President Bola Tinubu on Sunday vowed that the elements behind the call for Nigerians of South-East extraction to vacate the South-West (Yoruba land) would face the full wrath of the law.
TVN reports that an account on the X microblogging platform (formerly Twitter) recently made a post campaigning for the massive hashtag “#IgboMustGo”.
The post issued a one-month ultimatum to Igbos residing in Lagos State and other parts of South-West to return to South-East.
This has triggered tension among Igbo communities in Lagos and other parts of the south-Western region.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu while reacting to the development, distanced himself and his government from the call.
The governor ordered security operatives to investigate those behind the social media handle.
Addressing the matter on Sunday, President Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast, vowed that the promoters of the IgboMustGo will not go unpunished.
He said, “To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you.
“There is no place for ethnic bigotry or such threats in Nigeria we seek to build”.
IgboMustGo threat: Law will catch up with promoters – Tinubu vows
IgboMustGo threat: Law will catch up with promoters – Tinubu vows
Sanwo-Olu pays condolence visit to Onyeka Onwenu’s family
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has paid a condolence visit to the family of the legendary Nigerian singer and actress, Onyeka Onwenu, who passed away on 30 July at 72.
Sanwo-Olu made this known on X.com on Saturday.
Sharing photos, he wrote, “I visited the family of the late Onyeka Onwenu to extend my heartfelt condolences.
“Her extraordinary life and the lasting impact she made with her timeless songs have solidified her legacy.
“The vibrant spirit she embodied and the joy she shared through her artistry will always remain in our hearts.
“May God grant her family the strength to endure this loss and the comfort to cherish and honour the remarkable legacy she leaves behind.”
Onwenu, a renowned singer and actress, passed away on Tuesday night, 30 July, at Reddington Hospital in Lagos after collapsing at a birthday party.
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Protests: ‘Stop the killings’ – NLC to security operatives
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has urged the security operatives across the country to stop the killing of citizens during the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.
This is contained in a statement by the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, stressing that security operatives should be deployed against bandits not where the citizens were peacefully protesting against the hardship in the land.
Ajaero said that one noticeable pattern was that once police personnel introduced violence, all hell broke loose in fulfilment of the credo that violence begets violence.
According to the statement, the NLC wants those officers with blood stains on their hands be fished out for appropriate disciplinary action with their commanders.
Comrade Ajaero also demanded adequate compensations for the families of casualties while the government should be responsible for the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured.
He further stated that all those arrested should be released immediately and unconditionally.
”We commend NBA national leadership for directing its human rights committees across the cities to be vigilant.
“We urge them to see to it that no one is held against their will in connection with the protest,” he noted.
Comrade Ajaero said on no account should the police use live ammunition in managing protests no matter how difficult they get.
”We look forward to a better crowd control mechanism even as the new directive from the IGP would sound to some of the personnel as a license to kill without reason.
“As we had stated in our statements of July 22nd and 23rd, the clearest path to a lasting solution is for the government to sit down with leaders of the protest and negotiate in good faith. Time is of essence as no one is impressed by the sophistry of government officials/hirelings or threats by the police or the military. We are all Nigerians, after all,” he maintained.
However, the Nigeria Police Force on Saturday denied killing protesters or anyone else during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance demonstrations in parts of the country.
The police were responding to a Friday statement by Amnesty International which accused security personnel of killing at least 13 people during the protest.
Protests: ‘Stop the killings’ – NLC to security operatives
EndBadGovernance: Nigeria Police arrest five more in Yobe
The Nigeria police have intensified their crackdown on #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters in Yobe State, arresting five more youths in the state capital, Damaturu.
The arrests took place on Friday and Saturday.
The detained protesters, identified as Mu’azu Umar, Kabiru Umar, Ahmad Abubakar, Amarciya Ali, and Yarima Hussain Akale, were reportedly apprehended in various locations across Damaturu, and are currently being held at the Yobe North police area command.
This latest wave of arrests follows an earlier report by TVN, which noted that about 11 youths and residents were arrested on Saturday.
