Seven Polish nationals arrested for allegedly waving Russian flags during the #EndBadGovernance protest in Kano have been released.

They were arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on August 5, 2024.

Some tailors accused of sewing Russian flags for #EndBadGovernance protesters were also arrested.

The seven Polish nationals were accused of playing a “suspicious role” in protests against government policies and economic hardship, the DSS said upon their arrest.

However, Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Andrzej Szejna, said the nationals are six students and their lecturer who came to Nigeria from the University of Warsaw for an African studies exchange programme at Bayero University in Kano.

In an X post on Wednesday, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, announced that the arrested nationals had been released.

The post read, “Polish students have been released and are in Kano. The Minister @sikorskiradek spoke today with the representative of parents, Mr. Jacek Półrolniczak, and thanked the students’ families for the good cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Thank you to everyone involved in the release of citizens!”

Olumide Akpata, Labour Party (LP) candidate in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, says he can’t be remote-controlled by any political benefactor or godfather if he wins the forthcoming poll.

The former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said he is only answerable to the people of the state.

“I have no strings attached. I am not answerable to any godfather. I am not answerable to any political benefactor.

“That is one reason they (Edo people) can trust the Labour Party government because we are answerable to the people,” he said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday.

The forthcoming governorship election in the state has top contenders including Akpata, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akpata said unlike the other candidates attached to former and serving governors, he is not answerable to any political godfather.

The LP candidate also said his campaign is not funded by Governor Godwin Obaseki whose anointed candidate is PDP’s Ighodalo.

“Initially, I was said to be the agent of Governor Obaseki, we were able to debunk that. Today, I was said to be sponsored by the APC. I think it is conspiracy theorising that is most stupid.

“I am funding myself and I have friends who believe in me and that we can do much better in Edo,” he said.

Akpata said the performance of Obaseki in the last eight years has been underwhelming.

“There is a gulf between myself and Governor Obaseki; it’s night and day. I cannot and will not be associated with his government. His performance has been underwhelming.

“I have been attacked, my billboards have been pulled down. Everybody knows that I am not his choice; I am not his Plan Z,” he said.

“I am saying that Governor Obaseki has been a failure; an unmitigated disaster. In failure, there will always be flashes of positives here and there but we are talking about on the whole, in the sum,” he added.

Akpata said the people of Edo need a breath of fresh air. “The reason they (voters) should look at us is that we need a breath of fresh air, you need something different,” he said.

“For 25 years, PDP and APC have been running Edo State. In the last eight years, one man has belonged to both parties.

“It is an abject failure and so we must try something else and the Labour Party presents a different approach to the subject: a people-centric, people-focused, people-impacting approach.

“Every government must ask itself: whatever resources I have available, how will it impact the greatest number of the people? That is the approach of the Labour Party,” the LP candidate explained.

Akpata said if elected, he would start with electricity agriculture, education and healthcare. He said he would call for private-public partnerships to set up power plants around the state.

The former NBA president expressed optimism that he would defeat Ighodalo and Okpebholo at the poll despite that they are backed by Obaseki and former governor Adams Oshiomhole respectively.

A Federal High Court Sitting in Abuja has struck out a suit instituted against the #Endbadgovernance protesters, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Department Of State Services (DSS), and the Chiefs of Army and Defence Staff.

The suit filed by 17 Nigerians against the last nationwide protests was dismissed by the court for want of diligent prosecution.

Justice Peter Lifu terminated the suit on Thursday following the absence of the 17 plaintiffs and 26 defendants in court and without legal representation from the two parties.

Although the suit was fixed for hearing, the judge expressed shock that none of the 17 plaintiffs showed up nor were they represented by any legal practitioner.

The plaintiffs drawn from the six geo-political zones of the country had approached the court seeking an order of the court to terminate the protests because their fundamental rights to freedom of movement, human dignity, right to own property, economic, social and cultural development and right to national peace and security were being breached.

They asked the court to compel the DSS boss, IGP, army chiefs as well and the AGF to enforce their fundamental rights for them by bringing the protesters to order.

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin on Thursday honoured Cristiano Ronaldo with a special award in recognition of his remarkable legacy in the world’s most prestigious competition.

Cristiano Ronaldo the all-time leading goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League.

Ronaldo’s achievements in Europe’s premier club competition – over the course of more than 18 years – were recognised during the inaugural 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 36-team league phase draw ceremony on Thursday 29 August at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

The former Sporting Clube de Portugal, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward has scored 140 Champions League goals in 183 appearances.

