A civil society group, the Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuse (YIAVHA) has acknowledged the hunger and other economic hardships being faced by Nigerians which has attracted public outcry and the proposed Nationwide protest and has advocated for strategic measures and the need for grassroot youth dialogue by all levels of government ahead of the #EndBadGovernmentInNigeria Protest.

YIAVHA Executive Director, Jacob Pwakim in a statement dated 29th July, 2024 and made available to this medium disclosed that the organisation is not unfamiliar with the current realities and the yearnings by the Nigeria masses, which is in line with the provisions of sections 39, 40 and 45 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

He said the fact that His Excellency and Commander-in-Chief has put his fast foot forward in cracking this hard nut by the serial meetings and civic engagement by critical stakeholders, religious and traditional institutions, and opinion leaders, more needs to be done in engaging the youth population and listen to their demands with due considerations on its impact on public interest. He hinted that engagement of just older citizens deepens grievances of the young people thereby creating an impression of intergenerational confrontation between the youth and older citizens rather than opportunity for dialogue. He hinted that it is instructive for State Governors, members of state and national assembly, Chairs of local government to equally called to dialogue with the youths to aggregate their grievances and present them to higher authorities for more strategic consideration. This according to him will appropriately avoid hampering the peace of the states and fundamental human rights of the citizens the government pledged to protect.

In his words “The state government is hereby advised to direct the ministry of health through its emergency units to provide the protesting citizens with adequate first aid treatment during the process as no public gathering is inevitable of health and accidental tendencies. This will go a long way in establishing government presence and support for the wellbeing of the people even when they disagree with government policies.

“YIAVHA Nigeria is hitherto, commending the high intelligence prowess of the Nigeria security especially the Plateau state police command in tracking person(s) that are making inciting statements on the social media, which are capable of tilting the well intended and peaceful protest into an avenue to cause chaos. By and large, we are calling on our intelligent security beats to advise the government right and ensure the deployment of more skillful personnel to protect peaceful protesters throughout the period of their self-expression.

“We appeal to citizens to be civil in the exercise of their fundamental human rights to avoid infringing on the rights of others and the interest of the public. Coordination should be top-notch during the protest and we should not give in to any temptation of using our hands to drag back the little development we are experiencing in our states like in the days of the #EndSars protest which no doubt was the activities of miscreants which with strange motives, became possible as a result of the absence of professional security personnel to guard the protesters.

“Finally, while we hold dear to the truth and justice as a symbol of the Nigeria flag, let us do our possible best to live in brotherhood irrespective of tongues and tribes, and handover to generations a banner without stains as professed in our National Anthem”

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YIAVHA Calls for Robust Dialogue With the Youth Ahead of Planned Protest