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Hardship: Nigerians call for subsidy return

Published

1 year ago

February 27, 2024

Hardship: Nigerians call for subsidy return

Residents of Osun State staged a peaceful protest on Monday in demand of the return of subsidy to alleviate the rising cost of living and economic hardship in the country.

Nigerians also fault the decision of the Federal Government to give the proceeds of oil subsidy removal to the governors.

Speaking during a protest held by the groups in Osogbo, the state capital, one of the conveners, Mr. Waheed Saka, said the protest was organized to prepare the ground for a bigger demonstration against the economic crisis ravaging the country.

The protesters had converged at Freedom Park, Osogbo, from where they moved around the streets before they assembled under Olaiya Bridge, where they spoke to journalists.

A large number of armed policemen, as well as operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, were at the venue of the protest, observing happenings as the protesters sang various songs depicting the hardship Nigerians were going through.

Speaking further, Saka, who warned that current economic hardship may lead to bigger crises if not checked, declared that governors have not been good managers of resources entrusted to them in the past.

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He said, “The essence of this protest is to mobilise the people for a bigger and larger protest that will be done nationwide, that will force the arms of government to do the right thing. We are not requesting too much; we are saying to fulfil your promise. That is not too much to ask from the government, and the promise is not to make life difficult for the people or increase hardship for average Nigerians.

“That is not what President Bola Tinubu promised us. We understand that there are a lot of issues, but we said don’t remove subsidy and give the money to governors. Governors over the years have not been able to manage their resources effectively; why are you taking off the relief of an average Nigerian and giving the money to governors to spend?

“That is not sustainable, and now the devaluation of the naira has led to an increase in the price of fuel because it is having a snowball effect on food and livelihood. President Tinubu should act now because he is already pushing our people to the precipice.

“We are saying act right; we are saying enough is enough because we can’t continue, year in and year out, to talk about doing the right thing. We are saying enough about IMF and World Bank policies.

“We know that over the years we have had an average leader here working for all these international multilateral agencies, but we don’t expect somebody who has promised that he has been planning to be president for many years to toll the same line of being a puppet of the IMF and World Bank.

“People are enjoying subsidy in different countries; why can’t Nigerians enjoy subsidy too? That is the only thing you give us; why are you taking the only thing that people are enjoying away?That is why we are protesting, and that is why we are on the street to mobilize ordinary people. This is not a labour movement issue; it is a concern for every Nigerian, and that is why we are here.”

Hardship: Nigerians call for subsidy return

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Explosion in Yobe, three people hospitalised

Published

10 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Yobe State Police spokesperson, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim

Explosion in Yobe, three people hospitalised

At least 3 persons have been hospitalised after an undetonated Improvised Explosive Device exploded in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

The explosion took place on Saturday at Ngomari Community in Buni Yadi, headquarters of Gujba Local Government Area.

A reliable source in the area told Daily Trust that the incident happened when a 22-year-old discovered live ammunition and four AK47 rounds while fetching firewood in the bush.

“The young man attempted to open the ammunition out of curiosity.

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“He proceeded to strike the ammunition with a hammer, which triggered an explosion. 3 persons including the young man sustained various degrees of injury,” the source said.

Confirming the incident, the Secretary of the Local Metal Fabricators Association, Gujba LG, Malam Isyaku Dahiru, said the victims were moved to Yobe State Specialist Hospital Buni Yadi for urgent treatment.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Public Relations Officer of the Yobe State Police Command, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, were not successful as he did not pick his calls and was yet to reply to the calls as at the time of filing this report.

Boko Haram terrorists have been using IEDs to launch attacks on communities in the area.

Explosion in Yobe, three people hospitalised

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Rivers: Presidency reveals security intelligence leading to emergency rule

Published

10 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Rivers: Presidency reveals security intelligence leading to emergency rule

The Presidency has revealed that security intelligence reports led to the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and elected members of the State House of Assembly.

According to the government, militants were already targeting oil pipelines, posing a serious threat to national security and the economy.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in an article titled “Imagine Rivers State Without a State of Emergency”, published on Sunday.

He maintained that intelligence reports showed an escalating crisis in the oil-rich state.

President Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, explained that his efforts to mediate the political conflict in Rivers had been ignored. He stated that worsening security threats necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency.

“The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today, there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militants, without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course, given stern orders to the security agencies to ensure the safety of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines,” Tinubu said while announcing the emergency rule.

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The decision has drawn criticism from various quarters, with many questioning its necessity. However, the Presidency has defended the move, insisting it was based on credible security intelligence.

Onanuga explained that Section 305 of the Constitution empowers the President to act when there is a threat to law, order, or economic security.

“Impeachment threats might have spurred attacks on lawmakers by the governor’s supporters, while militants in the creeks—primed to sabotage critical oil infrastructure—could have plunged Nigeria’s oil production back to pre-2023 lows,” he stated.

He further alleged that militants were awaiting instructions from Fubara before launching attacks on pipelines.

“Intelligence confirmed that militants, told by Fubara to await signals, were already targeting pipelines, risking a collapse in output and a Niger-Delta domino effect,” Onanuga added.

According to him, Tinubu’s intervention was crucial, as Rivers State is a key player in Nigeria’s oil sector. He warned that any disruption in the region could have dire economic consequences.

He dismissed claims that the emergency rule undermines democracy, arguing that it is a “temporary, surgical” measure aimed at restoring order rather than replacing democratic institutions.

Rivers: Presidency reveals security intelligence leading to emergency rule

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Shehu Sani faults senators taking voice vote objection to media

Published

10 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani

Shehu Sani faults senators taking voice vote objection to media

A former senator who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District has slammed lawmakers for going to the media to raise objections against the adoption of voice voting for the confirmation of a State of Emergency in Rivers State.

Shehu Sani said that any lawmaker who wished to raise such an objection ought to have done so in the chambers of the National Assembly and not the media.

Recall that members of the National Assembly had voted on the proclamation of a State of Emergency in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu.

However, rather than adhere to the provisions of the law by taking a head count to determine that the Assembly had formed a quorum, the leadership of both chambers adopted voice voting.

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Shortly after the voting process which was condemned by many including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and the Peoples Democratic Party among others, Ireti Kingibe, a serving lawmaker condemned the process.

In his reaction, to this Sani said all objections should be done within the chambers, not outside or in the media.

He wrote on X, “If any lawmaker had issues with voice votes or quorum, he or she is supposed to raise a point of order on the floor and insist on being heard; and not be silent in the chamber then come to the media to raise objections.

“If there is no quorum, it’s because some lawmakers deliberately chose to abstain,” Sani noted.