The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, has expressed deep concern over the widespread looting of businesses and livelihoods during the recent protests in the weedend, resulting in an estimated N52 billion worth of goods lost or destroyed.
Saying that the loss of 21 lives is saddening, she condemned the miscreants who used the opportunity of the protest to loot businesses and people’s homes.
This, she said, is a severe setback for the economy and entrepreneurs, hindering the government’s efforts to attract investments and stimulate economic growth.
According to her, “approximately N52 billion worth of goods were looted, or destroyed”.
“This is a severe setback for the economy and entrepreneurs. It does not help in the government’s drive to attract investments into the country to stimulate the economy,” she said.
Beyond the immediate losses, the Minister estimated the overall economic sabotage to be over N500 billion, affecting 15 states with reported cases of violence.
She therefore, called for constructive dialogue from protest leaders to address the nation’s challenges.
However, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, has said the #EndBadGovernance protest would continue on Monday.
Sowore, in a post on X, asked the protesters to match towards Ojota before proceeding to Alausa, the Lagos State secretariat. “Please be aware that the #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria action will resume fully tomorrow across Nigeria and in several parts of Lagos-Lekki Toll Gate, Alausa Secretariat, former Lagos Toll Gate, Ketu, LASU Gate, Abule Egba, FESTAC Town, and several other centres,” he said.
Organisers of the protests have expressed disappointment with President Tinubu’s assertions during the nationwide broadcast speech. The organisers said the president’s speech demonstrated that he is out of touch with reality in the country.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Sunday, the National Coordinator of Youth Rights Campaign, Micheal Lenin, said the President only justified state violence on protesters and journalists and dismissed the demands of the protesters.
Emiola Osifeso, representing the Take It Back Movement, stated that the president’s claim that the protests are politically motivated showed a deep disconnection from the masses. Osifeso said the protest was the lawful response of the Nigerian people to the failure of the government to address the hardship experienced by the citizens.
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