NEWS
Gov Sanwo-Olu Plans Mass Burial For 103 EndSARS Victims
After several denials, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has given approval for the mass burial of 103 protesters who lost their lives during the October 2020 #EndSARS mass protest against police brutality who were allegedly killed by a joint operation of the Nigerian Army and the police.
According to a letter dated July 19 and seen by the Peoples Gazette, the state government has contracted the services of Messrs Tos Funeral Ltd, a private firm, to carry out the burial. The total cost for the burial of the 103 victims has been estimated at N61,285,000.
The letter reads “Following review of your request and based on the information provided therein, the agency has “No Objection” to the award of contract to MESSRS TOS FUNERALS LIMITED at a total cost of N61,285,000 (Sixty-one million, two hundred and eighty-five thousand Naira only) for the mass burial for the 103, the year 2020 Endsars victims.”
This decision comes nearly three years after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other government officials reportedly denied the brutal killings of unarmed protesters at the Lekki toll gate on the night of October 20, 2020.
During the incident, the protesters, who were peacefully waving the Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem, were allegedly shot at by the military.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sanwo-Olu, Gboyega Akosile, was questioned by People’s Gazette about how this recent move reflects on the government’s past denials.
In response, he reportedly laughed and stated that the government would release its response soon.
The decision for the mass burial also follows a call by the Lagos state government for the identification of missing persons, which was largely ignored due to reports of intimidation and harassment faced by individuals who appeared before the panel of inquiry to make claims that potentially incriminated the government.
Despite the findings of the Lagos State’s judicial panel of inquiry, which described the incident at the Lekki toll gate as a massacre and ruled that the war-grade violence unleashed on peaceful protesters led to the death of numerous individuals, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu issued a white paper to affirm his denial of these findings.
However, there is substantial evidence and a series of government decisions that appear to contradict this denial.
For instance, the appointment of former Army chief Turkur Buratai as a diplomatic envoy to the Benin Republic raised suspicions that it was done to protect him from prosecution by the International Criminal Court, implying that the government was aware of the incident and the potential implications.
The judicial panel’s findings reveal alarming details about the incident at the Lekki toll gate during the #EndSARS protests.
According to the panel, the casualties of the incident were exacerbated by the Nigerian Army’s refusal to allow ambulances and medical help to reach injured protesters who were in urgent need of assistance.
Furthermore, the panel stated that the army tampered with the scene by stealing the corpses of the protesters and wiping blood stains, apparently attempting to hide evidence of their actions and obstruct the investigation.
Testifying before the panel of inquiry, Professor John Obafunwa, the Chief Pathologist of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), disclosed that a total of 99 bodies were deposited in morgues across Lagos in connection with the #EndSARS protests.
Some of these bodies displayed bullet wounds, blunt trauma, and bruises, indicating the severity of the violence inflicted upon the protesters.
Notably, three of the 99 bodies were successfully traced to have originated from the Lekki toll gate, where the incident occurred.
The video investigation published by CNN, along with several other videos taken during the incident, provided further evidence confirming that the Nigerian Army and police used live bullets to shoot directly at the protesters during the tragic event at the Lekki toll gate.
Despite the overwhelming evidence and the findings of the Lagos State judicial panel of inquiry, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has seemingly downplayed the incident, asking citizens to “snap out of it” and focus on rebuilding.
However, for the families who lost their loved ones in the violent event, finding closure has become a significant struggle.
The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has commenced a fresh physical verification of disputed and newly drilled crude oil and gas well coordinates across nine states, in a move aimed at ensuring fairness and accuracy in the allocation of the 13 per cent derivation fund.
The exercise, covering the period from 2017 to date, was formally flagged off in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, by the Commission’s Chairman, Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu.
The affected states are Delta, Ondo, Edo, Anambra, Imo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
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Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Shehu described the exercise as critical to ensuring transparency, accuracy and fairness in the administration of derivation revenue.
He explained that the Commission has a constitutional responsibility to monitor revenue accruals and disbursements from the Federation Account and ensure equitable distribution of derivation funds among oil and gas-producing states.
The RMAFC chairman stressed that determining the exact coordinates and geographical positions of oil and gas wellheads directly affects the legal and financial entitlements of the respective states.
He consequently charged members of the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) and deployed technical officers to carry out the assignment with diligence, precision and professionalism.
Shehu insisted that every verified coordinate, technical assessment and physical observation must be sufficiently accurate to withstand statutory scrutiny.
According to him, the exercise will involve examining disputed and newly drilled oil and gas well coordinates, physically verifying affected wellheads, plotting their locations using approved maps and considering relevant court decisions in resolving outstanding disputes.
