Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Solomon Adeola has revealed why a special grants and status should be given to Lagos state in the aftermath of the mayhem that trailed the peaceful EndSARS protest.
Hoodlums had made a ruin of the state during the protest against police brutality and extra-judicial killing; wrecking havoc in private and government owned properties.
The lawmaker who urged well-meaning Nigerians and residents of the state to be part of the crusade, made this known on Sunday, in a statement by his media aide, Kayode Odunaro, titled, ‘#EndSARS protest: Senator Adeola renewal call for special; status and grant for Lagos’
The lawmaker, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, according to the statement, was among the South West Senators briefed by Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the destruction of public and private properties across Lagos State last week.
The statement read in part, “Over the years, many attempts had been made in the agitation for a special status for Lagos State on the basis of its being the nation’s economic nerve centre and its status as the former Federal Capital of Nigeria with many federal infrastructures and huge population of all tribes of Nigeria.
“The issue of special status for Lagos State has again been brought to the front burner following the fallouts of the protest against extra-judicial killings and Police brutality.
“With the magnitude of the destruction of critical infrastructures in Lagos State last week, it is inconceivable that Lagos Government alone can handle the rebuilding of destroyed properties, most of which are for public good.
“It is necessary at this time to state that when Federal Government makes interventions to assist the state like the N1bn per state to assist in efforts aimed at stemming COVID-19, Lagos State should be more favourably treated in view of its status,” it read.
Adeola, while commending the Lagos State Governor, for his “adroit and patriotic handling of the crisis within the power and resources available to him”, he made a plea for an urgent grant from the Federal Government to aid the state in rebuilding and replacing destroyed public facilities of all kinds during the attendant mayhem to the protest.
He said, “From what we saw during our sympathy and condolence visit to Lagos State Governor and its people, it was clear that Lagos State Government cannot handle the rebuilding of infrastructure and facilities destroyed alone.
“The destruction in Lagos State in all aspects expectedly dwarfed that of other states and FCT put together as a result of the crisis,” the statement added.
