Protesters on Thursday, August 1, 2024, shouted down and prevented the Minister of State for Youths Development, Ayodele Olawande from speaking for a long time while trying to address them.
The minister who arrived at the Eagles Square in Abuja tried to address the protesters who refused to listen to him as they chanted “hunger dey”, “inflation is killing” “unemployment is uncontrollable” thereby prevented Olawande from speaking.
However, after quelling the crowd, Olawande persevered and also refused to be cowed by the protesters and kept on talking,
The minister said told the protesters that he was not in any way attempting to shut down the protest, saying that he remains a comrade and participated in over 150 protests.
Olawande said; “I am not here to fight you. I am not here to ask you not to protest. It is your right. Like I said, I have been to over 100-500 protests”.
The minister assured that he would address the police regarding the shooting of canisters against the protesters.
The protesters later said that they would not join the others at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, saying that a few days ago, a parallel protest was held without interference by the officers and men of the Nigeria police.
