₦airaland Forum

Dear Lagosians,

Today, I stand before you deeply committed to the well-being and prosperity of our great state.

Lagos has always been a beacon of hope and resilience, reflecting the brilliance and energy of our diverse cultures.

For weeks, we’ve faced the prospect of protests aimed at ending what some call "bad government." While the intentions may be noble, some narratives suggesting it’s a means to change the government by non-constitutional means are troubling.

Is a protest the catalyst for progress we need now? Will it ensure our challenges vanish in ten days? Will it lower food prices or inspire economic growth? I strongly believe it won’t. Instead, it could undo the modest gains we’ve made.

Are there challenges? Yes. Is the government addressing them? Absolutely. Significant efforts are underway across many sectors to alleviate our people’s pain and pave the way to lasting prosperity.

This week, President Tinubu signed a new minimum wage into law. Student loans are being disbursed to ease financial burdens, and local governments now have financial autonomy to enhance governance efficiency.

The foreign exchange crisis is being creatively tackled. The sale of crude oil to local refineries in Naira will save $7.9 billion annually and strengthen our currency. The Presidential Initiative on CNG is also attracting private investments.

We need patience for the benefits of these economic reforms to blossom. Protests can’t achieve in days what economic reforms can in weeks and months. Our nation, under President Tinubu’s courageous leadership, is on the right path.

In Lagos, we launched EKOCARES to cushion the effects of economic reforms. From discount markets to reduced transport costs, and free medical care, we are committed to easing the burdens on our people.

We’ve increased bursaries and scholarships for Lagos students, ensured free education for new elementary students, and our workers earn above the national minimum wage.

We can do more, and we will.

Reflecting on the tragic events of the EndSARS protest in 2020, it began peacefully but was later hijacked, resulting in immense destruction and loss.

We will NOT allow history repeat itself. During the protests, we saw the destruction of valuable properties and institutions: Lagos High Court, 45 police stations, 12 Local Government offices, 7 Fire Stations, and the Forensic Centre, among others.

The City Hall, Nigeria Ports Authority headquarters, and traditional rulers’ palaces were also destroyed.

Malls, shops, offices, and hundreds of brand-new BRT buses were lost. Such devastation only sets us back economically and socially.

Our goal is a peaceful and prosperous Lagos. We must avoid economic destabilization that can make us poorer. Let’s unite, embrace dialogue, and build a peaceful, prosperous Lagos.

To ensure safe and peaceful expression, the Police have designated Gani Fawehinmi Park and Peace Park for protests. These locations will be secured to protect our citizens and prevent chaos.

Let’s work together to build a Lagos that is safe, secure, and prosperous for all. Our strength lies in our unity, and our future depends on maintaining peace and stability.

God bless Lagos State.

God bless Nigeria.

We convened a joint meeting with the heads of security agencies in Ogun State in anticipation of any upcoming protest.

The purpose of the meeting was to assess the preparedness of law enforcement agencies for the planned protests on August 1st and to ensure that our state remains the most peaceful in the country.

We urge our citizens to continue their daily activities as usual, as any protests, if at all, will be limited to designated areas.

#BuildingOurFutureTogether #OgunState #PeaceAndDialogue #ISEYA

Governor Yusuf Backs Hardship Protest, Knocks Police

“The economic hardship is serious. People are suffering,” said the Kano governor, a chieftain of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP).

By Sadiq Ilyas
Updated July 31, 2024

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has openly backed the nationwide hardship protest slated to start on August 1, 2024.

He assured peaceful citizens of his support and vowed to personally receive demonstrators at the Government House on Thursday.

At a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House on Wednesday, Governor Yusuf emphasised the democratic right of Nigerians to protest but urged the youth to conduct their demonstrations peacefully.

“For us, protest is a democratic right of every citizen. I want the protesters to carry out their procession with caution, as some criminal elements plan to hijack the protest. If you embark on a peaceful procession, I will receive you, and if you wish, I’ll join you.”

Knocks Police

The governor’s support for the protest comes amid growing concerns over the role of security agencies in handling civil unrest. Governor Yusuf expressed frustration with the Nigeria Police Force, accusing them of insubordination and failure to follow directives of the state government.

“I can’t understand why the security agencies, especially the police, will not obey our orders,” he said. “When we tell them to do this or that, they will tell us they received an order from ‘above.’ Who is the ‘above’? I am the chief security officer in the state. If you have a problem with that, go and change the Nigerian constitution.”

As the protest looms, the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has also weighed in, urging the government to take concrete steps to alleviate the economic difficulties faced by the people. “We must find proper ways to help the needy and ensure that what is given to them reaches them,” the Emir remarked during the meeting.

The upcoming protest has sparked a debate among various groups, with some supporting the action as a means to address the country’s economic challenges, while others advocate dialogue to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Excerpts from my broadcast on the eve of planned nationwide protest

As part of our ongoing efforts to ease tension and facilitate peace and harmony in our State, I had a dialogue session with some civil society groups where a number of issues relating to the protest were deliberated on.

The meeting was productive and quite fruitful as we collectively reached a common ground on issues related to the interest of our State & nation especially given the fact that detractors are attempting to latch on to the protest with the intent of unleashing mayhem in our state.

This critical fact was properly understood by the group and, as partners in progress, they vowed not to be part of such protest and subsequently agreed to withdraw from it.

