Escalating Price of Food Driving Many Nigerians Deeper into Poverty—Amnesty International

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The Nigerian government has been charged to respect the rights of citizens to vent their anger through protests because of the hardship they are being subjected to due to the rising cost of living.

This advice was given to the federal government by Amnesty International’s Nigeria Director, Mr Isa Sanusi, in reaction to the nationwide demonstrations, which started on Thursday, August 1, 2024, across the country.

Nigeria is currently facing a crippling economic crisis, with inflation rate at 34.19 per cent and food inflation at over 40 per cent due to supply disruptions as a result of insecurity.

Also, the removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023 is driving many people into poverty, while officials have been accused of corruption.

Since July 20, many people have used social media platforms to organize nationwide peaceful protests proposed for August 1-10, and the Nigerian authorities have, at times, labelled the protests as deliberate attempts to unleash violence.

Commenting on the demonstrations, which turned violent in a few parts of northern Nigeria, Mr Sanusi said, “The Nigerian authorities must ensure that security agencies respect and facilitate the right to peaceful protest, as guaranteed by both the country’s constitution and human rights treaties including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.  Government officials must also refrain from issuing rhetoric to demonize protesters and stifle peaceful dissent.”

“Authorities must not use the proposed nationwide protests as a ploy to crackdown on human rights including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

“People must be allowed to freely exercise their right to peaceful protest. The arrests of at least three people last week for allegedly supporting the protests on social media show the authorities’  intolerance of peaceful dissent,” he added.

The Amnesty International chief noted that, “The escalating price of food is driving millions of people in Nigeria deeper in poverty while countless families are increasingly unable to afford the costs of healthcare and education.”

“The Nigerian authorities must begin seriously address the underlying issues driving the protests instead of ramping up repression and stifling peaceful dissent,” he further stated.

“Authorities must show the commitment to uphold the country’s constitutional and international human rights obligations by allowing people to freely exercise their human rights including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association,” he said.