Protests have continued in some parts of Nigeria despite President Bola Tinubu’s address to the nation, as demonstrators believe that the president did not address their demands.

Development Diaries reports that at least seven people have died and more than 700 have been arrested since the start of the protests, with multiple casualties recorded in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, and Borno states as security operatives struggle to maintain peace.

In his televised address, the president said, ‘My dear Nigerians, especially our youth, I have heard you loud and clear’. He also said that he understood their ‘pain and frustration’, enjoining them to end the protests and give room for dialogue.

Protesters’ demands include reverting the petrol pump price to N100/litre; combatting insecurity and hunger; closing all IDP camps and resettling the campers; total electoral reform; independent probe into the electoral budget of N355 billion; and the immediate release of ENDSARS protesters still in detention

However,  the president did not indicate that he would reverse his policies, which include removing a petrol subsidy or taking measures to strengthen the naira against the dollar.

The Nigerian leader missed an opportunity to address the demands of protesters as he instead enjoined them to stop the protests and embrace dialogue.

The president ought to have outlined the critical action steps his administration would take to address the growing hunger and hardship in the country, as citizens’ distrust in government grows.

Development Diaries calls on President Tinubu to take concrete steps in the short-, medium- and long-terms to meet the demands of the Nigerian people.

We also call on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to call the officers of the police force to order and ensure every peaceful protester is protected as promised.

Similarly, protesters must ensure they peacefully carry out their demonstrations as violent protests are unlawful.

Photo source: Bola Ahmed Tinubu