After three days of nationwide protests over bad governance in the country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has scheduled to address the nation on Sunday.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced this in a statement, on Saturday. The spokesman said the broadcast would hold at 7am.

The Protesters had requested that the President address the nation on the many demands they have laid out. 

There is so far no insight into what the broadcast will contain and it is doubtful that Tinubu chose to address the nation because the protesters said so. However it provides him the opportunity to address certain troubling issues areas in his government and it’s activities. 

One of the areas that has received condemnation Is the oil sector which is the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy. Incidentally the President superintends over the sector since he doubles as the Minister of Petroleum. 

The poor handling of the newly completed Dangote Refinery by government officials has opened a can of worms and exposed the administration to criticism. 

While he is not likely to return the subsidy regime which he abolished on his inauguration on May 29, 2023, he may use the address to make a far-reaching pronouncement on the nation’s energy policy. 

So far his promise to return the nation’s refineries to operation has not been kept.

The unwieldy size of his administration is another area that has engendered disquiet. Many people expect that he may address the need to tinker with the size of his government and cut down on personnel costs.

Tinubu nominated the highest number of Ministers in the history of Nigeria at a time the nation’s economy is at its worst.

The third area is his ineffective fiscal policy that has engendered hyperinflation and made the prices of goods, especially food, to skyrocket. With an unprecedented inflation ratio of 34.19 in June, driven by more than 40 percent food inflation, the country is reeling as people find it difficult to feed themselves.

The poverty level in May 2023, when this government came on board and before the dramatic price surge, was 38.9 percent, with an estimated 87 million Nigerians living below the poverty line. Only India presents a worse record.

The reason for the significant price jump is the macroeconomic policies of the Tinubu administration, especially the removal of petroleum and electricity subsidies and the implementation of other neo-liberal economic policies, such as the floating of the naira. 

These have led to higher costs for power and fast depreciation of the naira, both of which have aggravated the country’s economic challenges and caused widespread social discontent. 

The options open to the government, fiscally, are limited. It could either continue with the ongoing reforms and policies or go back to the pre-Tinubu years when the government was paying unwieldy petroleum subsidies and operated the dual forex exchange system..

Although the Tinubu administration has not come clean over petrol subsidies, which it pays through the backdoor, the option of reversing the policy on petroleum subsidy is not feasible, practical, or sustainable. 

The petroleum subsidies bill under President Buhari ballooned such that between June 2022 and his last day in office in May 2023, to over N3 trillion for subsidies, most of which were likely stolen through government corruption.

It appears the most important driver of inflation is the depreciation and instability of the naira, even more so than the high cost of petrol and electricity. It is one area that needs to be revisited. 

The government has tried to cushion the effects of its harsh economic policies with certain safety nets, all of which have so far proved defective. While Institutional corruption has claimed his Minister of Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Betta Edu, he has not introduced any other effectively policy of cushioning the effects of his policies on the people.

Finally, he has rum one of the most expensive administrations, approving humongous amounts for projects that most Nigerians regard as not crucial or people focused.

Among them is the completion of the Vice President’s residence with a whopping N21 billion, the renovation of his Dodan Barracks Lagos guest house with N5billion and the purchase of new Presidential jets. 

There are so many areas that need attention. However, it is expected that he may take a cue from recent public disapproval of some policies to make amends.

Fellow Nigerians,

I address you today not because you people have been calling on me to speak to the citizens of Nigeria. I am not doing this because some of you have been making noise on the streets of Abuja, Lagos, and Kano. Such behaviors do not move me. I am the Jagaban. Nobody pushes me around. Iro! If you don’t know who I am, go and ask them in Lagos. I can rule Nigeria for eight years without holding a single press conference or speaking to Nigerians in a live broadcast. Heaven will not fall.

I make this exception today because I sent my Vice President out to calm you all down, only for him to call the people protesting idiots. Let me make something very clear. I agree with my Vice President that all of you protesting on the streets of Nigeria are idiots with nine fingers. The only respect I will give to you is that I won’t stand in front of you and count your nine fingers. Of course, it is not out of fear but simply because you are beneath me. I am the Jagaban. If you don’t know who I am, go and ask them in Lagos.

