Femi Falana Urges Govt to Engage Aggrieved Youths Amid Protests

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has called on government officials to engage with the aggrieved Nigerian youths amid the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.

Angry Nigerians have stormed states across the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to express their grievances over poverty, the high cost of living, and demand better economic conditions for citizens.

Despite a court order restraining protests in some states and the nation’s capital, protesters have turned out in significant numbers, demanding the reversal of certain government policies.

In an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, Falana emphasized that the government must cease mobilizing youths, traditional rulers, and emergency organizations to disrupt protests.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria urged the government to identify and engage with the aggrieved protesters. He also called on police operatives to provide adequate security cover for the protesters nationwide.

Falana stated, “We must also learn to stop mobilizing people to disrupt rallies; we must stop mobilizing traditional rulers and some emergency organizations to say, ‘we are pulling out of the protests.’

“The government must now begin to identify those who are genuinely aggrieved and then begin to engage them: ‘What are your complaints?’ So that people will have a sense of belonging.”