₦airaland Forum

Some youths in Bauchi State have burnt down the palace of District Head of Lere town in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state.

Daily Trust gathered that the youth attacked the palace following a clash between military and supporters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Lere.

At least one person was killed while six others sustained injuries in the incident.

Zaharedden Mohammed, a resident of Lere who was shot in the eye during the military raid, said the mob who torched the palace acted on the suspicion that it was the district head of who encouraged the military to impose curfew on the community.

“Some youths in the campaign team had a misunderstanding with the military and the military decided to hide under the curfew to attack certain individuals; before the time of the curfew, they launched their onslaught,” he said.

Another resident of Lere, Alhaji Sule Abdullahi, told Daily Trust that the youths ventilated their anger on the district head.

“On Wednesday, the angry youths trooped to the palace and set the buildings on fire.”

Effort made to get the reaction of the District Head was not successful at the time of filing this report.

Nigerian Army Compensates Family Of 16-year-old Shot Dead In Kaduna Protests With N300,000

The family of Ismail Mohammed, a 16-year-old boy killed by the Nigerian Army under President Bola Tinubu during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests, has been compensated with N300,000.

This follows the army's admission of responsibility for the fatal shooting in Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State in a statement on Wednesday.

According to social media user, Aliyu (@AliyuKwarbai) on Wednesday afternoon, Ismail Mohammed's family has been given N300,000 for life compensation.

“The father of 16 years old boy (Ismail), who was killed by the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday, in Samaru Zaria, Kaduna state has received N300,000. N300,000 for life's compensation of life?”

SaharaReporters reported on Tuesday that tragedy struck in Kaduna State, as Nigerian soldiers fired live rounds to suppress #EndBadGovernance protests in Samaru community, killing two civilians and sparking widespread panic.

According to eyewitnesses, the soldiers stormed the community, home to thousands of Ahmadu Bello University students, on Tuesday morning and opened fire on civilians.

SaharaReporters learnt that the military's brutal crackdown was aimed to disperse protesters who had been gathering in the area for days.

A student resident confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters, describing the atmosphere as tense and volatile following the senseless killing of innocent civilians.

The community source said, “The army came early this morning (Tuesday) and did not care; they just started shooting. Their aim was to suppress the ongoing protest. Unfortunately, their bullets hit two residents at the market area of Samaru. They both died.”

“One of them was a 16-year-old boy. I do not know much about the identity of the second one,” the source added.

A graphic video shared by X user, Better Kaduna, shows the lifeless body of one of the victims, providing disturbing visual evidence of the deadly crackdown on protesters in Zaria, Kaduna State.

He wrote: “Videos coming in from Samaru Community in Zaria are worrisome and Viewers Discretion is advised.

“Being a student-dominated community, we are calling on ABU Zaria Authorities to ensure the safety of students and forestall further loss of lives.”

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters earlier reported today that the Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of a protester and 16-year-old boy, Ismail Mohammed, in Zaira, Kaduna State.

The army spokesperson, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, in a release stated that the teenager's death resulted from troops firing a warning shot to deter hoodlums and enforce the curfew imposed by the state government.

The curfew was in the wake of the #EndBadGovernance peaceful protests in the state, which was however hijacked by some hoodlums.

Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, said that Nigerian Army troops received a distress call reporting that a large group of hoodlums had gathered in Samaru, burning tyres on the road and pelting stones at security personnel.

The army authorities stated that the troops were immediately mobilised and arrived at the scene to disperse the mob and enforce the curfew imposed by the state government.

Islie:
https://saharareporters.com/2024/08/06/breaking-nigerias-central-bank-approves-unity-bank-providus-bank-merger#google_vignette

The Nigerian Equity Market experienced a downturn on the first trading day of the week on Monday mirroring the broader global market decline.

This decline resulted in a N93bn loss in market capitalisation which now stands at N55.40tn.

The All-Share Index fell to 97,582.41 points, down 0.17 per cent from the previous close of 97,741.86 points.

The day trading saw 9,738 transactions totalling N6.217bn, with 324.02m units of shares exchanged. The market breadth was negative, as 23 equities gained while 25 equities saw their prices drop.

