The organisers of the planned #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest scheduled for August 1, on Tuesday rejected the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun’s proposal for a confined protests.
Egbetokun had suggested confined protests in identified locations and advised against street rallies during a meeting with the organisers.
According to the IGP: “It is not advisable to go on street processions because as you are planning peaceful protests, some are planning violence.”
However, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, one of the lawyers for the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups organising the nationwide protest, rejected the IGP’s proposal.
Some Nigerians will on August 1 take to the streets to protest over the current hardship in the country.
Despite appeals from the federal and state governments, the organizers have vowed to hit the streets from August 1st to 10th.
EndBadGovernance: Organisers reject IGP’s proposal for confined protests
EndBadGovernance: Organisers reject IGP’s proposal for confined protests
MHR Sesi Whingan distributes 384 bags of fertilizers to boost agriculture in Badagry
In a significant effort to enhance agricultural productivity, Hon. Sesi Whingan, the Member of the House of Representatives for Badagry Federal Constituency, distributed 384 bags of fertilizer to 384 local farmers on July 28, 2024. This initiative aims to improve crop yields and support the agricultural community in the region.
The distribution event attracted a large number of farmers from the Badagry Local Government, Olorunda, and Badagry West Local Council Development Areas, all eager to receive the much-needed agricultural inputs. This effort underscores Hon. Whingan’s deep understanding of the needs of his constituents, especially at a time when Nigeria is facing a critical need for food security nationwide.
Hon. Sesi Whingan successfully lobbied the Federal Government to secure tons of free fertilizer for farmers in Badagry. The consignment arrived at his constituency office a few days before the distribution.
In his address, delivered by Hon. Wale Adesina, the coordinator of the Sesi Whingan Foundation, Hon. Whingan emphasized the importance of supporting local farmers, highlighting agriculture as a vital sector for the community’s economic growth. He reiterated his commitment to providing continuous support and resources to enhance agricultural productivity in Badagry.
Benefiting farmers expressed their gratitude, noting that the fertilizer would significantly boost their crop production. Many had struggled with the high cost of agricultural inputs, and this assistance came as a timely intervention.
Last week, the office of the MHR for Badagry announced plans to distribute fertilizer to local farmers. Registration forms were distributed for screening to ensure that the beneficiaries were practicing farmers. The selection process was meticulously overseen by key local farmer leaders, including Alhaji Oyelekan Muftau Abiodun, President of the Farmers Association in Badagry Central, and his co-chairmen from Olorunda and Badagry West Local Council Development Areas (LCDA). Mr. Afeez Olumide Garuba, Chairman of the Voice of Farmers, Badagry, also played a crucial role in coordinating the distribution.
Agriculture remains a cornerstone of the local economy in Badagry. Initiatives like this are critical for ensuring sustainable development and food security in the region and Lagos State as a whole. Farmers in Badagry look forward to more such efforts from their representatives and leaders to support the agricultural sector.
The event was attended by several prominent political and community leaders, including Hon. Sedegla Pot-Balogun, Chairman of the Sesi Whingan Consiliers, Chief Avigbe Joshua, Hon. Ade Agoro, and chairpersons of farmers’ associations in all three councils in Badagry.
The fertilizer distribution is part of a broader agricultural support program initiated by Hon. Whingan. This program aims to provide farmers with essential inputs and training to improve farming techniques and productivity, with the goal of enhancing food security and the local economy in Badagry.
6,900 Boko Haram fighters in custody to face justice — Borno
No fewer than 6,900 individuals suspected of being Boko Haram fighters and currently in custody are to face transitional justice, according to the Borno State Government.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, revealed this during the conclusion of a best practice dissemination and learning programme organised by the Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, held in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Tuesday.
Zuwaira stated that a total of 200,000 Boko Haram terrorists and their families have thus far surrendered to the state government since the mass surrender began in 2021.
According to her, nearly 9,000 people have reintegrated into society, and the scheme has achieved notable success.
“So far, about 200,000 Boko Haram terrorists and their families have surrendered to the state government.
