#EndSARS Protest: We won't allow anybody to disrupt peace of our nation — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari

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Says Govt promptness to act misconstrued as weakness

Reaffirms Govt commitment to preserving Nigeria’s unity

Urges Int’l community to make hast pronouncements

Tells youths to discontinue street protests

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned the youths protesting over police brutality especially the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, not to take the laws into their hands, saying that the Federal Government will not allow anybody or groups to disrupt the peace of our nation

President Buhari also called on youths to discontinue the street protests and constructively engage the government in finding solutions.

The President in his nationwide broadcast on Thursday on the ongoing #EndSARS protests that led to the loss of lives and destruction of property, the President told the youths that their voice has been heard loud and clear and that the government was responding to their demands.

He said that the promptness with which the government has acted seemed to have been misconstrued as a sign of weakness and twisted by some for their selfish unpatriotic interests.

President Buhari acknowledged the international community for their concerns on the matter but also urged them to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgment and making hasty pronouncements.

He said, “It has become necessary for me to address you have heard from many concerned Nigerians and having concluded a meeting with all the Security Chiefs.

“I must warn those who have hijacked and misdirected the initial, genuine and well-intended protest of some of our youths in parts of the country, against the excesses of some members of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

On the contrary, both our deeds and words have shown how committed this administration has been to the well being and welfare of citizens, even with the steadily dwindling revenues, and the added responsibilities and restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Government has put in place measures and initiatives principally targeted at youths, women and the most vulnerable groups in our society. These included our broad plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years; the creation of N75 billion National Youth Investment Fund to provide 

opportunities for the youths, and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Survival Fund, through which government is: a. paying 3-months salaries of the staff of 100,000 micro, small- and medium- enterprises b. paying for the registration of 250,000 businesses at the Corporate Affairs Commission c. giving a grant of N30,000 to 100,000 artisans d. guaranteeing market for the products of traders. These are in addition to many other initiatives such as: 

a. Farmermoni, b. Tradermoni, c. Marketmoni, d. N-Power, e. N-Tech and f. N-Agro. No Nigerian Government in the past has methodically and seriously approached poverty-alleviation like we have done. 

With regard to the welfare of police personnel, the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission has been directed to expedite action on the finalization of the new salary structure of members of the Nigeria Police The emoluments of other paramilitary services are also being reviewed upwards. In order to underscore the importance of education in preparing youths for the future, this administration has come up with a new salary structure and other incentives for our teachers. Let me at this point reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to preserving the unity of this country. We will continue to improve good governance and our democratic process, including through sustained engagement. We shall continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens, are protected. But remember that government also has the obligation to protect lives and properties, as well as the right of citizens to go about their daily businesses freely and protected from acts of violence. 

To our neighbours in particular, and members of the international community, many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing development in Nigeria, we thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position. or rushing to judgement and making hasty pronouncements. In the circumstances, I would like to appeal to protesters to note and take advantage of the various well-thought-out initiatives of this administration designed to make their lives better and more meaningful, and resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating our nascent democracy. For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national security and the law and order situation. Under no circumstances will this be tolerated. 

I therefore call on our youths to discontinue the street protests and constructively engage government in finding solutions. Your voice has been heard loud and clear and we are responding. And I call on all Nigerians to go about their normal businesses, and enjoin security agencies to protect lives and properties of all law-abiding citizens without doing harm to those they are meant to protect. 

Let me pay tribute to officers of the Nigeria Police Force who have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty. I would like to thank those State Governors, traditional and religious leaders who have appealed for calm and restraint. 

I also thank youth leaders who have restrained their followers from taking the law into their hands. This government respects and will continue to respect all the democratic rights and civil liberties of the people, but it will not allow anybody or groups to disrupt the peace of our nation.