Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the wordpress-seo domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/bcm/src/dev/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121 Citizen | Page 32 of 41 | Zikoko!
The #EndSARS protests have now entered its fifth day.
Across the country, protesters remain determined to put an end to all forms of brutality, which the rogue police force has taken a liking to. Now, these officers are responding to protests against police brutality with even more brutality and audacious disregard for human rights or lives.
On Saturday, October 10 2020, the police violently killed Jimoh Isiaq when they opened fire on peaceful protesters at Ogbomosho, a town in Oyo State.
Later in the evening, another set of Police officers arrested 15 protesters and detained them at the State Police Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Police at Eleweran Station, Ogun have detained about 15 peaceful #EndSARS protesters & refused access to lawyers:
Akinbayo Damilola Adeniyi Marcus Akinola Ibrahim Adele Sodiq Ifedayo orimolade Aikomo oluwatobi Damilola Odolowu Oladepo olateju Olayinka dayo Omogbolahan Oladayo
As the protests picked up renewed momentum on Sunday, October 11 2020, the police also continued their streak of being the arch-enemy of the people they vowed to protect. And they’re doing this by any means necessary.
In Abuja, protesters are being blasted with water cannons.
We will never understand why these agents have chosen to play the villain. But if the events of the last couple of days have shown us anything, Nigerians are ready to let them go.
On October 8, 2020, Nigerians trooped out in great numbers to protest the continued kidnapping, extortion, robbery and murder of Nigerians by members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, infamously known as SARS.
The Nigerian populace has historically been strange bedfellows with protests and demonstrations. The people, after several decades of iron-gloved military rule, had become particularly averse to protests. With careful consideration of past events, the people are not exactly to blame for their apathy towards civil disobedience.
Suggestions of protests and demonstrations are usually quickly shot down by others who think protesters are risking their lives for a country that will neither mourn nor remember them or the causes they died for. This is partly true. Countless extra-judicial killings of protesters have largely gone unpunished, with the names of the victims barely remembered after the fact.
Protester at #EndSARS protest.
Consequently, the outpouring of citizens to protest police brutality and corruption surprised many who had given up on protests as a means of societal change in Nigeria. Online and offline, Nigerians rallied round to bring global attention to the scourge. Celebrities globally have lent their voices to the movement and are urging their own governments to take action. Rallies and protests are springing up in Pretoria, New York, Washington, Dallas, Toronto, London, Dublin, Berlin, Cologne and Geneva.
In Nigeria, young people have taken to the streets in Ikeja, Lekki, Egbeda, Amuwo-Odofin, Agege, Idimu, Uyo, Delta, Ibadan, Ogbomosho, Kaduna, Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Jos and several other locations. It’s arguably the biggest uprising Nigeria has seen since the last military government’s reign ended in 1999. But why have these protests been so successful in a country where young people are often taught to avoid fomenting trouble with the government?
It is down to a number of reasons, some deliberate, others fortuitous. Perhaps the most important of these factors is the fact that the #EndSARS protests have no individual/organisation acting as a rallying point. The protest was near-spontaneous, sparked as a result of the brutal treatment young people received in the hands of the armed unit created to protect against armed robbers. There were rallying cries by a few individuals such as musicians Falz and Runtown, comedian Mr Macaronni and Rinu, an activist. However, these proved perhaps unneeded as young people had already taken to the streets in Ughelli, Delta State.
All of these helped galvanize the movement and spur protesters. There are three consequences of the absence of leadership of the protests. Firstly, it meant that no decisions were unilaterally made by any person, body or committee. The protesters conferred and agreed unanimously on the mechanics of the protest, such as where to march to and how to demonstrate. The second reason is tied to the troubling history of the people’s movements being sabotaged by protest leaders who have either been threatened, bribed or compromised in some other way by the government. The absence of a leader-cum-negotiator has proven invaluable to the EndSARS protests.
Lastly, the absence of a link to any political group, organisation or singular individual grants the EndSARS protests credibility in the minds of Nigerians. This has the effect of giving legitimacy to the body of protesters, encouraging other people to join the movement and lend their voices. There are no suggestions that the protesters are a rented crowd or have been partisan.
For the continued success of the movement, protesters must ensure that no leaders are selected to negotiate with the government. The organisation and coordination must remain fluid and no centre figure should emerge from the protests. In the same vein, any attempt to hijack the protests or align it with any political movement must be immediately rebuffed.
Once the aluta ball was set a-rolling, it was fed continued momentum by Nigeria’s millions of Twitter users who proceeded to trend the #EndSARS hashtag in all its variations. Within hours, celebrities such as Cardi B, Wale and Ian Wright had all tweeted in support of the movement.
People unable to physically attend the protests donated money and supplies and coordinated supply efforts across the protests. Money, water, drinks, snacks and face masks were distributed at several protest venues. Volunteers continuously helped clean up the protest venue. A handful of protesters spend the night at the venue, bidding leaving protesters a farewell and welcoming arriving protesters in the morning. Certain Nigerian brands such as Flutterwave, BuyCoins, Paystack, Zikoko and TechCabal have committed financial and human resources to the movement, while continually standing behind the protest, while Nigeria’s traditional financial and media institutions continue to remain eerily quiet.
Volunteers cleaning up the Lagos House of Assembly protest venue.
Perhaps the most important reason for the influence the EndSARS protests has wielded is the fact that there is only one simple, singular demand: disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad with immediate effect. Any other suggestion is counterproductive to the interest of the movement. Reforms have been suggested; the protesters are simply not having it. So strongly do the Nigerian youth believe in their cause that they have refused to be deterred or intimidated, despite the police firing bullets and teargas at protesters in Delta, Ogbomosho and the country’s capital city Abuja, leaving one dead and several injured.
The rogue unit of the police force has had a long history of being ostentatiously banned or reformed, without any real changes being made. The youth of Nigeria speak in a unitary voice; EndSARS or nothing.
Yesterday, 15 #EndSARS protesters were arrested and detained at the State Police Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Akinbayo Damilola, Adeniyi Marcus, Akinola Ibrahim, Adele Sodiq, Ifedayo Orimolade, Aikomo Oluwatobi, Damilola Odolowu, Oladepo Olateju, Olayinka Dayo and Omogbolahan Oladayo were arrested at the #EndSARS protests and denied access to their lawyers.
Police at Eleweran Station, Ogun have detained about 15 peaceful #EndSARS protesters & refused access to lawyers:
Akinbayo Damilola Adeniyi Marcus Akinola Ibrahim Adele Sodiq Ifedayo orimolade Aikomo oluwatobi Damilola Odolowu Oladepo olateju Olayinka dayo Omogbolahan Oladayo
While some online reports say they are being charged for murder, @adetolaov on Twitter disclosed that the Police made some allegations against them, and it will have to be cleared before they are released.
I just spoke to the Attorney General of Ogun state who has insisted to ensure they have access to their lawyers tomorrow morning. Seems the police has made some accusations against them, and that needs to be cleared before they can be released. Everything will unveil soon enough. https://t.co/keJu4UT9aY
Other people are working on the release of these protesters, and people are also working on the release of other protesters that were detained at other locations like the Mogban Police Station.
Lawyers are now on their way to Eleweran Police Station. We are also aware some protesters were detained at Mogban Station. The first step is for lawyers to have access to every protester detained. https://t.co/gwPLKqojcS
The EndSARS protests continue. Here’s a list of locations in Nigeria and other countries where you can join other people determined to keep the momentum going. We’ll keep updating this list as we confirm more locations.
Sunday, October 11, 2020
Nigeria
Lagos State
1. Location: Surulere Mall
Time: 11 AM
2. Location: Ajah Roundabout
Time: 10 AM
3. Location: Ikeja City Mall
Time: 3 PM
4. Location: Tafawa Balewa Square
Time: 10 AM
Ogun State
Location: Mowe Bus Stop
Time: 10 AM
Diaspora
Germany
Location: Nigerian Embassy, Neue Jakobstraße 4, 10179, Berlin
Time: 12 noon
United Kingdom
Location: Nigerian High Commission, Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5BX Closet station in Charing Cross
Time: 12 PM
United States
1. Location: Consulate General of Nigeria, 28 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10017
Time: 12 PM (EDT)
2. Location: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Washington DC. 3519 International Court, NW Washington, DC 20008
Time: 12 PM (EDT)
3. Location: 220 Skillman St #115, Dallas, TX 75243
Time: 5 PM
Ireland
Location: Embassy of Nigeria, 56 Leeson Park, St Peters, Dublin 6
If you’re Nigerian, there are two times you must not believe a promise. The first is when your Nigerian mother says she wants to help you save your money. The second is when the Nigerian government promises to reform the Police.
In this article, we profile all the times the Nigerian government have promised to reform SARS. But yeah, you know how that song ends. (Annoyingly short and leaves you wanting more like a Joeboy record.)
The IGP promised to restructure and reposition the unit for effective service delivery after Nigerians cried out about the human right abuses committed by SARS officials using the #EndSARS.
Under that arrangement, he also stated that a Commissioner of Police will be the overall head of the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide under the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja. He also gave out hotlines for people to report a violation of their human rights.
August 2018:
In August 2018, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, while acting as Vice-President, stated that he had directed the Inspector General of Police to “overhaul the management and activities of SARS”, with immediate effect.
Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, I have directed the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS. pic.twitter.com/xliQS1CRBN
This was after Nigerians complained bitterly about the injustice being meted out on them by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
Again, the Inspector General of Police ordered the re-organisation of SARS. In the new arrangement, the IGP overhauled SARS into FSARS and he stated that: “The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad previously under the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (FCIID) is henceforth to operate under the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja. The Commissioner of Police (FSARS) is answerable to the Inspector General of Police through the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations”.
He also ordered SARS operatives from conducting “Stop and Search” raids.
January 2019:
In January 2019, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu ordered the immediate “disbandment” of SARS.
I think we know how that ended.
June 2019:
In June 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the Inspector-General of Police, the Ministry of Justice and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to “work out modalities for the implementation of the report of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) within three months”.
Of course, in hindsight, we can see that the directive was audio. (You can find it in your favorite music streaming platforms.)
Following outrage by many Nigerians on social media, the “Presidency”, the President, the Vice-President and the Inspector-General of Police have again issued platitudes about SARS and so-called reforms.
