4. I commiserate with the families and relations of those who have died in the protests. We must stop further bloodshed, violence and destruction.
5. As President of this country, I must ensure public order. In line with my constitutional oath to protect the lives and property of every citizen, our government will not stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart.
6. Under the circumstances, I hereby enjoin protesters and the organisers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity. Nigeria requires all hands on deck and needs us all – regardless of age, party, tribe, religion or other divides, to work together in reshaping our destiny as a nation. To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you. There is no place for ethnic bigotry or such threats in the Nigeria we seek to build.
7. Our democracy progresses when the constitutional rights of every Nigerian are respected and protected. Our law enforcement agencies should continue to ensure the full protection of lives and properties of innocent citizens in a responsible manner.
8. My vision for our country is one of a just and prosperous nation where each person may enjoy the peace, freedom, and meaningful livelihood that only democratic good governance can provide – one that is open, transparent and accountable to the Nigerian people.
9. For decades, our economy has remained anaemic and taken a dip because of many misalignments that have stunted our growth. Just over a year ago, our dear country, Nigeria, reached a point where we couldn’t afford to continue the use of temporary solutions to solve long-term problems for the sake of now and our unborn generations. I therefore took the painful yet necessary decision to remove fuel subsidies and abolish multiple foreign exchange systems which had constituted a noose around the economic jugular of our Nation and impeded our economic development and progress.
10. These actions blocked the greed and the profits that smugglers and rent-seekers made. They also blocked the undue subsidies we had extended to our neighbouring countries to the detriment of our people, rendering our economy prostrate. These decisions I made were necessary if we must reverse the decades of economic mismanagement that didn’t serve us well. Yes, I agree, the buck stops on my table. But I can assure you that I am focused fully on delivering the governance to the people – good governance for that matter.
11. In the past 14 months, our government has made significant strides in rebuilding the foundation of our economy to carry us into a future of plenty and abundance. On the fiscal side, aggregate government revenues have more than doubled, hitting over 9.1 trillion Naira in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023 due to our efforts at blocking leakages, introducing automation and mobilising funding creatively without additional burden on the people. Productivity is gradually increasing in the non-oil sector, reaching new levels and taking advantage of the opportunities in the current economic ambience
12. My dear brothers and sisters, we have come this far. Coming from a place where our country spent 97% of all our revenue on debt service; we have been able to reduce that to 68% in the last 13 months. We have also cleared legitimate outstanding foreign exchange obligations of about $5billion without any adverse impact on our programmes.
13. This has given us more financial freedom and the room to spend more money on you, our citizens, to fund essential social services like education and healthcare. It has also led to our State, and Local Governments receiving the highest allocations ever in our country’s history from the Federation Account.
14. We have also embarked on major infrastructure projects across the country. We are working to complete inherited projects critical to our economic prosperity, including roads, bridges, railways, power, and oil and gas developments. Notably, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Highway projects will open up 16 connecting states, creating thousands of jobs and boosting economic output through trade, tourism and cultural integration
15. Our once-declining oil and gas industry is experiencing a resurgence on the back of the reforms I announced in May 2024 to address the gaps in the Petroleum Industry Act. Last month, we increased our oil production to 1.61million barrels per day, and our gas assets are receiving the attention they deserve. Investors are coming back, and we have already seen two Foreign Direct Investments signed of over half a billion dollars since then.
16. Fellow Nigerians, we are a country blessed with both oil and gas resources, but we met a country that had been dependent solely on oil-based petrol, neglecting its gas resources to power the economy. We were also using our hard-earned foreign exchange to pay for, and subsidise its use. To address this, we immediately launched our Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (CNG) to power our transportation economy and bring costs down. This will save over two trillion Naira a month, being used to import PMS and AGO and free up our resources for more investment in healthcare and education.
17. To this end, we will be distributing a million kits of extremely low or no cost to commercial vehicles that transport people and goods and who currently consume 80% of the imported PMS and AGO.
18. We have started the distribution of conversion kits and setting up of conversion centres across the country in conjunction with the private sector. We believe that this CNG initiative will reduce transportation costs by approximately 60 per cent and help to curb inflation.
19. Our administration has shown its commitment to the youth by setting up the student loan scheme. To date, 45.6billion Naira has already been processed for payment to students and their respective institutions
20. I encourage more of our vibrant youth population to take advantage of this opportunity. We established the Consumer Credit Corporation with over N200billion to help Nigerians to acquire essential products without the need for immediate cash payments, making life easier for millions of households. This will consequently reduce corruption and eliminate cash and opaque transactions. This week, I ordered the release of an additional N50billion Naira each for NELFUND – the student loan, and Credit Corporation from the proceeds of crime recovered by the EFCC
21. Additionally, we have secured $620million under the Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDiCE) – a programme to empower our young people, creating millions of IT and technical jobs that will make them globally competitive. These programmes include the 3Million Technical Talents scheme. Unfortunately, one of the digital centres was vandalised during the protests in Kano. What a shame!
22. In addition, we have introduced the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA); the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA); and the National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
23. Also, more than N570 billion has been released to the 36 states to expand livelihood support to their citizens, while 600,000 nano-businesses have benefitted from our nano-grants. An additional 400,000 more nano-businesses are expected to benefit.
