2020
Fellow Nigerians,
It has become necessary for me to address you having heard from many
concerned Nigerians and having concluded a meeting with all the Security
Chiefs.
2. I must warn those who have hijacked and misdirected the initial,
genuine and well – intended protest of some of our youths in parts of
the country, against the excesses of some members of the now disbanded
Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
3. On Monday 12th October, I acknowledged the genuine concerns and
agitations of members of the public regarding the excessive use of force
by some members of SARS.
4. 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.
5. As a 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. The spreading of deliberate falsehood and misinformation through the
social media in particular, that this government is oblivious to the
pains and plight of its citizens is a ploy to mislead the unwary within
and outside Nigeria into unfair judgement and disruptive behaviour.
11. On the contrary, both our deeds and words have shown how committed
this administration has been to the wellbeing and welfare of citizens,
even with the steadily dwindling revenues, and the added
responsibilities and restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
12. Government has put in place measures and initiatives principally
targeted at youths, women and the most vulnerable groups in our society.
These included our broad plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out of
poverty in the next 10 years; the creation of N75 billion National Youth
Investment Fund to provide opportunities for the youths and the Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Survival Fund, through which
government is:
a. paying three months salaries of the staff of 100,000 micro, small –
and medium – enterprises,
b. paying for the registration of 250,000 businesses at the Corporate
Affairs Commission,
c. giving a grant of N30,000 to 100,000 artisans; and
d. guaranteeing market for the products of traders.
13. These are in addition to many other initiatives such as;
a. Farmermoni,
b. Tradermoni,
c. Marketmoni,
d. N-Power,
e. N-Tech and
f. N-Agro.
14. No Nigerian Government in the past has methodically and seriously
approached poverty-alleviation like we have done.
15. With regard to the welfare of police personnel, the National
Salaries, Income and Wages Commission has been directed to expedite
action on the finalization of the new salary structure of members of the
Nigeria Police Force. The emoluments of other paramilitary services are
also being reviewed upwards.
16. 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.
17. Let me at this point reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to
preserving the unity of this country.
18. We will continue to improve good governance and our democratic
process, including through sustained engagement.
19. We shall continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the
fundamental rights of all citizens are protected.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national security
and the law and order situation. Under no circumstances will this be
tolerated.
24. 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.
25. And I call on all Nigerians to go about their normal businesses, and
enjoin security agencies to protect lives and properties of all law
abiding citizens without doing harm to those they are meant to protect.
Let me pay tribute to officers of the Nigeria Police Force who have
tragically lost their lives in the line of duty.
26. 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.
27. 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.