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Sit-At-Home Order: IPOB, Police Set For Showdown

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Therefore, the battle line is drawn between the security agencies and the proscribed group….

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the police are on the verge of a showdown over the sit-at-home order issued by the leader of the proscribed group, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to mark the anniversary of the Biafra Republic Remembrance Day.

The celebration, which holds on May 30 every year and was supposed to be held today, was shifted to Monday, May 31, to avoid any conflict with the Christian worshippers and to prove that the directive of the embattled leader of the group is obeyed.

The South-East and South-South police had assured the people of the security of lives and property but warned that whoever breached relative peace, law and order in the wake of the audacious order should first write his or her will.

Therefore, the battle line is drawn between the security agencies and the proscribed group.

Checks by Daily Trust at the weekend indicated that there is palpable tension and anxiety among residents in some parts of the affected states, such as Anambra, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Enugu, as well as Delta, Rivers and Akwa Ibom.

While the echoes of the dreadful order are already around in some states and taking a toll on their socio-economic activities as some residents heeded the directive at the weekend, normal businesses went on in other states as though nothing was in the offing.

Owerri residents obey sit-at-home order

Despite assurances of safety given to them by the Imo State Government, residents of Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Saturday, obeyed the order.

Consequently, economic and social activities in the city and its environs were grounded as shops, malls, supermarkets and markets remained closed. Roads were also empty as motorists and pedestrians stayed off the streets.

Some residents who dared to step out were stranded as many of them were unable to reach their destinations nor could find vehicles to go back home.

They also bemoaned the rampant arrests and detention of citizens by security agents, saying it is deterring them from pursuing legitimate means of livelihood.

Many of those who spoke to our correspondent at the weekend said though the sit-at-home order was to take effect on Monday, they decided to stay indoors because of rampant shooting and indiscriminate arrests by the police.

“People are afraid of being arrested for no just cause. Because of the situation at hand, everyone is tagged an IPOB or Eastern Security Network (ESN) member.

“An incident happened at Ogbo Oshishi Timber Market where a boy helping his mother to sell food was arrested, along with people eating in the makeshift restaurant.

“When the woman pleaded for her son, the policeman slapped her, a resident said.’’

Another resident of Naze, Ndukwe, lamented that some soldiers and Air Force personnel blocked the Aba-Owerri road, shooting sporadically.

Residents shun order in Ebonyi

Residents in Ebonyi State shunned the order on Saturday. Daily Trust gathered that markets, hotels, the Abakaliki Rice Mill, motor parks and shops opened for business. Taxi, keke and motorbike transporters also operated.

Army blocks Onitsha bridge to protest killing of soldiers

Military personnel on Saturday blocked the Onitsha bridge, following the killing of military men in Ihiala, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State by people suspected to be members of the IPOB.

Daily Trust gathered that early Saturday morning, about five military men were shot dead in Ihiala by gunmen suspected to be members of the IPOB.

When contacted, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the police public relations officer, Anambra State Command, said the early morning gridlock at the bridge was as a result of stringent checks by security operatives.

Measure meant to track hoodlums.

Meanwhile, the sit-at-home directive was not effective in Awka, the state capital, as people were seen going about their normal businesses.

Residents went about their normal businesses without any molestation by anybody or group immediately after the state’s monthly sanitation exercise.

A resident, Mr Mike Uche, said he heard about the sit-at-home order, but nobody observed it on Saturday.

However, newspaper vendors in Awka and Anambra decried the stoppage of vehicles conveying newspapers from Lagos to the state at the Niger bridge.

Miss Nneka Okoye, a vendor at Aroma junction, Awka, said the situation hampered their business.

“We are surprised to face this kind of problem this morning. As you can see, there is no Saturday paper on display here now.

“The distributors told us that the vehicles carrying newspapers were stopped at the Onitsha bridge because of the issues the military had with people in Ihiala,” Okoye said.

Apart from vehicles carrying newspapers, others were also blocked from moving in and out of Onitsha in the early hours of Saturday.

We’re battle-ready – Rivers police

The Rivers State police command has advised residents of the state to ignore the sit-at-home order. It warned that the command was battle-ready to deal with any person or group of persons that want to break down law and order.

The command’s public relations officer, SP Nnmadi Omoni, in a press statement issued in Port Harcourt, noted that they were aware of the sit-at-home order.

Omoni added that the command viewed the statement as unlawful and had decided to allay the palpable fears occasioned by the phantom order.

He added that the commissioner of police in the state, CP Eboka, reassured the residents that adequate security measures had been put in place to ensure that they go about their lawful businesses unhindered, unmolested and in a conducive atmosphere.

No compliance in Enugu, Umuahia, Aba

From Idaw River to Uwani in Enugu South Local Government Area, to Coal Camp, New Market, to Edinburgh Road, Ogui Road, where Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium is located in Enugu North Local Government Area, to New Haven, Independence Layout, Garki and other places, people were seen moving about their normal businesses without fear. Traders opened shops in several markets.

