The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) has disbursed over N2 billion in school fees to students at six institutions nationwide.

Nasir Ayitogo, the Fund’s spokesperson, announced the update in Abuja on Friday. He stated that 22,120 students have benefited from this initiative so far. 

This move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving educational opportunities for Nigerians. The effort aims to reduce financial barriers for students, helping them continue their education.

According to Ayitogo, the disbursements were timed according to the institutions’ academic calendars. “So far, six of the twelve institutions have received full payment for their institutional fees, benefiting over 20,000 students. The total disbursed amount is approximately N2,026,163,340. Payments for the remaining six institutions will be completed in the coming week,” he said.

These payments are intended to support students’ academic progress and provide relief to them and their families. Additionally, NELFund has started distributing upkeep funds, with N442 million allocated for July to cover living expenses.

“This initiative will support all 22,120 students across the twelve institutions, with further payments expected in the coming weeks and months,” Ayitogo added.

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has expressed sorrow over the deaths of several Nigerians during the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.

On his X handle, Obi stated on Saturday that the protesters died fighting for a better Nigeria. He expressed hope that their legitimate demands would be addressed and that Nigeria would improve.

“I sincerely pass my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests. I deeply mourn these brothers and sisters who died struggling for a better nation.

“I hope their legitimate demands, made within the law, will not go unanswered. I urge the protesters to remain peaceful and behave well.

“Shun violence, as we cannot build a new nation by destroying what we have. I also call on security agencies to remain civil while ensuring the security of lives and property during the protests,” Obi said.

He expressed his belief that Nigeria would rise and that issues of hunger, poverty, insecurity, corruption, and mismanagement of public funds would be confined to the past.

“Then, Nigeria will be one of the exemplary countries on earth, leading in human and national development. May God grant eternal rest to the dead and grant quick recovery to the injured,” Obi added.

Amnesty International, a global human rights organization, reports that over 80 peaceful protesters have been remanded in prison in Sokoto State.

The protest, which began peacefully, took a dramatic turn when some miscreants hijacked the movement in various states, leading to the destruction and looting of properties. 

As the protest escalated, security operatives responded with teargas, chasing away and arresting several protesters.

In Kano State, the police command reported the arrest of at least 269 individuals connected to the looting and destruction during the nationwide hardship protest.

On the third day of demonstrations, police forced some #EndBadGovernance protesters away from the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja. Despite initially avoiding the venue, protesters later assembled with flags and placards. However, police fired into the air and released teargas to disperse them. 

Arrests were also made in other states, including Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Nasarawa, and Sokoto.

Amnesty International condemned these actions in a tweet on Saturday, calling for the unconditional release of the youth remanded in Sokoto State for participating in the peaceful protest against hunger.

“Amnesty International condemns the Nigeria Police Sokoto state command for the arbitrary arrest of 81 youth who participated in the peaceful protest against hunger. #EndBadGovernance,” the tweet read.

“Our investigation shows that the protesters were arrested and then taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where a mobile court hurriedly remanded them in prison. We urge the authorities to release them immediately and unconditionally.”

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday, urged the police and other security agencies to stop shooting and killing protesters demanding good governance in Nigeria.

Atiku who reacted to reports of killings in some states, amidst the ongoing ##EndBadGovernance protests, questioned the professionalism of the security agencies in the handling of the ongoing demonstrations.

He said the shooting of protesters reminds him of “the dark days of military dictatorship.”

He called on President Bola Tinubu to address and implement the demands of Nigerians

The statement released by the former Vice-President reads, “I vehemently condemn the heinous act of using live ammunition on citizens peacefully protesting against bad governance, as witnessed today in Kano and Abuja. This is utterly intolerable and reminiscent of the dark days of military dictatorship.

“It is crucial to remind the government and security agencies of their paramount duty to ensure a safe and secure environment where citizens can exercise their right to protest without fear.

“When security forces open fire on innocent protesters, they do nothing but exacerbate tensions, transforming peaceful demonstrations into chaos. I refuse to believe that inciting violence is the intention of our authorities.

“I urge the international community, including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, to closely monitor the situation in Nigeria and hold its leadership and security apparatus accountable.

“I reaffirm my counsel to protesters to steadfastly exercise their right to peaceful protest and reject any form of violence.

“Those engaging in looting and the destruction of public and private property must be isolated and prosecuted according to the law. By indulging in such acts, they undermine the legitimate protests and play into the hands of those who oppose their right to protest.