He is 11 goals clear of Lionel Messi and 46 ahead of third-placed Robert Lewandowski at the top of the scoring charts.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the brightest stars in the UEFA Champions League constellation. His extraordinary goalscoring achievements in the competition seem destined to stand the test of time, posing a remarkable challenge for future generations to surpass.

“His sustained excellence at the highest level is a testament to his relentless pursuit of both team and individual honours. Over more than two decades, he has continuously evolved and refined his game while preserving a youthful passion for scoring and celebrating goals.

“His professionalism, work ethic, dedication and ability to shine on the grandest stage are qualities that football players everywhere should aspire to emulate,” UEFA President Ceferin said.

Ronaldo has finished seven separate Champions League seasons as leading scorer – more than any other player – spanning from his eight goals in Manchester United’s triumphant 2007/08 campaign to his 15-goal haul when Real Madrid claimed their third straight title in 2017/18. He also holds the record for most goals in a single Champions League season having found the net 17 times in 2013/14, including in the extra-time win against Atlético de Madrid in the final.

The Portugal forward has won the competition once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid – making him the first five-time winner in the competition’s history since 1992 – and is the only player to have scored in three separate Champions League finals (2008, 2014, 2017).

He also holds the record for longest Champions League scoring streak having struck in 11 successive matches from June 2017 to April 2018. Ronaldo has also scored an astounding eight Champions League hat-tricks.

The multiple Ballon d’Or and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year recipient is also the all-time leading scorer in all UEFA club competition (145 goals, 197 appearances) as well as the most prolific ever player in men’s international football (130 goals, 212 appearances).

CRISTIANO RONALDO’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CAREER IN NUMBERS

Appearances: 183

Goals: 140

Wins: 5 (2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)

Top scorer: 7 times (2007/08, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15*, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18)

Most goals in a single season: 17 (2013/14)

Longest scoring streak: 11 games

*Joint-top scorer with Lionel Messi and Neymar

The federal government yesterday warned members of the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) that it may be compelled to implement a ‘No Work, No Pay’ order on them should refuse to call of the ongoing warning strike.

In a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the ministry said that it found the decision of the doctors to proceed on strike action, in the midst of ongoing discussions, deeply regrettable.

It said that over the past months, the ministry, in collaboration with relevant security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had been working tirelessly to ensure the immediate and safe rescue of Dr Ganiyat Popoola.

It further said High-level discussions and coordinated efforts are currently underway, adding that government remained confident that these measures will lead to a positive outcome.

The statement said: “The ministry finds the decision to proceed with this strike action, in the midst of these ongoing discussions, deeply regrettable. As we believe that continued dialogue is the best approach to resolving any outstanding issues.

“In view of this, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare wishes to bring to the notice of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), that in line with extant labour laws, the federal government will evoke the ‘No Work, No Pay’ for the number of days the strike was observed.”.

The ministry said the measure was not intended to undermine the legitimate concerns of medical professionals but to ensure that essential healthcare services were not unduly disrupted to the detriment of the public.

“We encourage all resident doctors to return to the negotiation table so that we can collaboratively find lasting solutions to the challenges facing our healthcare sector.

“As always, the ministry remains open to constructive dialogue and is committed to working together with all stakeholders to achieve a fair and sustainable resolution,’’ the statement added.

Doctors under the auspices of NARD had recently embarked on a one-week warning strike to protest the continued stay of one of their members, in the hands of kidnappers since December 27 last year.

Meanwhile, the leadership of NARD met with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha late Thursday evening, with the minister pleading with them to call off their warning strike.

Addressing a peace meeting with the leadership of the doctors in Abuja, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Onyejeocha said that government is leaving no stone untouched in the effort to secure freedom for the kidnapped medical personnel.

She also assured that President Bola Tinubu has ordered that security be beefed up around hospital facilities in order to protect health workers and their patients.

The Minister said: ” I have to say here that the government has heard you clearly and Mr. President is feeling disturbed that these things are happening and it is not something he wished to continue.

“That’s why he has been engaging with security agencies every day, discussing issues of protection of lives and properties of the citizens. And so he told me to reach out to you to plead that he and the security agencies are working hard to make sure that this condition do not persist and that he is committed the protection of lives and properties that he promised Nigerians.

“In that stead, I plead with you that work is ongoing, that please rescind the decision to continue the warning strike because that as we speak people who are not kidnapped are dying. I know that you are passionate saving lives of your brothers and sisters who are in the hospitals”.

Earlier the NARD Resident. Dr. Dele Abdulahi Olaitan had recalled that on 27 of December, 2023, news broke that a lady doctor along with her husband and nephew were kidnapped from their house located within the hospital facility – the National Eye Centre in Kaduna.

