The Lagos State Government has issued a stern warning to various opposing groups planning to embark on protests at the Lekki Toll Plaza on Saturday, advising them to shelve the plan. It is not an auspicious moment for such action, the State Government told the groups planning opposing rallies.

The position of the State Government was made known at a joint press conference held at the Press Centre on Thursday by the Attorney General of Lagos, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, and Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu.

The Government said it acknowledged the rights of the citizens to a lawful assembly and freedom to express their feelings as guaranteed by Section 39 and 40 of the Constitution, but it said the rights did not give any citizen the freedom to block highways and prevent other citizens from moving freely within the State.

Onigbanjo said the Government would not allow any group to push the State, once again, to the edge of carnage, strongly advising those organising the “Occupy Lekki Toll Gate” and “Defend Lagos” protests to desist from the planned action. He said the State Government’s respect for the citizens’ rights to protest should not be seen as a licence to break the laws, warning that any individual or corporate organisation that incites an action leading to the destruction of public and private properties would be prosecuted and be made to pay damages.

He said: “Attention of the State Government has been drawn to the planned protest scheduled for Saturday February 13, 2021 at the Lekki Toll Gate for and against the opening of the Admiralty Toll Gate. The State is aware of Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. However, such right does not permit the violation of the rights of other citizens in the State.

“While the State recognises the importance of exercising the rights to peaceful protests, the same cannot extend to blockage of roads or actions preventing other members of the public from enjoying their fundamental rights to move freely within the State. Any individual or corporate body that incites or condones any act leading to the destruction of public and private properties shall be prosecuted under the extant laws and in addition to any penalty the court might pronounce. Such person or body will be liable to compensate for any damage, which may arise as a result of the action or inaction of such person or body.”

The Attorney General also said the public health crisis occasioned by the spread of deadly variants of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) should discourage anyone attempting to assemble people for the planned protests, urging all groups to consider COVID-19 protocols that limit public gathering not to be more than 50 persons.

Onigbanjo, therefore, directed the State’s Police Command to stop opposing groups from holding rallies in Lekki and any other parts of Lagos.

Odumosu said the security intelligence gathered by the Police Command indicated the “Occupy Lekki Toll Gate” protest and planned counter rallies would degenerate into a breakdown of law and order, stressing that the police will not allow any group to carry out the action.

The police chief said adequate arrangements on the deployment of security forces had been put in place to stop any violent protest, gathering and procession in any part of Lagos, stressing that the Police Command would rise in protection of law-abiding residents from any form of the violence.

He said: “The Police Command has gathered credible intelligence that some hidden agents of destruction and shadow parties that orchestrated the last EndSARS violence have concluded plans to cause another mayhem in Lagos and spread the same to other parts of the country, tactically and spontaneously, like the recent violence.

“Premised on the available intelligence and due threat analyses carried out on the planned protest, the Police Command perceives such proposed protest as a calculated attempt to cause pandemonium and massive destruction of lives and properties under whatever guide; such will not be allowed to hold in Lagos.”

Odumosu appealed to the general public to advise their wards to ignore mobilisation for the protest and gathering in flouting the existing peace and security situation of the State. He said the police would resist the protest with necessary force, while respecting the rights of law-abiding citizens.

Omotoso said the steps taken by the State Government on the planned protest was not to take away the fundamental rights of the citizens, but to prevent re-enactment of the event that led to destruction of public and private assets last October.

The Commissioner sued for peace, urging the organisers of the planned protests and rallies to allow the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry conclude its investigation on what transpired between the military and EndSARS protesters.

“We believe this kind of tension and anxiety being brought forward by the planned protest will not allow the panel to do a thorough job. If the authorities allow the protest and counter rallies to go on, there would be a breakdown of order and Lagos is not ripe for such action. It is on this premise that the State Government is appealing to all parties to thread with caution. Both sides have the right to express their feelings, but the time is wrong,” Omotoso said.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passing of the first Civilian Governor of the State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.

Jakande, a renowned journalist and elder statesman, who governed Lagos State during the aborted Second Republic between 1979 and 1983, died on Thursday at the age of 91.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, on Thursday said the late Jakande will remain one of the best public office holders in the political history of Nigeria based on how he transformed Lagos State and Nigeria during his tenure as Honourable Minister of Works.

The Governor said Alhaji Jakande popularly referred to as ‘Baba Kekere’ brought a lot of development to Lagos State as governor between October 1,1979 and December 31, 1983 in line with the five cardinal programmes of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), founded by the late sage and former Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The Governor also described the former Minister of Works as an epitome of honesty, dedication and selflessness, who used his elevated positions for the betterment of the people he served.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the late Alhaji Jakande is one of the few Lagosians and Nigerian leaders that demystified politics by bringing governance closer to the people.

He said Jakande left with impeccable records in Lagos State and that is why he remains till date, a reference point for governors in Lagos and other parts of the country.

