In his address, President Muhammed Buhari has placed ban on protest throughout the federation and was quick to outline different measures his government has put in place to better the lives of Nigerians. Below is his full address.
Fellow Nigerians,
It has become necessary for me to address you having heard from
many concerned Nigerians and having concluded a meeting with all the Security
Chiefs.
2. I must warn those who have hijacked and misdirected the
initial, genuine and well - intended protest of some of our youths in parts of
the country, against the excesses of some members of the now disbanded Special
Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
3. On Monday 12th October, I acknowledged the genuine concerns and
agitations of members of the public regarding the excessive use of force by
some members of SARS.
4. The choice to demonstrate peacefully is a fundamental right of
citizens as enshrined in Section 40 of our Constitution and other enactments;
but this right to protest also imposes on the demonstrators the responsibility
to respect the rights of other citizens, and the necessity to operate within
the law.
5. As a democratic government, we listened to, and carefully
evaluated the five-point demands of the protesters. And, having accepted them,
we immediately scrapped SARS, and put measures in place to address the other
demands of our youth.
6. On approving the termination of SARS, I already made it clear
that it was in line with our commitment to the implementation of extensive
Police reforms.
7. Sadly, the promptness with which we have acted seemed to have
been misconstrued as a sign of weakness and twisted by some for their selfish
unpatriotic interests.
8. The result of this is clear to all observers: human lives have
been lost; acts of sexual violence have been reported; two major correctional
facilities were attacked and convicts freed; public and private properties
completely destroyed or vandalised; the sanctity of the Palace of a Peace
Maker, the Oba of Lagos has been violated. So-called protesters have invaded an
International Airport and in the process disrupted the travel plans of fellow
Nigerians and our visitors.
9. All these executed in the name of the ENDSARS protests. I am
indeed deeply pained that innocent lives have been lost. These tragedies are
uncalled for and unnecessary. Certainly, there is no way whatsoever to connect
these bad acts to legitimate expression of grievance of the youth of our
country.
10. The spreading of deliberate falsehood and misinformation
through the social media in particular, that this government is oblivious to
the pains and plight of its citizens is a ploy to mislead the unwary within and
outside Nigeria into unfair judgement and disruptive behaviour.
11. On the contrary, both our deeds and words have shown how
committed this administration has been to the wellbeing and welfare of citizens,
even with the steadily dwindling revenues, and the added responsibilities and
restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
12. Government has put in place measures and initiatives
principally targeted at youths, women and the most vulnerable groups in our
society. These included our broad plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out
of poverty in the next 10 years; the creation of N75 billion National Youth
Investment Fund to provide opportunities for the youths and the Micro, Small
and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Survival Fund, through which government is:
a. paying three months salaries of the staff of 100,000 micro,
small - and medium -
enterprises,
b. paying for the registration of 250,000 businesses at the
Corporate Affairs Commission,
c. giving a grant of N30,000 to 100,000 artisans; and
d. guaranteeing market for the products of traders.
13. These are in addition to many other initiatives such as;
a. Farmermoni,
b. Tradermoni,
c. Marketmoni,
d. N-Power,
e. N-Tech and
f. N-Agro.
14. No Nigerian Government in the past has methodically and
seriously approached poverty-alleviation like we have done.
15. With regard to the welfare of police personnel, the National
Salaries, Income and Wages Commission has been directed to expedite action on
the finalization of the new salary structure of members of the Nigeria Police
Force. The emoluments of other paramilitary services are also being reviewed
upwards.
16. In order to underscore the importance of education in
preparing youths for the future, this administration has come up with a new
salary structure and other incentives for our teachers.
17. Let me at this point reaffirm the Federal Government’s
commitment to preserving the unity of this country.
18. We will continue to improve good governance and our democratic
process, including through sustained engagement.
19. We shall continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well
as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected.
20. But remember that government also has the obligation to
protect lives and properties, as well as the right of citizens to go about
their daily businesses freely and protected from acts of violence.
21. To our neighbours in particular, and members of the
international community, many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing
development in Nigeria, we thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the
facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgment and making
hasty pronouncements.
22. In the circumstances, I would like to appeal to protesters to
note and take advantage of the various well-thought-out initiatives of this
administration designed to make their lives better and more meaningful, and
resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos
with the aim of truncating our nascent democracy.
23. For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national
security and the law and order situation. Under no circumstances will this be
tolerated.
24. I therefore call on our youths to discontinue the street
protests and constructively engage government in finding solutions. Your voice
has been heard loud and clear and we are responding.
25. And I call on all Nigerians to go about their normal
businesses, and enjoin security agencies to protect lives and properties of all
law abiding citizens without doing harm to those they are meant to protect. Let
me pay tribute to officers of the Nigeria Police Force who have tragically lost
their lives in the line of duty.
26. I would like to thank those state Governors, traditional and
religious leaders who have appealed for calm and restraint. I also thank youth
leaders who have restrained their followers from taking the law into their
hands.
27. This government respects and will continue to respect all the
democratic rights and civil liberties of the people, but it will not allow
anybody or groups to disrupt the peace of our nation.
Thank you all. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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