President Buhari begs for calm as nation is gripped by civil uprising

The Presidency on Wednesday appealed to Nigerians to remain calm while the Federal Government tries to implement the comprehensive reform of the Nigeria Police Force.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president, Femi Adesina, the presidency reeled out the steps taken so far by the federal government to address the five-point demands presented by #EndSARS protesters.

He said at least 13 states have established judicial panels of inquiry to look into complaints of police brutality by victims across the country.

The states, according to him, are Lagos, Kaduna, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Plateau, Edo, Nasarawa, Ondo, and Akwa Ibom.

Armed soldiers had on Tuesday attacked the protesters in Lekki area of the state.

An unspecified number of people were killed and others injured as the soldiers opened fire on the peaceful protesters.

Read also: Sporadic shooting reported in Abia as the police confront protesters

Adesina said: “The presidency appeals for understanding and calm across the nation, as the implementation of the reforms gathers pace at federal and state levels.

“The presidency wishes to reiterate the full commitment of the Buhari administration to the implementation of lasting police reforms in Nigeria.”

“President Muhammadu Buhari welcomes the promptness of these necessary sub-national actions, and reaffirms his commitment to supporting the state governments to ensure that justice is achieved for all victims of police brutality in Nigeria.

“Under the Chairmanship of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the National Economic Council at its meeting on Thursday, October 15, 2020, resolved to establish state-level Judicial Panels of Inquiry, to investigate allegations of Police brutality and ensure that all erring personnel are brought to justice.

“Prior to that, the President in June 2019 signed a Bill establishing the Police Trust Fund, to mobilize additional funding for the welfare and equipping of the Nigeria Police Force. Accrual of funding into the Fund, as specified in its enabling Act, has commenced.

“President Buhari in 2018 approved an increase in police salaries and the police personnel budget has seen a rise from N288bn in the 2018 Budget to N417bn in the proposed 2021 budget; an increase of 45 percent.

“Only on Tuesday, at the commissioning of the Nigerian Police Pension Fund Limited building, the President also reiterated continuous support for both serving and retired police personnel.

“The President has equally approved the rollout and funding of a new Community Policing Initiative, as part of a larger programme of police reform in Nigeria, aimed at rewriting the rules of engagement between the Force and citizens.

“President Buhari’s commitment to extensive police reforms should never be in doubt. The President in September 2020 signed the new Nigeria Police Act, the first comprehensive revision of the Police Act in decades.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now