All FSARS, STS, IRT & other Tactical @PoliceNG Squads operating at Federal, Zonal & Command levels are hereby BANNED from carrying out routine patrols & other conventional low-risk duties – stop & search duties, checkpoints, roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT pic.twitter.com/9xWQJhTDOP
I met again with the IGP tonight. Our determination to reform the police should never be in doubt. I am being briefed regularly on the reform efforts ongoing to end police brutality and unethical conduct, and ensure that the Police are fully accountable to the people. pic.twitter.com/yoLoZt7Et9
But in all of this, I think you have already formed a conclusion. Please, let me articulate it for you: So-called reforms hardly work in Nigeria, and the only thing that can stop this consistent human right violations is to scrap and end the Police unit called SARS.
We are populating an unending list of people who’ve been victims of Sars brutality.
Here are a few:
1)
she was my course mate, she was shot and killed by SARS while sitting in the passengers seat of her friends car in Abuja. #EndSARShttps://t.co/YloQ3o4IMn
Stella was raped and killed by SARS in Abuja a month ago. Just like many of us, she had dreams and aspirations. Despite the outrage and cries, nothing was said or done by the government. You turned deaf ears to the same people who elected you. Shame on the government!!! #EndSARSpic.twitter.com/RLqzo4kBxh
If you want to help out with this list, here’s a good place to start. To read more on #Endsars protest, start here.
Pls, tag us on social media for credible stories you find.
The #EndSars peaceful protests are still going on for the 3rd day in a row and Nigerians are refusing to back down until their demands to scrap the SARS police unit are met. Reports reaching us from social media say that earlier today (10/9/2020), the police opened fire on protesters in the city of Ogbomosho, Oyo state, killing two people and injuring others.
The police also shot at and hurled tear gas at protesters in Abuja yesterday (9/9/2020).
They are shooting at and using tear gas on peaceful protesters in Abuja. Some are injured now while trying to dodge and avoid bullets. This is the country's capital 😭😭
Today again, peaceful #EndSARS protesters have hit the streets across the country and all over the world. The demands are simple- The government has to do something immediately to stop the arm of police that ever so frequently brutalises and assaults Nigerian citizens.
While protesters are out marching, putting themselves at risk of gunshots and exposure to teargas, other people have taken to Twitter and other social media platforms to spread the word.
A few other individuals and organisations have taken things a step further, by creating donation platforms. These donations will go towards feeding and taking care of the protesters all across Nigeria.
This article provides some information on some of the individuals and bodies accepting donations for the #EndSARS protesters.
1. The Feminist Coalition
The Feminist Coalition is also a platform where you can donate. They shared a tweet with a link for donations. Here’s a link to the donation
Nigerian feminists have created Soro Soke, a digital platform to document the events and protect the legacy of the #EndSARS movement and the ones to come.
The team at Soro Soke have been receiving and processing images and stories from protest grounds and finding a home for them on Twitter, Instagram and the website.
You can submit your images and stories and do your part to preserve this historic moment in Nigeria’s history.
The protest continue for a third day today. If you would like to join the EndSARS protests, here are a list of places you can meet up to make your voice heard. We’ll keep updating this list with protest locations as they come up.
Nigeria
Abia State:
Location: CKC, Aba
Time: 10 am
Abuja: Berger
Location: US Embassy
Time: 7am
Akwa Ibom State:
Location: Nwaniba Roundabout, Uyo
Time: 9 am
Anambra State:
Location: Ekwueme Square
Time: 9 am
Location 2: DMGS Round About
Time: 10 am
Bayelsa State:
Location: Flyover, Azikoro
Time: 10am
Cross River
Location: Mary Slessor Roundabout, Calabar
Time: 10 am
Delta State
Location: Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba
Time: 10 am
Edo State:
Location: Ugbowo, Uniben Main Gate.
Time: 10 am
Enugu State
Location: Okpara Square
Time: 7am
Ekiti State:
Location: Fajita Park, Ado-Ekiti
Time: 9 am
Kaduna State
Location: Lord Lugard Hall
Time: 10 am
Kwara State:
Location: Tanke Junction, Ilorin
Time: 9 am
Location 2: Challenge
Time: 9am
Lagos State:
Location 1: Lagos House of Assembly
Time: 9 am
Location 2: Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge
Time: 10 am
Location 3: Festival Mall, Amuwo-Odofin
Time: 9 am
Location 4: Itamaga, Ikorodu
Time: 8 am
Location 5: UNILAG Gate
Time: 11 am
Location 6: Alimosho Local Government
Time: 9am
Location 7: Egbeda
Time: 9 am
Location 8: NPF Area Command HQ at Charley Boy Bus Stop, Gbagada
Time: 10 am
Plateau State:
Location: Old Airport Junction, Jos
Time: 10 am
Ogun State:
Location: Shoprite, Before Bible College, Sango Ota
Time: 8 am
Location 2: Isale Eko, Sagamu
Time: 9am
Oyo State
Location 1: Oroki Junction, Oyo Township
Time: 8am
Location 2: J Allen Junction, Dugbe
Time: 9am
Location 3: Apata Market
Time 9 am
Location 3: Ogbomoso
Time: 10 am
Rivers State:
Location: Pleasure Point, Port Harcourt
Time: 9 am
Diaspora
Canada
Location: Dundas Square, Toronto
Time: 9 am
Germany
Location: Nigerian Embassy, Berlin. Neue Jakobstraße
Time: Sunday 11th October, 12pm
Location 2: Kolner Dom, Cologne, Germany
Time: Monday 12th October, 4pm
Ireland
Location: Embassy of Nigeria, Dublin
Time: Sunday 11th October, 2pm
Switzerland
Location: UN Headquarters, Geneva
Time: Sunday 13th October, 10am
United Kingdom
Location: Nigerian High Commission
Time: Sunday 11th October, 12pm
United States of America
Location 1: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Washington DC. 3519 International Court, NW Washington, DC 20008
Time: 12 pm
Location 2: Consulate General of Nigeria, New York
Time: Sunday October 11, 9am
Location 2: 9220 Skillman St #115, Dallas, TX 75243
Yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari spoke out for the first time on the #EndSARS protests (he actually tweeted).
I met again with the IGP tonight. Our determination to reform the police should never be in doubt. I am being briefed regularly on the reform efforts ongoing to end police brutality and unethical conduct, and ensure that the Police are fully accountable to the people. pic.twitter.com/yoLoZt7Et9
He stated that the there is a determination to end the Police, and that he is being briefed regularly on reforms to end the police brutality and unethical conduct, and to ensure that the Police are fully accountable to Nigeria.
Where Have We Heard This Before?
The thing is, we have heard this promise before. The Nigerian government says they will reform the Police and then nothing happens once the people’s anger dies down.
In fact, the last thing you want to do is hold to on to a promise from the Nigerian government. They over-promise and under-deliver, every time.
What Must Government Do?
The Federal Government must actually #EndSARS. “Reforms” can come later, but every operative working under the SARS unit must be drafted somewhere else, with the SARS unit scrapped.
People have completely lost trust in SARS, and it is impossible to police people that have lost trust in a security unit. So, the government can talk about reforms once SARS has ended. But it must end, first.
Dear Mr President, if this is so I would like to offer my 10 years+ experience of policing abroad and share ideas I have w/ @policeng on how we can make #EndSARS a reality. Until then I will continue to join my fellow Nigerians in peaceful protest, until we see change. https://t.co/QF0lhl0OfC
After the series of #EndSARS protests across states in Nigeria yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari finally addressed Nigerians through a series of tweets sent out from his Twitter handle. The tweets were posted at 9:41 PM. Here’s what he said:
I met again with the IGP tonight. Our determination to reform the police should never be in doubt. I am being briefed regularly on the reform efforts ongoing to end police brutality and unethical conduct, and ensure that the Police are fully accountable to the people. pic.twitter.com/yoLoZt7Et9
The IG already has my firm instructions to conclusively address the concerns of Nigerians regarding these excesses, & ensure erring personnel are brought to justice. I appeal for patience & calm, even as Nigerians freely exercise their right to peacefully make their views known.
The vast majority of men and women of the Nigeria Police Force are patriotic and committed to protecting the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians, and we will continue to support them to do their job.
I met again with the IGP tonight. Our determination to reform the police should never be in doubt. I am being briefed regularly on the reform efforts ongoing to end police brutality and unethical conduct, and ensure that the Police are fully accountable to the people.
The IG already has my firm instructions to conclusively address the concerns of Nigerians regarding these excesses, & ensure erring personnel are brought to justice. I appeal for patience & calm, even as Nigerians freely exercise their right to peacefully make their views known.
The vast majority of men and women of the Nigeria Police Force are patriotic and committed to protecting the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians, and we will continue to support them to do their job.
The general response to this update from the president is that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) should be scrapped, not reformed.
The protest continues today. Here are some updates as posted on Twitter.
News going round that some Sars officers are still on the streets harassing and threatening youths is the highest level of disregard and we must show them that we mean business this time!! The government must listen to us!!! #EndSARS
Earlier today, Nigerians protesting the brutality of the SARS police unit moved the protest in Lagos from the entrance of the Lagos House of Assembly to the Lagos Ibadan Expressway because it is the primary link and major route to other parts of the country.
Lagos-Ibadan expressway is on lockdown.
No truck is leaving or entering Lagos! No car is leaving or entering Lagos!
With the road still blocked, more policemen arrived in riot gear.
Disu Olatunji, commander of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) was also present.
One of the protest organisers, Twitter user @SavvyRinu put out a message informing protesters in Lagos that the 72 hour protests have ended due to certain resolutions that’ll be announced later today.
I’d like to tell all protesters in Lagos that our 72 hours #LagosProtests has ended, based on certain resolutions which will be announced later tonight.
And I, @mrmacaronii, @TemiOanu along with other brave protesters have left the State HOA & now tiredly on the road home.✊🏾
This is it! There is no doubt that Nigerians are absolutely sick and tired and have lost faith in the existence of SARS. Protests that broke out in Lagos state earlier today are now moving outward to continue at Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The Lagos-Ibadan expressway is an important landmark as it serves as the primary link from Ibadan to Lagos. It is also the major route to the northern, southern and eastern regions of the country
As Nigerians everywhere are pouring out and speaking against years of SARS oppression, harassment and brutality, it is baffling that the President of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces haven’t so much as said anything about the unfolding event. This hasn’t gone unnoticed, and as #EndSARS and similar hashtags are gaining traction on Twitter, a new hashtag — #BuhariResign — is trailing them.