He said: “On behalf of the Government and people of Lagos State, I want to express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and associates of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande as well as members of the progressive community.

“No doubt, the death of Alhaji Jakande is a colossal loss to Lagos State and Nigeria. He made lots of positive impact and contribution during his lifetime to the growth of our dear State by introducing housing and educational programmes that targeted the poor, building new neighbourhood primary and secondary schools and providing free education for all.”

“Baba Jakande within his four years in office established the Lagos State University. His government constructed over 30,000 housing units,which were of great value to the masses.

“Having distinguished himself as ‘Action Governor’, Alhaji Jakande was appointed Minister of Works in 1993 where he replicated his developmental programmes, by building thousands of housing units in different parts of Nigeria as Federal Low Cost Housing Estates.

The Governor added that the late Jakande’s selling point is not only in politics but journalism, his chosen profession.

“Alhaji Jakande also made remarkable contributions to the media industry as a respected journalist and media manager. He used the power of the press to influence positive changes in the country’s social and political landscape.”

The Governor reminded Lagosians that the best way to immortalise ‘LKJ’ as late Alhaji Jakande is popularly known, is to ensure that good governance the deceased advocated spreads to every facet of the Nigerian society.

N’kay Amadi Reports

One of the functions of the NDDC according to the NDDC Establishment Act 2000 is to conceive, plan, and implement in accordance with set rules and regulations, projects and programmes for the sustainable development of the Niger Delta in every imaginable field of development best suited for the region.

However, this mandate is to be carried out “as an interventionist agency that will in conjunction with other tiers of government accelerate infrastructural and human development in the region”.

Citizens Quest in our search for the truth today visited the Niger Delta Regional Specialist Hospital (Cardiovascular and Orthopedic) situated at the old University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital site, on Hospital road in the heart of Port Harcourt City LGA and Nigeria Police Barracks Special Protection Unit-Base 6 Omagwa Along Port-Harcourt/Owerri expressway in Ikwerre LGA all in Rivers State. These are NDDC mega projects sited in Rivers State contrary to the avalanche of accusations and challenges Gov Wike threw at Prof Nelson Brambaifa Ag. MD NDDC, Mr Tekena Flag-Amachree Rivers State NDDC representative and their team during a courtesy visit to the Brick House (Government House PH) on 24/07/2019.

In his usual rugged style, the governor challenged the Commission to name one (1) mega project done by the NDDC anywhere in Rivers State or the other Niger Delta states since the Commission’s inception nineteen (19) years ago, sixteen (16) of the People’s Democratic Party PDP was in power both at the national and State levels where the governor was a key player.

He went further to say that the only mega project that could have been was the Mother and Child Hospital, a joint project between NDDC and the State Government. He accused the Commission of duping the State Government in the project funding to the tune of over three hundred million naira and threatened to drag the Commission to court if the money is not refunded within seven (7) days.

Despite the governor’s claims and accusations to the NDDC as per mega projects, CQ can name (3) mega projects in Rivers-State.

1. Niger Delta Regional Specialist Hospital (Cardiovascular), status 90% complete by CQ assessment.

2. Niger Delta Regional Specialist Hospital (Orthopedic), status 90%complete by CQ assessment.

3. Nigeria Police Barracks Special Protection Unit-Base 6 situated in Omagwa along Port Harcourt/Owerri expressway. Status 95% complete by CQ assessment.

The CSO of these mega hospital projects, Mr Collins who spoke with the CQ team, told us that the project has been in place since 2012. He prayed that the Commission will release funds to the contractors to mobilize back to site and complete the project. He opined that the project when completed will create employment opportunities for the Niger Delta Youth, curb crimes and make cardio and orthopedic healthcare accessible to those who need it and are mostly taken outside the state/country in search of specialist healthcare. In addition, Chief Oby Ndukwe the visionary of CQ bemoaned the state of the abandoned facility which was totally covered in soot and called on the state government and all responsible stakeholders in the health and environment sector to address the source of the soot emanating from local refineries amongst other possible causes of this hazardous air pollution.

Mrs Helen Marcus, a resident and petty trader also spoke to CQ and asked the agency responsible for the project to expedite action to finish the project so she can be employed to work in the hospital.

At the Police Barracks in Omagwa, a source who preferred to be anonymous told the CQ team that the project has been 95% complete since 2015 and asked the Commission to do the needful to finish and handover the project as the Nigeria Police are eager to take over the world class police facility and put it to good use.

It is also worthy of note that the presence of the Police in that area will go a long way to curb crime and guarantee the needed security for the citizens there.

The NDDC can do better in delivering sustainable development to the Niger Delta region given the enabling environment void of hostilities from state governments and stakeholders. The frequent change in the Board and Management by the Presidency is also a limiting factor to the Commission’s performance.

“Government is a continuum and should be allowed to function as such in order to deliver maximum dividends to the populace”.