Claim: 95 per cent of the youths who participated in Thursday’s violent protests in Maiduguri were children less than 14 years old.
Verdict: Misleading.
Full Text:
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum recently claimed that 95 per cent of the youths who participated in Thursday’s violent protests in Maiduguri were children under 14 years.
According to reports, Zulum made this known in a broadcast to the people of Borno where he also declared the lifting of the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state.
“Over 95 per cent of those who participated in the so-called Thursday protests were children under 14 years. Most of them do not know why they are protesting.
“A six-year-old child carrying a placard is amazing; he must have been directed by someone. Most of those children are not from Borno,” Zulum claimed.
READ ALSO:FACT-CHECK: Did President Tinubu send a threat message to #EndBadGovernance protesters?
The state is one amongst others where the peaceful protest against economic hardship has snowballed into violence, with a detonated improvised explosive device reportedly killing 16 persons and leavingt many others critically injured.
Nigerians in many states have marched onto the streets in an ongoing 10-day demonstration tagged #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria. The protest, which started on August 1 continues on its 5th day despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s address to the nation where he has urged protesters to suspend protests and called protest ‘organizers’ to come for dialogue.
Verification:
Borno, a state in Northern Nigeria, is estimated to have a population of over six million people. The state also contributed to the country’s 18.3 million out-of-school children.
In March, 2024 Borno State Government said it has made significant progress in addressing the problem of out-of-school children by reducing the number in the state from over two million to 800,000.
Though videos and pictures online show children participating in the protest, it is clear that there is no registry for protesters, thus, the number or age of participants cannot be determined.
Conclusion:
The Borno State Governor’s claim cannot be substantiated.
By Quadri Yahya
The post FACT CHECK: How true is Gov Zulum’s claim that 95% of Borno #EndBadGovernance protesters are under 14yrs? appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
FACT CHECK: How true is Gov Zulum’s claim that 95% of Borno #EndBadGovernance protesters are under 14yrs?
Dokubo-Asari not against protest, concerned about anarchy – Coastal Dwellers Association
The Coastal Dwellers Association of West Africa has faulted reports that a Niger Delta freedom fighter, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, is against the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country.
Before the commencement of the protests, Dokubo-Asari was reported to have warned the organizers not to come to the Niger Delta, noting that the agenda of those behind the protest did not capture the problems of the people of the region.
However, in a statement made available to journalists, President of the Coastal Dwellers Association of West Africa, Arch Tom Inko-Tariah, noted that a speech made by Dokubo-Asari at a Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, event in Port Harcourt was edited out of context to suggest that the activist was against the protests staged by aggrieved Nigerians.
According to Inko-Tariah, reports suggesting that Dokubo-Asari, a prominent advocate for minority rights in the Niger Delta, is against the protest, are untrue.
According to him, “Dokubo-Asari, known for his lifelong dedication to fighting for the people, cannot change at this stage of his life.”
Inko-Tariah highlighted Dokubo-Asari’s commitment to standing by the people and fighting for justice and equality throughout his career.
He noted that while Dokubo-Asari may have expressed concerns about the potential for violence and chaos during the protests, his stance is rooted in a desire to uphold democratic principles and prevent any destabilization of the country.
“Alhaji Mujahid Abubakar Dokubo-Asari has always been a champion for the rights of the marginalized communities in the Niger Delta and beyond. His focus has been on addressing systemic injustices and promoting peaceful resolutions to grievances.
“It is crucial to understand that his concerns lie not with the legitimate grievances of the protesters but with the dangers of anarchy and attempts to subvert the democratic process through unconstitutional means,” Inko-Tariah added.
Dokubo-Asari not against protest, concerned about anarchy – Coastal Dwellers Association
PRP commends peaceful protesters, condemns rioters
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) says the peaceful conduct of some Nigerian youths in the ongoing nationwide EndBadGovernance protests must be commended while those who decided to turn the demonstrators into a spree of violence and looting stand condemned.
Hon. Falalu Bello, the
National Chairman of the
PRP who made the assertions in a statement on Wednesday, said the youths held largely “peaceful protests across the nation and conducted themselves peacefully and clearly making their demands of the All Progressive Congress (APC) government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for good governance in Nigeria.”