We have also committed to further implement policies that will help improve the situation as we will, in the coming weeks, reconstitute the State Scholarship Board to commence bursary & scholarship awards.

Today, I chaired an Extraordinary Town Hall Meeting convened to look at the State of Kaduna, chart the way forward, and also take a decision on the nationwide mobilization by faceless groups for protests under the guise of demanding for good governance.

Speakers at the Town Hall Meeting spoke in unison against any mass action in Kaduna State. They were of the strong view that given Kaduna State's unpalatable experiences with protests, no effort should be spared in ensuring that no mass action takes place in the state. They commended the efforts of our administration in securing lives and property, addressing the developmental deficits in the State, and nurturing citizens engagement through platforms like Town Hall Meetings.

The Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness, Amb. Nuhu Bamalli called for caution and urged Kaduna State citizens to listen to the words of wisdom and embrace peace. He reminded people of what happened in some African countries where protests degenerated into mass destruction of lives and property, leading to the destabilization of those countries.

In my remarks, I acknowledged very sincerely that Nigerians are going through economic difficulties. We are grappling with severe economic strains occasioned by years of economic mismanagement, corruption and lack of accountability. President Tinubu has the unenviable task of cleaning up the mess left by previous administrations and resetting the economy for the good of our country and people. The President has come up with policies geared towards reinventing the economy and putting the country back on the path to sustainable growth and development.

The implementation of some policies, we must admit, have been painful. The pains are however temporary. The terrible economic situation the country was plunged into required surgical operation. The President has demonstrated courage in carrying out his operation on the economy. We are making steady progress. We must support the President in his patriotic efforts at revitalizing the economy and putting smiles back on the faces of Nigerians.

The Federal and State Governments have been unrelenting in addressing the nation's developmental and security challenges. The nationwide mobilization for protests is therefore unnecessary, ill-timed and in bad taste. In times of economic emergency, all hands are expected to be on deck. Patriots support their leaders as they work to pull the economy out of the woods. It is not time for manipulation of faultlines and political differences in furtherance of personal or group interests. It is a time to think deeply on the possible consequences of our planned actions.

In our current context as a state, we are grappling with security challenges of banditry, insurgency and kidnapping. We are wide awake to the enduring effects of insecurity on socio-economic life of our citizens; threats to food security, education, healthcare delivery, threats to civic freedom and social cohesion, and especially the threat to our rural economy. At this time, our peace and stability are fundamental. The current times demand deep introspection, sound reasoning, high sense of patriotism and sacrificing for the collective good. It is therefore imperative on us to tow the path of wisdom, and focus on the brighter future that is in sight.

Nobody or group in Kaduna State has approached the Nigeria Police in Kaduna State informing them of intention to organize a protest. The Police has the constitutional responsibility for Maintaining Peace and Order. Kaduna State is therefore united in saying NO TO ANY PROTEST. We hold our peace dear, and are committed to protecting it.

Senator Uba Sani,
Governor, Kaduna State.
July 29th, 2024

Nationwide Protest: Wike Says No Approval To Use Eagles Square

Ebuka Ogbodo
July 31, 2024

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says he has not given any approval for the use of Eagle Square for the Endbadgovernance protest scheduled for August 1st

Wike who said this while inspecting road projects in Abaji area council emphasized his administration’s commitment to protecting national infrastructure and ensuring tight security.

Court Restricts Protesters In Abuja To MKO Abiola Stadium

Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has restricted protesters in the August 1 demonstration to the MKO Abiola Stadium in the nation’s capital.

Justice Oriji issued the order on Wednesday while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike.

In the exparte application argued by his counsel, Ogwu Onoja, the FCT Minister had applied for an order of interim injunction restraining the five leaders of the protesting groups from gathering or parading themselves along any roadway, streets, offices, and public premises within the FCT between August 1 to August 10, or any other day thereafter, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

He also applied for another order of interim injunction mandating the security agencies to prevent the protesting leaders from gathering or parading themselves along any roadway, offices, or public premises within the FCT between August 1 and 10, pending the hearing of his motion on notice.

The minister who said that the Federal Government was not averse to the protest, claimed that intelligence and security reports reaching him indicated that some elements within the leadership of the protesters intend to capitalize on the planned protest to cause havoc and irreparable damages to public facilities and blocking of roadways to prevent movement of persons and vehicles and disturb public peace.

He claimed that when he contacted the security agencies to ensure that the planned protest did not degenerate into criminality and disturbance of public peace and order, he was told that they were not well equipped to manage any crisis that may arise from the planned protest at short notice.

In his ruling, Justice Oriji, who recognized the rights of the protesters to embark on the protest, however, restricted them to the stadium given the genuine fears expressed by the minister.

“In the light of the above, the court considers it appropriate and expedient to grant an order under the omnibus or general prayer to ensure that the rights of the protesters are guaranteed and that the protest does not negatively or adversely affect the rights of other citizens to move about and to ensure that properties and other public facilities are not destroyed,” the judge held.

He therefore ordered the 1st to 5th respondents to “use the Moshood Abiola Stadium” only for the protest.

Meanwhile, the court ordered the service of processes in the suit as well as the confinement order on the respondents by placing the same on the newspapers.

Defendants in the suit are Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, persons unknown, Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Director General of the State Security Service, Director General, Nigeria Civil Defense Corps, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff as 1st to 12th respondents.