Out of the goodness of my heart, I took a break from enjoying Amala and Ewedu as my brilliant brother, Senator Akpabio, is doing to come and speak to you. Let nobody complain if I say anything you do not like. The last time I spoke live to the nation, I said, “Oil subsidy is gone.” Fourteen months later, we are still dealing with the consequences of that sentence. Still, you all are crying for me to speak. Alright, here is the speech as written for me by Bayo Onanuga. I did not add or remove anything from this speech. I am a doer and not a talker. I am the Jagaban. If you don’t know who I am, go and ask them in Lagos.

Just as my Vice President said, you all protesting out there, wasting your sweat and lives, are idiots. If you were not idiots, you should praise us for raising the minimum wage from 30,000 Naira to 70,000 Naira. That is over 100% increase. I am an American-trained accountant. I know my arithmetic. Where in the world have you seen such an astronomical increase before? Stop converting it to dollars to see the difference in value between May 29, 2023, and today. You no dey chop dollars for Nigeria. What is important is that it takes care of the increase in the price of 50kg of rice from 40k in 2023 to 100k today. It leaves 10k for your family to go to the movies and have a good time. I deserve a thank you. Instead, what I am getting is this lousy protest. Don’t get me angry, people. I am the Jagaban. If you don’t know who I am, go and ask them in Lagos.

What have I not done for you people? I found N30 billion in these hard times to establish a student loan scheme for about 2 million students in Nigerian universities. I had to get some of the money by cutting off some essentials needed for the office of the First Lady and in the home of my Vice President Kashim Shettima. Because of you, we only spent N25 billion on his house, using an inferior Italian jacuzzi instead of the originals. Is that fair? And some of you wondered why we didn’t let journalists into the VP’s house, the people’s house, during the opening ceremony. He ended up with a VP townhouse with a town hall different from Abu Dhabi – Kuala Lumpur.

For those of you gossiping that I do not deserve a new plane, I have news for you. I bought it already. All talks in the National Assembly are just to fulfill all righteousness. And there is nothing that any of you can do about it. I didn’t check the price before I bought it. I am not used to such a poverty-induced lifestyle. I cannot come and die because you people begged me to rule you and save you from the government of illiterates and poorly educated fools. That I am letting the poor breathe does not mean I should let them go mad in the marketplace. Am I making myself clear?

It will take ten years after my eight-year tenure before the benefits of my incredible vision for Nigeria become clear. If you doubt me, go to Lagos and ask them. There has been no governor in Lagos since I left who had any need to think to succeed. They just follow my template and become successful. Those who tried to step out of line got the Ambode treatment. So, the benefit of what I am doing today in Nigeria will become apparent when David Umahi becomes Nigeria’s president after eight years of Shetimma. I am the Jagaban, and I can tell you for free, “You can’t eat a good banana without its peels.”

Why am I even wasting my time talking to you all as if I give a hoot about people who are an ungrateful bunch? I gave you local government autonomy. It is the greatest gift since fried akara. Do you know that you can now hold your local government chairman responsible for Fulani herdsmen who destroyed your farms and for your husband who cannot perform in the oza room? No more pointing accusing fingers at me, the Jagaban. My job as president is back to what the framers of our fantastic 1999 constitution designed it to be – attending conferences abroad and helping negotiate new loans for Nigeria until we meet the debt-to-loan ratio that is respectable for a country of 200 million people. Again, I am the Jagaban, and I can tell you for free, “I study them and strategically execute them; my detractors discuss my success and failure because they have nothing to execute.”

I cannot end this speech without expressing my heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives during the unnecessary protest. They are now fathers “of a mother of a child when the child is childless.” I hope they will learn to stay home when they reincarnate, just like the Igbo people did. I love my Igbo people. If you think I bribed the Igbo people by signing the South East Development Commission into law, you just wait and see what next I will do for them. I am about to release their illustrious son, Nnamdi Kanu, to reward them for being good boys and girls while the rest of you dance naked on the streets. As someone who once said, I did not believe in one Nigeria, I can tell you that “creation is always more difficult than destruction; greed is easier than greatness.” I am the Jagaban. If you do not know me, go and ask them in Lagos.