“We, on the other hand, condemn, in very strong terms, the rioters who infiltrated the peaceful protests in places like Kano and Kaduna States to destroy public property, breach into shops and buildings to steal goods of ordinary Nigerians and the public,” Bello said.
He also called on the government to launch an investigation into reported brutality by security operatives as well as the loss of lives of protesters in different parts of the country.
“As protests are part and parcel of the plural democracy Nigerians have chosen for themselves, we demand full investigation and accountability for the loss of lives and limbs through the use of live ammunition by the Nigerian State Security agencies in many locations where there were killings and maiming of Nigerian citizens,” he said.
“The investigations should establish those responsible and be made to account for their misdeeds. Moving forward, we demand of our Legislators in the National Assembly, legislation that defines rules of engagements of protesters in Nigeria with the security agencies during protests that, inter alia, should prohibit use of live ammunition in all future protests. The use of live ammunition to control protests in Nigeria must be stopped.”
Touching on President Bola Tinubu’s speech last Sunday, Bello said:
“On August 4th, 2024, the 4th day of the 10 days planned protest, as advised the Nigerian government by the protestors, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT), addressed the nation on the nationwide protests. In that address, PBAT acknowledged the protesters demands, called for unity and cooperation of Nigerians to address the nation’s challenges, reaffirmed his commitments to democratic principles and human rights, and pontificated on some of his administration’s achievements, such as an increase in revenue because of blocking leakages on expenditures, an increase in spending on social services such as education, and an increase in revenue accruing to states and local governments.
“In the said 4-8-24 PBAT speech, the president unfortunately neither apologised to Nigerians for the economic hardship his 16-month administration has brought to Nigerians nor for the myriad of problems the nation is facing, such as increased corruption, an increase in the cost of governance, an increase in insecurity, and wasteful expenditures.
“It is not intended in this press release that we do a critique of the 4-8-2024 PBAT speech, but we need to cursorily comment on his claim of increased revenue, an increase in social spending, and an increase in revenue accruing to state and local governments.
“True, there have been increases in revenue to the federal, state, and local governments, but these increases did not come owing to an increase in economic activities or blockage of wasteful expenditures as claimed but came because of the massive devaluation of the national currency and no more.
READ ALSO:PRP urges Nigerian govt to initiate peace moves with #EndBadGovernance protesters
“The revenue increase to N9.1 trillion came because of devaluation, and if this N9.1 trillion is to be divided by the current exchange rate, the nation has earned less than what was earned in the corresponding period of President Muhammadu Buhari’s (PMB) government. We can go on to puncture most of the claims made in the speech and show that the PBAT government is still bedevilled by incidences of bad governance but would not do so.
“We, however, would here humbly suggest to the PABT government to address the concerns of the protesters and other Nigerians by:
1. Addressing the monumental increase in cost of living brought about by the removal of petroleum subsidies, the removal of electricity subsidies, and the devaluation of the naira, which largely increased inflation in Nigeria;
2. Reduction in the costs of governance by reducing the size of the existing cabinet, reducing their salary and perks, and initiating a substantial reduction of the cost of the National Assembly to the nation;
3. Start addressing corruption in the land by prosecuting identified cases of corruption, beginning with his cabinet members and members of the National Assembly with EFCC cases;
4. Address insecurity in the land by giving the security high commands (military and police) time to rid this country of banditry and kidnappings; otherwise, he changes them and appoints those willing and able to address the insecurity in Nigeria; and,
5. Stop wasteful expenditures in the presidency, such as the purchase of a new presidential jet, a presidential yacht, exotic cars for the presidency and the national assembly, etc.
“We have in the eight (8) years of APC government under PMB and since PABT came to power, been addressing the governments at the national level by telling them how to attain good governance in Nigeria, as we have done in this press release today, but we have been totally ignored and even abused when former Senate leadership called us rabble-rousers.
“For this reason, we are today telling Nigerians that the PRP as well as a few other political parties with good ideologies, exist as alternatives to the APC/PDP that have ruined us in the last 25 years.
“We in the PRP have solutions to the high cost of governance, wasteful expenditures, insecurity, and corruption bedevilling the Nigerian nation and shall soon unveil to the nation in piecemeal our programs and policies. This is to prove to Nigerians that truly our party can do it better than the APC.