These protesters were allegedly taken from their homes in Damaturu, Potiskum, and Gashua areas of Yobe State.
A source indicated that the arrests may be part of a broader effort to suppress those voicing concerns about the country’s ongoing economic hardships.
“A number of youths were also arrested in Damaturu and Potiskum in what appears to be an attempt to punish those who were outspoken about the ongoing economic hardship,” the source said.
The situation has led to growing tension in the state, with concerns that the crackdown could expand to target more individuals who participated in the peaceful protests.
EndBadGovernance: Nigeria Police arrest five more in Yobe
Gombe Police arrest 90 suspected looters amid EndBadGovernance protests
Gombe State Police Command has announced the arrest of 90 persons suspected of looting and violent protesting.
The arrests followed incidents at the Gombe Bureau of Public Reforms, local shops, and the main market.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Buhari Abdullahi confirmed the arrests to newsmen, noting that some stolen items have been recovered.
He stated, “Gombe State Police Command wishes to inform members of the general public that normalcy has been restored in the state.
“The command arrested 90 suspected looters, violent protesters, and recovered some stolen properties. No loss of life was recorded.”
Abdullahi further stated that the situation in Gombe was now calm, with citizens resuming their daily activities.
He credited the restoration of order to the professionalism and restraint exhibited by police officers and other security agencies.
“The return to normalcy is a testament to the act of professionalism, resilience, and restraint exhibited by the police officers and other security agencies in the state,” Abdullahi added.
The Police Command also expressed gratitude to the Bolari community for aiding in the recovery of looted property.
Commissioner of Police, CP Hayatu Usman also urged the public to continue cooperating with security agencies to maintain law and order in Gombe.
Gombe Police arrest 90 suspected looters amid EndBadGovernance protests
We must stop further bloodshed, Tinubu mourns victims of hunger protests
President Bola Tinubu has commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives during the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.
He also condoled with persons who lost property to the activities and looters.
Tinubu said this on Sunday morning in Abuja during his nationwide broadcast on the protests.
The President told Nigerians, “I speak to you today with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility, aware of the turmoil and violent protests unleashed in some of our states.
“Notably among the protesters were young Nigerians who desired a better and more progressive country where their dreams, hopes, and personal aspirations would be fulfilled.
“I am especially pained by the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, and other states, the destruction of public facilities in some states, and the wanton looting of supermarkets and shops, contrary to the promise of protest organisers that the protest would be peaceful across the country.
“The destruction of properties sets us back as a nation, as scarce resources will be again used to restore them.
“I commiserate with the families and relations of those who have died in the protests. We must stop further bloodshed, violence, and destruction. As President of this country, I must ensure public order.
“In line with my constitutional oath to protect the lives and property of every citizen, our government will not stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart.”
The 10-day planned protest, which began on Thursday, primarily against the rising cost of living and hunger, deteriorated into violence, destruction of property, and loss of lives in many parts of the nation.
At least 17 persons were reported dead in the “days of rage” protests.
There’ll be four years hardship, Tinubu has no solution – Primate Ayodele
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele on Sunday said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu doesn’t have the solution for the current hardship Nigerians are facing.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the prophet made it known that Nigerians will still experience hardship in the next four years because the current administration has nothing to do to bring an end to it.
He explained that Nigerians need to come together to help the government with their personal resources.
“Tinubu doesn’t have the solution except you want to kill him or he is deceiving himself. We should rather help the government through our individual resources; churches, mosques organizations should come together.’
‘’He needs to correct the errors in Emilokan, even if he broadcasts 100 times, Nigerians still have to bear the pain. Tinubu doesn’t have the solution to hardship, he will only talk to pacify Nigerians. We will wait for another four years,” he said.
Primate Ayodele stated that people are not helping the president and it feels like he is the only one working in his administration.
He reiterated that hardship will not end anytime soon therefore, everyone needs to come together to gather strength to get through it.
‘’People are not helping the president, it feels like he is the only one working in his administration, except we want to deceive ourselves, the hardship cannot end anytime soon.
