President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, to cut power supply to neighbouring Niger Republic as part of the ECOWAS economic sanctions on the military junta which ousted the democratic government of President Mohamed Bazoum.

Authoritative sources familiar with the development confirmed the action to THEWILL.

Mainstream Energy, the company which supplies power to Niger, stopped supplying electricity to the country yesterday , according to THEWILL Correspondent, who confirmed that President Tinubu issued the directive last night.

The President’s Special Adviser on Media, Ajuri Ngalale, had yet to respond to inquiries from THEWILL when filing this report.

This is a developing story..

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to grant interest-free soft loans to Muslims.

MURIC Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola made the call yesterday.

He noted that it is forbidden for Muslims to receive or give interest on loans.

He said the call was in view of President Bola Tinubu’s promise, in his national broadcast on Monday, of palliatives, including interest loans of about N75bn at 9% interest, N500,000 loan to N1m at 9% and another N100bn transportation loan also at 9%, to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal and fuel price hike on citizens.

“We appreciate the concern of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Nigerians particularly in these difficult times. The offer of loans to cushion the effect of the withdrawal of oil subsidy shows that the president cares about the citizenry.

“However, Nigerian Muslims cannot and will not take interest loans as the latter is capable of constituting a wedge between Nigerian Muslims and their Creator (Almighty Allah). We prefer the everlasting peace of al-akhirah (the Hereafter) to the material gains of this world.

“Interest is haram and Allah explicitly forbids it when He said, “Oh you who believe, fear Allah and give up that interest which is still due to you, if you are true believers. But if you do not desist, then you are warned of the declaration of war against you by Allah and His Messenger….” (Glorious Qur’an 2:278 – 279),” Akintola said.

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, on Wednesday, beat Italy 3-2 to qualify for the Round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

South Africa’s Chrestinah Kgatlana’s scored a 93rd-minute winner in stoppage time to seal a second-round qualification. This is a historical feat for the South Africans as it is their first time ever.

Although South Africa led 2-1 with Magaia strike in the 67th minute, Italy levelled the scores after a crucial header from Arianna Caruso.

Italy needed at least a draw to qualify for the knockout round but Kgatlana’s late strike was the difference. The Africans finished on four points, behind group leaders Sweden. They join the Super Falcons of Nigeria in the next round of the tournament

South Africa’s Bayana Bayana will play the Netherlands in the last 16 on Sunday, while Nigeria will face England on Monday.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has disclosed that response of the government and not the use of force will determine the duration of the ongoing protest.

The NLC president Joe Ajaero disclosed this while speaking in an interview with Channels TV at Unity Fountain in the FCT on Wednesday.

The NLC kicked off its protest on Wednesday morning against ‘anti-people’ policies in different states of the federation, such as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, and Edo, and other states of the federation.

He said, “It’s in the interest of the NLC to determine based on the response of the state whether the protest should be for today, tomorrow, or next, or till thy kingdom come.

“It is not by using forces to stop people from expressing their views.”

Recall that President Bola Tinubu announced in his inaugural address as president to the nation on May 29 that “fuel subsidy is gone.”

The fuel price per liter has since increased from N185 to N617 in different parts of the country.

On the basis of the rising cost of living in the country, the union issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to reverse its ‘anti-people’ policies.

The demands of the NLC include an increase to the current minimum wage, the release of the eight months withheld salary of university lecturers and workers, and a reversal in the increase of public school fees.

Following the coup in Niger and the seven-day ultimatum given the leaders to release detained President Bazoum to power and quit, the Chiefs of Defence Staff of the West African sub-region have commenced a crucial meeting at the Defence headquarters with Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa chairing the meeting.

The ECOWAS regional bloc meeting is expected to last for two days.

Recall that on Sunday, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States imposed sanctions on Niger and issued a warning of the potential use of force on the junta after a one-week ultimatum to restore President Mohamed Bazoum.

Chiefs of Defence Staff of Nigeria, Ghana, the Gambia, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d Ivoire, Cape Verde, Senegal, Benin Republic, Guinea Bissau.

Representatives from Niger, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau were absent at the meeting

Also present is the Commissioner for Political Affairs of ECOWAS.

The military junta on their part had earlier expressed opposition to any aggression against Niger by regional or Western nations.

ECOWAS statement released after the regional leader’s summit had declared “zero tolerance” for coups adding that it would “take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order” if its demands were not met within a week.

This is the first time ECOWAS has threatened military action to reverse the coups that have taken place in the region in recent years.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu did not save the sum of N1 trillion from the removal of fuel subsidy.

Tinubu during his national address on Monday, July 31, 2023, announced that the country has saved up the sum of N1trn in two months from the removal of fuel subsidy.

But Ajaero while speaking to journalists on Wednesday at the Unity Fountain at the ongoing protest said the government’s announcement was false.

Ajaero said, “The committee we are working with said it’s a lie, the committee is headed by Gbajabiamila, and the secretary of the committee is the special adviser to the president Paul Nnaji, said no money was saved.

“The director budget said no kobo was saved, and the president said he has saved N1trn, so who do we believe?

“So, if there is no transparency from both sides, then no money will be given to us or anyone, this is the kind of conflict we are currently having, so who is lying?”

Ajaero said Tinubu lamenting that people have stolen Nigerian’s wealth is not acceptable, stressing that he is a courageous man, who has the apparatus of the state for his disposal.

He also said despite the availability of Compressed Natural Gas in the country, the cabal in Nigeria wants everyone to buy Petroleum Motor Spirit(PMS).

