By James Orji
Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu of Lagos state has disclosed that his government is trying to rebuild the state after last year’s destruction of public and private property by hoodlums during the protest against police brutality aka EndSARS.
The state’s helmsman said his administration has committed enough resources toward rebuilding the state, noting that it has not been easy doing so considering the enormous resources required.
The state government had said it needed over N1 trillion for the reconstruction and repair of the properties and infrastructure that was vandalized and destroyed by hoodlums who hijacked the peaceful protest of October 21, 2020.
Sanwo -Olu who spoke on the back of one-year memorial of EndSARS also stated that report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution will be made public as soon as the panel submit the report. The panel concluded sitting last Monday, and has yet to submit its report to the state government.
Sanwo-olu said “It is exactly a year ago today when Lagos was hit by violence in the aftermath of the EndSARS protests. Lagos witnessed massive destruction of infrastructure, iconic buildings, transport infrastructure, police station and others.
“Today being a year after the event, there is no better time to say how difficult it has been for us as a State and how committed it has been for us. As tough as it is, the Government will certainly not shy away from its responsibility. We see the incident as a challenge and we will fix it with everything that we have.”
Sanwo-Olu said the State Government would not make an attempt to cover up the recommendations of the panel, whether it is in its favour or not. The Governor said the panel report would be helpful in strengthening true reconciliation and preventing re-occurrence of violence in the State.
Lagos recorded a huge loss in assets and resources, following the violence that trailed the protest, as public transportation infrastructure, court buildings, police stations, private properties and iconic assets were razed by arsonists on October 21, 2020.
Gov. Sanwo-Olu said the panel was set up to look into allegations of human rights abuses against the police and also determine the cause of coordinated attacks on Lagos, noting that the panel’s final report would be fully implemented.
Sanwo-Olu said: “The panel concluded its sittings about three days ago and has asked for time to put the reports together behind closed doors. We do not know the content of the report, but we want to say publicly that, upon the handover of the report, we will be making it public.
“We will not cover up anything. This is not who we are and that is not what our Government stands for. We will make full disclosure of whatever recommendations that the panel will come up with. I assure citizens of Lagos that we will not leave anything to chance.”
He said he has ordered the release of those detained by the police on Wednesday.
According to him, “yesterday (Wednesday), we saw a protest in Lagos and everybody that was arrested in connection with the protest have all been released, except an individual that was caught with dangerous weapons and who confessed to the police that he joined the protest to cause mayhem,” the governor said.
