Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has challenged President Bola Tinubu to act fast in addressing the grievances of Nigerians.
In a statewide broadcast Sunday afternoon, Fintiri stressed that it is not enough for the President to tell Nigerians that he has heard their cries. According to him, Nigerians should not wait endlessly for necessary actions.
The governor, who spoke on the #EndBadGovernance protest in Adamawa State, commended residents for conducting themselves peacefully, even as he stressed on the need for the Federal Government to heed the calls of the people.
He said, “The protest might be unpopular especially because of the way it was carried out in some states, but the message is clear and the demands are genuine. None of us can deny that there is hunger and general poverty.”
He added that as leaders of the people, those in government must, at all times, not only listen but aldo act.
“The lesson we must derive from the protest is the constant reminder that it is not enough to tell the citizens we have heard. We must be seen as doing the needful in providing solutions to citizens’ concerns,” the governor said.
TVN reports that after the first two busy days of protests on August 1 and 2, especially the state capital, Yola, protests have almost completely fizzled out in Adamawa State.
No violence incident has been recorded in the state.
Protest: There is hunger in Nigeria, take action – Gov Fintiri tells Tinubu
Protest: There is hunger in Nigeria, take action – Gov Fintiri tells Tinubu
Niger Delta, a privatised, sacrifice zone, says environmentalist
A renowned environmentalist and Director Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Nnimmo Bassey, has described the Niger Delta region as a privatised and sacrifice zone.
Bassey blamed the poor state of the Niger Delta environment on the Federal Government and international oil companies.
Speaking on Friday at the Niger Delta University during a two-day discussion with the theme, ‘School of Ecology Recovering Oil Sacrifice Zone,’ he stated that the focus should be on how to stop and eliminate pollution in the world sacrifice zones.
Bassey stated, “My take or initial conclusion of what we are going to do today and tomorrow is that the Niger Delta is a privatised and sacrifice zone. The entire region has been privatised.
“The gold mines of South Africa, the gas fields, the phosphate fields of Togo and Western Sahara. These are all sacrifices.
“The lands are sacrificed, the people are sacrificed and all the revenue goes to fill the corrupt politicians.
“These become clearer to us when we realise that for a fact rather than being owners of the land, we are the land.”
He averred that every action taken towards the sacrifice of the territories is an investment towards reinventing an involvement that will consume them.
His expectation, he disclosed, is that they will all conclude to halt the spread, of the expansion of sacrifice zones in the Niger Delta, in Nigeria, in Africa and the world.
He added, “This is exactly what has happened. Our creeks, our rivers, our streams, our coastal areas, and our swamps have all been privatised by oil companies and Nigerian government agencies.
“How has this been done? 66, 68 years of oil extraction in commercial quantities in the Niger Delta has seen the complete pollution of our water bodies by oil spills. Evidence that the Niger Delta has been privatised and sacrificed stares us in the face.
“The first evidence that no one can dispute is the report of the United Nations Environment Programmes Assessment of a good environment which was released in August 2011.
“The second documented evidence is the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission Report, which was published in May 2023.”
Bassey lamented that the UN report showed that all the water bodies in a spill environment have been contaminated with hydrocarbons with high concentrations of benzene in drinking water.
He explained the reports indicate that the spilled crude had gone five metres deep, and currently more than 10 metres deep as the reckless extractive activities continue unabated.
He noted that whether there is a new oil spill or not, the sacrifice continues, saying the Bayelsa State report was appropriately titled, “An Environmental Genocide.”
He enthused, “How many of you have seen that report? How many have heard about the report? Can I see your hands up? My goodness! Look at that, just a few people?
“The Federal Government has not even acknowledged the existence of that report and the Bayelsa government has not said anything about that report.
“That report showed that if you are in Bayelsa, you have been contaminated by toxins and heavy metals more than 1,000 times beyond acceptable limits.
“I mean it’s scandalous; nowhere in the world has this ever happened but it has happened here as an example.”
On his part, the Head of the Department, Environmental Management, Charles Oyibo,
said that the lecture will help the students to be better informed and spur them toward greater environmental awareness in the near future.
Oyibo added that the collaboration with HOMEF is an eye-opener to them in grappling with issues of the environment.
Gombe NBA condemns looting during #EndBadGovernance protest
The Nigerian Bar Association, Gombe branch, on Sunday condemned the activities of some bad eggs that hijacked what was meant to be a peaceful #EndBadGovernance protest in the state.