Before I go, let me tell you, ignoramus, what bad governance means. Bad governance means going after Yahaya Bello for N80 billion allegations against him when I know he will work hard for my reelection, which is just about two years away. I heard some of you complain that corrupt people are ministers in my government. Again, that shows how politically naive you all are. You sometimes need a seasoned thief to do the job of catching a thief. For those who say that my economic team is second-rated Lagos boys who lack international gravitas, I say, shurrup. Why is it difficult for blockheads to understand how the world works? I am the Jagaban, and I can tell you for free, “If you want me to do something for you, line up in an orderly manner. Then I can share my peanuts.” Didn’t you see Dangote as he lined up in an orderly manner? He got what he wanted – crude oil in Naira. Reno Omokri, Daniel Bwala, Femi Fani Kayode are all lining up orderly. They will soon get their peanuts.

Alright! This speech is already too long. You all can now go to sleep. Cuddle your mothers if you are scared or hide under her bed. If you are hungry, follow my wife’s example and take a hoe to a farm and till the ground. You can make your own eba or garri or beans or dodo. I don’t want to hear again that you are hungry. I went to Chicago, where I planted. That is why I am eating now. “You cannot reap when you did not sow. You can’t eat corn when it’s maize you planted.” Sogbo? But if you want to remain a church rat, be ready to eat poisoned Holy Communion, for that is all that your senseless protest is. You have to sweat if you must lay a golden egg. Again, I am the Jagaban, and I can tell you for free, “We inherited speaking in tongues from the Bible, but our diversity is a promise for prosperity.”

May God bless all those who understand how hard I work daily to transform Nigeria into the miracle I performed in Lagos, which I singlehandedly turned into the 5th largest economy in Africa. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Senator Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

President

Federal Republic of Nigeria.

…Governor appeals for calm in statewide broadcast

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has vowed to ensure protection of lives and property of citizens of the state in the wake of the planned nationwide protests over current economic situation in the country.

Governor Oyebanji said Nigeria and its people cannot afford “another massive destruction of our economic base” as witnessed during the #EndSARS protest that led to the destruction of many private and government infrastructures.

Addressing the people of Ekiti State in a statewide broadcast on Wednesday morning, the Governor expressed concern that the planned protest has the potential to degenerate into violence and reverse his administration’s steady progress to shared prosperity.

Governor Oyebanji, in the address which was broadcast across all radio and television stations in the state, clarified that while his administration is not averse to free expression of opinions and displeasures over socioeconomic issues, it strongly believes that it should be after due consideration of the overall security implication of such a protest.

Acknowledging the constitutional rights to freedom of expression and the right to air views freely, Governor Oyebanji argued that “a protest should be conducted under a peaceful atmosphere without recourse to any violent disturbances to other citizen who also enjoy inalienable right to unhindered movement and life.”

The Governor pointed out that he has the primary duty to ensure the security and wellbeing of the people at all times as the Chief Security Officer of the state noting that security agencies will be on high alert and will not allow anybody to destroy Ekiti’s good image as a peaceful and progressive State.

He appealed to the residents of the state not to fall into the agenda of individuals “who might just be interested in wreaking havoc while pretending to be fighting for the interest of the ordinary people.”

While contending that protest, violence and destruction of lives and property can be counterproductive, the Governor said “a lot of fifth columnists are trying desperately to weaponize the current economic crisis for their own destructive agenda.”

Recalling the havoc wreaked in Ekiti during the #EndSARS protest of 2020, Governor Oyebanji disclosed that some public buildings, infrastructures and assets are still in ruins nearly four years after they were savagely vandalized by protesters with government struggling to repair or replace them.

According to him, “nothing much will change by blocking roads and prevent distribution of goods and services, instead, it will aggravate poverty and sorrow and will also worsen the situation as it did in 2020 when we had to slip into deeper economic recession as a result of the combined effect of COVID 19 pandemic and the #EndSARS wanton destruction of economic infrastructure across the country.”

“Multimillion naira businesses were completely ruined and the owners destroyed forever. Till today, the Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency’s store room and other government institutions remain in ruins because of the arson and looting that were visited on the State by retrogressive elements masquerading as protesters.

“Many of our silos which serve as national strategic reservoirs for food and seedlings were burnt, looted and vandalized. Government is still struggling with replacing or repairing these infrastructures, even in the face of scarce resources,” the Governor said.

The Governor appealed to parents, guardians, traditional rulers and religious leaders to appeal to the youths not to submit themselves to those he referred to as “evil merchants who want to use them to cause violence in our state as protests can easily be hijacked by hoodlums.”

