Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, claimed that the nation incurred losses exceeding N300 billion during the #EndBadGovernance protests held from August 1 to August 10, 2024.
Shettima made this statement at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday while handing over detained minors who participated in the protests to their respective state governors.3According to Shettima, the protests, driven by frustration over the rising cost of living and demands for improved governance, resulted in substantial economic and infrastructural damage.
“Over N300 billion was lost in the protests, consisting mainly of private property and business losses,” Shettima told reporters.
The protests, which spread across Nigeria, were a reaction to economic policies under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Hundreds of protesters were detained, including minors, who reportedly faced harsh conditions in detention facilities for over three months.
Earlier this week, an Abuja Federal High Court dismissed treason charges against 119 Nigerians, including the detained minors, following an application by Attorney-General’s counsel, M.D. Abubakar.
In discussing the release, Shettima attributed it to President Tinubu’s decision to give the detained youths a second chance.
“Despite incontrovertible digital video and photographic evidence of the perpetration and actions—some of which were uploaded by the actors themselves—the president, as the father of the nation, gave these young men another chance,” he stated.
The Vice President also advised the released youths to avoid future violence, stressing the need to focus their energies on constructive activities.
“I would like to admonish you, young men, not to allow yourselves to be used to perpetrate violence and destroy public and private property,” Shettima said, encouraging youth involvement in positive initiatives.