Nigerian President calls on protesters to suspend riots, to join dialogue with authorities

MOSCOW, August 4 (Sputnik) – Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Sunday addressed those protesting against his administration, calling for an immediate suspension of riots and start of a dialogue.

In early July, Nigeria’s largest trade unions went on a strike after failing to agree on the minimum wage with the federal government, which proposed 60,000 naira per month ($37). The government agreed to raise the minimum wage to $43.

“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 with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart. … Under the circumstances, I hereby enjoin protesters and the organisers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity,” Tinubu was quoted by national news outlet Daily Trust as saying in a nationwide broadcast.

The leader also expressed his condolences to the loss of lives in the course of the protests and condemned the acts of vandalism, saying that is a contrary to what was promised by activists as a “peaceful protest across the country.”

“To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you,” he added.

On Friday, Nigerian newspaper Punch reported 17 deaths in riots sparked by inflation protests.