President Bola Tinubu has approved a monthly stipend of N50,000 for 10,000 Niger Delta youths to mitigate current hardship in the country.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, announced this during the Niger Delta Sensitisation Conference for ethnic nationalities and youths and women in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

He said the payment would be made under the NDDC Youth Intensive Scheme and would last for an initial 12 months with the possibility of extension.

Akpabio emphasised that this move was part of Tinubu’s efforts to address the region’s challenges and urged against participation in the national protest scheduled for August 1.

“The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will implement this scheme immediately to support 10,000 youths with N50,000 monthly to cushion the current hardship.

“We acknowledge the severe impact caused by oil and gas activities in the Niger Delta and are taking prompt action to address these issues.

“The economic challenges in our nation are known by President Tinubu and are already receiving required attention to address them,” he said.

Akpabio said that Tinubu had also approved the simultaneous commencement of the Lagos to Calabar coastal highway project from both states, which is expected to create thousands of jobs for the region’s youths.

According to him, the forthcoming national protest was orchestrated by faceless people aiming to instigate chaos and damage across the country.

“There is nothing in the 10 points agenda for the national protest that captures the interest of the Niger Delta.

“The organisers are merely copycats imitating the situation in Kenya, not minding the potential anarchy their protest will bring upon this country.

“The issues facing the country are currently being addressed, and so, there is absolutely no need to protest,” he stated.

The senate president pointed out that necessary funds were being allocated for critical projects to meet the needs and dreams of the Niger Delta people.

He urged for patience as the Federal Government’s policies and programmes take effect, emphasising that one year was too short a timeframe to measure its success.

Earlier, Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, called for calm and support for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He stressed the immediate implementation of resolutions from the recent Niger Delta Summit to accelerate regional development.

“Do not go out to protest, but rather let us consolidate on the gains this administration has made,” he pleaded with the youths.

Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, the Chairman, Senate Committee on NDDC, warned that the protest would further damage the nation’s economy, which could take years to recover.

He linked the current hardship to the removal of the corrupt petrol subsidy and the unification of the naira, asserting that these initiatives were necessary to prevent Nigeria’s collapse.

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, stated that Tinubu met a very bad economy and had already initiated programmes to revive the economy.

According to him, the Niger Delta was beginning to see the fruits of long-standing militant agitations for development under the present Federal Government.

“The Project HOPE is bridging the skill gaps among our youths, while we are working with the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce to train youths and young entrepreneurs of the region.

“We are also collaborating with the chamber to support small and medium scale enterprises as well as partnering the Bank of Industry to fund our empowerment initiatives.

“Youths should avoid participating in protest that could destabilise the country and hinder development, ultimately impoverishing the people,” he pleaded.

Mr Jonathan Lopkobiri, President of the Ijaw Youth Council, reiterated that Niger Delta youths, particularly Ijaw youths, should refrain from joining the national protest.

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has grounded the aircraft of Arik Airlines over $2.5m debt owed Atlas Petroleum International Ltd.

NAMA said the grounding of the aircraft follows a Supreme Court judgment in favour of Atlas Petroleum.

The agency disclosed the development in a statement signed by Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa and obtained by THE WHISTLER on Tuesday.

The statement is titled, ‘Grounding Of Arik Aircrafts By The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.’

NAMA said, “On the 19th day of July 2024, the enforcement department of the FCT High Court enforced an Order made by the Court regarding a debt of $2.5m owed by Arik Airline to one Atlas Petroleum International Ltd. by attaching their aircraft.

“Arik was further given a notice of Public Auction of the planes by the Court which was slated to hold on the 26th day of July 2024 if they fail to pay the Judgment debt. All these were served on our agency and also on our Supervising Minister, the Minister of Aviation.”

NAMA said the records show that on the 8th day of March, 2016, the Judgment Debtor (ARIK) appealed the decision of the High Court of Lagos State entering judgment against it to the Court of Appeal and on 30th September, 2021.

But the appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in a unanimous decision with cost, NAMA said.

The agency said, “ARIK again appealed to the Supreme Court for leave to appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal, and on the 9th day of January, 2024, the Supreme Court, per Okoro, J.S.C., delivered its Ruling dismissing the Judgment Debtor’s application for leave to appeal.”

