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Hardship: Nigerians call for subsidy return

Published

2 years 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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Gunmen Kidnap 14 JAMB Candidates in Benue Highway Attack

Published

1 hour ago

April 17, 2026

Trends Admin

Benue State Police Commissioner, Ifeanyi Emenari

Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari

Gunmen Kidnap 14 JAMB Candidates in Benue Highway Attack

Suspected gunmen have abducted at least 14 passengers, including candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, following an attack on a commercial bus along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State.

The victims were reportedly travelling in a Benue Links vehicle from Makurdi to Otukpo on Wednesday night when the bus was ambushed around 8 p.m. near Otukpo by armed attackers, who forced most of the occupants into a nearby forest.

Sources familiar with the incident said the bus was carrying about 18 passengers, largely young students heading to Otukpo to sit for the ongoing 2026 UTME examinations scheduled for Thursday.

According to one source, the attackers intercepted the vehicle and marched several passengers into the bush, while two individuals—the driver and one passenger—managed to escape.

Confirming the incident, Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, said 14 passengers were abducted, noting that one victim escaped during the attack.

The police commissioner disclosed that he is personally leading a coordinated rescue operation in the area, with Divisional Police Officers and tactical teams deployed into nearby forests to track the kidnappers and secure the victims’ release.

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“I am in Otukpo with my team, and we are already in the bush coordinating operations to rescue the victims,” he said.

Emenari also revealed that investigations have commenced into the circumstances surrounding the journey, particularly as Benue Links reportedly has a standing policy against night travel. Preliminary findings suggest the driver may have picked up passengers outside official operating hours.

Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the attack, stating that security agencies had been mobilised following an emergency security meeting.

“It is true. Security operatives have been deployed into the forest to help rescue the kidnapped victims. The victims are mainly young boys and girls coming to write JAMB,” he said.

The incident has heightened concerns over the safety of candidates travelling for national examinations, especially amid rising insecurity on key highways.

The Makurdi–Otukpo road has witnessed repeated attacks in recent months, with commuters frequently targeted by kidnappers, underscoring broader security challenges in parts of Benue State and Nigeria at large.

Authorities say efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted passengers and bring the perpetrators to justice, while stakeholders continue to call for improved security measures to protect students and travellers during critical national examinations.

Gunmen Kidnap 14 JAMB Candidates in Benue Highway Attack

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Senate Summons Kyari, Ojulari Over ₦210 Trillion NNPCL Audit Queries

Published

24 hours ago

April 16, 2026

Trends Admin

Immediate past GCEO Mele Kyari and Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari

Senate Summons Kyari, Ojulari Over ₦210 Trillion NNPCL Audit Queries

The Nigerian Senate has ordered the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to appear before its Committee on Public Accounts on April 29, 2026, to explain an alleged ₦210 trillion flagged in audit reports covering 2017 to 2023.

The directive followed a motion moved by Senator Osita Izunaso and seconded by Senator Adams Oshiomhole during plenary, reflecting growing legislative pressure over the company’s financial disclosures and audit compliance.

The committee also mandated the appearance of top former and current officials of the oil company, including Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari, immediate past GCEO Mele Kyari, former Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajia, Bala Wunti, as well as the company’s external auditors, insisting that their attendance is compulsory.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada, said lawmakers remain dissatisfied with explanations provided by NNPCL regarding the disputed figures, stressing that the queries raised in audit reports require full and detailed clarification.

According to Wadada, the committee rejected what he described as a “blanket explanation” from NNPCL regarding ₦103 trillion categorised as liabilities, noting that the breakdown of the figures was insufficient and lacked transparency.

He explained that the Senate expects detailed clarification on the components of the liabilities, including retention fees, legal fees, and audit fees, with specific amounts attached to each category.

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Wadada further stated that the committee is also demanding clarity on an additional ₦107 trillion reportedly linked to Joint Venture (JV) cash calls and other financial obligations, including funds allegedly associated with defunct banks whose identities were not disclosed.

He said:
“The NNPCL is given an additional two weeks to unfailingly appear before this committee. The deadline for compliance is Wednesday, April 29, 2026.”

Lawmakers also criticised the company’s response to 19 audit queries, describing them as inadequate and failing to meet expectations for public accountability and financial transparency.

Earlier during the session, Senator Abdul Ningi urged the Senate to invoke its constitutional powers to compel compliance, citing repeated failures by key officials to honour legislative invitations.

He warned that the legislature risks undermining its oversight authority if agencies continue to ignore summons, stressing that democratic accountability depends on the strength of parliamentary scrutiny.

The latest development intensifies scrutiny on the oil giant, which has faced increasing public and institutional pressure over financial transparency, revenue management, and audit reconciliation gaps in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

The Senate’s directive signals a stronger push for accountability in one of Nigeria’s most sensitive revenue-generating institutions, as lawmakers demand full disclosure of all queried funds.

Senate Summons Kyari, Ojulari Over ₦210 Trillion NNPCL Audit Queries

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UNILAG Lecturer Sexual Assault Trial: Student Testifies in Lagos Court

Published

24 hours ago

April 16, 2026

Trends Admin

UNILAG Lecturer Sexual Assault Trial: Student Testifies in Lagos Court

A 20-year-old student of the University of Lagos has testified before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, detailing allegations of sexual assault against a 53-year-old lecturer, Samuel Obinna Ojogbo.

The case, which is being prosecuted by the Lagos State Government, involves two counts of rape and sexual assault, with the student appearing as the first prosecution witness before Justice Oyindamola Ogala.

According to her testimony, the incident allegedly occurred on August 22, 2025, at the university’s Akoka campus after the lecturer invited her to his office following an earlier interaction during an examination the previous day.

The witness told the court that she had initially attempted to meet the lecturer after her exam but was unable to do so until the following day, when she encountered him again near her faculty and accompanied him to his office.

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She described the office as secluded and said that during their interaction, other students briefly entered but were asked to leave by the lecturer.

The student further testified that after the alleged incident, she left in distress and immediately reported the matter, beginning with a friend and later escalating it within the institution.

She said the case was first reported to a lecturer in her department, who contacted her uncle—also a lecturer—before the matter was taken to the Head of Department. However, she indicated that the initial response raised concerns about lack of evidence.

Despite this, the complaint was escalated to the university’s Servicom office, leading to a medical examination at the school’s health centre.

The witness added that she later reported the case to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, which referred her to the police. The case was initially handled at Bariga Police Station before being transferred to the Gender Unit for further investigation. She also underwent further evaluation at WARIF.

She told the court that there were attempts by individuals connected to the defendant to resolve the matter outside court, but the case proceeded to trial.

The defendant has denied the allegations.

Justice Ogala adjourned the case to April 27, 2026, for cross-examination, as the UNILAG sexual assault case continues to draw public attention and fuel conversations around campus safety, sexual misconduct, and accountability in Nigerian universities.