“Ordinarily, a newcomer in Enugu may think that people not moving about in the early hours of Saturday indicated compliance, but in fact, residents of the town are simply complying with the monthly sanitation programme of the Enugu State Government.

“Therefore, there is nothing like sit-at-home order,” said Mr Ikenna Anichukwu, a teacher and resident of Obiagu Road.

Another resident, Mr Kenechi Amah, a taxi driver at New Haven and Garki, said that as far as Enugu State was concerned, nobody was interested in observing any sit-at-home order.

“I am a trader here at Ogbette Market. You can see that the market is full of activities. If you go to Kenyata, Abakpa, Timba, Garki and New Market, you would notice that trading activities are going on.

“Nobody is closing his shop in compliance with any sit-at-home order,” a trader at Ogbette Main Market, Fred Mbachu, said.

Also, normal commercial and social activities went on smoothly on Friday in Umuahia and Aba in Abia State.

Tricycle operators, business owners, timber market, commercial bus drivers, all the inter-state motor parks, were fully operational without obstruction.

However, the military started patrolling the streets of Umuahia and Aba as early as 6 am. No sign of the IPOB was noticed in the cities as of the time of this report.

Meanwhile, there are restrictions in human and vehicle movements as a result of the curfew imposed on the state by the government from 8 pm till 6 am as part of security measures adopted by the state government.

The Abia State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has called on citizens and residents in the state to ignore the order.

Recall that the group had issued a sit-at-home order between Saturday, May 29 and Tuesday, June 1, 2021.

The command, in a statement, urged the public to go about their normal businesses without any fear of harassment.

They assured members of the public that the Force, in collaboration with sister agencies, would guarantee the safety of lives and property of residents.

The command further advised parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to stay away from acts capable of causing a breach of security in the state.

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Jetour Nigeria displays hi-tech, luxury, art at Abuja Experience

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Jetour Nigeria displays hi-tech, luxury, art at Abuja Experience

Jetour Nigeria displays hi-tech, luxury, art at Abuja Experience

Jetour Nigeria has turned its Abuja Experience into a colourful fusion of hi-tech automobiles, luxury and art, attracting automobile enthusiasts, prospective buyers and art lovers to an exhibition designed to showcase a new dimension of motoring and lifestyle.

The three-day event, which opened on Tuesday at the Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki, Abuja, has brought together an impressive collection of Jetour SUVs and new-generation vehicles, alongside art displays that added colour and creativity to the automobile showcase.

Rather than a conventional vehicle exhibition, the Abuja Experience offered visitors an opportunity to interact with Jetour’s technology-driven vehicles, examine their luxury features and immerse themselves in an artistic presentation that appealed to both young and older enthusiasts.

Among the vehicles on display are the Jetour X50, X70 Plus, X70 PHEV, X90 Plus, T2, T2 PHEV, Dashing, Rely R8, G700, as well as the newly introduced T1 and F700.

The event, which ends today, Thursday, September 24, is the latest stage in Jetour Nigeria’s strategy of taking its products closer to customers while strengthening its presence in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states.

On the first day, discussions centred on Jetour’s product philosophy, technology, safety and the changing preferences of Nigerian motorists.

Speaking during the first panel session, Managing Director of New Era AutoVehicle Services, Kemi Koyejo, said Jetour’s growing product portfolio was designed to cater for the diverse needs of Nigerian motorists.

Koyejo described Jetour vehicles as a combination of luxury, safety and technology, stressing that there was “no one-size-fits-all product” because motorists have different needs and lifestyles.

She explained the philosophy behind the Jetour name—“Jet plus Tour”—saying the brand was intentional about making mobility more enjoyable.

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According to her, Jetour was “forward-looking”, with a product strategy covering petrol-powered vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrid technologies under its corporate tagline, “Drive Your Future.”

Executive Director, Elizade Nigeria Limited, Dr Ademola Philip-Adewunmi, identified after-sales support and spare-parts availability as critical to sustaining Jetour’s growth in Nigeria.

He disclosed that Jetour had sold about 1,000 units in Nigeria within three years, adding that motorists were increasingly researching and comparing vehicles before making purchasing decisions.

He said buyers now demanded a combination of aesthetics, technology, connectivity, performance and value for money.

Adewunmi also disclosed that Jetour vehicles come with a five-year or 150,000-kilometre warranty, while customers have access to trade-in opportunities.

On safety, Corps Commander Cherries Muta of the Federal Road Safety Corps said technologies deployed in Jetour vehicles, including sensors and driver-warning systems, could contribute to safer driving.

Art meets automobile

The second day introduced another dimension to the experience, as artworks were displayed alongside Jetour’s vehicles, creating a meeting point between automotive design, technology, luxury and contemporary art.

