The Edo State Government has ordered security agencies to arrest members of #EndBadGovernance protesters found blocking major roads, obstructing vehicular traffic and extorting motorists.
Chris Osa Nehikhare, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, made the call on Sunday in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City.
Nehikhare said any person arrested would be made to face the full weight of the law.
According to him: “We would like to sound a note of warning to hoodlums and criminals who would want to take advantage of the protest to cause mayhem, that security forces have been mandated to apprehend and arrest anyone caught disrupting public peace or perpetrating crime of any kind.
“We have received information that some persons have taken to blocking major roads, obstructing vehicular traffic and extorting motorists. Security persons have been mandated to round up all those involved in such criminal activities as they would be made to face the full weight of the law.”
He said the state government commended protesters in the state on their peaceful conduct during the nationwide protests.
He also added that the protesters have carried themselves responsibly in expressing themselves and letting their voices be heard on the state of affairs in the nation.
The commissioner opined that in the last four days, the protesters have shown to be law-abiding, bonding with men of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, and other security agencies who were on hand to ensure that law and order are maintained during the demonstrations.
He enjoined law-abiding members of the public to go about their lawful businesses without fear, as government will continue to work to ensure growth and progress of the state.
Protest: Arrest those blocking major roads – Edo govt orders police
Protest: Arrest those blocking major roads – Edo govt orders police
My plan to reduce suffering of Edo people, says Obaseki
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Sunday, said his government has undertaken several bold and deliberate steps to reduce hardship in the state.
He also noted that the state government was implementing several people-oriented programmes to reduce the suffering of Edo people in the wake of the difficult living conditions which the people have had to endure, arising from various policies that have been implemented by the Federal Government.
Obaseki, listed some of the programmes to ameliorate the sufferings of the people including raising the minimum wage for workers to N70,000 to boost their purchasing power, introducing a free transport scheme along the routes operated by the Edo City Transport Service, extending free Wi-Fi services to public spaces to help citizens telecommute and kick-starting a state-wide feeding for the vulnerable implemented in partnership with Christians and Muslim institutions, among others.
He expressed concerns that even though the well-intended measures yielded positive results and brought some relief, the people are still burdened by the worsening prevailing macroeconomic conditions in the country.
The governor said the deteriorating and difficult socio-economic circumstances faced by Nigerians including citizens of Edo State was what led the people to take to the streets to express their displeasure with their current living conditions through the ongoing nationwide protests.
He said, “The protest is obviously the result of the difficult living conditions which Nigerians have had to endure particularly over the last one year, arising from various policies that have been implemented by the Federal Government.
“These policies have taken a severe toll on citizens who have had to endure astronomic high food prices, high transportation costs, galloping inflation and loss of operating capital by small business owners across the country.”
“In Edo State, we have taken several actions within our constitutional authority to reduce the suffering and hardship of our people by showing empathy and supporting our people to weather and survive this trying time despite the challenges witnessed across the nation.
“Some of these measures include raising the minimum wage for workers to N70,000 to boost their purchasing power – the first state in the country to do so. We also introduced a free transport scheme along the routes operated by the Edo City Transport Service (ECTS). We extended free Wi-Fi services to public spaces to help citizens telecommute and kick-started a state-wide feeding for the vulnerable implemented in partnership with Christians and Muslim institutions.”
FG plans building materials manufacturing hubs
The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has announced plans to construct building materials manufacturing hubs in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.
Housing Minister, Ahmed Dangiwa, made the disclosure on Saturday during a courtesy visit from the Executive Chairman of Zheng Xiaopeng and Vice Chairman of Yiwu China-Africa Business Council, High Chief Mike Ugwu.
“We want to build a hub whereby we have industries or factories that are producing building materials,” Dangiwa explained.
The hubs will be located in Sagamu, Aba, Warri or Asaba, Ajaokuta, Kano and Gombe.
The minister sought collaboration with investors, saying, “We want to collaborate with any investor willing to bring funding to build the hub, manage it, recoup the investment, and then give us after recouping the investment.”
On security, Dangiwa assured that the locations are secured, and the intention is to have them built in locations where building materials markets already exist.
The hubs will manufacture building materials like roofing sheets, ceilings, tiles, and doors, and will have facilities like power, water and housing for workers.
The minister encouraged investors to present their designs, saying, “We cannot give you design since you have taken our concept.”
A minimum of 100 hectares of land will be provided for interested investors, and the hubs can be small, medium, or large.
