The Economic Community of West African States has urged #EndBadGovernance protesters in Nigeria to heed President Bola Tinubu’s call for dialogue.
In a statement released on Monday, the ECOWAS Commission expressed deep regret over the violence reported during the protests, which have resulted in the deaths of several demonstrators and significant damage to both public and private properties.
“The Commission extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and sympathizes with the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria over the losses,” the statement read.
ECOWAS emphasized the importance of citizens’ rights to peaceful protests, as enshrined in the 2001 ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
The regional body also acknowledged President Tinubu’s State of the Nation address on August 4, 2024, and urged protesters and all stakeholders to consider the President’s call for inclusive dialogue to resolve grievances and maintain peace and security in Nigeria and the wider ECOWAS region.
Tinubu addressed the nation on Sunday, appealing to the young demonstrators to suspend their rallies and engage in dialogue.
However, the protesters, who have been on the streets since Thursday, remained steadfast, arguing that the President has not adequately addressed their concerns.
The protests have been fueled by the severe economic hardship in Nigeria, marked by soaring prices of food and basic commodities.
The country’s economic crisis has been exacerbated by the government’s policies of removing petrol subsidies and unifying forex windows, leading to one of the worst inflation rates in recent history.
The #EndBadGovernance movement, which has gained momentum on social media, plans to continue its protests for 10 days.
Among the demands are the restoration of petrol subsidies, the reinstatement of the previous forex regime, and immediate measures to address food shortages, unemployment, and government waste.
Protesters also call for a reduction in the size of the President’s cabinet, lower overall governance costs, and reforms of the electoral body INEC and the anti-corruption agency EFCC to intensify efforts against corrupt politicians.
The protests have turned violent in several states, including Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Jigawa, and Nasarawa, where hoodlums exploited the situation to burn vehicles and loot warehouses and private stores.
According to police reports, seven people have died in incidents related to the protests, although the police denied responsibility for any of the deaths.
Security forces have been seen using tear gas to disperse protesters, an action that has drawn criticism from civil society organizations.
These groups have condemned the police’s heavy-handed approach, advocating for a more constructive response to the demonstrators’ legitimate grievances.
