The international broadcasting organisation known as CNN has criticized the roles played by the Lagos government regarding the handling of the recent panel report on EndSARS. This prompted the state government to lambasted the way and manner CNN covered the panel proceedings entirely and accuse the broadcasting organisation of “negative report to impact the government’s narrative” as reported by Politics Nigeria Newspaper. The CNN criticism is generally unfair considering the fact that the Lagos government responded to EndSars complaints than any other state government in the country. Also, an opportunity was provided for aggrieved members to narrate their experiences in which compensations were granted to them by the panel of inquiry constituted by the state government....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
The Lagos state government His Excellency Mr Sanwo Olu has personally visited hospitals after the incident to receive first-hand information about the general conditions of people affected by the Lekki incident. CNN’s report is a bit harsh and failed to input various contributions of the state government in restoring normalcy, peace and stability after the waves of destruction that befall the state during the recent mega protest.
It is important to note that the Lagos state government does not control the security forces, investigate or hold them accountable for their actions or operations. Only the federal government have the political power and legitimacy to hold the security forces accountable and influence their operations. The power of state governments is limited when it comes to national security. The minister of state for labour and employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, who happens to be a renowned lawyer and Human Rights activist, has recently emphasised this aspect.
To rebuild the commercial city of Lagos, the public must partner with the state government in order to sustain peace and stability across the state. Any act of hooliganism, violent agitation and illegal activities must be avoided. There is also a need for people to collaborate with security forces by reporting suspicious persons or activities so that proactive measures can be taken to tackle unforeseen events.