“The government needs to cut costs, even the minimum wage, they will soon complain about it. There are so many things the government needs to do, Tinubu cannot get it done in the next four years,’’ he added.
There’ll be four years hardship, Tinubu has no solution – Primate Ayodele
My decisions on fuel subsidy, others necessary for growth -Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu says his administration is focused on delivering good governance to Nigerians.
Tinubu said this on Sunday morning in Abuja during his nationwide broadcast on the #EndBadGovernance protests.
The President defended his decision to remove petrol subsidies upon assuming office, saying, “These decisions I made were necessary if we must reverse the decades of economic mismanagement that didn’t serve us well.
“I can assure you that I am focused fully on delivering the governance to the people – good governance for that matter.”
The President argued that aggregate government revenues have more than doubled, hitting over N9.1tn in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, due to efforts to block leakages, introduce automation, and mobilise funding creatively without additional burden on the people.
He maintained that productivity is gradually increasing in the non-oil sector, reaching new levels and taking advantage of the opportunities in the current economic ambience.
Therefore, Tinubu called for patience, saying, “The economy is recovering; Please, don’t shut out its oxygen.
“Now that we have been enjoying democratic governance for 25 years, do not let the enemies of democracy use you to promote an unconstitutional agenda that will set us back on our democratic journey. Forward ever, backward never!”
He tasked security operatives with maintaining peace, law, and order in the country, following the necessary conventions on human rights, of which Nigeria is a signatory.
“The safety and security of all Nigerians are paramount,” he concluded.
With three years of experience, Stephen, The According correspondent, has been covering Nigeria’s presidency, politics, security, immigration and trafficking in persons
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Nationwide Protests: I’ve heard you loud, clear – Tinubu to Nigerians
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has told Nigerian youths that their demands have been heard loud and clear.
The President disclosed this in his nationwide broadcast on Sunday.
He spoke in reaction to the ongoing hardship protests which commenced on Thursday.
The protests have reportedly led to the death of at least fifteen persons, and properties looted and destroyed.
Speaking on the loss of lives and properties, Tinubu said, “I commiserate with the families and relations of those who have died in the protests. We must stop further bloodshed, violence, and destruction”.
He added “My dear Nigerians, especially our youth, I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and frustration that drive these protests, and I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of our citizens”.
Nationwide Protests: I’ve heard you loud, clear – Tinubu to Nigerians
Tinubu seeks end to violence, promises reforms
In a time of heightened tension and unrest across several states in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu addressed the nation on Sunday with a message of concern, responsibility, and a call for unity.
The recent wave of protests, marked by violence and destruction, has prompted the President to speak directly to the citizens, acknowledging their grievances and outlining the steps being taken to restore peace and order.
Here is the full text:
BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY BOLA AHMED TINUBU, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED
FORCES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE NATIONWIDE PROTEST
DATE: SUNDAY 4TH AUGUST 2024
My fellow Nigerians,
1. I speak to you today with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility, aware of the turmoil and violent protests unleashed in some of our states.
2. Notably among the protesters were young Nigerians who desired a better and more progressive country where their dreams, hopes, and personal aspirations would be fulfilled.
3. I am especially pained by the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and other states, the destruction of public facilities in some states, and the wanton looting of supermarkets and shops, contrary to the promise of protest organisers that the protest would be peaceful across the country. The destruction of properties sets us back as a nation, as scarce resources will be again used to restore them.
4. I commiserate with the families and relations of those who have died in the protests. We must stop further bloodshed, violence and destruction.
5. As President of this country, I must ensure public order. In line with my constitutional oath to protect the lives and property of every citizen, our government will not stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart.
6. Under the circumstances, I hereby enjoin protesters and the organisers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity. Nigeria requires all hands on deck and needs us all – regardless of age, party, tribe, religion or other divides, to work together in reshaping our destiny as a nation. To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you. There is no place for ethnic bigotry or such threats in the Nigeria we seek to build.
7. Our democracy progresses when the constitutional rights of every Nigerian are respected and protected. Our law enforcement agencies should continue to ensure the full protection of lives and properties of innocent citizens in a responsible manner.
