PRESS RELEASE
ECOWAS Commission has urged Nigerians protesting against hardship, hunger, and bad governance, “to heed (President Bola Tinubu’s) call for inclusive dialogue for the resolution of all grievances and for the preservation of peace and security in Nigeria and the ECOWAS region at large.”
President Tinubu was re-elected Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government early this month for another year.
The Commission said in a statement that it “deeply regrets reports of violence in the course of the protests and the unfortunate deaths 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,” added the statement.
It noted that the “Commission recognizes 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 welcomed the State of the Nation address of 4th August 2024 by President Tinubu calling for dialogue.
The nationwide protests called for August 1-10 by the organisers, entered the sixth day on Tuesday.
