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In a statement released on Sunday, August 4, 2025, the United Action Front of Civil Society, a coalition of organized civil society groups, called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately address the critical demands of protesting Nigerians to resolve the ongoing nationwide citizens’ protests.

The group commended the President for acknowledging the dissatisfaction of Nigerians with the economic policies of his administration, but emphasized that acknowledging the problem is not enough. “The President must take concrete steps to address the key demands of the protesters, particularly the reduction of fuel price to ₦167 per liter and the reversal of exorbitant electricity tariffs to pre-December 2022 prices,” said Olawale Okunniyi, Head of the Coordinating Secretariat of the United Action Front of Civil Society.

The group noted that these two demands are critical to ameliorating the growing hardships and sufferings in the country, as they are the primary causes of the high cost of living and economic hardships. “We are not advocating for the return of the subsidy regime, which is fraudulent and corrupt,” Okunniyi clarified. “Instead, we urge the government to implement the CNG alternative to fuel in a way that is accessible and beneficial to Nigerians.”

The group proposed that the government should create centers in the 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria where interested vehicle owners can convert their vehicles from fossil fuel to CNG free of charge for a period of one year. “This will demonstrate the empathy and sincerity of the Tinubu government,” Okunniyi said.

Furthermore, the group urged the President to initiate a genuine process of constitutional dialogue to renegotiate Nigeria’s governance system and constitutional democracy. “This has the potential to solve 90 percent of Nigeria’s political and economic problems,” Okunniyi emphasized.

The group concluded that if the President takes these steps, coupled with an immediate reduction in the cost of governance, the protesters will likely leave the streets. “We urge the President to take these demands seriously and act with urgency to address the sufferings and hardships of Nigerians,” Okunniyi said.