The federal government said it is currently engaging with the United Kingdom government over the recent EndSARS Protests in Nigeria.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama stated this while fielding questions from the State House Correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday.
Onyeama who was reacting to the meeting held at the British Parliament over the issue disclosed Nigeria has reached out to the UK government on the issue
Don’t forget that the meeting that took place was Parliamentarians and they don’t speak for the U.K. government which acts for the United Kingdom has also heard the side of the Nigerian government regarding everything that has happened.
“So, we have been in touch with them and engaging with them. And of course, as in any democracy, the members of parliament are able to also able to air their view.
“But what is important is that a balanced picture is made available to them before they take any decision.
He disclosed further that the southeast Governors have also committed to creating victims fund to compensate and help victims of violence.
According to him, “They are also to engage more systematically with the youths to address the agitations as a result of EndSARS and came up with a number of proposals in that context to see better funding of the police and other security agencies as a way to achieving the right goal in addressing the security offices”
He said the Governors were also very keen to ensure and guarantee the safety of all Nigerians living within the zone and also thanked the other parts of the country for assuring the safety of those from the South East living in other parts of the country.
“They said they will set up a mechanism for a constant dialogue with the youths and all the other stakeholders in the subregion”
He noted that Ndigbo appreciates the enabling environment created for them so that the root causes of some of the agitations could be addressed
“of course some of this enabling environment will be getting the economy back on track and they were supportive of the initiative of Mr. President in that regard. So all in all, it was an initiative the grassroots welcomed, they said it was the first time the Federal Government was engaging with the youths.
He disclosed that another stakeholders meeting was organized where all the Presidents General from the state of Enugu were invited in addition to youths and traditional leaders.
“The discussions looked at larger issues of the country, governance issues, and steps that could be taken to as it stabilized the polity and to build a framework for peace, stability, and development.
“It is a work in progress and it is all about building trust. The southeast Governors did address the issue of ethnicity in this whole situation and it was in that context that they committed to assuring the security of groups that are not from the zone of their protection and also reaching out beyond their zone to their counterparts to also ensure the security of South Easterners living in other parts of the country.
“But I think this also speaks to just the whole security apparatus supporting the security forces to be able to defend and protect Nigerians wherever they are within the country, I think that is really what it has to be about.
