The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has called on Nigerians to ensure that bandits, criminals, and insurgents do not hijack the planned August 1 hardship protest. Akume made this appeal on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja, just hours before the protest. Akume assured the public that the ongoing economic hardships will abate as the government’s reforms begin to yield positive results. He emphasized that President Bola Tinubu, as a democrat, recognizes the right of every citizen to peaceful protest but urged vigilance. “The ongoing economic hardships will abate very soon and we shall…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has called on the youths of the state to refrain from participating in the planned nationwide hunger protest scheduled for August 1. The governor made this appeal on Wednesday during the Stakeholders Youth Engagement Summit held at the Christian Ecumenical Centre in Abakiliki. Governor Nwifuru emphasized his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the youth to thrive. He highlighted the government’s focus on youth development through education, skills acquisition, and entrepreneurship opportunities. “I am aware of the planned protest against hunger and bad governance scheduled to take place across the country, including Ebonyi…
The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has donated 25kg bags of rice to 2,400 households in Bauchi State. This gesture was announced in a video shared by AIT on its X handle on Tuesday. The wife of Bauchi State Governor, Aisha Bala Muhammed, confirmed the First Lady’s donation, stating that each household also received N10,000 from her office. “Today, we are witnessing another milestone of food distribution to 2,400 people by the Renewed Hope Initiative, the foundation of the First Lady of Nigeria. Each beneficiary will receive a 25kg bag of rice and the sum of N10,000 from my…
The Ogun State House of Assembly has called on Nigerian youths to engage the government in constructive conversation rather than protests, emphasizing that the challenges facing Nigeria also affect other countries. Speaker Oludaisi Elemide made this appeal on Tuesday while addressing a motion on the planned protest, raised by the Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye, under “matters of urgent public importance” during the plenary session. Elemide urged the youth to avoid actions detrimental to the peace and tranquillity in the state and the nation. He acknowledged that while it is the right of the youth to conduct peaceful protests, such actions…
Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, on Tuesday rejected a new office allocated to him by the Senate Service Committee, citing that it does not reflect his seniority and standing as a high-ranking senator. The lawmaker’s decision was communicated in a letter signed by his Chief Confidential Secretary, Yati Shuaibu Gawu. The letter reads: “I am directed to inform you that Distinguished Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume has rejected the allocation of office number 3.10 by the Committee. “This is because offices are traditionally allocated on a seniority basis. Sen Ndume is the most Senior Senator after Sen Ahmad Lawan and will…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has expressed its readiness for the upcoming local government elections. However, the party has declared that it will not support any illegal actions that could be used as a booby trap to nullify the election results if they do not favor the current government. In a statement signed by the PDP State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the party voiced its support for the recent court order restraining the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) from proceeding with the local government elections slated for September 21, 2024, pending the determination of the…
Elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State have criticized Governor Douye Diri for accusing former Petroleum Minister (State), Chief Timipre Sylva, of sponsoring the hardship protest in the state. The APC elders pointed out that Sylva had recently urged Nigerian youths to support President Bola Tinubu and give him more time to address the country’s challenges. In a statement signed on Tuesday by its Secretary, Chief Clarkson Ayebaepreye, the APC Elders Forum stated that Sylva has always advocated for peace. The statement noted, “It was a day after Chief Sylva gave his plea that Douye Diri, whom…
The Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the arrest of 11 suspected internet fraudsters in the capital of Akwa Ibom State. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale disclosed this in a statement on Monday. He said the suspects, comprising nine males and two females, were intercepted and arrested along Ikpa Road following credible intelligence regarding their suspected fraudulent internet activities, lavish lifestyles, and naira-spraying at events in Uyo. According to the statement, the vehicles recovered from the suspects include: – A Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (registration number ABC 553 LD, Abuja) – A Toyota Camry…
Suspected bandits have attacked and kidnapped Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa, the Sarkin Gobir of Gatawa district, along with his son and five others on the Sokoto/Sabon Birni road. The State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ahmed Rufa’i, confirmed the incident, stating that special operatives from the Command are actively trailing the abductors. The elder son of the victim, Alhaji Isa Sarkin Gobir, also confirmed the abduction, explaining that the district head was ambushed at the Kwanar Maharba area while traveling from Sokoto to Sabon Birni town, the headquarters of the Sabon Birni local government area. According to him, the bandits,…
A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has granted N50 million bail to His Royal Highness, Eze Cyprian Amadi Worensu, who is on trial for threatening the lives of retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli and his family. Justice Mohammed Turaki, delivering the ruling on the bail application, specified that the bail is conditional on two sureties. One surety must be a Director in the Civil Service at level 16, and the other a first-class traditional ruler, both of whom must be verified by the Head of Service. Justice Turaki also directed the court registrar to verify the residential addresses of both…
