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These are trying times
Says Senate president Lawan as NASS leadership meet Buhari
Calls for suspension of protests as govt addresses their demandz
Beging your protest again if your demands are not met in 2 weeks—Gbajabiamilla
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday met behind closed door with the leadership of the National Assembly at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila stood in for the leadership of National Assembly. The meeting was presided over by Buhari himself.
Senate President Ahmed Lawan who spoke with state house correspondents after the meeting said they deliberated on how best to address the ongoing End SARS demonstrations being witnessed in many parts of the country.
He said , the national Assembly has a crucial role to play in ensuring that the demands of the protesters are properly addressed and implemented to restore sanity in the society.
Lawan lauded the president for the way and manner he had been handling the issues raised by the aggrieved youths in the country.
“This is certainly a very trying moment, and as a national assembly, we believe that we have a very critical and crucial role to play in ensuring that the current situation of protest across the country is bought to an end.
“I want to thank Mr President for exhibiting very deep democratic credentials – the protests have gone on for over ten days, across many states of the country and I think the protesters have expressed their legitimate right, the government has listened.
“The essence of coming to meet Mr President is to review the situation and see the roles the two arms of government should play in ensuring that the five-point demands of the protesters are properly addressed.
“Where legislative intervention will be required, we are ready to move in and deal with such expeditiously, to ensure that we don’t waste any time so that we address the concerns of our youths.
“Where the executive role is expected we are sure that the executive will take expedient action, and we will be watching to ensure that such demands are properly met,’’ he said.
Lawan, therefore, appealed to the aggrieved youths to suspend their protests as the government had commenced implementation of their five-point demands, saying the government needed sufficient and conducive environment to implement the demands.
He said the appeal had become imperative to avert possible break down of law and order in the country.
He said: “It is also very critical at this point to mention this since the protest had taken place and the demands had been accepted.
“Time has come for the protest to stop because the government needs to have sufficient Time and conducive environment to implement the demands of the protesters we also need to have our economy to continue to grow.
“When we try to stop everybody from engaging in their local businesses, closing roads to markets and other economic places we disrupt the economy of the country, and that is not the best way to go.
“If the issues had not been accepted, then there would have been genuine reasons to continue with the demonstrations and protests. But since the issues had been accepted, we should give the government time to implement the issue.
“Therefore, I’m taking this opportunity to appeal to our youths who are protesting that the protests have already yielded the desire results.
According to him, other Nigerians have the legitimate right to go on their lawful businesses without hindrance.
Also commenting on the outcome of the meeting, Gbajabiamila reiterated the readiness of the NASS to partner with other arms of government particularly the executive, in meeting the genuine demands Nigerians. He said the protesters can come back to the streets if their demands are not met in two weeks.
He, however, condemned the attack on Gov. Gboyega Oyetola during the End SARS protest in Osogbo on Saturday.
October 18, 2020
NECO suspends ongoing exams over #ENDSARS protests
By SSamuel Itsede
National Examination Council (NECO) has announced the postponement of Paper I Computer Studies Practical’s scheduled for Monday, October 19, 2020, until November 16
According to a statement by Head, Information and Public Relations Division, NECO, Azeez Sani, Sunday, this became necessary as a result of the #ENDSARS protests.
The statement, “This is to inform the general public and especially candidates that the National Examinations Council (NECO) has been constrained to reschedule the Paper I Computer Studies Practical’s earlier scheduled to take place on Monday 19 October 2020, 10 am to 1 pm. The examination of this paper will now hold on Monday 16 November 2020, 10 am-1 pm.
”This unforeseen incident has been caused by the ENDSARS protest that blocked the free movement of transport at the City entrance gate Benin.
“The NECO delivery truck had left its take-off point well in advance two days earlier to deliver examination materials to some states and has been held up in the blockage since then.
“The Council wishes to assure all stakeholders and the general public that the affected examination materials have been retrieved intact and are in the custody of NECO’s vault.
”While regretting any inconveniences this rescheduling may cause our esteemed stakeholders, the Council has however taken this decision in order to maintain the integrity and security of its examinations procedures for seamless conduct of the Council’s examination.”
October 18, 2020
Biafra Youths condemn FG’s disbandment of SARS
The Biafra Nations Youth League has faulted the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad by the Nigerian Government through the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
The group said it was in total support of the call by some Northern groups calling for transfer of SARS to the North.
National Leader of BNYL, Princewill Chimezie Richard, in a statement said that the IG would be appreciated if he had deployed SARS to Borno to fight Boko Haram terrorists.
The statement reads, “Transferring SARS to the North especially Borno would have been the best decision to take. They needed to engage Boko Haram, only then they will understand that ‘Kaki no be leather’.”
Reacting to attacks on Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, by some celebrities over his ban on street protests, BNYL stated that the governor was the person, who started fighting SARS and was not supported by any of his colleagues.
