ANGRY reactions yesterday trailed the invasion of the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, by some security agents late Wednesday night.
Although operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, were said to have carried out the attack, the secret police were, however, quick to deny its involvement yesterday.
Recall that agents of the state raided the NLC offices at about 10 pm, which is what sources described as being connected with the recent nationwide protests against hardship in the country.
DSS denies involvement
“Good morning dear friends. Please, kindly note that the Service (DSS) did not carry out any operation at the NLC office in Abuja,” a spokesperson of the DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, said in a terse statement.
Among those who reacted included former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku, his counterpart in the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, Amnesty International, International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC, lawyers and civil society organisations., CSOs.
In its immediate response to the raid, the NLC sought an international inquiry into the invasion, describing the development as dangerous to the nation’s democracy.
Efforts to get the reaction of both the Presidency and the information minister proved abortive last night.
We‘re still shocked by the invasion—NLC
Reacting to the raid yesterday, NLC’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Benson Upah, said the labour movement had already directed all employees to stay away from office.
He said: “We are still shocked by the invasion. First, all staff of the Congress stayed away from the office as directed by the leadership. We cannot yet fathom the reason or reasons for the invasion.
‘’Since last night, we have been receiving calls from across the globe, including our affiliates to express their disbelief and outrage over the invasion. They said not even under military dictatorship did such a thing happen.
“We understand that the Department of State Services, DSS, has denied involvement. Who did it, alongside the uniformed policemen that invaded and ransacked the Labour House? We are in dangerous times in Nigeria. From what is happening, everybody is threatened. This is all I can say for now.”
Atiku condemns invasion
In his reaction, former vice president and presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, while condemning the invasion, said whoever ordered the invasion by men believed to be a combined team of security officials should be held accountable.
Atiku, who spoke through his Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, said such clandestine raids on civil liberties had no place in a democracy.
He said: “The invasion of the national secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, by persons believed to be security operatives, whether singly or as a combined team, stands condemned.
“The practice of such raids without a valid court order and in the wee hours of the day reflects the current administration’s desire to hold on to the vestiges of military dictatorship which the NLC, civil society and the media fought so hard to end and birth the democratic rule we enjoy today.
“Events of the last couple of weeks have shown this administration’s growing obsession with militarization of our polity.
“They are trying to suppress civil liberties and silence the media. Just the other day, they had protesters shot at and some killed for daring to protest the hardships this administration’s policies have unleashed on the people.
“This administration must be told in clear terms that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and those who do not share the same views with government must be allowed to air their views.’’
Invasion of NLC secretariat condemnable- Obi
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, in his reaction, described the raid as condemnable.
Speaking through his Media Aide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, Obi noted that raiding the office of the labour union, especially at an unholy hour, was not the best thing to do.
He said: “The NLC as an organization, fights for the rights of the majority of Nigerian workers and their officials are accessible.
“If any of our security agencies desire to see them, the proper thing to do is to invite them and I know they are law-abiding; they will honour such invitations.
“Invading their offices, especially after office hours, is an attempt to intimidate them. This has no place in a democracy.’’
ITUC demands investigation
In its reaction, the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC, in its X handle, called on the Federal Government to immediately return all property carted away by the invading security operatives.
ITUC, which plans to issue a full statement today (August 9), said: “ITUC strongly condemns the attack on NLC Headquarters by security forces.
‘’We call on the Nigerian government to immediately recall its security forces from the premises of the NLC, return all property taken from the premises, and conduct an investigation.’’
ITUC also called on the Federal Government to respect labour and trade union rights as #HumanRights, build trust with the labour movement in Nigeria, listen to their demands for meaningful and effective dialogue, and stop attacking them!”
TUC fumes, demands investigation
Also reacting, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC , condemned the invasion and demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.
TUC in a statement by its President, Festus Osifo said: “The TUC condemns the Wednesday night’s invasion of the Labour House, headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Abuja, by security operatives.
“The reported confiscation of books from the NLC library, allegedly in search of ‘End Bad Governance’ materials, is a troubling act that raises serious concerns about the violation of fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and expression.
“This action represents an overreach by security forces and poses a threat to the democratic principles that allow for peaceful dissent and free expression.
“We consider this invasion a direct attack on the rights of Nigerian citizens to freely express their views and to access information.
“The TUC calls on the Federal Government to immediately launch a thorough investigation into this incident. Those responsible for authorizing and executing this operation must be held accountable. “We demand the prompt return of all seized materials to the NLC library and an explanation for this unjustified action.
“Nigerians must be reassured that their rights are protected and that security agencies operate within the confines of the law, respecting the freedoms guaranteed under our constitution.”
