Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has called for an end to protests after three days of unrest sparked by a worsening cost of living crisis, which has resulted in at least seven fatalities and over 700 arrests. In a televised address, Tinubu acknowledged the “pain and frustration” of Nigerians, particularly the youth, but defended his economic reforms, which protesters blame for their hardships. He attributed the violence and looting in some areas to “hoodlums” and emphasized the need for dialogue, but did not indicate a willingness to reverse his policies.
The protests, organized via social media using the hashtag #EndBadGovernance, were inspired by the recent success of protesters in Kenya, who forced the government to scrap plans to increase taxes. However, the demonstrations have taken a deadly turn, with Amnesty International reporting 13 deaths nationwide. Some protesters have even begun waving Russian flags and calling on President Vladimir Putin for help.
President Tinubu has expressed pain over the loss of lives and destruction of public facilities, but his address may not be enough to assuage the anger of young Nigerians. Protest leaders are demanding that their voices be heard and their demands met, and have vowed to continue demonstrating until then.