According to NAMA, the judgment Creditor registered the Judgment of the Lagos State High Court in the High Court of FCT and On the 26th day of June, 2024, Justice O. A. Adeniyi, then sitting in Court 8, Maitama, Abuja) made an order after hearing Motion No: M/9785/2024 filed on behalf of Atlas Petroleum attaching all the moveable properties belonging to the Judgment Debtor, including the Judgment Debtor’s aircraft with Registration No: B737-700/ 5N-MJF, B737-800/ 5N-MJQ, DASH8-Q400 and 5N-BKX in satisfaction of the judgment debt.

NAMA said, “Copies of the Order and Certificate of Judgment were also served on us and the Minister. We understand too that Arik has obtained an exparte order stopping further execution of the order, though we have not been formally served. In the circumstances, since the first execution took place by attaching the aircrafts, further execution by way of sale can be halted whilst the parties go back to court to resolve the issues.

“However, in order to preserve the subject matter of the present dispute which are the aircrafts in question (the res), which have already been attached, we have decided to comply with the effect of the Supreme Court order, by grounding the aircrafts (subject of dispute) so that they are not taken out of the jurisdiction of the court or tampered with in a way as to frustrate the courts.”

NAMA said the Minister, Festus Keyamo being a Senior Advocate (SAN) understands the implication of the Supreme Court Order dismissing the motion for leave to appeal and will not risk his license as a legal practitioner or his privilege as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria by engaging in acts that will frustrate an order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“The parties to the dispute are encouraged to resolve their issues as quickly as possible so that the Arik aircraft in question can resume flight operations,” NAMA said.

Atlas Petroleum International is privately held and is registered in Nigeria. Stock in the companies is held by the Eze family, according to the company’s profile.

Arthur Eze is the company’s Chairman, according to the company’s profile.

Nestle Nigeria Plc has recorded another half-year loss after tax, following the foreign exchange reform introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Nestle posted a N176.9bn loss after tax which is a 254 per cent fall from the N49.98bn it lost in the same period last year.

This was disclosed in the company’s half-year financial statement seen by THE WHISTLER.
The company’s challenges began last year when it declared a full-year loss of N79.5bn which is 280 per cent down compared to 2022 when it posted a profit after tax of N48.96bn.

Although the company’s sales revenue surged by 55 per cent to reach N406.9 in June 2024 as against the N261.8bn recorded in June 2023, Nestle said it has continued to struggle with government policies.

The company which is famous for its brands like Maggi, Milo, Golden Morn and Nescafé posted a gross profit of N63.07bn, a rise of four per cent from the N60.79bn recorded in June 2023.

But Nestle’s profit after tax for the six months ending June 2024 was negatively impacted by the depreciation of the naira which sold nearly N1,600 per dollar earlier in 2024.

“The devaluation of the Naira led to the revaluation of our foreign currency obligations and had an adverse impact on the profit after tax resulting in a net loss of -N176.9bn for the first half of the year,” the manufacturer said.

The company’s net finance cost rose form N129.9bn last year to N315.6bn in June 2024.

As a result of the loss, diluted earnings per share which measures per-share profitability fell from a loss of N63.06 per share last year to N223.19 loss per share.

Nestle’s total assets grew to N868.95bn but the company’s liabilities valued N973.8bn exceeded its assets.

The Chief Executive of Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Mr. Wassim Elhusseini said, “We are confident in our ability to navigate the current challenges to deliver long-term value to our shareholders while contributing positively to our communities.”

Data from the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) showed that the company has a market capitalisation of N729.2bn while its shares closed at N920 on Monday, July 29,2024.

Two police orderlies attached to a former House of Representatives member, Joan Onyemaechi and her driver were on Tuesday evening killed when bandits abducted her and her children in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the gunmen stormed Onyemaechi’s church, King Jesus and I, located at Ogajifo Street off DSB Road and shot the two police orderlies and her driver before whisking the former lawmaker and her children away.

Sources from the street told PUNCH Metro that a stray bullet also hit a passerby who died on the spot.

“The gunmen stormed the church and immediately shot at the police orderly and the driver.

“They drove the lawmaker away in her SUV and were shooting indiscriminately in the street. Unfortunately, a stray bullet hit a young man who died on the spot.”

Onyemaechi was the immediate past Commissioner for Technical Education under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori before she resigned to pave the way for her younger brother to return for the chairmanship position in the just concluded council election.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the kidnapping incident to our correspondent but said that only a police officer and one other were killed.

