The Maza Maza, Lagos warehouse where residents stormed and looted packaged COVID-19 palliatives donated by a coalition of Lagos based corporate sector organisations.
A resident of Monkey Village, Maza maza, in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State has accused the government of concealing CACOVID COVID-19 palliatives, which was meant to be distributed to cushion the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on the vulnerable poor resident of the state in a warehouse.
The Leadership reported that Abiodun, who was among many residents of the area that stormed the warehouse to cart away food items said: “These Lagos State Government people are wicked, we are dying of hunger, they kept this food stuff here since May, waiting for everything to die down and they will go and sell and pocket the money. We were begging them and they refused, so when they left we broke into the warehouse. We can’t kill ourselves.”
There was stampede in the warehouse as the residents scrambled for the food items which were labeled ‘CACOVID, NOT FOR SALE,’ including mini bags of rice, macaroni, spaghetti, salt, garri, sugar and cartons of noodles.
In a swift reaction, the Lagos State government condemned the vandalism of the warehouse at Maza Maza housing the food palliative packages donated to the state government by the Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID) group.
According to the state’s acting commissioner of Agriculture, Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on September 22nd 2020 formally taken receipt of the food palliatives from the CACOVID team meant for distribution to the indigent.
The state government noted that the warehouse in question was not state-owned and its usage was made available to the CACOVID group, adding that the state government had been allowed to commence re-bagging of food items allotted to it from the quantities meant for South- West states.
The commissioner said the re-bagging was being done to account for each beneficiary receipt, as was required and monitored by the CACOVID team, Leadership newspaper reported.
A file photo of Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari, when he addressed the nation on 60th Independence Day, October 1st 2020,
After breaking his silence since the deadly Lekki Toll Gate shooting of unarmed peaceful young #EndSARS protesters, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday appealed to demonstrators demanding action to overhaul the nation’s Police to end their protests.
In his address, the president stressed that it had become necessary to address the youths after concluding a meeting with all the security chiefs and having heard from many concerned Nigerians.
The president however failed to address salient issues such as the mystery that now surrounds the Lekki Toll Gate shooting alleged to have been masterminded by men of the Nigerian army and videos going the rounds that suggests that men believed to be state agents were seen supervising thugs to lunch attack on unarmed protesters on the street of Abuja.
While he urged the #EndSARS protesters to bring to an end their demonstrations, President Buhari assured Nigerians that the government has heard their voice and was working to meet their demands on the excesses of some members of the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and others.
The President also urged the international community to verify facts before jumping into conclusion.
“To our neighbours in particular, and members of the international community, many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing development in Nigeria, we thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgment and making hasty pronouncements.
“In the circumstances, I would like to appeal to protesters to note and take advantage of the various well-thought-out initiatives of this administration designed to make their lives better and more meaningful, and resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating our nascent democracy.
“For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national security and the law and order situation. Under no circumstances will this be tolerated. I therefore call on our youths to discontinue the street protests and constructively engage government in finding solutions. Your voice has been heard loud and clear and we are responding”, he said.
President Buhari also sounded a note of warning to those who have hijacked and misdirected the initial, genuine and well-intended protest of some of the youths in parts of the country against deviant acts.
He said while he acknowledged the genuine concerns and agitations of members of the public regarding the excessive use of force by some members of F-SARS and acted decisively, the speed at it the squad was disbanded was misconstrued to be weakness on the part of government.
“The choice to demonstrate peacefully is a fundamental right of citizens as enshrined in Section 40 of our Constitution and other enactments; but this right to protest also imposes on the demonstrators the responsibility to respect the rights of other citizens, and the necessity to operate within the law.
“As democratic government, we listened to, and carefully evaluated the five-point demands of the protesters. And, having accepted them, we immediately scrapped SARS, and put measures in place to address the other demands of our youth. On approving the termination of SARS, I already made it clear that it was in line with our commitment to the implementation of extensive Police reforms.
“Sadly, the promptness with which we have acted seemed to have been misconstrued as a sign of weakness and twisted by some for their selfish unpatriotic interests.
“The result of this is clear to all observers: human lives have been lost; acts of sexual violence have been reported; two major correctional facilities were attacked and convicts freed; public and private properties completely destroyed or vandalised; the sanctity of the Palace of a Peace Maker, the Oba of Lagos has been violated. So-called protesters have invaded an International Airport and in the process disrupted the travel plans of fellow Nigerians and our visitors.
“All these executed in the name of the ENDSARS protests. I am indeed deeply pained that innocent lives have been lost. These tragedies are uncalled for and unnecessary. Certainly, there is no way whatsoever to connect these bad acts to legitimate expression of grievance of the youth of our country”.