“Let me clarify, we have about 6,900 genuine Boko Haram fighters in our custody, and they will face transitional justice because they have committed crimes. We are working on that; they are real fighters,” she declared.
Transitional justice is a peace-building mechanism that
seeks to address the legacies of severe atrocities and end recurring cycles of violent conflict through a range of responses, including restitution, reconciliation, prosecution, and amnesty.
The Executive Director of the Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, Hamsatu Allamin, stated that the surrendered individuals regretted their involvement with Boko Haram.
According to her, they expressed remorse for their membership in the terrorist group, citing a lack of knowledge and the ease with which insurgents brainwashed them into captivity.
“If Boko Haram used their ideology based on religion to brainwash people into joining them, we must also use religion to tell them the truth. Therefore, I suggest that the government use religion to correct this troubling narrative,” she said.
Under the project ‘Building Bridges of Reconciliation: A Community-Based Approach to Deradicalisation of Women and Girls in Borno State,’ over 800 deradicalised women were sensitised and are now contributing to society.
“They are prepared to embrace a new life free from violence and become responsible members of society, contributing to peacebuilding and the overall development of their communities,” she added.
ADVERT MANIPULATION: LinkedIn avoids planned lawsuit, coughs out $6.625m as settlement
A planned class action lawsuit against LinkedIn, accusing the social networking site of manipulating the number of views on its video advertisements, has been resolved for $6.625 million.
The settlement covers US advertisers from January 2015 until May 2023. LinkedIn will also appoint an external auditor for two years to analyze its advertising metrics.
According to the plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary approval of the agreement in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, LinkedIn agrees to make “commercially reasonable efforts” to employ a “reputable third party” to audit its ad data.
READ ALSO: Microsoft blames EU for global IT outage triggered by faulty Crowdfire update
TopDevz, a Sacramento, California-based organization of developers, designers, project managers, and quality assurance testers, filed the complaint that resulted in the lawsuit.
The case began two weeks after LinkedIn reported in November 2020 that its engineers had resolved software bugs on the business-focused social media platform that might have resulted in more than 418,000 overcharges, most of which were less than $25.
LinkedIn said in a statement that the payment “underscores our commitment to the integrity of our ads products and providing a trusted platform for our members and customers.”
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Former SGF, Senator Anyim celebrates Stanel CEO, Dr Stanley on 40th birthday
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim GCON has celebrated a young Nigerian serial investor, Dr Stanley Uzochukwu on his 40th birthday.
Senator Anyim’s felicitation was contained in a statement he personally signed tagged, “Congratulations At 40: Dr Stanley Uzochukwu.”
The statement reads in full: “As you mark your 40th birthday today, I am filled with immense pride and joy to celebrate this milestone with you.
“From the moment I first met you, I recognized the spark of ambition and drive that sets truly exceptional individuals apart.
“Over the years, I have watched with admiration as you’ve channeled that ambition into remarkable achievements. Your journey from a bright-eyed young man to the accomplished leader we know today is a testament to your unwavering commitment to excellence and growth.
“Dr Stanley, you embed the spirit of industry and innovation that Nigeria so desperately needs. Your contribution to our nation’s economy through your various business ventures has not gone unnoticed.
“You’ve not only created wealth but also opportunities for countless others, demonstrating that success is sweetest when shared.
“As a son, you’ve brought honor to your family name. As a younger brother, you’ve been steadfast and true.
“At 40, you stand at the threshold of even greater possibilities. Your best years lie ahead, and I have no doubt that you will continue to shine brightly, illuminating the path for others to follow.
“May this new decade bring you continued success, good health, and fulfillment in all your endeavors.
“Happy 40th birthday, my dear brother. May your days be long and prosperous.
“With warm regards and best wishes.
“His Excellency Dr. Anyim Pius Anyim, GCON
Fmr. Senate President
Fmr. Secretary to the Government of the Federation”
Former SGF, Senator Anyim celebrates Stanel CEO, Dr Stanley on 40th birthday
US sanctions firms in China, Iran for aiding Tehran’s missile programme
The United States sanctioned five people and seven companies in China and Iran on Tuesday, accusing them of aiding Tehran’s ballistic missile and drone programmes.
