. Vows to move against foreign govts, individuals backing protesters
Federal Government has vowed to take appropriate action against any country or foreign interests backing the ongoing #Endbadgovernance protests in Nigeria.
The protest, which entered its eighth day on Thursday, was instigated by the effects of the harsh economic policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
Recall that the Department of State Services had on Wednesday, disclosed that it arrested seven Polish nationals in Kano in connection with the waving of Russian flags in the state.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, issued this warning while addressing members of the Diplomatic Corps on Abuja on Wednesday.
According to him, Nigeria is a sovereign state and will not tolerate any interference in its domestic affairs by foreign elements backing the protesters.
The Federal Government stated this against them backdrop of the development whereby protesters in some Northern states have been found to be waving Russian flag and inviting President Vladimir Putin to rescue Nigerian citizens from the hunger and hardship in the country.
Recall that Russia, through its Embassy in Abuja, on Wednesday, dissociated itself from the protesters waving its flag, denying any involvement in organising the protests.
The protests which started on August 1 across the country subsequently degenerated into violence, resulting in killings, looting and destruction of property.
Tugar said, “While the government continues to work hard through the various reform programmes and measures to address the challenges facing Nigeria and Nigerians, it is pertinent to remind us that no nation tolerates foreign interference in its domestic affairs and that of its citizens.
“The government would take appropriate action against any foreign entity residing in Nigeria that is found to have directly or indirectly supported the protesters by whatever means, or seeks to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.”
But the Foreign Affairs Minister quickly added that Nigeria values her cordial relationship with other countries and organisations, assuring that the country will not do anything to undermine such relationships.
The Minister urged the diplomats to collaborate with the Nigerian government in its ongoing efforts to address the economic challenges confronting the country, to achieve a better life for every Nigerian at home and abroad.
Tuggar added that there is no ‘instant fix’ to the legacy of decay that President Tinubu inherited, saying the reforms by his administration were sincere and well thoughtout, and would succeed in the long run at creating a better platform for jobs, prosperity, security – and the stable democracy that Nigeria deserves.
Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris, while also addressing the diplomats, stated that President Bola Tinubu had taken steps to ameliorate the suffering in the land by approving the suspension of import duties and taxes on essential food items for 150 days, to ensure that food prices come down in the short term, even as work goes into ramping up local agricultural production over the medium and long term.
Idris also disclosed that a new Executive Order on Healthcare has also just been signed by the President, which will suspend import duties on pharmaceutical raw materials and equipment, in order to bring down the prices of drugs.
