In a recent interview in Warri, Bishop Pere Egbe-Odogbo, the General Overseer of the Shelter of Christ Mission, advised Nigerians who are planning nationwide protests to demonstrate peacefully against issues such as hunger, hardship, and escalating inflation.
According to Bishop Odogbo, the current economic challenges can be attributed to the removal of fuel subsidies by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government.
The protests, scheduled to take place from August 1 to 10, 2024, aim to highlight the plight of the Nigerian populace and urge the government to address the prevailing hunger and suffering, as well as work towards reducing inflation and improving the economic prospects of the citizens.
While emphasizing the importance of peaceful demonstrations with clear objectives, Bishop Odogbo also raised concerns about the possibility of thugs taking advantage of the protests to cause destruction and chaos.
He emphasized that resorting to violent protests would not yield positive outcomes but instead result in harm, damage, and regression.
Noting that the protests are a response to the hardships faced by frustrated Nigerian youths, he urged immediate actions to alleviate these challenges, including opening borders for essential goods imports to lower food prices significantly.
Furthermore, Bishop Odogbo called for President Tinubu to consider reducing petrol prices and regulating food costs, as these steps could effectively address the cost of living issues and bring relief to the Nigerian population, potentially rendering the protests unnecessary.