He said, “Only a policeman and one other were killed. I don’t know whether he was the driver. They picked only her.”

The founder and Chief Executive Officer, Telegram Messenger app, Pavel Durov, has narrated how he had 100 biological children around the world despite being unmarried.

The 39-year-old entrepreneur made this known through his popular channel on Monday evening.

According to him, despite his preference to remain single and alone, 15 years ago, his friend (unnamed) approached him to donate his sperm in a clinic, which he acceded to and resulted in him helping over 12 families all over the world have kids due to what he described as ”high-quality donor material’.

Narrating, he said, “I was just told that I have over 100 biological kids. How is this possible for a guy who has never been married and prefers to live alone?

“Fifteen years ago, a friend approached me with a weird request. He said that he and his wife couldn’t have kids due to a fertility issue and asked me to donate sperm at a clinic for them to have a baby. I laughed my ass off before realising he was dead serious.

“The boss of the clinic told me that ‘high-quality donor material’ was in short supply and that it was my civic duty to donate more sperm to anonymously help more couples. This sounded crazy enough to get me to sign up for sperm donation.

“Fast forward to 2024, my past donating activity has helped over a hundred couples in 12 countries to have kids. Moreover, many years after I stopped being a donor, at least one IVF clinic still has my frozen sperm available for anonymous use by families who want to have kids.”

He hinted that he would plan to open-source his DNA so that his biological children could easily find him, stressing, “Of course, there are risks, but I don’t regret having been a donor. The shortage of healthy sperm has become an increasingly serious issue worldwide, and I’m proud that I did my part to help alleviate it.”

Durov further advised healthy men to donate sperm to families struggling to have kids around the world.

The Telegram founder is a Russian-born Emirati entrepreneur. In 2022, he was recognized as the richest expat in the United Arab Emirates, according to Forbes. In February 2023, Arabian Business named him the most powerful entrepreneur in Dubai.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Tuesday, interrogated the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Jalal Arabi, over alleged mismanagement of the 2024 Hajj exercise funds, among others.

Our correspondent gathered that Arabi arrived at the EFCC’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja at about 10 am and was grilled for hours by EFCC investigators.

An insider, who preferred anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter, informed our correspondent that Jabi’s questioning was prompted by petitions filed against him.

The source said, “He was invited to the commission’s office to explain how his commission spent the N90bn subsidy provided for the 2024 hajj exercise.

“His invitation was a result of the petitions against the chairman and his management team to our office over the alleged mismanagement of funds in the commission, and the 2024 Hajj exercise, among others.

“The allegations he was asked to respond to date back to 2021 and not just the issue of the just concluded exercise.”

The source added that “Three directors from the commission have also been invited to explain what they know about the issue. They include the Director of Procurement, Director of Finance and the Director of the Programmes.”

When asked if Jabi would be detained or allowed to go, the source said the anti-graft agency might not detain him.

“He may not be detained but he will be asked to come back if needed at the end of the day; but presently, he is still being interrogated.

”The CEO has been invited, he has honoured the invitation, he will go back, there is no reason to keep him in custody when he is already complying.

”The new EFCC is operating in accordance with international best practices. You can see that most of the people invited are always allowed to go if they comply.”

When contacted, the spokesman for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said he would get back to our correspondent on the matter.

He had, however, yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

At a post-Hajj press conference in Abuja on Monday, the NAHCON chairman had said the N90bn Hajj subsidy was transparently utilised.

“Each pilgrim was supported with N1,637,369.87 from the N90bn except for pilgrims under the Hajj Savings Scheme who enjoyed more.

“Hence, all registered intending pilgrims, except those on HSS, were required to pay a balance of N1,918,094.87 since the N90bn was not sufficient to make up for the balance,” Arabi said.

In June, the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, called on the National Assembly to probe the N90bn released by the Federal Government to subsidise the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

The governor described NAHCON’s performance as a failure, saying, “The N90bn subsidy paid by the Federal government for the Hajj operation, with some states, including Niger, paying about billions of naira; there is need for the National Assembly to probe the N90bn the Federal Government released for the 2024 Hajj. It is ridiculous that pilgrims were given only $400 to take care of themselves for about 40 days despite the payment of N8m by each pilgrim.

“The N90bn would have made more impact if shared with states. The money is enough to run the Universal Basic Education budget for four years.”

On June 11, the House of Representatives , resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the NAHCON over the conduct of the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.