8. My vision for our country is one of a just and prosperous nation where each person may enjoy the peace, freedom, and meaningful livelihood that only democratic good governance can provide – one that is open, transparent and accountable to the Nigerian people.
9. For decades, our economy has remained anaemic and taken a dip because of many misalignments that have stunted our growth. Just over a year ago, our dear country, Nigeria, reached a point where we couldn’t afford to continue the use of temporary solutions to solve long-term problems for the sake of now and our unborn generations. I therefore took the painful yet necessary decision to remove fuel subsidies and abolish multiple foreign exchange systems which had constituted a noose around the economic jugular of our Nation and impeded our economic development and progress.
10. These actions blocked the greed and the profits that smugglers and rent-seekers made. They also blocked the undue subsidies we had extended to our neighbouring countries to the detriment of our people, rendering our economy prostrate. These decisions I made were necessary if we must reverse the decades of economic mismanagement that didn’t serve us well. Yes, I agree, the buck stops on my table. But I can assure you that I am focused fully on delivering the governance to the people – good governance for that matter.
11. In the past 14 months, our government has made significant strides in rebuilding the foundation of our economy to carry us into a future of plenty and abundance. On the fiscal side, aggregate government revenues have more than doubled, hitting over 9.1 trillion Naira in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023 due to our efforts at blocking leakages, introducing automation and mobilising funding creatively without additional burden on the people. Productivity is gradually increasing in the non-oil sector, reaching new levels and taking advantage of the opportunities in the current economic ambience
12. My dear brothers and sisters, we have come this far. Coming from a place where our country spent 97% of all our revenue on debt service; we have been able to reduce that to 68% in the last 13 months. We have also cleared legitimate outstanding foreign exchange obligations of about $5billion without any adverse impact on our programmes.
13. This has given us more financial freedom and the room to spend more money on you, our citizens, to fund essential social services like education and healthcare. It has also led to our State, and Local Governments receiving the highest allocations ever in our country’s history from the Federation Account.
14. We have also embarked on major infrastructure projects across the country. We are working to complete inherited projects critical to our economic prosperity, including roads, bridges, railways, power, and oil and gas developments. Notably, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Highway projects will open up 16 connecting states, creating thousands of jobs and boosting economic output through trade, tourism and cultural integration
15. Our once-declining oil and gas industry is experiencing a resurgence on the back of the reforms I announced in May 2024 to address the gaps in the Petroleum Industry Act. Last month, we increased our oil production to 1.61million barrels per day, and our gas assets are receiving the attention they deserve. Investors are coming back, and we have already seen two Foreign Direct Investments signed of over half a billion dollars since then.
16. Fellow Nigerians, we are a country blessed with both oil and gas resources, but we met a country that had been dependent solely on oil-based petrol, neglecting its gas resources to power the economy. We were also using our hard-earned foreign exchange to pay for, and subsidise its use. To address this, we immediately launched our Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (CNG) to power our transportation economy and bring costs down. This will save over two trillion Naira a month, being used to import PMS and AGO and free up our resources for more investment in healthcare and education.
17. To this end, we will be distributing a million kits of extremely low or no cost to commercial vehicles that transport people and goods and who currently consume 80% of the imported PMS and AGO.
18. We have started the distribution of conversion kits and setting up of conversion centres across the country in conjunction with the private sector. We believe that this CNG initiative will reduce transportation costs by approximately 60 per cent and help to curb inflation.
19. Our administration has shown its commitment to the youth by setting up the student loan scheme. To date, 45.6billion Naira has already been processed for payment to students and their respective institutions
20. I encourage more of our vibrant youth population to take advantage of this opportunity. We established the Consumer Credit Corporation with over N200billion to help Nigerians to acquire essential products without the need for immediate cash payments, making life easier for millions of households. This will consequently reduce corruption and eliminate cash and opaque transactions. This week, I ordered the release of an additional N50billion Naira each for NELFUND – the student loan, and Credit Corporation from the proceeds of crime recovered by the EFCC
21. Additionally, we have secured $620million under the Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDiCE) – a programme to empower our young people, creating millions of IT and technical jobs that will make them globally competitive. These programmes include the 3Million Technical Talents scheme. Unfortunately, one of the digital centres was vandalised during the protests in Kano. What a shame!
