Hunger Protests: FG Warns Against Foreign Interference

The Nigerian government has threatened to take appropriate action against any country or foreign interests that might be behind the ongoing #Endbadgovernance protests in Nigeria.

The protest, in its eighth day today, was spurred by the effects of the harsh economic policies of the President Bola Tinubu’s government.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who gave the warning while addressing members of the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja on Wednesday, said that Nigeria is a sovereign state and will not tolerate any interference in its domestic affairs by foreign elements giving support to the protesters.

This position of the government may not be unconnected to the reported cases of the protesters waving the flag of Russia and calling on President Vladimir Putin to come to the aid of the Nigerian citizens amid the hunger and hardship ravaging most people in the country.

LEADERSHIP had reported that Russia, through its embassy in Abuja, dissociated itself from the protesters waving its flag and denied any involvement in organising the protests.

The protests which started on August 1 across the country quickly degenerated into violence, leading to deaths, looting and destruction of property.

The minister said: “While the government continues to work hard through the various reform programmes and measures to address the challenges facing Nigeria and Nigerians, it is pertinent to remind us that no nation tolerates foreign interference in its domestic affairs and that of its citizens.

“The government would take appropriate action against any foreign entity residing in Nigeria that is found to have directly or indirectly supported the protesters by whatever means, or seeks to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.”

Tuggar, however, stated that Nigeria values her cordial relationship with other countries and organisations and will not do anything to undermine such relationships.

He urged the diplomats to collaborate with the Nigerian government in its ongoing efforts to address the economic challenges confronting the country, to achieve a better life for every Nigerian at home and abroad.

Tuggar also told the diplomats that there is no ‘instant fix’ to the legacy of decay that President Tinubu inherited, adding that the reforms by his administration were sincere and well thoughtout, and would succeed in the long run at creating a better platform for jobs, prosperity, security – and the stable democracy that Nigeria deserves.

Also speaking to the diplomats, Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris asserted that President Bola Tinubu had taken steps to ameliorate the suffering in the land by approving the suspension of import duties and taxes on essential food items for 150 days, to ensure that food prices come down in the short term, even as work goes into ramping up local agricultural production over the medium and long term.

He added that a new Executive Order on Healthcare has also just been signed by the President, which will suspend import duties on pharmaceutical raw materials and equipment, in order to bring down the prices of drugs.

LEADERSHIP reports that many Nigerian cities have witnessed protests since August 1 over hardship caused by the twin policies of fuel subsidy removal and the devaluation of the Nigerian currency, the Naira, which sent prices of food and other essential items skyrocketing beyond the reach of the ordinary man, and triggering hunger and misery in the country.

Meanwhile, following reports that about seven Polish nationals have reportedly been arrested in connection with the protests, the director general of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, explained the circumstances of their arrest.

Represented by the DSS spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, the Bichi said the seven Poles were picked up during security enforcement because of where they were at the time of the protests amid demonstrators waving foreign flags in Nigeria. He, however, assured that investigations are going in the case.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Tuggar has lamented the alarming rate of the illicit movement of weapons within the ECOWAS sub-region, thereby fueling insecurity.

Tuggar charged the ECOWAS committee of chiefs of defence staff to develop new mechanisms and formulate recommendations that will complement the existing convention on small arms and light weapons to effectively prevent further proliferation of illicit weapons in the West African sub-region.

Tuggar, who stated this on Wednesday at the 42nd meeting of ECOWAS chiefs of defence staff in Abuja, pointed out that the movement of illicit weapons in West Africa was adversely affecting the efforts of the ECOWAS to combat insecurity in the sub-region.

Tuggar said the committee of ECOWAS chiefs of defence staff is crucial to developing new military strategies and coordinating regional security, ensuring peace, stability and effective responses to emerging threats.

He said: “In these times of rapidly evolving challenges, your military knowledge and strategic foresight are crucial.

“As the vanguard of our peace and security efforts, your strategies, decisions and actions are vital in determining our security landscape and architecture.

The chairman, Senate Committee on Defence,  Senator Ahmed Lawan in a goodwill message, gave assurance of Nigeria’s commitment to ensure the needed resources are provided to tackle the menace.

He said the region must as a necessity do what is needed to ensure democracy is restored to the African countries that have lost faith in it.

Northern Groups Seek Amnesty, Training for Arrested Protesters

In the wake of recent civil unrest in Nigeria, a coalition of northern Nigerian organisations has issued a joint statement calling for amnesty for arrested protesters and a substantial investment in vocational training for youth in the region.

The statement comes after violent protests erupted despite the groups’ earlier decision to withdraw from planned civil demonstrations in the hunger protest.

The coalition, which includes Yan-Almajiri Endowment, Youth Lead Nigeria, Agaei Emirate Consultative Forum, Nigeria First Project Initiative and Siyasa Yanci, had previously accepted the federal government’s offer for dialogue on July 31, 2024.

The joint statement was signed by several prominent figures representing various organisations. These include Yahaya Mohammed Usman (Sai Baba) from Siyasan Yanci; Saidu Alpha, national coordinator of Yan Almajiri Endowment, and Mohammed Saidu Etsu, representing Youth Lead Nigeria.

Others are Aliyu B. Abdulmalik from Agaie Emirate Consultative Forum; Hajiya Jamila Ibrahim of Siyasan Yanci; Hamza Umar Saulawa, national coordinator of Nigeria First Project Initiative, and Mukhtar Kano from Yan-Almajiri Endowment Initiative.

“Unfortunately, what happened afterwards is now a dark spot in our history that shall live with everyone forever, just like every other civil unrest,” the statement reads, referring to the violence that occurred despite their efforts to prevent it.

Emir Sanusi II warns youths against vandalism

Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II has warned youths against vandalising public property meant for their wellbeing in the state.

He made the call while on a visit to the information and technology (ICT) hub of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) as well as the Kano Printing Press in Kano, on Wednesday to assess the extent of damage that marred the nationwide protest.

He explained that the centre was to benefit no fewer than three million youths in the coming years and was to be commissioned on Wednesday.

According to him, those who use the youths to perpetrate violence and crimes are their enemies because their own children are outside the country benefiting from what they have destroyed in their home country.

“It is high time youths in Kano understood who their real enemies are and those who actually care for them.

“This is an ICT Park built for you that up to three million youths will become computer literate as a result and achieve self-sustenance. Some bad people, instead of encouraging you to come and get the best of it, give you money and instruct you to come and vandalise it.

“You should know that those that give you money to do this have their children studying abroad and learning what you have destroyed here. They have nothing to lose now that you have destroyed this asset,” he said.

Kaduna 24-hour Curfew Still In Force

The Kaduna State Security Council has said it did not review the 24-hour curfew imposed on Kaduna and Zaria metropolitan cities on Monday following the outbreak of violent protests.

In an update on his verified Facebook page by the overseeing commissioner of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, he explained that the 24-hour curfew remains in place and is being actively enforced by security agencies, contrary to insinuations that it has been reviewed.

Bauchi Relaxes Curfew On Katagum

However, Bauchi State Government has relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on Azare, Katagum local government area of the state following the destruction of property by #EndBadGovernance protesters.

LEADERSHIP reports that the protesters destroyed Azare government lodge, the residence of former deputy governor, Baba Tela, and the Katagum local government secretariat.

Secretary to Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, in a statement on Wednesday, said the curfew had been relaxed to take effect between 6pm and 6am pending continuous improvement of peace and order in the area.