The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Urgent need to investigate the National Hajj Commission and the Federal Capital Territory Administration Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, their agents and sub-agents over shoddy arrangement and treatment of Nigerian pilgrims in the 2024 Hajj exercise.”

The motion was moved by the lawmaker representing Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency of Kwara State, Mr Mohammed Bio.

Describing Hajj exercise as an important obligation important in the life of every Muslims and one of the five pillars of Islam, Bio lamented that about 50, 865 Muslim pilgrims across Nigeria were under the care of NAHCON in 2024, noting that some of them were not taken care of in terms of welfare, organisation, guidance and monitoring as expected.

The Oodua People’s Congress has called for dialogue between the government and leaders of the August planned protest against economic hardships faced by Nigerians.

The OPC urged President Bola Tinubu on the need for immediate reversal of increased electricity tariff and reduction of food and fuel prices as a goodwill gesture.

OPC gave its counsel in a statement on Tuesday by its President, Otunba Wasiu Afolabi.

It, however, urged the protesters to remain non-violent and toe the path of dialogue.

“A hungry man is an angry man. The government must crash the price of food, electricity and fuel for peace to reign and for people to know that the government cares about their welfare,” Afolabi said.

The Yoruba socio-cultural organisation urged Tinubu to immediately issue an Executive Order opening up all the country’s borders in the South-West and South-South for rapid inflow of food that would lower prices.

The OPC President encouraged the government to concentrate efforts on getting the nation’s refineries to produce domestic fuel to solve the problem of inadequate and expensive petroleum products.

“If one man, Aliko Dangote, can build a refinery in less than 10 years, how can ordinary maintenance of four full-fledged and functional refineries become an impossible task since 1999 when civilians took over power? What is the mystery?

“The government must identify, expose and apprehend cabals and all the enemies making life unduly difficult for commoners in Nigeria. This nation belongs to all of us and Nigerians must be able to enjoy their commonwealth.”

Meanwhile, a civil rights group, Liberty Movement of Nigeria, asked Nigerians to be patient with the government of Tinubu.

The Convener of the group, Olusola Edward, gave the counsel in a press statement obtained on Tuesday in Lagos.

“Dialogue is often the best way out of social discontent,” Edward said. “At the end of any war, people will still sit around the table for discussions to end hostilities. So why not avoid the war and initiate discussions to prevent a breakdown of peace, law and order? ‘Jaw-jaw’ is always better than war-war,” Edward said.

According to him, the diplomatic way the President personally mediated to peacefully end the minimum wage crisis with Organised Labour showcased him as a leader who did not take Nigerians for granted.

“We appeal to the organisers of the protest to shield their sword, join the government to build a stronger nation and propel Nigeria into the superpower that it is destined to be as the largest Black nation in the world,” the group added.

The Take It Back Movement, one of the organisers of the nationwide protest scheduled for Thursday, has affirmed its intention to proceed.

In response, security agencies, including the police, military, and civil defence, have deployed officers across states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to ensure security during the planned protests.

The hashtag “EndBadGovernanceInNigeria” continues to trend on X as Nigerians await developments from Thursday.

Soldier, police in show of force nationwide, court restricts Lagos protest to two venues

Soldiers, policemen and other security personnel on Tuesday occupied the popular Eagle Square, Abuja, venue of the #EndBadGovernance protest scheduled to be held in the Federal Capital Territory and other major cities on Thursday.

Our correspondents at the square counted over 300 security operatives at the facility.

Also, 26 military vans, 12 police patrol vehicles and a Black Maria were parked within and around the arena.

The security forces took over the square as the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the protest organisers disagreed on the mode of conduct of the demonstration.

At a virtual meeting with the IG on Tuesday, the group rejected the police proposal for confined protests.

Egbetokun had recommended that the protests be restricted to confined areas for public safety reasons.

But Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, the solicitor for the protest organisers, rejected the suggestion.

The meeting had in attendance human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, other key members of the Take It Back Movement and other civil society organisations.

Speaking to The PUNCH after the meeting, Adegboruwa said the area of disagreement was the confinement of protesters to a particular location.

 He said the organisers disagreed because it was against their fundamental rights.

Adegboruwa said, “We agreed that the citizens of Nigeria are entitled to protest and that the police would not do anything that would hinder or jeopardize the exercise of that right. That was a basic thing we all agreed upon. We also agreed that police have a statutory duty to offer protection to citizens whenever they protest.