The art exhibition attracted an audience comprising young and older lovers of quality automobiles and art, with the producers explaining the concepts and intentions behind the works.

The presentation added a creative and cultural dimension to the automobile showcase, with visitors moving between the vehicles and artworks while engaging with the artists and exploring the ideas behind their creations.

The event also featured cultural performances and a second panel session focusing on mobility entrepreneurship and emerging opportunities across Nigeria.

Jetour Vice President, Yuan Anguo, thanked Nigerian customers for their confidence in the brand, assuring them that the company remained committed to developing its business in Nigeria and across Africa.

The Abuja Experience, according to the organisers, is part of Jetour Nigeria’s broader effort to deepen customer engagement, expand its market presence and present mobility not simply as transportation, but as an experience combining technology, comfort, lifestyle and creativity.

 

Jetour Nigeria displays hi-tech, luxury, art at Abuja Experience

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NLC Backs ₦500 Petrol Demand, Workers Propose ₦500,000 Salary

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NLC Backs ₦500 Petrol Demand, Workers Propose ₦500,000 Salary

NLC Backs ₦500 Petrol Demand, Workers Propose ₦500,000 Salary

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has backed demands by public-sector workers for the Federal Government to reduce the price of petrol to ₦500 per litre, while the workers have proposed a minimum monthly salary of ₦500,000 for Grade Level 01, Step 1 officers under a new public-service salary structure.

The demands were contained in a letter by the Trade Union Side of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, amid renewed concerns over rising fuel prices and the worsening cost-of-living crisis.

The workers gave the Federal Government until September 30, 2026, to respond to their demands, which cover petrol prices, wage awards, salary reviews and negotiations for a new wage structure.

The JNPSNC called for an intervention capable of bringing the petrol pump price down to ₦500 per litre, arguing that the rising cost of fuel has significantly increased transportation expenses and contributed to higher prices of food and other essential goods and services.

The demand comes amid another increase in petrol prices in Nigeria, with pump prices rising in several parts of the country following higher crude oil prices in the international market.

The labour movement has argued that the impact of rising fuel costs extends beyond motorists, as increased transportation and energy expenses raise the cost of moving agricultural produce, manufacturing goods and other commodities.

The NLC has therefore called for measures to cushion workers and households from the effects of the latest price increases.

On wages, the JNPSNC proposed a new salary structure under which a Grade Level 01, Step 1 public servant would earn ₦500,000 monthly.

The figure is important because it is a proposal by the workers, not an approved national minimum wage.

The proposed ₦500,000 salary is also specifically linked to the public-service salary structure being sought by the JNPSNC ahead of January 2027. It should not be presented as though the Federal Government has agreed to increase Nigeria’s statutory national minimum wage to ₦500,000.

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Nigeria’s current statutory national minimum wage remains ₦70,000 per month, following the 2024 wage agreement and legislation.

The workers are seeking negotiations for a new wage structure while also asking for an immediate Wage Award for employees at the Federal, State and Local Government levels as a short-term response to current economic pressures.

The proposed wage award is separate from the longer-term salary review and any future agreement on the national minimum wage.

The JNPSNC wants the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to begin discussions with labour representatives and other stakeholders on the proposed wage award and salary adjustments.

The workers said rising inflation, transportation costs, food prices, housing expenses, healthcare costs and education fees had reduced the purchasing power of existing salaries.

They also called for salaries and allowances across the public service to be reviewed upward and for future salary adjustments to take inflation into account.

According to the workers, linking periodic salary reviews to inflation would help prevent employees’ earnings from losing substantial purchasing power between major wage negotiations.

The labour side also demanded subsidised transportation and affordable housing for public servants as part of measures to ease the pressure on workers.

On the petroleum sector, the workers backed calls for greater availability of crude oil in naira to local refineries, arguing that increased domestic refining and local crude supply could reduce exposure to international oil-market shocks.

The NLC has previously advocated measures to strengthen local refining and improve domestic energy security as part of efforts to reduce pressure on consumers.

The workers also rejected the idea of relying mainly on food palliatives to address the hardship, arguing that temporary relief does not adequately compensate for the loss of purchasing power caused by higher transportation and living costs.

They instead called for measures that would address the underlying drivers of the rising cost of living.

The latest demands come as the downstream petroleum market faces renewed price pressure despite increased domestic refining capacity.

Higher international crude prices have raised input costs for refiners, contributing to increases in the wholesale and retail prices of petrol.

The development has renewed debate over how much protection Nigeria’s expanding domestic refining capacity can provide against global oil-price movements.

For organised labour, however, the immediate concern is the effect of higher fuel prices on workers and households.

The JNPSNC expects the Federal Government to respond to its demands by September 30, while also looking ahead to negotiations for a new salary and wage framework from January 2027.

