Nigerians ignore president’s plea to stop economic hardship protest

(5 Aug 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lagos - 5 August 2024
1. Various of protesters chanting that they are hungry
2. Various of protesters with placards
3. Various of security operatives at the protest ground in Lagos ++MUTE++
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Hassan Taiwo Soweto, protester:
"You cannot be claiming that you have heard us and you are prepared to listen and dialogue with us, while at the same time asking us to suspend our democratic actions. So this protest is once again an attempt, you know, to demonstrate that we are not going to allow civilian dictatorship in this country.”
5. Various of protesters at the protest ground
6. SOUNDBITE (Pidgin English) Precious Oruche, protester:
"He pleaded that the protest be suspended. Did we come here to play? I don’t understand, maybe they think we are not well. What did he give as his reason for us to suspend the protest? You are a politician, and when he wanted contest just now, he knows what to say to buy the minds of people. But now he’s in office, he doesn't know what to say to cool the minds of protesters. You see how wicked and devious these people are? Tell me now? You’re asking me why am still here. What did the president say to make us stop protesting."
7. Mid of lawyers on protest ground
8. Mid of protesters on ground
9. SOUNDBITE (English) AJ Daggatolar, protester:
"Protesters are out here once again to point it out that Mr. President has not addressed any of these issues, and ultimately, of course, the question of dialogue has been raised, these protest in itself is a dialogue with the mass of the working people. There can be no dialogue that you can engage with members of the ruling class.”
10. Mid of protester with a placard
11. Various of protesters singing
STORYLINE:
Nigerians in Lagos took to the street on Monday to continue the economic harship protest despite President Tinubu’s plea for suspension of the demonstration.

The protests, tagged “days of rage”, are mainly against Nigeria’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation and accusations of misgovernment and corruption in Africa’s most populous country and a top oil producer where public officials’ huge earnings contrast high poverty and hunger levels.

The protesters have also been inspired by other young people in Kenya who held rallies last month to kick against a planned tax hike. Both protests have also featured grievances against governments accused of not meeting the expectations that catapulted them to power.

One of the protesters told the Associated Press says that “the question of dialogue has been raised,” but the government is forgeting that “these protest in itself is a dialogue with the mass of the working people.”

In his Presidential broadcast, Tinubu defended the audacious reforms that were supposed to save the government money and shore up dwindling foreign investments but whose immediate impact has caused hardship.

The reforms, including the suspension of decadeslong and costly gas subsidies and currency devaluations, have had a knock-on effect on the price of just about everything else because Nigerians believe they've been poorly implemented.

AP video by Dan Ikpoyi.

===========================================================

Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metad....ata/youtube/87e55cb3