Despite President Bola Tinubu’s address on Sunday, August 4, some protesters in Lagos took to the streets insisting the president has not addressed any of the issues raised as their demands during the protests.

The protesters who gathered at Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota were also surrounded by policemen and other security personnel restricting them from marching beyond the park.

The ICIR reports that the president addressed the nation, four days after many Nigerians trooped to the streets to protest poor governance and hunger in some states.

In his speech, Tinubu boasted of some strides his administration has made in reforming Nigeria’s economy, despite the hardships many citizens continue to face.

He added that the violent protests that erupted in many states would only set the country backwards and make government to use scarce resources for rebuilding rather than on things that already exist. 

The president however urged Nigerians to suspend the ongoing nationwide protest and engage in dialogue. He expressed deep concern over the loss of lives and destruction of property in states such as Borno, Jigawa, Kano, and Kaduna.

“The destruction of properties sets us back as a nation, as scarce resources will be again used to restore them,” Tinubu said, vowing that the government would not stand idly by while a few individuals with political motives seek to divide the nation.

“I commiserate with the families and relations of those who have died in the protests. We must stop further bloodshed, violence and destruction.

“As president of this country, I must ensure public order. In line with my constitutional oath to protect the lives and property of every citizen, our government will not stand idly by and allow a few to tear this nation apart,” he said.

The ICIR reported that insecurity, inflation and hike in the cost of living, among others, pushed many Nigerians to stage the protest.

Tinubu had stopped fuel subsidy and devalued the naira, thus causing a spiral hike in food and commodity prices.