24. Furthermore, 75,000 beneficiaries have been processed to receive our N1million Micro and Small Business single-digit interest loans, starting this month. We have also built 10 MSME hubs within the past year, created 240,000 jobs through them and 5 more hubs are in progress which will be ready by October this year.
25. Payments of N1billion each are also being made to large manufacturers under our single-digit loans to boost manufacturing output and stimulate growth.
26. I signed the National Minimum Wage into law last week, and the lowest-earning workers will now earn at least N70,000 a month.
27. Six months ago in Karsana, Abuja, I inaugurated the first phase of our ambitious housing initiative, the Renewed Hope City and Estate. This project is the first of six we have planned across the nation’s geopolitical zones. Each of these cities will include a minimum of 1,000 housing units, with Karsana itself set to deliver 3,212 units
28. In addition to these city projects, we are also launching the Renewed Hope Estates in every state, each comprising 500 housing units. Our goal is to complete a total of 100,000 housing units over the next three years. This initiative is not only about providing homes but also about creating thousands of jobs across the nation as well as stimulating economic growth.
29. We are providing incentives to farmers to increase food production at affordable prices. I have directed that tariffs and other import duties should be removed on rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, drugs, and other pharmaceutical and medical supplies for the next 6 months, in the first instance, to help drive down the prices.
30. I have been meeting with our Governors and key Ministers to accelerate food production. We have distributed fertilisers. Our target is to cultivate more than 10 million hectares of land to grow what we eat. The Federal Government will provide all necessary incentives for this initiative, whilst the states provide the land, which will put millions of our people to work and further increase food production. In the past few months, we have also ordered mechanized farming equipment such as tractors and planters, worth billions of Naira from the United States, Belarus, and Brazil. I can confirm to you that the equipment is on the way.
31. My dear Nigerians, especially our youth, I have heard you loud and clear. 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.
32. But we must not let violence and destruction tear our nation apart. We must work together to build a brighter future, where every Nigerian can live with dignity and prosperity.
33. The task before us is a collective one, and I am leading the charge as your President. A lot of work has gone into stabilising our economy and I must stay focused on ensuring that the benefits reach every single Nigerian as promised.
34. My administration is working very hard to improve and expand our national infrastructure and create more opportunities for our young people.
35. Let nobody misinform and miseducate you about your country or tell you that your government does not care about you. Although there have been many dashed hopes in the past, we are in a new era of Renewed Hope. We are working hard for you, and the results will soon be visible and concrete for everyone to see, feel, and enjoy.
36. Let us work together to build a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come. Let us choose hope over fear, unity over division, and progress over stagnation. The economy is recovering; Please, don’t shut out its oxygen. Now that we have been enjoying democratic governance for 25 years, do not let the enemies of democracy use you to promote an unconstitutional agenda that will set us back on our democratic journey. FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER!
37. In conclusion, security operatives should continue to maintain peace, law, and order in our country following the necessary conventions on human rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory. The safety and security of all Nigerians are paramount.
38. Thank God — and Thank you for your attention, and may God continue to bless our great Nation. Thank you very much.
In Kano State, protesters took to the streets, displaying Russian flags and calling for intervention from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The protesters are expressing dissatisfaction with the current administration under President Bola Tinubu and seeking external assistance.
Bashir Ahmad, Special Assistant on Digital Communication to former President Muhammadu Buhari, confirmed the situation. Ahmad spoke on the need for vigilance, urging authorities to monitor the protests closely. He suggested that the display of Russian flags could reflect deeper issues or external influences that require thorough investigation and response from the government.
He tweeted: “Russian flags have been seen among protesters in some parts of the country. It’s crucial for authorities to closely monitor the situation and take necessary precautions. This may indicate various underlying sentiments or influences that need to be carefully assessed and addressed by the government.”
The protests, which began on August 1, 2024, are focused on ending bad governance.
Protesters in Jos, Plateau State, are set to hold the Sunday service at the protest ground on the 4th day of #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest
The protests, which began on August 1, 2024, are focused on ending bad governance.
The third day of demonstrations, witness crowds block the Yakubu Gowon Way near the Old Airport Junction.
Demonstrators expressed their intention to continue their activism through a Sunday service, showcasing their commitment to the cause.
Meanwhile, media had earlier reported that the #EndBadGovernance protests united the faiths of participating Nigerians as videos showed the moment some Christians provided protection to Muslims as they observed their Juma’at prayers amid the nationwide protests in Lagos and Osun states.
Same incident occurred in Osogbo, Osun State, which showed a rare moment of unity and cooperation among people of different faiths in Nigeria.
The act of mutual help highlights the cooperative spirit developing from the protests, despite the escalating tensions and hardships experienced by demonstrators.
A comprehensive situation report issued by the United Action Front of Civil Society on Friday had stated that 21 people died and 1,154 were arrested by security operatives during the #EndBadGovernance protest nationwide.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 polls, Peter Obi, on Friday, called for the arrest and prosecution of promoters of genocidal threats against Igbos in Lagos.