“In the ongoing protests, we have heard of some people calling for the Nigerian military to take over government in Nigeria. We in the PRP are against this call and believe strongly that the military should be restricted to their constitutional responsibility of protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria and assisting the Nigeria Police Force to maintain peace when called to do so.
“The Nigerian electorate, we believe, should be allowed to change any bad government through the ballot box. The APC government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can be changed through the ballot box, and we call on the Nigerian youths, who constitute 67% of registered voters of Nigeria, to massively come out in the next 2 years and 8 months to bring a new government that would have empathy for its citizens and bring good governance to the nation, and this is possible.”
The post PRP commends peaceful protesters, condemns rioters appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Rivers Govt commissions oxygen plant
The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant at the General Hospital in Ogale Community, Eleme Local Government Area.
This initiative is a collaboration between the public and private sectors.
According to a statement from the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chikwudi, the Oxygen Plant was constructed and installed through a partnership involving UNICEF, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Rivers State Government, the Canadian Government, and IHS Towers.
During the commissioning, Governor Siminalayi Fubara highlighted the state’s progress in reconstructing, equipping, and staffing health facilities more effectively than ever before under his administration.
He emphasized that healthcare services are becoming increasingly accessible at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, contributing to a healthier society.
Fubara attributed these achievements to the last six months following the state’s liberation, despite the political crisis aimed at distracting his administration.
He noted that the project aligns with his administration’s three-point agenda.
Fubara said, “We might have had so many things in mind or written down before we came on board. But half way the journey, we found out that we need to redirect ourselves and understand the needs of our people.
“The need for quality education, the need for affordable healthcare services, the need to put food on the tables of our people became more pertinent.
“And that is why we brought this three-point agenda: healthcare, education and agriculture, and you are witnesses to it.
“What we have done, not in one year but in the past six months of our liberation, is that, we have touched healthcare services like never before in our State.
“We have spent and we are spending to make sure that Rivers State becomes health (medical) tourism State.”
According to Fubara, approximately 70 percent of the reconstruction and upgrading work on Zonal Hospitals in the state have been completed.
He noted that the facilities now offer significantly improved conditions compared to before his administration took office.
Fubara emphasized that the Zonal Hospitals have been remodeled to meet international standards, adding that, the various investments made in the health sector have provided compelling evidence to UNICEF and its partners, influencing their decision to establish the Medical Oxygen Plant in the state.
He said, “They saw what we’re doing, and they believed that it will be right to partner with Rivers State. Let’s set the record straight: It is not our project. The Pressure Swing Adsorption Oxygen Plant is a UNICEF project, supported by the Federal Government and other partners.
“But, the unique thing about this project is that it needed to be sited somewhere that people understand its need, people who are spending, making positive investment in healthcare. And that is why we gained that privilege.
“A situation where people from the East, people from other South-South states will be coming to access this facility. You know what it means? On your lands that we’re building more roads for you, people will start buying them to start living here.
“More medical facilities will start to spring up. As a matter of fact, don’t be surprised, most of these international organizations might be coming to set up some plants around here, because what is coming out of here is a very important ingredient in healthcare services.”
Fubara assured that the project will be protected, and enjoined the people of Eleme and the Hospitals Management Board to do everything within their powers secure the plant.
He further appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government, who despite the poor state of the economy that he inherited, is doing everything possible to lead it out of the woods.
Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, described the event as a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and enhance service delivery.
Oreh highlighted the crucial role of oxygen in medical care, particularly in addressing global health challenges.
The commissioner credited Governor Fubara’s visionary leadership with making it possible for patients in Rivers State to access this essential resource.
She said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical need for a reliable and sustainable supply of medical-grade oxygen to support patients in respiratory distress and other medical emergencies.
“The PSA Oxygen Plant we are commissioning today represents a vital step forward in ensuring that our healthcare facilities are equipped to deliver timely and effective medical care to those in need.
“The oxygen plant can fill 135 cylinders (20-liter bottles) in 24 hours. These can provide 720,000 liters of medical oxygen within the same time frame. This capacity ensures that 100 children with severe pneumonia or 50-60 COVID-19 patients can receive round-the-clock oxygen treatment simultaneously.”