“Our area of disagreement was the area of confinement. The police prefer, based on the venue sent to them, we should protest in a confined arena. We insisted that we have a right to rally and embark on procession. They said they don’t have the manpower that would go round across all cities.”

In what appeared to be a setback for the group, the Lagos State High Court restricted protesters participating in the upcoming nationwide protest to specific locations within the state.

Justice Emmanuel Ogundare made the order on Tuesday, while declaring that demonstrations could only take place at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu in Lagos.

The decision came after the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, filed a preemptive ex parte application.

Pedro’s application sought to ensure public safety and prevent the potential loss of lives and property during the protests.

The respondents in the preemptive ex parte application are  Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba of the Active Citizens Group, Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto of the Take It Back Movement, unnamed persons and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.

Pedro, while moving the application before the court, argued that as the state’s Chief Law Officer, he was aware of notices from various groups planning protests for and against different causes.

He emphasised the need to protect critical infrastructure and prevent incidents similar to those during the #EndSARS protests in 2020.

“The police in Lagos State do not have sufficient manpower to provide security for protesters intending to demonstrate across all local government areas and public highways,” Pedro stated.

He argued that there was a risk of the protests being hijacked by hoodlums intent on causing destruction.

“To prevent such outcomes, the Lagos State Government has designated two public spaces—Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park and Peace Park—where citizens can gather to express their views.

“Public protest in all the local government councils and public highways as well as other areas of public access in the state for 10 days is a deliberate plan to shut down the state and if this is allowed it will amount to economic sabotage,” he said.

 Ogundare, after considering the arguments, granted the reliefs sought by the Attorney-General.

The judge held, “ An order of pre-emptive remedy by way of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the 1st to 5th defendants/respondents the 1st to 5th defendants/Respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, privies, or servants, are restrained from holding protests, rallies, processions, or meetings outside the designated locations from August 1 to August 10, 2024.

He said “These activities are permitted only at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, and Peace Park, Ketu, from 8am to 6pm, pending compliance with the pre-action protocol by the claimant.”

Additionally, the court ordered the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, to provide security and manage traffic at the designated protest sites. “This order is crucial to ensure the safety of both the protesters and the public.

“An order of pre-emptive remedy by way of interim preservative order is hereby granted directing the 6th defendant to protect the fundamental rights of the 1st to 5th defendants/respondents to freedom of association, peaceful public protest, procession and tallies in the approved designated location for peaceful public protest, rallies and meetings in Lagos State, To wit: Gani Fawehinm Freedom Park, Ikorodu Road Ojota, Lagos and Peace Park, Ketu Lagos from 8 am to 6 pm on August 1-10, 2024 pending compliance with the pre-action protocol by the Claimant,” Ogundare ruled.

The court also directed that the order be served through newspaper publication, deeming it sufficient for notifying the defendants and respondents.

The takeover of Eagle Square on Tuesday by the Armed Forces followed the insistence of the organisers to hold the demonstration despite pressure from the Federal Government, traditional rulers and other prominent Nigerians.

The operatives declined to speak and ordered our correspondents to leave the square.

However, a policeman mounting guard close to the entrance told The PUNCH that they were posted to secure the facility ahead of the demonstration.

 “We have been deployed from various stations to maintain order for as long as the protest lasts. As you can see from the different vehicles around, some of us were brought in from Bwari and other police divisions,” he said.

The massive security deployment sparked fear among the civil servants at the Federal Secretariat and residents of the area.

Workers, who came to have lunch in canteens located behind Eagle Square, were heard saying they would stay away from the office on Thursday.

When asked if a circular had been issued to that effect, a lady responded, “No. Are we supposed to be told? I cannot afford to risk coming all the way from Bwari when a protest is ongoing. Nobody is even sure if this hunger protest won’t get violent.”

Other workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said they would not come to work from Thursday until the protests ended.

Security operatives were also observed close to the National Assembly, Abuja-Mararaba Road and at every major pedestrian bridge along the stretch of Airport Road.

 Checks by our correspondents revealed intensified surveillance patrol by the Guards Brigade, police, Nigeria Security and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies in the FCT.

A joint detachment of soldiers and policemen were seen patrolling major roads in Gwagwalada in a show of force.

Displeased with the military deployment, a human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, to withdraw soldiers deployed across the FCT and other cities ahead of the proposed hunger protest.