Richard hinted that the atrocities SARS had committed in Rivers is far beyond what they had done in other states.
BNYL said the EndSARS protest was not the solution to the brutality, adding that the military have left their external duty to be doing the work of the police on the road.
The youth group said Nigerians should drop the EndSARS protest and begin to demonstrate for EndNigeria.
“It will be more sensible if Nigerians start to demonstrate for EndNigeria and not EndSARS.”
October 18, 2020
BREAKING: NECO postpones exams over #ENDSARS protests, gives new date
The National Examination Council(NECO) has been forced to reschedule Paper I Computer Studies Practical’s scheduled to take place on Monday 19 October 2020 to November 16
In a statement by the Head, Information and Public Relations Division, NECO, Azeez Sani, the council blamed the decision on the #ENDSARS protests that blocked the free movement of transport at the entrance gate into Benin City, the Edo state capital.
The statement reads: “This is to inform the general public and especially candidates that the National Examinations Council (NECO) has been constrained to reschedule the Paper I Computer Studies Practical’s earlier scheduled to take place on Monday 19 October 2020, 10 am to 1 pm. The examination of this paper will now hold on Monday 16 November 2020, 10 am-1 pm.
”This unforeseen incident has been caused by the ENDSARS protest that blocked the free movement of transport at the City entrance gate Benin.
“The NECO delivery truck had left its take-off point well in advance two days earlier to deliver examination materials to some states and has been held up in the blockage since then.
“The Council wishes to assure all stakeholders and the general public that the affected examination materials have been retrieved intact and are in the custody of NECO’s vault.
”While regretting any inconveniences this rescheduling may cause our esteemed stakeholders, the Council has however taken this decision in order to maintain the integrity and security of its examinations procedures for seamless conduct of the Council’s examination.”
October 18, 2020
End SARS Protests: Updates on Buhari’s meeting with Lawan, Gbajabiamila
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday met behind closed door with the leadership of the National Assembly at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila represented the leadership of NASS at the meeting which was presided over by the president.
Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, the Senate President said the meeting specifically deliberated on how best to address the ongoing End SARS demonstrations being witnessed in some parts of the country.
According to him, the national assembly has a crucial role to play in ensuring that the demands of the protesters are properly addressed and implemented to restore sanity in the society.
Lawan lauded the president for the way and manner he had been handling the issues raised by the aggrieved youths in the country.
“This is certainly a very trial moment, and as a national assembly, we believe that we have a very critical and crucial role to play in ensuring that the current situation of protest across the country is bought to an end.
“I want to thank Mr President for exhibiting very deep democratic credentials – the protests have gone on for over ten days, across many states of the country and I think the protesters have expressed their legitimate right, the government has listened.
“The essence of coming to meet Mr President is to review the situation and see the roles the two arms of government should play in ensuring that the five-point demands of the protesters are properly addressed.
“Where legislative intervention will be required, we are ready to move in and deal with such expeditiously, to ensure that we don’t waste any time so that we address the concerns of our youths.
“Where the executive role is expected we are sure that the executive will take expedient action, and we will be watching to ensure that such demands are properly met,’’ he said.
Lawan, therefore, appealed to the aggrieved youths to suspend their protests as the government had commenced implementation of their five-point demands, saying the government needed sufficient and conducive environment to implement the demands.
He said the appeal had become imperative to avert possible break down of law and order in the country.
He said: “It is also very critical at this point to mention this since the protest had taken place and the demands had been accepted.
“Time has come for the protest to stop because the government needs to have sufficient Time and conducive environment to implement the demands of the protesters we also need to have our economy to continue to grow.
“When we try to stop everybody from engaging in their local businesses, closing roads to markets and other economic places we disrupt the economy of the country, and that is not the best way to go.
“If the issues had not been accepted, then there would have been genuine reasons to continue with the demonstrations and protests. But since the issues had been accepted, we should give the government time to implement the issue.
“Therefore, I’m taking this opportunity to appeal to our youths who are protesting that the protests have already yielded the desire results.
According to him, other Nigerians have the legitimate right to go on their lawful businesses without hindrance.
Also commenting on the outcome of the meeting, Gbajabiamila reiterated the readiness of the NASS to partner with other arms of government particularly the executive, in meeting the genuine demands Nigerians.
He, however, condemned the attack on Gov. Gboyega Oyetola during the End SARS protest in Osogbo on Saturday.
October 18, 2020
#EndSars protesters push for conversion of SARS headquarters to National Museum
Amidst continued protests over SARS and Police reforms in Nigeria, some youths in Anambra State have demanded that the building which housed the headquarters of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS in Anambra State located at Awkauzu should be turned into a national museum.
