Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos on Saturday visited two malls attacked by hoodlums in the state in response to xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Mr Sanwo-Olu described Lagos as a safe haven for business and investments while ordering security personnel to step up protection of all facilities so as to prevent them from further attacks.
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The governor, who was at Shoprite malls in Sangotedo and Surulere for a first-hand assessment on the level of destruction of the facilities, described the attacks as “reprehensible and condemnable”.
Speaking to journalists after a tour of the malls, Sanwo-Olu pointed out that it is sad that several shops and organisations belonging to Nigerians were targeted during the attacks.
“We have seen the amount of enormous destruction in both plazas and the first thing is to condemn in strong terms, whatever could have led to this, it is extensive destruction of people’s property.
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“As a government, we have come out to condemn this and to assure the business community that ease of doing business is paramount to us and security of lives and property is part of the to-do list for us.”
Sanwo-Olu charged security agents to go after those involved in the attack and looting, and bring them to book.
He described them as robbers, saying his government will not condone any act of criminality that will threaten the livelihood of law-abiding residents of Lagos State.
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According to the governor, “we will also be speaking and discussing with the police to find out what they are going to do with the number of people that have been arrested because speaking in clear terms, this is clear robbery.
“We could see from the evidence provided that people actually broke in by jumping walls into the properties. It is unimaginable.”