In a letter addressed to the CAS on Tuesday, Adeyanju said providing security during protests was the job of the police.

He recalled that the deployment of soldiers for the protest in Kenya and the 2020 #EndSARS led to riots.

Adeyanju said, “We write as a pro-human rights law firm to draw your attention to the disturbing deployment of men of the Nigerian Army across the Federal Capital Territory and other cities in an attempt to suppress the scheduled August 1, 2024, national protest.

“The task of providing internal security, including the protection of protesters during the scheduled protest, lies with the Nigeria Police Force and not the Nigerian Army.

“You may also recall that at all times when the armed forces intervened in any protest, including the recent Kenya protest, such protests often escalated into full-blown riots leading to loss of lives and property.

“It is on the premise of the foregoing that we urge you to withdraw your men back to the barracks as we do not want a repeat of soldiers killing protesters as was witnessed during EndSARS.”

Reacting to the takeover of Eagle Square by the security agents, the Director of Mobilisation, Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, stated that the protest organisers were not discouraged by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s decision to deny them the use of the facility. 

He added that the minister would grant them the venue when protesters converge on the square on Thursday.

Adenola said, “We are not deterred. We will be there that day to physically request the use of the venue. We are sure that they will concede to the demands of the people.”

Adeyanju accused the minister of trying to subvert the constitution.

He said, “The Eagle Square does not belong to the Federal Government, it belongs to the people of Nigeria.  It is when private citizens want to do a wedding, or a function, that’s when you’ll be asking them to follow the procedure.

“The constitution of Nigeria, Section 4, says that sovereignty belongs to the people, from which the government derives all its powers. So, is the FCT minister or the IGP now trying to subvert the constitution and take away the sovereignty of the people?  This was the same venue that was given to protesters protesting against the hunger protest. This is an aberration.”

The Programme Manager of Global Rights, Edosa Oviawe, accused the government of orchestrating the tension generated by the demonstration.

“They have assumed there would be violence. Ordinarily, they (protesters) should be allowed to converge on a location where the police can ensure their protection and ensure it doesn’t become violent,’’ he stated.

The Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said, “Why are they afraid of people exercising their constitutional rights to assemble peacefully and exercise their constitutional rights? Everything the government is doing portrays the President as a dictator, contrary to the claim of him being a democrat.”

In a move to ensure public safety, security agencies in Oyo State, on Tuesday, embarked on a joint show of force in Ibadan metropolis.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the agencies comprised the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigerian Army.

Others were the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Department of State Services, Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service and Amotekun Corps.

The show of force, which began from the Police Command headquarters, Eleyele, took the security personnel to Mokola roundabout, Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi-Gate, Iwo Road, Bodija and Challenge, among others.

Briefing newsmen on the reason for the exercise, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ayodele Sonubi, said that it was to create awareness among members of the public on the readiness of security personnel towards the planned protest.

Sonubi said the exercise was also to ensure that the state remained peaceful, as it had always been, and to protect the lives and property of law-abiding citizens before, during and after the protest.

He said the security agencies in the state were not averse to people venting their anger through peaceful protest, adding that they had the right to protest without infringing on the rights of others.

“It is not your right to coerce others to join the protest. Nobody, including the security agencies, has the right to stop peaceful protests. Our right is to protect peaceful protesters and their property but the moment it turns violent, we have the right to lead and bring orderliness,” he said.

The police commissioner stated that Nigerians had witnessed many protests, noting that while some were peaceful, others were bloody, especially the 2020 EndSARS protest.

The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, asked the protest organisers to identify themselves so they could be invited for discussion.

The command in a statement by its spokesman, William Aya, warned it would not tolerate any destruction and looting of public or private properties in the state.

Ahead of the demonstration, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, has directed NEMA zonal directors to ensure the agency’s warehouses were adequately secured against potential attacks.

 The spokesperson of the agency, Manzo Ezekiel, said NEMA had learnt from the 2020 EndSARS protests.

He added that the agency does not keep relief materials at its warehouses for too long before distributing them.

Ezekiel said, “We are good students of history and we have learnt the hard way. The experience we had in 2020 was a very sad one and we have not forgotten about it.

“Our DG has given directives to all zonal directors to ensure that there is water-tight security at our warehouses and offices to forestall any attack. Meanwhile, we don’t keep many relief items in most of our warehouses but that is not to say our warehouses are empty.”