Among the top gainers were International Breweries, Presco Plc, and Sovereign Trust Insurance, each posting a 10 per cent increase to close at N4.62, N485.10, and N0.55, respectively.

Conversely, Chams Plc led the losers with a 10 per cent decline to close at N1.98, followed by University Press Plc, which shed 9.92 per cent to close at N2.18, and The Initiate Plc, down 8.26 per cent to end at N2.


The trading volume saw a 54 per cent increase to 324.02m shares, and the number of deals rose by 47 per cent to 9,738. Zenith Bank recorded the highest volume of 37m traded shares, with United Bank for Africa, Veritas Kapital Assurance, and Oando following with 35m, 25.5m, and 20.3m shares, respectively.

This downturn in the Nigerian market is part of a larger global trend. International share markets also tumbled on Monday as investors reacted to fears of a potential recession in the United States.

According to Newsweek, this market shift was prompted by a weak US July payroll report, which revealed an increase in the unemployment rate to 4.3 per cent, the fourth consecutive monthly rise. The report also indicated a significant shortfall in nonfarm payrolls, which rose by only 120,000 against expectations of 200,000.

Also, according to Reuters, the chief investment officer at BlueBay Asset Management, Mark Dowding, said “In our assessment, a lot of this (market sell-off) has been down to position capitulation as a number of macro funds have been caught the wrong way around on a trade, and stops have been triggered, initially starting with FX and the Japanese yen”.

PUNCH reported that in a turbulent week for the Nigerian stock market, the All-Share Index and market capitalization experienced a downturn, depreciating by 0.46 per cent and 0.19 per cent, respectively. This decline resulted in the market closing at 97,745.73 points and N55.50tn, respectively, marking a loss of N438bn.

Kobojunkieee:
What's happening up north is nothing short of wicked! The people need to particularly hold the President, Governors, Local government councilmen, and religious leaders responsible for doing absolutely nothing to stop this disaster that the world has been talking of for some years now.

iwaeda:
Hospital cases due to hunger and hardship. The malnutrition kills faster than swords. Hunger is just too bad.

Residents and health workers in Borno State have expressed concern over the alarming rise in child malnutrition, as families and breastfeeding mothers grapple with severe hunger.

It was gathered that people in several local government areas in northern Borno, including Marte, Kukawa, Abadam, Guzamala, Kaga, Mobbar, and Gubio, now rely on humanitarian intervention.

Speaking to Daily Trust, residents have expressed deep concern over the dire hunger situation, worsened by the ongoing threat of Boko Haram insurgents in their areas.

Musty Ba’nna, a resident of a temporary camp in Dikwa who fled New Marte with his family, attributed the widespread hunger and starvation to a lack of food, leading to severe malnutrition among children.

“Life is increasingly difficult for us. I am originally from Kereno in Marte, but we can’t return due to insurgent activity. We fled New Marte last month and are struggling to find food daily. Our children are suffering and dying from hunger,” Musty explained.

Another resident, Bukar Modu from Maiduguri, described how the constant terrorist attacks have further exacerbated their plight.

He said they have resorted to cutting down trees to make firewood and charcoal for sale, but even this source of income is hindered by violence along the Maiduguri/Damboa highway.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported a troubling surge in malnutrition cases, surpassing previous figures from last year.

The organisation has been forced to rapidly expand its capacity to manage the influx of patients. In June alone, MSF treated 1,594 children for malnutrition, leading to the addition of 40 beds to their intensive care unit (ICU) to cope with the rising number of critically ill patients.

As of August 4th, the facility was overwhelmed with 432 patients, far exceeding its 200-bed capacity.

The report highlights that while MSF and partners are working with the Ministry of Health to scale up their response, funding has been insufficient.

Ahmed Shehu, co-chairman of the Borno State Accountability Mechanism (BOSAM), urged the government to focus on initiatives that protect children’s well-being and combat food insecurity.