Amnesty International condemns the raid
On its part, the Country Director of Amnesty International, Isa Sanusi, described the raid as a “sinister and calculated attack” designed to intimidate the labour union.
Sanusi said: “Amnesty International strongly condemns the brazen invasion of the headquarters of Nigeria Labour Congress by a contingent of armed security personnel.
‘’The chilling raid last night (Wednesday) appears to be part of a sinister and calculated attack designed to intimidate the labour union.
“We are deeply concerned about the safety of NLC officials. Under international human rights law and standards, trade unions cannot be targeted for their participating activities.”
Amnesty International emphasised that Nigeria had an obligation to respect and protect the rights of trade unions under international human rights law.
“Under international human rights law, Nigeria has an obligation not only to respect the rights of trade unions but also to protect these rights from abuse,’’ the group added.
Mike Ozekhome, SAN
Also reacting yesterday, human rights activist, Mike Ozekhome, said: “The invasion will depend on what sensitive information the Secret Service had regarding existential national security matters.
‘’If the invasion was carried out merely as part of scare-mongering device, artifice and tactics to repress popular dissent and permissible civil and peaceful protests, then it was utterly wrong.
‘’But, if it was done to protect public safety, public good and the rights of others to enjoy their fundamental rights, then it could be excused.
“However, the onus lies on the DSS to show that it acted within the confines of the law and that there was, indeed, an urgent clear and present danger it hoped to avert or unravel through the invasion, necessitating it not obtaining a prior order of court to search the Labour House premises.”
IGP must fish out invaders – Falana
On his part, human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, said: “Yesterday (Wednesday), the secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress at Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory was invaded and occupied by armed security forces.
‘’The invasion was apparently designed to silence the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress for having the temerity to criticize the harassment of the #endbadgovernance protesters by the police and other security agencies.
“The invasion is a shameful reminder of the armed invasion of the NLC Secretariat on February 28, 1988, following the loss of the post of the president of the congress at the Triennial Delegates Conference of the Congress by the stooge of Ibrahim Babangida’s military junta.
‘’As if the invasion was not enough, the reactionary forces in power at the material time proceeded to seize the secretariat and impose a sole administrator to manage the affairs of the Congress for over a year.
‘’Two years earlier, security operatives had detained NLC leaders, including its president, Comrade Ali Chiroma, who died a few months ago. The Gestapo tactic on that tragic occasion was to forestall a nationwide protest in response to police killings of Ahmadu Bello University students.
“For genuine democrats, it’s utterly regrettable that official actions in a democratic dispensation could be reminiscent of the atrocities that defined the dark days of military dictatorship.
“It is incontestable that it is illegal for security forces to invade the homes and offices of law-abiding citizens and corporate bodies under a democratic dispensation, hence, the State Security Service has denied its involvement in the invasion.
‘However, the official denial of the State Security Service in the repressive activity is not sufficient. We are, therefore, compelled to call on the Inspector-General of Police to order an inquiry into the identities of the perpetrators of the illegal invasion. This should not be a case of unknown invaders!”
Raid shows govt has no regards for democratic space — Inibehe
Similarly, Inibehe Effiong, human rights activist/lawyer said: “It seems this government has no regard for the democratic space. It is a further escalation of attacks on the human rights of Nigerians. It shows that the current administration has no regard for the labour union.
“The fact that the government would be so comfortable to invade the NLC secretariat in that manner should worry all of us. It shows that the city is not safe. That has to stop. But it is completely condemnable. The continuous Nigerian descent into a police state is now being pursued at a very scary pace.
“We cannot continue to condone this kind of behaviour. I don’t understand why that had to happen.It is completely unnecessary and such actions must stop.
“It is also an opportunity for introspection by the labour leaders. They may have to review their relationship with the government.
Raid, sign of Tinubu’s disregard for democracy — Adeyanju
Also reacting, one of the organisers of the recent protest against hardship in the country, Mr Deji Adeyanju, described the raid as a total disregard for democracy.
He said: “One would have thought that a Tinubu that was protesting against the military that he would even understand the concept of democracy, is now one of the greatest threats to Nigerian democracy by going after freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of association, and even raiding the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, headquarters.
“It is unthinkable that a man who ran away on exile out of fear for his life is now picking up protesters from their homes, mount security agents, which they constitute a special task force, comprising Department of State Security Service, DSS, Nigerian Police Force, NPF, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, picking up protesters in their homes on the order of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Unfortunately, we have degenerated to this level under the Tinubu-led administration that did not have regard to democracy, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of association, in fact, Tinubu should hide his face in shame.”