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have called on Nigerians to be peaceful during the rally.

The bishops made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting, held at the Domus Pacis Pastoral Institute, Igoba, Akure, Ondo State capital, on Tuesday.

The communiqué was signed by the Archbishop of Ibadan Catholic Archdiocese, Gabriel Abegunrin and Bishop John Oyejola, the chairman and secretary of the province, respectively.

The communiqué read, “The protests in Nigeria should be made to serve that purpose and none other. The protesters should exercise restraint and not disturb or intimidate those who may choose not to participate in the exercise knowing that it is their inalienable right not to do so.

“Such people should be allowed to go about their lawful business unhindered. The organisers of the protest have, therefore, a responsibility to ensure all these or call off the protest.”

The Christian leaders urged the security agencies to be professional in handling the protest and to avoid violence and bloodshed.

In the same vein, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has appealed to traditional rulers, leaders of religious organisations and community leaders to advise their people against taking to violence during the protest.

The governor expressed fears that the planned protest may turn violent “which may consume vulnerable and weak people in the country.”

“Some economic policies of the Federal Government, including the removal of fuel subsidy, may not have yet yielded the ultimately desired results as initially intended by the government, but I appeal to our youths to apply peaceful means of achieving their agitations than resorting to violence,” he stated.

The governor, who advised Abia youths to exercise restraint and engage leaders with a charter of demands, pledged that his administration would do everything to protect the people from harm.

Kogi State governor, Ahmed Ododo, eqully tasked the youths in the state not to allow themselves to be used as agents of destruction.

Ododo was speaking in Lokoja, on Tuesday, at the World Bank-assisted empowerment of 500 youths and women beneficiaries of the Livestock Productivity and Resilient Project.

“The intent of the promoters of protest in Nigeria is concealed in political desperation.  I call on all the youth of our dear nation to rally behind Mr President in his determination to fix the nation back on track,” he said.

The Yoruba Obas Forum, a group comprising monarchs from South-West and North-Central geo-political zones, also warned those planning to exploit the proposed hunger protest to cause chaos in the country to perish the thought.

The royal fathers, made their stand known in a statement in Osogbo, on Tuesday, cosigned by its national president, the Molokun of Atijere, Oba Samuel Adeoye, Oba Michael Ajayi, who is the Elerinmo of Erinmo, and the Public Relations Officer of the forum, the Alayandelu of Odo Alayandelu, Oba Asunmo Aderibigbe.

As traditional rulers, the monarchs said they felt the pains and frustration of  Nigerians at the moment, but suggested that the situation demanded a strategic approach.

The forum stated, “Protest has never been a solution for nations to solve their challenges but an avenue for the destruction of human lives and property.”

Weighing in on the issue, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing insisted that Igbo youths would not participate in the protest. 

Addressing journalists in Enugu after an emergency Convention of Igbo Youth Leaders and Stakeholders 2024, titled, ‘State of the Nation’, the acting national president, Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, said the Ohanaeze youths aligned with the decision of their fathers that the Igbos should not join the protest but engage the government in a constructive dialogue to address their peculiar challenges.

Mujahid Asari-Dokubo has warned those behind the planned nationwide protest against hardship to forget about extending it to the Niger Delta.

The former Niger Delta freedom fighter said this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital at the Niger Delta Sensitisation Conference for Ethnic Nationalities, Youths, and Women’ with the theme ‘Come let us build together. 

Asari-Dokubo said the agenda of those behind the protest is at variance with the problems of the people of the Niger Delta.

He told them to expect resistance, while alleging that they were merely interested in the resources coming from the Niger Delta, describing them as ‘anarchist.

His words: “I and all those who believe in me and those of you who are committed to the interest of the Niger Delta, we are not going to be part of any protest. It is as clear as that.

“If anybody has the right to protest, I also have the right to resist protest. Where your right stops, that is where my right begins.

“I’m anti-protest.  When our brother was here (making a veiled reference to Jonathan) they protested.  Today, another of our brothers is here. They want to protest. That is the truth.

“When you allow yourself to be used, when you always bend your back for people to ride on you, they will continue to ride on you.

“Are our needs included in their 10 points demand? No. So, we are not important to them. But it is our resources that they want to share. I want to say that me, I have the capacity. If you carry your protest near where I am, you will collect (be resisted).

