The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, has outlined conditions for some Nigerians who want to use the Eagle Square for the Aug. 1 nationwide protest.
Wike gave the conditions during a town hall meeting in Abuja on Saturday, to dissuade FCT residents from participating in the nationwide protest.
He explained that the meeting was necessary for stakeholders in the FCT to agree on the need for peace and order, which could not be guaranteed, if residents joined the protest.
“Who are these people who want to protest? They have applied to me to grant Eagle Square. Do you apply to me through social media?
“You will write a letter to the Minister. I will see you; who are you; what do you want to do? How many days do you want to spend? How much will you pay?
He said that he watched some unidentified persons on Channels TV news, telling the Inspector General of Police that they have applied.
“You don’t apply to me through Channels; you must apply properly. You must pay what we call security cost, so that if there is any damage to the facility, we will take from that security cost and repair it.
“We don’t just give people because you have applied. You must fulfil the conditions. People have paid for Eagle Square, and you said you have applied to me now.
“So, I should go and cancel the other people’s own because you want to protest? It is first come, first served.
“I am not saying that people should not protest, but not protest that is aimed at destabilising the government”, he added.
The Minister, who cautioned against a repeat of #EndSARS protest experience, described Abuja as a centre of unity, adding the FCT Administration would not allow violence in the guise of protest.
He assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu was working to tackle the challenge of hunger and reduce suffering in the country through various policies and programmes.
He added that Tinubu had increased minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 within one year in office.
