ABUJA — The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to foreign countries to refrain from interfering in Nigeria’s internal matters. This comes amid ongoing protests against economic hardships, particularly in northern states such as Kano, Kaduna, and Zamfara, and the arrest of foreigners allegedly sponsoring the protests.
The protests, which have subsided in many regions, continued yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where protesters and some journalists were attacked by thugs who had infiltrated the demonstrations.
Additionally, the Nigerian Army has detained a soldier who fatally shot a 16-year-old boy in Zaria, Kaduna State, on Tuesday evening, with an investigation currently underway. Meanwhile, the Plateau and Bauchi state governments have relaxed curfews imposed earlier in the week as normalcy returned.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, while addressing the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja, emphasized the importance of maintaining respectful international relationships but also reiterated Nigeria’s stance against foreign interference.
The protests, which had erupted in major cities including Lagos, Benin, Osun, Oyo, Kano, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Niger, Kebbi, and Abuja, saw at least six Spaniards arrested in Kano.
Ambassador Tuggar appealed for international cooperation to support Nigeria in overcoming its current challenges and securing a better future for all citizens. He stated, “While the government continues to work hard through various reform programs and measures to address challenges facing Nigeria and Nigerians, it is pertinent to remind us that no nation tolerates foreign interference in its domestic affairs. Nigeria is not an exception.”
He continued, “The government will take appropriate action against any foreign entity residing in Nigeria found to have directly or indirectly supported the protesters or interfered in the country’s internal affairs. Nigeria values the cordial relationships with your countries and organizations and will not undermine these relationships. We solicit your understanding and collaboration in our ongoing efforts to address the economic challenges confronting the country.”
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, pledging to investigate the recent violence and bring those responsible to justice. He thanked the diplomatic community for their support and assured that the worst of the unrest is over, expressing optimism that the government’s policy interventions would soon yield positive results.
“I want to assure your excellencies that the Federal Government has launched an investigation into the violence witnessed in the past week, to identify and bring to justice all those responsible. We are committed to preventing the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents. I also thank you individually and collectively for your support and understanding during this difficult period. The worst is over, and we can now move forward to enjoy the benefits of our policy and program interventions,” Idris stated.
