In an update published by The Punch, the Lagos State Government has successfully distributed more than N1 billion to 543 retirees, covering their long-awaited accrued pension rights. This disbursement is part of a strategic effort by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to clear the financial obligations owed to former public servants and ensure their post-service welfare is prioritized.
The Governor emphasized that the prompt payment of these benefits is a testament to the state’s commitment to the social contract between the government and its workforce. By settling these claims, the administration aims to provide a financial safety net for the elderly who have spent decades in the service of the state, particularly during times of economic volatility.
Further validation of this development was provided by The Nation, which noted that the payment exercise was conducted through the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC). The outlet quoted an official stating, “We are determined to maintain a consistent payment schedule to ensure that no retiree is left in financial distress.” Similarly, Daily Post confirmed the disbursement, highlighting the emotional relief for beneficiaries; the report featured a brief quote from a retiree: “This payment is a lifeline that has restored our hope in the system.”
Echotitbits take:
Lagos remains the frontrunner in pension reforms in Nigeria, consistently funding its retirement obligations despite national fiscal pressures. This move not only boosts the local economy by increasing the purchasing power of over 500 households but also serves as a stabilizing factor for the state’s civil service. Watch for whether other states, currently grappling with pension backlogs, will adopt the Lagos model of consistent monthly funding into retirement savings accounts.
Source: The Guardian – https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/lasg-pays-465-retirees-n1-billion-pension-benefits/, and February 2, 2026
Reporting by The Punch indicates that the Lagos State Government has approved a ₦7 billion developmental plan for the Oworonshoki waterfront. The project includes a modern ferry jetty designed to decongest road traffic and several low-to-medium income housing schemes. This move is part of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s ‘THEMES+’ agenda to transform the state’s aquatic corridors into economic hubs.
The Oworonshoki project is expected to create over 2,000 jobs during the construction phase and provide a safer, faster transport alternative for residents commuting to the Island. Officials emphasized that environmental impact assessments have been concluded to ensure that the dredging and construction do not displace local fishing communities or disrupt the ecosystem.
Supporting reports from Channels TV and The Nation confirm the project’s launch. Channels TV reported that ‘the jetty will be integrated into the existing Cowry Card payment system,’ while The Nation noted, ‘Property values in Oworonshoki are already skyrocketing in anticipation of the groundbreaking.’
Echotitbits take: Oworonshoki has long been a ‘transit point’ rather than a destination. By investing ₦7 billion, the government is essentially trying to ‘Lekki-ize’ the area. The key challenge will be ensuring that ‘low-income housing’ actually reaches the poor and isn’t snatched up by real estate speculators.
Source: The Punch – https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/845004-lagos-govt-gives-oworonshoki-landlords-two-months-to-regularise-building-approvals.html January 5, 2026
Figures cited by PUNCH show the Lagos State Government called off the Greater Lagos Fiesta 2025 scheduled for December 31, directing residents to mark the period with personal prayers for the nation and the state instead.
The decision was communicated in a statement attributed to the governor’s media team, positioning the cancellation as a shift from mass celebration to reflection and prayer ahead of 2026.
The annual event is one of Lagos’ flagship end‑of‑year entertainment programmes, so the abrupt cancellation has sparked debate in the city’s creative economy and among residents.
Vanguard reported that the government “announced the cancellation of the 2025 Greater Lagos Fiesta,” while Guardian Life quoted the statement: “Lagos State Government cancels Greater Lagos Fiesta 2025.”
Echotitbits take: The optics matter—Lagos is Nigeria’s entertainment capital and the fiesta is a tourism/creative‑economy signal. Watch whether the state replaces the lost economic activity with alternative programmes, and whether security or governance concerns drove the decision.
Source: The Punch — December 31, 2025 (https://punchng.com/lagos-cancels-greater-lagos-fiesta-2025/)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Tuesday unveiled a 2021 budget proposal of N1.155 trillion before Lagos State House of Assembly.
Titled: “Budget of Rekindling Hope,” the Sanwo-Olu administration said it would be investing heavily in the development of human capital, with special focus on youth employment and provision of social safety for young people.
The focus, the governor added, would be raising human capital, creating jobs and strengthening security for businesses to flourish.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the 2021 estimated expenditure is designed for the restoration of economic balance as Lagos State continues to navigate its way out of the negative impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the destruction of public assets, following the hijacked #EndSARS protests.
Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria, Babajide Sanwo-Olu presents a N1.155 trillion budget for year 2021 to the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tuesday, November 10, 2020.
The budget, the governor said, would be funded from a projected Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N962 billion, pointing out that the N192.495 billion deficit would be financed through bond issuance, internal and external loans.
About N704 billion, representing 61 per cent of the total budget, is earmarked for capital expenditure in the proposed 2021spending: an estimate of N451.75 billion, representing 39 per cent, would go for recurrent expenditure, which includes personnel cost and other staff-related expenses.
Sanwo-Olu said the budget was designed to improve the state’s economic conditions and create the social safety needed for the youth and all hardworking residents to flourish. He said his administration would leverage its developmental efforts and focus on sectors with job-creating potential, such as agriculture, construction, technology and security.
According to him, “The year 2021 is one of Rekindled Hope, in accordance with recent events of global and national proportions, especially the coronavirus pandemic, the #EndSARS protests, the general feeling of disenchantment in the polity and the socio-economic yearnings of Lagosians for good governance.
“This budget reflects our desire to rebuild the trust of the people in this government, even as we commit significant human and financial resources to the rebuilding of Lagos, while doing all we can to move on from the destruction and vandalism recently witnessed in the state, barely three weeks ago.
“The COVID-19 pandemic and #EndSARS protests have only heightened the need to urgently implement various programmes under the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda.
“The 2021 budget will, among other things, provide for youth employment, security, and youth engagement and social works. We are set to improve the economic conditions and social safety needed for our youth to flourish.
“We are committing resources to sectors that need to grow for our people to become self-reliant and economically empowered. In agricultural sector, our food security plan has a cumulative budget of N22.21 billion while we are committing a cumulative budget of N311.43 billion to provide infrastructure.”
Sanwo-Olu revealed his administration’s strategy to keep the cost of governance low in the face of dwindling revenues and general inflation occasioned by multiple factors, announcing the repeal of Lagos State’s Payment of Pension Law of 2007, which provides payment of pension and entitlements to former governors and their deputies.
The governor said he would be sending an Executive Bill to Lagos State House of Assembly for the repeal of the Pension Law, noting that public service would now be predicated on selflessness in the state.
“In light of keeping the costs of governance low, we will be sending a draft executive bill to the House of Assembly imminently for the repeal of the Payment of Pension Law 2007 (Public Office Holder), which provides for payment of pension and other entitlements to former governors and their deputies.
“It is our firm belief that with dwindling revenues and inflationary growth rates, that we need to come up with innovative ways of keeping the costs of governance at a minimum, while engendering a spirit of selflessness in public service,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also added that the proposed budget would support entrepreneurship and expand the opportunity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to facilitate socio-economic advancement.
He pledged his administration’s commitment to continuously supporting entrepreneurs in the state through Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), saying this would also strengthen technical and financial support for beneficiaries to generate employment that would stimulate economic prosperity.
The governor said there would be increment in its financial commitment to youth mentoring, mental health support, and substance abuse rehabilitation. This project, he said, would be driven through the Office of the Civic Engagement, and Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
He said: “As we work on reviving the growth of our economy, we must commit resources to our state-wide security architecture, especially in the areas of intelligence gathering and the motivation of all security personnel in the Neighbourhood Watch.
“We will be increasing the size of the Neighbourhood Watch personnel across the state and ensure their training, including community engagement, de-escalation techniques, and proactive information gathering within communities.
“We believe that as the population of Lagos State increases and becomes more sophisticated, so should the training of our security personnel to cope with emerging challenges.”
Despite the slowdown of activities occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanwo-Olu said this year’s budget had performed at 77 per cent, a performance benchmark of 86 per cent was projected by the end of last quarter.
The governor also hinted that his administration has trained 9,000 teachers in modern teaching techniques to boost learning outcomes and provided complementary textbooks and other ancillary teaching aids for over 350,000 students.
Sanwo-Olu said his administration has also spent N25 billion for the construction, refurbishment and equipping of our healthcare centres across the state, in line with its health programmes. He added that the state government built and rehabilitated 589 classrooms, while also providing 1,568-bed hostels in secondary and primary schools.
“We have audacious governance goals, which we cannot achieve without the concerted efforts of all our people. We should not allow the events of the past few months to obliterate our consistent cycles of socio-economic progress.
