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Idris: Tinubu ‘already protesting’ by meeting aggrieved citizens’ demands• Reps to hold emergency session tomorrow• Unusual military, police presence in Abuja• IGP orders DIGs, AIGs, CPs to protect protesters nationwide• NBA, NACCIMA, OPS call for dialogue, engagement.
With 48 hours to go in the countdown to the nationwide protests against hunger, Nigerians planning to join should begin to rethink their stance.The glimmer of hope came yesterday as Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris revealed that the government has launched several initiatives aimed at alleviating the economic hardships facing Nigerians.Idris spoke to reporters after the ninth sitting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which President Tinubu chaired at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to the minister, the federal government has trucked rice to various centres across the country, and the commodity is currently being sold for N40,000.“The position of the FEC is that most of the demands that the protesters are making are actually being addressed by the federal government. Therefore, it is the government’s view that there is really no need for the protests. And like we have said repeatedly, this is a listening government,” he said.Idris stressed: “The President has listened to the voices of all those who are planning this protest. And the message is that there is no need for it. Indeed, the President is already protesting on their behalf by doing those things that they want a government to do, for example, the effort that the government is making to ensure that food is being made available.”
The minister clarified: “At the last council meeting here, at the briefing, we announced that a number of trucks, 20 precisely, had been given to the state governors for onward distribution to the poorest of the poor in society and those who are actually in need. But the government did not stop there. There is also rice which is being sold at about 50 per cent of its cost; a bag of rice is being sold at N40,000 as we speak now.“This rice has been taken to various centres across all the states of the federation and is being sold at N40,000. Centres have been created so that those who need this rice can go there and buy it.
In the first instance, about 10 trucks have been made available to each of these states, and indeed, this is just the beginning. I know that some of the comments you hear are that it is never enough. The government has not pretended that these supplies are indeed enough. But these are necessary first steps.”The minister appealed to the would-be protesters to reconsider their actions, warning of the potential for demonstrations to be hijacked by “unscrupulous elements.”He stressed that while peaceful protest is a democratic right, the government believes the current circumstances do not warrant such actions.
There is just no need for that,” Idris insisted, urging citizens to allow time for the government’s interventions to take full effect across various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure.Meanwhile, the House of Representatives will hold an emergency plenary tomorrow.In a memo dated July 28, 2024, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen directed the lawmakers to attend.Although the memo didn’t state the reason for the plenary, it was gathered that it was not unconnected with the planned protests.The memo reads, “On the directive of the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, please be informed that there will be a plenary sitting on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. You are kindly requested to make necessary arrangements to attend as important matters will be deliberated upon during this session.
We regret any inconvenience caused by the interruption of the yearly recess. However, we count on the dedication and patriotism that the 10th Assembly is known for.“Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.”This was as the Nigerian capital, Abuja, began witnessing the deployment of security operatives to strategic areas, a move that indicates the government’s determination to maintain law and order.Armed personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been sighted in Hilux vans at Lokogoma, Unity Fountain, Eagle Square and others.However, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, directed the top brass of the police to protect the intended participants in the planned protests.
This was contained in a letter from the IGP at the request of human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had written the IGP on July 26, 2024, to provide police coverage for protesters. He wrote on behalf of the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups planning the protest.The IGP, in his response letter dated July 29, 2024, directed senior police officers to attend to the request of the senior lawyer.Egbetokun’s response was signed by his Principal Staff Officer, CP Johnson Adenola.The IGP also requested to meet with Adegboruwa in Abuja today “to deliberate further” on his request.
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