Amnesty International Urges Nigerian Authorities to Respect Peaceful Protest Rights Amid Economic Crisis
Nigerian Government Urged to Uphold Human Rights and Address Economic Crisis Ahead of Planned Protests
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Amnesty International’s Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi, has issued a statement ahead of planned nationwide protests in response to food shortages and the cost of living crisis. He emphasized that Nigerian authorities must ensure security agencies respect and facilitate the right to peaceful protest, as guaranteed by the nation’s constitution and international human rights treaties such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Sanusi stressed that government officials should avoid rhetoric that demonizes protesters and stifles peaceful dissent.
Sanusi also noted that authorities should not use the planned protests as a pretext to crack down on human rights, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The recent arrests of individuals supporting the protests on social media indicate a troubling intolerance of dissent. The escalating food prices have plunged millions into poverty, making healthcare and education increasingly unaffordable for countless families. Sanusi urged the Nigerian government to address the underlying issues driving the protests instead of increasing repression and silencing peaceful dissent.
He called on the authorities to demonstrate their commitment to upholding Nigeria’s constitutional and international human rights obligations by allowing citizens to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
Background: Nigeria is grappling with a severe economic crisis, with food inflation reaching 36%. The removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023 has exacerbated poverty, and there are accusations of corruption against officials. Since July 20, many Nigerians have taken to social media to organize peaceful protests from August 1-10. However, the authorities have sometimes labeled these protests as deliberate attempts to incite violence.