He regretted that despite all their cries to the security agents to rescue the victim nothing came out of it.

He lamented that the mother of five kids and a breast feeding mother had been in captivity since December 27, 2023 till date.

According to him, though efforts got her husband released, all other efforts so far has yielded no fruit.

He said that the association had undertaken several engagements including protests and media advocacy but that it was when the association was not getting right responses that they decided to go on warning strike.

A staggering 55,910 Nigerians have been killed, and 21,000 others abducted by terror groups between 2019 and 2023, according to a report by The Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa, ORFA.

The report, released on Thursday, blamed extremist groups, including Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed herders, for these atrocities.

ORFA’s data revealed that Christians were disproportionately affected, experiencing 2.7 times more killings and 5.1 times more abductions than Muslims. Land-based community attacks accounted for 81% of civilian killings.

The study also found that armed herders killed at least 42% of civilians, while Boko Haram and ISWAP combined killed 10%. Kidnappings escalated, with 7,705 people abducted in 2022, and Christians were 1.4 times more likely to be abducted.

‘Islamist extremists enjoy relative freedom’

Frans Vierhout, ORFA’s data scientist, noted that the numbers are alarming.

According to him, the consistent increase in abductions and killings over the years indicates a worsening security situation.

He said, “Millions of people are left undefended. For years, we’ve heard of calls for help being ignored as terrorists attack vulnerable communities.

“Mass killings, abductions, and torture of whole families go largely unchallenged as the military pursue targets hundreds of miles away. Islamist extremists enjoy relative freedom to carry out atrocities against civilians in large regions of Nigeria.

“Across the country, over 11,000 incidents of extreme violence took place during the data period, with more than 55,910 killings and 21,000 abductions.

The little-known armed herders killed at least 42% of all civilians, while Boko Haram and ISWAP combined killed 10%.

“In the North Central zone alone, 3,007 incidents of extreme violence occurred. Of these, 2,010 involved killings, 700 were abductions, and 297 were a combination of killings and abductions.”

In the same vein, Rev. Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam, an ORFA partner and analyst, emphasized the need for government action.

FG’s priority
He insisted that the government must prioritize civilian protection and address the root causes of the displacement crisis. He stressed that the current security operations focusing on the North-East and North-West leave North-Central and Southern Kaduna vulnerable.

Para-Mallam said, “Nigeria’s government must prioritize civilian protection and address the root causes of the displacement crisis.

“Armed herders are targeting Christian populations, while Muslims also suffer severely at their hands. Kidnappers work to Islamist goals. Where young women are kidnapped, tortured, and sexually violated, hope for a normal married life and family may vanish.”

ORFA urged the international community to examine the data and understand Nigeria’s challenges.

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to allow graduates performing their mandatory one-year programme in the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, to serve within their geopolitical zones.

Afenifere advised the Federal Government given the increasing rate of kidnapping and banditry across the country.

While commending the Federal Government and security agencies for rescuing kidnapped NYSC members who were on their way from Akwa Ibom to Sokoto State, the organization urged the government to equip security agents better for optimum performance.

Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Jare Ajayi, reiterated its advocacy for enrollees to the NYSC scheme to serve within their geopolitical zones rather than going from one part of the country to the other.

The association further observed that these pockets of ‘achievements’ appear to be dwarfed by the avalanche of security challenges people are facing in different parts of the country.

Alluding to recent incidents, Ajayi noted that fear of kidnappers and attacks by bandits including cattle rustlers, are now rampant.

The Afenifere spokesman, who observed that kidnappers now seem to go for groups and high-profile individuals, called the attention of those concerned to factors responsible for banditry and kidnapping.

The organization stressed that attention should be given to the prevalence of ungoverned or under-governed spaces where the government’s control is ineffective.

Afenifere added that absence or paucity of government presence in such areas makes people of the area vulnerable to exploitation by terrorist groups, traffickers and other criminal elements.

He said: “The porosity of the borders has increased the influx of small arms and light weapons from the Sahel region – thus heightening the incentives for crimes and banditry.

“Illegal mining has created room for poor governance in the areas affected – resulting in poor service delivery, displacement of the local people, increasing unemployment as farmers and youths are forced out of their farmlands – a situation that is making these set of people to be ready recruits for banditry.”

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has granted a one-month moratorium to traders and other market stakeholders involved in exploitative pricing, urging them to reduce the prices of goods.

Mr. Tunji Bello, the newly appointed Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, made this announcement during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on exploitative pricing held on Thursday in Abuja.

Bello stated that the Commission would begin enforcement actions once the moratorium period ends.

