..invites youths for peace walk

"Lagos State deserves true healing after the disturbances that trailed last year’s protests against police brutality", Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said on Tuesday.

He said only sustenance of harmony can guarantee the realisation of aspirations of all residents.

Sanwo-Olu spoke in a live broadcast held at the State House, Alausa, on the State Government’s position on the recommendations of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on EndSARS submitted a fortnight ago.

The Governor said the State currently faced the hard choice of restoring harmony or doing itself a great harm, urging residents to join his administration in strengthening harmony and put the State on the path of peace.

Sanwo-Olu asked residents to reject those fueling anarchy and suspicion, clinging to unsubstantiated belief that carried no weight of verifiable evidence, while choosing emotion over facts.

His administration, he said, is ready to facilitate better communication between the youths and the State’s security machinery to resolve issues before they become intractable.

He said he would be leading ‘A Walk for Peace’ in December to herald the healing of the land, extending an open invitation to the youths, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society groups, students and the media as well as other stakeholders to join him in the Peace Walk. 

The Governor specifically invited Folarin Falana (Falz), Debo Adebayo (Mr. Marcaroni), Dele Farotimi, Temitope Majekodunmi, Segun Awosanya (Segalinks), Adedotun (Just Detoun), Seun Kuti, Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu and Commander of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), CSP Yinka Egbeyemi and others to join him in the “historic march for our dear Lagos.”

He said: “Nobody will build this city for us. Let us show the world who we are. We are Lagosians. A people of great renown, driven by the irrepressible spirit of Lagos. It is a testimony to our strength and resilience as a people that, despite the huge losses incurred because of these terrible incidents, we have bounced back, with our economy as vibrant and virile as ever. I have no doubt whatsoever that our prospects are as bright as ever and the best lies ahead of Lagos State and Nigeria.

“We will make it easier for our young people to initiate formal complaints on human rights violations through the Ministry of Justice. We will also improve the coordination between the state government and the security agencies, including the police and the military.

In this vein, we are studying how to improve security policy formulation, information sharing, and clarifying rules of engagement in times of social unrest.

“Just as we have established a mechanism to compensate all those who lost homes, businesses, and livelihoods to the violent destruction of October 2020, we shall also establish a detailed procedure for the just compensation of citizens with verified claims of police brutality committed during the protests.”

Speaking on last year's EndSARS protests and the events that followed, especially the hijack of the protests by hoodlums, which led to the destruction of public and private property worth billions of naira, the Governor said the Government, the youth, protesters, the Police and other security agencies have learned the appropriate lessons from the EndSARS protests, particularly the Lekki Tollgate incident, with a view to averting any recurrence to the detriment of the State.

On mixed reactions following the release of the report of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry, Sanwo-Olu said his administration remained committed to the process that would bring a closure to a “painful episode” in the history of the State.

The much-expected White Paper, the Governor pledged, will be issued later in the day.

He recalled that the panel was originally inaugurated to investigate allegations of police brutality committed by the disbanded SARS and in the aftermath of what happened on October 20, 2020, he decided to expand the mandate to include investigating what happened at the Lekki Tollgate that night.

He said: “As a matter of good faith and a sincere commitment to uncovering the truth, we constituted a panel of individuals that we believed were independent, credible, and representative of the various stakeholder communities interested in the movement against police brutality.

“Apart from the chairman of the panel being a respected retired jurist, various stakeholders including the youths, #EndSARS protesters, the police and civil society groups were represented on the panel. I am sure no member of the panel can claim that the State Government made any attempt to influence them in any way throughout the duration of its sitting.

“While I commend the panel for undertaking its task to the best of its abilities, it is however regrettable that the panel’s work and the leakage of an unauthorised version of the report have generated much tension. Sadly, a deep wound has been reopened.

“The heated exchanges among various shades of opinion on the report have unfortunately put us all at the risk of missing the larger picture; the fact that what we all seek in common is a land in which we are all safe and secure, law enforcement agents are trusted, and justice is guaranteed for all.

“We have no intention to engage in histrionics or further inflame passion on a matter that has generated intense interest and controversy nationally and internationally. Our decisions and actions will be based entirely on the law, the weight of evidence, and unblemished respect for the truth.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu, while expressing his administration’s commitment to end human rights abuses, said he has never been in any doubt as to the sincerity, patriotism and noble motivations of both organisers of EndSARS protests and those who participated in the movement to see an end to the human rights abuses by the now disbanded Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS).

