President Bola Tinubu’s Protest National Address – Full Text
On Sunday, in a countrywide broadcast, President Bola Tinubu addressed Nigerians about the ongoing #EndBadGovernance demonstration across the country.
Tinubu regretted in his speech the deaths of some demonstrators while calling for a better country.
The president also stated that his administration is putting measures in place to improve things for Nigerians.
Lagmen Net learns that the demonstration decrying the country’s level of poverty began on August 1st and is set to end on August 10th.
Read the complete text of the address below:
“Dear fellow Nigerians,
1. I’m writing to you today with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility, conscious of the upheaval and violent protests that have erupted in some of our states.
“2. Among the demonstrators were young Nigerians who wanted a better and more progressive society where they lived.
3. I am particularly saddened by the deaths in Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, and other states, the destruction of public infrastructure in several regions, and the wanton looting of supermarkets and shops, despite protest organizers’ promises that the protest would be peaceful throughout the country. The destruction of property sets us behind as a nation since precious resources will be spent to restore them.
“4. I sympathize with the families and relatives of those killed in the protests. We must put a halt to any future killing, violence, and destruction.
5. As President of this country, I must maintain public order. In accordance with my constitutional pledge to safeguard the lives and property of all citizens, our government will not sit idly by and allow a few with a clear political objective to tear our country apart.
“6. In view of the circumstances, I hereby request that demonstrators and organizers cease any future protests and make room for dialogue, which I have always welcomed whenever possible. Nigeria demands all hands on deck, and we must all work together to reshape our nation’s destiny, regardless of age, party, tribe, religion, or other differences. Those who have taken advantage of this circumstance to threaten any sector of the country should be warned: the law will catch up with you. There is no place for ethnic intolerance or similar threats in the Nigeria we want to develop.
7. Our democracy progresses when the constitutional rights of every Nigerian are respected and protected. Our law enforcement agencies should continue to ensure the full protection of lives and properties of innocent citizens in a responsible manner.
“8. My vision for our country is one of a just and prosperous nation where each person may enjoy the peace, freedom, and meaningful livelihood that only democratic good governance can provide – one that is open, transparent and accountable to the Nigerian people.
“9. For decades, our economy has remained anaemic and taken a dip because of many misalignments that have stunted our growth. Just over a year ago, our dear country, Nigeria, reached a point where we couldn’t afford to continue the use of temporary solutions to solve long-term problems for the sake of now and our unborn generations. I therefore took the painful yet necessary decision to remove fuel subsidies and abolish multiple foreign exchange systems which had constituted a noose around the economic jugular of our Nation and impeded our economic development and progress.
“10. These actions blocked the greed and the profits that smugglers and rent-seekers made. They also blocked the undue subsidies we had extended to our neighbouring countries to the detriment of our people, rendering our economy prostrate. These decisions I made were necessary if we must reverse the decades of economic mismanagement that didn’t serve us well. Yes, I agree, the buck stops on my table. But I can assure you that I am focused fully on delivering the governance to the people – good governance for that matter.
11. In the past 14 months, our government has made significant strides in rebuilding the foundation of our economy to carry us into a future of plenty and abundance. On the fiscal side, aggregate government revenues have more than doubled, hitting over 9.1 trillion Naira in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023 due to our efforts at blocking leakages, introducing automation, and mobilising funding creatively without additional burden on the people. Productivity is gradually increasing in the non-oil sector, reaching new levels and taking advantage of the opportunities in the current economic ambience
“12. My dear brothers and sisters, we have come this far. Coming from a place where our country spent 97% of all our revenue on debt service; we have been able to reduce that to 68% in the last 13 months. We have also cleared legitimate outstanding foreign exchange obligations of about $5billion without any adverse impact on our programmes.
“13. This has given us more financial freedom and the room to spend more money on you, our citizens, to fund essential social services like education and healthcare. It has also led to our State, and Local Governments receiving the highest allocations ever in our country’s history from the Federation Account.
“14. We have also embarked on major infrastructure projects across the country. We are working to complete inherited projects critical to our economic prosperity, including roads, bridges, railways, power, and oil and gas developments. Notably, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Highway projects will open up 16 connecting states, creating thousands of jobs and boosting economic output through trade, tourism and cultural integration
15. Our once-declining oil and gas business is resurging as a result of the reforms I announced in May 2024 to close gaps in the Petroleum business Act. Last month, we boosted oil output to 1.61 million barrels per day, and our gas assets are being given the attention they deserve. Investors are returning, and we’ve already seen two Foreign Direct Investments totaling more than $500 million inked since then.
“16. Fellow Nigerians, we are a country endowed with both oil and gas resources, yet we encountered a country that had relied entirely on oil-based gasoline, ignoring its gas resources to fuel the economy. We also used our hard-earned foreign currency to pay for and subsidise its use. To address this, we quickly started our Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (CNG) to power our transportation economy while lowering prices. This will save almost two trillion Naira every month that would have been spent on PMS and AGO imports, freeing up resources for additional healthcare and education spending.
17. To that purpose, we will distribute a million kits at extremely low or no cost to commercial vehicles that move people and commodities, which now consume 80% of imported PMS and AGO.
