#OccupyLekkiTollGate Archives

EndSARS destruction: Sanwo-Olu, Gbajabiamila, Obasa, others set agenda for rebuilding Lagos As construction of 4th Mainland Bridge set to commence By Olasunkanmi Akoni Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the State Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, Senator Adeola Olamilekan, and Senator Tokunbo Abiru, have initiated move on rebuilding Lagos projects in the aftermath of EndSARS destruction of infrastructure across the state. The personalities made the move at the 16th Edition of the Lagos Executive/ Legislative Parley, with the theme: ‘A Consensus Agenda for Rebuilding Lagos," held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday. The annual parley with various stakeholders in attendance, focuses on issues that are germane to the development of of the state. The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the entire world and #EndSARS protest, which was subsequently, hijacked by hoodlums witnessed colossal destruction of public and private properties in the state, estimated to cost the sum of N1.1 trillion. Speaking, Sanwo-Olu said, "Lagos is rebuilding stronger; to rebuild Lagos is to rebuild ourselves; to rebuild Lagos is to rebuild our infrastructure. "The parley provide us the opportunity to set agenda for the future of the state. It is to sustain our Lagos and put it on a pedestal of growth in the next 10-30 years to come. "As the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria, Lagos was not left out of the lockdowns. This as you all know has adversely affected the socio-economic life of our people and slowed down our efforts at infrastructural development and poverty alleviation. "As if that was not bad enough, the #EndSARS protest reared its head, culminating in a grounding of social and economic activities, as well as unimaginable destruction of both public infrastructure and private properties. "We thank God that we were able to bring the situation under control with the help of God and a resilient citizenry. We have no alternative than rebuild Lagos, with a sense of urgency. To do this, all stakeholders in the development and growth of Lagos State must come together to share experiences and proffer solutions. "Let me be quick to say that beyond the immediacy of these disruptive events of 2020, it is important for us all to think and plan for the long-term future of Lagos. Just last week, we were at the 18th Lagos Economic Summit, tagged ‘Ehingbeti 2021’, to chart a path towards accelerating the sustainable growth of Lagos State over the next decade. In addition to making this long-term planning and envisioning part and parcel of public administration in Nigeria, we must also ensure that we follow through in terms of implementation. "The Executive and Legislature must work together to ensure that the Rebuilding of Lagos is done urgently and efficiently. The vast majority of our people want Government to work for them. They don’t make any distinctions between the Executive and the Legislature, as far as they are concerned we are all public officials elected to deliver on the mandate of efficient governance. There is no room for making excuses to them, or blaming another arm of government for the inability to deliver. It is up to us to ensure that, even though we are separate and independent arms of government, we are always on the same page and constantly resolving whatever issues and differences we have." On the proposed and long awaited Fourth Mainland Bridge, the governor said, "We did not promise 4th Mainland Bridge as part of campaign promises but we will build 4th Mainland Bridge. We shall lay the foundation before the end of the year." In his address, Gbajabiamila said, "We need unity across arms of government. This unity does not mean one arm subservient to the other. Nation building is a joint task." He added further that every stakeholder must strive to ensure that the electoral promises are delivered to the people. Harping on the theme, Gbajabiamila said that, "Rebuilding is remodelling the way we do things; remodelling our values; remodelling is a continuous process." He stated that beyond the infrastructure decay, remodelling also includes: health, moral values and education to get Lagos to the next level. On his part, Obasa urged the organizers to sustain the annual programme, saying there was need to engage policy makers and interact. He advised that the engagement should not be limited to public officers, adding the civil societies and the youths have critical role to play. Obasa stated that the youth require reorientation in order to ensure that they were tailored in line with the desired values in the State. In her welcome address, the Special Adviser, Office Of Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale said, "To fast track the rebuilding of the State, we shall in the next 48 hours discuss extensively around the theme of the retreat - ‘ A Consensus Agenda for Rebuilding Lagos’ delving deeply into issues such as Youth Leadership Role, Grassroots Development: catalyst for growth and Role of Social Media in Nation Building. "Also, there shall be presentations by a number of Ministries and Agencies such as Ministry of Agriculture, Office of Civic Engagement among others. These MDAs shall be shedding light on their operations as relating to the attainment of sustainable socio-economic growth of Lagos State." Also in attendance were: Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Kadiri, members of the State Executive Council, members of the state House of Assembly, chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led by its chairman in the stare, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, among others.