He said it is also on record that the Federal Government accepted all the demands of the protesters, including the immediate scrapping of SARS, adding that the National Economic Council (NEC) also recommended the establishment of State Panels of Inquiry into cases of police brutality and the Lagos State Government was the first to set up its own panel.  

He said: “I can boldly say that no State took the advocacy for police reforms and justice in the face of documented brutality more seriously than we did in Lagos. We have so far paid N420 million in compensation to victims of police brutality, in line with the recommendations of the panel.

“My good people of Lagos State, you will also recall that in solidarity with the protesters, I joined our youths at various points during the demonstrations, particularly at the Lekki Tollgate and Alausa.   

“I received the charter of demands of the protesters and promised to pass them on to the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I kept my word and passed on the demands to the President, who promised to act promptly on the issues raised.  However, perhaps as a result of entrenched lack of trust between the government and the governed over the years, the protesters responded to the government's concessions with skepticism, and the demonstrations continued, even growing in intensity.

“Regrettably, what had been very well organized and peaceful protests were subsequently hijacked in different parts of the country, particularly in Lagos. In the ensuing descent into anarchy, many of our compatriots were caught up in the violence. Several policemen were killed. Public and private property, including critical infrastructure, were set on fire, leading to losses estimated at several billions of naira.

“At that point, I imposed a curfew to restore normalcy in Lagos. We had only one goal in mind: the maintenance of law and order, and the protection of citizens going about their daily lives. This is more than a legal duty. It is a sacred obligation under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which I swore to uphold,” the governor explained.

Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed that 10 persons were killed and 252 inmates escaped during the attack by gunmen on Sunday on the Jos Medium Security Custodial Centre.

Spokesperson of NCoS, Francis Enobore, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

He said the dead include a worker at the facility and nine inmates. They were killed during a gun battle after the invading gunmen were trapped inside the centre.

Enobore confirmed that 10 of the escaped inmates have so far been recaptured but 252 remain at large.

“Sadly, one of the NCoS Armed Squad personnel paid the supreme price in the encounter while nine inmates also lost their lives. Another staff of the Service was shot in the hand and six inmates were also injured in the attack.

“Controller-General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa, condoled with the family and friends of the gallant officer who paid the ultimate price in the encounter, promising that the death will not be in vain as all the perpetrators will be hunted and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“He thanked the officers and men of other security agencies for the assistance in bringing the situation under control and assured members of the public that the safety of inmates including their care and support, will continue to be a top priority in his administration,” Mr Enobore said.

Prior to the attack, the Jos Medium Security Custodial Centre had 1,060 inmates constituting 560 pre-trial detainees and 500 convicts.

PT

There was palpable tension in Aramoko-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government area of Ekiti State yesterday, as a policeman and a Special Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps, were shot dead on Monday evening when armed robbers attacked a branch of an old generation bank located in the community.

This was the second time the bank would be robbed, having experienced a similar attack in 2010.

An eyewitness revealed to journalists in Ado Ekiti yesterday that the armed robbers, who entered the town via Igede-Ado Ekiti road got to the bank after working hours and blew off the main door with an explosive mechanism suspected to be dynamite to gain entry into the banking hall.

The source added that before the gun-wielding robbers entered the bank, they opened fire on the police officer on guard while the  Special Marshall, who was in his private vehicle ran into the barricade mounted by the armed robbers to prevent external forces from the axis and was shot in the process.

According to the eyewitness, the effect of the dynamite threw the town into pandemonium as houses and shops in the area were affected.

After the operation, which lasted about 30 minutes, the armed robbers escaped through the newly constructed Erijiyan Ikogosi road.

Spokesman of Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, confirmed that two persons were killed in the robbery attack.

“It was an attempted robbery, but they were repelled. Even our men and officers of Rapid Response Squad gave them a hot chase and recovered two vehicles they used for the operation.

“The policeman they killed was outside the bank while the FRSC special marshall was also shot at a distance to the bank.

“The police have swung into action and we will make sure that we get to the root of this matter”.

Vanguard

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun yesterday presented a N350.74 billion 2022 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly. Also, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has presented an appropriation bill of N267.9 billion to the State House of Assembly for 2022 fiscal year. The Ogun State budget christened, “Budget of Restoration,” has a projection of N170 billion for physical capital projects, which represented an increase of N10 billion from the current 2021 budget.