The sanctions targeted individuals and companies in China, Hong Kong and Iran involved in procuring key components for “subordinates” of Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, the US Treasury Department said in a statement.
“Today’s action exposes additional key front companies and trusted agents through which Iran has sought to acquire these components,” Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson said.
He added that the US “will continue to impose costs on those that facilitate Iran’s ability to produce these deadly weapons.”
The sanctioned individuals and firms were involved in procuring accelerometers and gyroscopes used for guidance, navigation and control systems by MODAFL’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs, according to the Treasury.
They include a front company based in China called Beijing Shiny Nights Technology Development Company, and another in Iran called Electro Optic Sairan Industries.
The sanctions unveiled Tuesday are the latest in a raft of designations from the Treasury and the State Department aimed at punishing actors who have contributed to Iran’s ballistic missile and UAV programmes.
AFP.
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Meta to pay Texas $1.4bn for biometric data breach
Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, has agreed to pay $1.4bn to settle a lawsuit filed by the state of Texas over the illegal use of facial-recognition technology to collect biometric data of millions of Texans without their consent.
This landmark agreement, reported by Reuters on Tuesday, is the largest of its kind with a single state, according to Texas’ legal team, which included the law firm Keller Postman.
The lawsuit, filed in 2022, was the first major case to be brought under Texas’ 2009 biometric privacy law, according to law firms tracking the litigation. A provision of the law provides damages of up to $25,000 per violation.
Texas accused Facebook of capturing biometric information “billions of times” from photos and videos that users uploaded to the social media platform as part of a free, discontinued feature called “Tag Suggestions.
In a parallel issue, the social media giant was fined $220m by Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission a few weeks ago.
The Nigerian consumer protection watchdog headed by the acting Executive Chairman, Adamu Abdullahi, said that Meta had denied Nigerian users control over their data, shared data without consent, and abused its market dominance.
“Denying Nigerian data subjects the right to self-determine; unauthorised transfer and sharing of Nigerian data subjects personal data, including cross-border storage in violation of then, and now prevailing law; discrimination and disparate treatment; abuse of dominance; and tying and bundling,” FCCPC said.
Meta disagrees with the decision and the fine, stating that in 2021, they explained to users globally how talking to businesses would work, and while there was initial confusion, it has proven quite popular.
TADI urges Nigerians to shelve protest, dialogue with government
Ahead of the August 1 planned nationwide hunger protest, a civil society organisation, Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative, TADI, has called on Nigerians to give peace a chance by engaging in dialogue with government and stakeholders at all levels.
This was made known in a statement signed by the Executive Director TADI, Yomi David, and Convener CSOs/ CBOs Muhammed Basah, on Tuesday.
The organization acknowledged the harsh economic situation and high cost of living in the country, but pointed out that protest would further deepen the situation as disgruntled elements will take advantage of the situation to cause mayhem.
“We are very much aware of the volatile situation the country had been so enmeshed in particularly the harsh economic situation and standard of living that is at the low at the moment but we are convince that a protest at this point would further deepen the situation as disgruntled elements are looking for opportunities to create more chaotic situation for them to strike.
“We wish to also sue for calm while every groups continue to engage with the right channels on ways by which the country should be piloted towards the right direction for the general good of all Nigerians,” the statement read.
TADI also called on states and local governments authority across the country to put in place a platform for dialogue with youth groups within their domain for a reassurance of government’s readiness for good governance.
The organization equally urged those organizing the protest to pull out of the mobilization or cancel the exercise in the interest of peace and safety of all.
TADI urges Nigerians to shelve protest, dialogue with government
August 1: We can’t snub our elders – Katsina youth coalition shuns protest
The Nigeria First Project Initiative has called on Nigerian youths give the government of President Bola Tinubu a little more time to tackle pressing economic challenges.
