The Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS) has expressed worry about the escalating protests in Nigeria, condemning the reported incidents of violence, loss of life, and damage to property.
The regional body, therefore, urged protesters to heed the call for dialogue.
The commission offered its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and extended its sympathies to the Nigerian government and its citizens for the losses suffered.
The 2001 ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution both uphold citizens’ rights to peaceful protests, according to a statement ECOWAS made available to journalists on Tuesday.
The statement read in part: “The ECOWAS Commission has been closely monitoring the ongoing protests by citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and deeply regrets reports of violence in the course of the protests and the unfortunate death of some protesters, as well as alleged looting and destruction of public and private properties.
“The commission extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and sympathizes with the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria over the losses.
“The ECOWAS Commission recognises the right of citizens to peaceful protests, as guaranteed by the 2001 ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.”
The commission also welcomed the recent State of the Nation address by President Bola Tinubu on August 4, 2024.
ECOWAS appealed to protesters and all relevant parties to respond to the President’s invitation for comprehensive dialogue, aimed at addressing concerns and promoting peace and stability in Nigeria and the broader ECOWAS community.
The statement added: “The Commission welcomes the State of the Nation address of August 4, 2024, by President Bola Tinubu and urges the protesters and all stakeholders to heed the President’s call for inclusive dialogue for the resolution of all grievances and the preservation of peace and security in Nigeria and the ECOWAS region at large.”
The protests over hunger in Nigeria escalated into violence, leading to a significant loss of life, widespread property damage, and a substantial disruption to commercial operations.
The blockage of several important highways further exacerbated the situation, causing chaos and intensifying the crisis.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which have intensified in key cities like Kano, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Niger, Kebbi, Abuja, and other northern towns, have been characterized by increasing violence.
Security personnel’s actions have sparked violence in some cases, while protesters’ or counter-protesters’ excessive zeal has fuelled it in others.
In a national broadcast on Sunday, President Tinubu pleaded with the protest organizers to cancel the nationwide demonstrations, as they had become violent in some regions, causing fatalities and the destruction of property.
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