Feel free to sneak in #BuhariResign since he's deaf and dumb to our cries for #EndSARS let's get both to number 1 & 2 on worldwide trend. No sane leader of a touchy nation like Nigeria would be silent for up to an hour but he's been silent for over a week
Good job guys!! Now it has set, this shows we are no longer the lazy, cowards and irresponsible youths like we've been tagged by our corrupt leaders. Gradually we are setting in to place things right, from #EndSARS to #EndBadGovt … E go shock una e remain small. #BuhariResignpic.twitter.com/cIyCugm5zO
Nigerians are demanding an end to police harassment and brutality, and have taken to the streets to protest peacefully. Here are some of the locations where these protests are happening:
The EndSars protest has been going on around the country throughout this week. While the protests have been largely peaceful, law enforcement agencies seem not to be on the same page with Nigerian citizens. From allegation of intimidation to even tear-gassing protesters, it’s been a weird week.
To better understand the why of the protest, let’s start with the history of Sars. The special antirobbery squad (sars) was created to protect Nigerian citizens after a wake of unprecedented armed robberies in the country. To prevent armed robbers from recognizing them, they wore plain clothes, carried guns, drove unmarked vehicles and put the fear of God in armed bandits. Their success made them the heroes of the people.
What changed?
However, as the autonomy of sars increased, things got out of control:
Shall we create a thread that catalogues alleged police brutality incidents in Nigeria? Please reply this tweet with any incident you have personally experienced, come across on your timeline or seen anywhere else on the Internet.#EndSARs#ReformPolice
In the past, Nigerians banded together to protest against this brutality and this prompted the Nigerian Government’s promise to either reform or scrap Sars, yet, nothing was done.
Three years ago Nigeria’s police chief re-organised SARS after public condemnation about the violence that came with their operations. That change has done nothing for Nigerians and today many are still in danger. #EndSarsProtests
For the longest time, their activities largely went unchecked. However, constant stories of citizen harassment kept springing up in the news. This then led to a wave of agitation by Nigerians that enough is enough. And thus, started a wave of calls for a fresh peaceful protest.
This has gone long enough and now we MUST take action! I'll be leading a protest to #ENDSARS on Thursday, October 8th 2020.
They MUST listen to us, they MUST make/effect REAL and VISIBLE changes! Empty promises won't work this time!!!
Protesters slept in the cold without any protection.
#EndSARS Apart from killing us, the @PoliceNG PPRO has taken to lying to international agencies in Canada that our tents has been returned.
As of 10.05am this morning, our tents have not being returned. We were left to sleep on the bare road without protection from rain & wind pic.twitter.com/reGp4qEq1V
2. Nigerians have made donations to feed protesters.
We're at 1.3m now. Thank you! We have a lot of the money left over after buying food so I'll give an account of what we're doing with that asap including getting some to the people who have been injured. @Mosopemi went to see the lady who got shot at the hospital. https://t.co/STSQu4cJTR
3. There was an emergency session today at the Lagos state house to discuss the way forward.
There's apparently an emergency session to be held at the Lagos House or Assembly at 9am to address some of the issues. (The speaker told them earlier in the morning) And a few protesters are supposed to be invited in, so we'll see if that happens. #EndSARSProtest
For now, as we wait for things to unfold. You can help by either joining a protest or talking about it. To find out how to help, this article here and here are good places to start from.
#EndSARS protests are going on in different locations around Nigeria right now. Nigerians are going out to speak about injustice by the police, killings, extortion and much more.
At the protests going on in different locations, protesters have come on Twitter to cry for help: They’re being teargassed and shot at.
The Nigerian experience is physical, emotional, and sometimes international. No one knows it better than our features on #TheAbroadLife, a series where we detail and explore Nigerian experiences while living abroad.
Today’s subject on Abroad Life is a woman who left Nigeria seven years ago. She’s lived in Scotland and England so far. She talks about how leaving religion made all her friends cut her off, and how she’s grown past the idea of living in Nigeria.
First things first, how long have you been in the UK?
I came to the UK for college in 2013, but I was in Scotland for about a year. In 2014, I started undergrad in London. 2017 to 2018 was my master’s, I went back to Nigeria for a year to do NYSC. I got married in Nigeria, and I moved back this year. So that’s roughly seven years.
Did you initially move with your family?
All my siblings were in the UK by the time I moved.
How did you feel when you started living in Scotland?
In college in Scotland, you’d see girls with purple hair, tiny shorts, crop tops. Scotland is cold and I don’t know how they managed to pull that off. Before I moved to the UK, I had done a year of undergrad atin Niger Delta University (NDU). There, you couldn’t wear sleeveless clothes past the gate. The security man would embarrass you. Another weird thing in Scotland was professors and teachers telling us to call them by their name.
Culture shock?
Definitely. During orientation, I met a bunch of people, and we became friends in the first week. There was an Indian, a Pakistani, a Russian, some Columbians and some Scottish people in our squad. It was in bonding with these friends I realised that once you’re out of Nigeria, you need to watch the way you speak. There are some things you’ll randomly say in Nigeria that you can’t say here because they’re not “progressive.”
Did you have an incident?
Yes. One time in college, I was talking about God with a friend, and her friend was there. She was Muslim, I was Christian, and he didn’t believe in God. I remember saying something along the lines of “Well, I won’t discriminate against you if you don’t believe in God,” and the atheist guy got a very bewildered look on his face, like “What does that even mean?”
Haha. Did you say you “were” Christian?
Yes, but leaving religion wasn’t due to culture shock. I blended into British culture as much as I could. My religion was part of my social life. When I left Scotland for England, all my major friends for at least one year were church mates. It was a lot of fun. We used to go out to a lot of parties and clubs a lot. It was great. But I was already getting some progressive ideas.
Leaving religion was because of religion itself. I started dating my husband when I was religious. I used to be a Jehovah’s Witness. In 2018, one of our big conventions was coming up, and at that point I had already red flags with religion. I had questions. So I decided that I was going to listen and study this time during the convention and let the word dig into me and all of that. It was that extra listening that messed everything up. Everything just started sounding very very silly.
It was a three-day program and I was supposed to invite my husband to part of the third day, but I couldn’t because I was just there thinking “If he hears any of this, he’s going to think I’m crazy.”
That was the beginning of the end. I started researching and watching a bunch of videos and that was it. Apart from when I moved to Nigeria and had to make my mum happy and all of that, that convention was the last time I stepped into anything close to a Kingdom Hall.
How did that change your perception of life?
First off, I lost my social circle because everyone cut me off. After that, it was just an extra fear of death. Before, I used to believe in resurrection after death. But now I had to accept that it was just a final sleep.
Even till now?
Yes. But I channel those thoughts into loving more and appreciating life. Because I only have one, I might as well make the most of it. I stopped restricting myself to opinions and views I had in the past. I just owned it and then I reconnected with some old friends. Leaving religion was scary, isolating and free.
That’s cool. What’s it like living in England?
I live just outside London. It’s been weird because of Covid-19 and lockdown so everything is on hold. When we moved, we went to London a lot because London is 30 minutes from where we are if you use a train. We would go to the theatre, restaurants, or shows. We saw Dave Chapelle live. I slept.
Then we went into lockdown. During lockdown, I started baking and my husband started working from home. So we would be home 24/7. We would bake, eat, sleep, watch a movie, and record videos for our YouTube channel.
What kind of videos do you make?
We review Nollywood movies.
I’m also job hunting.
How’s that going?
Very stressful.
I started job hunting when I got here. Covid-19 was teasing, but it wasn’t that deep. I was applying for jobs at universities because that’s kind of the space where I want to be. When lockdown happened and the schools closed, the jobs went on hold too. There was really nothing to do so I put my job searching on hold. A couple of months ago, I started applying again, so many people have become unemployed as well so the job market is full.
Do you think it could be harder for you to find a job because you’re not British?
Not right now. Before I went back to Nigeria, I was job hunting and a lot of my problems were because I needed my visa to be sponsored. I almost got some jobs but because I did not have residence and they couldn’t sponsor my visa I lost the opportunities. But now they don’t need to sponsor my visa because I have a spouse visa.
Wait. Please explain that for Nigerians like me who don’t understand.
When you’re on a student visa, you can switch to a work visa if you get a job and the company is willing to sponsor your visa. They’re not paying money for it or anything. They’re just saying “This person is in the UK because they work for us.”
Not every company has a sponsorship license and getting one is not so easy. So they would rather just interview and hire a lot of home and EU people. But my husband is a resident here, so after we got married, I got a spouse visa which means I’m technically a resident as well.
Does it mean you can stay there forever?
Something like that. When my visa expires in about three years, I need to apply for an extension, and then after the extension, I need to apply for my resident visa. British people will always look for a way to eat your money for you to stay.
What are the chances that all of this will work out?
Very high. As long as you’ve gotten your first spouse visa, you’ll get the second one, except they have reason to believe that you and your spouse are not really married. It’s easy from there on. You’ll get your citizenship in about 5 years.
Nice, so you’ll be a British citizen soon. Does that excite you?
I don’t think about it a lot. I just want it for the passport. I want to travel. Visa applications are the worst. I feel I wasted my uni years studying instead of travelling. I had a friend who said she was feeling stressed so she went to Italy for a day. You can’t do that unless you have a visa, but having the red passport is a beautiful thing.
I can’t wait to start travelling. Tickets are actually very cheap. The last time I went to Paris, a round trip ticket was about £60. I want the freedom of the passport.
What would make you come and live in Nigeria again?
I’ll only come back and live in Nigeria if there was a war in England I can’t go anywhere else.
I don’t hate Nigeria or anything, but being there really stresses me out. When I moved back to Nigeria for a year, I didn’t feel like I really fit in anymore.
Why?
I was biting my tongue on a lot of stuff even the things that I decided to talk about would have my mother freaking out.
I like to consider myself as one of the most benign feminists ever, but in my area in Nigeria my views were considered too extreme. I would say something simple and the older ones would be losing their minds.
I did NYSC, but there are parts of it that were kind of a humiliating experience and that just killed the whole Nigerian experience for me. Imagine someone inspecting my NYSC uniform and telling me to turn around or someone giving me a blade to cut my NYSC uniform because they don’t like it.
It sounds silly but those are things that put me off from coming back to live in Nigeria. I can fight for my rights here with my chest, but you can’t do that in Nigeria because they will mess you up. Imagine trying to claim that you know your rights with a Nigerian police officer. I think I’ve taken myself away from that culture and going back into it will be hard.
I also have learnt to dissociate myself from the idea that I have to be smart because someone might be trying to cheat me and I don’t want to have to learn that again.
What do you miss about being in Nigeria?