A public commentator, Chima Christian who made the call in Awka yesterday said Awkuzu SARS is arguably the headquarters of police brutality and extra-judicial killings in Nigeria.
He said the building that housed Awkuzu SARS should not remain a police station again but should be turned around as a memorial in honour of the hundreds, if not thousands of innocent souls that were “wasted.”
While appreciating the efforts of the Government of Anambra State so far in the matter, he said government should immediately initiate protocols to provide an alternate facility for the police formation/unit currently occupying the Awkuzu chamber
“Our next level demands in Anambra include that Awkuzu SARS building be handed over so we can turn it into a museum and a memorabilia.We will hang the pictures of our slain brothers and sisters there. We will light candles for them. They shall no longer be forgotten. Their memories shall no longer be treated as if they never existed.
“Some were unceremoniously buried in unmarked graves. We will give them a beffiting burial at that site and treat their memories with dignity. Tears will pour on that day and families will find closure.The muse um will be there to honour the slain, preserve history and remind future generations of a terror that once was”
“In one of the stories, a mother, having nothing more to give, was made to regularly cook for the officers in exchange that they free her son that was being detained.
”A son that, unknown to her, has already been killed by the killer officers.
”And they kept eating the woman’s food knowing fully well that they’ve killed her son. See, the cries emanating from that slaughterhouse is still echoing, both here and in the great beyond” he said.
October 18, 2020
#EndSARS: FG warns against anarchy in Nigeria
The Federal Government has warned that it will not allow the country to be thrown into anarchy following the violence that has trailed the #EndSARS protests.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this on Saturday when he featured on a late night Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) news programme, “Weekend File”
The programme entitled, “EndSARS Protest: The Way Forward,” was monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The minister said Saturday’s assassination attempt on the Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, while addressing the protesters was a clear confirmation that the protests had been hijacked by hoodlums and people with ulterior agenda.
He noted that while the original conveners of the protests might have meant well, it was obvious that they were no longer in control of the initiative.
“Peaceful protest is an integral part of democracy and that is why the Federal Government in the last 11 days has treated the protesters in a very civilised manner.
“But, if you look at what happened to the governor of Osun state,it has gone completely beyond peaceful protest against excesses and abuse of power by the police.
“There is no where in the world where a government will folds its arms and allow the country to descend into anarchy.
“We are no longer dealing with #EndSARS but a volatile situation that can lead to anarchy if government does not take some very firm steps to protect the lives and livelihood of innocent Nigerians,” he said.
The minister added that the protests have gone beyond being peaceful because lives have been lost and innocent Nigerians, including workers and students, are passing through harrowing experiences.
Specifically, he said because the protesters are blocking the roads and highway, workers are finding it difficult to get to their offices and back home while many Nigerians are stranded on the roads.
“We have nothing against peaceful protest but there are civilised ways of doing so.
“This is by going to a venue where you are not going to disturb other Nigerians because where your own right stops, other persons’ right begins,” he said.
Mohammed said Nigerians should also see the protests as a smokescreen staged to undermine the administration and destabilise the country because all the demands by the protesters had been met by the government.
He reiterated that after the government had responded and met all the demands of the protesters, they ought to have nothing doing on the streets.
He recalled that the protesters on inception came with five demands including, that all arrested protesters should be released immediately and justice must be given to deceased victims of SARS including adequate compensation to be paid to their families.
The minister said the protesters equally demanded that there should be an independent committee to oversee the investigations and prosecution of any members of SARS found guilty of extra judicial killings.
He said they demanded that all personnel of the disbanded SARS must undergop psyhologicl and medical evaluation as well as retraining before they should be redeployed to other services of the Police.
The protesters also demanded that the salary of the police should be increased in a manner that will be adequately compensate for protecting lives and property of citizens.
In meeting the demands of the protesters, the minister said on Oct. 11, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) dissolved SARS accross the 36 states Police Command and the FCT.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari, on Oct. 12 addressed the nation, stating that the disbanding of SARS was a first step in the comprehensive reform of the police.
Mohammed said that On Oct. 13, the IGP ordered all defunct SARS personnel to report at Force Headquarters in Abuja for debriefing as well as psychological and mental examinations.
On the same day, the Presidential Panel on the Reform of SARS accepted the five-point demand of the protesters.
He said the National Economic Council (NEC) presided over by the Vice President with the 36 state governors and FCT Minister as members met on Oct. 15 and directed the immediate establishment of state-based Judicial Panels of Enquiry across the country.
The panels as directed by the Council are to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality and related extra-judicial killings with a view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved SARS and other Police units.
The NEC also directed governors to immediately establish state-based special security and human rights committee to be chaired by the governor in each state.
The governors are also to supervise the newly formed Police Tactical Unit and other security agencies located in states.