He stressed “that no matter how peaceful a protest might seem at the beginning, no one can predict its eventual dynamics and its ending.”

The Governor also used the opportunity of the broadcast to assure the people o the state that efforts are on to ameliorate the current challenges relating to food price inflation and high cost of transportation while also ensuring that the provision of welfare packages to workers, retirees and other citizens.

He added: “It is for this reason that we have undertaken different palliative measures across the State to many of the eligible people based on different criteria for each batch.

“Indeed, we are not in anyway deluded that food handouts will be the magic bullet to end the food related inflation, more and abundant production of foodstuff is the golden bullet to fight food poverty and government has put in place various measures to ramp up food production in the State through the Ministry Agriculture and Food Security and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“It is in the realization of this, that we are investing in an unprecedented level, in agriculture. We are supporting our farmers to increase their capacity in production through clearing and ploughing of land in thousands of hectares.

“The second phase of the land clearing is about being concluded. We are not only clearing and ploughing for our farmers, we are also providing them free and subsidized seedlings, fertilizers and other farm implements.”

Naija News reports that the grand wedding ceremony took place on Friday at the National Mosque in Abuja and was followed by a luxurious reception.

The couple shared moments from their special day on a dedicated Instagram page, #Sash24, giving a glimpse into the joyous occasion.

The caption reads, “Together in faith and love from this day forward, Insha’Allah.”

Emir Sanusi Speaks As Protesters Return To Kano Streets

Meanwhile, Muhammadu Sanusi II has urged residents of the state engaging in the #EndBadGovernace protest to avoid being used by agents of destruction in the Northern region and Nigeria at large.

Naija News reports that Sanusi made the plea following the return of protesters to the streets of Kano despite the curfew imposed to check widespread violence.

Some protesters reportedly regrouped in Tudun Wada of Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano on Friday afternoon, after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf relaxed the curfew to enable the Muslim faithful to observe Jumaat.

Many protesters wielded placards while others sang and clapped as they marched on the streets.

Speaking at a press conference held at his Gidan Rumfa palace on Friday evening, Sanusi expressed concern over how public and private properties were looted and vandalised owing to the protest that was billed to be a peaceful demonstration against hunger and hardship in the country.

[NaijaNews]

The Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has commended youths and parents for ensuring peaceful demonstration across the state in the ongoing agitation to address hunger and hardship in the country.

The Governor’s appreciation was contained in a statement on Saturday in Ibadan by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade following the sustenance of the peaceful protest which entered the third day since it began on Thursday, 1st of August.

The statement recalled that Governor Makinde was among the first set of leaders to publicly embrace the constitutionality of the #EndHungerProtest with an admonition that the protest must be peaceful to achieve the desired result.

The Oyo State’s helmsman further appealed to Nigerians to be law abiding and ensure that their agitation did not result to rancour and incitement throughout the period.

The Governor praised people of the state, especially the youths, for keeping their end of the bargain as they expect the federal government to make life better for all and sundry.

He equally called on Nigerians in states where various degrees of violence were recorded during the protest, to allow peace to reign in their quest for good governance.

[Leadership]

President Bola Tinubu is monitoring the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country, Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, has said.

For the third day running, Nigerians have been out on the streets, demanding reversal of fuel subsidy removal and other policies they tagged anti-masses.

The protest have degenerated into violence in some states, with more than 40 persons killed, according to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Human rights activists, public commentators, politicians and other stakeholders have asked Tinubu to address the nation.

In a statement on Saturday, opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said Tinubu’s silence was worrisome.

“It is worrisome that President Tinubu could remain silent as Nigerians are on the streets demanding for good governance, protection, security and welfare, which are the primary purpose of government, Debo Ologunagba, spokesman of the PDP said in a statement, on Saturday.

However, when he featured on a Channels Television programme, Bagudu, said the president is well aware of the situation and keeping tabs.

“Mr President has been monitoring the situation, as he ought to. Very responsibly, and alert. I am a minister. I also have responsibilities. I have also been monitoring this thing. I have been noting this thing so that I can make inputs.”

“We have been monitoring and listening carefully to hear what is being said and what noting them.”

[DailyTrust]

Nigeria Police Force on Saturday released an update on incidents recorded in the nationwide protests against economic hardship in the country.