The council has indicated that it expects the President’s forthcoming Independence Day address to address some of the concerns raised by workers.

The proposed ₦500,000 salary therefore remains a labour demand awaiting negotiation and possible government consideration. It is not the current national minimum wage and does not mean that all Nigerian workers are automatically entitled to ₦500,000 monthly.

Similarly, the proposed ₦500 petrol price is a demand for government intervention and does not represent the current regulated or prevailing pump price across Nigeria.

The labour demands reflect growing pressure from organised workers for government action as households and businesses contend with higher fuel prices, transportation costs and living expenses.

NLC Backs ₦500 Petrol Demand, Workers Propose ₦500,000 Salary

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MURIC Warns FG: Any Move Against Atiku Now Lacks Tact

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MURIC Warns FG: Any Move Against Atiku Now Lacks Tact
MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola

MURIC Warns FG: Any Move Against Atiku Now Lacks Tact

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has warned the Federal Government against any move to arrest, interrogate or otherwise take action against former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over a fresh petition before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, saying such a step at this time could send the wrong signal to Nigerians.

The warning came as the controversy over a renewed call for the EFCC to investigate allegations dating back to Atiku’s tenure as Vice-President intensified, with opposition figures and the petitioner trading sharply different arguments over the matter.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, MURIC Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said the government should exercise caution, particularly with the 2027 general elections approaching.

According to MURIC, the renewed allegations have assumed greater sensitivity because Atiku is now the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress and a leading opposition figure.

“We warn that such an attempt at this point in time will send the wrong signal to Nigerians,” the group said, adding that with the 2027 elections “at the doorsteps,” the Federal Government should carefully consider the consequences of any action against the former Vice-President.

MURIC described any such move as lacking tact and “short” of emotional intelligence, while urging the government to avoid conduct that could create the impression that state institutions were being used against political opponents.

The organisation also warned against what it described as a damaging “body language” capable of portraying Nigeria as a “banana republic.”

MURIC said that although the country had already lost some ethical ground, its democratic values and norms remained important safeguards that should not be compromised.

“Our corporate image in the global community is sinking fast,” the group added.

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The statement followed renewed controversy over a petition by former House of Representatives member, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, asking the EFCC to revisit allegations concerning Atiku’s activities while he was Vice-President.

Reports indicate that the petition relates to allegations investigated by the EFCC between 2005 and 2006. Agbonayinma reportedly gave the anti-graft agency a 14-day ultimatum to act and threatened legal action if the commission failed to respond.

Former Senator Dino Melaye has strongly opposed the renewed petition, describing it as an attempt to “resurrect the dead.” Melaye argued that the matter had previously been dealt with and questioned the basis for bringing it back almost two decades later.

The dispute, however, has escalated beyond the original petition, with Agbonayinma hitting back at Melaye and challenging him to produce documentary evidence for his claim that the allegations had been investigated and dismissed.

In a statement reported on September 20, Agbonayinma insisted that he was asking the EFCC to perform its statutory responsibility and argued that the substance of the allegations should be addressed rather than his personality or political affiliation.

“You cannot defend Atiku Abubakar from an EFCC petition by attacking me,” Agbonayinma was quoted as saying, while urging the anti-graft agency to determine whether the allegations warranted further investigation.

The renewed controversy has also brought attention to the distinction between a petition seeking investigation and a finding of criminal guilt. The existence of a petition does not, by itself, establish that the person named in it committed an offence.

There is also a historical legal dimension to the allegations. Reports on the previous proceedings state that a Lagos State High Court set aside an EFCC administrative indictment against Atiku in December 2006, while no criminal conviction against him resulted from the allegations.

Atiku has continued to deny wrongdoing and has challenged anyone with credible evidence against him to present it through the appropriate legal channels.

Meanwhile, there was no confirmed announcement from the EFCC, as of the latest reports reviewed, that it had arrested Atiku or formally invited him over the fresh petition. A separate and more recent EFCC investigation reported on September 20 concerns individuals connected to allegations surrounding the Mambilla Power Project, which is distinct from the 2005–2006 allegations at the centre of the present political dispute.

The MURIC intervention has therefore added a fresh dimension to an increasingly heated political controversy, with the organisation urging the Federal Government to exercise restraint and protect public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

With the 2027 elections approaching, the dispute over the renewed EFCC petition is expected to remain a significant political issue, particularly if the anti-graft agency decides to take further steps.

For MURIC, however, the timing of any action is crucial. The organisation wants the Federal Government to ensure that whatever steps are taken by law-enforcement agencies are grounded in due process and do not create the perception of political persecution.

The group’s central warning is that Nigeria must guard its democratic reputation and avoid actions that could further erode public confidence in its institutions at a particularly sensitive period in the nation’s political calendar.

MURIC Warns FG: Any Move Against Atiku Now Lacks Tact

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