My friends and my family.
What’s the best thing about living in the UK?
Freedom. I feel more like myself if that makes sense.
And I don’t have to fight to go to the market.
EndSARs is a thing. Again.
There comes a time when everyone must take a stand to defend what they believe in and speak out against what they don’t. In Nigeria, it’s the sheer abuse of human rights perpetrated by a special unit of Nigeria Police Force — SARS. One thing is clear: these officers have become what they were created to fight.
As the situation has yet again reached a tipping point, Nigerians are taking a stand and trooping out in numbers to demand an end to this injustice. This is the fight of our lives. And you should join the protests.
It’s okay if you can’t make it to the frontlines. However, you can still do something to lend a voice, and you can do it all from your phone.
1. Get some context
If for some reason, you are not sure what these protests are about, you should get up to speed ASAP. Read up everything you can find about the evolution of SARS, their long history of human abuse, the unlawful arrests and detention, extortion and deaths. Hell, read every resource you can find. This article is a good place to start.
2. Engage with EndSARS posts and hashtags on social media
People on the protest grounds will be posting live updates and they will be relying on you to share as much as possible. You can’t let them down. Share as many posts as you can find. Do your part to push and trend the hashtags.
It’s alarming how elected officials have largely kept quiet about this development. We elected these reps for a reason and they need to step up. You can make them step up. Let them know how dire the situation has become. Find a database of their contact information below.
Shine Your Eye also has a list with contact details of elected officials.
4. Volunteer to be someone’s emergency contact
If you personally know anyone who is going out to protest, ask to be their emergency contact. They might need you.
5. Donate money if you can
You can also help with money. If you have friends out in the field, you can show your support by sending them money. Chances are that they will need it.
Also, there is an account you can send a donation to. Please do that if you can.
So @Mosopemi is making breakfast for the 50 or so protesters who are going to be in Alausa overnight. It's a small gesture, but if you'd like to help, please donate or volunteer to serve them. The cost will be 40 – 50k and you can donate to: 0120009843 GTB Mosopefoluwa Odeseye
#EndSARS: We’re joining the #EndSARS movement. You should too.
In late 2018, we published an article, Fifteen Things You Must Budget For If You Live In Nigeria. One of the compulsory things to budget for was Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS): ‘Settling police so they can release your friend they carried for no reason: They said because he was using an iPhone he must be a yahoo boy.’
When Alex* and his friends were stopped a few months later, it was for similar reasons: they had iPhones, had a nice car and were dressed a little too flashy for young men. This is one of many stories, documented and undocumented. It didn’t start in 2018, or 2017 — for a long time, we young Nigerians have had to negotiate our freedom, we’ve been told that our lives are worthless and simply existing meant that we were likely to die. Between 2018 and now, there have been several stories, several innocent lives lost for nothing and yet, our government remains mute.
Our homepage currently.
On October 3rd, SARS shot and killed a young man in Ughelli, Delta State. This sparked a fresh wave of tweets, protests and stories. The goal is the same across board: We want the government, namely Buhari, Yemi and his cohorts to do something and not just sit on their high horses; we want them to #EndSARS.
As a publication at the center of telling stories that matter, stories of young Nigerians and how they navigate life, we are standing in allegiance with this battle and making it our priority.
In the past few days, we have shared stories about the brutality young men and women have faced at the hand of SARS, we have published stories on the history of SARS, how the police is harassing protesters and reported news on the government’s inactions. Now we’re going to do more. For the rest of the day, we’ll be pausing publication of our usual daily stories. This means, outside of our Abroad Life flagship, there won’t be any other regular Zikoko articles or quizzes. We’ll be sharing only stories related to SARS — how you can help, where you can go to protest, what you need during the protest and other useful information. Through our social media platforms, we’ll also be covering the protest live. So follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more updates.
If there’s any information you think is important for us to cover ASAP, please let us know.
The Special Anti Robbery Squad is a unit of the Nigerian police force originally designated to counter the spate of armed robberies in the country. In a wild twist, the SARS unit has persistently been in the news nationwide, accused of harassing, extorting, kidnapping, raping, maiming and killing Nigerian citizens, particularly younger people.
In what seems to be a recurring pattern, the Inspector General of Police and the federal government have repeatedly promised to reform the police unit and announced bans on SARS operations but these have so far yielded nothing. Regularly, grueling accounts of sour experiences with SARS surface on the internet.
The protesters have repeatedly demanded that out-of-control armed police unit be completely scrapped.
Dear @MBuhari sir. On behalf of all the youths in this country, with all due respect sir, we are giving you 24hours to announce the proscription of F-SARS, we shall be shutting down the airport road if you don't address us, WE ARE NOT GOING BACK!! #EndSARSProtest#EndSARS
In an interview with Channels TV, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Police Force, Frank Mba, had suggested that there were subsersive elements who wanted SARS scrapped for their selfish benefits.
It remains to be seen how young citizens clamouring for the right to live their lives freely without threat to life or harassment are subversive elements.
The Lagos State House of Assembly has also joined the call on the Federal Government to #EndSARS
BREAKING: The Lagos House of Assembly has called on the Nigerian government to scrap the notorious Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) of the Nigeria Police Force, and for an end to the harassment, extortion, and intimidation of Nigerians.#EndSARS#EndSarsProtestspic.twitter.com/fnHpwuetAR
So far, the protesters have had one clear, unified message the complete scrapping of SARS and a reform of the Nigerian Police Force
GUYS, THE ENTIRE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE IS DANGEROUS TO NIGERIANS. IT'S NOT JUST SARS. SARS IS A BODY OF THE POLICE. THEY'LL END UP GIVING THEM ANOTHER NAME. #EndSARS#EndSarsNow#EndPoliceBrutality
Nigerians all over the country are taking a stand by going out on the streets to protest the unending brutality of the police. The #EndSARS movement is growing, and more people are joining their voices to speak up and demand police reform.
If you missed any of the events that have taken place so far, this article does a good job of breaking it down.
There are more peaceful protests scheduled to go on today, and in case you want to go out to join, here are a few things you’ll need to know and have.
1. Dress comfortably
A shirt with long sleeves, some jeans and a pair of sneakers are ideal for protest situations. You want to make sure that you’re dressed for mobility in case you need to run. You’re also not going to be in the most comfortable situation, so you need to at least have comfortable clothes on.
2. Wear a facemask
Don’t forget that we’re still in the middle of a pandemic. Remember to take as many precautions as you can.
3. Get a power bank
You’ll need a power bank for many reasons. First, you want to broadcast and share as much as you can for people who can’t attend the protests to re-share. Your phone needs juice. But more importantly, you’ll need a power bank so that if your phone dies, you won’t get stranded and be totally unreachable. If you have a “small phone” keep it on you.
4. You’ll need water and some snacks
Stock up on water. You’ll need lots of it for yourself and for other protesters. Some energy bars, biscuits and chocolates will also go a very long way.
5. Get an umbrella
The weather forecasts for a few places around Nigeria where the protests are happening, like Lagos, predict that there will be rain today and tomorrow. Get a small umbrella and have it handy.
6. A bandana might be useful
If something goes wrong, you might need to cover your nose or your eyes. Not everyone has a gas mask. A bandana might be a useful alternative.
7. Keep in touch with people outside – Share a live location.
You want your family and friends who are not at the protests to know your movements, whereabouts and condition. Communicate frequently. Share your live location on WhatsApp.
8. Have a valid means of ID
Carry around something you can show as ID. Your Drivers License, International Passport and National ID card are valid means of ID.
9. Hold some cash
For emergency purposes, you’ll need some cash.
9. Carry a backpack
A backpack will be very useful to store everything you’re carrying around. If you have one, carry it.
For your safety, please ensure the following:
Avoiding physical harm is important, but don’t forget to be on the look out for data collection efforts on protesters or anyone showing support for #EndSARSNow in order to target them for punishment at a later date.
Both online and offline. Watch out for attempts to gather data.
On the digital protection side: When you take pictures from the protests, screen shot it first before posting. That erases the metadata: location, phone id etc & prevents tracing.
— Queen Pearlé| Yoncé of Tech Policy (@wayzigway) October 9, 2020
Stay safe out there, folks!
Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.
Young people in Lagos, Nigeria stayed up all night to protest an end to the police brutality caused by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The heroes!!! Some of them you might or might not even know! But they have stayed up all night to send a message to the world! I hope the message is loud and clear!!!! We still dey!!! ALUTA CONTINUA 💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/GV6bJ4cmpq
We are still here!!! Starting again this morning 9:00am!!! We are right in front of the Lagos house!!! Join us and let us save whatever is left of our future!!! It’s not easy but let’s give it a try!! We the Youths must rise!!! #ALutaContinua#EndSARSProtest
They are also keeping an eye on a scheduled meeting of the Lagos State House of Assembly this morning. A few of the protesters are supposed to be invited into the sitting.
There's apparently an emergency session to be held at the Lagos House or Assembly at 9am to address some of the issues. (The speaker told them earlier in the morning) And a few protesters are supposed to be invited in, so we'll see if that happens. #EndSARSProtest
Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has perhaps the biggest trust problem in Nigeria. The public has completely lost trust in this “Squad”, and it is clear that the unit needs to end.
Take note that till today, the President has still not said a word about the SARS killings and the #EndSARS protests. Meanwhile, the Governor of Lagos State did issue a statement but we have yet to see any tangible action in that regards.
Meanwhile, scores of young Nigerians who were protesting this night were harassed by officers of the Nigerian Police Force just yesterday night, the very people who these youths are protesting against.
Look, the government really needs to do something about SARS. And by something Nigerians mean that it should be scrapped. Enough is enough.
Men of the Nigerian Police Force have reportedly harassed and attacked EndSARS protesters who were demonstrating in front of the government house tonight.
We are in danger, World!
Let it be known that we are currently being harassed by the @PoliceNG
They want to kîll us! We will not ask for help from anyone! So nobody should do anything.
Unidentified policemen reportedly seized the protesters tents where they have been camped for two nights. They were also said to have threatened the protesters if they did not disperse
At around 10 pm, the streetlights in the vicinity of the protesters campsites were switched off, blanketing the area in darkness.
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Representatives, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa appeared on the scene to placate the protesters and disperse them, according to a video uploaded by a Twitter user.
Despite assurances from the protesters that the protest was peaceful, the police allegedly pointed rifles and harrasing protesters, ordering them to leave.