“Malnutrition is a serious issue exacerbated by economic hardship. Parents and families are struggling, and the government must prioritise programmes to ensure their welfare. Addressing food insecurity is crucial for both children and adults alike,” Shehu said.

......Embrace alternatives for survival …Use mushroom as substitute for meat

*Traders blame crisis on insecurity

*FG reiterates commitment to food security

The astronomical surge in food prices has forced many Nigerian households to adopt various coping mechanisms to survive, a survey by Financial Vanguard has revealed.

The latest inflation report of the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, indicated that the prices of tomatoes, beans, garri and some other food items have increased by more than 200 percent within a year.

This increase has kept many individuals and households in untold hardship and hunger, as the majority can no longer afford a decent meal a day.

Investigations revealed that many households have been adopting different alternatives to regular food items for survival.

For instance, with fresh tomatoes becoming increasingly unaffordable, many families now rely on tomato paste and palm fruits to prepare meals.

Households adopt alternatives

Speaking to Financial Vanguard in Lagos, Mrs. Kehinde salami, a retired civil servant, said: “The increasing rise in the price of goods and services is terrible.

“Everyday the prices of food items we produce keeps rising.

“Look at beans, yam, tomato, only few people are buying them, especially beans that many households consume once in a very long while.

“Early this year, I bought a paint rubber of honey beans at N6,000. Now the price is N11,000.

“What I do now is to buy one or two derica beans which goes for N4,400.

“Also, for tomatoes, I use the sachet tomatoes and add dry habanero pepper instead of buying N500 fresh pepper that is not up to a handful.

“Now that there is another species of tomato, they now have the portion of N200 and also pepper but it is very small in quantity when compared to how it was portioned early this year.

“I also go for palm oil (Banga), vegetable soups which can be served alongside rice and other delicacies.

“Now, people have embraced many alternatives for survival.”

Also speaking, Mrs. Dorin Fehintola, a PoS agent, said: “It is not funny anymore. Parents now put on thinking caps to be able to feed their families.

“Before, in my family we ate beans twice a week in porridge form and cake. Now we single it to cake form once a week to reduce consumption and save cost.

“I replaced tomato sauce with vegetable leaf sauce, carrot sauce, garden egg sauce and palm fruit (Banga) sauce.I use sachet tomatoes when preparing jollof rice.

“I stopped cooking yam and buying bread. Instead I cook cocoyam or spaghetti.”

Another respondent in Lagos, Mrs. Kemi Bamidele, a food vendor and baker said the inflation has made life unbearable.

“The government should have put some palliative measures on ground before removing the subsidy. They should do the needful as the masses are very hungry,” she said.

On her part, Mrs. Nkem Chukwujekwu, who is a business woman said “the high cost of goods and commodities has really affected us because most food items have become unaffordable.

“Most of us have alternatively chose to replace stew with the local stew we make with palm fruit known as banger stew even with that, but a paint bucket of banger has gone up from N1800 to N4700.

“So the inflation of food has really affected us greatly to a point where most people could barely afford two square meal a day.”

Also reacting, Mrs. Ngozi Egwuagha, a business woman and a grandma, stated: “Life in Nigeria has become a nightmare. What used to be our common stable foodstuffs have turned into luxury items.

Beans, rice, garri, yam and all food items are now beyond the reach of common folks. Beans that have been the comfort of average Nigerians where meat and fishes are no longer affordable has gone beyond reach. A derica of honey beans has gone above N2000.

“Almost nothing is within reach. Tomatoes, onions, plantain and garri all are beyond affordable. Life is now a nightmare. An average Nigerian household cannot boast of one square meal a day.

“Everything is like squeezing water out of stone to buy the next meal. No family talks of eating bread, eggs, butter, milk, teas and their likes as all those are now high luxuries. It’s been a very difficult and agonizing time for many families.”

In his reaction, Mr. Benjamin Nzekwe, a sales executive at DHL, said: “It is painful to even imagine the state of the country right now. To eat two square meals a day is now a problem, talk less of three.

“The cost of food is nothing to write home about and we cannot even afford to buy some food. These days, we eat food without meat or fish because the cost is not affordable. I wish the government could do something fast to alleviate hunger in the country.”

