The Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA) ha urged residents desirous of participating in peaceful protest to utilise the two designated locations in Lagos State.
LERSA President, Alhaji Sulyman Bello, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Lagos.
Bello urged the leadership of member-estates, communities and organisations to encourage residents and stakeholders to remain law abiding.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had on Wednesday advised protesters to restrict their peaceful demonstration to Gani Fawehinmi Park and Peace Park.
Sanwo-Olu said the two designated parks
were sanctioned protest sites with full security for citizens.
Bello said the cooperation of the leadership of member estates and communities were crucial to ensuring a successful process.
He noted that the Lekki Peninsula represents the future of Lagos and must be protected vigorously to uphold its positive image.
“In recent weeks, there have been calls for protests across Nigeria and the laws of the land support peaceful protests.
“The Nigerian President, governors and other civil authorities have affirmed this right.
“While it is a right of citizens to communicate their displeasure to the authorities, it is also an important feedback mechanism to the government.
“While we support the rights of citizens to peacefully express grievances through protests, it has to be reiterated that such expressions should be through peaceful means,” he said.
Meanwhile, NAN correspondents who monitored the protest in Illajeh, Abraham Adesanya and Ajah environs, observed skeletal economic, transportation and human activities.
NAN, however, noted different envoys of vehicular movements conveying protesters and hoodlums on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
Also, there was security presence at Ajah Under Bridge
A passerby, Mr Femi Adoyan, said that tension in the air was palpable and fear of the unknown was on the mind of many Nigerians.
Adoyan appealed to protesters to be peaceful within their rights and not allow themselves be infiltrated by hijackers of the protest.
He called on the Federal Government to address the needs of the citizens and employ more means to get hunger out of the land.
“Honestly, government is trying their best. They probably did not see the economy turning this way and they have tried to do everything to alleviate the impact on Nigerians, but it is not enough.
“Let them do more to make the people feel heard so that the hungry and aggrieved are pacified,” he said.
Mr Monday Bishop, a bike rider, urged government to ensure even distribution of the N40,000 bag of rice across the metropolis.
Bishop told NAN that he had gone several times to get at least half bag to no avail.
“What government need to do is make sure we have food. If people are eating and satisfied, they can be strong enough to do everything they need to contribute their quota to the economy,” he said.
Mrs Dolapo Fadahunsi, a trader, said she was just hanging around with her shop half opened in case things went out of hand and the protesters became harmful.
She urged government to give the protesters the listening ear they required and call on the leaders of the protest to a dialogue to address the concerns raised.(NAN)