These events follow the aftermath of a video which surfaced online showing men who appear to be members of the Special Antirobbery Squad (SARS) shooting and killing a man in Ughelli, Delta State on the 4th of October, 2020. Protests have sprung up in various locations over the country, with protesters urging the Federal Government to proscribe the armed group notorious for the rape, kidnap, robbery and murder of Nigerian citizens.
Notably silent are the members of the mainstream media who have failed to report on the events unfolding between the police and protesters at the Government House,
The populace has long complained about the excesses of the arm of the Nigerian Police Force which appears to have lost control over the division.
Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.
#EndSARS protests are currently ongoing across different cities in Nigeria. Remember that many celebrities had tweeted that they will be leading #EndSars protests.
I will be at the peaceful #EndSARS protest taking place on Thursday Oct 8 by 10AM. We take off from Lekki Phase 1 toll gate! cc @iRuntown
Amidst celebrity promises and tweets against SARS brutality, groups of young Nigerians have also decided to conduct their own protests to #EndSARS in the country.
SARS is the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a “tactical unit” of the Nigerian Police Force dedicated to fighting armed robbery in the country. However, the squad is notorious for extorting young Nigerians, illegally arresting them and subjecting them to many human rights abuse.
If you have not been confronted, robbed or harassed by SARS, you don’t know what God has done for you.
Last week, there were unconfirmed reports of SARS killings in Ughelli, Delta State Nigeria. And while the Police have called those videos “false and malicious”, SARS still remains a nagging issue for many Nigerians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW1UAkdS0b8
At the end of the day, the message from many Nigerians is clear: SARS needs to end. But will it?
Check back every weekday for more Zikoko Citizen articles.
Last week, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of our dear country whom we love so much. Unfortunately, the love has remained unreciprocated for most of our lives. Not only does it remain unreciprocated, it actually tries to kill you. Read on to find some of the ways your dear country, Nigeria, tries to kill you every day.
1. Roads
Nigerian roads remain deathtraps, despite constant budegtary allocations to them.
2. Hospitals
If you manage to survive the accident, then the hospitals might finish the job.
3. Banks
You might think you’re safe if you don’t have an accident, but you can literally die anywhere.
Tolu Ogunlesi, Special Assistant to the President on New Media, also stated that Maersk, the shipping giant, will be sending container ships that are due to leave Shanghai, China on October 10 directly to the Onne Port. The containers will berth at the Onne Port Terminal on November 25, after which they can be taken via trucks straight to the Onitsha River Port.
Let me summarize it. Maersk is now (starting 2020) sending container ships direct from China to the Onne Port, without the need to first call at Lagos.
Now, when the ship berths in Onne, it will be offloaded and the containers going to Onitsha Port will be barged down.
Meanwhile, the Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Area Office, Onitsha, Anambra State, Mrs Queen Uba had already stated in an interview in September that the Onitsha River Port will commence full operation within the first three months of 2021.
Nigerian Ports
There are six major ports currently operated and regulated by the Nigerian Ports Authority, including the Lagos Port Complex, Tin Can Island Port, Rivers Port, Delta Port and the Onne Port.
The Onitsha River Port was built in 1983 by President Shehu Shagari, and rehabilitated and commissioned by the Goodluck Jonathan Administration in 2012. However, the Port has not been functional in almost 40 years.
Nigeria ranked 182 out of 190 countries in the 2017 World Bank “Trading Across Borders” report, which measured the effectiveness of Ports.
Now, this situation is not unconnected from the fact that 70% of the total container goods coming into Nigeria pass through Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports in Lagos, leading to a lot of challenges including road congestion, delayed goods clearance, unequal economic development and so on.
With the development and usage of other Sea Ports in the country, we can reduce the pressure that is placed on Lagos’ Ports while distributing goods more efficiently to other parts of the country.
With this connection of Ports in the Eastern and Southern Parts of Nigeria, the ease of doing business will definitely increase, as access to goods become faster.
Check back every weekday for more Zikoko Citizen stories.
Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.
The Ondo election will be happening this Saturday, October 10, 2020. A total of 28 Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates have been approved to contest in the election.
Rotimi Akeredolu of the APC, who is the incumbent Governor of the state, and Eyitayo Jegede of PDP are considered the most popular candidates in the election.
Akeredolu, popularly known as “Aketi” is running for a second term in office, while Eyitayo Jegede is seeking to displace the incumbent governor by tackling insecurity and improving the economy of the state.
What is INEC and the security operatives doing?
INEC has promised that this election will be better than the recently held Edo elections. The Chairman of the Commission stated that it identified 16 areas for improvement from the Edo elections and that logistics, prompt response to smart card hitches, vote-buying challenges and compliance with Covid-19 protocols are issues that will seriously be addressed and improved upon in this election.
The police, through the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu, say that they have sent over 33,000 police officers to the state to secure the election.
What should we expect from the election?
Given this number, we expect that the election turns out to be a peaceful one, at least to a large extent.
Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.
This weekend, Nigerians had a lot to say about the Special Anti-robbery Squad, and they expressed their frustration in clear terms.
Donald trump is not your business! Old man! Police/Sarz still killing Nigerian youth on a daily! Do something! Nothing concern u for America! Face your country !! https://t.co/thxmoYb7VE
The Commissioner of Police (Mohammed Adamu) stated that F-SARS and other “tactical units” in the Police were subsequently banned from routine patrols and “conventional low-risk duties” like stop and search activities, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, etc.
They must also appear in their police uniform or tactical gear anytime they wanted to go out on a tactical assignment and that they were “warned” against the unauthorized search of phones, laptops and smart devices.
The Presidency also issued similar guidelines:
All FSARS, STS, IRT & other Tactical @PoliceNG Squads operating at Federal, Zonal & Command levels are hereby BANNED from carrying out routine patrols & other conventional low-risk duties – stop & search duties, checkpoints, roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT pic.twitter.com/9xWQJhTDOP
SARS was created to handle “special” robbery crimes in Nigeria, and they are controlled at state and regional levels in Nigeria by the Commissioners of Police in charge of state commands and the Zonal Assistant Inspector Generals of Police.
No doubt, these new instructions will go a long way in reducing the menace caused by SARS. If they can’t be found on the streets, can’t check phones and must dress officially, I believe that the SARS menace will be drastically reduced.
But, SARS has not been banned, and the IGP maintains they remain a “critical component” of the police force in handling crime.
The IGP notes that the FSARS and other Police Tactical Squads remain a critical component of the Force in confronting prevailing and emerging violent crimes in the country. He however condemns every act of unprofessionalism, abuse of human rights and high-handedness
And that, right there, is the catch. SARS isn’t leaving anytime soon. After all, the Acting President Yemi Osinnbao made similar calls that SARS be restructured in 2018, and yet here we are.
Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, I have directed the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS. pic.twitter.com/xliQS1CRBN
Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.
Nothing symbolises how dysfunctional Nigeria has become like the terrorism that is carried out daily by faceless officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). See, I know we still don’t have 24-hour electricity 60 years after Independence. I know our roads are shite and our hospitals are crappy. But how can some criminals keep terrorising Nigerians because they’re an “Anti-Robbery Squad”? Worse, the government just keeps dancing around the issue without doing something symbolic to solve the problem.
The safety of our residents is my number one duty as the CSO of Lagos. So, reading reports of seemingly unlawful exploitation by the people charged to protect is very worrying & needs to be addressed immediately. Be assured that appropriate actions will be taken, & speedily too.
In this article, I will write about the history of SARS itself, and why it was nothing more than a makeshift squad to solve robbery crimes when the police ran away from the streets of Lagos because soldiers were chasing them.
(Wait, what?)
The Killing of Colonel Rimdan
On the night of September 6 September 1992, Ezra Rimdan, a colonel in the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Minna, was returning from a visit to an army general in Ikoyi, Lagos. On getting to Herbert Macaulay Road, Yaba, he met a police checkpoint and his driver was ordered to halt, after which he was ordered out of the car.
Soon, in another notorious case of extra-judicial killings by members of the Nigerian Police Force, he was shot dead by the officers on duty. However, unknown to the police, they had just killed an army officer, and they took to their heels when they realised this.
Of course, soldiers were furious, and a full-blown war began between Nigerian soldiers and the Nigerian police. Police officers all across Lagos withdrew from checkpoints and literally hid in their barracks, for fear of being killed by soldiers in reprisal attacks.
It took two weeks of talks led by Brigadier Fred Chijuka, the Director of Defence Information at that time, and other influential soldiers to settle the discord. The three policemen involved in that killing were also sentenced for murder.
The Invention of SARS
You must be wondering, “So how does this killing have anything to do with SARS?”. Just hold on (we’re going home).
Remember that the police were inactive for two weeks because they were afraid? Well, robbers exploited this opportunity to do what they do best. Notorious armed robbers like “Shina Rambo” took control of the streets of Lagos, looting and maiming with reckless abandon.
It was in a bid to solve this crisis that SARS came into the picture. Simeon Danladi Midenda, who was in charge of the Anti-Robbery Unit at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Benin was drafted in by the then Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Aliyu Attah, to combat the spate of robbery in Lagos that had quadrupled after the Lagos police fled their job.
Because Assistant Commissioner of Police Simeon Midenda had done a great job at bringing robbers to their knees in Benin, there was confidence that he could handle the robbers in Lagos.
When ACP Midenda got to Lagos, he met three senior police officers: the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, James Danbaba. Mike Okiro, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Lagos) Operations, and Abdulyekini Adeoye, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Lagos) Administration. All three told him to set up an anti-robbery team capable of chasing out armed robbers from Lagos. According to Midenda: “To start with, fifteen fully armed men and two plain coloured Peugeot station wagons were given to me.”
Note that there were already anti-robbery squads at the time. In Lagos alone, there were three. One at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Alagbon, one attached to the Zone two command, and a third one at the Panti Criminal Investigation Department (CID). So, to differentiate his own anti-robbery squad, Mindenda added “Special” to the squad and called his new team “Special Anti-Robbery Squad” (SARS). They wore plain clothes, drove plain vehicles and could not be identified as government officers.
And that was how SARS was born.
SARS On The Beat (And On The Kill)
To be honest, SARS was very effective in its earliest days. Because they wore plain clothes and carried themselves like “ordinary Nigerians”, it was hard for armed robbers to identify or escape them.
What SARS would do was wait for traditional policemen to chase robbers, after which they would spring up on the robbers at designated points. The robbers would feed them with information about other robberies, and they would use this intelligence to solve other previous and forthcoming robberies.
