Ministers from the South West have asked the Federal Government to launch a thorough investigation into the shooting at the Lekking tollgate area of Lagos State.
This formed part of the recommendations by the ministers to the Federal Executive Council during the virtual meeting held on Wednesday.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, briefed State House correspondents in Abuja on what was discussed at the end of the meeting.
“We urged that the Federal Government should undertake a thorough investigation into what happened in the Lekki Toll Plaza, particularly the role of the military and ensure that the outcome is made public with a view to achieving closure on the matter,” he said.
On October 20, a group of armed security operatives believed to be soldiers shot at a crowd of youths participating in the #EndSARS protest in Lekki.
While the military has since denied involvement in the shooting, the incident was widely condemned with calls for a thorough probe.
Following the violence which left many government and private properties destroyed in Lagos, the south-west ministers sought support from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or any other funding mechanism to support small and medium businesses affected by the looting and arson in the state.
They also urged the government to consider supporting the Lagos High Court judges with the provision of some office accommodation as a temporary relocation after rampaging youths destroyed some courts and police stations in Lagos.
“The highlight of the brief was to make recommendations to the Federal Government to support Lagos State to restore damaged facilities, especially those related to the maintenance of law and order and the administration of justice such as police, court buildings and forensic laboratory,” Fashola told the reporters.
He added, “And to also ensure that whatever is approved should also involve the National Economic Council, the platform on which state governors meet so that other states across the country who were also affected, (where) businesses were damaged can benefit in addition to Lagos residents who may so be supported.”
The minister revealed that the Federal Executive Council has approved an additional N47.5 billion for the Oyo-Ogbomosho Highway, and N9.3 billion for the bridge across the River Benue linking it with Nasarawa State.
