Protesters ignore Tinubu’s order, demand return of Nigeria’s four refineries
Adewale Akintaro
In spite of President Bola Tinubu’s appeal to protesters to end the action and engage in reconciliatory dialogue, demonstrators have refused to back down, continuing their demand for the immediate resumption of production in Nigeria’s four refineries and other economic reforms.
The protesters defied the appeal by Tinubu, and continued the protest on Monday . They hinged their action on the country’s prolonged dependence on imported fuel, strangulating exchange rate, insecurity, hunger, and the resulting economic hardship.
With a significant investment of over $4 billion already spent on the rehabilitation of the refineries, the protesters are demanding tangible results.
In Port Harcourt, the protesters who converged at Lagos bus-stop in the old Port Harcourt township on Monday blocked the road and urged motorists to fix green leaves on their cars in solidarity with the protest.
One of the protesters in Port Harcourt, identified as Senibo, urged President Tinubu to ensure the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna are up and running, reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign fuel and bringing down inflation.
He said: “We will not be silenced or intimidated. We demand that President Tinubu take immediate action to repair our refineries and reduce our dependence on imported fuel. The suffering of Nigerians must end now.”
“It’s unacceptable that our refineries have been dormant for so long, despite the huge sums invested in them. We want to see results, not excuses #EndBadGovernance.”
The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest, gaining momentum both online and across the streets of Nigeria, is a testament to Nigerians’ growing frustration with the status quo.
“We’re tired of being held hostage by corrupt leaders and their cronies. It’s time for change, and we won’t rest until we get it,” said a female protester, who pleaded anonymity.
The protesters’ defiance of the president’s order has raised tensions, with many Nigerians watching to see how the situation will unfold. The President’s response to the crisis will be a crucial test of his administration’s commitment to economic reform and prosperity for all Nigerians.