In Enugu, some buyers at a market told Financial Vanguard that they have not made stew for their families in a long time. Those who still make stew said they opt for the cheaper, lower-quality ‘awarawa’ tomatoes, which are often rotten and fungal-infested.

Madam Bridget shared her struggles, saying, “We’ve stopped eating meat with our meals, and making stew is a rarity. We now buy tomato paste with pepper and onions to make jollof rice, which costs N150, compared to N500 for five pieces of fresh tomatoes, that wouldn’t even be enough.”

She added that they’ve had to mix beans with rice due to the high cost and even stopped eating beans altogether after a cup cost them N400.

Madam Gladys, a farmer, also sharing her experience, said: “We now make vegetable sauce to eat with white rice and use locally sourced mushrooms as a substitute for meat. Even finding affordable rice is challenging.”

Sellers also lament

At Abakpa Market, sellers complained of poor sales despite having large quantities of tomatoes. One seller attributed the low demand to high transportation costs and fuel prices.

Another market seller narrated her ordeal saying, “You know we have different species of tomatoes. The one I am selling is from Nsukka. Half a paint is N3000, while a full paint is N6000. People buy this type better than the rest, which are of a higher rate. Even so, it’s 5 pm and I haven’t sold half of what I have in my shade. The high cost of transportation and fuel prices are the causes of all these challenges.

Yet another seller said:, “When things were cheaper, I could sell two big baskets, but now I struggle to sell just one basket. What we do among the sellers is buy and share one basket to sell for the day because we’ve noticed that not many people buy tomatoes like they used to.”

Recall that NBS reported that in June, the prices of tomatoes, beans, potatoes rise above 200 percent in the last one year.

In its Selected Food Price Watch for June 2024, NBS listed the ten most expensive staple foods in Nigeria in June 2024 as: Tomato, Yam tuber, Irish Potato, Brown beans, White black-eyed beans, Unripe Plantain, Onion Bulb, Ripe Plantain, Sweet Potato, and Broken Rice (Ofada).

Traders blame crisis on insecurity

Chairman of Mile 12 International Perishable Market in Lagos, Alh. Shehu Usman, said: “The reason for rising costs of food items is because most farmers in the North have been chased away from the farms by bandits, and many of them are now in IDP camps.

“The only solution to this problem is for people to return to the farms. If you are not farming and you are not importing food, so, how do you get the food?

The people who are struggling to farm cannot farm because bandits are disturbing them.

“The problem is enormous. The federal government should just make sure it provides enough security for people to continue farming. That is the only solution. The government must find a way of taking farmers away from IDP camps back to their farms.

“As long as farmers are not able to go to the farms, food items will remain expensive.”

In his comment, Chairman of Ile Epo Market, Oke Odo, Alh. Taofik Olorunkemi, said that insecurity is the major issue of the hike in food items because the farmers are not able to go to the farms due to the menace of kidnapping.

“Another reason for the food inflation is the increase in the price of petrol as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy, which has led to an increase in the cost of transportation.

“Also, many of the villagers who normally bring food items to the market no longer come around, because of civilisation. So, we sometimes have to go to the villages ourselves to source for the items,” he stated.

FG committed to food security

Meanwhile, the federal government has taken steps to crash the prices of some staple foods with the suspension of import duties and taxes on essential food items.

This is in addition to the government’s avowed commitment to ensure food security through the use of new farming techniques in Nigeria.

Speaking at a recent event, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, stated: “We are putting all efforts in place to ensure the availability of food across the country.”

He said the government was exploring various indices to ensure food security, working to ramp up food production by returning Nigeria to a sustainable food production system where the country would be engaged in all-year-round farming.

“We are fully aware of the current food challenge in Nigeria. and we are already planning for the next dry season.

“Having learned our lesson in the last one, we want to make a huge success of the next dry season farming.

“We in the Ministry of Agricultural Food Security are doing all we can, all that is necessary, all that is sufficient to reverse the current trend, ramp up our production, guarantee that with massive production, affordability can be guaranteed.”

