The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the Nigerian economy has suffered an estimated ₦700 billion loss in the past twelve days of #EndSARS protest.
Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, President of the Chamber expressed concern over the negative impact of the #EndSARS protests on business activities in the country. She lamented the crippling of economic activities in most parts of the country in the past 12 days.
“The protest has achieved some significant outcomes given the reawakening that it has generated in reforming the shortcomings in our political governance and the fact that some of the demands of the protesters have been met,” she said.
Mabogunje stressed that it was necessary to reduce the massive disruptions, blockades and barricades around the major cities and interstate highways.
“These actions have been at great cost to the economy and the welfare of Nigerian citizens. It should be noted that our economy is still reeling from the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and struggling to recover from its devastating effects.
“It is important to avoid a situation where even more hardship is inflicted on the very citizens that the protesters are seeking to protect,” she noted.
Furthermore, she called on the Federal Government to grant audience to the leadership of the #EndSARS. This will enable both sides to deliberate on the way forward and to agree on an action plan for the delivery of agreed outcomes, while urging the leadership of the #EndSARS protests to take part in the reforms outlines by the government to be implemented in response to their demands.