He also directed that the committee’s harmonised technical report and findings be submitted exclusively to RMAFC for ratification and formal adoption.
The Inter-Agency Technical Committee comprises representatives of relevant technical institutions, including the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGoF), the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The Imo State Governor was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Petroleum, Hon. Emeka Mgbudem.
Other government officials and RMAFC commissioners in attendance included Hon. Adamu Abdu Fanda, Chairman of the Crude Oil Committee; Hon. Oladele Semiu Gboyega, Chairman of the Gas Committee; Hon. Ismail Mohammed Agaka, Chairman of the Public Affairs and Communication Committee; Ambassador Ayuba Jacob Ngbako; Hon. Akpan Imo Effiong; and Hon. Helen Bob Inafa.
Also present were the Imo State Commissioner for Lands, Surveyor Clement Nwabichie; Commissioner for Finance and Coordinating Economy, Mr Chucks Chukwuemeka; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Dr Angelina Ohiri.
The Commission disclosed that the verification exercise had been conducted previously but was being repeated to ensure that all issues raised were adequately addressed.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has paid a courtesy visit to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Benin City, Edo State.
Shettima arrived at the historic royal palace on Thursday to pay homage to His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, CFR.
The visit highlights the significance of the Benin traditional institution, which has preserved its rich cultural heritage, kingship, artistry and diplomatic traditions for more than seven centuries.
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The Benin Palace remains one of Africa’s most historic royal institutions, representing the enduring legacy and cultural identity of the ancient Benin Kingdom.
The Vice President is in Edo State to participate in the APC presidential campaign rally scheduled to hold at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
As part of efforts to expand access to cheaper alternative fuel and reduce transportation costs, the federal government has commissioned five Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) daughter and last-mile retail stations in Lagos State.
The facilities, developed by the Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation (IOGC) with support from the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), were commissioned on Wednesday by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.
Speaking at the commissioning, Ekpo said Lagos occupied a special place in the public-service journey of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that his administration was extending the development philosophy pursued during his tenure as governor to the national level.
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He said Lagos had demonstrated the importance of long-term planning, institution building, infrastructure development and the mobilisation of private capital for economic growth.
According to him, the federal government is applying similar determination through the Renewed Hope Agenda to ensure that Nigeria’s abundant gas resources support industrial growth, businesses, transportation and job creation while reducing the cost pressures faced by citizens.
“Through the Renewed Hope Agenda, the President has made it clear that Nigeria’s abundant gas resources must work for Nigerians. They must power our industries, support businesses, improve transportation, create employment and, ultimately, reduce the cost pressures faced by ordinary citizens,” he said.
The five stations are located in Idimu and Abule Egba in Alimosho Local Government Area; Ogolonto in Ikorodu West Local Government Area; Ajah in Eti-Osa Local Government Area; and Oko-Oba in Agege Local Government Area.
Each facility has a CNG compression capacity of 24,000 standard cubic metres per day and a storage capacity of 9,800 standard cubic metres.
The stations are designed as last-mile retail outlets to bring CNG closer to consumers in their residential and business locations.
Ekpo said the facilities would improve access to alternative fuel for motorists and commercial transport operators, while supporting the government’s objective of expanding cleaner energy infrastructure nationwide.
“These stations represent access. They represent affordability. And they represent the determination of government to take the benefits of Nigeria’s gas resources directly to the people,” he said.
He disclosed that President Tinubu had directed the expansion of CNG infrastructure across the country, including the development of an additional 500 refuelling stations towards a planned national network of 1,000 stations.
He said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that the benefits of the country’s gas resources translated into lower transportation costs for Nigerians.
According to the minister, expanding CNG infrastructure in Lagos would provide motorists and commercial transport operators with viable alternative fuel options, while bringing cleaner energy closer to consumers.
“Our objective is therefore not simply to count the number of stations commissioned. Success must ultimately be measured by impact: whether the infrastructure helps reduce operating costs for transporters and businesses, whether those savings reach commuters, and whether Nigerian families begin to feel tangible relief,” he said.
Ekpo said the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas), in collaboration with the Presidential CNG Initiative, MDGIF, state governments, investors and other industry stakeholders, was working to expand refuelling and associated infrastructure to improve access to cleaner and cheaper fuel.
He commended IOGC and the Lagos State Government for embracing the initiative, describing the project as an example of the federal government, state governments and private sector working together to develop critical infrastructure.
The minister also praised MDGIF for its catalytic role in supporting gas infrastructure development, assuring investors of the government’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for investments to translate into physical projects and economic benefits for Nigerians.
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