But this bread and butter situation changed when ACP Midenda was moved from Lagos to the Criminal Investigation Department, Umuahia, in 2002. Many state police commands started their own SARS department, oftentimes without giving them proper orientation, and the original SARS vision was lost.
Today, SARS has become a menace to every Ikechukwu, Sleek and Kolade Johnson, stealing and looting from the same Nigerians they are supposed to protect.
What Can We Learn From This Story?
In December 2017, IGP Ibrahim Idris, concerned about the dastardly acts being perpetrated by SARS, directed that the outfit be re-organised under the office of a Commissioner of Police, who would be the overall head of the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide under the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja. This was after a call to action by then Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, I have directed the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS. pic.twitter.com/xliQS1CRBN
Remember that states police commands started having their own SARS commands after the success of Midenda’s SARS squad in Lagos. This decision, made by IGP Idris in 2017, was to put an end to the rot that happened in the system after SARS got decentralised in states. He hoped that the ungodly activities of SARS could be reduced if they were all brought under one command, thus the reason for the F-SARS (Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad).
In recent years, it is clear that this move has not worked. It is clear that reorganisation is not the solution to the SARS menace and SARS will do bad things under whatever command.
The way I see it, a state of emergency needs to be declared on the Nigerian Police. All of them, including SARS. Our police are not well paid, are poorly trained and are easily the worst people in the Nigerian society. The World Internal Security and Police Index International even rated our police the worst in the world. The worst in the actual world!
So, you can see that we are in a crisis. It’s not just SARS, it’s the entire police. It stinks and needs reforms. Serious ones. Until then, nobody is safe.
Check back every weekday for more Zikoko Citizen stories.
The Nigerian experience is physical, emotional, and sometimes international. No one knows it better than our features on #TheAbroadLife, a series where we detail and explore Nigerian experiences while living abroad.
Today’s subject on Abroad Life is a 19-year-old man who left Ireland three years ago after living there for 16 years. He talks about how he didn’t want to come back to Nigeria, but the gang activity around his friends back in Ireland made him accept Nigeria as his new home.
When did you get back to Nigeria?
2017. I was sixteen. I was born in South Africa. My mum stayed there for nine months and then we moved to Ireland, where I stayed until 2017.
And what was the expectation vs reality?
My mum watches a lot of Nigerian TV and there, the idea of Nigeria I got was mud houses and village settings. I stay in Owerri, and I can confidently say it’s not a village.
Why did you come back to Nigeria?
My mum wasn’t happy with me being in Ireland anymore. She sent me here because she felt I needed a man to take care of me. My dad didn’t live with us in Ireland, only my step dad. He lived in South Africa because of business.
Did you want to come to Nigeria?
I had no choice. The initial plan was to go back to South Africa and stay there. After a very short time there, my dad said he wanted to relocate to Nigeria. There was nothing I could do, so I came with him.
And how’s Nigeria so far?
It’s nice to be here. The stories I’m hearing from Ireland are crazy. I’d rather be here than caught in that lifestyle.
What stories are you hearing?
Gang shit. My childhood friends are in gangs, doing drugs and all that stuff.
When I was there, I had a few friends that were in gangs, but none of them could influence me. But from what I hear, the number of my friends living this life has gone from “a few” to “almost all.” I know that if I was there, I would probably be about that life as well because your circle of friends influence you greatly, especially when they’re your close friends.
Is gang activity really popular in Ireland?
It’s very popular among black youth. Almost everyone wants to be in a gang. In Ireland, Nigerians and the Congolese run the gangs.
Are there a lot of Nigerians in Ireland?
Yes. You’ll find Nigerians everywhere. I met some Igbo people and some Benin people, but Yoruba people are everywhere. And I’m not saying they’re the ones doing all the illegal stuff, no. Generally, Africans in Ireland are known for moving drugs, doing fraud or doing something illegal.
How did that affect people’s perception of you, an African?
People were scared of me, but not because I was a criminal. I used to fight and beat people up in school. I also didn’t take school seriously, so maybe they just saw me as unserious and troublesome. When my friends and I got stopped and searched by the police, I would be the first to say, “I know I’m moving with these guys, but you’re not finding anything on me.” I was also a boxer, so that was fun.
What’s a typical police stop and search like in Ireland?
When a group of over five black boys is walking together or in a public place for too long, the police pull up.
Typically, two police cars will come up and tell us to stand in straight lines, ask us where we’re going or where we’re coming from and all those types of questions. They also make calls on their radio to see if there’s been any robbery or anything like that in the area for the past hour or so. If they’re not satisfied, they tell us to turn around, place our hands on the wall and then search us, but they never search our phones. They’re looking for drugs or a weapon.
Do you have any friends that went to prison?
I heard a few people went to prison after I left, but when I was there, nobody went to prison. I have been arrested though.
Why?
I was with my girlfriend and a couple of other friends in the city centre one summer afternoon. Gang activity was very high that summer. Out of nowhere, I just saw my friends running. I didn’t know what was happening, but I knew I had to run with them. That’s how fights usually started. A gang from the other side would come and a fight would break out.
I’m normally the fastest when we run, so when I made good space, I decided to turn back to see what was happening. I saw this regular white man wearing a pair of jeans and running towards us and I’m like, “Is this why you people are running?” So I stopped.
He ran up to me, grabbed me by the neck and started asking for the phone. I’m like, “What phone?” At this point, I thought he was robbing me so I brought out my phone and gave him. He returned my phone and asked me to provide the actual phone. I was so confused. I saw some policemen try to grab two of my friends running by, but they escaped.
They put me in the police car, and then they were talking on the radio about how they’d gotten a suspect of the attempted armed robbery case. That was when I understood what was happening. I told him, “Sir, I don’t know anything about any robbery” and he went “Well why were you running?” on me.
Anyways, they took me to the station, got my statement, then held me in a cell.
Action film. How long were you in the cell for?
I got in in the afternoon and came out at night. My mum was working a night shift that day so there was no way she was going to leave to come and get me. She called my stepdad.
When they said my dad was here to pick me up, I got super scared. I thought he had come from South Africa to bail me out. I wanted to die. Turns out it was my stepdad. In retrospect, why would I even think that he could book a flight and fly from South Africa to Ireland?
They took my mugshot and said they’d follow up in court.
Did they follow up?
Shortly after, I left for South Africa. They came to my house to serve some papers to my mom for some court dates, and she got super scared. She said I wasn’t going back to Ireland.
So you’re wanted in Ireland?
I don’t know o. Because when I asked my other friends that had been arrested for things like that, they said they got off with a warning after they got served papers. I think they just did that to scare my mum, and she took it seriously.
I’m curious. In that story, where was your girlfriend?
I left her and ran.
WOW
What I knew for a fact was that if it was anything gang-related, nobody would touch her because she was white.
Are you guys still together?
We tried, but we broke up in 2019, two years after I left. She was the kind of person that needed physical affection and I too was losing feelings because I couldn’t see her. When we were together, I could literally walk to her house at midnight. It was about two minutes away. But when I left, it just changed.
You said you were a boxer. Were you going pro?
That year, my boxing club scheduled me for like five fights, which I won. I think I was going pro. They took black people more seriously for things like boxing, so they gave me a lot of attention. But I left shortly after. I’ve not boxed since I left.
What do you miss about being in Ireland?
I miss the 24/7 electricity, I miss my friends and also the freedom to move about. In Ireland I got my ears pierced, and I could walk about without anyone looking at me in a strange way.
And for some reason, I miss the cold weather.
Would you go back?
The death of a really close friend will take me back. The year I left, one of my best friends passed away on a football pitch, and the fact that I couldn’t be there broke my heart. I told myself if any close friend passes, I must go.
Sorry about that. What’s one thing you prefer about being in Nigeria?
Again, it’s freedom, but in a different way. Being an immigrant in a white man’s nation is not easy, so there were limitations to how we lived our lives. We were the only black family on our street. I had to constantly speak to white people in a way that showed that I was not like the other Africans notorious for crime.
You couldn’t joke about certain things — like your mum hitting you. Someone listening in could report your mum to social services. Next thing, you find yourself in a foster home.
Wow. So do you identify as Nigerian?
I identify as Nigerian, South African and Irish. My mom is South African and my dad is Nigerian. But I’m an Irish citizen.
Want more Abroad Life? Check in every Friday at 9 A.M. (WAT) for a new episode. Until then, read every story of the series here.
Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.
On Thursday, October 1st 2020, which was Nigeria’s 60th Independence Day, some Nigerians took to the streets to express their anger about poor governance in the country.
Nigerians under “The Coalition for Revolution”, mobilising with the #RevolutionNow, protested in many cities in Nigeria, including Lagos, while calling on the government to reduce the fuel pump price, electricity price, end nepotism and put an end to the water way bill.
They stated that they were tired of the Muhammadu Buhari government, and they told it to end insecurity in the country and allow free press, while also implementing many economic policies that will reduce the effect the Covid-19 pandemic on Nigerians.
However, just shortly after the protests began, PUNCH reported that over 30 of the protesters had already been arrested in Lagos, alone. In fact, not long after, PUNCH again tweeted that the head of one of its photojournalists had been “broken” by police officers while he was covering the protests.
This culture of beating up and arresting protesters now makes one wonder: are protests illegal in Nigeria? If not, why are protesters always harrassed by the Nigerian police?
“They think it is illegal”
When I spoke to Dunnex Samuel, a student activist in the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who had been on many protests and has been harrassed by the police on many of those occasions, he said:
“They (the police) think it is illegal. They do not see protests as anything legal. Also, the police are more loyal to the government than to the people. They should be serving the people, but they are actually serving the government.”
Section 40 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution states that every Nigerian shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons. Every Nigerian is also entitled to freedom of thought and conscience, as well as freedom of speech and expression, as stated in Section 38 and 39 of the constitution.
Meanwhile, every Nigerian is entitled to respect and dignity of their person, and they must not be subjected to torture or inhuman treatment, according to Section 34 of the constitution.
The only exception to these rights are in the interest of: defence, public safety, public order, public morality, or public health. (Section 45, 1999 Constitution).
Are protests against public safety and order?
Well, some protests can be. But many are not. How I see it, most people just want to express their anger about an issue, and they will not resort to violence except if the police incites the violence.
People usually move to a side of the road to protest, so it’s hard to see how this assembly can violate public order or safety.
In fact, by tear-gassing and beating people up, the Nigerian police are the ones usually disrupting public order and safety in this case. And if the police have intelligence about a protest that will affect public safety, they can as well do that without violating human rights.
