Lagos won?t allow another #EndSARS- Governor Sanwo-Olu warns ahead of hunger protest

The governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has warned that the state will not allow the 2020 #EndSARS protest to repeat itself. 

The governor gave the warning while addressing residents of the state on Wednesday, July 31 ahead of the August 1 nationwide protest over hunger and hardship.

In his address, the governor noted that the 10-day protest cannot achieve what economic reforms can achieve in weeks and months while citing the destruction of valuables as losses the state is still counting.

“Reflecting on the tragic events of the EndSARS protest in 2020, it began peacefully but was later hijacked, resulting in immense destruction and loss. We will NOT allow history to repeat itself. During the protests, we saw the destruction of valuable properties and institutions: Lagos High Court, 45 police stations, 12 Local Government offices, 7 Fire Stations, and the Forensic Centre, among others.

The City Hall, Nigeria Ports Authority headquarters, and traditional rulers’ palaces were also destroyed. Malls, shops, offices, and hundreds of brand-new BRT buses were lost. Such devastation only sets us back economically and socially.”

While admitting that indeed Nigeria is experiencing challenges, he said the Tinubu-led government is working to address them and alleviate Nigerians’ pain.

“For weeks, we’ve faced the prospect of protests aimed at ending what some call ‘bad government’. While the intentions may be noble, some narratives suggesting it’s a means to change the government by non-constitutional means are troubling. Is a protest the catalyst for progress we need now? Will it ensure our challenges vanish in ten days? Will it lower food prices or inspire economic growth? I strongly believe it won’t. Instead, it could undo the modest gains we’ve made,” he admonished.