Dangiwa also revealed that the government intends to make the hubs designated free zone areas to reduce importation costs, create jobs, and enhance economic growth.
Nigerian women make African history in Olympic basketball
Nigeria’s women became the first team from the African continent, men or women, ever to reach the quarter-finals of an Olympic basketball tournament on Sunday.
The Nigerians clinched their place in the last eight by beating Canada 79-70 at the Pierre-Mauroy Stadium near Lille.
The win means Nigeria are guaranteed to finish among the top three in Group B but the Canadians were eliminated without registering a single victory.
The Nigerians outscored the Canadians 23-5 in the third quarter. US-born Ezinne Kalu top-scored with 21 points and Elizabeth Balogun scored 14 points.
The draw for the women’s quarter-finals will be made later Sunday with the games to be played on Wednesday.
The knockout stages of the men’s and women’s basketball tournament will be played in Paris.
AFP.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.
Contact: [email protected]
Alleged killings: God’s vengeance can visit for generations – Pat Utomi warns police
Renowned political economist, Professor Pat Utomi has warned the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force to stop reducing everything to racketeering.
Utomi reminded them that God’s vengeance can visit generations, urging them to fear for the future of their children.
The statement comes amid allegations of killings of protesters by police during the nationwide protests across the country.
Police have denied the allegations.
However, in a post on his X handle on Sunday, the political economist said he prayed for the police to realise that the blood of innocent people slaughtered in cold blood and disposed of can cry to heaven for vengeance.
Utomi posted: “I have spoken now to one person who was arrested and has been released. I want to plead with the police to stop reducing everything to racketeering and to pray that they realize that the blood of innocents slaughtered in cold blood and disposed of can cry to Heaven for vengeance like that of Abel and that God’s vengeance can visit for generations so if they respect not their conscience or justice of a Nigeria with collapsing institutions, they should fear for the future of their children.”
Alleged killings: God’s vengeance can visit for generations – Pat Utomi warns police
American, Noah Lyles, wins men’s Olympic 100m gold
World champion Noah Lyles roared to victory in 9.79sec to claim the men’s Olympics 100m gold in Paris on Sunday.
Lyles became the first American, male or female, to win the event since Justin Gatlin won in the 2004 Athens Games.
Details later…
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.
Contact: [email protected]
WHO considers convening emergency committee on mpox
The World Health Organisation’s chief said on Sunday that he is considering convening an expert committee to advise on whether the growing mpox outbreak in Africa should be declared an international emergency.
Since last September, cases have surged in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to a strain of the virus which has recently been detected in nearby African countries.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the UN health agency, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, local governments, and partners were increasing their response to the outbreak.
“But more funding and support for a comprehensive response are needed,” Tedros said on the social media platform X.
“I am considering convening an International Health Regulations emergency committee to advise me on whether the outbreak of mpox should be declared a public health emergency of international concern.”
A PHEIC is the highest alarm the WHO can sound. Tedros, as WHO Director-General, can declare such an emergency on the advice of a committee of experts in the field.
In a statement to the journal Science, Tedros added: “This virus can and must be contained with intensified public health measures, including surveillance, community engagement, treatment, and targeted deployment of vaccines for those at higher risk of infection.”
Different Strain
Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals that can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact.
It was first discovered in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The disease causes fever, muscular aches, and large boil-like skin lesions. There are two subtypes of the virus: the more virulent and deadlier Clade I, endemic in the Congo Basin in central Africa, and Clade II, endemic in West Africa.
In May 2022, mpox infections surged worldwide, mostly affecting gay and bisexual men, due to the Clade IIb subclade.
The outbreak led the WHO to declare a PHEIC, which lasted from July 2022 to May 2023. That outbreak has now largely subsided. Since September 2023, a different strain of mpox, the Clade Ib subclade, has been surging in the DR Congo.
On 11 July, Tedros said more than 11,000 cases and 445 deaths had been reported in the DRC this year, with children the most affected.
The African Union said on Friday that it had “urgently approved $10.4 million from Covid funds to support Africa CDC’s efforts to continue to combat the mpox outbreak across the continent”.
It will help increase monitoring, laboratory testing, regional and national data collection, case and infection management, and access to vaccines, the AU added.
In late July, Burundi reported three cases and Kenya registered a single case.
Then on Saturday, Uganda announced that its first two cases had been detected, with indications that the infections took place in the neighbouring DRC.
The International Health Regulations are the framework defining countries’ rights and obligations in handling public health events that could cross borders. The IHR is legally binding on 196 countries.