“The cabal in Nigeria wants everyone to buy PMS, so we can keep filling their pocket, despite the surplus availability of CNG in Nigeria, we have begged the FG to make it available for Nigerians, but they said no, that it will take a year and six months for them to convert, how will we survive before then, because people will die” Ajareo lamented.

He added, “We can’t talk about how long the strike we will embark on will last, but after today we will review the situation, the option of continuing this protest is open to us, we are not backing down now.” Ajaero reiterated.

A 27-year-old Dubai-based footballer, Yusuf Baoku, has said he joined Alora confraternity in Osun State because of his social security.

Baoku, who was arrested and paraded at the Osun State Police Command for attempted murder and assault alongside armed robbery suspects, said he returned to Nigeria because of injury.

He confessed that he joined the Alora confraternity society for social protection and security against hoodlums.

According to him, “I am a professional footballer based in Dubai. I had an injury and I returned to Nigeria for a while. I was at Igbajo Polytechnic when some group of guys were threatening me. I decided to join a cult (group) for my social security.”

Corroborating the suspect, the spokesperson of Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, disclosed that one sharp cutlass was recovered from Baoku.

She said, “He was apprehended by the patrol team of Anti-cultism squad at Igbajo town, Osun State while other members of the gangsters took to their heels immediately they sighted our Police vehicle. The suspects were apprehended in connection with a case of attempted murder of one Ajayi David ‘M’ and assault of one Tiamiyu Adesola ‘M’ a student of Igbajo Polytechnic.”

Dr. Vwaere Diaso, a young medical doctor, lost her life in an elevator accident at the General Hospital in Odan, Lagos state.

The accident happened on Tuesday, August 1,

Dr. Diaso, who was set to complete her housemanship in just two weeks, was on her way to collect her meal from a dispatch ride when the unfortunate event occurred.

The elevator, which had been reportedly faulty for some time, crashed from the 10th floor to the ground floor, leading to the fatal accident.

Her colleagues and friends, shocked by the loss, revealed that Dr. Diaso had completed her medical degree at Babcock University. She was rushed to the emergency ward after the accident, but despite the medical team’s efforts, she tragically passed away.

Heartbroken friends and colleagues have alleged that the hospital management had neglected to repair the faulty elevator despite being aware of the issue, and they believe this negligence ultimately cost Dr. Vwaere Diaso her life.

As the community mourns her untimely death, questions are being raised about the importance of maintaining hospital infrastructure to ensure the safety of staff and patients alike.

Angry Nigerian workers and civil society organisations on Tuesday protested over hardships resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy the President Bola Tinubu.

The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero alongside other officials of the labour, assembled at the Unity Fountain at Abuja for a “peaceful protest”.

In Lagos, all the aviation unions joined in the nationwide protest announced by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC.

At about 6:30 am, members of the aviation unions had gathered under the bridge leading to Oba Akran in support of the national body of the NLC to press home their demands.

The aviation unions as at the time of filing this report are preparing to march to Alausa where they intend to drop their letter of protest to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Also in Osun, members of the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU), Labour Unions – the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joint Action Front, and members of the Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) thronged Osogbo, the state capital with protest to call on the government to urgently address issues of economic hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.

The protesters call on the government to address the hardship facing Nigerians due to the removal of fuel of subsidy.

“We are saying enough to corruption. We are saying enough to the commercialisation of education. Nigerian workers are saying enough to abuse of power. We are saying enough to poor workers’ wages that cannot take workers home. Workers are demanding immediate stoppage of all of those policies that are culpable of incapacitating our people, that are culpable of incapacitating Nigerian workers.

“We are saying enough is enough to all policies that are bringing suffering to our people. We are saying enough to all policies that are culpable of dividing Nigeria into different factions. We are saying enough is enough.

as port operations continue

Commercial bus drivers have defied the Lagos State Government directive that all yellow transport buses should slash their fares by 25 per cent.

This is even as port operations have continued unhindered despite the ongoing strike action by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

Recall that Governor Sanwo-Olu, while speaking to journalists during a media briefing on Monday, had said that a 50 Percent slash in transport fare on all Lagos State-controlled transport mediums (BRT Blue Line) and a 25 per cent slash in transport fare on all yellow buses will commence on Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023.

However, checks by Tribune Online on Wednesday morning revealed that while all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses complied with the directive to slash fares by 50 per cent, yellow buses didn’t slash transport fares by 25 per cent.

Transport fares from Agege to Ikeja still stood between N300 and N400 while Ijora to Oshodi still went for N500. Apapa to Ijora was still N200 and Apapa to Contain was still being carried at N300.

Speaking with Tribune Online on why yellow bus drivers have not complied with the State government directive, a bus driver Salau Liadi explained that there was no incentive from any of their leadership that could have warranted a slash in Transportation fares.

“Mr. Governor said he has an agreement with our leadership, but we have not heard anything from anybody.

“I am on the road because I have to put food on the table for my family. The cost of petrol has not gone down, neither have we been given fuel by anybody to slash Transportation fares. So I don’t really understand this Lagos State Government directive that yellow buses should slash fares by 25 per cent.

“The BRTs can do that because the State government must have provided incentives for them. But for us yellow buses, we can’t slash fares because we still buy fuel at N585 per litre,” Liadi told Tribune Online.

The Lagos State Governor had said on Monday that it was working on rolling out these palliatives to lessen the pain that the removal of subsidy had brought on the citizens.

“We’ve had extensive conversations with all of the stakeholders in our transport system, both formal and informal modes of transportation, and we have come to a conclusion, which the state government will be supporting.