“Let us begin to rebuild our state with determination and optimism, even as we advance the interests of the electorate and restore their confidence in this government,” the governor said.
In his remarks, Speaker if Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, praised the governor’s courage in the face of the recent challenges that faced the state, pledging the readiness of the legislature to work with the executive arm to rebuild the state.
He promised speedy passage of the budget, assuring the public that the Assembly would properly vet the details in line with its mandate.
He said: “We have all listened with attention how the wealth of the state will be utilised for our common good in Year 2021.
“The responsibility is now on the members of the Assembly to meticulously perform their constitutional duty. I reiterate our commitment as responsive Assembly in working together with the Executive to bring succour to all individuals affected in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests.”
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Thursday defended his counterpart in Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, saying the First Family in the Centre of Excellence did all needed to be done to prevent the recent youth protest against police brutality from degenerating into violence.
El-Rufai, who described the gravity of the destruction as “pure evil,” said he nearly shed tears as he flicked through the images of the torched Lagos assets. He said the young people who carried out the violence intentionally engaged in an act of “self-destruction,” noting that the repercussion of the action would also be felt by them.
Kaduna State governor said Lagos, which accounts for one-third of national GDP, did not deserve to suffer such pain.
Sharing his thoughts when he visited the State House in Marina to commiserate with Sanwo-Olu over the coordinated arson sparked by the #EndSARS protest, El-Rufai said those who thrive in violence infiltrated the protest to achieve their agenda of wreaking a large-scale destruction on public assets and infrastructure in Lagos.
According to him, “I have spent time to see some of the pictures of the destruction done on public properties in Lagos and I nearly shed tears. Anyone who cares about development and progress will cry after seeing what has been done to public facilities and people’s investment that provided jobs to youths.
“While expressing anger on police brutality may be right, but destroying public properties, which will have to be rebuilt using money that is needed to invest in other public infrastructure, under the guise of protest is nothing but self-destruction. The Government of Lagos State and the Federal Government will have to re-invest scarce resources that could have been used for other things to rebuild the vandalised facilities.
“As a colleague, I can confirm that governor of Lagos State did all that could be done to ensure that this destruction does not take place. It is very sad to see what had happened in Lagos. I want to assure you that we will support you getting Lagos back on track. We will do whatever support Lagos needs from us to get back better.”
El-Rufai, who said the youth protest against the police was not out of order, said it was wrong for the protesters to call for disbandment of the entire Nigeria Police Force because of the action of a few bad eggs.
He sympathised with the police and those who lost loved ones in Lagos in the wake of the violence, saying the Federal Government must not allow wanton destruction of public assets to happen again.
In his remarks, Sanwo-Olu said although Lagos State had started to look forward and engage in new partnerships towards restoring the lost assets, he vowed to make the state uncomfortable for those with the intention to destroy the state’s economy and heritage.
Despite the ugly incident that trailed the protest, Sanwo-Olu said his administration remained committed to getting justice for those who were brutalised by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) team of the police.
He thanked El-Rufai for the extension of support towards rebuilding Lagos State, welcoming all forms of assistance that could be rendered to keep the nation’s commercial nerve centre flourishing for businesses.
Sanwo-Olu, who intimated his Kaduna counterpart of steps already taken to rebuild Lagos, said his administration was doing it could to support those whose businesses were destroyed and create ambience for commercial activities to get back stronger.
Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu same Thursday charged other governors in Nigeria to look into their expenditure profile and do away with unnecessary spending to increase their states’ revenue in order to have more resources to meet the basic needs of the people.
Speaking at the 22nd Annual Tax Conference of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) held at Eko Hotel in Victoria Island, Sanwo-Olu noted the need for better utilisation of tax payers’ money by public office holders to build the trust of the citizens, adding that state executives must work toward having a better reform process.
The governor, who disclosed that he’s yet to use state resources to purchase any vehicle for himself since he assumed office as governor on May 29, 2019, said it’s not necessarily fanciful that governors must buy brand new vehicles when there’s no need for them.
“We need to look at our expenditure profile as Chief Executive of our state and ask ourselves, where can I cut the red tape; what can I do away with so as to increase the revenue of my state or even make available more money for my state.
“What I have done till date is that I have not purchased any single official vehicle for myself, for any of my personal staff or any of my family members from the government purse. If you see me have a convoy of 10 vehicles, these are all vehicles I was using during my campaigns.