“Those who brought anti-protest and went to Oyigbo (Rivers State), they collected (they got what they deserve). Everybody knows, the government, the security agencies knows it. I gave it to them. 

“Look, don’t be deceived by people’s flowery words and statements. What have they done to impact their society and the environment?

“The lack of hospitals in Buguma, Abonema, and the entire Kalabari land didn’t start today. It has always been like that. And I will not expect my friend to come (referring to President Bola Tinubu) one year later because there has been no hospital in Buguma since the 90s. I should then kick my friend out of power.

MTN Nigeria yesterday confirmed the news making the rounds that it closed its offices nationwide saying it was in order not to expose its workers to more harm than they suffered on Monday.

The telco said it was still taking stock of its losses as a result of damages protesters inflicted on its operations by physically destroying some of its facilities

A reliable source at MTN said: Yes, we had to take the decision of closing offices nationwide to protect our workers. They have suffered untold humiliation already and we did not want more harm to happen to them. However, the decision will not affect any of our services which will be going seamlessly on the background. But, what I don’t know, is when to open offices. It will depend on the nature of the nationwide protest and how long it lasts.

Some people had mischievously instigated that the protest begins at MTN offices and true to type, that can happen, and if it does while our workers are in the office, they may be subjected to more harm

Recall that yesterday the telco announced the closure of its offices and service centres nationwide, asking its customers to use its digital channels for any support they may need.

It used its Customer Care handle on X, to send the notice of closure saying: “Please, be informed that our shops nationwide will be closed today, 30th July. We are available 24/7 to support you via our digital channels.”

The build up to the closure started when scores of angry subscribers besieged MTN offices in many parts of the country vandalizing and pulling down facilities in reaction to massive barring of subscribers’ lines in compliance to the NCC’s directive that any telephone line not properly linked with the National Identity Number be barred on July 30th.

Eye witness account, recounted how angry subscribers pulled out the gates and barricades of MTN service centre in 23 road, Festac Town and damaged valuable property.

Protests in Festac, Oshogbo, others

Also in Oshogbo, Osun State, hundreds of subscribers, same Monday, trooped out to protest the action of telcos in barring their lines, just a few hours to the protest.

The protesters marched to the offices of different telecom operators in the state, particularly Dada estate, Head office of MTN Nigeria in the state.

Many of the protesters claimed to have arrived MTN office since 6.00 am with a view to unblocking their barred SIM cards but could not because the telco shut its doors.

The protesters also blocked the Osogbo-Iwo road leading to Oke-Fia area of the state capital, thereby disrupting traffic and creating gridlock in the area.

The customers consisting of old men, women, pregnant women and others, including civil servants appeared visibly angry over refusal to be attended to by the workers in the office. 

According to a resident of Dada estate, Mr Ismail Ademola who was affected by the blockage, subscribers had lined up since 8am but could not be attended to after several hours.

Another customer, Ifeoluwa Dayo, said, “I left my children at home since 7am in Ikirun, Ifelodun local government area of the state only to get here and be told that I should come back another day in this period of high transportation fare.

Also at its shop in Maitama, Abuja, angry subscribers were reportedly banging and hitting the gate of the facility, and threatening that the planned nationwide protest would start from MTN’s premises.

Security operatives, especially DSS officials were later called in to calm the rising tension.
The situations in Festac and Oshogbo and Abuja were just few out of many in the Telcos’ offices in major cities, including Obalende, Victoria Island, Mushin and Ikeja in Lagos State,; Onitsha in Anambra State, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State and Warri in Delta State.

Viral videos online show protesters venting their frustration and anger over the sudden disconnection. The protests highlight the frustration and disruption caused by the mass disconnection, with many subscribers demanding a resolution to the issue.

NCC’s remedy

Meanwhile, the telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, immediately directed all operators to urgently reactivate all lines that were disconnected since the weekend in view of the short time available for consumers to undertake the verification of their National Identification Numbers, NINs with their Subscriber Identity Module, SIMs.

The commission apparently did that to avert more damages on the operators but before it did, MTN had suffered substantial losses.

The MTN source told Vanguard that the company was disappointed but not surprised at the way the whole anger over call barring was directed at it, because such is the price a big operator pays, especially when it is dominating market share.

MTN leads the market with active subscriptions of 81.7 million, as of March this year while the closest operator, Airtel, had 63.3 million subscriptions.

Globacom and 9Mobile had 62.1 million and 11.6 million active subscriptions respectively.