President Bola Tinubu on Sunday broke his silence telling Nigerian protesters that he has heard loud and clearly, their grievances and concerns but warned those taking undue advantage of the ongoing nationwide protests to perpetrate violence and threaten peace in some parts of the country to stop or face the wrath of the law.

Thousands of Nigerians took to the streets on Thursday morning, 1st August 2024, joining a nationwide protest that swept across major cities and the Federal Capital Territory over hardship and high cost of living.

The protesters, armed with placards and banners, decried the country’s worsening conditions, including soaring inflation, poor governance, and insecurity in the protests tagged, #EndBadGovernance organized by the Take It Back Movement (TIB) and other civil society groups.

In a nationwide broadcast, President Tinubu said has heard Nigerians loud loud and clear. He told the protesting youths that he understands the pain and frustration that drive the protests, and assure them that the government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of the citizens.

The President noted that his government was taking deep-measured policy actions geared towards improving the lives of the citizens but needed time for the policies and plans to mature.

The President however directed security forces to continue to do their best to ensure that there is absolute protection of lives and property as guaranteed by the constitution. He said government must not allow violence and destruction tear the nation apart adding that all hands must be on deck to build a brighter future, where every Nigerian can live with dignity

President further explained that a lot of work has gone into stabilizing the nation’s economy and as leader of the country, he must stay focused on ensuring that the benefits reach every single Nigerian as promised.