Anxiety and tension have continued to rise ahead of the planned 10 days nationwide anti government “EndBadGovernance”protest, as the federal government has taken several measures to beaf up security at premises it considers could be soft targets by the protesters
While government has declared that citizens have the right to stage protests, it has however warned that it must not be allowed to go out of hand, adding that it would not tolerate a violent protest that would lead to loss of lives and properties
This is even as the Inspector -General of Police (IGP) has directed all Tactical Squad Commanders to ensure the protection of both the protesters and public properties ahead of the protest
Yesterday, government deployed thousands of police officers and those of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps across the country while military check points have returned in several parts of the country
Sensing that the country’s correctional centres could be soft targets, the federal government on Tuesday declared the nation’s prisons as “red zone”, warning that protesters should stay clear of such areas
In recent time, several Nigerian correctional centres have experienced jail breaks with the management yet to recapture several escaped inmates
Controller -General of the Nigerian Correctional Services ( NCS) Hailey Nababa, who gave the warning in a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, said the pronouncement became necessary following the purported national protest scheduled to hold on the first day of August 2024.
Part of the statement which was signed by spokesperson of the Service,ACC Abubakar Danlami Umar, reads; “the Nigerian Correctional Service wishes to inform the public that the Custodial Centres have been designated as red zones; therefore, any person or group of persons who have no business whatsoever, should steer clear
“Furthermore, the Service wishes to enjoin the public that Custodial and Non-custodial Centres are critical national assets which are germane to public safety as well as national security.
“Tampering with or attacking them will lead to breakdown of law and order, and further exacerbate the security of the society in general.
“The Service strongly advises all members of the public to join hands with the Service to ensure the protection of correctional facilities. Adequate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure that no correctional facility is defiled.
“The Ministry of Interior Joint Taskforce (MOIJTF) has been activated to provide extra security in and around custodial facilities nationwide.
“The Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa FICMC, MFR, mni, appreciates the continuous cooperation of members of the public in ensuring peace and tranquillity in and around correctional centres nationwide. The public is also advised to report any suspicious plan or movement to our email: info@corrections.gov.ng or to our official website: www.corrections.gov.ng or call 09060004598 or 08075050006 directly”.
We are not bad government, FG insists
Meanwhile, the Presidency has rejected its branding as a bad government by several sections of the country, following the unending hardship that trailed the its policies since the inception of the president Bola Tinubu led administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
The presidency on Tuesday, condemned the organisers of the EndBadGovernance Protest, saying there is no bad government in Nigeria, but a thinking government.
Senior Special Assistant on Media to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Tunde Rahman, said although Tinubu has identified that some problems need to be addressed, they would be resolved in earnest.
Rahman, who spoke in Lagos at the Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture, 2024 themed: ‘Rapidly Changing Media Landscape: Media Survival Strategies.’ Emphasized that the economic challenges Nigeria was facing was a global issue and not limited to the country alone.
His words: “Our people have a right to protest and it is their right to do so. But we don’t know who the people behind this protest are. They are faceless, they have no hope.
“I’m calling a lot of us to not go on the street. We have to be mindful of the real motive of people who are calling us to join in the protest. Yes, challenges are there. Our economy is in turmoil. And this is not peculiar to Nigeria. Most of the world’s economies are in turmoil at the moment.
“The President is doing his best to address this problem. They’ve tagged the protest end to bad governance. I do not think we have bad governance at the moment. We have a thinking government. Some problems need to be addressed. And some of the solutions that have been applied will resolve the problem sooner than later.
“I want to appeal to our colleagues to show understanding, to show restraint, to be prudent, and to wear the toga of eminence, statesmen and women at this time. To know that some of the policies that have been addressed have their gestational period. Let’s give these policies time to mature.”
Meanwhile the Osun state government has directed private and public schools in the state to proceed on third term vacation on July 31 due to the planned nationwide protest.
In a statement on Tuesday, Muritala Jimoh, permanent secretary in the ministry of education, said the directive is due to the nationwide demonstrations slated to commence on August 1.
“This is to inform the general public, particularly parents, guardians and heads of both public and private schools in the state that due to the planned nationwide protests, all schools are directed to proceed on the third term vacation from Wednesday, July 31,” the statement reads.
“Parents and Guardians are advised to ensure the safety of their wards during the vacation.”
Similarly, Nigeria’s telecommunications giant, MTN on Tuesday the closure of all its shops and outlets across the country
The closure followed the outrage by customers over Simple Identification Module disconnection, which led to attack on some of its offices in some parts of the country.
The MTN which disclosed this in a notice on its official X account on Tuesday, directed its customers to explore its digital channels available 24 hours.
A statement announcing the closure on MTN customer support X account read, “Yello customer, please be informed that our shops nationwide will be closed today, 30th July 2024,”