FULL ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE ENDSARS PROTESTS

Fellow Nigerians,

It has become necessary for me to address you having heard from  many concerned Nigerians and having concluded a meeting with all the  Security Chiefs.

2. I must warn those who have hijacked and misdirected the initial,  genuine and well - intended protest of some of our youths in parts of  the country, against the excesses of some members of the now disbanded  Special Anti-Robery Squad (SARS).

3. On Monday 12th October, I acknowledged the genuine concerns and  agitations of members of the public regarding the excessive use of force  by some members of SARS.

4. The choice to demonstrate peacefully is a fundamental right of  citizens as enshrined in Section 40 of our Constitution and other  enactments; but this right to protest also imposes on the demonstrators  the responsibility to respect the rights of other citizens, and the  necessity to operate within the law.

5. As a democratic government, we listened to, and carefully  evaluated the five-point demands of the protesters. And, having accepted  them, we immediately scrapped SARS, and put measures in place to  address the other demands of our youth.

6. On approving the termination of SARS I already made it clear  that it was in line with our commitment to the implementation of  extensive Police reforms.

7. Sadly, the promptness with which we have acted seemed to have  been misconstrued as a sign of weakness and twisted by some for their  selfish unpatriotic interests.

8. The result of this is clear to all observers: human lives have  been lost; acts of sexual  violence have been reported; two major  correctional facilities were attacked and convicts freed; public and  private properties completely destroyed or vandalised; the sanctity of  the Palace of a Peace Maker, the Oba of Lagos has been violated.  So-called protesters have invaded an International Airport and in the  process disrupted the travel plans of fellow Nigerians and our visitors.

9. All these executed in the name of the ENDSARS protests. I am  indeed deeply pained that innocent lives have been lost. These tragedies  are uncalled for and unnecessary. Certainly, there is no way whatsoever  to connect these bad acts to legitimate expression of grievance of the  youth of our country.

10. The spreading of deliberate falsehood and misinformation  through the social media in particular, that this government is  oblivious to the pains and plight of its citizens is a ploy to mislead  the unwary within and outside Nigeria into unfair judgement and  disruptive behaviour.

11. On the contrary, both our deeds and words have shown how  committed this administration has been to the well being and welfare of  citizens, even with the steadily dwindling revenues, and the added  responsibilities and restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

12. Government has put in place measures and initiatives  principally targeted at youths, women and the most vulnerable groups in  our society.  These included our broad plan to lift 100 million  Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years; the creation of N75  billion National Youth Investment Fund to provide opportunities for the  youths and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Survival Fund,  through which government is:

a. paying three months salaries of the staff of 100,000 micro, small - and medium - enterprises,

b. paying for the registration of 250,000 businesses at the Corporate Affairs Commission,

c. giving a grant of N30,000 to 100,000 artisans; and

d. guaranteeing market for the products of traders.

13. These are in addition to many other initiatives such as;

a. Farmermoni,

b. Tradermoni,

c. Marketmoni,

d. N-Power,

e. N-Tech and

f. N-Agro.

14. No Nigerian Government in the past has methodically and seriously approached poverty-alleviation like we have done.

15. With regard to the welfare of police personnel, the National  Salaries, Income and Wages Commission has been directed to expedite  action on the finalization of the new salary structure of members of the  Nigeria Police Force. The emoluments of other paramilitary services are  also being reviewed upwards.

16. In order to underscore the importance of education in preparing  youths for the future, this administration has come up with a new  salary structure and other incentives for our teachers.

17. Let me at this point reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to preserving the unity of this country.

18. We will continue to improve good governance and our democratic  process, including through sustained engagement.

19. We shall continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected.

20. But remember that government also has the obligation to protect  lives and properties, as well as the right of citizens to go about  their daily businesses freely and protected from acts of violence.

21. To our neighbours in particular, and members of the  international community, many of whom have expressed concern about the  ongoing development in Nigeria, we thank you and urge you all to seek to  know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to  judgement and making hasty pronouncements.

22. In the circumstances, I would like to appeal to protesters to  note and take advantage of the various well-thought-out initiatives of  this administration designed to make their lives better and more  meaningful, and resist the temptation of being used by some subversive  elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating our nascent  democracy.

23. For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national  security and the law and order situation. Under no circumstances will  this be tolerated.

24. I therefore call on our youths to discontinue the street  protests and constructively engage government in finding solutions. Your  voice has been heard loud and clear and we are responding.

25. And I call on all Nigerians to go about their normal  businesses, and enjoin security agencies to protect lives and properties  of all law abiding citizens without doing harm to those they are meant  to protect. Let me pay tribute to officers of the Nigeria Police Force  who have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty.

26. I would like to thank those state Governors, traditional and  religious leaders who have appealed for calm and restraint. I also thank  youth leaders who have restrained their followers from taking the law  into their hands.

27. This government respects and will continue to respect all the  democratic rights and civil liberties of the people, but it will not  allow anybody or groups to disrupt the peace of our nation.

Thank you all. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.