Our correspondent reports that they unleashed terror on business premises and looted their belongings.
Expressing the branch’s misgivings about the incident, the Chairman, Benjamin Sati, wondered why business premises around the Government House were not spared.
Sati said, “The said bad eggs also wantonly destroyed government buildings meant for public use and looted valuables.
These acts were not only barbaric but also uncivilised and condemnable.
“It is unfortunate to mention that those buildings affected shared the same neighbourhood with the Government House roundabout that had the presence of heavily armed security personnel and no reported caution or arrest of the said bad eggs was made.”
Sati urged the state governor Muhammadu Yahaya, to inaugurate a panel of inquiry to punish perpetrators and compensate those who lost valuables.
“We, while sympathising with the government and people of Gombe State for the said dastardly avoidable destruction, we call on the governor of the state to cause an inquiry into the said criminal act with the aim of bringing the perpetrators to justice and compensating the affected persons and or businesses.
“May Gombe State and our country succeed under a more peaceful atmosphere,” Sati added
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Wife of popular Ogun pastor, Fola Achudume, dies at 55
The wife of Apostle Lawrence Achudume, the General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Rev Fola Achudume, is dead.
She reportedly died early in the morning of Saturday after a brief illness. She was 55 years old.
The Assistant General Overseer of the church, Pastor Adeoye Adeyanju, reportedly broke the sad news during Sunday service in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Adeyanju noted that Rev. Fola Achudume died in the early hours of Saturday.
“At this juncture, I want to announce to VLBC members, everyone, and friends that early hours of yesterday, our mother, Rev. Fola Achudume, has gone to be with the Lord.
“She will be 56 on September 6,” he said.
A close family friend and Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Ogun State, Mr Tunde Oladunjoye, also confirmed the demise of the marriage and leadership coach to our correspondent.
Oladunjoye described the transition of Achudume as the worst news of the year.
He said, “Unfortunately, people that I called have confirmed this worst news of the year, it is a family that I am very close to, and I am already on my way to their house to register my condolence. So hard to believe! So saddening! My consolation is that she has gone to join the saints. “
IBEDC boosts community engagement with 18,000 interactions
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company has set a new standard in community engagement among electricity distribution companies, recording over 3,000 monthly interactions across its franchise areas.
This achievement, according to IBEDC underscores the firm’s commitment to building strong relationships with its customers and the communities it serves.
The acting Managing Director of IBEDC, Francis Agoha, highlighted the importance of these initiatives in a statement on Sunday.
He said, “IBEDC’s Distribution Transformer Managers and Executives play a crucial role in this effort, engaging with customers at various community levels, including Community Development Committees and Community Development Associations. These interactions are key to addressing customer needs and concerns directly at the grassroots level.
“Complementing the efforts of DT Managers and Executives, IBEDC’s Communication Officers organise larger community and stakeholder sessions with leaders, groups, and residents. These sessions aim to educate customers, gather feedback on services, and resolve complaints effectively.
“We are committed to building trust and maintaining open communication with our customers. Our extensive community engagement efforts reflect our dedication to understanding and addressing the needs of the communities we serve. By regularly engaging with our customers, we can continuously enhance our services and meet their expectations.”
Agoha also emphasised the significance of customer feedback in improving service delivery.
“Listening to our customers is vital. The insights and feedback we gather through these engagements help us pinpoint areas for improvement and implement solutions that benefit everyone. Our goal is to foster a customer-centric environment where every voice is heard, and every concern is addressed promptly.
“IBEDC’s proactive approach to community engagement sets a new benchmark within the industry, demonstrating that effective communication and customer satisfaction are central to its operations. The company remains steadfast in its commitment to building strong, positive relationships with all stakeholders, ensuring the provision of reliable and efficient electricity services”, he said.
Tax agency orders MDAs to pursue Kaduna electric debt
The Kaduna Electric Distribution Company has come under heightened scrutiny as the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service instructed Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to process all outstanding liabilities owed by the company.
The Executive Chairman of KDIRS, Jerry Adams, gave the directives in Kaduna on Sunday.
The Punch Online reports that the directive followed the recent disconnection of the Kaduna State Government House by Kaduna Electric over an alleged N2.9 billion debt.