In all, the solution to this concerning issue is that officers of the Nigerian police force are properly educated on protests and what to do about them – including when to leave people to peacefully protest and when to step in to avert a crisis.
Check back every weekday by 10am for more Zikoko Citizen stories.
Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.
Today, Nigeria turns 60 as an independent nation. But how has the journey really been, especially for people who have been there from the start? We decided to ask a few older people to take us through Nigerian at inception and Nigeria now.
1. Funke, 60/Female
I was born in 1960, in Igbara-Oke, present-day Ondo state. Things were easy back then. Everything went smoothly, and there were no thieves. You could travel from Lagos to Abuja and nobody would waylay you. We didn’t have electricity then, but it didn’t matter.
There were few private schools, and the government fed students. On Independence Day, students would line up and they would be given many souvenirs like pencils, rulers and bottles. If you were resuming school, all you had to take along was your house wear and your pail for fetching water. The rest would be provided by the government. Once you graduated from school, you were guaranteed to get a job.
During the days of Gowon, the economy was going well. If you bought rice for one kobo, you wouldn’t be able to finish it. However, as the population increased, things got harder. Now, how much is rice?
2. Akin, 60/Male
When I was in primary school around 1970, things were not bad like this. There was not much proliferation of private schools and most schools were public and well funded.
On Independence Day like this, all the schools were given free food, rulers, notebooks and many other things that students would take home.
The economy was strong. Our leaders focused on agriculture. The healthcare system was also well funded, especially under the era of the Unity Party of Nigeria headed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
On this Independence Day, I just want to tell Nigeria to go back to the regional system. If we go back to the regional system of government, there would be competition among the regions to be better.
3. Emeka, 60/Male
As kids, 2 kobo was enough to feed us. However, things have drastically changed.
With regards to the transport sector, there were the usual danfos, taxis and molue in Lagos state. And the transport fare was like 20 kobo or 50 kobo.
During the days of Muritala Muhammed, if you bought something for ₦20, you couldn’t finish it. However, by the time it got to Abacha’s tenure, things were changing. Still, you cannot compare those days to now. The price of fuel has increased, and it has really changed things. The price of things has become more expensive.
The inter-state journey was much safer back then, too. If you had a fault with your car on the way, you could fix it on the road. However, these days, you cannot travel at night.
Right now, my prayer is that God changes the heart of Nigerian leaders.
4. Elizabeth, 60/Female
When I was born, Nigeria was peaceful. Healthcare was better. You could walk into a government hospital and get a stress-free consultation. The hospital staff did not intimidate patients. They were friendly.
You could rent a house for as low as ₦5. However, nowadays, if you don’t have more than ₦100,000, you cannot get a decent place to live. Transport, food and housing have become very expensive.
My opinion is that Nigeria has not gotten better in 60 years. I want to tell our leaders to have the fear of God and grow genuine love for the people. If they can imbibe these qualities, I think the country will get better.
5. Dele, 60/Male
Growing up, it was on one of Nigeria’s Independence Days that I drank Coke. It was so big I couldn’t finish it. That day was such a happy day for me and my friends.
However, things have drastically changed. In Divisional Teacher’s College, Oye-Ekiti where I attended, we were paid ₦80 naira, even as students. School fees were ₦50, and it was subsidised. We had good meals because there was adequate feeding for students.
On this occasion of Nigeria’s independence, my advice for the government is that they allow themselves to feel embarrassed. They should look at how things were before and how things are running in other countries and do the needful. The government must try to make Nigeria better.
Check back every weekday by 10am for more Zikoko Citizen stories.
Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.
Should Burna Boy lead a protest? Well, it all started with a tweet:
Everybody is a Fela fan and supporter now that he is dead. Humans are so Funny, You politicians are ALL the same (especially in Nigeria) and Frankly I don’t trust none of you.@YeleSowore.
Hello @burnaboy, everywhere I turn people describe you as a revolutionary musician, the foreign media even celebrate you compare you to Fela Kuti, but I am yet to see you lead anyone to a police station carrying a coffin for head of state! Join #Oct1stProtest#RevolutionNowpic.twitter.com/LOYfQfRCyc
1. Some think Burna Boy only likes the fun part of being Fela:
Burna Boy doesn’t want DSS wahala. Man wants to drop hits, fly to London on private jet and give interviews about revolution, being an African giant & how we are cowards who can’t face govt.
Sowore likes DSS wahala.
Sowore says Burna (Fela Jnr) come and join us. Burna says no😂
Lool hypocrite. Same Fela sang time & again against Buhari—even described him as an animal in his songs. YOU KNEW THIS—yet you supported Buhari with your full chest. Now that things are not going your way you want Burna to play Fela to your faux revolution.
Thing is, anyone can criticize their government. Burna Boy is within his rights to be angry with Nigerians and the Nigerian government.
But if you sound so passionate about the stupidity of politicians and the docility of Nigerians, then shouldn’t you be doing something about it? The easiest part is staying in a studio somewhere yabbing Nigeria and Nigerians, without actually doing putting any pressure on the government. Whereas, Sowore is at least doing something with his #RevolutionNow protests.
People have to be educated about the best policies a candidate should offer. They have to be enthusiastic about voting. They have to be enthusiastic about protests. Government itself needs to see that people are angry with it. Elections need to be better. The Police needs to be reformed. In fact, there is a whole citizen and governance culture that needs to be fixed.
The barest minimum is tweeting and singing about Nigeria. Nigeria can only work if people show up in real life to fix society’s issues. And this is not to say that making conscious music alone is bad. But we need to do more.
So, maybe Burna Boy should join Sowore in a protest if je really means it. No?
Check back every weekday by 10am for more Zikoko Citizen stories.
Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.
The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is one of the most important bills that hasn’t been passed in Nigeria. If it is passed, there will be a clear separation of roles in Nigeria’s oil sector. Corporations like the NNPC will also become profit-oriented companies, and “host” communities in the Niger Delta will get better deals from oil operations.
Yesterday, The Punchreported that President Muhammadu Buhari has submitted new proposals about the Petroleum Industry Bill to the National Assembly.
What is the Petroleum Industry Bill?
As you should know, crude oil makes up over 60% of Nigeria’s total earnings, and about 90% our foreign exchange.
Since the Obasanjo administration, there have been efforts to reform Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, therefore, the Oil and Gas Sector Reform Implementation Committee, and then the Petroleum Industry Bill.
Three presidents later, the bill hasn’t been signed into law. Under Yar’adua, there were disagreements over how oil profits should be shared between International Oil Companies (IOCs), host communities and the federal government. Under Jonathan, only the House of Representatives passed the bill.
PIB under Buhari
Bukola Saraki’s 8th Senate split the PIB into 4 other bills: the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), Petroleum Host Community Bill (PHCB), Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill (PIFB) and the Petroleum Industry Administration Bill (PIAB). However, Buhari did not sign that bill into law when it was passed by both houses of assembly in 2018 because of a provision that allowed the Petroleum Regulatory Commission to retain up to 10% of total oil earnings.
These are five things you need to know about the PIB:
It seems the PIB is finally making progress under the 9th National Assembly. Some of the most important sections in the new bill include:
The creation of a new Nigerian National Petroleum Company called NNPC Limited — Section 53
The government will own all shares in this new “NNPC”
The Minister of Finance and Petroleum will determine assets of the former NNPC (NNPC Corporation) that must be transferred to the new NNPC (NNPC Limited) — Section 54
The Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission will regulate operations in the upstream sector of oil industry — Section 4
The Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority will regulate activities in downstream sector of oil industry — Section 29
Check back every weekday by 10am for more Zikoko Citizen stories.
Remember (Senator) Elisha Abbo? The same person that physically assaulted a young woman in a sex toy shop n May 2019? Well, a court has just granted judgement that 50 million naira be paid to the assaulted woman, Warmate Osimibibra.
In Suit No FHC:CV/2393/19 Osimibabra Warmate v. Senator Elisha Abbo, the Court awarded 50 million in favour of the assaulted woman.
The Court had earlier dismissed the criminal case filed against him, because of a lack of “dilligent prosecution by the police“. The 50 million naira award was granted in the civil case against him.
YOU GUYS!! Today is like the happiest day of my life!! I just got a call from the lawyer of the victim of Senator Elisha Abbo!
Dear Feminists, Justice Bature just ruled in our favor and Senator Elisha has been asked to pay a fine of #50million AND tender a public apology!! pic.twitter.com/1HstWFH5h7
This is everything the newspapers are not telling you they spoke about:
FG & LABOUR reach agreement at 2:53am. Deregulation to stay as Govt rolls out palliatives for labour (details in 2 weeks); Electricity tariffs suspended by Govt for 2 weeks with a joint Committee headed by @fkeyamo to examine the justification for the new policy. Strike suspended pic.twitter.com/9tOTlJ9o1l
The “examination of the justification” (looking at the reason for) new electricity tariffs (at this time);
To look at the different electricity prices of the DISCOs;
To look into the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Act and the role of organised labour unions in it;
Other stand-alone issues include: a review of Government’s 40% stake in DISCOs and worker’s composition on the boards, an independent review of power sector operations and the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) should be revived for the discussion of major socio-economic issues.
2. DOWNSTREAM OIL SECTOR DEREGULATION:
The oil sector is divided into three sectors: upstream, midstream and downstream. The upstream sector is focused on oil exploration, the midstream is focused on oil refining, while the downstream sector is focused on oil marketing and retail operations. (Think: Shell, refineries and filling stations, in that order).
In the meeting yesterday, the government agreed on:
Increasing local refineries and reducing Importation of petroleum products;
The rehabilitation of Nigeria’s four refineries in Warri, Kaduna and Port-Harcourt, with 50% completion of the two Port-Harcourt refineries by December 2021;
NNPC to incorporate NUPENG and PENGASSAN workers (Petroleum and Natural Gas workers) into the rehabilitation steering committee;
A bunch of other interventions;
3. GENERAL INTERVENTIONS:
A specific amount for 240,000 labour workers under the FG and CBN’s agriculture policy;
The removal of tax on minimum wage;
Provision of 133 autogas buses for labour workers in all states and local governments of the country, which will increase till December 2021;
10% of houses under the housing initiative to be allocated to labour members.
With those agreements, the federal government and organised labour (NLC and TUC) decided to suspend the industrial action.
Here’s what is interesting (or not)
Look, the NLC is not fighting for anything new here.
“The privatisation didn’t work.
The refineries are not working.
We still don’t have stable electricity. Yen yen yen.”
