The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has asserted that Nigerians would keep experiencing protests as long as the issues of poverty, hunger, and corruption continued to plague the country. 

The bishops, who emphasised the importance of the recently held nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest as the country battles with a deteriorating economy, noted that the people have the constitutional right to express their grievances through peaceful protests. 

In a communique issued at the end of their conference held in Auchi Diocese, Edo, the bishops said the country would continue to face street demonstrations in the face of a bleak future. 

“We wish to stress that as long as the nation is afflicted with poverty, hardship, and corruption, and as long as the future of people remains bleak, we must continue to reckon with protests,” they said. 

While calling on governments at all levels to address the issues that engender protests in the country, the bishop also demanded the release of protesters detained for expressing their constitutional rights within the ambit of the law. 

They explained that the recent protest organised by the youths of the country was only aimed at openly expressing their distress and frustration in a nation endowed with rich human and natural resources, 

“We denounce the use of violence by some people and equally condemn in the strongest terms the killing of some protesting citizens by security operatives,” stated the Catholic leaders. “Yet, we reaffirm the constitutional right of every Nigerian to peaceful protests.”