However, Adams said KDIRS invoked Section 3, Subsection 2 (b) and (c) of the Kaduna State Tax Codification and Consolidation Law, which mandated the collection and enforcement of taxes, levies, fees, and rates due to all MDAs and local governments in the state.
According to him, the sealing of the KAEDCO head office was due to a N600 million tax liability.
“However, other levies, fines, and rates owed by the company remain unresolved. Consequently, KDIRS has directed the following state MDAs to submit their outstanding liabilities for enforcement:
“Kaduna State Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), Kaduna State Water Administration Corporation (KADSWAC), Kaduna State Water Regulatory Commission and Kaduna Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA),” he added.
Adams reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to equitable taxation while emphasizing that the Service would not impose excessive tax burdens on the poor but would target tax-evasive and non-compliant organizations and high-net-worth individuals.
“The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service is dedicated to ensuring fair taxation and will take necessary actions against entities that fail to comply with tax laws, irrespective of their status,”he said.
He added that KDIRS remained open to dialogue with KAEDCO and all relevant stakeholders to resolve issues amicably.
Adams noted that development highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing investment incentives with strict enforcement of tax compliance in Kaduna.
D’Tigress beat Canada to reach first Olympics quarterfinals
4th August 2024
The Nigerian senior female basketball team, D’Tigress, on Sunday, beat their Canadian opponents by 79-70 to reach their first-ever quarterfinals of the Olympic games in Paris, France.
Details later…
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BREAKING: D’Tigress qualify for first-ever Olympic quarterfinals
Nigeria women’s basketball team D’Tigress have qualified for the quarter-finals of the event at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Nigerian ladies reached the last eight after defeating Canada on Sunday.
More to follow…
The post BREAKING: D’Tigress qualify for first-ever Olympic quarterfinals appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Investigate police brutality, don urges Tinubu
A senior lecturer at Federal University Kashere, Gombe State, Dr Tukur Yemi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to establish a judicial panel to investigate cases of police brutality during the nationwide protests and ensure justice for victims.
The varsity don highlighted the need for economic managers to implement reforms addressing inequality and creating opportunities for all Nigerians, while also taking concrete steps to address the protesters’ grievances.
This was contained in a press statement titled ‘Nigeria in Crisis: A Plea for Leadership and Reconciliation,’ which was obtained by our correspondent on Sunday.
The scholar said, “As a concerned university lecturer, I appeal for your immediate attention to the escalating protests that are ravaging our nation and claiming innocent lives. The deteriorating security situation in Nigeria has reached a critical juncture, necessitating decisive action from your administration to restore peace and order.”
Explaining further why the government should urgently consider his counsel, he added, “As an academic, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of instability on our students, institutions, and communities. The current protests have led to widespread violence, destruction of property, and loss of lives, underscoring the urgent need for your leadership to address the grievances of the protesters and engage in constructive dialogue with their leaders.”
He asked the Federal Government to deploy security forces to protect lives and property while avoiding excessive use of force, adding that the federal government must collaborate with state governors and other stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the crisis.
While appealing for calm and an end to violence and destruction in the country, the lecturer proposed that the federal government should “immediately reinstate the fuel subsidy to alleviate the economic hardship faced by citizens and assure the protesters that their demands are being taken seriously.”
Release detained protesters, call security agents to order – Timi Frank to Tinubu
A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately order the unconditional release of all protesters detained by the police and other security forces.
Frank in a statement released on Sunday also urged the President to prevent further violence and the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters by law enforcement agencies.
He acknowledged that while the ongoing protests are well-intentioned, they have been exploited by sponsored groups in some states, which have aimed to discredit the organizers and provide security forces with an excuse to suppress the demonstrations.
“Nigerians have the inalienable right to protest against government policies that adversely affect them and to demand changes for the collective good,” Frank stated.
Frank criticized the security forces for failing to adhere to the court’s order, which resulted in the unjust killings, arrests, brutalization, and incarceration of protesters, as well as the hijacking of protests by government-sponsored agents to perpetuate criminal acts.
“This situation must not be allowed to continue. The President must genuinely protect the youths who are protesting. He must approach the protesters like a father dealing with an angry child. After all, the youths have no other country to call their own.”
Expressing condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured, Frank urged the International Criminal Court to hold the Inspector General of Police and all Service Chiefs in Nigeria accountable for the killings of unarmed protesters in recent days.
Release detained protesters, call security agents to order – Timi Frank to Tinubu
