Luxury bus owners: Count us out of planned mass protest

Long distance road transport owners and operators whose buses ply various routes across Nigeria have dissociated themselves from the ‘Days of Rage’ nationwide protests planned to commence on Thursday, August 1, 2024.

The transporters under their national umbrella body, Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON), disclosed this at a press conference in the Utako area of Abuja on Thursday.

They described the planned protests as an ill wind that would blow anybody no good.

Briefing the press on ALBON’s position after a meeting in their Abuja office, the association’s leadership led by the President, Mr. Nonso Ubajaka, said experience had shown that such protests are usually infiltrated by hoodlums using the opportunity to unleash violence.

He said members reasoned that if held, the protests could lead to loss of lives and wanton destruction of properties.

He said the resolution of the members of his association had been conveyed to the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, making it clear that they would not be a part of the planned protests.

The association acknowledged that there is economic hardship in the country, with Nigerians feeling the impact of rising food prices and high cost of living.

The ALBON leadership, however, urged those planning to protest to have a rethink and seek more peaceful ways of getting the government to address the problems, including making themselves available for peaceful dialogue.

The ALBON president drew attention to the fact that members’ vehicles operate from Utako to other parts of Nigeria, as well as from other cities and towns to various destinations across the country, which could make their vehicles vulnerable.

Ubajaka said ALBON members could not afford to risk making their buses the targets of violent protests.

He sued for meaningful dialogue while the government works towards finding solutions to the identified problems.

He said, “We don’t want to put our businesses at risk and expose the lives of the people we serve to danger through protests.

“The government has taken steps to mitigate the several national challenges that we are having.”

He called on ALBON members to disregard the planned action, which he continually referred to as a product of “social media” resolve.

Kano bakers summoned over bread price hike

Muhyi Magaji Rimin Gado, Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), summoned flour dealers from Singer Market and the chairman of the bakers’ association over what he described as an arbitrary bread price increase in the state.

He issued a stern warning to the state’s bakers against arbitrary bread price increases.

Rimin Gado reported that the commission has received numerous consumer complaints about high bread prices, despite a decrease in flour costs.

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The price of flour, a key ingredient in bread production, has dropped to around N63,000 from N70,000.

At a press briefing in Kano, Rimin Gado stressed that the PCACC has a dual mandate; combating corruption and serving as an ombudsman. He stated that it will not remain passive in the face of unjustified price hikes on essential goods.

“We have been monitoring price increases for essential items and investigating whether these increases are justified. We are also identifying those responsible for any arbitrary price hikes,” Rimin Gado explained.

He assured that the commission will take necessary legal actions to address the rising cost of bread.

Kano bakers summoned over bread price hike

Abducted Edo pastor regains freedom, police kill kidnapper

The Edo State Police Command on Thursday confirmed the rescue of the abducted pastor, Solomon Ativiel, in Benin, the state capital.

The command’s spokesperson, Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed this to our correspondent, said that one suspected kidnapper was killed while two others were injured during the rescue operation which was carried out on Tuesday.

Nwabuzor also said the suspects were transferred to the state police command headquarters on Wednesday.

“I can confirm to you that the pastor has been rescued while one of the suspected kidnappers was neutralised during the rescue operation.

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“The other suspects have been transferred to the state force headquarters and an investigation is ongoing,” Nwabuzor added.

A source familiar with the case who pleaded anonymity, in an interview with our correspondent, said, “The victim, Pastor Solomon Ativiel was kidnapped by a seven-man kidnapping gang in his farm at Urhobo Camp of Iguelaiho Community in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State.

‘The victim was returning from his farm on Monday evening when the suspected kidnappers accosted him and whisked him away.