He explained that the meeting was convened to address the increasing trend of unreasonable pricing of consumer goods and services, as well as the unethical practices by market associations.

What the FCCPC is saying

In his remarks, Bello cited a finding by the Commission, highlighting that a fruit blender known as Ninja, priced at $89 (N140,000) in a popular supermarket in Texas, was being sold for N944,999 in a supermarket located in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Bello wondered about the basis for the arbitrary hike in the price of the blender compared to Texas, United States of America.

He said the unwholesome practices including price fixing were threatening the stability of the economy.

”Under Section 155, violators whether individuals or corporate entities face severe penalties including substantial fines and imprisonment if found guilty by the court.

”This is intended to deter all parties involved in such illicit activities.

”However, our approach today is not punitive. I, therefore, call on all stakeholders to embrace the spirit of patriotism and cooperation.

”It is in this spirit that we are giving a moratorium of one month before the Commission will start firm enforcement,” he said.

More Insights

On his part, Ifeanyi Okonkwo, the Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Traders, FCT Chapter, noted that the charges on imported goods at the ports have also played a significant role in the surge in prices.

He urged the Commission to establish a task force and include the association in its enforcement efforts.

Meanwhile, the FCCPC boss said the government was aware of most of the problems raised by the market stakeholders.

“We have heard and you have genuine issues and the government has the responsibility to address the problems but generally, let us talk to ourselves too.

”There are also gang-ups to exploit consumers by traders,” he added.

Moreover, other market stakeholders who spoke at the engagement said that the high cost of transportation, insecurity, and multiple taxation among others were reasons for the continuous increase in prices of goods and services.

The Nigerian women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has made history by rising to eighth place in the latest FIBA rankings, released on Thursday.

This significant leap of four spots secures their position among the top 10 teams globally, making them the first African team – men or women – to break into the top 10 of the FIBA world rankings.

D’Tigress’ impressive performance at the Paris Olympics fueled their historic rise. Notable achievements include:


– Defeating Australia in their first game, securing their first Olympic victory in 20 years.

– “A brilliant performance” against France.

– Defeating Canada to become the first African side to qualify for the Olympic basketball quarter-finals.

Although they lost to the United States in the quarter-finals, D’Tigress’ remarkable display earned their head coach, Rena Wakama, the title of “best coach of the women’s basketball event.”


The top five teams in women’s basketball remain, United States (Olympic champions), Australia, France, China, Spain.

D’Tigress’ groundbreaking achievement solidifies their position as six-time AfroBasket champions and a force to be reckoned with in global women’s basketball.

-Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote said that by entering the textile industry, his company lost billions of naira in investment

-The billionaire businessman also said he was forced to sell his bank, Liberty Merchant Bank, for N1.2 billion

-He said the government failed to offer any protection through policy decisions, which resulted in the closure of the two factories

Behind every success story, there is always that struggle which is not so known to many. Such is the case of some billionaires like Aliko Dangote, who had records of failed businesses before finally becoming Africa’s number one billionaire.

Dangote shared personal experience during his keynote speech at the 2024 Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) summit in Abuja, according to an Independent.ng report. He claimed his company lost billions of naira in investment due to his entry into the textile sector.

Dangote talked about his challenges in the rapidly expanding Nigerian textile industry and why his two plants had to close.
Following the 1960s textile boom, the chairman of the Dangote Group said his company invested billions of naira in the sector.

However, the two plants were shut down because the government did not protect policy decisions. Dangote stated that he was forced to sell Liberty Merchant Bank for N1.2 billion to cover the pensions and gratuities owed to Nigeria's textile mill employees.

“When textile businesses were booming, we set up our textile mills called Dangote General Textile Mills in Kano. Then, we massively invested billions at that time

“We also went and bought the foreign shareholder of Nigeria Textile Mill, which was a textile mill set up for the Western Region by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. That was 1960. At the end of the day, there was no government protection. We had to shut both the two factories."

The billionaire claimed that the Nigeria Textile Mill presented the most obstacle because most of its employees had been there for 25 to 30 years, making it challenging to pay their pensions and gratuities.

Dangote said: “Luckily for us, somebody now came and said he wanted to buy our bank, Liberty Merchant Bank. By the time we sold Liberty, I cashed out N1.2 billion. After cashing out N1.2 billion, the industry consumed N985 million to pay pensions and gratuities just to get out of the business. That is how we now got out of the business. We burnt our fingers."

Dangote claimed that even when former President Obasanjo then encouraged him to make investments in the textile sector, he had to decline the suggestion because of his prior experiences.