Raiding, seizing books, publications shameful – HOMEF
Equally reacting, the Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, Arc Nnimmo Bassey, described the act of raiding and seizure of books and publications at NLC headquarters disturbing and shameful.
Bassey said: “The invasion of the NLC headquarters by security agencies without a court order is a shocking development. The seizure of books and publications is both disturbing and shameful.
‘’If the action was actually related to the #EndBadGovernance protest, then it is a big insult not only to workers across the nation, but also to every hungry and angry citizen.
‘’The government should ‘go to court’ if they suspect the NLC of indoctrinating the poor Nigerians who went on the streets to tell the world they were hungry.
‘’Why seize books? Is the government afraid of books and ideas? Are the security agents now constituting themselves into a thought police?
‘’Unless they have credible information implicating the NLC in acts of illegality, the security agencies should understand that acts of this nature are embarrassing to the people and the government.
‘’The security agencies should apologize to the NLC, return the books that were seized and be careful not to further stoke the fires of anger and frustration through such abrasive actions.
Govt’s action wrong, aggravating polity – Global Rights
The Executive Director, Global Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu, also said the action of the government was uncalled for.
She said: “The government clearly has made a very wrong move and is only aggravating the polity. They are only piling on their list of atrocities. If they are not careful, it will blow up in their faces.”
Similarly, Dr. Zikirullahi Ibrahim, Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, CHRICED, warned that the country was almost returning to a full-blown dictatorship, with the government using iron-fist tactics to suppress dissenting voices.
He criticized the government’s hypocrisy in calling for dialogue while clamping down on dissenting voices.
Zikirullahi said: “We are almost returning to a full-blown dictatorship. The invasion of the NLC national office is reminiscent of our experiences during the dark days of military dictatorship in our nation’s history.
“It’s unfortunate that the President is not even pretending to have learned much from the military days. He wants to use an iron fist to treat issues that could have been better resolved through dialogue.
“On the one hand, he is calling for dialogue with Nigerians, while on the other hand, he is authorizing the security agencies to hunt down and clamp down on Nigerians who are expressing their grievances over some of his policies.”
[Vanguard]
The Dangote refinery says since it commenced full operations, it has processed 50 million barrels of crude — with 60 percent of its feedstock coming from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
Aliyu Suleiman, the group chief strategy officer of Dangote refinery, spoke when he appeared before an ad hoc senate committee on August 7.
The committee, led by Opeyemi Bamidele, the senate majority leader, is probing the alleged importation of substandard petroleum products into the country.
In his presentation, Suleiman said while the NNPC supplied 60 percent of the total processed crude, 20 percent was imported, and 20 percent was purchased.
‘DANGOTE REFINERY CALLS FOR FAIR CRUDE PRICES’
He commended the NNPC for making the supply to the Dangote refinery.
“About 60 percent of that came from the NNPC, and we are thankful and grateful to them for their support,” he said.
“About 20 percent of that (crude) had to be imported from outside and the other 20 percent we purchased.
“Essentially, all we are asking for, and let us be very clear, we are happy to pay fair prices.
“We are very happy with the price that they set. The price is like supermarkets and that is what we buy.
“But what we buy from others is what we think the regulator should look at and the good thing is that the regulator has published a guideline that will address some of these.
“We hope that we will work with the regulator and we will get their support so that the refinery can get 100 percent of its crude from Nigeria and buy the crude from companies that produce it in Nigeria — not from international middlemen.
“Whatever the prices, as long as it is in Nigeria, and that is the price also that the producer will pay their tax on, we’ll be happy to pay that.”
Suleiman said the country would benefit tremendously from the refinery, outlining the benefits to include foreign exchange (FX) generation and job creation.
More importantly, he said the country would benefit psychologically as Nigerians, and Africans in general, will be confident that the continent can succeed.
On June 4, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, said the NNPC has been very helpful in providing crude to the 650,000 barrels-a-day refinery.
However, he said some international oil companies (IOCs) are struggling to supply crude to his refinery.
Speaking on Arise TV on July 15, Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), described the claim as “erroneous”, noting that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has provisions that guide willing buyer-willing seller transactions.
But a few days later, the management of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) insisted that the IOCs were frustrating its request to purchase crude feedstock for the refinery.
[TheCable]
The hunger protest spear-headed by some groups under the hashtag #EndBadGovernance crept into most Northern cities like a bad dream. As the protesters began to hit the streets, they did not give anyone the impression that they would hurt a fly. They began by singing different protest songs and chorusing the need for the government to provide good governance and take steps to end ravaging hardship and poverty across the country. This was the case on the first day of the protest Wednesday, August 1, 2024.