President Buhari also commented on the rising spread of falsehood and misinformation, especially through the social media, describing it as insensitive to the pains and plight of Nigerians. He stated further that it was a deliberate ploy to mislead gullible citizens within and outside the country “into unfair judgement and disruptive behavior”.
He noted that against such falsehood, his administration, both in deeds and in words, has given enough attention “to the wellbeing and welfare of citizens, even with the steadily dwindling revenues, and the added responsibilities and restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic”.
He explained that government has put in place measures and initiatives principally targeted at youths, women and the most vulnerable groups in the society.
The president listed some of the measures to include the administration broad plan to lift 100million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years, and the creation of N75billion National Youth Investment Fund to provide opportunities for the youths.
He also listed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Survival Fund, through which government is “paying three months salaries of the staff of 100,000 micro, small – and medium – enterprises, paying for the registration of 250,000 businesses at the Corporate Affairs Commission, giving a grant of N30,000 to 100,000 artisans, and guaranteeing market for the products of traders”.
These, he noted, are in addition to many other initiatives such Farmermoni, Tradermoni, Marketmoni, N-Power, N-Tech and N-Agro.
Buhari said no Nigerian government in the past had methodically and seriously approached poverty-alleviation like the present has done.
On the welfare of police personnel, Buhari said the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission has been directed to expedite action on the finalizing the new salary structure of members of the Nigeria Police Force, adding that the emoluments of other paramilitary services were also being reviewed upwards.
He continued: “In order to underscore the importance of education in preparing youths for the future, this administration has come up with a new salary structure and other incentives for our teachers.
“Let me at this point reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to preserving the unity of this country.
“We will continue to improve good governance and our democratic process, including through sustained engagement.
“We shall continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected.
“But remember that government also has the obligation to protect lives and properties, as well as the right of citizens to go about their daily businesses freely and protected from acts of violence”.
The president called on all Nigerians to go about their normal businesses, even as he enjoined security agencies to protect lives and properties of all law abiding citizens without doing harm to those they are meant to protect.
He also paid tribute to officers of the Nigeria Police Force who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty.
The president stated: “I would like to thank those state Governors, traditional and religious leaders who have appealed for calm and restraint. I also thank youth leaders who have restrained their followers from taking the law into their hands.
“This government respects and will continue to respect all the democratic rights and civil liberties of the people, but it will not allow anybody or groups to disrupt the peace of our nation. Thank you all. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
President Buhari presides over National Security Council Meeting in State House on 22nd Oct 2020
Almost 48 hours after Nigeria was under fire and the infamous Lekki Toll Gate shooting at unarmed peaceful protesters Tuesday night, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari will now address the nation at 7pm on Thursday, October 22, 2020.
Presidency spokesman, Femi Adesina disclosed this in a statement Thursday evening, stating that the President have now been briefed by security chiefs on the current situation of widespread unrest and violence in Lagos, Oyo, Ondo and others, where state and private assets including bus terminals, mass transport buses, banks, courts and shopping malls have been looted, and in some cases burnt down.
President Buhari with R-L: NSA Babagana Monguno (Rtd), Chief of Defence Staff General AG Olanisakin, Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral IE Ibas, and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SB Abubakar as he presides over National Security Council Meeting in State House on 22nd Oct 2020
The President’s national address, which is coming after several calls from civil society groups, journalists and the Senate, is expected to be broadcast on television, radio and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Radio Nigeria respectively for the broadcast.
It’s expected that Buhari’s national broadcast should be able to douse the tension in the country as a result of #EndSARS violence among other security challenges, and give fresh hopes for greater Nigeria.
The presidency spokesman also stated that President Buhari earlier on Thursday presided over National Security Council Meeting at the State House.
Those present at the security meeting include the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammad Adamu; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral IE Ibas; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal SB Abubakar; Chief of Defence Staff, General AG Olanisakin and National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno (Rtd).
File photo of Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi makinde and ex-Commissioner for Works, Raphael Afonja.
As the situation in Ibadan the Oyo state capital remains charged, an angry mob of youths allegedly set ablaze a Policeman in the Iwo area of the city, a social media blog Ibadan Media, reported In a video uploaded online.
As #EndSARS protest assumes a violent dimension in Ondo, the State House of Assembly has called for calm.
In an attempt to entreat the protesters, Speaker, Bamidele Oloyelogun, on Thursday in Akure appealed to the youths to embrace peace and allow the government to attend to their agitations.
While he urged the protesters to conduct themselves peacefully so as to allow for the resolution of all issues and demands, Speaker Olyelogun assured them that the state lawmakers identify with their plight and are sympathetic to their cause.
In his remark about the now infamous Lekki Toll Gate shooting, Speaker Oloyelogun condemned the Tuesday night incident that unconfirmed reports alleged was masterminded by men of the Nigerian army.