According to a statement, the recurrent expenditure, was expected to take N154 billion billion out of which personnel cost would gulp N75 billion with N51 billion earmarked for overhead expenses, just as N28 billion was set aside for debt service obligations.

The governor said N7.7 billion would be set aside for stabilisation fund to insulate and position the state towards unprecedented activities or economic shocks. Speaking on the budget sourcing, Abiodun was quoted to have said N56.30 billion was expected to be sourced through internally Generated Revenue, while the revenue targets of other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) was put at N96.87 billion.

He added that N73.01 billion was being expected from the Federation Account, while the sum of N124.56 billion would be sourced from capital receipts.

On his part, Zulum announced a total of N267.9 billion with N172.5 billion for capital expenditure and N95.4 billion for recurrent expenditure. With “Hope for Post-Conflict Stability” as it title, Zulum said the budget aims to fast track ongoing reconstruction of destroyed communities for safe and dignified resettlement of IDPs, as well as the provision of livelihood and social support to citizens. The budget also aims to fund completion of all ongoing capital projects.

He said the budget will be financed from anticipated recurrent revenue of N113.8 billion made of FAAC allocation and increased IGR, and capital receipts of N154 billion made up of loans and grants. He said many plans would be pursued in the education sector which include the establishment of new technical schools, reconstruction and reopening of some schools destroyed by insurgents, and the establishment of what he called “Centres of Excellence” which will involve identifying two existing secondary schools in each of Borno’s three Senatorial zones and transforming the six schools to become of international standards.

Meanwhile, giving a sectorial breakdown of the expenditure, the governor Abiodun of Ogun State said N56.07 billion was being allocated for education sector, representing 16 per cent, while N35.07 billion would cater for the health sector, with the housing and community development sector sharing N28.65 billion, just as N15.21 billion was voted for Agriculture and Industry. According to him, infrastructure would gulp N77.77 billion, representing 22 per cent of the total budget, with Recreation, Culture and Religion to share N6.32 billion, just as N22.097 billion would be spent on social protection.

He further assured that the 2022 proposed budget would contain only implementable and critical projects, which when completed, would significantly address current structural challenges in the State economy, improve the business environment and accelerate economic recovery.

“In 2022, we will continue to accord priority attention to the completion of existing projects; projects with revenue potential; projects consistent with priorities articulated in the State Economic Development Strategy and projects that can enhance employment generation,” the governor stated. In his remarks, the Speaker of the State Assembly Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, lauded the various infrastructural projects put in place by the governor across the three senatorial districts.

Oluomo gave assurance of continuous mutual interdependence between the legislature and other arms of government towards achieving more monumental development in all facets of the state’s economy.

He noted that a speedy and thorough legislative process would be conducted on the proposed budget with a view to sustaining the tradition of its passage on record time to comply with the January to December cycle in line with international financial standard. The speaker on behalf of lawmakers sought for the release of their annual constituency project intervention fund to enable them execute projects in their respective constituency projects.

He equally sought for the release of the severance allowance of members who served in the 8th Assembly..

For Bornu, N23.8 billion will be for reconstruction of communities destroyed by insurgents, as well as the rehabilitation and resettlement of victims.

Zulum revealed plans for construction of resettlement houses in Abadam, Guzamala, Kukawa, Kwaya Kusar, Dikwa, Malamfatori, Logumane, Gajibo, Gudumbali, Dalwa, Darajamal, Ngurosoye, Kirawa, Maiwa, Ashigasha among others. The health and human services got N24.2 billion, Ministry of Finance received N30.4 billion to sustain prompt payment of salaries and gratuities, Housing and Energy was allocated N8.7 billion for completion of a housing estate and other projects.

Zulum also appropriated N22.9 billion to Works, for the construction of a number of roads he listed and gave N10.4 billion to Agriculture and Natural Resources for series of farming programmes, animal and fisheries development.

The sum of N4.4 billion was allocated for Transport, while various amounts to other sectors including security operations through the Security Trust Fund and the Governor’s office which normally undertakes major interventions on sensitive security matters. The budget also proposed 64 per cent of the entire budget which is N172.5 billion out of N267.9 billion, was allocated for capital projects mostly physical constructions of infrastructure, houses, schools and others.

Zulum earlier gave detailed review of the 2021 budget performance, reeling out verified statistics of projects and programmes delivered by his administration in 2021, with names of communities where the projects are located.