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Tinubu urges youth to shelve planned protest, await his response

Published

2 years ago

July 23, 2024

Tinubu urges youth to shelve planned protest, await his response

President Bola Tinubu has appealed to organizers of a nationwide protest to shelve their plans, assuring them that he is listening to their concerns and working diligently to address them.

The protest, being scheduled to hold across the country between August 1 to 10, is said to be a way of registering the impact of food scarcity and the inability to afford common needs.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, conveyed the president’s message while speaking to journalists at the State House on Tuesday, July 23, after a routine briefing of the President on developments around his ministry.

Idris said President Tinubu takes the protesters’ grievances seriously and is committed to ensuring a better future for Nigeria.

The minister highlighted the swift passage of the National Minimum Wage Bill by the National Assembly as evidence of the President’s commitment to swift action.

He urged young people to give the President more time to implement his plans, emphasizing that a protest is unnecessary as the government is already responding to their pleas.

“We also discussed the issue of the country generally and Mr. President has asked me to again inform Nigerians that he listens to them, especially the young people who are trying to protest, Mr. President is listening to them, he takes what they say seriously and he is working assiduously to ensure that this country is good, not just for today, but also for the future.

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“The issue of the planned protest, Mr. President does not see any need for that, he’s asked them to shelve that plan and he’s asked them to await the government’s response to all their pleas. He has listened to them, like I said, and a lot is happening.

“Only today, the National Assembly has expeditiously passed the Bill on National Minimum Wage, you can see how the President is working. It was transmitted only yesterday, today it has been passed.

“A lot of other interventions that the President has put in place are also going to be looked at expeditiously, in the interest of Nigerians. So there’s no need for a strike, the young people out there should listen to the President and allow the President more time to see to the realization of all the goodies he has for them.

Idris also reeled out more of the interventions being pushed to the public, aimed at supporting vulnerable Nigerians, students, and young graduates.

According to Idris, the government is committed to ensuring that its interventions reach the intended beneficiaries directly, without intermediaries.

He highlighted the recent approval and delivery of grains and rice to state governments as a first step in this direction.

“For example, you saw that the federal government approved grains and rice for state governments, it was delivered to them expeditiously also.

“Like I said the other time, it is just the necessary first step, the government is going to continue in that direction, supporting them and ensuring that whatever interventions the federal government has put in place go to those that should benefit. It is very important that is being put out.

“The federal government is looking at strategies that every intervention would go directly to those who benefit from those interventions, not middlemen intervening along the way”, he said.

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The Minister also emphasized President Tinubu’s passion for the newly launched Student Loan Board, which aims to ensure that every eligible student can access tertiary education regardless of financial constraints.

“Number two, you heard about the student loan board that was launched by the President, Mr. President is very passionate about deepening that. Everyone that should go to school will have the opportunity to go to school.

“It is no longer a time for all of us to stay back and see our young able-bodied men and women that have passed the examinations to go to tertiary institutions that have not been able to do that because their parents are not able to pay for their fees.

“This is a thing of the past, the government is very desirous of ensuring that happens. You know the provision that was made to the NELFUND, already we have in excess of what is required today, and the more the people are requiring that the more the President will also give”, the Minister said.

Furthermore, the government is perfecting a scheme to support young graduates who are yet to secure employment after completing their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program.

This initiative is part of the administration’s commitment to leaving no one behind in its quest for progress, according to the Minister.

“There is also the intervention the President is working out for those young men and women who have finished school, but who are yet to get employed, post-NYSC for example, there is a scheme the government is perfecting now and that is also going to be pushed fast so that all those young men and women who have finished school, graduates of universities and polytechnics that are unable to get jobs, they will continue to be supported by the government until such a time that those jobs are offered to them.

“The whole idea is that no one is left behind, it’s an all-inclusive government and the President is determined to ensure that no one is left behind in this his attempt to march Nigeria towards progress”, Idris said.

Speaking on his reason for visiting, Idris said: “It’s a regular meeting that all ministers hold with the President, I met with him and discussed with him, especially in areas under my supervision; the issue of NTA, for example, FRCN, NAN and VON. We have discussed all that and we have also arrived at situations that will help their position as public information platforms of the country.

“They should be in the forefront and they are, we are doing everything possible to make sure that they are being repositioned so that they can serve Nigeria very well”, he said.

Tinubu urges youth to shelve planned protest, await his response

Related Topics:Featured protest Tinubu youth

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US Embassy Suspends Abuja Visa Appointments Over Security Concerns

Published

18 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Trends Admin

US Embassy Suspends Abuja Visa Appointments Over Security Concerns

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has suspended visa appointments in Abuja following heightened security concerns, a move that has disrupted travel plans for hundreds of applicants in Abuja.

In an official notice released via its communication channels, the embassy confirmed that all visa interviews in Abuja have been cancelled until further notice, urging affected applicants to check their emails for updates on rescheduled appointments.

“U.S. Embassy Abuja is closed for visa appointments. Applicants should check their email for details on rescheduled appointments,” the statement read. It added that visa services in Lagos remain operational at the United States Consulate General Lagos, providing an alternative for applicants who can access the facility.

