Following the destruction properties by hoodlums that hijacked the #EndSARS protests, the N1 trillion rebuilding of Lagos has started.
The Federal Government is leading the support team for the Lagos State Government, with support from the National Assembly and boosted by business leaders led by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Rebuilding Lagos Trust Fund attended had Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; House of Representative Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila; and Emefiele.
Aliko Dangote was represented by Mansur Ahmed and Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, was represented by Senator Olamilekan Adeola.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was Chief host, supported by Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.
The destruction in Lagos cuts across public and private sector property, palaces, businesses and many other infrastructure, including public buses that were burnt, police stations and quarters were razed or damaged and many policemen killed or maimed.
According to the CBN Governor, the Bankers Council was working with CA-COVID to rehabilitate and rebuild Lagos.
He said funds will be provided for rebuilding of burnt police stations and provision of facilities to assist those whose businesses were damaged.
He noted that CA-COVID and the Bankers Council will, next week, come out with a blueprint on rebuilding plan.
The CBN boss said:
Bankers Council and CA-COVID will work for restocking and rebuilding of their businesses again after taking stock of damage.
Emefiele also assured that they will take measures to complement government effort at creating jobs and enhance the security apartments. He appealed to members of the organised private sector to join in the rebuilding project.
Osinbajo said the fortunes of the nation is tied to the fortunes of Lagos in so many ways.
The Vice President expressed regret that the noble cause of the #EndSARS protests designed to call attention to a serious malignant problem of brutality and extrajudicial killings, was subverted, leading to the exact opposite of its objectives; chaos, murder, looting and arson.
The Federal Government, Osinbajo said, would come out with details of its commitment to rebuilding Lagos and other states that suffered similar fate after President Muhammadu receives a full report of the ongoing investigation.
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The Vice President said:
It is now time to rebuild. It is time for the painful and costly task of reconstruction and rehabilitation. It is now time for the private sector, our international friends and partners, and all who love this city to make their contributions to the rebuilding and reconstruction effort. When Lagos works, it works for all.
Our state, like our nation, is in need of healing. We recognise that the balm for a wounded society is truth and justice. This is why judicial panels of Inquiry have been established all across the country.
But, it is clear that the task of reconstruction goes beyond physical infrastructure or brick and mortar. There is a moral, social and ethical reconstruction to be undertaken as well. We must rebuild trust between the government and the governed; the vast majority of who are young persons, rebuild trust between law enforcement agents and the communities that they are meant to serve.
The pursuit of restorative justice, recompense for injury to innocents and a reckoning for perpetrators of abuse are essential components of the moral and ethical reconstruction of our homestead.
I urge all of us to give this process a chance to work and to commit to the advocacy and participation that it will take to enable this process succeed.
It is a long-term project, and Lagos deserves a special status and should be treated like Abuja. To achieve success, we must change our strategy this time around; Lagos will surely rise again.