In this report, According Online highlights this week’s biggest news stories from around the country.
The Federal Government retracted an official statement and suspended another announced policy; the continent mourned the loss of a Nollywood icon, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu; and bandits made a devastating comeback, storming two schools in Kaduna and abducting pupils and teachers.
Here are highlights from the week’s biggest news stories, from March 3 to March 9, 2024.
- Mr Ibu mourned across Africa
Renowned Nollywood actor, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, died at the age of 62.
He died on Saturday, March 2, 2024, in a Lagos hospital. The news of his death came shortly after the passing of another actor, Quadri Oyebamiji, aka Sisi Quadri.
Tributes have been pouring in from various regions, with the Actors Guild of Nigeria and fellow actors expressing their condolences. Mr Ibu had battled health issues, leading to the amputation of his legs, and his final years were marked by controversy and family disputes. He was widely mourned by local media in Ghana, South Africa and other African countries. He leaves behind a legacy of laughter and memorable performances in Nollywood.
Attacks on warehouses and food trucks were reported in some parts of the country. Following the looting of warehouses in Abuja by suspected hoodlums, security has been intensified at National Emergency Management Agency warehouses nationwide.
Police commands across various states have deployed personnel to protect warehouses and food stores. The government has emphasised the importance of maintaining social harmony and urged Nigerians to protest responsibly amid economic challenges.
In addition, the Nigeria Customs Service and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission intercepted 141 trucks attempting to smuggle grains and staples to neighbouring countries. President Bola Tinubu has directed intercepted trucks to be diverted to local markets to stabilise prices.
Meanwhile, truck drivers, facing frequent attacks by hoodlums, have threatened to strike if the situation persists. Attacks on trucks and warehouses have escalated amid rising food prices and cost of living challenges. Truck owners warned that continued attacks on their vehicles may lead to a halt in the transportation of food and fuel commodities. They called for enhanced security measures and urged state governments to address the issue to avoid further disruptions in supply chains.
The government aims to tackle food scarcity through long-term measures, including partnerships with organisations like the World Food Programme and initiatives to enhance agricultural productivity.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, attributes food scarcity to factors like smuggling, flooding, and policy decisions.
The Federal Government threatened to revoke the operating licences of power distribution companies intentionally not supplying electricity to consumers, leading to widespread blackouts across Nigeria.
Despite efforts by the Ministry of Power and electricity generating companies, many DisCos are failing to distribute power supplied to them by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, expressed dismay over the decline in power supply and warned of severe consequences, including licence revocation, for willful non-performance by DisCos.
The government aims to prioritise repair work on damaged transmission infrastructure to improve power supply in affected regions.
Recent data showed that DisCos failed to distribute about 1,769.91 megawatts of electricity between February 1 and 14, 2024. Adelabu has summoned DisCos and TCN to address the poor power supply situation and reiterated plans to settle outstanding debts owed to power generation and gas supply companies. He urged electricity consumers to remain patient as efforts are made to improve the power supply situation in Nigeria.
In Kaduna State, over 280 pupils and teachers from Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School in Kuriga were abducted by bandits.
The attack occurred shortly after insurgents kidnapped 200 internally displaced women in Borno State.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State assured the community that efforts were underway to rescue the abducted persons, while Amnesty International and other groups called for immediate action from the government to ensure the safe return of the students and teachers.
Negotiations for the release of the abducted pupils and teachers have commenced, According Online reports on Saturday. The state government has engaged a prominent negotiator with a track record of facilitating such releases. Concurrently, the military has launched search operations in the forests to locate the victims.
- Minimum wage and regional disparity
It was a week of back and forth on the minimum wage as workers across various states proposed different figures for the new minimum wage. In the South-West, the Nigerian Labour Congress suggested a minimum wage of N794,000, while the Trade Union Congress proposed N447,000. In the Federal Capital Territory and the North-Central region, workers demanded N709,000 as the minimum wage. Conversely, in the North-West, workers called for N485,000.
The North-East saw varied proposals, with Taraba and Gombe states proposing N60,000, Bauchi and Adamawa states demanding a 50% increment in the current wage, and Borno and Yobe states agreeing to accept the final proposal of the presidential tripartite committee.
In the South-South, workers proposed N850,000, while the South-East proposed N540,000, with Enugu State’s TUC suggesting N447,000. These diverse proposals underscore the complexity of determining a uniform minimum wage that addresses the varied economic realities and cost of living across Nigeria’s regions.
- Reversal I: Expatriate Employment Levy
The Federal Government’s enactment of the Expatriate Employment Levy faced a sudden reversal as it suspended its implementation barely a week after its launch by President Bola Tinubu. The levy is a financial contribution imposed on employers who hire foreign workers. Companies are required to pay $15,000 for expatriate directors and $10,000 for other categories.
Offences such as failing to submit an EEL, not registering an employee, providing false information, or not renewing the EEL within 30 days can result in fines of up to N3 million per offence.
The abrupt suspension came amidst widespread criticism from private sector groups, citing concerns over its potential adverse effects on Foreign Direct Investment and economic stability, particularly the devaluation of the naira.
- Reversal II: UAE visa U-turn
The announcement regarding the lifting of visa restrictions for Nigerian travelers by the United Arab Emirates initially created headlines, only to be swiftly retracted. The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, shared a document online indicating the suspension had been lifted, prompting widespread attention.
However, shortly afterwards, Onanuga clarified that the UAE had not resumed visa issuance to Nigerians and disavowed the circulated document as unauthorised by either government.
This sequence of events left many puzzled and questioning the reliability of official communications.
Moreover, the backtracking reflects a broader pattern of diplomatic uncertainty between Nigeria and the UAE.
The UAE banned citizens from Nigeria and 19 other African nations from entering its borders in 2022.
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