Hunger protest: Protect lives, property, lawmakers tell Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other state governors to take action aimed at protecting lives and property amid the planned nationwide protest.

The PUNCH reports that some Nigerians are planning to protest against economic hardship in the country from August 1 to 10, 2024.

The demonstration, which is gaining traction on social media, has been scheduled to be held across all states of the Federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“State governments must do the needful calming frayed nerves and ensure protection of lives and property,” the Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, said at Thursday’s plenary session.

The lawmakers, in a ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ brought by Majority Leader, Noheem Adams, noted the devastation caused by the EndSARS protest of 2020 in Lagos and urged the governor to organise townhall meetings with major stakeholders to fashion out ways to calm the youth and those who plan to support the proposed protest.

One of the meetings, according to the motion of the House, should be held between the governor and elected political leaders including senators, members of the House of Representatives, and state lawmakers while a second meeting should be held with traditional rulers, religious leaders, heads of markets, those in the transport sectors and related stakeholders.

Obasa said Lagos was still grappling with the impact of the EndSARS protest just as he appealed to the youth to be patient with the government of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu which he noted was making an effort to see a better Nigeria that would benefit the citizens.

The speaker notes that Kenya is currently in a terrible situation adding that the crises in Sudan and Syria started in the same manner.

He commended the commissioner of police in Lagos, Adegoke Fayoade, for meeting with community heads over the planned protest.

Obasa called for an urgent meeting with all leaders, including religious, traditional, and related organisations in the state for discussion that would help dissuade the youth from engaging in the protest.

Other lawmakers who spoke during the debates urged parents to persuade their wards not to join the protest or allow themselves to be used to commit crimes.