Islie:
EXPLAINER: Was Tinubu’s speech ‘leaked’? What to know about presidential broadcasts




https://www.thecable.ng/explainer-was-tinubus-speech-leaked-what-to-know-about-presidential-broadcasts/amp/

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele on Sunday said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu doesn’t have the solution for the current hardship Nigerians are facing.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the prophet made it known that Nigerians will still experience hardship in the next four years because the current administration has nothing to do to bring an end to it.

He explained that Nigerians need to come together to help the government with their personal resources.

“Tinubu doesn’t have the solution except you want to kill him or he is deceiving himself. We should rather help the government through our individual resources; churches, mosques organizations should come together.’

‘’He needs to correct the errors in Emilokan, even if he broadcasts 100 times, Nigerians still have to bear the pain. Tinubu doesn’t have the solution to hardship, he will only talk to pacify Nigerians. We will wait for another four years,” he said.

Primate Ayodele stated that people are not helping the president and it feels like he is the only one working in his administration.

He reiterated that hardship will not end anytime soon therefore, everyone needs to come together to gather strength to get through it.

‘’People are not helping the president, it feels like he is the only one working in his administration, except we want to deceive ourselves, the hardship cannot end anytime soon.

“The government needs to cut costs, even the minimum wage, they will soon complain about it. There are so many things the government needs to do, Tinubu cannot get it done in the next four years,’’ he added.

The United States of America, Spain, France, South Korea, Angola, Togo, Guinea, Belgium, Israel, and Singapore, have been listed as the top 10 importers of petroleum products from Nigeria’s $20 billion Dangote Refinery.

This is even as students across tertiary institutions in the country under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, have passed a vote of confidence on the Dangote Refinery.


However, the products that have been shipped to the countries at different times include fuel oil, gasoline, jet fuel and Naphtha, thus attracting additional foreign exchange to the nation.

Speed Painting, like medicine, leaves no room for error — Dr. Ojeabuo, A Speed Painter0:01 / 1:07

In its presentation – Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery – What it Means for Trade Flows and Price Benchmarks, at a recent virtual event, obtained by Vanguard, Argus Group, United Kingdom, disclosed that the refinery has changed the direction of petroleum products trade flows between West Africa and other regions while creating many multiplier effects, including jobs.

Nigeria’s fuel importation to drop 60% to 160,000 bpd
It noted that as a result of the coming onstream of the refinery, Nigeria’s petrol importation has been projected to drop by 60 per cent to the equivalent of 160,000 barrels per day, b/d by 2025, from 400,000 b/d in 2023.

The forecast has it that Nigeria would need to import only 75,000 b/d in 2025 compared to 350,000 b/d in 2023, adding that from 2026, it will start to import more following the expected population growth and rising domestic demand.

Nigeria to export diesel, jet-kerosine from 2025
According to Argus Group, the nation is also expected to start exporting diesel and aviation fuel from 2025, thus enhancing the inflow of additional foreign exchange into Nigeria.

It stated: “After years of anticipation, Nigeria’s 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery has been ramping up operations since the start of 2024, including loading regular refined product cargoes.

“The scale of the refining operation, in a region that has produced a lot of crude historically but refined little of it, will change global product trade flows and require new price benchmarking solutions for the West African market.

”Nigeria will go from an almost 400,000 b/d net import (short) position in 2023 to 160,000 b/d net export (long) position in 2025.

“Gasoline remains short, but the country will need to import just 75,000 b/d in 2025 compared to 350,000 b/d in 2023. From 2026 onwards net gasoline short however will start growing again and by 2040 it is forecast to be 220,000 b/d.

“Diesel flips from short to long, with the country able to export 130,000 b/d in 2025, and maintaining exports of above 100,000 b/d throughout the forecast period. Jet-kerosine surplus of around 20,000 – 30,000 b/d for most of the forecast period. But overall, by 2035, due to forecast strong demand growth, Nigeria’s total net export position is eroded, and by 2040, is 120,000 b/d net short.”

