By Oluwaseyi Oduyela

The fifth demand of the #ENDSARS is or was for an increase in police salaries to enable the officers to protect lives and property of Nigerian citizens.

In the last few days, there has been looting of private citizens property by hoodlums.  Police stations have been vandalized and, in some cases, burnt.

President Buhari responded with a speech full of promises as a response to the yearning of the Nigeria youths on the need for police reforms. Since the address, nothing has been done. No concrete steps have been taken towards this reform. Even after the President’s speech, burning of police stations and looting of private citizens did not stop.

The SARS’ protest is not against the Police as an institution. It is against a unit of the Police and some rotten eggs in the Force. Still, as it is now, the government is making it look like the protest is against the Police Force and is indirectly shutting the Police Force down.

Yes, the Police appear so. A country and government that values public safety will do everything possible to see that lives and property of citizens are protected, especially in this trying period. Words alone are not enough, but it must be followed with actions.

 The President can order that funds from the Special Intervention Fund, which is under the Presidency be disbursed to see to the renovation of police stations that have been destroyed by hoodlums. This is the time for Buhari to follow up with actions after his speech. I am suggesting that the Special Intervention Fund, be made available for the Police to repair and renovate its burnt and vandalized stations and vehicles.

I was in Nigeria in March, during the COVID lockdown. I saw the speed at which the National Assembly reconvened to pass a bill to allow the Federal government to add more debt to the country’s debt in the name of Urgent National Concern. The Speaker of the House of Representatives convened sitting to consider a Bill on Healthcare at that time too. I think the country is in a critical situation now. The lives and property of citizens are at risk, and I wonder why they have not made any effort to see to the issue of police stations burnt by hoodlums.

These police stations serve as offices for the Police who are to protect the National Assembly members constituents. As it is, Lekki axis doe does not have a police station, not even an Area Command. If there an emergency in Lekki, the nearest police station is Bar Beach police station. And the nearest Area Command is Area A, Lion’s Building which is the middle of Lagos Island.

Just as various states have stated their panel of judicial inquiries into the activities of SARS members, we should not put the whole Police Force on trial. These panels sittings will take six months, and I do not think the country can wait for six months to begin to see the reforms.

It is good to review the salaries of the police officers, it is a welcome idea to raise their wages, but what about the equipment? They need vehicles, most of their cars have been torched, some weapons stolen by hoodlums.

While members of the National Assembly feel safe, their constituents are not safe. The people who voted and paid their salaries are at the mercy of hoodlums.

Even if citizens would call Police, from which location?  And how will they even get to the scene of a crime?

I know that the six months for the panels of inquiry is just a way for the government to buy time and make the public forget, but the police reform cannot wait. The Police are in a state of emergency and needs serious attention from the government to enable it to perform its public safety duties.

Many hard-working Nigerians have lost their business to hoodlums through looting without police protection. These people work hard to set up their business while members of the National Assembly watch and smile to the banks every month on a salary of N29M a month for doing nothing.

Elections in Nigeria should begin to have consequences. Those elected must be made to pay for their inactions at this critical time.

By Oluwaseyi Oduyela

28/10/2020