“Governor Nasir el-Rufai joined me in one of my cars this morning and I can tell you that vehicle was one of the vehicles I used for my campaign; it is not brand new.
“So, I said to my people that, it is not a fanciful thing that every governor must begin to buy brand new vehicles when you do not need to. So, all of those millions have gone back into the treasury of the state and we are using it to develop the state very well,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor, who noted the need to increase revenue generation without totally dependent on revenue from oil, charged tax practitioners, especially members of CITN, to take leadership position and put themselves in rightful position in Nigeria to increase government revenue and change the narrative in the country.
Also speaking at the event, El-Rufai commended Sanwo-Olu’s leadership in managing the affairs of the state and his effort to rebuild Lagos after the massive destruction that marred the peaceful protests organised by the youth recently.
He said: “Whatever happens in Lagos concerns everybody because it is the economic hub of the country, while Kaduna State is the political hub. I can assure you that all the 35 governors will support your rebuilding Lagos project.”
El-Rufai, who disclosed that Nigeria is not collecting more revenue as it should collect, said Kaduna State has learned a lot from Lagos State in term of economic development and internal revenue generation (IGR), which has helped his state to reform its tax generation.
In her address, CITN President, Gladys Simplice, urged the executive arm of government to ensure that government economic policies in generating revenue are matched with tax reforms that encourage growth through executive orders and sponsorship of legislative bills capable of promoting entrepreneurship development.
She also advised the National Assembly to address the nature of the Value Added Tax (VAT) by including more items under the exemption list and giving clarity to existing ones.
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the full resumption of operations of both food markets and non food markets. They are now to open daily.
In a statement announcing this, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr Wale Ahmed, said Mr Governor took the decision to further enhance trade and commerce as well as mitigate the hardship of recent times and ensure that Lagosians can recover fast.
Following the unrest, looting and destruction of private and public properties that peaked the #EndSARS protest in Lagos State, Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu says it will need not less than N1 trillion to rebuild Lagos State.
This was revealed by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiaila, when he visited Governor Sanwo-Olu in Marina on Sunday to sympathise with the state, which quickly became the epicenter of last week’s pandemonium that brought down shops, court, business and transport assets, and the palace of the Lagos Monarch, Oba Ridwan Akiolu.
Gbajabiamila, who visited along with members of the House of Representatives from Lagos, said: “The governor was telling me just now that it was going to cost about a trillion naira to rebuild Lagos. That makes my heart heavy. And I asked the governor what’s the budget of Lagos State? What are you planning? And he told me that they’re planning a budget of about a trillion Naira.”
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila visits Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo_Olu, Sunday October 25, 2020, at the State House Marina. The Speaker sympathizes with the residents of Lagos State over the unrest, arson and looting that followed the alleged shooting of unarmed peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
During the pandemonium, arsonists had burnt down public assets that include 89 new buses of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) that were parked in Oyingbo and Berger. The Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso, had put the cost of each of buses at about $200,000.
Other public assets destroyed are the multi-million naira forensic and DNA centre, the Igbosere High Court, local government secretariat buildings, and hundreds of other vehicles. These also include some other public buildings scattered across the state and street lights.
According to the Speaker of House, the destruction of properties is sad and should not occur again: “I came in from Abuja today, not just to stand in solidarity with him, but by extension the people of Lagos State. These have been very difficult few days. It has even been more difficult for me in the last hour. Driving in from the airport and sitting with the governor to watch the documentary here put together, that evidences of the carnage we all witnessed. It makes us all very sad.
“This, certainly, is not the Lagos of our dream that we all talk about. And I know deep down, and I believe no matter how brave a face one puts to it, that even the protesters have their regrets that things went this far, because from my understanding and from what I’ve seen, both those who are pro-protest and those who are anti-protest, were all affected.
“There’s very little I can say. But, I know that standing with me is a man of courage, a man of destiny. Because it’s very unusual for you to come into office, and within a year a few months, you witnessed two calamitous events: first, you were in the epicentre of COVID-19, which you dealt with to the admiration of all.
“Whilst we were still grappling with that, you now became the epicentre of the protests. I want to encourage you to lift your head high, because you discharged your duties as a governor of a state that was troubled in the last few months, or close to one year,” he said.