Sector gasps for continuous investment
The organization harped on the need for continuous investment in the midstream and downstream sectors, adding “West Africa’s net import position more than halves in 2025 but net short grows again from 2026 onwards and out to 2040.

”But the net import position will start rising again as soon as 2026, and then steadily increase out to 2040 at 1 million b/d, with gasoline 500,000 b/d short, diesel 300,000 b/d and jet 100,000 b/d. Dangote refinery timeline.”

NANS backs Dangote
On its part, speaking after a tour of the Refinery, NANS Senate President, Akinteye Babatunde Afiz, said: “We had a meeting on the situation in the country vis a vis the uncertainty in the oil and gas industry, especially the current fuel scarcity and we resolved to visit Dangote refinery to see things for ourselves.

“Having gone round the facility, our heart melted at the humongous size of the refinery.

“We have seen the refinery laboratory and we could see that it is world-class. We can’t allow this type of project that holds great potential for Nigeria’s economy to go down.”

Also, the Vice-President, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin while welcoming the student leaders to the Refinery thanked them for their concern for the facility and their resolve to stand for the truth by rejecting the monetary inducement.

He told the students that President Tinubu had intervened and commended the President for the directive for crude to be sold to Dangote Refinery in Naira currency, saying it is a good development for all Nigerians.”

We receive repeated orders — Magt
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, had revealed that Dangote Petroleum Refinery has continued to receive repeated orders for its products from all those who have purchased the same since the commencement of production. The refinery has so far exported its products to some European countries, Singapore and offshore Lome.

Speaking during a tour of both Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and the Dangote Fertiliser Limited complex by members of the House of Representatives, Dangote, said: ”We produce the best diesel in Nigeria. It is disheartening that instead of safeguarding the market, the regulator is undermining it.

“Our doors are open for the regulator to conduct tests on our products anytime; transparency is paramount to us. It would be beneficial for the regulator to showcase its laboratory to the world so Nigerians can compare. Our interest is Nigeria first because if Nigeria doesn’t grow, we have limited capacity for growth.”

I am shocked and outraged by the blatant lies and misinformation being spread by mischief-makers! The video being circulated is from over six weeks ago, during a Labour Party NWC meeting, when the NLC was protesting outside the Labour Party office. As stakeholders, including… pic.twitter.com/tQfJBZ19OO

— Sen. Ireti Kingibe (@IretiKingibe) August 2, 2024

As the August 1st nationwide protest commenced today, Thursday, the roads and streets of Lagos are presently deserted as armed security personnel take strategic positions across the metropolis.

Checks by Vanguard as of 7 am, witnessed special security personnel, tagged: CP Tactical Squad, Lagos State Police Command, stationed at Egbeda Bus Stop, monitoring development.

The roads are virtually empty as only commercial buses, popularly called Danfo could be seen operating.

The ever-busy Bus Rapid Transit, BRT terminals were empty as there were no buses in sight while passengers that dared to go out, scuttled to board Danfos.

A number of banks, eateries, fuel stations, superstores, and other business enterprises were seen under lock and key.

Also some miscreants were seen on major roads like: Ikotun, Egbeda, Dopemu, Ikeja, Ojota, gisting and drinking alcoholic stuff and smoking.

As of 7.30 am, there was no sign of likely protest as protesters could not be seen in sight but armed special task force, Rapid Response Squad men were in large numbers across the metropolis.

Police helicopter was seen on surveillance operating across the metropolis.

Armoured Personnel carriers, APC vehicles, and vans were seen stationed at strategic points at Gani Fawenhimi Freedom Park as well as Peace Park, Ojota area.

DaddyYankee:
They should shoot any Ipob/big headers person on sight who wants to destroy Lagos, what happened in 2020 cannot be allowed to repeat itself. If Igbo people must protest, let them go to the east, their beloved Simon ekpa will welcome them.

iwaeda:
Which elders. Is there anyone like that, Nlfpmod.

Northern Elders, Stakeholders Lay Seven Demands Before Tinubu, Back #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Protest

Some elders and stakeholders in Northern Nigeria have announced their full support for the planned nationwide hunger protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria scheduled to hold from August 1 to 10.