“President Tinubu must demonstrate true leadership by immediately addressing and implementing the demands of the Nigerian people.”

A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has warned President Bola Tinubu that he cannot win against Nigerians in the ongoing nationwide protests.

She stated this while reacting to Tinubu’s failure to address the situation.

Ezekwesili opined that no leader has ever won against their people.

The former vice president of the World Bank’s Africa region stated this via a statement on social media.

She explained that “when a people tell their leaders that they are hungry and angry because you have governed them badly, the wise thing to do is not to shut them up, threaten, taunt and brutalise them thereby demonstrating a tragic empathy deficit syndrome.

“The wise things to do are listen, listen, listen. Persuade with factual counterpoints.

“Present convincing plan of action.

“Mobilise the people to ‘Arise and Build!’,”

Ezekwesili, who also served as a minister of Solid Minerals, said the Nigerian President, the National Assembly, and state governors and their state assemblies still have an opportunity to do the right thing.

She said they can “use it (opportunity) as the golden moment of opportunity for a reset of Nigeria being offered by our citizens and launch a credible National Conversation on the Most Effective Structure and Direction for Good Governance at all levels for productivity, competitiveness, prosperity, justice, equity, equality, order, peace, harmony, stability and resilience.”

She also said they can “come out to the protest grounds all over the country and engage your citizens, hear them express their demands to you directly.”

She warned them, “not lock yourselves away behind the High Gates of your publicly-funded State and Government houses enjoying indulgent lives while your citizens are crying out in pain from the severity of economic hardship. Come out.”

The Nigeria Police Force has been accused of harassing protesters in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT as the EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest enters day three.

Activist politician, Omoyele Sowore alleged that the police and operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, were harassing protesters at the MKO Abiola stadium.

Posting on X, Sowore wrote: “BREAKING: @PoliceNG arrive scene of Abuja #EndBadGovernaceInNigerianow to attack activists, @OfficialDSSNG on their way too with govt sponsored thugs to do the same thing.”

Activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju also corroborated Sowore’s claims of police harassing protesters.

“The police are currently harassing protesters at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja,” Adeyanju wrote in X.

The nationwide protest began on Thursday with aggrieved Nigerians expressing their displeasure over the hardship and suffering in the country.

There have been reports of police manhandling protesters across the country including deaths recorded.

Amidst the scarcity of petrol at retail outlets across the country and the demand for downward review of prices by agitated Nigerians, certain downstream operators have called on President Bola Tinubu to take more than passing interest in the activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMA) and the regulatory agency, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Some of the marketers who spoke with our reporter in confidence alleged shady deals between the oil giant, NNPC, the tank farm owners, and the NMDPRA which they noted were inimical to the availability of the products and seamless distribution to retail outlets.

The marketers who craved to speak under anonymity revealed that NNPCL being the sole importer of the products now put the Independent Marketers whom they noted have the largest retail outlets in the country at the mercy of the DAPPMA, (the tank farm owners).

Investigation revealed that the NNPCL, the sole importer gives the Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) to the private depot owners operating under the aegis of DAPPMA at Ex- depot price of N556.5 per litre.

Further checks however revealed that the tank farm owners sell to marketers at N700 to N740.00, leaving them with little or no marginal profit to sell at stations.

Tankfarm owners vice-grip

Recalling the previous experience in the sector when the NNPCL used to release petroleum products allocation to tank farm owners for distribution to marketers with a benchmark on price, the industry operators called on the federal government to sanitize the distribution chain by prevailing on the NNPCL and its regulatory arm, the NMDPRA to insist on an Ex- depot price for the tank farm owners.

They said: “What we used to have in the past was an arrangement where the NNPCL gave allocations meant for Independent marketers to the private depot owners to sell to marketers with a benchmark, a reasonable price.

“Now, the independent marketers have no allocation, they are at the mercy of the tank farm owners. A situation where there is no ex-depot price won’t augur well for the industry. Private depot owners now sell at N800 to those of us who will sell at retail outlets to ordinary Nigerians.

“We are the ones Nigerians are accusing of hoarding products and selling at exorbitant prices.

“Instead of the midstream regulatory agency doing its job by beaming searchlight on the activities of the tank farm owners, by insisting on Ex- depot price they are using the marketers as scapegoats.

“There is a cabal in the sector creating problem for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He must show the determined will to break their rank. How many stations do tank farm owners have.? But they are making huge profits to the detriment of Nigerians.”