But things began to get out of control on the second day of the protests as mayhem almost took over what was meant to be a peaceful protest to draw the attention of the government to the plight of Nigerians.
In Kano State, for instance, everyone was happy to see the protesters peacefully marching to the Aminu Kano House and presenting several demands to the governor of the state and they were expected to retreat peacefully as they went. But that was not to be because right there at the Government House, some protesters attempted to invade the place but were resisted by security men.
Apparently upset that they were denied access into the Government House by the security men, the rioters went wild. They first made bonfire right in front of the imposing government building and started pelting the security agents with stones and whatever object they could lay their hands on. Faced with such a challenge, the security men fought back, firing gunshots and shooting teargas to disperse the intruders.
But infuriated by this, the protesters decided to visit their anger and frustration on any government facility on sight. The first such facility that came under attack was the Industrial Digital Park, a business hub built by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, at the centre of the ancient city of Kano. It was desecrated and looted bare by the angry mobs. They descended on the multi-million Naira facility with the fury of a hurricane and left it naked like a forlorn grave.
They also ransacked a Kano State High Court premises and carted away vital court documents and exhibits that cannot be reproduced to aid the cases related to those documents.
The irate mob carted away computers, air condition units, solar panels and batteries, internet facilities, chairs and other vital tools they found at the NCC office while exhibits such as guns, documents, among others, were taken away from the Kano court.
The hoodlums also vandalised the oldest printing press in the Northern region of Nigeria, the Kano Printing Press and other private properties. In many places, the army of protesters looted food items and carted away properties in others, leaving nothing valuable behind. They operated more like locusts and cankerworms, leaving behind a tale of woes for owners of the properties they looted and torched.
Strangely, the demonstrators changed tactics and came out on day four and day five with flags consisting of white, blue and red, which many claim to be that of Russia. The flags emerged shortly after the nationwide televised address by President Bola Tinubu on Sunday, August 4. The angry youths claimed that the address fell short of their expectations as it did not address any of their demands but merely reaffirmed the government’s position for imposing hardship on them.
The protesters made up of mostly youths, concentrated their protest around Bakin Zuwo and Koki in Dala Local Government Area, Sharada in Kano Municipal and Gadon Kaya in Gwale Local Government Area.
They were seen displaying the Russian flag and chanting spontaneously in Hausa: “Koya gyara sai ya sauka”, literally meaning: “Whether he (Tinubu) adjusts or not; he must go”.
One of the leaders of the protests, Umar Ibrahim Koki said: “We are staging the protest because of bad governance related to fuel subsidy removal, poverty, insecurity and hardship, among others.
We listened to the President’s broadcast but his speech failed to address the demands of Nigerians.
“We carried the Russian flag because we saw how Niger with the support of Russia achieved the change of government and so we felt we should seek the support of Russian President, Vladimir Putin to come to our aid”.
On the fifth day, the protest spread to Kano – Zaria road, Zoo Road and Hadejia Road, among others. But the Kano State Government quickly distanced itself from the protesters carrying the Russian flag.
The Spokesperson to Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, Sanusi Bature, said the government has no link with the protesters displaying Russian flags, saying that genuine protesters had earlier submitted their grievances to Governor Abba Yusuf and that he is working hard towards onward submission to President Bola Tinubu.
The unbecoming behaviour of the protesters promptly forced the government of Kano to slam a 24-hour curfew on the town and later reduced it to 12 hours a day so as to calm down frayed nerves and reduce the level of tension in the town.
As at the time of filing this report, the number of casualties could not be ascertained, but the state government said over 600 hoodlums were arrested and arraigned in court, while about 60 per cent of the looted properties have been recovered.
The police also said it has arrested seven suspects made up of six Spaniards and one Nigerien and a Nigerian tailor who made the Russian flags for sale to the protesters.
Kaduna
Like in Kano, while the demonstration initially began rather innocuously in Kaduna, it later snowballed into a frightening dimension. Trouble broke out at the Government House Kaduna when other protesters, who were mostly children, joined from the Tudun Wada end. There was pandemonium when security operatives tried to block the protesters from occupying or assembling in front of the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House by spraying them with water. That immediately forced the protesters to run in different directions and caused them to sustain some injuries in the process, something that obviously provoked them into anger. They claimed some of them died in the process.
But while retreating, the angry protesters attacked two offices of the Kaduna State Government and gave a hot chase after the policeman they alleged shot at them, and assaulted him. The damage caused was beyond imagination as hoodlums vandalised government properties, attacked another house belonging to a lady and stole motorcycles kept in the KASTLEA premises.
Despite the attacks, the Kaduna government still pleaded with the protesters to be peaceful and declined to take them on for the destruction they caused. The peaceful disposition of the governor notwithstanding, the attackers still went berserk and unleashed more onslaught on whatever they came across.