“18. We have begun the distribution of conversion kits and the establishment of conversion centers throughout the country in collaboration with the private sector.” We expect that the CNG effort will lower transportation costs by about 60% and assist to control inflation.
“19. Our administration has demonstrated its devotion to the youth by establishing the student loan program. To date, 45.6 billion Naira have been processed for payment to students and their respective universities.
20. I encourage more of our lively youth population to seize this opportunity. We established the Consumer Credit Corporation with over N200 billion to assist Nigerians in purchasing critical products without the need for urgent cash payments, making life easier for millions of households. This will reduce corruption by eliminating cash and opaque transactions. This week, I directed the transfer of an additional N50 billion Naira each for NELFUND (the student loan) and Credit Corporation from the proceeds of crime recovered by the EFCC.
“21. In addition, we have secured $620 million through the Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDiCE) program, which aims to empower our youth by creating millions of IT and technical employment that will enable them to compete globally. These programs include the 3Million Technical Talents initiative. Unfortunately, one of the digital centers was vandalised during the Kano protests. Such a shame!
22. In addition, we have launched the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA), the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), and the National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
“23. In addition, more than N570 billion has been provided to the 36 states to improve livelihood assistance for their inhabitants, and 600,000 nano-businesses have benefited from our nano-grants. An extra 400,000 nano-businesses are likely to profit.
“24. Furthermore, 75,000 beneficiaries have been processed to receive our N1 million Micro and Small Business single-digit interest loans, which begin this month. We have also developed ten MSME hubs in the last year, creating 240,000 jobs, and five more hubs are in the works, with completion expected by October of this year.
22. In addition, we have launched the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA), the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), and the National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
“23. In addition, more than N570 billion has been provided to the 36 states to improve livelihood assistance for their inhabitants, and 600,000 nano-businesses have benefited from our nano-grants. An extra 400,000 nano-businesses are likely to profit.
“24. Furthermore, 75,000 beneficiaries have been processed to receive our N1 million Micro and Small Business single-digit interest loans, which begin this month. We have also developed ten MSME hubs in the last year, creating 240,000 jobs, and five more hubs are in the works, with completion expected by October of this year.
25. Payments of N1 billion apiece are also being made to significant enterprises through our single-digit loans to enhance industrial production and spur growth.
“26. I signed the National Minimum Wage into law last week, and the lowest-wage earners will now get at least N70,000 per month.
“27. Six months ago, in Karsana, Abuja, I launched the first phase of our ambitious housing project, Renewed Hope City and Estate. This project is the first of six planned across the country’s geopolitical zones. Each of these cities will have at least 1,000 housing units, with Karsana alone expected to supply 3,212 units.
“28. In addition to these city developments, we are developing Renewed Hope Estates in all states, each with 500 housing units. Our goal is to finish 100,000 housing units in the next three years. This plan aims not only to provide homes, but also to create thousands of employment around the country and stimulate economic growth.
29. We are offering farmers incentives to improve food output at affordable costs. I have commanded that tariffs and other import duties be abolished on rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, pharmaceuticals, and other pharmaceutical and medical products for the first six months to assist drive down prices.
“30. I’ve been talking with our governors and key ministers to increase food production. We’ve distributed fertiliser. Our goal is to develop more than 10 million hectares of land to produce the food we eat. The federal government will offer all essential incentives for this endeavor, while states will supply the land, putting millions of people to work and increasing food production.In recent months, we have also ordered mechanized farming equipment such as tractors and planters worth billions of Naira from the United States, Belarus, and Brazil. I can confirm that the equipment is on its way.
31. My dear Nigerians, particularly our youth, I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and frustration that are driving these protests, and I want you to know that our administration is committed to listening to and addressing our residents’ concerns.
“32. However, we must not let violence and destruction tear our country apart. We must work together to create a better future in which every Nigerian can live in dignity and prosperity.
“33. The work at hand is a communal one, and I am leading the charge as your President. A lot of effort has gone into stabilising our economy, and I must remain committed on ensuring that the benefits reach every Nigerian as promised.
34. My administration is working hard to develop and extend our nation’s infrastructure, as well as to provide more possibilities for our youth.
“35. Don’t let someone misinform and miseducate you about your country, or tell you that your government doesn’t care about you. Although many hopes have been crushed in the past, we are now in a new period of Renewed Hope. We’re working hard for you, and the benefits will soon be apparent and tangible for everyone to see, feel, and enjoy.
“36. Let us work together to create a brighter future for ourselves and future generations.” Let us prioritize hope over fear, togetherness over separation, and progress over stagnation. The economy is recovering; please do not cut off its oxygen. Now that we have had democratic administration for 25 years, do not allow the enemies of democracy to exploit you to promote an unconstitutional agenda that will set us back on our democratic path. NEVER GO BACKWARDS!
37. Finally, security personnel should continue to safeguard peace, law, and order in our nation in accordance with the relevant human rights agreements, to which Nigeria is a signatory. The safety and security of all Nigerians is vital.
“38. Thank you for your attention, and may God continue to bless our beautiful nation. “Thank you so much.”
