Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ Concerns are mounting over potential Russian influence in Nigeria’s ongoing economic protests. Demonstrators in various states have been seen brandishing Russian flags, a move Nigerian authorities have condemned as treasonous. The Russian embassy in Nigeria has distanced itself from these actions, asserting that the flags represent personal choices of the protesters and do not reflect any official stance of the Russian government.
The protests against economic hardship have persisted in several Nigerian states despite President Bola Tinubu’s calls to end the demonstrations. These protests, which have been met with a heavy-handed crackdown from security forces, have resulted in at least 13 reported deaths. The protests, which began on Thursday, are a response to the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation in Nigeria. The protesters are also voicing their anger against corruption and alleged bad governance that have hampered the country’s development.
Nigerian security forces have been accused of using excessive force against the protesters. On Monday, President Tinubu convened a meeting with security chiefs in Abuja. Subsequently, a curfew was declared in northern Kaduna state, the sixth state to implement such a measure since the protests began, following reports of looting.
The cost-of-living crisis is exacerbated by soaring inflation, now at a 28-year high, and government economic policies that have driven the local currency to record lows against the dollar. On Sunday, President Tinubu affirmed his government’s commitment to addressing citizens’ concerns, but offered no concrete plan, according to the Lagos-based research firm SBM Intelligence.
Pro-Russian sentiments have been growing in parts of West Africa, particularly among militaries that have staged coups and severed ties with Western nations. This trend is evident in Nigeria’s northern neighbor, Niger, where French and American troops have been asked to leave and Russia has been welcomed as a new security partner. A few protesters in northern Nigeria, one of the regions most affected by the economic crisis, were seen waving Russian flags over the weekend and again on Monday. Nigeria’s military chief, Christopher Musa, has declared that waving Russian flags constitutes treason and will be treated as such.
On Sunday, President Tinubu cautioned protesters not to allow “enemies of democracy” to use them to promote an unconstitutional agenda. Nigeria currently holds the rotational chairmanship of West Africa’s regional bloc, adding a layer of complexity to the situation. The Nigerian secret service has apprehended tailors in northern Kano state who were allegedly responsible for making the Russian flags being distributed in the area, and an investigation is ongoing.
The intersection of internal economic strife and external geopolitical influences paints a complicated picture for Nigeria as it navigates this turbulent period.
