By Chinyere Amaechi
Govr. Sanwo-Olu of Lagos
After a close observation of the organized and peaceful manner Lagos protesters conducted themselves on the first day of the billed 10 days #ENDBADGOVERNMENT# protest in Lagos, the State’s Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has applauded them for their peaceful candor saying that, Lagosians have chosen to embrace peace and shun the path of destruction while expressing their views and constitutional right to protest.
This is contained in a press statement signed by Gbenga Omotosho of the State’s Information and Strategy department of its Ministry of Information. According to Omotosho, the State also noticed a slowdown in business activities in some parts of the State, for fear of hooligans and architects of anarchy who might endanger the peace and harmony in the State.
On the demands of the protesters, the statement says; on the message of the protest – hunger in the land – he said has been well noted. It furthermore, reiterated that the Federal Government is already taking steps to reverse the situation by opening the National Grains Reserve, suspended import duties on food items to mitigate prevailing food shortage and high cost of living including foodstuff prices saying; We will work with all food distributors to ensure that our citizens enjoy the resultant price reductions.
According to the Statement, as Governor Sanwo-Olu has promised Lagosians, the Sunday Markets will return with its 25% discount on all major food items, Medical Outreach, which offers free medical treatment will also return while the State finalizes the logistics for its implementation. More so, the State will continue to ensure that expectant mothers who patronize the State’s hospital facilities enjoy free delivery. The 25% slash in fares on all State’s owned transport facilities will continue as well as other measures the State has put in place to relieve Lagosians of the burdens at hand.
The statement calls on protesters to seize fire as their voices have been heard loud and clear to give both the States and Federal powers room to implement their intervention policies meant to address the peoples demands. The Statement did not fail to also commend the security agencies and law enforcers in Lagos for their professional conduct in the first day of the protest when it said: It is also important to put on record the professional conduct of all our security agencies – the Lagos State Police Command, the Department of State Services, the Military, the Civil Defence, Neighbourhood Watch, Community leaders, Religious leaders, Resident Associations and others – who ensured that the peace we cherish was not compromised adding that the State will continue to engage all stakeholders to ensure that Lagos State remains peaceful and a beacon of hope for all as it enjoins Lagosians to continue to go about their businesses without any fear.
