Mr. David Roberts, a former British diplomat, has cautioned the federal government about the upcoming protests regarding the rising cost of living, suggesting that foreign interests may be influencing the organizers. The Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens announced plans for significant protests on October 1, 2024, if the government fails to address the escalating cost of living.
Roberts, who previously served as director of the British Council in Nigeria, expressed concern that external forces might exploit genuine Nigerian grievances to destabilize the nation. His warning follows comments from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who indicated that an African media outlet supported the August #EndBadGovernance protests, which were linked to a Russian intelligence operation aimed at causing unrest in Nigeria.
Referring to the use of Russian flags during previous protests, Roberts urged the Nigerian government to take the October protests seriously and to inform citizens about potential manipulations by foreign agents. He highlighted that the government had previously accused external entities of backing the August protests and charged a British national and 12 Nigerians with treason in response.
Roberts emphasized the need for vigilance and proactive measures to prevent any destabilizing activities associated with the planned protests.