The Police also dismissed a report by Amnesty International that 13 individuals have so far lost their lives in the ongoing protests, which began on 1st August, 2024.

This is even as the Force said it has also arrested a total of 681 individuals alleged to have committed various criminal offenses, recovering two AK-47 rifles and assorted live ammunition from protesters.

The Police warned that the ongoing protest has turned violent, and advised law abiding citizens to immediately withdraw from the protest.

In a statement by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer on Saturday, the Nigerian Police said the total number of deaths recorded so far during the protests is seven.

According to the statement, nine Police officers sustained various degrees of injuries during attacks by protesters.

Giving a breakdown of incidents from the first two days of the nationwide protests, Adejobi said: “In Borno State, four (4) individuals lost their lives and thirty-four (34) were severely injured in a terrorist attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP elements who infiltrated the crowd of protesters and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

“Additionally, an incident occurred involving an unregistered Honda Prelude car that ran into the protesters, resulting in the deaths of two (2) civilians.”

The police spokesman also said that there was another incident reported in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State where a group of individuals mobilized to loot a shop, leading to a local vigilante man killing one of the looters.

He said there were no other recorded fatalities during the protests apart from those he mentioned.

However, Adejobi explained that incidences of armed robbery, arson, mischief, looting of public institutions and private businesses, destructions of both public and private property were recorded during the protest.

He said arrests were made with respect to the criminal incidences and a number of recoveries made from the suspects while the protest was going on.

Police operatives have fired teargas at protesters at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

Moments earlier, the protesters had engaged in a congress, allowing protesters of different ethnicities and tribe to air grievances and make demands on the government.

However, policemen fired teargas at the protesters, who on sighting them, sat on the floor, singing solidarity songs

Details shortly…..

[Nation]

Nigeria has secured at least $1.25 billion in loans from the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to boost electricity supply under the administration of President Bola Tinubu. 

On December 14, 2023, the World Bank approved the $750 million Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) project in Nigeria. 

More recently, on July 31, 2024, the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) approved a loan of $500 million to the Federal Republic of Nigeria to help transform the country’s electricity infrastructure and improving access to cleaner energy sources.  

About the World Bank’s $750 million DARES loan to Nigeria 

The loan from the World Bank is structured into three distinct segments, cumulatively forming the $750 million total financial package. This package is segmented into credits of $350 million, $250 million, and $150 million, each earmarked for different facets of the project and subject to currency conversions as necessary. 

The primary implementers of this project are the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB), with significant support from the Federal Ministry of Power, the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Nigerian Electrification Regulatory Commission (NERC), and the Federal Ministry of Finance. 

According to the press release announcing the loan approval, $750 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA), is being used to leverage more than $1 billion from private investors and additional funding from different partners. 

Contributions include $100 million from the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and $200 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).   

Other collaborators in this initiative include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the German Development Agency (GIZ), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll), and the African Development Bank (AfDB).  

This ambitious DARES project aims to provide over 17.5 million Nigerians with better access to electricity through distributed renewable energy solutions. The goal is to tackle the electricity access deficit.  

The DARES program will assist the Federal Government of Nigeria in coordinating and finance off-grid electrification efforts. It will also aid states in developing capacity and policies to promote rooftop solar energy. 

Nairametrics earlier reported that the federal government plans to provide subsidy to developers and operators of solar mini-grids in unserved and underserved areas in the country. The subsidy will be provided through a World Bank approved loan of $750 million under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) project. 

About the AfDB’s $500 million electricity loan to Nigeria 

According to a statement from the AfDB, this funding will finance the first phase of the Economic Governance and Energy Transition Support Program (EGET-SP), aimed at transforming the country’s electricity infrastructure and improving access to cleaner energy sources.  

The statement also noted that the loan will help close the financing gap in the Federal Budget for the 2024/25 fiscal year, specifically supporting the implementation of Nigeria’s new Electricity Act and the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan. These initiatives are designed to decentralize the electricity supply industry and attract investments from subnational governments and the private sector.  

What you should know 

Nigeria has secured approval of nearly $2 billion in loans from multilateral organisations, especially the World Bank before Bola Tinubu became president. 

For instance, on June 23, 2020, the World Bank approved $750 million as a loan for Power Sector Recovery Operation (PSRO) project to improve the reliability of electricity supply, achieve financial and fiscal sustainability, and enhance accountability in the power sector in Nigeria. 