22. In addition, we have introduced the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA); the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA); and the National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
23. Also, more than N570 billion has been released to the 36 states to expand livelihood support to their citizens, while 600,000 nano-businesses have benefitted from our nano-grants. An additional 400,000 more nano-businesses are expected to benefit.
24. Furthermore, 75,000 beneficiaries have been processed to receive our N1million Micro and Small Business single-digit interest loans, starting this month. We have also built 10 MSME hubs within the past year, created 240,000 jobs through them and 5 more hubs are in progress which will be ready by October this year.
25. Payments of N1billion each are also being made to large manufacturers under our single-digit loans to boost manufacturing output and stimulate growth.
26. I signed the National Minimum Wage into law last week, and the lowest-earning workers will now earn at least N70,000 a month.
27. Six months ago in Karsana, Abuja, I inaugurated the first phase of our ambitious housing initiative, the Renewed Hope City and Estate. This project is the first of six we have planned across the nation’s geopolitical zones. Each of these cities will include a minimum of 1,000 housing units, with Karsana itself set to deliver 3,212 units
28. In addition to these city projects, we are also launching the Renewed Hope Estates in every state, each comprising 500 housing units. Our goal is to complete a total of 100,000 housing units over the next three years. This initiative is not only about providing homes but also about creating thousands of jobs across the nation as well as stimulating economic growth.
29. We are providing incentives to farmers to increase food production at affordable prices. I have directed that tariffs and other import duties should be removed on rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, drugs, and other pharmaceutical and medical supplies for the next 6 months, in the first instance, to help drive down the prices.
30. I have been meeting with our Governors and key Ministers to accelerate food production. We have distributed fertilisers. Our target is to cultivate more than 10 million hectares of land to grow what we eat. The Federal Government will provide all necessary incentives for this initiative, whilst the states provide the land, which will put millions of our people to work and further increase food production. In the past few months, we have also ordered mechanized farming equipment such as tractors and planters, worth billions of Naira from the United States, Belarus, and Brazil. I can confirm to you that the equipment is on the way.
31. My dear Nigerians, especially our youth, I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and frustration that drive these protests, and I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of our citizens.
32. But we must not let violence and destruction tear our nation apart. We must work together to build a brighter future, where every Nigerian can live with dignity and prosperity.
33. The task before us is a collective one, and I am leading the charge as your President. A lot of work has gone into stabilising our economy and I must stay focused on ensuring that the benefits reach every single Nigerian as promised.
34. My administration is working very hard to improve and expand our national infrastructure and create more opportunities for our young people.
35. Let nobody misinform and miseducate you about your country or tell you that your government does not care about you. Although there have been many dashed hopes in the past, we are in a new era of Renewed Hope. We are working hard for you, and the results will soon be visible and concrete for everyone to see, feel, and enjoy.
36. Let us work together to build a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come. Let us choose hope over fear, unity over division, and progress over stagnation. The economy is recovering; Please, don’t shut out its oxygen. Now that we have been enjoying democratic governance for 25 years, do not let the enemies of democracy use you to promote an unconstitutional agenda that will set us back on our democratic journey. FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER!
37. In conclusion, security operatives should continue to maintain peace, law, and order in our country, following the necessary conventions on human rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory. The safety and security of all Nigerians are paramount.
38. Thank God – and Thank you for your attention, and may God continue to bless our great Nation. Thank you very much.
As Nigeria stands at a crossroads, Tinubu’s address serves as a poignant reminder of the nation’s shared aspirations and the imperative for unity and dialogue. The government remains committed to addressing the legitimate concerns of its citizens while ensuring the safety and security of all. As the nation navigates these challenging times, the call for peace, understanding, and collaboration echoes strongly from the highest office in the land.