As youths converge on the Lekki tollgate in Lagos State for a commemorative walk in remembrance of the 2020 #EndSARS protest today.
President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, signed into law the Nigerian Startups Bill 2022, aimed at putting an end to the nationwide harassment of youths carrying laptop computers, among others.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, who made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in the State House, Abuja, indicated that with the new legislation.The Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council will also be chaired by the President.
Police brutality and harassment of young Nigerians had, two years ago, sparked a nationwide outrage that snowballed into weeks of protest, which climaxed on October 20 into the infamous Lekki shooting.
The EndSARS protest was a public display of grievances, calling for an end to extrajudicial killings, extortion and abuse of power, especially by officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
With the new development, Pantami explained that rather than the Minister lobbying law enforcement agencies to stop the act of harassment, the chairman of council only needs to give a directive, which will be obeyed promptly by those who misconstrue laptop-bearing youths for Internet fraudsters.
Recall that many young Nigerians have raised the alarm alleging harassment by security personnel for bearing laptops and were branded Internet fraudsters. The development, among others, led to the EndSARS protest.
He said: The main institution to address the issue is the National Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council to be chaired by Mr. President.
Number one mandate of the council is to listen to the challenges of our young innovators and direct relevant institutions to address the challenge. So, with that council, I believe the issue will be resolved.
MEANWHILE, celebrities and organisers of the EndSARS protest will hold a memorial in Lekki today to commemorate the killings, particularly youths, who were shot at, across the country on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
The planned memorial was disclosed in a flier shared by entertainer, Folarin Falana, popularly know as Falz the Bad guy, on his Instagram page.
According to the flier, participants would walk and drive through the tollgate where the Nigerian army allegedly opened fire on armless protesters who were demanding an end to police brutality.
Part of the banner read: EndSARS Memorial 2.0 procession. In memory of those who were killed on October 20, 2022 and those we have lost to police brutality, we will walk and drive through the toll gate, blast horns, sing and chant in unison through the toll gate, while we wave our flags.
