Tinubu defends his economic management, “difficult but necessary”, and opens up to dialogue with protesters
Aug. 4 (EUROPA PRESS) –
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Sunday addressed for the first time the series of protests that began on Friday in the country against his government’s economic management, which he described as a “politicized” movement, and called for national unity before guaranteeing that his initiatives would soon bear visible fruits.
At least 13 people have been killed in the country since protests began in several states under the slogan “End Bad Governance,” according to Amnesty International’s national chapter. States such as Kano have declared a curfew amid reports of mass looting. Some 300 people have been arrested so far.
Addressing the nation, Tinubu said he understood the anger of much of the population — he acknowledged that measures such as ending fuel subsidies were “difficult but necessary” — but warned that “this government will not sit back and allow a few, acting with clear political intentions, to tear this nation apart.”
“I hereby urge the protesters and the organisers to suspend any future protests and create a space for dialogue, which I have always agreed to at the slightest opportunity,” the president added before listing what he considers to be important economic projects he has in his portfolio to revive an economy that has been “anemic for decades.”
“We have settled legitimate outstanding foreign exchange obligations of about $5 billion without any adverse impact on our programs. This has given us more financial freedom and room to spend more money on you, our citizens, to fund essential social services such as education and health care,” he said in his speech.
Tinubu also recalled the launch or continuation of major infrastructure projects across the country, including roads, bridges, rail networks, energy and oil and gas developments, the latter two industries experiencing a “resurgence” thanks to his government’s initiatives.
The president also announced plans to cultivate 10 million hectares of land for food production, and said his government has ordered mechanized farming equipment, including tractors and planters, from the United States, Belarus and Brazil.
Tinubu has also promised duty-free imports of rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, medicines and other pharmaceutical and medical supplies over the next six months, and the construction of some 100,000 housing units over the next three years.
“My fellow Nigerians, especially our youth, I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and frustration driving these protests and I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening to and addressing the concerns of our citizens,” he said before calling for unity in the face of a “collective task” marked by the predominance of “hope over fear, unity over division and progress over stagnation.”
“Let us not allow the enemies of democracy to use it to promote an unconstitutional agenda that will make us go backwards on our democratic path,” the president concluded. “Always forward, never backwards.”
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