On Sunday, demonstrators in Lagos voiced their reactions to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent appeal to end the ongoing protests against economic hardships in the country.
Tinubu, addressing the nation, said, “As the 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. Under these circumstances, I urge protesters and organizers to suspend further protests and engage in dialogue.”
The protests, which began on Thursday, have been marred by reports of looting and vandalism, as well as allegations of excessive force by security personnel.
Protester Opeyemi Folarin criticized the president’s speech, saying, “The president’s remarks this morning were disappointing; he missed an important opportunity to show empathy and address the pain and struggles of the Nigerian people.”
Another protester, Ayisat Omolara, echoed the sentiment, stating that Tinubu’s address failed to acknowledge their concerns and instead included irrelevant anecdotes.
The demonstrations reflect widespread frustration over Nigeria’s severe cost-of-living crisis and allegations of mismanagement and corruption. In Africa’s most populous nation and a leading oil producer, the stark contrast between the wealth of government officials and high levels of poverty and hunger has fueled discontent.
Lagos Police Commissioner Adegoke Fayoade warned that any further gatherings are considered unlawful, emphasizing that the full force of the law will be applied.
Amnesty International reported that nine protesters were killed in clashes with police, and four more died in a bomb explosion. However, Nigerian police have disputed the accuracy of this report.
Tinubu’s supporters argue that the protests are politically motivated. His election last year was contentious, with Tinubu winning only 37% of the vote—the narrowest margin in Nigerian presidential history—and the lowest voter turnout since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
The current protests have also drawn inspiration from recent youth-led rallies in Kenya.