Also speaking, the UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, said the partners are delighted to handover the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant to the Rivers State Government as an evidence in the collective endeavour of improving health outcomes for Rivers people.
Rivers Govt commissions oxygen plant
Alleged killing of protester: Atiku’s aide tackles Onanuga over reaction to Ex-VP’s statement
Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has tackled a presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, over his reaction to Atiku’s statement on alleged killing of a protester by the military.
He said that the recent admission by the military to “mistakenly” killing a 16-year-old boy in Zaria, Kaduna State, was exactly what the former Vice President had alluded to in his statement.
TVN reported that Atiku cautioned the military authorities over the use of lethal force against peaceful civilian protesters.
Atiku said those who authorise such action against peaceful civilian protesters would be held responsible for committing crimes against humanity, even in the years following their retirement from service.
However, Onanuga faulted the former Vice President for warning security agencies against using lethal force against looters and arsonists.
He went on to allege that Atiku wants the protest to continue in spite of what he described as red signals from the streets.
Responding in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, Ibe told Onanuga that Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief, knows that even in war there are rules of engagement.
He said: “Following @atiku’s stern warning to service chiefs and military commanders not to shoot at protesting Nigerian citizens else they face crimes against humanity, the @HQNigerianArmy has admitted to “mistakenly” killing a 16-year-old boy in Zaria, Kaduna State.
“The culprit soldier, we are told, has been arrested. That’s accountability.
“This was exactly what the former Vice President had alluded to, that even those who give the orders for such extrajudicial executions will be held accountable under international laws.
“As Commander-in-Chief, @officialABAT knows that even in war, there are rules of engagement. So, @aonanuga1956, there was really no need for you to have been foaming in the mouth.”
Alleged killing of protester: Atiku’s aide tackles Onanuga over reaction to Ex-VP’s statement
Returning petrol subsidy’ll worsen poverty in Nigeria – NOA
The National Orientation Agency, NOA, says poverty will worsen if petrol subsidy is returned, as demanded by #EndBadGovernance protesters.
The Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, made this statement on Wednesday, urging Nigerians to map out survival strategies amid the economic fallout of the removal of petrol subsidy by the President Bola Tinubu administration.
“Anybody who is making a demand that subsidy removal should be brought back is making an emotional demand, not an economic demand, because you have to also prove that if it is brought back, it will solve the issue of poverty; it will not, it will aggravate it,” Issa-Onilu said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily breakfast show.
“So, what we should be doing is: How do we survive despite the removal?’ We need to promote all the efforts of this government to ensure that we survive without that subsidy.”
Issa-Onilu, a former spokesman for the President’s ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, also admitted the trust deficit between leaders and followers in the country due to repeated cases of broken promises over the years.
“It is difficult to talk to people who have for several years been let down. Nigerians feel let down. The first question they ask you is: ‘Is this another promise that will not be kept?’ So, we must prove to Nigerians that this government is keeping to its promises,” he said.
Recall that during his nationwide broadcast on Sunday, President Bola Tinubu ruled out the return of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, famously known as petrol.
Returning petrol subsidy’ll worsen poverty in Nigeria – NOA
CDS urges West African defence chiefs to uphold democratic values
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has said the change of government by the military in West African countries has had unintended consequences and threatened their democratic values in the region.
Musa added that the threat of a military takeover of the government must be destroyed, adding that it negated the core responsibilities of the military profession.
The CDS spoke during a meeting with West African Defence Chiefs in Abuja on Wednesday.
Musa stated that in democratic countries, the military must uphold democratic values in line with their constitutions.
He said, “Recent challenges like the military coup in some countries in the region have had unintended consequences and have threatened our collective democratic values.
“This threat must be destroyed as it negates our core responsibilities as military professionals. Let me, therefore, use this opportunity to emphasise that, as democratic countries, we in the military must uphold democratic values in line with our various constitutions. “
He noted that the meeting would prevent coups and ensure peace and sustainable development for citizens in West Africa.
Musa said, “I am also optimistic that this meeting will assist us in preventing such abnormalities while strengthening our collective resolve to bring about peace and sustainable development to our people.
“Accordingly, the complexity of this meeting demands that we leverage our collective efforts, share intelligence and coordinate our efforts across borders if we must solve these challenges.
