UniAbuja lecturer says hardship protest will affect Nigeria negatively

A financial management expert and lecturer at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), Dr Adelodun Sadraq , has warned against the implications of the August protest on Nigeria’s fragile economy, saying that the protests will have negative effects on the country’s economic growth.

The university don  said no strike in Nigeria’s history has ever conferred any financial benefit on the country’s economic development.

Sadraq spoke in Abuja on Wednesday during an interview with journalists while reacting to the proposed protests over hardship in the country.

He said, “It is true  average Nigerians are surviving on low income and daily earnings. The likes of transport workers, artisans, okada / tricycle riders, food vendors, hawkers, shops owners, petty traders and many others.

“The inability of any of the business class to operate or function in a day is going to hamper the survival of their various families members and the multiplying effects on the health or wellness of their various families members.

“With the benefit of hindsight, the planned protests for 10 days will be counterproductive. It will deal a devastating blow on Nigeria’s fragile economy that the present administration is trying to rebuild.

“Stakeholders should know that public protest in all the 36 states of the federation and in public highways, as well as other areas of public access for 10 days is a deliberate plan to shut down the country and if this is allowed, it will amount to economic sabotage and spell disaster for the country.

“I will like to encourage the protesters to table their requests or suggest possible solutions to the current hardship in the country. It’s obvious the economic hardship is global. Let me also state that it is the legitimate right of citizens to embark on peaceful protest. The question is; can the handlers or arrowheads guarantee a peaceful protest?

“This planned protest will inflict more hardship and pain on the populace and set the country backward in terms of billions of naira loss daily that is in evitable by Government and individual whose means of livelihood depends solely on daily transactions.

According to Sadraq, Nigerians have the rights to express their displeasure against perceived suffering resulting from years of misrule. He however urged Nigerians to suspend the planned August 1st protests to give the new administration time to execute its agenda.”