Amid the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, human rights lawyer Femi Falana urged government officials on Thursday to engage with the demonstrators.
Angry Nigerians gathered across the states and in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to express their discontent with widespread poverty and the high cost of living, demanding better economic conditions for the citizens.
Despite court orders restraining the protests in some areas, demonstrators turned out in large numbers, calling for the reversal of certain government policies.
Falana criticized the government for mobilizing youths to disrupt rallies and emphasized that the police are responsible for providing adequate security for the protesters nationwide. He stated, “We must stop mobilizing people to disrupt rallies and involving traditional rulers and emergency organizations to withdraw from the protests. The government should begin to identify and engage those who are genuinely aggrieved, asking them, ‘What are your complaints?’ so that everyone feels heard.”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also encouraged security agencies to communicate with the protesters after receiving proper notifications of the demonstrations.
The protests, which began on Thursday, August 1, 2024, are scheduled to continue until August 10 across all states of the Federation, including Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The demonstrations have been fueled by soaring food and basic commodity prices, with Nigerians experiencing one of the worst inflation rates and economic crises in the country’s history. The crisis has been exacerbated by the government’s removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of forex windows.
The police, military, and Department of State Services have warned against protests resembling those in Kenya. Politicians, fearing a repeat of the October 2020 EndSARS demonstrations, have urged youths to cancel the planned rallies. However, the young protesters remain resolute.