“The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors.”

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
(Diplomat, Lawyer, Philosopher & Third President of the United States of America)

Dear {{First name|Active Citizen}},

On October 20, 2025, two citizens were at the Lekki Toll Gate to honour the victims of the #EndSARS protests. Nanre Nafziger, who had written about remembering, and our Executive Director, Opeyemi Adamolekun, were there to lay flowers in remembrance.

What should have been a peaceful act of memory turned into yet another scene of harassment by security agents. Five years after Nigerians said enough to police brutality, citizens are still being intimidated for demanding justice. Even in mourning, the state resorts to force.

This is not new - from Biafra to Odi massacre. It is also exactly what we protested in 2020. But it’s heartbreaking that, five years later, the same impunity continues. The same brutality. The same silencing. The same disregard for human dignity.

We will not stop demanding accountability and reform until justice is done - for her, for the victims of #LekkiMassacre, and for every Nigerian who has dared to speak truth to power.

While we keep calling for justice and accountability through the #myLGA project, we’ve been talking with citizens about what local government really means for them, how it affects their daily lives, and why it matters who sits in those offices.

On our recent Radio programs in Ekiti (Fresh FM) and Osun (Rave FM), we’ve had honest conversations about “What the local government actually does for the local citizen”.

Our team has also been out in communities, listening, learning, and connecting with citizens as they share their own experiences of local governance.

It’s all part of helping people see that good governance starts close to home.

The work of building a better Nigeria never stops - and neither do we.

Have a great weekend!
The EiE Nigeria Team.