Nigeria also got approval of $500 million on February 4, 2021, for the Nigeria Distribution Sector Recovery Program (DISREP) aimed at improving Nigeria’s electricity distribution sector. This program performed below expectation, which led to World Bank planning a supervision mission, scheduled from July 8 to July 12, 2024, in response to the persistent challenges and underwhelming progress of the program.  

There is also the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), for which Nigeria got an approval of $350 million on June 27, 2018. The World Bank recently restructured the loan to Nigeria to ensure the completion of seven critical power plants in educational institutions, bolstering the nation’s energy infrastructure. According to the Restructuring Paper on this restructuring involves an extension of the project’s closing date, with the new deadline for the loan project set to December 31, 2024.   

Despite all the loans approved to Nigeria, the power sector still struggles as Nigerians faces poor electricity supply. 

[Nairametrics]

The Nigeria Labour Congress on Saturday called on the Federal and State Governments to stop the “massacre” of citizens during the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.

The NLC, in a statement signed by its National President, Joe Ajaero which was obtained by our correspondent in Abuja, said the deployment of security operatives to the venue where citizens were peacefully protesting instead of deploying them against bandits was thoughtless.

Ajaero said the police, not the citizens introduced violence to the peaceful protests.

Protesters have continued to hit the streets in Lagos, Oyo, Abuja and other states as they call for, among others, the reversal of fuel subsidy removal and the skyrocketing price of goods and services in the country.

The ‘End Hunger’ protest has, however, been marred with reported lootings by hoodlums in Kano and other northern regions with the police going after the culprits to recover some items.

In the statement, Ajaero said, “With unconfirmed reports putting casualties at 40+ in two days of managing the EndHunger protest across the country, we have sufficient reasons (backed up by reports and video clips) to call to question the professionalism of our security personnel as this represents nothing but massacre of citizens. Had the security personnel deployed the same thoughtless brutal precision against bandits or other criminals, our country would have been an eldorado.

“As the lead agency in internal security management, the police bear the burden of this massacre. Kaduna State police command under the watch of Compol Audu Ali Dabigi represents the worst-case scenario in which one of the fleeing protesters was heard on camera desperately appealing to deployed police personnel to not shoot until his voice was drowned by a hail of bullets with the resultant death of a protester on the spot and several injured.

“In the same breadth, Edo State Police Command under the personal command of COMPOL Funsho Adegboroye represents the best in crowd management as he could be heard interacting and cajoling the protesters and almost effortlessly bringing them under control.

“It might be convenient to argue that the two states do have different socio-cultural milieus, however, an incontestable truth common to both, and indeed, all the states is that human life is sacred and should never be taken.
We are deeply saddened by this  wanton taking of life by trigger-happy police personnel.”

Speaking further, Ajaero recalled Abuja protesters’ experience with security operatives.

“In Asokoro, Abuja under the command of Compol  Bennett Igweh, protesters were heard querying why the police were shelling or tear-gassing them as they were marching solemnly without breaking a twig. One noticeable pattern was that once police personnel introduced violence, all hell broke loose in fulfilment of the credo that violence begets violence.

“We pause to ask, what happened to all the years of training or experience? No lessons learnt or was this a case of loss of human values on an industrial scale? Don’t our police personnel watch their colleagues in other parts of the world manage equally challenging (if not worse) situations?

“For a start, we demand that the cops with blood stains on their hands be fished out for appropriate disciplinary action. Ditto their commanders.

“Secondly, adequate compensations should be paid to the families of casualties while  the government should be responsible for the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured.”

The NLC warned that if the police failed to put a hold on violence, its members would be forced to act in protection of the ordinary citizens.

“In the days ahead, we look forward to a better crowd control mechanism even as the new directive from the IGP would sound to some of the personnel as a license to kill without reason.

“We will be monitoring closely as the situation unfolds.  The police as the lead-agency vested with power and authority on issues of internal security should not only lead by (a good) example but an inspiration to other services.

“However, if the police in self-righteousness consider this advice as meddlesomeness and persist in their slaughter,  they will be unwittingly creating a situation they were supposed to help avert in the first place. And we as members of organised labour will be left with no choice than the moral burden to act in protection of ordinary citizens,” the statement added.

[Punch]