Nigeria’s President Tinubu Calls for Dialogue Amid Violence Protests

In response to ongoing protests against economic hardship and bad governance, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu called for an end to violence in several states since the protests began. In a televised broadcast on Sunday, Tinubu acknowledged the grievances of the youth, stating he heard them “loud and clear” and understood the pain and frustration driving the demonstrations.

He assured that his government is committed to addressing the concerns of the aggrieved citizens through dialogue.

Protesters have been mobilizing online to organize demonstrations against rising living costs, demanding cuts in petrol prices and electricity tariffs, among other issues.

Tinubu, who has been in office since May 2023, defended his economic reforms, which include a partial end to petrol and electricity subsidies and the devaluation of the naira, as necessary measures to reverse years of economic mismanagement.

The president highlighted that government revenues had more than doubled to 9.1 trillion naira ($5.65 billion) in the first half of the year.

He noted that 68% of revenue now goes to debt servicing, a significant improvement from 97% before he took office.

Tinubu emphasized the government’s increased spending on infrastructure projects, the initiation of a loan scheme for university students, and the construction of thousands of housing units across Nigeria’s 36 states.

 

Report by Fatimah Ibrahim Danjumah

 

 

 

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