Tinubu to address Nigerians as arrests, killings mar protests

President Bola Tinubu will address the nation in a broadcast on Sunday, August 4, 2024.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced this in a statement, on Saturday, saying the broadcast would hold at 7am.

“Television, radio, and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to plug into the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) for the broadcast.

“The broadcast will be repeated on the network services of the NTA and the FRCN at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm on the same day,” Ngelale said.

• Harship protest: Police arraign 81 suspected hoodlums in Sokoto
• BREAKING: Many feared killed as security operatives, hoodlums clash in Kano

Stakeholders have called on the president to address the nation amid the ongoing protest against hardship.

In a statement on Saturday, opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had said Tinubu’s silence was worrisome.

“It is worrisome that President Tinubu could remain silent as Nigerians are on the streets demanding for good governance, protection, security and welfare, which are the primary purpose of government, Debo Ologunagba, spokesman of the PDP said in a statement, on Saturday.

For the third day running, Nigerians have been out on the streets, demanding reversal of fuel subsidy removal and other policies they tagged anti-masses.

The protest have degenerated into violence in some states, with more than 40 persons killed, according to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Earlier, Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, had said the president Tinubu was monitoring the #EndBadGovernance protests.

“Mr President has been monitoring the situation, as he ought to. Very responsibly, and alert. I am a minister. I also have responsibilities. I have also been monitoring this thing. I have been noting this thing so that I can make inputs. We have been monitoring and listening carefully to hear what is being said and what noting them,” Bagudu had said when he featured on a Channels Television programme.