According to Governor Uba Sani: “We deliberated and told the people that we were not stopping them from embarking on the protest, we were just calling on the people to ensure that the protest was done peacefully. That’s the reason why even when the people came out, we told the security operatives to tread with caution and make sure the protest was done peacefully to devoid of any rancour.
“But unfortunately, during the protest some people bent on fomenting trouble, or thieves, came out and attacked two offices and the house of a lady where they stole. They also tried to fight with the police operatives. What they did, to me, was very unfortunate because when people come out to protest so that things could be rectified, it would not be proper for those who had strived to get things for themselves, to fall victim of vandals.”
However, things became worse after the national broadcast by the President, as the protesters regrouped in their hundreds and walked through the streets, many amongst them hoisting the Russian flag and calling on the military to intervene.
The protest took a turn for the worse as miscreants swooped on the Tudun Wada axis, attacked banks in the area and vandalised government and private properties. As the attacks escalated, the irate youths continued to dare the police operatives; so soldiers were deployed and sanity was restored. The Kaduna State Governor who attributed the hoisting of Russian flags by the protesters to external influences, had to call for a security meeting where it was decided that a 24-hour curfew be imposed on Kaduna and Zaria metropolis.
Justifying the development, Samuel Aruwan who held forte as the Overseeing Commissioner for Home Affairs and Internal Security, said there was sufficient evidence to clearly indicate that the protest was hijacked by criminal elements who resorted to looting of shops and destruction of private and public property.
How the protest affected innocent citizens
In Zaria for example, Ismail Mohammed, a 19-year-old boy, was reportedly shot to death by a soldier, while firing warning shots to disperse the mob, who had taken over the place in the course of the protest. Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director Army Public Relations, said the hoodlums brazenly attempted attacking troops in Samaru, prompting the soldiers to fire a warning shot to scare the hoodlums away, which unfortunately led to the death of the young boy.
“The soldier involved has since been arrested and undergoing interrogation as at the time of this report. Saddened by the unfortunate incident, the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, has sent a high-powered delegation led by the General Officer Commanding 1 Division Maj Gen Lander Saraso to visit and condole with the family of the deceased.
The deceased was buried according to Islamic rites with senior military officers of the Nigerian Army in attendance,” he said. However, the father of late Ismail Mohammed killed in Samaru Zaria on Tuesday, alleged that his son was killed by soldiers who followed his son to their house and shot him.
“My son, about 19 years old, was outside the house when the soldiers started shooting. He ran inside and locked the door but the soldiers followed him and shot through the door.”
I was at Hayin Dogo when Abubakar called to tell me what happened. But it was after an hour that I could be able to reach home after Ismail was killed,” he said.
At the Hayin Danmani community in Kaduna, a stray bullet found its way into the house of a non-protester and injured him. The man is receiving treatment in a medical facility near the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House Kaduna.
Why Protest in Borno, Yobe turned violent
Thousands of protesters against bad government on the first day started peacefully as early as 7am along Bulumkutu road of Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State, with aggrieved people mostly youths expressing their grievances, chanting for justice and end to hunger. It later escalated to some densely populated areas of Gwange, Maduganari and other areas, leading to shooting and teargas by security operatives as youths chanted anti-Tinubu songs.
The rampaging mob promptly blocked the Maiduguri -Damaturu -Kano Road to ensure that the strike had a maximum impact while road users were subjected to long waits and assaults as the protesters took over everywhere. But to forestall the breakdown of law and order, the security agencies deployed some jets and helicopters to monitor the protest from the sky.
Similarly, in Yobe State, the protest started early in the morning in Potiskum, Nguru and Gashua local government areas peacefully.
The protests later went violent when some hoodlums started to loot and destroy public and private properties. They also set ablaze a police vehicle stationed in the frontage of the Borno Police Command Headquarters in Maiduguri.
At the same time, four persons were killed at Kime filling station, Bolori Junction along Baga road of the metropolis, thereby fueling violent protests. The Chairman of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Borno State branch, Alhaji Mohammed Kuluwu, confirmed the killing of four persons at Kime filling station.
It was against this backdrop that the Borno State Police Command in consultation with other security agencies and the Borno State Government and its Yobe counterpart, imposed 24-hour curfew with immediate effect.
Taraba: Gov. Kefas calms protesters, distributes rice
The protesters, including women, expressed their frustration over the current hardship, which they said has affected their ability to feed and provide for their basic needs.
As the protesters moved through the Jalingo metropolis and its environs, they chanted slogans expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s programmes and policies.