Furthermore, Gbajabiamila stated that he did not wish the incident to take an ethnic dimension, having heard a lot of conspiracy theories about it.
“Let us shut our ears to those things. Let us focus as one people, whether you’re Igbo, whether you’re from the North, whether you’re from the South. This is the mantra that we have in the House of Representatives because if you talk about nation-building, we say it is a joint task.
“I want to also use this opportunity, in a way, to be grateful and commend our brothers and sisters from the North. I said this because if the North had been a part of this, I don’t know if we’ll all be standing here today. That’s why I commend our brothers and sisters from the North.
“On Tuesday, we talked in the House about compensation. I want to reiterate that the House will do all it can to make sure that everybody that has suffered from police violence – whether you’re from the North, from the East, from the West, because everybody in Nigeria has suffered from police violence, not just those of us from the Southwest. That will be applicable to all, including policemen that lost their lives in these unfortunate incidents.
“So, Your Excellency, we bring you good tidings and good wishes from Abuja. We stand with you. Whatever the House can do to help in rebuilding, not just Lagos State, but other states that have been affected as well from whatever part in Nigeria, the House will definitely join hands. Because we’re now in the situation of reconstruction.
“I want to encourage our young men and women out there that you fought a good fight, and I’m sure deep down, you’re not happy with what you’ve seen. The government listened, the president listened, the House listened, the Senate listened, the governors listened, it is now time to take stock and make sure this never happens again”.
“Your Excellency, the ground zero of what happened here is Lekki…that was what precipitated the violence and the carnage the following day. It is important to me, as I know it is important to you and to everybody, to know what exactly happened.
“A judicial panel has been set up, and I hope those who say this is what happened will have the courage to go before the judicial panel and say this is what happened and give credible evidence. And if that was indeed what happened, then, the law must take its course. But, if that was not what happened, the law must also take its course. Either way, the law must take its course”, the Speaker said.
The #EndSARS protest Monday turned violent in part of Lagos State as the demonstration consumed the life of a police inspector and a bystander, leaving two other officers critically Injured.
Confirming the development, Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, explained that some armed protesters laid siege on the Anti-Kidnapping Unit Office of the command located at Iyun Road in Surulere, broke into the cell and liberated two of the kidnap suspects.
In the ensuing melee, Adejobi said Inspector Ekei Joshua with AP No 175493; Inspector Peter Agabi with AP No 251138; and Inspector Erinfolami Ayodeji with AP No 229241(now late) attached to the Anti Kidnapping Unit were shot and critically injured.
According to him, “Today, being 12th October, 2020, at about 1pm, some armed protesters laid siege on the Anti Kidnapping Unit Office of the command, broke into the cell and liberated two of the kidnap cases suspects, before they were tactically and professionally repelled.
“In the process, Inspector Ekei Joshua with AP No 175493, Inspector Peter Agabi with AP No 251138 and Inspector Erinfolami Ayodeji with AP No 229241(now late) attached to the Anti Kidnapping Unit of Lagos State Command, located at Iyun Road, Surulere were shot and critically injured; they have been rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
“In addition, the protesters fired and killed one Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo, 55 years, a driver of one Toyota Sienna Bus, with Registration Number LSD 296 FX, who got stuck in the traffic caused by the blockage of the road by the violent protesters, in Surulere today.
“It is petinent to state that the attacked police inspectors and Mr Ikechukwu Ilohamauzu were hit and injured by pellets reasonably fired from pump actions/locally-made guns. The corpses of the deceased have been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy.”
The Public Relations Officer noted that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, adding that Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the Homicide section of SCID, Yaba to carry out thorough investigation into the incidence for further police actions.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Government has also corroborated the narrative by Lagos State Police Command.
The state government, in a statement by Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, dismissed the widely publicised notion that an #EndSARS protester was killed.
“The attention of Lagos State Government has been drawn to reports that an #ENDSARS protester has been killed in Surulere. This is not true.
“A group of hoodlums stormed the Anti-Kidnapping Unit at Hogan Bassey Street, Surulere, to free two suspects standing trial for alleged kidnapping. They shot three officers. One of them, Inspector Erinfolami Ayodeji, unfortunately, died. The others are Inspectors Ekein Joshua and Peter Agabi.
“The hoodlums, while escaping, fired into the air. A bystander was hit. He also died – sadly,” Omotoso said.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commiserated with the families who lost their loved ones, praying God to strengthen them.
