Amid final preparations for the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest set to occur between August 1 and 10, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has called on the Nigerian government and security agencies to exercise caution in their responses.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja titled “State of the Nation: What the Federal Government Should Do,” INC President Prof. Benjamin Okaba advised President Bola Tinubu’s administration against using inflammatory rhetoric and heavy-handed tactics, warning these could exacerbate tensions and lead to chaos. 
“As our nation teeters on the brink of a proposed protest amidst unprecedented national hardship, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) urges the Federal Government and security agencies to exercise extreme caution in their responses to the agitations,” Okaba stated.
He emphasized the importance of peaceful protest, noting, “A peaceful protest is not criminal as long as we all play according to the rules and regulations guiding such civil demonstrations.”
Highlighting the severe challenges facing Nigeria, Okaba called for the government to engage constructively with stakeholders to provide immediate, medium-term, and long-term solutions. He warned that using brute force or oppressive measures would only worsen the current oppression and repression.
“We urge the government to take immediate steps to address the root causes of these challenges, including economic reforms to stimulate growth and reduce poverty, tackling insecurity and violence, ensuring transparency and accountability in government, and promoting social justice and equality for all Nigerians,” he added.
