ABUJA,
Aug 4: Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu called on Sunday for a
suspension of protests against a cost of living crisis, saying this
would create an opportunity for dialogue, his first public comments
since frustrated citizens took to the streets last week.
Amnesty
International has said at least 13 people were killed in clashes with
security forces on the first day of protests on Thursday. Police denied
using excessive force and said seven people had died as of Saturday -
four from an explosive device during a march in northeast Borno state,
two who were hit by a car and another who was shot by a guard when
protesters looted a shop.
In a televised broadcast, Tinubu called
for an end to violence in several states since the protests started,
saying he was always open for dialogue.
"My dear Nigerians,
especially our youth, I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the
pain and frustration that drive these protests, and I want to assure you
that our government is committed to listening and addressing the
concerns of our citizens," he said.
Nigerians have been
mobilising online to organise protests against economic hardship and bad
governance and have called for a cut in petrol prices and electricity
tariffs, among several demands.
Tinubu, in office since May 2023,
defended his economic reforms, which have included a partial end to
petrol and electricity subsidies and devaluation of the naira, as
necessary to reverse years of economic mismanagement.
He
government revenues had more than doubled to 9.1 trillion naira ($5.65
billion) in the first half of this year while 68% of revenue now went to
debt servicing, down from 97% before he took office in May last year.
The
government was also ramping up spending on infrastructure projects,
started a loan scheme for university students and was building thousands
of housing units across Nigeria's 36 states, the president said.
"But we must not let violence and destruction tear our nation apart," said Tinubu. —REUTERS