#OccupyLekkiTollGate: Sanwo-Olu orders probe into alleged brutalisation of protesters

On February 16, 20217:56 amIn Newsby Nwafor

…LCC records over N2.5bn loses from Oct 20, 2020 to Feb 13, 2021 —MD …Lekki Estate residents list conditions for reopening By Olasunkanmi Akoni Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu to institute an investigation into the harassment of some protesters who were arrested during last Saturday’s
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Falana, #OccupyLekkiTollgate: Uneasy calm, as security forces descend on Lekki Tollgate

Falana fumes over arrest of #OccupyLekkiTollgate protesters, as mobile court grants them bail

On February 13, 20219:22 pmIn Politicsby Oboh

The Interim Chair, Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond, ASCAB, Femi Falana(SAN) has said it was crude to arrest young men and women that wanted to participate in a peaceful protest tagged #OccupyLekkiTollgate and cramp them in a Black Maria instead of protecting them.

#OccupyLekkiTollGate: Nigerian authorities must free #EndSARS protesters now, says SERAP

On February 13, 20217:08 pmIn News, Politicsby Nwafor

By Nwafor Sunday Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Saturday, called on the Federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, to release #EndSARS protesters. The right group equally called for the release of a popular comedian, Macaroni. Disclosing this via its twitter handle, SERAP described the arrest as ‘unlawfully’, demanding for the release of #OccupyLekkiTollGate
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Arrest, dehumanisation, taunting of #LekkiTollgate protesters bestial, military — CAPPA

On February 13, 20216:30 pmIn Politicsby Oboh

The arrest and taunting of youths that gathered at Lekki Tollgate to protest, seeking justice for the victims of October 20, 2020, have been described as bestial and a reminder of the era of military dictatorship.

#OccupyLekkiTollGate: Stop intimidating peaceful protesters – Amnesty International

On February 13, 20216:19 pmIn News, Politicsby Nwafor

By Nwafor Sunday A non-governmental and Human Rights organization, Amnesty International, has cautioned the security agencies to henceforth stop intimidating peaceful protesters who are demanding an end to bad governance, police brutality and inhumanity to man, others against the citizens. Amnesty’s reaction came at a time when Nigerian youths are currently protesting (#OccupyLekkiTollGate), against the
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#OccupyLekkiTollGate: I would rather have peaceful protesters than bandits with AK 47— Adamu Garba

On February 13, 20215:42 pmIn Newsby Nwafor

By Nwafor Sunday Irked by the arrest of #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters, a former presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba, Saturday called on the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Police Force to release protesters demanding for good governance, noting that he would rather have a peaceful protesters than bandits with AK 47. Disclosing this
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#OccupyLekkiTollGate: Release protesters now – Rinu Oduala tells Buhari, Sanwo-Olu, Police, others

On February 13, 20215:20 pmIn News, Politicsby Nwafor

By Nwafor Sunday Rinu Oduala, #EndSars campaigner and former youth representative on the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing alleged shooting of protesters by soldiers at the Lekki toll gate, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos state Police command, Senators and House of Representatives members to as a matter
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#OccupyLekkiTollGate: ‘No harm should come to protesters’

On February 13, 20214:29 pmIn Newsby Nwafor

Political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Saturday, urged Nigerian youths not to be intimidated by the move to suppress their planned protest to demand for justice. Frank, in a statement in Abuja, condemned the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government over the
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Breaking: Hours to #OccupyLekkiTollGate protest, Rinu Oduala, pulls out of Lagos #EndSARS panel

On February 12, 20214:49 pmIn News, Politicsby Nwafor

By Nwafor Sunday About fifteen hours to the scheduled #OccupyLekkiTollGate protest, Rinu Oduala, youth representative on the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki toll gate, has stepped down from the panel. Her argument was that the government was using the panel for ‘performative actions’.
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#OccupyLekkiTollGate: Lagos PDP advises govt to seek caution, demands explanations on LCC

On February 12, 20214:56 amIn Newsby Bankole

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Engr Adedeji Doherty, has told the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led the government to tread with caution in dealing with planned protests by some youths to stage a peaceful protest at the Lekki Toll Gate over the decision of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution to investigate cases of police brutality in the State, directing the commencement of operations at the toll plaza.