He urged all those concerned to ensure that protests do not degenerate further and create room for hoodlums who do not mean well for our society, adding that the state government is working with the police to ensure the restoration of the peace that Lagos has always been proud of.
Also, Lagos State Commissioner of Police has called for calm and professionalism from the protesters and police personnel respectively as the #EndSARS protests have been hijacked by some unscrupulous elements, who are fully armed.
Odumosu urged protesters to be peaceful and avoid violent attacks on police personnel or any other security agents, warning them not to harass innocent Lagosians by picketing them to forcefully join the protests; and should avoid blocking access routes or roads for other Nigerians who are as well entitled to their fundamental human rights.
He also appealed to parents and guardians to keep watch on their children and monitor their activities to avoid being mobilised and used for illegal activities in the state.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Monday showed class and identified with #EndSARS protesters.
Sanwo-Olu, who declared that he was addressing the demonstrators not just as a governor, but as a father, brother and son, explained that the safety of everyone involved in peaceful protests across Lagos was important.
He added that he’s communicating with Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, and other relevant security agencies in order to ensure peace and tranquility in the state.
Sanwo-Olu noted that as a servant of the entire people of Lagos, he would be meeting President Muhammadu Buhari tomorrowvl (October 13) in Abuja.
While identifying with the protesters, the governor said the #EndSARS campaign touched on the essence of democratic freedom, adding that citizens must never be denied the right to protest and their voices heard.
According to him, “I was at the venue of one of the #EndSARS protests today. The safety of everyone involved in peaceful protests across Lagos is important and communicating with the Commissioner of Police, this is what we want to guarantee on all sides.
“Tomorrow, I will be meeting with HE President Muhammed Buhari in Abuja.
“As a servant of the people, my job is to listen and do everything within my power to act while managing the nature of the problems our people are protesting against. I am proud of our youth and the courage they are displaying in articulating their grievances.
“I identify wholeheartedly with the #EndSARS campaign as it touches the essence of democratic freedom.
“Citizens must never be denied the right to protest and your voices have been heard.
“A clear pronouncement has been made and Mr. President has addressed the nation. All SARS officers involved in the killing of innocent people and engaging in the abuse of human rights will be brought to justice.
“My stand on #EndSARS is unmistakable and I assure you that I identify with this protest because your concerns are legitimate. The protest is in good faith but we have to be peaceful and decorous in expressing ourselves.
“I have received the news of casualties at the Surulere protest as well as other developments we are monitoring. We mourn with the families of those who have lost their loved ones.
“Please do not allow your protest be hijacked and used by people with a pre-existing vendetta.
“We must prevent the escalation of issues and I am meeting with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and other security leaders in a few minutes to ensure that live rounds that could lead to further casualties are not used at all as the police looks to maintain peace during the protests.
“I want to appeal to the protesters to take a break from protesting tomorrow. Tempers are at a highest on all sides at this time and while we work to prevent escalation, the safety of our residents is paramount.
“I speak not just as a governor, but as a father, brother and son.”
Lagos State Government has announced that this year’s independence day celebration coming up on Thursday, would be held on a low key, devoid of the usual colourful parade.
The state’s commissioner for information and strategy, Gbenga Omotoso disclosed this on Wednesday in Lagos, sating that Governor Babajide Sanwo-OLu has cancelled parade for the 60th Independence Day celebration.
File Photo: Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu in a motorcade procession during Nigeria at 59 independence day parade in 2019.
According to Omotoso, the Lagos State Government opted for a low key celebration due to the ravaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is still with us.
“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed that the planned parade and other activities that involve the gathering of more than 50 people should be cancelled.
“He congratulates Lagosians on this auspicious occasion and strongly advises that they should celebrate quietly at home and pray for the country. They should also observe the COVID-19 protocols, including wearing of face masks to protect themselves and their loved ones.
“The Governor urges Lagosians not to relax their vigilance against COVID-19 so as not to reverse the gains that the state has made in fighting the disease.
“They are to keep embracing physical distancing and washing of hands with soap and water. Anybody who feels unwell should stay indoors and contact health authorities.
“The police and other security agencies have been directed to ensure that nobody flouts these directives in the interest of all of us, especially now that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is warning that a second wave of the deadly disease could occur”, the statement read.
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