Lagos State Government has urged parents to talk to their children, most especially, the youths to shelve the planned protest and allow peace which has been enjoyed in Lagos to continue.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says as citizens, everybody has a right to protest, but when it cannot be controlled or identity of those behind the protest cannot be ascertained, then it becomes a problem, and there should not be protest instead.

Sanwo-Olu made the call during a town hall meeting, convened to deliberate on the protest called by yet to be identified individuals scheduled to hold across the nation from 1st August against hardship.

He spoke through the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, on theme; ‘Enhancing Community Engagement And Participation in Fostering Peace, Unity in Lagos.

The governor also commended the security agencies led by the CP Adegoke Fayoade for being proactive as opposed to being reactive, saying that “This shows that every single person in this hall has decided to take responsibility for what’s coming ahead irrespective of the outcome,” Ogunlende said.

Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade called on youths and protesters to shun violence, stating that the present situation in the country should not warrant protest which could lead to disorderliness, breakdown of law and peace, which the security gencies do not want.

According to him, Lagos is unarguably the economic hub of West Africa Sub Region and if protest is allowed, it is going to affect Nigeria economically, socially, and Lagosians believe in peaceful co-existence, with everybody doing his business without molestation or harassment.

Also speaking, Director, Department of State Security, Lagos, Dapo Amoo, said, “you can criticize government, you can criticize establishment, the question about the protest is, they said, they intend to have a peaceful protest, but how do you determine it’s going to come out peacefully. That’s the question we should all ask ourselves.”

Amoo recalled what happened during the #EndSars protest, as Lagos most especially struggled to get out of the nostrils of that skirmish.

He noted that the government has appealed to the youths to further exercise patience, as good things does not come easily, adding that government has begun the process by increasing workers salary.

Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Comrade Funmi Sessi, expressed her dissatisfaction about the protest, according to her, “this is Lagos’, I was born and bred in Lagos, many of us made money in Lagos, and take it out to other states, we enjoy government in the state. If you want to protest, go to the state where governance is not felt and express your grievances.

“As we talk now, many of the states could not even afford to pay the last N30,000 minimum wage, yet Lagos is ready to pay new minimum wage of N70,000. Let Lagos be free, this is about me as a born and bred Lagosian, free Lagos,” she concluded.

Also adding his voice, Chief Imam, Conference of Islamic Organisation, Shikrullah Shafii, urged government to ensure reduction in the prices of commodity, this according to him, is not just about increase in salary of workers, but having value for the increased salaries.

The security agencies and Stakeholders that attended the meeting included the Nigeria Police, Navy, Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp, Department of State Security, Air Force, Nigeria Labour Congress, National Association of Nigeria Students, Muslim-Christian clerics, as well as representatives of chairpersons of local governments and bank executives.