‘During our engagement with stakeholders, consensus was reached that there would be no protest in the state – anyone seen protesting on that day is not a Borno citizen’

The Borno State government has called on citizens “to shun the nationwide protest” scheduled to begin today.

The protest, tagged #EndBadGovernance, aims to address Nigeria’s worst cost-of-living crisis in nearly 30 years. In June this year, Nigeria’s inflation rate hit 34.19%, with food inflation exceeding 40%.

Organisers of the planned protest said they aimed to address both the economic hardships and longstanding systemic issues, such as corruption.

They said even though all taxes, tariffs, levies and charges on food importation had been suspended, Nigerians were still experiencing extreme hardship. And the suspension of taxes on drugs and medicines had not brought down prices sufficiently.

Ahead of the protest, the Borno State government intensified its campaign on all media platforms to discourage people from taking part in the protest. They cited insecurity as the main reason.

In an exclusive interview with RNI, Usman Tar, the Borno State Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, said the government was calling on citizens in the state to shun the protest.

He said the government had been engaging with all critical stakeholders to discourage citizens from taking part.

He said the state had recorded a “tremendous success”.

“During our engagement with stakeholders, groups and associations, consensus was reached that there would be no protest in the state. Therefore, anyone seen protesting on that day is not a Borno citizen, and we will not tolerate that,” he said.

“As a government, we are doing our best to cushion the hardship of our people and many appreciate that.”

Usman said that going out to protest would be a security breach and those who did so would be “on their own”.

During a town hall meeting organised by the Borno State government on July 17, governor Babagana Umara Zulum said: “Any breach of law and order will be a disaster for us. I am appealing to the people of Borno State to shun any protests. Let us engage in positive dialogues. The federal and state governments are doing everything possible to ensure that the current hardships people are going through in Nigeria are being reduced.

“The government of Borno State and the people have been experiencing insurgency for the past 13 years, but now peace has gradually returned to Borno State and there is a need for us to maintain peace.

“I am happy to note that many stakeholders have made commitments that they will not join the protests. I can assure you that the government of Borno State will follow up on this to ensure that what they said is implemented to the letter.”

He said the hike in the prices of food and other commodities was temporary and he assured citizens that all levels of the government were working to ease the hardships.

“While the right to protest is fundamental in a democracy, we must acknowledge the high likelihood of such actions being manipulated by anarchists and enemies of peace. These elements thrive on chaos and discord, seeking to derail our collective efforts and exploit our vulnerabilities.

“Such manipulation could lead to violence, property destruction and a setback in the progress we have painstakingly achieved. It is within this context that I urge you all to reflect deeply on the path we choose to take,” he said.

“While this hardship exists today, we are also aware that the negative impacts are temporary. It is our hope that we will ride the wave of this hardship to arrive at the shores of prosperity. We will do whatever it takes, and we are doing whatever it takes and more, to protect the dignity, pride and independence of our people.

“The leadership is not asleep. The leadership has not given up the fight for a better Borno State, despite our underlying problems. The leadership at the federal level has not given up on Nigeria.

“Our current socioeconomic circumstances do not result from a lack of empathy for others’ plights or inaction to address pressing issues. The government – at both the state and federal level – is taking necessary measures to tackle challenges such as food insecurity, unemployment and healthcare.”

Zulum said it required time, patience and the collective effort of all stakeholders for the measures being taken to bear fruits.

“It is vital that we do not aggravate the situation or jeopardise the returning peace in our state. Any attempt to join the protest could have adverse consequences for the lives and property of our people.

“Therefore, I am appealing to all stakeholders to ponder the consequences the intended protest might cause our beloved state and consider how we collectively can address the challenges facing us,” he said.

Zulum urged the youth – as “the backbone of our society, the shapers of both today and tomorrow” – to let their conscience guide them, adding that they should choose dialogue to negotiate their demands.

“For our nation at large, I kindly ask for your understanding and appeal against any mass protests that can derail our attention from finding solutions to our social challenges,” he said.

“Let us not allow a moment of frustration to undo years of hard work. Instead, let us recommit to the principles of peace, dialogue and mutual respect. Together, we can and will build a future that we and future generations can be proud of.”

On the eve of the protest, traders said they were concerned about their shops being vandalised during the protest.

Bukar Mohammed Bukar, a trader, said: “We are praying for a peaceful protest and that no shops will be vandalised.”

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said strict security measures had been put in place to maintain order.

Chief Superintendent Bukar A Bukar said there would be a strong “show of force” to caution protesters and prevent property destruction.

AYSHA MUSTAPHA KOLOMI