The Speaker therefore appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently address the demands of the protesting youths to restore normalcy, arguing that “nothing can be achieved in an atmosphere devoid of peace.”
Furthermore, he advised all stakeholders to come to the roundtable to discuss issues involved and arrive at amicable ways of ending rights violations in the country.
According to reports, a police station, the APC and the PDP secretariats in Akure were set ablaze by hoodlums who have now hijacked the protest in many parts of the country.
A collage photo of exiled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Igbo elders. .
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a pan socio-cultural group of the igbos, has distanced the Igbo tribe from provocative statement inciting the destruction of Yoruba assets in Lagos, credited to the leader of proscribed Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The group, through a statement issued by the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, said that Ohanaeze was outraged by the vituperative and inciting outrage of the leader of IPOB, a designated terrorist group, on the #ENDSARS activities in Lagos and disassociated the body and Ndigbo completely from them.
The statement titled: #Endsars: “Alleged destruction of Yoruba economic assets”, the Ohanaeze position, unequivocally denied any involvement with IPOB or its leader.
“The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural and Political body of Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to a press statement issued by a Pan Yoruba Group, the Apapo O’Odua Koya ( AOKOYA) on the on-going youth uprising in Nigeria particularly in Lagos as it relates to Ndigbo youths. We find the statement disheartening not necessarily because of the untruth in its sentiment but that it’s obviously being engineered and targeted at the age-long good relationship between the Igbo and the Yoruba. Ohanaeze strongly believes that the press statement is craftily drafted showing a skilful use of underhand tactics to achieve a set goal which in this case is to set Yoruba against Ndigbo.
“We are ready to vehemently resist this in our time knowing the historical affinity of these two great ethnic groups dating back to the days of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe through to the famous handshake across the Niger propagated by our iconic leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu. This spontaneous relationship built by our forefathers over the years has been strengthened in the last three years by the political emancipation movement, being propelled by the Southern And Middle Belt leadership Forum ( SMBLF) made up of four ethnopolitical bodies of Ndigbo, in the South East, Afenifere in the South West, PANDEF in the South-South and the Middle Belt Forum in North Central Nigeria.
“Ohanaeze feels based on the intelligence available to it that the motive of this disturbing statement is not only to overtake the mileage covered by this group in setting their people free from the hegemonic bondage but to ensure its destruction. Ndigbo is focused and unequivocal about what they want in a contemporary Nigeria as already articulated in the terms of engagement of this group which is to restructure Nigeria for a true federal system where Justice and equity will reign.
“We, therefore, wish to refute any position being ascribed to Ndigbo even if such position is being adduced by an Igbo that is not within the realm of the struggle to free Nigeria as encapsulated in the terms of agreement of this ethnic nationalities. Ohanaeze will therefore wish to urge the Yoruba and indeed the rest of Nigeria to disregard any outburst from anybody as coming from Ndigbo that is not as succinctly captured in the terms of agreement of the ethnic nationalities. It’s therefore against this backdrop that Ohanaeze Ndigbo wishes to vehemently deny the allegation of Igbo youth involvement in Lagos #Endsars protest as part of a grand design to destroy Yoruba economy.
“For the obvious reason of having most of their businesses scattered all over the country particularly in Lagos, knocks out the thinking of an Igbo setting to destroy another person’s economy. Only a fool living in a glass house uses stone to settle scores. Already, as it had always been during every crisis in Nigeria, Igbo businesses are a target as happened last Tuesday in Abuja when car depots, belonging to Igbos were set ablaze by hoodlums.
“Ohanaeze believes and empirically too that Ndigbo youths haveA underlying reasons for getting involved in the on-going #Endsars protests is not anything different from the reasons of other youths in Nigeria which borders on aggravated neglect of Nigeria youths due to poor governance rooted in the dubious political structure.
“We, therefore, wish to urge the Yoruba ethnic group to disregard the position being pushed by the AOKOYA because it’s not based on facts and reality on the ground. Finally, we wish to state that Ohanaeze is also outraged by the vituperative and inciting outrage of the leader of IPOB on the #ENDSARS activities in Lagos and disassociate the body and Ndigbo completely from them.”
Following the widespread unrest occasioned by the use of force on unarmed peaceful #EndSARS protesters in some states in Nigeria’s South, the Governor of Delta, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has called on all leaders in the country to rally and earnestly begin the process of correcting the wrongs in the society.
The Governor made the call for correcting the wrongs in the society in a condolence message to the youths in the country following the shooting of EndSARS protesters at Lekki, Lagos on Tuesday.
According to the message, the governor said “it is obvious that we cannot suppress the voice of the Nigerian youth. They have suffered untold pains and expressed their frustrations in the last two weeks.
“As leaders, our duty is to start to right the wrongs. We need to start the process of re-building a nation that works for all.
“We need to take steps to recreate hope for our people, the youths inclusive”, Okowa said.
