As the economic hardships continue to take a rise, the Nigerian government maintains that it shall respect the constitutional right of citizens to protest peacefully. This follows a spate of public outcry and planned nationwide protests beginning August 1, 2024.
Government’s Position
Ajuri Ngelale, the special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and publicity, said this administration owed Nigerians a duty to uphold their right to express such grievances in a lawful manner. “No member of this administration could prevent Nigerians from expressing themselves in a peaceful protest,” he said . It was against the backdrop of these words that people really began to worry, fearing that the government would begin to crack down on the protesters.
International and Local Reactions
The latest statement from Amnesty International also warned the government not to threaten peaceful protesters. The organization stressed that threats have no place as they are unconstitutional and also a violation of various international laws on freedom of assembly. “Threatening peaceful protesters is unlawful. It is a clear attack on freedom of assembly, guaranteed by international law and Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution” .
Government Initiatives and Public Concerns
Besides admitting that Nigerians face immense economic challenges, the government has made public several other measures that are to offset these. Some of the measures include infrastructural developments, facilities to small businesses in forms of credit, and social welfare schemes. He noted that indeed these will take time for visible results, but eventually they are important for long-term stability and growth in the economy .
Public Sentiment and Call for Action
However, the general feel of the populace is tensed. A majority of Nigerians are convinced the effort by the government is too little too late and motivated to go ahead with the orchestrated demonstrations. The presidency has indicated an approval of the peaceful demonstration but fears such demos may quickly get out of hand or criminal elements hijack it. The Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the requirement to demonstrate peacefully and not to disrupt the peace and security in public .