The embassy further clarified that American citizen services in Abuja will continue only in emergency situations and strictly by appointment, indicating a temporary scale-down of operations in the capital.

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The suspension follows a recent directive by the United States Department of State authorising the departure of non-essential staff and their families from Abuja, citing a deteriorating security situation in Nigeria.

An updated U.S. travel advisory has also placed Nigeria under a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” status, warning of persistent threats including terrorism, kidnapping, crime, and civil unrest. Several states have been categorised under the stricter “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory due to high-risk security conditions.

States listed include Borno State, Yobe State, Taraba State, Niger State, Plateau State, and parts of Adamawa State, where threats linked to terrorism and kidnapping remain high. Other states such as Kaduna State, Katsina State, Zamfara State, and Sokoto State were also flagged over insecurity concerns.

The advisory has triggered reactions from the Federal Government of Nigeria, which described the assessment as “unbalanced” and not fully reflective of ongoing efforts to address insecurity nationwide. Authorities warned that such reports could negatively impact Nigeria’s global image and economic activities.

Despite the disruption in Abuja, visa processing and consular services continue in Lagos, offering a temporary alternative for applicants. However, the development is expected to cause delays in visa processing, particularly for students, business travellers, and individuals with urgent travel needs.

The US Embassy visa suspension in Abuja highlights the broader impact of security challenges on diplomatic operations and international travel, as uncertainty remains over when normal services will resume in the capital.

US Embassy Suspends Abuja Visa Appointments Over Security Concerns

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Yemi Osinbajo Appointed Senior Strategic Adviser to Africa CDC

Published

3 days ago

April 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo

Yemi Osinbajo Appointed Senior Strategic Adviser to Africa CDC

Former Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has been appointed as Senior Strategic Adviser to the Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), as the agency pushes forward the continent’s Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) agenda.

The appointment, announced on Monday, comes at a critical time as Africa CDC seeks to enhance health systems, boost domestic financing, expand local production of medical supplies, and strengthen Africa’s influence in global health governance. In this role, Osinbajo will provide strategic guidance on pandemic preparedness, sustainable healthcare financing, policy direction, and continental collaboration.

Director-General Jean Kaseya praised Osinbajo’s wealth of experience, highlighting his expertise at the intersection of governance, finance, law, and diplomacy. “At a time when Africa must act with greater authority on the future of health, his leadership will be invaluable,” Kaseya said. He added that Osinbajo’s appointment reflects Africa CDC’s commitment to mobilising top African leadership in service of the continent’s health security and development.

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Osinbajo served as Nigeria’s Vice-President from 2015 to 2023, during which he chaired the Economic Sustainability Committee, contributed to reforms enhancing the ease of doing business, and played a key role in implementing Nigeria’s social investment programmes. Earlier, he was Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. His legal and governance background positions him to offer critical insights on health policy, regulatory frameworks, and strategic partnerships.

The AHSS agenda, which Osinbajo will help drive, seeks to strengthen Africa’s self-reliance in health, improve disease surveillance, and foster regional collaboration to respond more effectively to pandemics and other public health emergencies. Experts say his advisory role will be crucial in promoting local production of vaccines and medical equipment, ensuring Africa can meet its own health needs while influencing global health decisions.

Africa CDC, operating under the African Union, aims to support member states in building resilient health systems capable of confronting future outbreaks and public health crises. Osinbajo’s appointment is expected to further amplify Africa’s voice in global health while ensuring sustainable health development across the continent.

Yemi Osinbajo Appointed Senior Strategic Adviser to Africa CDC

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Iran Lists Tough Conditions for Peace Talks with US

Published

3 days ago

April 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Iran Lists Tough Conditions for Peace Talks with US

By Agency Report

Iran has outlined a set of strict preconditions for engaging in negotiations with the United States aimed at achieving a lasting peace, signalling a hardening of its stance amid ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.

According to a senior Iranian official who spoke to Reuters, Tehran is insisting on an immediate halt to U.S. military strikes, alongside firm guarantees that such attacks will not be repeated, as a prerequisite for any talks.

The official also disclosed that Iran is demanding compensation for damages suffered during the conflict, underscoring the country’s position that any future negotiations must address the consequences of the ongoing war.

In a further indication of its firm posture, Iran has rejected proposals for a temporary ceasefire, maintaining that only a comprehensive and permanent peace agreement would be acceptable.

Tehran is also pushing for new arrangements regarding the strategic Strait of Hormuz, including the right to impose transit fees on vessels passing through the vital global oil shipping route. The proposed fees, according to the official, would vary depending on the type of vessel, its cargo, and prevailing conditions.

The development comes amid intensified diplomatic efforts led by regional mediators, including Pakistan, to broker a ceasefire between the two sides. A U.S.-backed proposal for a 45-day truce has reportedly been put forward as a stepping stone toward broader negotiations, though Tehran has dismissed the idea as insufficient.

Tensions between the two countries remain high, with both sides holding firm to their positions. Analysts say Iran’s demands reflect a broader strategy to secure long-term guarantees and reshape the terms of engagement in the region, rather than accept short-term de-escalation measures.

With neither side showing signs of compromise, prospects for immediate negotiations appear uncertain, raising concerns about further escalation and its implications for global security and energy markets.