…Says he can’t act on #EndSARS panels’ reports
…Signs Climate Change Bill into law
President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Federal Government will not act on the reports of panels set up to probe police brutality in the country following the #EndSARS protests of October 2020, until the various States that initiated the inquiries complete the process.
Buhari stated this yesterday at the Presidential Villa, State House, Abuja, while receiving in audience the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.
Recall that the Lagos panel presented its report on police brutality including the Lekki shooting to the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, while those of Rivers, Delta, Ogun States, among others, had earlier submitted their reports.
Speaking during the meeting with Blinken, President Buhari said State governments will have to take steps on the reports of their panels before the Federal Government acts on the recommendations.
The President noted that many States set up probe panels with different terms of reference given to them, the Special Adviser to the President o Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted him as saying, in a statement.
According to the statement, the US Secretary of State described the report of the #EndSARS probe panel as “democracy in action”, and said he looks forward to necessary reforms within security agencies.
Buhari also expressed his appreciation to the US for its support in the sale of military weapons to Nigeria to fight insecurity.
The President also commended the United States on the recent removal of Nigeria from the watchlist of countries violating religious freedom which Blinken said was “based on facts.
Secretary Blinken, who had held a virtual meeting with the Nigerian President earlier in the year, appreciated the contributions of President Buhari towards the protection of the climate, particularly his presence and contributions at the recent COP-26 climate conference held in Glasgow, Scotland.
Blinken said America and Nigeria have diverse challenges, but a common denominator is security, and hoped for better partnerships, “so that the bad guys won’t get the good guys”.
He described the #EndSARS probe panel report as “democracy in action,” stressing that America equally had its own police brutality, and hoping that necessary reforms would be made.
President Muhammadu Buhari has also signed the climate change Bill into law. His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Buhari assented to the Bill yesterday.
The House of Representatives and Senate had earlier passed the climate change Bill after it scaled second and third readings.
The president also signed into law the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (Amendment) Act.
