In Niger State, one Wali Haruna has been apprehended by the police over his Facebook post expressing support for the planned nationwide protest.

Haruna, a resident of Suleja, had in the post called on residents of the middle belt State, to participate in the protest.

The suspect was reportedly picked up at his house in the Kabula area in Suleja on Friday before he was transferred to the CID in Minna.

A relation of the suspect, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the development.

He disclosed that his brother’s post on his Facebook account, saying that: “Protest is possible in Nigeria. We support the motion. Let’s go ahead”, and other posts he made in Hausa landed him in police cell.

The spokesman of the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the arrest.

He stated that the suspect was invited by the police for interrogation over incitement of the public and whether he belongs to any group organising the protest.

He said: “Wali Haruna of Suleja was invited on July 26, for questioning having shared protest materials on social media. He is being interrogated for being suspected to be inciting the public to protest and to ascertain if he belongs to any group of individuals planning to protest and to find out the mode of such protest for proactiveness.”

For days on end now, the social media has been buzzing with hoopla of the protest as preparation for the events enter top gear.

Also a dark cloud of pessimism, misgivings and doubts hangs over the protest with many saying nothing will come out of it due to the matter it is being organised. They asserted that the lengthy notice and heads-up have defeated the very essence of the protest which is supposed to be organic and spontaneous.

President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Minimum Wage Bill into law. 

The signing ceremony took place during the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday, disclosed Tinubu’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. 

The new law establishes a minimum monthly salary of N70,000 for workers across Nigeria, which is 133 percent increase from the previous amount of M30,000.

The legislation also includes a provision for review every three years to ensure that wages can be adjusted to reflect changing economic conditions.

“President Tinubu signed the bill midway into the Federal Executive Council meeting. Head of Service said the new law will undoubtedly reassure the workers that the President cares about their welfare. 

“Senate President Godswill Akpabio led National Assembly leaders to the signing ceremony. 

“President Tinubu thanked the National Assembly for accelerating the passage of the law,” said Onanuga. 

More details to follow… 

Some youths in Niger State have trooped to the streets to protest the ongoing cost of living crisis in Nigeria, despite the effort of the Federal and State governments to stop the protest, saying hoodlums and enemies of democracy could hijack it.

Naija News learnt that the protesters were seen on the streets chanting anti-government songs and holding placards such as ‘Enough is Enough’; ‘Stop Anti-Masses Policies’; ‘We Are Not Slaves In Our Country’; ‘Hardship Is Unbearable’, ‘Fuel Subsidy Must Be Back’, among others.

According to Daily Trust, some of the protesters on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway declined to speak with journalists who approached them.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the party would not fold hands and watch President Bola Tinubu’s government toppled before 2027 general election.

The Chairmen of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said they have strong intelligence that the planned August protest was orchestrated to oust President Tinubu.

Addressing newsmen at the APC national secretariat, on Monday, in Abuja, the chairman of the Cross River State chapter and Secretary of the APC States Chairmen Forum, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, said the ruling party would organize party supporters across the nation to hold solidarity rallies across the country.

The APC chairmen called on Nigerians across all political parties to join the party in its support rally for President Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement, Eba said, “As the ruling party, we are prepared to meet every contestant in 2027 but we will not fold our arms and allow undemocratic forces to topple the government we worked so hard to elect into office. That will be a disservice to the good people of Nigeria who freely gave us this mandate.

“We call on all patriotic Nigerians to resist any attempt by anyone or any group of persons to intimidate them into unorganized protest likely to endanger the peace we currently enjoy as a nation. We call on patriots to join forces with security agencies to report any criminal element who attempts to carry out any act of violence.

“Against this background, in the next two weeks commencing from today 29th July to 11th August 2024 and from this press briefing, which shall follow with a solidarity rally by all structures of our party across all political wards, LGAs and states capital including Abuja FCT, we shall embark on peaceful rally to re-echo the laudable projects and the programs of President Tinubu with greater vigor to protect and defend our democracy from any attack by hoodlums or some criminal elements who wants to carry out violent protest.