The marketers who expressed the hope that giving the necessary incentives to the Dangote Refinery would go a long way in addressing the shortfall in product availability also called on the federal government to make the four refineries work to put an end to product importation.

Protesters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, briefly obstructed Governor Siminalayi Fubara, insisting that he come down to address them.

This happened on Saturday, Day 3 of the demonstrations tagged #EndBadGovernance protests.

Waving green leaves and shouting in excitement, the protesters, lined up the streets. After some moments, the governor’s convoy passed as the demonstrators continued with the rallies.

The protesters in Port Harcourt had regrouped for the third day running for the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations which began on August 1, 2024. They converged at the Pleasure Park in the city, carried placards, and insisted they would not leave until their demands were met.

Saturday’s protests have been largely peaceful across the Rivers capital. Security operatives were also on the ground on the day.

A new report by Nextier has indicated that insurgency recorded 109 deaths arising from 19 violent incidents, perpetrated by the Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents in the first half of 2024 alone.

The report ‘Nigeria’s Northeast Belt of Insurgency and the Challenge of Refugees’, also called on the Federal Government to liaise with neighbouring countries and regional bodies to boost joint border surveillance.

The report was authored by an Associate Consultant at Nextier and a Lecturer at the Political Science Department of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria, Dr Chukwuma Okoli, and a Managing Partner at Nextier and an Honorary Fellow at the School of Government at the University of Birmingham, UK, Dr Ndu Nwokolo.

The report reads, “They identified the ‘Northeast Belt of Insurgency’ to consist of about 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) – 10 in Borno State (Bama, Baga, Biu, Chibok, Gwoza, Kukawa, Kaga, Marte, Mongonu, Ngala), five LGAs in Adamawa State (Madagali, Michika, Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha) and three LGAs in Yobe State (Damaturu, Gujba, Geidam); all of which run round Nigeria’s borders with Cameroon, Chad and Niger and cuts through Borno State’s borders with Yobe and Adamawa states.

“The difficult topography of most of the communities in the Northeast Belt of Insurgency makes access difficult for both the Nigerian military and humanitarian aid agencies. This has become an advantage for the insurgents who hibernate in those communities from where they launch attacks on the military and civilians.

“Data from the NextierViolent Conflict Database show that this Belt of Insurgency recorded 109 deaths arising from 19 violent incidents perpetrated by the Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents in the first half of 2024 alone.

“The Nigerian government should collaborate with its neighbours under the auspices of regional bodies like the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) to enhance border management through joint border patrol and surveillance.”

In the report, Nextier asked the Nigerian government to identify and profile refugees entering the region and recommended the use of local vigilantes and hunters to combat insurgents.

It also urged the government to support security forces by ensuring a regular and adequate supply of required state-of-the-art ammunition.

It added, “The Nigerian government, together with development partners, should enhance the technical capacity of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in the area of identification and profiling of refugees flowing into the Northeast. This will enable proper treatment of refugees in line with relevant international conventions and protocols.

“The government at all levels, in collaboration with development partners, should identify what makes communities in the Northeast Belt of Insurgency resilient. Mechanisms such as local informal businesses such as trading and the use of local vigilantes and hunters to combat insurgents should be strengthened.

“The state security forces should be supported by ensuring a regular and adequate supply of required state-of-the-art ammunition. The morale of the personnel on the war front should also be boosted through improved welfare packages. This will enable the security agencies to cover more ground and decimate the insurgents still hibernating in hard-to-reach areas.

“Set up a subregionalhumanitarian response mechanism involving Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon to be coordinated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This will ensure persons in need have fair access to humanitarian aid without crossing national borders.”

Security operatives at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday dispersed protesters and journalists from the facility with gunshots, Punch reports.

The security operatives aimed at protesters and journalists who ran for cover.

The protesters were reconvening after being dispersed by security agents deployed to the stadium.

Suddenly, masked security operatives suspected to be personnel of the Department of State Services started shooting sporadically at protesters.

As a result, the protesters ran inside bushes around the stadium with some of the security operatives giving them a hot chase.

Afterwards, the remaining masked operatives on the ground came for the journalists who were at a separate spot.

As they approached, journalists fled, scrambling into any available vehicle.

The masked security operatives fired sporadically at the fleeing journalists.

Bullets pierced a Premium Times reporter’s car conveying journalists out of the location at three different locations.

Also, a commuter vehicle’s glass was shattered with bullets.