Under the IHR, the WHO chief can declare a PHEIC, triggering emergency responses under the regulations.
A PHEIC has only been declared seven times from 2009 onwards: over H1N1 swine flu, poliovirus, Ebola, Zika virus, Ebola again, Covid-19 and mpox.
AFP.
Plateau #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria suspends protests for two days
The Jos #EndBadGovernance Protest 2024 Coalition in Plateau State said it has suspended its street protests for two days to give room for dialogue with relevant stakeholders.
The coalition spokesperson, Mr Enoch Vilret, who announced the suspension while briefing newsmen on Sunday in Jos, Plateau State capital, said that the suspension took effect from Sunday, August 4, to Tuesday, August 6.
Vilret stated that the decision was to allow for dialogue with relevant authorities, as stated by President Bola Tinubu in his broadcast to the nation on Sunday.
He further said that the coalition remained committed to its cause and hoped this period would facilitate constructive discussions.
According to him, should the dialogue not occur within the stipulated time, they will resume their peaceful protests.
“However, we would like to clarify that we are not the organisers of this protest. Instead, we are leaders in our own right on the Plateau, who have stepped in to coordinate and ensure that the protests remain peaceful and orderly.
“Our primary aim is to guide and support the voices of our fellow citizens in a responsible and constructive manner.
“We wish to categorically disassociate ourselves from any group of protesters carrying the Russian flag or any other flag that is not the Nigerian flag.
“Such actions are not representative of our movement, and we urge security forces to arrest any individuals seen engaging in this behaviour, as it undermines the integrity of our cause.
“It has also come to our attention that certain elements, opposed to the peaceful manner in which we have conducted our protests over the past four days, are planning to incite looting and vandalism,” he stated.
The spokesperson pointed out that the coalition strongly condemned such actions and called on security forces to arrest anyone found engaging in such activities.
He added that the movement was dedicated to peaceful advocacy.
“We would not tolerate any form of violence or destruction,” he said,.
Vilret called on Nigerians to continue to be law-abiding and to hold onto the hope that Nigeria would be great again.
He emphasised that the coalition’s commitment to positive change remained steadfast, and they believe that through collective effort and peaceful advocacy, they could achieve a better future for the nation.
NAN.
Protesters change tactics, move to occupy Abuja Monday
A few hours after President Bola Tinubu’s plea in a nationwide address on Sunday seeking an end to the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest which started on August 1, the protesters have vowed not to heed his call.
Rather than ending the protest, the demonstrators, tweeting on X.com under #OccupyAbuja on Sunday, said they would be shifting focus to the nation’s capital, Abuja.
One tweep, Stephen Osemwegie, tweeting as #PeterObiUSA, tweeted, “What Next? #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria. All roads lead to Abuja. Nigerians, wake up now. Every state, region, religion and people. Stand up for your country now or never.”
Also, a pro-democracy activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 general elections, Omoyele Sowore, in a response to Senator Ireti Kingigbe, wrote, “You have a chance to lead the #EndBadGovernmentInNigeria protest to the Eagle Square tomorrow (Monday). If your current health situation allows you to collect an SUV and all those jumbo allowances at the #NGRSenate, a trip to the protest ground would not kill you, Senator!”
One tweep, Morior Invictus, tweeting as #PeterObIsComing, wrote, “Abuja protesters are doing their best but the number needs to quadruple for Tinubu and Wike to understand how angry Nigerians are. 100,000 people can #OccupyAbuja and shut it down. But many are still scared to join the protest. We must #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.”
One X.com user, Chulo, tweeting as #felixbuezecyrus tweeted, “As protesters from anywhere around the country, it’s important that we all head to Abuja because any protests that didn’t hold strong in the capital city of a country holds no water.”
A user, Unity, tweeting as #Unityforum1, tweeted, “Summary of the president’s speech: I have heard you. I’m busy working. Go back home. Subsidy is forever gone (Forget it). Continue to endure the hardship/hunger. Your protest is politically motivated Thank you for listening. Congratulations, Nigeria #OccupyAbuja.”
Another tweep, Oladeyforyou, with the username #trendwithola, wrote, “Tomorrow is Monday. It is time to #OccupyAbuja if we want to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.”
Since its commencement on Thursday, August 1, 2024, Nigerians have continued to air their frustrations and concerns with regards to the low standard of living of the citizenry.
Under the tag, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, protests have erupted across the country, with protesters calling on the Federal Government to return the fuel subsidy, reduce the high cost of food items, enhance the nation’s security architecture, decrease the electricity tariff, among other demands.