Furthermore in his message, the Governor aknowledged the call for reforms, which has been the demands of Nigerian youths.
“My dear youths, you have spoken loudly. You have changed the narrative, and the reforms you called for cannot be wished away.’’
However, Governor Okowa reiterated his appeal to the youths to give the Government time to reflect on and take action on their demands, saying “just a little space’’.
“You are heroes and heroines, and you should not allow your well-intentioned protests to take a negative turn,’’ the Governor stated.
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has appealed to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government and citizens alike to eschew violence and embrace peace and dialogue to resolve issues surrounding the #EndSARS agitation.
The appeal was given on Wednesday in video recording and a letter that is now widely circulated on the internet.
Obasanjo, who was once a military Head of State condemned the shooting and murder of unarmed peaceful protesters and said the use of brute force has never been effective in suppressing public anger and frustration.
In his appeal to President Buhari, Obasanjo Calls for the withdrawal of men of the Nigerian army from the streets.
“It is clear that Mr. President and his lieutenants did not exhaust the opportunities for dialogue with the protesters before resorting to the use of force.
“It is worse that there is denial of wrongdoing in spite of overwhelming visual evidence. Great harm has been done buy it can be stopped before it completely spirals out of control”.
He asked Buhari to act now before it is too late.
”This time demands leadership and mature leadership at such”, he wrote.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila
Nigeria’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has called for a quick and thorough investigation to determine the facts of Tuesday night event where men in army uniform shot at unarmed peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll gate in Lagos. what happened last night in Lagos.
The speaker, who in the days preceding what many now call the “Lekki toll mssacre” made attempt to resolve the issue of police brutality through legislation, affirmed that: “It is unavoidably and painfully clear that there were a number of casualties as a result of gunfire at the Lekki Toll Gate*.
“Events in my home state Lagos, last night and up until this afternoon, have left my heart heavy and my spirit disturbed.
“After sixty years, our democracy should have grown beyond the point where conflicting visions of nationhood result in violence on the streets and blood on the ground”, the Speaker said.
In his statement, Gbajabiamila urged for calm whilst a truer picture of events is unraveled.
“Our nation urgently needs and the Nigerian people deserve an accounting of the acts that led to the events of last night.
File Photo: President Muhammadu Buhari presides over Federal Executive Council Meeting and Unveils Nigeria at 60th Anniversary Logo in State House on 16th Sep 2020
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that his commitment to extensive Police reforms should never be in doubt, presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina stated in a statement on Wednesday.
The presidency spokesman stated that the President had in September 2020 signed the new Nigeria Police Act, the first comprehensive revision of the Police Act in decades.
“At the last count, no fewer than 13 States have gone ahead to establish the Judicial Panels of Inquiry as resolved by the National Economic Council to address the question of redress and justice for victims of police brutality across the country.
“The States that have set up the panels so far are: Lagos, Kaduna, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Plateau, Edo, Nasarawa, Ondo and Akwa Ibom.
Adesina said: “President Muhammadu Buhari welcomes the promptness of these necessary subnational actions, and reaffirms his commitment to supporting the State Governments to ensure that justice is achieved for all victims of police brutality in Nigeria.
“Under the Chairmanship of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the National Economic Council (NEC) at its meeting on Thursday October 15, 2020 resolved to establish State-level Judicial Panels of Inquiry, to investigate allegations of Police brutality and ensure that all erring personnel are brought to justice”, he said.
President Buhari in June 2019, was said to have signed a Bill establishing the Police Trust Fund, to mobilize additional funding for the welfare and equipping of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Accrual of funding into the Fund, as specified in its enabling Act, has commenced.
“President Buhari in 2018 approved an increase in Police salaries and the Police personnel budget has seen a rise from 288 billion Naira in the 2018 Budget to 417 billion Naira in the proposed 2021 budget; an increase of 45 per cent” the presidency spokesman said.
On pension matters for the police, Adesina explained that on Tuesday, at the commissioning of the Nigerian Police Pension Fund Limited building, the President reiterated continuous support for both serving and retired police personnel.
Equally, the rollout and funding of a new Community Policing Initiative was approved as part of a larger programme of police reform in Nigeria, aimed at rewriting the rules of engagement between the Force and citizens, Adesina stated.
“As President Buhari declared, the immediate dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), is the first step in a set of reform policies that will deliver a Police system accountable to the Nigerian people. The President has also approved full implementation of the report of the 2018-2019 Presidential Panel on Police Reform.
“Indeed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Police Service Commission (PSC) have now commenced the implementation of the Report.
Reiterating the commitment of the President Buhari administration to the implementation of lasting Police reforms in Nigeria, Adesina appealed for understanding and calm across the nation, as the implementation of the reforms gathers pace at Federal and State levels.
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