But it’s all a bit of a complicated situation: It didn’t make sense for the Government to keep paying for fuel consumption (or subsidy), and the electricity prices have to reflect what people are actually using so that the Distribution Companies (DISCOS) can make a profit – which is why the prices of fuel and electricity have increased.
But the removal fuel subsidy means higher petrol prices. And higher electricity prices mean high cost to everything. If our refineries worked, at least marketers can buy from refineries without dollar wahala. And if everyone had meters, it would be much easier to increase electricity prices because everyone would know the amount of electricity they are getting.
But this is Nigeria. Here, we can’t go back, but moving forward is hard.
Check back every weekday by 10am for more Zikoko Citizen stories.
The Federal Government will meet with leaders of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) by 7 pm this evening (Sunday 27 September 2020) over their planned mass strike on the increase in petrol and electricity prices.
STRIKE BEGINS TOMMOROW MONDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER, UNLESS OUR DEMANDS ARE MET – NLC
NLC and TUC have said that there is “no going back” on their strike (or industrial action) that is supposed to commence tomorrow (Monday 28 September 2020).
Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila has met with the labour leaders over the planned strike, promising palliatives like special buses that run on autogas. But the labour leaders say the strike is still on, and that the basic prices of necessities have simply become too much.
There are 29 labour unions affiliated with the NLC, including 4 million members. If the NLC and the TUC go on strike, it means many unions and their workers will not show up for work tomorrow – including aviation workers, medical and health workers, staff union of universities, agricultural employees, judicial staff, bankers, electricity employees, road transport workers, and almost anyone who is a worker.
Already, petroleum marketers say they will not join in this industrial action, and that the fuel price increase caused by the subsidy removal is necessary.
So, minus petroleum marketers who have backed out, every other labour union affiliated with the NLC is set for a strike tomorrow, except if the government meets their demands this evening.
The Nigerian experience is physical, emotional, and sometimes international. No one knows it better than our features on #TheAbroadLife, a series where we detail and explore Nigerian experiences while living abroad.
Today’s subject on Abroad Life is a 19-year-old woman who is struggling with loneliness in London. She talks about moving to a new country without friends and family and how that has affected her outlook on life.
First things first, where are you?
I’m in London for school. I came here for my undergrad in January 2020 and I’m done, so I’m waiting for my Masters, which starts soon. I started my pre-degree in Lagos, at a school called Aptech, and then I came here to complete it.
Was that always the plan?
The plan was UNILAG, but that didn’t work out. I didn’t get in so I decided to finish my pre-degree, write JAMB again, go to UNILAG, and then come to London for my second undergrad. Along the line, I just decided I didn’t want to do the UNILAG plan again. I thought, “If I missed my cut off mark by two points the first time, maybe this is God saying I shouldn’t go to UNILAG.” So, I decided to leave.
What were your first impressions when you got to London?
I get lonely a lot. I dealt with loneliness a lot in Nigeria, but I could just get up and go to a friend’s house and I would feel less lonely in that moment. When I got here, I had a new surge of excitement. Everything felt different.
My friend came to pick me from the airport and I stayed in her family house until recently. She stayed in London for all of four days after I landed and then went back to the US. She was only around for the holidays. And that’s when the loneliness started again. There was nobody I could relate to on a personal level.
Everyday, I would come back home from school and just begin to cry. I hate cooking, but a lot of the time I would just get into the kitchen and begin to cook to distract myself. I also watched a lot of television just to feel like I was in the company of others. I tried looking for jobs outside and in school and every call and email I got was a rejection.
I started having group video calls with my friends in Nigeria everyday. A lot of the time, we wouldn’t even say anything for hours. It was just nice company. They were the only people I could talk to. At some point, the calls stopped. Everyone got busy.
That’s sad. How have you coped with it since then?
It’s been terrible. During lockdown, my social life took a downturn. I made my first friend before lockdown. She wasn’t just a party friend. We would usually sit and have deep conversations. But you know how when you make a new friend and you don’t spend so much time together, you might drift apart? Lockdown happened and we sort of drifted apart a bit, but we got back together and we’re really close now.
I started listening to a lot of Frank Ocean and Lana Del Rey.
Did it get depressing?
I wasn’t depressed. I was just lonely. I figured out that there’s a difference between depression and loneliness, and I accepted that I was just really lonely.
When did lockdown happen?
For me, lockdown happened earlier than the government imposed it. On a Monday morning in mid-March I went to school really early and I met an empty classroom. Nobody was there. Not even my teacher. Then I checked my phone and I saw an email saying that the government had cancelled classes. I freaked out, went back home, and decided not to go anywhere for the next few months. That was when lockdown started for me. In retrospect, I think I should have enjoyed the few days before the government imposed lockdown.I journaled every day of the lockdown just to help my mind.
So you finished school online?
Yes, and that didn’t give me the chance to make any friends.I graduated with a first class during a pandemic though and I can’t be quiet about it.
Congratulations. So when did you start going out again?
Before going out officially, my aunt used to send me to corner shops and I used to get really scared of catching the virus. The first time I officially went out was with my friend. We went to a park together on May 16th and got really drunk and high, but I haven’t seen her again after that.
Is that the only friend you have in London?
No, I have two. Before lockdown, me and this friend I already talked about went for a party and took a picture together. She used it as her WhatsApp profile picture and some guy who knew her from work, said I was really pretty and asked for my number. She asked me if she could give him and I was like, “If he has money, sure. I’m not looking for friendships where poverty will kill the both of us.” It turns out he does, so she gave him my number and we started talking.
At first, it was just supposed to be transactional sex. He’d pay me and if we both wanted sex, I’d collect the money. We were meant to go on a first date, but lockdown happened.
We just continued talking over the phone and texting, but you know when you talk to someone every day and get to know things about them, you get close. We talked for about three months and then one day, he just ghosted me and we didn’t talk for about one month. I totally forgot about him.
Then one day, I was doing my project and I just saw this random long email and it was basically him saying he was sorry, he had a mental breakdown and just decided to ghost everybody, and he knows I’ll probably never want to speak to him again. I was just sitting there, smiling and reading the mail. It felt good. That was the best thing I’d seen all day. I’d stopped talking to people because they ghosted me but this one just felt different. We agreed to meet at a park and that was the first time we met. It was nice.
How about the transactional sex thing?
We have sex but I would not call it transactional. He gives me money. He’s my rich friend. We talk and share problems with each other.
Cool. What’s your daily life like now that you’re done with school?
I work at a pub. You’d think you have people skills until you work in hospitality. Right now, I hate people. Almost everyday, my manager comes to tell me to smile because people are complaining that I don’t look approachable. I look at people and want to break glasses on their heads because they’re so annoying.
I’m almost always on night shifts. Today, I have a night shift, which is why I have the audacity to wake up by 12am with a hangover. On days like these, I wake up, pray and then just play with my phone and watch time pass until I’m ready for work.
On most of my off days, I see my rich friend.We typically just go out for drinks and talk. Sometimes we have sex. Sometimes I call my friends in Nigeria to give them updates about my life. My life is pretty boring for a 19-year-old.
What do you do at the pub?
At the pub where I work, there are no specific roles. Some days you could be running drinks, some days you could be the host, you could work at the table, you could dispense and some days you could be cleaning tables.
I hate cleaning tables and running drinks because I’d have to interact with people.
Men are disgusting when they get drunk. They call me over and start trying to get me to smile and then when I give them a small fake smile they get really happy and start saying stuff like, “You’re so pretty when you smile” and all of that. It’s super annoying.
I don’t get as much free drinks and tips as my colleagues, but oh well.
What do you hate about being in London?
The fact that my friends are not here. No one ever tells you about the loneliness that comes with being abroad. I wasn’t prepared for this. It might have been different without the lockdown because I was going out and meeting people but, it is what it is.
What’s the best thing about being in London?
The best thing about being in London is that I can do almost anything I want without having to take permission from my parents. For instance, I got a belly button piercing. There’s still a lot of things that I can’t do because I need money from them. For example, I’d like to visit Lagos for one week. I just want to be at a place that feels like home.
What’s the most British thing ever?
The rave culture. You’ll just be wondering why there is a party in the afternoon with green and red light and white people music.
Do you want to come back to Nigeria?
I don’t want to come back to settle down in Nigeria. I want to come back for holidays and meet my guys, not settle down.
Do you think London is a place where you want to settle down?
No. Maybe somewhere in Europe, but not London.
Why?
London is great but it’s so expensive.You’re walking down the road and you don’t know what you’ve done, but believe me £20 is gone. Apart from that, it doesn’t feel like it could ever be home for me.
Do you still cry because you’re lonely?
Right now I want to say it’s a combination of loneliness and stress. At work, I just go into the toilet, sit on the floor, cry, clean my eyes, go out and continue working. But yesterday I cried before I slept. Everyday of my life, all I try to do is not cry.
Do you think it might get out of hand at some point?
I don’t think so. I have my moments. I wasn’t crying two weeks ago. But sometimes, I just switch moods. That’s just what’s wrong with me right now the moment, when I figure it out I’ll get back to normal.
I’m doing all this adult stuff on my own, you know.
I have also learnt to tell people that I love them. That helps me appreciate the people I have around me.
I’ve had friendships that ended recently because of trivial issues and that’s just made me appreciate people more.
What’s a Nigerian reality that affects your abroad life?
Paying rent every month. I’m just thinking if we had to pay rent every month in Nigeria people would be under bridges.
This might be strange, but another thing is getting flowers. The first time I got flowers, the Nigerian in me was like, “What is this nonsense?” But outwardly, I was gushing and I didn’t even know.
Do you get a lot of flowers?
My rich friend gives me flowers.
God when?
I forgot to talk about my modelling “career” in London.
I want to hear about it
I was so excited to come to London because I had other options. Dubai, Malta and Mauritius were my other options. But I chose London because I thought I’ll have more opportunities to model here.
I even stopped going for castings in Lagos like 8 months before I was to travel. Then I got here, sent my snapshots to so many agencies, and walked into some agencies as well. And every single time I got back home or got a response mail, the only thing I could do was convince myself not to cry. I stopped trying though. I’m too stressed.
That sucks.
Yeah. Transitioning from an adolescent to an adult is really difficult. But it’s worse when you’re doing it alone. I think going to a whole new place without family shows you life from a whole new perspective and you can’t ever see life the way you used to.
One year ago, we left Nigeria for an 80-day adventure across West Africa. Something is coming. Unshared stories. New perspectives. Limited series. 10 episodes. Jollofroad.com