October 18, 2020
#EndSARS protesters launch helpline, online radio ‘soro soke
EndSARS protesters have established a helpline centre and an online radio platform named ‘soro soke.’
According to the protesters, the helpline is 01 700 1755.
“For the users, these are the prompt numbers: Press 1 for medical. Press 2 for legal. Press 3 for food and supplies. Press 4, 5, or 6 for mental health emergencies,” @fkabudu tweeted.
To aid coordination and communication nationwide, the protesters also launched an online radio platform “Soro Soke.”
The online radio, which is accessible via https://s4.radio.co/s99d55c85b/listen, has programmes and live reports of missing and found #EndSARS protesters, and other updates on the protests across the country.
Tuning in to the online radio around 2:00 pm on Sunday, music were being played on the needs for their voices to count and reforms, amongst others.
“Soro Soke,” a Yoruba phrase, which translates as ‘Speak Up,’ has become a slogan for End SARS protesters in the past few days.
Publisher of Ovations Dele Momodu and former Minister for Education, Oby Ezekwesili and some other prominent Nigerians have shown support for the initiatives.
“I heard our innovative young ones of the #EndSARS protests have just launched an online radio station? Wow! These ones na real Generation! #GenerationIncredibles.” @obyezeks tweeted
October 18, 2020
Gov Lalong constitutes Judicial panel on police brutality
The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong has approved the appointment of members of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry to investigate complaints of police brutality and related extra judicial killings in Plateau State.
This with a view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police units.

The action is also in line with the recommendation of the National Economic Council (NEC) for the establishment of State-based judicial Panels of Inquiry by Governors to hear complaints and ensure accountability in the operations of police units in their States.

The panel is to be headed by a retired Judge of the Plateau State High Court Justice Philomena Lot. Other members are: CP. Garba Patrick (Rtd); Mr. Ezekiel Dauda Daschen (Youth Representative) Mrs. Rauta Dakok (Rep. of Attorney General’s Office); Mrs. Kiyempia Mafuyai (Rep. of Human Rights Commission) while the civil society is to be represented by Dr. John Jinung and Fatimah Suleiman.

The terms of Reference among others are to receive and investigate complaints of Police Brutality or Related Extra Judicial Killings; evaluate evidence and draw conclusions on validity of complaints; as well as recommend compensation and other remedial measures.

While congratulating members of the Committee for their appointment, the Governor challenged them to be thorough, diligent and fair to all those that will appear before them in order to ensure that justice is served to all parties without any bias.
The committee is expected to carry out its assignment within six months and submit its report.

Meanwhile, the Governor has thrown more light on his remarks during an interview with journalists at the Presidential Villa Abuja where he was alleged to have said that Northern Governors want the return of the scrapped Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The Governor explained that there was no way the Northern Governors will call for the resurrection of an already scrapped SARS as approved by the President and announced by Inspector General of Police.
What he simply conveyed in the interaction with State House Correspondents was the need for deeper and wholistic reform of the entire policing architecture in the country where he stressed the fact that despite the condemnable atrocities by some members of the dissolved SARS, there are some among them that are good and performed their duties diligently, and as such there should not be blanket condemnation. This is why he cited the examples of some Northern Governors who testified that the disbanded SARS contributed significantly to the fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes in their States.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Governor reiterates his deep support for the agitation of a wholistic reform of the policing architecture which has commenced with the scrapping of SARS and will continue to advocate for further reforms such as the rapid implementation of community policing for which he has been a strong advocate.
October 18, 2020
Engage with communities on railway corridor Ameachi charges CCECC
By LLawrence Ekwonu
Minister of Transportation, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, has charged the China Civil Engineering Construction Company. CCECC, to engage residents of communities along the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor to create enough under and overpasses as a means of preventing accidents following the level of progress of work on the route.
Daybreak recalls that residents on the railway corridors have raised concerns over the impact of the project on their communities as a result of the non availability of underpass and pedestrian bridges for the locals which is likely to increase accidents and cut off many communities.
Transport minister, Amaechi has charged CCECC to correct the situation while on an inspection tour of the route to access the level of work done.
He said that communities along the rail corridor had written him many times, complaining of inadequacy of under and overpasses.
He added that the communities had also complained of erosion owing to work done on the standard gauge which left the grounds very high.
“These communities will write, when they write, I will vet it to the Permanent Secretary, the Permanent Secretary will vet to the Director (rail) and I wouldn’t hear about it again.
“We are being unfair to them because they gave us all the cooperation we wanted. These communities have been nice to us. Why do we want to visit them with what was not there before we came?”, he asked.
“what I want is for the engineers to take a study, village by village of what impact our rail line must have caused to these communities vis-a vis our Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA. He said.
Amaechi also warned the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC that ongoing works must be completed on time, preparatory for commissioning on January 1st, 2020.
October 18, 2020