The group also urged the government to ameliorate the suffering of the masses by implementing more welfare schemes.
The group said this while speaking on the upcoming nationwide protest, slated to hold on the 1st of August, 2024.
It made the call during an inclusive roundtable with civil society organizations that include youth-based organizations, students’ unions, people with disabilities, women groups, faith-based groups, academia, indigenous leaders, and human rights defenders.
The gathering, held in Katsina on Tuesday, was attended by the Governor of Katsina State, who represented the acting Governor, Alhaji Farouk Lawal Jobe.
The group which said it acknowledged the fact that the common people, who are the majority in Nigeria, are facing severe hardship, including a high cost of living and low purchasing power, added that street protests are not the best method of addressing challenges.
“We premised our reason on historical facts, which show that most of the protests conducted in Nigeria were usually characterized by blockage of roads, harassment of passersby, intimidation, killings, looting of public warehouses, and destruction of critical national assets, among others.
“Our position is also guided by the outcome and impact of street protests in some neighboring African countries, such as Sudan, Libya, and Egypt, which include violence, coup d’état, and civil war.
“Moreover, we have decided not to plunge into the streets because our dear country, Nigeria, is being confronted by multiple challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and vandalism, and therefore, we don’t want to add salt to injury by acting out of anger, which will further divert the attention of our leaders and our gallant security forces.
“More important is the appeal and exhortations by our leaders and elders, including learned ulamas, royal fathers, and senior citizens, who all advised us to rescind our earlier option of staging street protests.
“We are people of culture; hence, we can’t snub our wise elders.
“In view of the aforementioned, we therefore unanimously agreed to shun the upcoming nationwide protest tagged ‘End Bad Governance.”
“All members of this coalition will not partake in the protest. Instead, we are going to continue to explore non-confrontational approaches to channeling our grievances and those of our members,” the group said.
August 1: We can’t snub our elders – Katsina youth coalition shuns protest
NNPCL projects two million barrels of oil daily production
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has announced its goal to increase crude oil production to 2 million barrels per day by the end of the year.
The country’s daily production rose from 1.27 million barrels in June to 1.6 million in July.
Speaking during a meeting with Maritime Stakeholders at the Nigerian Navy Headquarters on Tuesday, the Group Managing Director of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, expressed optimism that the target would be met, emphasising that NNPCL was fully committed to achieving it.
Represented by Folorunsho Karim, Managing Director of Pipeline NNPCL, Kyari urged security agencies to continue their efforts against oil theft and pipeline vandalism to help the company meet its target.
He said, “The target is to increase production to 2 million barrels by the end of the year, and we are fully committed to doing that. I appreciate the support of the Nigerian Navy in making this possible.
“They have been providing significant support, which has resulted in a reduction in oil theft.
“Pipeline vandalism has also decreased significantly, and there is a lot currently happening in the industry. We hope to sustain this progress to achieve our target of 2 million barrels per day by the end of the year.”
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, stated that Nigeria’s development has faced numerous complex security challenges over the past few decades, including violent agitations, oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and piracy/sea robbery.
Ogalla added that these issues were driven by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, communal clashes, poverty, and unemployment.
“The traditional methods of addressing these security challenges have not yielded the desired results. Hence, the meeting also aimed to address emerging security issues arising from the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.
“The Federal Government’s drive to develop the nation’s Blue Economy requires the support of all stakeholders,” he added.
He stated that the Navy was working to ensure its operations did not hinder operators but instead supported them in performing their duties and optimally producing.
Ogalla said, “Providing security is a way to promote ease of doing business because if there is no security, operators cannot function.
“We also ensure that our arrests and detentions do not impede legitimate business operators. When we make arrests, we conduct preliminary investigations quickly and release vessels if the information is found to be incorrect, so as not to disrupt businesses. This is our general contribution.
“We aim to promote ease of doing business by ensuring our operations and patrols do not create problems for operators. Instead, we support them by assuring them of protection from criminal elements who seek to disrupt business activities in Nigeria.”