By John Ikani
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has addressed the ongoing protests in Nigeria for the first time.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the ECOWAS Commission called on protesters to engage in dialogue and seek peaceful solutions to their issues.
The organization expressed serious concern about the violence, fatalities, and property damage that have characterized the protests.
While offering condolences to the families of those who died in the protests, the commission sympathized with the Nigerian government and its citizens over the losses suffered.
The statement said, “The ECOWAS Commission has been closely monitoring the ongoing protests by citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and deeply regrets reports of violence in the course of the protests and the unfortunate death 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.
“The ECOWAS Commission recognises 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.”
ECOWAS also showed support for President Bola Tinubu’s recent State of the Nation address on Sunday, where he called for inclusive dialogue to address protesters’ grievances.
“The Commission welcomes the State of the Nation address of August 4, 2024, by President Bola Tinubu and urges the protesters and all stakeholders to heed the President’s call for inclusive dialogue for the resolution of all grievances and the preservation of peace and security in Nigeria and the ECOWAS region at large,” it added.
The protests in Nigeria, which started as a peaceful demonstration against the rising cost of living and food shortages, turned violent last week, leading to multiple deaths and the destruction of properties. The protests are expected to end on August 10.