Social media has been awash with a hashtag, asking the Igbos to vacate Lagos and the other South-West states.
But Obi, a former Anambra State governor, condemned the ultimatum on Igbos, describing it as deeply disturbing.
“Immediate action should be taken to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those behind this heinous agenda, serving as a deterrent to others who might consider pursuing similar paths that threaten our national security and unity,” he said.
“Similarly, and deeply disturbing, I have read genocidal threats on X against the Igbo tribe, calling for their relocation. Let me pointedly warn that such rhetoric threatens our unity and is fundamentally opposed to our Constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian the right to live and work freely anywhere in the country. Those in authority must show leadership and urgently speak out against such divisive rhetoric.”
Obi urged all “Nigerians to stand united against this divisive rhetoric and to champion unity, tolerance, and understanding,” arguing that “Our future depends on our ability to live and work together harmoniously.”
He also wants the government and security agencies to “act swiftly to protect this fundamental principle and ensure that every Nigerian can live free from fear of discrimination or persecution. We must not allow our present challenges to drive wedges among us.”
Paul Okoye, aka Rudeboy, has confirmed that the music group PSquare has broken up for the second time.
In an interview with City FM Lagos, he revealed that the split was due to creative differences and personal issues.
Rudeboy denied claims that he belittled his brother Peter’s role in the group, saying he was wrongly accused of saying he was the singer and Peter was the dancer.
He explained that Peter told him he was no longer interested in the group and didn’t want to make it public.
Rudeboy also mentioned that they had different visions for their music, and he wanted to share creative responsibilities equally.
However, it didn’t work out, leading to the split.
“The plan of our coming back together was going to produce a lot of hit albums. But as it is now, I’m just focusing on Rudeboy. Trust me, it is not everything that I would want to say.
“I was being accused of saying that he [Peter] was the dancer and I’m the singer. I know whenever we go to the airport, people ask are you a singer or a dancer? I didn’t know it was touching him. But I know there was a time we came together and said, ‘don’t allow this thing get to you, you should be proud of what you’re doing. That’s the role you’re playing.’
“We have a song we did with T.I, ‘Eja Jo’. That was when the issue started. Till today, that song is still on 3 million views because people didn’t hear the PSquare’s voice that they are used to.
“When we came back together, because I didn’t want the issues that happened before, I told my brother to show himself, let us be involved in the creative process together. I told him we should share who carries the tracks equally but still it wasn’t working.
“The new PSquare was peaceful. I needed the past mistakes not to repeat themselves. But then again he [Peter] said he’s no more doing [no longer interested]. In fact, he told me in the face that he wants to quit. I asked if we could make it public and he refused. But what will happen when I go solo? People will call me the bad person. That’s why I’m speaking up now.”
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Friday fired teargas canisters at protesters who assembled at the popular Berger roundabout in Abuja.
Journalists covering the procession were not spared as teargas were fired at them.
Protesters have demonstrated in Abuja, Lagos, Rivers, Kano and several other cities to register their grievance over economic reforms that have led to rampant inflation and inflicted increasing hardship on ordinary Nigerians.
President Bola Tinubu has vowed to pursue the changes that he said are needed to keep the country afloat.
Worried by potential violence with hoodlums hijacking the protests, the Nigerian authorities deployed armed security personnel nationwide.
Nigerians are telling the government to reinstate subsidies for petrol and electricity, free primary and secondary education and measures to combat insecurity, among other demands.
The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, has placed the Corps on red alert as 32 persons were arrested in Kano for looting shops and vandalism during yesterday’s nationwide protests.
Audi ordered all zonal commanders, heads of formations, and state commandants across the 36 States and FCT to remain on red alert and bring to book anyone breaching the peace of the country.
The NSCDC boss led a team of operatives to monitor the protests last night in Abuja and expressed concern about attacks on security agencies deployed to protect government infrastructure and the civil populace.
He said several warnings were issued to protesters on the need to shun all acts of violence, vandalism, destruction, and looting of both public and private belongings amongst others, but regretted that the protesters failed to heed the warnings.
Audi faulted the entire process of protests as most agitators and organizers of the protests were obviously in absentia thereby giving room for unscrupulous elements to perpetrate their sinister intentions.
“It is very lamentable that there was the incidence of fierce attacks on security operatives and wanton destruction of properties in Kaduna, Kano, Yobe, Gombe and many other States just as officers and men were injured and NSCDC operational vehicle was set ablaze in Katsina”, Audi said in a statement.
He hinted that 32 suspects were arrested by NSCDC men at Sabo Gari, Bata/France road, and Murtala Mohammed Way in Kano.
The statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Babawale Afolabi, said despite the swift intervention of security operatives, the protesters who outnumbered them made away with goods worth thousands of naira.
“While #End bad governance nationwide protesters kicked off 1st August our men who had been earlier briefed on the need to safeguard all critical national assets and infrastructure across the board did not hesitate to ensure that 32 suspects were apprehended for vandalism, looting, and destruction of property. They would be properly investigated and legal actions be appropriately taken”, Babawale said.
He warned that security agencies would not tolerate any act of violence and destruction of government facilities as those who dare would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
