After several days of protests and growing demands for a response from the Nigerian president, presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale has announced that the president will address the nation on Sunday, August 4th, at 7:00 a.m.
Since the start of the “End Bad Governance” protest on August 1, 2024, there has been no communication from the presidency, prompting increasing pressure from both young protesters and prominent Nigerians for the president to speak. The campaign’s focus is on the economic downturn and high inflation experienced during his one-year administration, attributed to unfavorable policies such as the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of forex windows.
The presidential address will be broadcast live at 7:00 a.m., with rebroadcasts scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. the same day. Ngelale’s statement noted:
“Television, radio, and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to tune 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 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the same day.”
With the address set for Sunday, it is anticipated that the president’s remarks will significantly impact the ongoing unrest, potentially easing tensions or exacerbating them. The presidency is expected to address the protesters’ concerns carefully and work towards promoting peace.
