Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said Nigeria needs urgent healing after the massive destruction that trailed the recent nationwide #EndSARS protests.
Osinbajo stated this at the Consultative Forum on Rebuilding Lagos and Inauguration of the Board of Trustees of Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund, which held in Ikeja, the Lagos state capital, on Monday.
Some of the dignitaries at the event were the Senate president, Ahmed Lawan, represented by Solomon Olamilekan, a senator representing Lagos West, in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Others were speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, governor of the Central Bank (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
Osinbajo said Lagos, like Nigeria as a nation was in need of healing, adding that “we recognise that the balm for a wounded society is truth and justice.”
“This is why judicial panels of inquiry have been established all across the country. Their mandate is to investigate cases of police brutality against citizens, where necessary compensate victims.
“Specifically, in Lagos the mandate of the inquiry has been expanded to include a full investigation of the Lekki toll gate incidents. This process has begun and all federal agencies and the armed services are participating actively as Mr. President said and I quote ”We will also ensure that all those responsible for misconduct or wrongful acts are brought to justice.”
“We have been through a very difficult time but all our moral traditions instruct us that character is forged in hardship. The things that truly strengthen us are gained in seasons of adversity.”
Speaking on special attention to Lagos, Osinbajo said “this is the state that leads by far in the collection of non-oil revenues. The bulk of VAT is generated here; of the 114 persons who pay self-assessed taxes of over N10 million, 112 of them live and work here in Lagos.
“The Lagos port whose Marina office was attacked generates the most revenue and is the busiest in the Nation. The Lagos airport is the busiest in Nigeria. In so many ways, our fortunes as a Nation are closely tied to the fortunes of this great state.
“But even the darkest of clouds bear a silver lining. These trying times offer an invaluable learning opportunity, a teachable moment, and it is the lessons we draw from this period that will shape our path going forward.
“But it is clear that the task of reconstruction goes beyond physical infrastructure or brick and mortar. There is a moral, social and ethical reconstruction to be undertaken as well.
He emphasised an urgent need to rebuild trust between the government and the governed; the vast majority of who are young persons, rebuild trust between law enforcement agents and the communities that they are meant to serve.
“It is now time to rebuild. It is time for the painful and costly task of reconstruction and rehabilitation. It is now time for the private sector, our international friends and partners, and all who love this city to make their contributions to the rebuilding and reconstruction effort.
He added tha after 70 years of the Police Act, Mr President signed the new reformed Police Act 2020 into law. The new law contains in many parts, components of a charter of the rights of citizens when being questioned.
“The President has also signed into law, the Police Trust Act, essentially to provide a source of extra funding for the police. We certainly cannot afford to alienate our young people who constitute the majority of our society and bear the burden of enterprise, resourcefulness and innovation required to propel our economy into the future.”
Speaking also, Governor Sanwo-Olu said, “following the violent aftermath of the ENDSARS protests – we constituted, by Executive Order, a Lagos State Rebuild Trust Fund, to be run by an 8-member Committee. As a follow-up, a bill will be sent to the State House of Assembly, to enshrine the Fund in the laws of the land, and give it the necessary backing to accomplish its mandate.
Sanwo-Olu appealed to National Assembly to take steps to set aside funds for the task of rebuilding and restoring Lagos in the 2021 Appropriation Bill being deliberated upon currently by the Assembly.
“This Fund does not necessarily have to be for Lagos alone, it can and should also take into consideration other states also impacted by the recent spate of violence,” he said.
The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, noted that the takeaway from the recent unrest in the country is that stakeholders in the public and private sector must address youths unemployment.
He stressed that key stakeholders in the Nigerian private sector under the auspices of CACOVID have brainstormed over ways to cushion the effect of the destruction from eroding confidence in the country’s economy.
He added that to support the government in enhancing the security of the country, CACOVID alliance have committed to the rehabilitation and rebuilding of all the 44 police stations that were damaged as a result of the unrest.
“If youths unemployment is left unchallenged, it can provide a breathing ground for our youths to engage in nefarious activities that could be harmful to the progress of our nation. Our youths have immense potential, energetic and if well handled can catapult our nation to the fore front of leading nation’s in the world.
“We must therefore seek to promote increasing policies that will equip our youths in the right skills that will support innovation, employment and wealth creation.
“I am pleased to note that CACOVID alliance will over the next week be unveiling a blue print that will details of our support that will positive affect household and businesses.
“This is in addition to mention that will support the creation of millions of jobs for our youths over the next five years.
Also, the Senate presiddnt, Lawan and House speaker, Gbajabiamila assured of Federal Government’s assistance, not only to Lagos, but other affected states.