The procession was orderly and peaceful, with no incidents of violence. Security operatives were also deployed across the state capital to prevent any breakdown of law and order. The procession concluded at the gate of the Government House, where Taraba State governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, addressed the protesters. He acknowledged their frustration and assured them that the government was already addressing the root causes of their grievances.
He emphasized that his administration is people-oriented and committed to ensuring that everyone benefits from his leadership. Governor Kefas further announced the creation of an education trust fund to support indigent students in tertiary institutions. He also ordered the release of rice to the protesters, who were then grouped according to their local government areas for distribution.
The Tinubu-led Federal government has withdrawn the sale of subsidized 50-kilogramme bags of rice for N40,000 each, to public servants.
This was disclosed in a circular titled, "Withdrawal of internal circular on sale of subsidized rice to public servants."
The notice was sent out on August 2, on Day 2 of the #End Bad Governance in Nigeria nationwide protests.
The sale of the subsidized rice was announced on August 1, 2024, through the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs Human Resources Management Department.
It was the same Ministry that announced the withdrawal.
No reason was given for the sudden change of action.
Chidimma Adetshina Withdraws From Miss South Africa Pageant Amid Controversy Over Nationality
AFOLABI
The embattled Miss South Africa contestant, Chidimma Adetshina, who became the subject of an investigation into her nationality, has withdrawn from the pageant.
Chidimma, the model of Nigerian heritage, was recently subject to controversies over her eligibility to contest for this year’s Miss South Africa.
The 23-year-old was born in Soweto, South Africa. She is believed to be of Nigerian (dad) and Mozambican (mum) heritage.
On Wednesday, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for South Africa alleged that preliminary evidence suggests Adetshina’s mother may have committed fraud and identity theft.
The Home Affairs, however, said Chidimma, a minor at the time of the alleged actions in 2001, was not involved in the fraudulent activities.
In a statement via her Instagram page on Thursday, Chidimma said she was pulling out from the competition for the “safety of my family and I”.
“I would like to start off by thanking everyone beside me right from the start of my Miss South Africa journey. I’m really grateful for all the love and support I’ve been shown,” she wrote.
“Being part of the Miss South Africa 2024 competition has been an amazing journey, however after much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I.
“With the support of the Miss South Africa organisation, I leave with a heart full of gratitude for this amazing experience.
“I would like to take this opportunity to wish my fellow finalists all the best for the remainder of the competition. Whoever represents us wears the crown for all.”
Chidimma was among the 10 women expected to participate in the Miss South Africa grand finale on August 10, 2024, in Pretoria. The winner will represent South Africa at this year’s Miss Universe pageant in Mexico.
The Police Command in Nasarawa State has announced the release of 10 minors detained during the nationwide protest in the state.
DSP Ramhan Nansel, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lafia.
NAN reports that the police had arrested 50 protesters in four different Local Government Areas on August 1, the first day of the protest, for allegedly attacking their personnel and looting.
It also reports that of those detained, 25 were arrested in Lafia, 16 in Karu, six in Keffi, and three in Mararaba Udege of Nasarawa Local Government Area.
How We Spent 24 Years In Prison For A Murder We Didn’t Commit - Ex-inmates0:00 / 1:01
Nansel stated that “10 minors out of the 50 protesters were released to their parents and guardians.”
He, however, mentioned that “the remaining 40 have been charged in court.”
#EndBadGovernance protest: DSS detains seven Polish nationals in Kano
The police spokesperson urged members of the public to go about their lawful activities without fear of intimidation.
PUNCH Online reports that a major protest erupted on Thursday, August 1, across Nigeria, driven by public dissatisfaction with current economic and social conditions.
Demonstrators voiced their frustrations nationwide, calling for reforms and greater accountability.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu appealed for patience with his policies and urged citizens not to allow hoodlums to exploit the unrest.
The protest underscored the nation’s desire for change while highlighting the need for peaceful and constructive dialogue.
(NAN)
A popular Nigerian Crossdresser, known as ‘Abuja Area Mama’, has been murdered in Abuja.
Naija News learnt that his lifeless body was found lying along the Katampe Mabuchi expressway in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in the early hours of Thursday, August 8.
The deceased, who never hid his sexuality, shared a video of himself on Wednesday evening wearing a black dress with white petals but was later found in the pool of his blood in the same clothing he wore in the video.
Confirming the incident to LIB, the spokesperson of the FCT command, SP Josephine Adeh, said the body of the crossdresser was taken to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
She said, “It is true. We received a distress call of a dead body lying of an unknown lady found at Katampe Mabuchi expressway. It was when the police arrived at the scene that we discovered that it was a man in full female attire with blood all over his face.”
