The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, on Sunday called for an end to mass protests over economic hardship prevailing in the West African nation, stating that the demonstrations have turned violent.

In a televised address, Tinubu acknowledged the frustrations of the protesters and expressed his commitment to dialogue, urging citizens to refrain from violence and destruction that could harm the nation. Tinubu further emphasized that the government is dedicated to addressing the concerns raised by the public, particularly regarding the rising cost of living and the recent economic reforms he has implemented, including the removal of fuel and electricity subsidies. During the address, Tinubu also defended his record and laid forth policies he said would help the economy and young Nigerians.

On August 1, demonstrations broke out in Nigeria due to widespread frustration over economic hardships, which included skyrocketing inflation and rising living expenses. The government’s economic changes, which have included devaluing the currency, eliminating fuel and energy subsidies, and sharply raising food prices, have sparked demonstrations in recent weeks.

To address these problems, including rising food costs, unemployment, the need for effective administration, and constitutional revisions, protestors are calling for urgent action on the part of the government. Numerous civil society organizations have participated in the protests despite efforts by the government to put restrictions on them.

At least 13 people have reportedly died in conflicts with security forces during the demonstrations, according to a new report from Amnesty International (AI). However, police officials have refuted these numbers, stating that seven people have died as a result of unrelated protest-related events.