The elders and the stakeholders who made their position know in a statement signed by Prof. Usman Yusuf; ⁠Hajia Najatu Muhammad; ⁠⁠Mallam Salihu Lukman; and ⁠Dr. Umar Ardo, also made seven demands to the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government.

In the statement obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday, the Northern elders and stakeholders said that Nigeria had long been facing unprecedented challenges of insecurity, excruciating poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, diseases, high cost of living, all on account of bad governance and corruption in public offices.

They said, “We acknowledge that the primary purpose of any government is to secure life and property, and enhance the welfare of its citizens.

“Any regime that cannot guarantee these basic rights loses all legal and moral authority of being in power, and would naturally incur the wrath of citizens. It can therefore only remain in office more by default than by public consent.

“This seems to be the state our dear country, Nigeria, is drifting towards. Over the years, successive governments at all levels, including the incumbent ones, fell short of delivering the requisite leadership.

“Consequently, Nigerians have been thrown into a state of social dislocation that has plunged citizens, especially the youths, into disillusionment, disappointment, frustration and hopelessness.

“To press home their legitimate demands concerning the cost of living crisis, insecurity and the worrisome drift in the ship of state, Nigerian youths have resolved to go on a 10 day nationwide protest from the 1st to 10th August, 2024.

“We therefore wrote this special text to state our position concerning this resolve to protest and the attitude of the government to it.

“First, we want to affirm the constitutionally protected right of all citizens to assemble and to protest. We also acknowledge that the cause for protest against the system is valid and justifiable.

“We wish to state clearly that we firmly stand by our youths in their resolve to exercise their right to protest.

“Second, we call on the federal government to be pragmatic in its approach to the resolution of the crisis if it hopes to amicably resolve and mitigate the risks associated with mass protests.”

They said “To this end we recommend that the government immediately takes the following steps: Engage in dialogue:

“Identify and directly engage with the youth leaders and protesters to understand and address their grievances.

“Outsourcing this responsibility to others, such as traditional, religious, labour, civil society leaders is not going to work.

“The use of state forces to intimidate, cajole and harass protesters can only further escalate an already volatile situation.

“We have recently seen that in the EndSARS protests. Engagement remains the best and most effective solution.

“Implement reforms: Sincerely address the demands of the protesters by implementing meaningful reforms, demonstrating goodwill and a commitment to change;

“Support youth empowerment: Invest in youth development programs, education, innovation, entrepreneurship initiatives.

“Enhance economic development: Implement policies that would enhance general economic development of the country;

“Improve governance: Enhance transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in governance against personalized leadership, tackling corruption and ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens.

“Ensure security: Ensure that the state security forces respect the rights of protesters by allowing them access for peaceful assembly without interference, intimidation or harassment and protect them against any harm;

“Lead by example: The government and its leadership should lead by example, demonstrating sacrifice, integrity, accountability and transparency so as to inspire trust and confidence.

“Having been in the trenches himself leading several protests, from the NADECO days to 2014, President Tinubu knows more than others the value of protest.

“To the protesting youths, we want to assure you that we understand and support your decision to exercise your constitutional right to peaceful protests in demanding good governance and accountability from your leaders.

“We believe that this is a legitimate and necessary step towards reclaiming your future and ensuring a better Nigeria for us all.

“As elders, while we stand shoulder to shoulder with you on this, we urge you to remain peaceful and law-abiding during these protests, avoiding any actions that may be misconstrued as violent, harmful, destructive, offensive or threatening to public peace.

“We also call on you to engage in dialogue if the government extends a hand of fellowship to you in addressing the root causes of your discontent and grievances.”

They stressed that by taking these measures, the government can address the underlying issues driving the protests, reduce tensions, create a more stable and prosperous future and avoid disruption and chaos.

“We call on our leaders and governments at all levels to be responsive and demonstrate commitment and respect for the freedom of all citizens to express themselves freely without any provocation as provided for in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended.

“We believe that together we can build a Nigeria that works for all its citizens, regardless of age, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.”