“All our party men and concerned Nigerians in other political parties, are enjoined to stand firm in protection of democracy. It should be noted that violent protest being contemplated by the faceless group as contained in their charter of demand will annihilate the democratic ideals which all political parties subscribed to.”

Eba said while protest is a constitutional right of the citizens, it must be done through the law.

APC said security intelligence further showed that some hoodlums plan to hijack the protest.

“This is unacceptable and we must resist it in the most civil manner by sensitizing innocent and peace loving people of our country about the plans of failed politicians who want to get power through every illegitimate means by inciting ignorant Nigerians to embark on violent protest.

“Protest is a constitutional right when done through the rule of law. However, security reports have shown that it is counterproductive to embark on this protest this time as there are sinister arrangements by some unpatriotic persons to hijack the protest for the sole purpose of unleashing nefarious agenda to perpetrate violence and indulge in high level criminality reminiscent of the 2020 Endsars protest and the recent experience in Kenya.

“It is our humble view that this will worsen our already challenging socio-economic situation and that is why we have decided to join our voices to make this appeal to all Nigerians,” APC added.

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has surprised his fans with the announcement of his seventh studio album.

The singer shocked his fans on Monday morning by announcing that he is releasing a new album at midnight without prior notice.

He, however, did not share the album cover or title.

“Album dropping 12am,” Burna Boy wrote via X.

His surprise announcement has generated buzz among fans, who are eagerly anticipating the album.

Nigeria’s oil and gas sector recorded zero foreign capital investments in the first quarter of 2024 amid the crisis.

This is according to the National Bureau of Statistics Nigeria’s Capital Importation data for Q1.

Meanwhile, other sectors saw the country’s capital import rose by 210 percent to 3,376.01 million from $1,132.65 million recorded in Q1 2023. 

This coming despite the oil and gas sector being Nigeria’s main source of revenue.

Further analysis showed that in the period under review, the Africa Largest Oil Producer failed to attract Foreign Direct Investment, and portfolio investment in the oil and gas industry such as investments in financial assets like stocks, bonds, and securities.

Meanwhile, the banking sector received the highest capital importation to Nigeria in the period.

This coming despite the oil and gas sector being Nigeria’s main source of revenue.

Further analysis showed that in the period under review, the Africa Largest Oil Producer failed to attract Foreign Direct Investment, and portfolio investment in the oil and gas industry such as investments in financial assets like stocks, bonds, and securities.

Meanwhile, the banking sector received the highest capital importation to Nigeria in the period.

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, CPPE said the planned 1-10 August hardship protest could cost Nigeria an estimated daily loss of N400,000 if not properly managed.

CPPE Director, Muda Yusuf disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the protest posed a grave danger to Nigeria’s already fragile economy.

According to the economic think-tank group, the organizers of the planned protest should not offer a platform for elements in the country who have criminal intentions and whose agenda is to inflict pain on innocent citizens and corporate organizations and destroy public assets.

It also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government to expeditiously implement its economic stabilization plan to ease production costs and ultimately reduce inflationary pressures.

“The proposed nationwide protests portend grave dangers for an economy which is already in a very fragile state. The protests could inflict an estimated daily loss of N400 billion, if not properly managed.

“The consequences of such a huge loss for the country and the citizens would be very severe. “There is a high risk of shutdowns and disruptions in major sectors of the economy. These include trade and commerce, manufacturing, entertainment, transportation, logistics, financial services, the hospitality industry, agriculture, aviation, ICT, and construction sectors.

“This is in addition to risks to the lives and properties of innocent citizens and corporate bodies. The safety of government assets is also at risk.

“We cannot fix a problem by promoting such negative tendencies.

“Over 90 percent of employed Nigerians are in the informal sector. Employees in this space are dependent on daily income and any disruption to their economic activities beyond 24 hours could snowball into major social unrest. This underlines the country’s vulnerability to prolonged protests”, CPPE stated.

DAILY POST reports that a group known as the Take It Back Movement announced a planned Nationwide protest amid the rising cost of living and hardship in Nigeria.

