Public, Private schools remain shut as Lagos reviews curfew

The Lagos State Government has reviewed the curfew imposed on the state as restriction now begins from 8 pm to 6 am.

The State Government had imposed the curfew to restrict movement following the unrest witnessed in the State.

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According to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, all public and private schools are to remain shut till further notice.

Lagosians were also enjoined to plan their journey times as they go about their lawful businesses.

South-West Govs, Ministers call for probe

Meanwhile, the Governors of the South West States of Nigeria have called for full investigation into the Lekki shooting in Lagos with a view to ascertaining the veracity of the news items liberally circulated by some local media.

Security personnel had allegedly shot live bullets to disperse #EndSARS protesters who camped at Lekki toll gate plaza last week Tuesday night in a bid to enforce the 24hours curfew imposed on the State by the Governor.

As an aftermath of the shooting, some youths in the state went on rampage by destroying both public and private assets.

The South-West Governors and some Ministers were in Lagos on Sunday to commiserate with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu over the mayhem unleashed on the State by some hoodlums who hijacked the #EndSARS protests in the State.

The delegation of Governors and Ministers was received by Sanwo-Olu at the State House in Marina, where they viewed pictures of the violence before visiting some of the torched assets, including the Lagos High Court, the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) building, the Forensic Lab among others.

Led by the Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, Arakunrin O. Akeredolu the South-West Governors likened Lagos to a war zone, given the degree of destruction while they charged the relevant security agencies to investigate all cases of violence with a view to identifying the culprits.

“We are particularly worried that 48 hours, after the unfortunate incident at the Lekki toll gate by persons adorning military fatigue, there has been no definitive statement from the military authorities on the incident.

“Our anxiety becomes heightened by the categorical denial of the Governor of Lagos State concerning the deployment. No Governor has power to authorize deployment of military personnel in Nigeria,”

“Recent development leaves us with no other option than to believe that there may have been other reasons for the continued protests, well co-ordinated and funded.

“The spread of fake news and videos, which followed an allegation of shooting by some soldiers which claimed heavy casualty figure at the Lekki Toll Gate, is primarily responsible for the subsequent loss of lives and property,” he said.

While he condemned the destructions done by the arsons, he said, “This regression into savagery exposes our land as not only vulnerable, but susceptible to vile manipulations by elements keenly anxious to annihilate the South West and destroy our common heritage.

“We are deeply concerned with the ease with which public buildings, utilities, police stations and investments of our people have been burnt despite the proximity of security agencies in those areas,”

“The selective application of jungle justice raises suspicion as regards the real motive of the arsonists and vandals.”

He, therefore, appealed to the youths, especially those of South-West extraction, to be circumspect “lest they lend themselves to the evil schemes of those who want to destroy their land.

Akeredolu further stressed that the current happenings across the South West, especially Lagos State, have exposed dubiousness and complicity evidencing malice aforethought, while he called on the heads of all security agencies to be alive to their obligations to defend the country.

He also enjoined the youths to rise up to defend their land and the people against the diabolical incursions ravaging their space.

“What do we stand to gain destroying ourselves. We cannot continue to fold our hands and watch our heritage destroyed and our people suffer, We must engage, constructively,”

“As we await reports from relevant agencies and action of Government, we appeal to the young ones again to suspend the #ENDSARS protest, remain calm and vigilant,” he urged.

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), who said the visit was at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari expressed that words were not enough to describe the degree of damage done by the hoodlums.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila also visited Governor Sanwo-Olu, condemning the violence and destruction of properties in the State.

Accompanied by some members of the House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila appealed to the people to disregard ethnic coloration to the issue, promising that the lower chamber of the National Assembly would do all within its power to rebuild Lagos and other states affected by the violence.

Other Governors in the South-West delegation include Oyo and Ekiti States, Engineer Seyi Makinde, and Dr. Kayode Fayemi while other FEC members, who visited Sanwo-Olu include Minister for Sport and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare; Minister for Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of Industry, Trade and Development, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Minister of State for Health, Sen. Olorunimbe Mamora; Minister of State for Niger Delta, Sen. Omotayo Alasoadura, and Minister for Mines and Steel Development,
Olamilekan Adegbite.