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has ordered an immediate refund of ₦10,000 charged as an application form fee from all job seekers.
The Secretary to the State Government, Olatokunbo Joseph Talabi, said the state’s Civil Service Commission charged the application form fee on behalf of a third-party independent examiners who will supervise the examination to be written by the applicants.
Talabi explained that there was nothing wrong with the ₦10,000 application form fee, stating it was a standard and historical fee that has been in place for decades.
He added that the state government decided to remove it considering the current economic realities. The statement published on the Ogun State Government X handle, on Thursday, read: “Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has directed the Chairman, Civil Service Commission, to refund all administrative fees currently being charged in relation to the ongoing recruitment exercise into the civil service.
“The directive of the Governor was communicated via a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government and addressed to the Chairman, the Civil Service Commission, notwithstanding the fact that these are standard and historical fees which have been in place for decades.
“These fees are charged by the Civil Service Commission on behalf of third-party independent examiners who administer and supervise the CBT Test and Centres.
“The State Government has, as a gesture of good faith and in acknowledgment of the current economic situation in the country and also taken into consideration the ultimate aim of this recruitment exercise, i.e. to alleviate the sufferings of the citizens and create employment in the state; instructed the immediate refund of fees paid and a waiver of fees for any new applications.“
A Mobil filling station near Airport Hotel, Ikeja, on Obafemi Awolowo Way, Lagos State, was, on Thursday, gutted by fire.
Naija News understands that the incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Thursday during a busy period of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) sales.
It was gathered that more than two vehicles were consumed by the ensuing fire.
Security operatives have arrived at the scene to divert both humans and vehicles away from the axis.
The fire service operatives have also arrived at the scene.
Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev Fr Chinenye Oluoma, has warned that people who neglect technology in search of miracles will end up doing crusades all their lives while those with technology will be cruising in luxury and abundance.
Oluoma said God remains the ultimate and first technologist, adding that every technology human beings made is either an imitation of the one God did in nature or a product of the intelligence God bequeathed on them.
The cleric gave the admonition in a post titled, ‘God and Technology’ on his Facebook page on Thursday.
The post reads, “God remains the ultimate and first TECHNOLOGIST. Every technology human beings made is either an imitation of the one God did in nature or product of the intelligence God bequeathed on them.
“Airplanes are technological imitations, and perhaps improvements of birds of the air. The helicopter was precisely modelled after the dragon fly, that’s why it can take off vertically. Ships, submarines and other marine technologies came from aquatic animals.
“I think there’s a technology that can translate one language into another. Let’s assume there’s a global conference in Nigeria and people from French, German, Italian, Arabic, Greek, Chinese, Russian etc speaking delegates come. As the speaker is speaking in English, the other delegates will be hearing their own languages through the technology. This technology is still improving.
“Do you know this is similar to, if not exactly what happened on the Pentecost day in Acts 2:5-6. As the Apostles spoke, the people from different places understood them in their respective dialects, i call it ‘Holy Ghost translation technology.
“When human beings can replicate through technology what God did or can do supernaturally, God apparently expects them to take the responsibility.
“The Israelites who were defended supernaturally by pillar of cloud and fire now depends on the iron dome and other military technologies for that. To cross the Red Sea today, they use Ships, boats or planes. God doesn’t part the sea for them anymore.
“What about manna? Josh 5:12 says it stopped falling once they ate the produce of the land and started cultivating the soil. From then till now, agricultural technology has given them more than manna and they are thriving.
“A people who neglect technology in search of miracles will end up doing crusades all their lives while those with technology will be cruising in luxury and abundance.
“The “prophets” God is using to solve people’s material problems do not gather them for crusades and marathon prayers, they use technology and intelligence to produce solutions.
“Today’s Israel doesn’t need Moses against Pharaoh, they have the Netanyahus doing that divine assignment with intelligence and technology.
“Your “prophets” here who claim to do same for you only gather you for miracle crusades and collect your money to go and enjoy in Israel. When you have sense, Faith makes sense. If you like interpret this to mean that Fada Oluoma doesn’t believe in miracles, na you sabi.”
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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Joe Igbokwe has faulted the party over its attitude towards former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Igbokwe lamented that APC just ignored El-Rufai without thinking of how the party got to its current level.
Posting on his Facebook page, Igbokwe described the former governor as a fearless leader, key player and organizer.
Igbokwe said: “I do not know why the leadership of APC Nigeria thinks that a scholar with huge brain, a bold thinker, a fearless leader, a facilitator, a key player, a team player, organizer like Mallam El-Rufai can just be ignored as if we do not know how we got here.”
El-Rufai, a founding father of the APC, has been sidelined since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.