TIB movement, through its solicitor, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa wrote to the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Service seeking protection during the protest.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun had asked protesters to provide details as a condition to ensure protection.

In the last weeks, there have been calls for and counter for the planned protest.

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Kingsley Moghalu, has explained why African countries can’t create prosperity.

Moghalu said Nigeria and other African countries have weak governance capacity, including foundational philosophical worldview, knowledge of public policy framing and execution, Monitoring and evaluation framework, amongst other.

He posted on X: “Why African countries can’t create prosperity: weak governance capacity. Absence of:

1. Foundational philosophical worldview (EVERY prosperous developed country has one).

2. Knowledge of public policy framing and execution.

3. Monitoring and evaluation framework.

4. Decision Science (data-based policy making).

5. Basic macroeconomic knowledge (as DepGov @cenbank this was obvious from interactions across @NigeriaGov and @nassnigeria ).

6. Strategy and risk management.

7. Understanding of the role of the private sector and the right balance between the state (regulation and policy) and the market.

8. Accountability (in reality) for corruption, thus allowing corruption (which exists everywhere) to become systemic and completely divert away from a true focus of governance on development.

9. Nationhood. Too much atomistic thinking along identity (ethnic and religious) lines. This completely destroys any inclination to objectivity in decision making. In the absence of a true worldview many African countries are “governed” by small views.”

Nigeria’s D’Tigress made history after winning their first-ever game at the Paris 2024 Olympics by beating Australia on Monday morning.

D’Tigress finally won a game at the Olympics after beating Australia 75-62 in the opening game.

They were unfancied heading into the game but sprung a surprise result to kick-start their campaign.

Ezzine Kalu, who plies her trade in France, oozed class on the court, scoring 19 points.

Nigeria recovered from a slow start to win the first quarter 18-17.

They had an even better second quarter, winning 23-11.

D’Tigress will next play hosts France before wrapping up their group-stage campaign against Canada on August 4.

The Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa has appointed comedian, Oluseyi Aletile, popularly known as Seyi Law, as his Senior Special Assistant on Entertainment & Tourism.

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan disclosed the appointment in a statement on Monday.

Adeniyan said the appointment was in continuation of efforts to enhance governance and service delivery to the people of Ondo.

Also appointed as Senior Special Assistants were Alonge Felix Kolawole (Social Investment), Hon. Tomide Akinribido (ICT), Allen Sowore (Strategic Communication), Femi Lawson (Public Enlightenment), Rotimi Agbede (Citizen Orientation), Muyiwa Ogunleye (Community Integration), Rotimi Wemimo Akinsola (Agric & Agribusiness), Uzoma Egbulefu (Non-indigenes), and Chief Olufunke Adu (Market Women Relations).

The governor equally appointed 20 others as special assistants.

They are Mrs Eko Davies (Traders Affairs), Kike Isijola (Digital Media), Mrs Dupe Adetuwo (Arts & Culture), Oriade Adebanwo (Emergency Response), Fadesola Ojamomi (Inter-Party Affairs), Oladimeji Olawale (Intra-Party Affairs), Akinboni Samuel (Party Affairs), and Bello Titus Abiodun (Innovation).

Also appointed as SAs are Hon Ejor Moses Agagu (Mobilisation), Oluyemi Damilola Grace (Mobilisation), Isaiah Igwe (Non-indigenes for Igbo – North), Francis Belohun (Non-indigenes for Igbo – Central), Uche Okafor (Non-indigenes for Igbo – South), Mohammed Jamil (Non-indigenes for Hausa – North), Goniya Garuba (Non-indigenes for Hausa – Central), and Issa Umar Mohammed (Non-indigenes for Hausa – South).

Others are Tenuche Fatai (Non-indigenes for Ebira – North), Alhaji Abdulkadir Adinoyi (Non-indigenes for Ebira – Central), Alhaji Abdulkareem Ododo (Non-indigenes for Ebira – South) and Imo Owoh ( Non-indigenes for Others).

Adeniyan said the appointments took immediate effect.

While congratulating the new appointees, the governor urged them to dedicate themselves to serving the people of the state.