Stakeholders have expressed disappointment with President Bola Tinubu’s recent speech, criticizing his failure to address the core demands of the EndBadGovernance protesters.

The nationwide protests, which began on August 1 and are set to last ten days, have been sparked by widespread frustration over economic hardships, including hunger and the soaring cost of living.

The protests have spread to various states, including Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Niger, and Jigawa.

The demonstrations have turned violent, with reports of fatalities and significant injuries.

Amnesty International has reported that at least 13 people were killed, while other sources suggest the number could be as high as 19.

Property damage and looting have also been reported in some areas.In response, President Tinubu addressed the nation, expressing sympathy for the victims’ families and urging protesters to engage in dialogue rather than continue the demonstrations.

He outlined government measures, including the disbursement of N570 billion for livelihood support and the distribution of conversion kits for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to reduce transportation costs.

Despite rejecting calls for the reinstatement of fuel subsidies, Tinubu promised to distribute one million CNG conversion kits.However, critics argue that Tinubu’s speech did not address several key demands made by the protesters.

These demands include significant reforms to the Senate, raising the minimum wage to N250,000, releasing political detainees like Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, tackling insecurity, and reforming the judiciary.

Stakeholders have voiced their concerns about the lack of concrete responses to these issues.Yerima Shettima, President General of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, expressed frustration over Tinubu’s lack of focus on the security crisis in northern Nigeria and the need to reduce government expenditure.

He suggested that the president should have declared a state of emergency in affected northern states and made efforts to cut governance costs.Yunusa Tanko, spokesman for Labour Party’s Peter Obi, criticized Tinubu for not providing actionable solutions to the economic issues affecting Nigerians, such as reducing fuel prices and supporting agricultural production.

Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine, also expressed dismay, noting that the speech failed to address the protesters’ demands and questioning the effectiveness of Tinubu’s advisors.As the protests continue, organizers have threatened to extend them beyond the planned ten days if their demands are not met.

Omoleye Sowore, a prominent activist, stated that the protests would persist if the government’s responses remain inadequate.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian military has warned that it will intervene if the violence escalates further, emphasizing the need for unity and caution against vandalism.