The move to seek compensation for states and individuals who suffered losses during the destruction that trailed the #EndSARS protests generated concerns and uproar in the Senate yesterday.
Abiodun Olujimi, (PDP, Ekiti State), had raised a point of order inviting the Senate to urge the Federal Government to set up a visitation panel to assess the level of destruction of public and private assets in Lagos State.
She submitted that the Federal Government should offer a special economic assistance to Lagos State in recognition of its strategic socio-economic significance by paying a financial grant-in-aid of not less than 1 per cent of the share of revenue allocated to the central government in the federation account each year.
But the tone of the debate suddenly changed as Sani Musa (APC, Niger State) rose to counter the prayers of Olujimi.
Musa contended that the havoc and killings carried out in the northern part of the country by bandits were too serious to be compared to the destruction in Lagos. He said Lagos should not be singled out for compensation at the expense of other states that were also adversely affected.
“I do not see the difference from what the hoodlums have done during the #EndSARS protests. In the Northeast, we have seen the destruction and the mayhem that the Boko Haram brought to the region. We have seen innocent souls and homes destroyed. People are being killed, till date I have not heard the government to say they are going to take the responsibility for compensation of the victims.
tions.”
Musa’s argument attracted agitations by senators from other states where property were also destroyed.