“Thus, collaboration is paramount and I encourage you to address both the root causes and symptoms of this security in our region. It is on this premise that the agenda for this meeting was carefully crafted to focus on critical areas and build in for our previous engagements.”
The CDS added that “some of these critical areas include the proposed Air Force Security Support Mission in Sierra Leone and the activation of the Air Force Standby Force against terrorism.
“Other issues in line for deliberations are the development of the Air Force Logistics Depot in Sierra Leone and Air Force Peace Support Operations. As we embark on today’s discussions, I must remind us all that your insights and experiences are paramount to support our shared mission.”
Musa said terrorism, insurgency, organised crime, violence, unconstitutional takeover of government and threatened national security also undermined the socio-economic development of the entire region.
He said, “Your presence here reflects a shared commitment and dedication towards living in a sustainable environment for the safety and well-being of our people. It demonstrates a collective drive to address the various community threats affecting the region through deliberate and concerted collaborative efforts. As leaders in our respective armed forces, we are all aware of the threats that confront our nations and regions.
“These threats include terrorism, insurgency, organized crime, violence, education, and recently, unconstitutional takeover of government and national politics. These challenges not only threaten our national security but also undermine the social fabric and socio-economic development of the entire region. “
Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu dies at 92
Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu, the Emeritus Archbishop of Benin City Archdiocese, is dead.
TVN reports that His Grace, Most Reverend Augustine Obiora Akubeze, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City disclosed this in a statement signed on his behalf by Very Rev Fr Michael Oyanoafoh, Chancellor, Catholic Archdiocese of Benin.
Akubeze said Archbishop Ekpu died at the age of 92 after a brief illness on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 7.09pm.
He said the details of his funeral arrangement would be made known later.
He urged priests, religious and lay faithful of the Catholic archdiocese to put him in our prayers.
TVN reports that the late Emeritus Archbishop of Benin City Archdiocese was born in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, in 1931.
He was ordained Priest on July 7, 1963 and made bishop of Benin city on July 5, 1973.
In March 26, 1994, he was appointed Archbishop of Benin city, Nigeria and retired November 21, 2006.
Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu dies at 92
Protest: Senator Bomai reveals those responsible for attack on his Yobe home
Senator Ibrahim Bomai (APC, Yobe South) has condemned the recent attack on his Potiskum home in Yobe State during the nationwide protest, attributing it to the work of his detractors.
Bomai in a statement issued on Tuesday by his legislative aide, Abubakar Madu Bukar, stated that the protesters had not intended to target his house, as the routes they followed were far from it.
“Of the four houses of prominent politicians in his area, it was only his own that was attacked,” the statement noted.
Bomai declared that he remains undeterred and focused, despite the actions of his political adversaries.
“Senator Bomai cannot be discouraged, and neither will he be distracted by the sinister activities of his political detractors both within and outside the APC to bring him down in his firm resolve and absolute commitment to further bring more dividends of democracy to the good people of Yobe South,” the statement reads further.
Protest: Senator Bomai reveals those responsible for attack on his Yobe home
Driver dies, three injured in Lagos-Ibadan expressway collision
An unidentified driver was confirmed dead on Tuesday following a fatal crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
According Online reported that the fatal crash, which occurred around 3:20 PM near the Forte Filling Station on the Sagamu stretch of the expressway, also left at least three others with varying degrees of injuries.
According to the state police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, the accident involved a granite-loaded truck with the license plate FKJ760XM and a Toyota with the registration number JJJ926YJ.
She added that both vehicles were travelling towards Lagos from Ibadan when the Toyota car driver lost control and collided with the truck.
As a result of the collision, Odutola stated that the Toyota car driver became trapped in the vehicle and was later rushed to a hospital, where doctors on duty confirmed his death.
“After being rescued from where he was trapped, he was taken to Idera Hospital in Sagamu. The doctor later confirmed his death. Two other passengers in the Toyota sustained varying degrees of injuries,” Odutola said.
Our correspondent also learnt that the body of the deceased had been placed in the hospital’s mortuary.
In a related incident reported in late July, a collision on the Ibafo corridor of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway claimed the lives of two people.
The accident reportedly involved a Peugeot bus with the registration number WRA224XA and an orange DAF truck with the registration number ANC711XA.
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