Tinubu had nominated El-Rufai for a ministerial role but the Senate failed to clear him.
El-Rufai’s successor, Governor Sani Uba’s administration had instituted a probe against him over alleged misappropriation of funds while in office.
United States-based Nigerian dancer, Korra Obidi has secured a permanent restraining order against her estranged husband, Justin Dean.
Nancy, Korra’s sister, who shared the update in an Instagram post on Wednesday, revealed that the order was granted after a long legal battle.
DAILY POST reports that Obidi and Dean’s marriage crashed in 2022, over allegation of infidelity.
Also, Korra and ex-hubby Justin Dean, in a court document dated 19th January 2022, were banned from sharing photos and videos of their children, June and Athena Dean, on the internet.
In June 2023, Korra cried out on social media over anonymous people reporting her to Child Protective Services, CPS, accusing her of abusing her children.
Nancy, in the Instagram post, detailed allegations of harassment, exploitation and defamation by Justin and an associate, who allegedly shared intimate content of their children.
“Dear IG fam. How are you doing? I have never brought this issue here but I’m too excited and I want to share this.
“Today, my sister @korraobidi secured permanent restraining order against her Facebook stalker. This stalker defamed, harassed and threatened her for over 2 years on Facebook.
“It does not end there, this stalker befriended my sister’s ex. He invited her to his house and while she was there, she took pictures and videos of my sister’s children unclad right in their father’s bathroom.
“He permitted this stalker to share the clips and photos with a group of racists in exchange for monetary gains.
“So far, my sister has spent almost $200,000 fighting for her right to be in her children’s life. Today was the first of several hearings. She has taken him to court to get back her right to motherhood. We are happy it’s off to a great start. The stalker can no longer bully her online or come 100 yards near her and her children.
“I’m grateful to God for my sister. She escaped, not a lot of people are that lucky. Now she’ll fight for her TOTAL FREEDOM.”
Bismarck Rewane, an economist and the Executive Director of Financial Derivatives, has said the prices of tomatoes and pepper dropped to N60,000 per basket amid the hunger protests.
Rewane, who is also a member of the Presidential Economic Coordination Council, disclosed this on Thursday in an interview with Channels Television.
According to him, the drop represents a significant price reduction when compared to the N130,000 to N150,000 a basket of tomatoes and pepper sold two to three weeks ago.
He, however, noted that the food items were sold out at perishable value.
According to him, the prices of tomatoes and pepper may increase again as business activities return to normalcy in Nigerian markets post-protests.
“Our team went into the market Yesterday(Wednesday), percent drop in the price of tomatoes to down to N60,000 per basket, the price was bold two to three weeks ago.
“Pepper has come down to N60,000 by 57 percent. I think that these are perishable goods. Because of the protests and the restrictions on movement, the goods that are on the farm are not getting to market and the ones in the market are being sold off.
“What I think will happen is that in the next few days, the price of tomatoes and peppers will increase again. Right now it is the perishable value that will be seen in the market,” he said.
Recall that in the past week, protesters had taken to the streets in major Nigerian cities, demonstrating against the rising cost of living in the country.
Commercial sex workers in Kano have appealed to organisers of the nationwide hunger protests to engage the Federal Government in dialogue.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that the protests had crippled social-economic activities, leaving them without customers and struggling to survive.
Monica James, who operates on France Road, said that dialogue was the only option to address the grievances of the protesters.
“I have not eaten for two days because of the curfew; our customers are nowhere to be found,” she said.
She urged the organisers to shelve their protests and negotiate with the government to end the demonstrations.
Deborah Iliya, a sex worker on Yoruba Road, who echoed James’ sentiments, described the situation as horrible, as she has not been able to find customers.
Hannatu Ibrahim, of Weather Head Area, also called for an end to the protests, joining the growing calls for a return of normalcy.
Caroline James, a sex worker operating from a brothel on Enugu street in Sabon Gari, said that the infiltration of hoodlums and subsequent violence “spoilt our business.”
She said that she had booked clients who were willing to pay between N30, 000 and N40,000, but they were unable to keep their appointments due to the tension and curfew.
A sex worker, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that some of her colleagues were forced to share rooms due to the lack of customers during the protest.
She appealed to the authorities to relax the curfew, stating that it had severely impacted their ability to conduct business.
Moses John, a bar attendant, told NAN that the curfew had severely impacted business activities in Sabon Gari, with hotels and bars hardly selling due to the absence of customers.
Kenneth John, a dealer in Esi Ewu ( goat head) on Aitken Road, told NAN that the curfew had negatively impacted business activities in Sabon Gari, lamenting that he had lost several heads of goats due to lack of power supply.