Ahead of the public protests scheduled to begin on Thursday, August 1, hoodlums in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, have violently attacked journalists, critically injuring Nigerian Tribune reporter Joseph Abasi-Abasi. The attackers also vandalized an 18-seater NUJ bus, which was transporting food items from the State Emergency Management Agency warehouse to the Ernest Etim Press Centre in Calabar. The incident occurred at about 10 a.m. In addition to injuring the journalists, the hoodlums assaulted the NUJ bus driver, Mr. Joseph Akpaenin, and NUJ auxiliary staff member, Mr. Saviour Ekpenyong. They managed to steal some of the food items…
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has expressed concerns that the upcoming national protest could turn violent, endangering the poor, weak, and vulnerable in society. In a Tuesday morning broadcast to the people of Abia, Governor Otti appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other community figures to counsel against violence. He advised Abian youths to exercise restraint and engage leaders with a charter of demands, assuring them that his administration will protect the people from harm and destruction. Otti acknowledged Nigerians’ right to protest against adverse conditions but warned that the good intentions of the original organizers could be undermined…
Activist Omoyele Sowore has lauded the Department of State Services (DSS) for its role in mobilizing Nigerians for the August 1 #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest. Sowore’s comments followed the DSS’s detention of @Mallam_jabeer, one of the key organizers of the upcoming protest. An X user, @n6oflife6, reported: “I just got a call from @Mallam_jabeer that he has been detained by the DSS. This young man is peaceful & has been law-abiding over his protest arrangements. Arresting him before August 1 makes no sense. Efforts are being made to get him released. Nigeria we hail thee.” In response, Sowore tweeted, “The @OfficialDSSNG is…
President Bola Tinubu has questioned the necessity of the planned protest on August 1, asserting that his administration is already addressing many of the nation’s pressing issues, particularly those affecting the youth. Speaking through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, President Tinubu highlighted that the proposed protest was discussed at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. Idris emphasized that the government’s recent student loan policy aims to ensure that no Nigerian child who secures admission drops out due to fees. “The position of FEC is that most of the demands that the protesters are making are actually…
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has instructed senior police officials to ensure the safety of participants in the planned #EndBadGovernance protest, scheduled for August 1 to 10, 2024. This directive follows a request from human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, who, on July 26, 2024, wrote to the IGP on behalf of the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups organizing the protest. In a response letter dated July 29, 2024, signed by Principal Staff Officer CP Johnson Adenola, the IGP directed Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence), Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) in charge of…
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has expressed strong opposition to the Senate’s proposed bill to establish a Local Government Independent Electoral Commission, labeling it as ill-conceived. At the third regular quarterly consultative meeting between INEC and political parties, held in Abuja on Monday, IPAC Chairman Yusuf Dantalle called for amendments to the Constitution and the Electoral Act to empower INEC to conduct all local government elections. He also advocated for the dissolution of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to restore confidence in the electoral system. Dantalle emphasized that entrusting INEC with local government elections would enhance trust in the…
The Forum of All Progressives Congress (APC) state chairmen has announced plans to hold solidarity rallies across all political wards, local governments, and state capitals, including Abuja, to highlight the achievements and programs of President Bola Tinubu. Addressing a press conference on Monday in Abuja, Alphonsus Eba, Secretary of the Forum, stated that the rallies would be a peaceful demonstration of support for the President’s initiatives in response to the planned protest on August 1. Eba emphasized that the anticipated violent protest by an unidentified group, as outlined in their demands, threatens the democratic principles upheld by all political parties.…
A Delta State High Court has convicted and sentenced a man to 16 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit arson, among other charges. The court, presided over by Justice O.F. Enenmo, ruled that the sentences will run concurrently for 10 and six years. Two other defendants charged alongside the convict were discharged and acquitted on all counts. The three defendants, Efajemue Israel, Aziakpono Prince Eseoghene, and Omote Efe, faced a seven-count charge for conspiracy to commit felony, arson, and malicious damage. These charges are punishable under sections 516, 443, and 451 of the Criminal Code Laws, C21, Volume 1, and…
Officers and men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder have uncovered a private residence converted into an illegal refining site in the Okwuzi community, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. Leading the military team on a tour of the illegal refining site, Commodore Desmond Igbo, the commander of NNS Pathfinder, informed journalists on Friday that over 200,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, were confiscated. Two suspects were arrested during the operation. Commodore Igbo stated that the discovery was made in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s mandate to combat crude…
A youth group in Ogun State, Ogun Youth Advocate for Social Development (OGYASD), has described as unrealistic the expectation for President Tinubu to transform and repair Nigeria within just one year. The group emphasized that the country, having been damaged by previous governments, requires more time for restructuring. Oluseyi Alamu, the leader of OGYASD, urged Nigerians to reconsider their decision to protest and to give the President more time. In a statement made available to the media in Abeokuta, Alamu highlighted the potential consequences of the protests, warning that they could escalate into chaos. “We understand that the country has…