On Monday, the United Action Front of Civil Society, a coalition of organized Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), issued a stern warning to all levels of government, cautioning against any attempts to intimidate protesters during the nationwide demonstrations planned from August 1 to 10.
The protests are aimed at addressing the issue of hunger.
In a statement released by Wale Okunniyi, the Head of the Secretariat, the CSOs urged citizens to hold the government accountable for any adverse outcomes resulting from the protests.
The planned protests, scheduled from August 1 to 10, 2024, have gained significant traction on social media with hashtags such as ‘#EndBadGovernance,’ ‘#TinubuMustGo,’ and ‘#Revolution2024.’
Both the presidency and police authorities have urged youths to abandon their protest plans.
The statement emphasized, “We wish to advise the Tinubu government to immediately take proactive steps to address the demands and concerns already raised by citizens groups participating in the planned nationwide citizens’ protests, if they are really sincere about averting the mass action beyond grandstanding and hoodwinking of Nigerians, as no amount of threats and gimmicks presently being deployed by agents of the Nigerian government can stop the nationwide mass demonstrations.”
The statement outlined two key demands from the protest organizers: firstly, the immediate reduction of the fuel price from its current unofficial rate of ₦1,000 per liter back to the pre-January 2023 price of ₦167 per liter. Secondly, a substantial cut in government spending, specifically a 50 percent reduction in the emoluments and allowances of all elected officials.
Read also: BREAKING: IG orders police to safeguard #EndBadGovernance protesters nationwide
The CSOs stressed that the government must be held accountable for not addressing these critical issues. The statement continued, “For the Nigerian Civil Society and citizens, the most fundamental of the problems of stability, insecurity, and development in Nigeria are entrenched in the warped and undemocratically imposed constitution of the country by the military as decree 24 of 1999, which has been largely corruptive and divisive of the country and sadly has no remedy except it’s replaced through a democratic and legitimate process.”
In light of this, the organized civil society declared that the government must be held responsible for failing to address the critical concerns of Nigerians, which are central to the planned nationwide protests and any unintended consequences that may arise.
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CSOs to Nigerian Govt: Nationwide protests against hunger unstoppable despite threats
30 Nigerian pilgrims died during 2024 hajj — NAHCON
No fewer than 30 Nigerians died during the just-concluded hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Mallam Jalal Arabi, has said.
Arabi, who disclosed this at a post-hajj press briefing in Abuja, on Monday, explained that about four victims passed away as a result of the heat wave recorded during the hajj exercise.
He said, “It is very true that the 2024 hajj experienced one of the harshest weathers that had ever been experienced in the past. But the good thing about we were informed well in advance.
“It was included in the sensitisation we did and we provided the necessary tools to ensure they were safeguarded. We provided safety kits from umbrellas to newly innovated fans and other things that could keep them safe.
“But if anybody’s time is up, it is up, you can’t stop it. We tried the best we could to avert deliberate exposure to the weather. Of course, we lost pilgrims but not all died from the heat wave.
“From the 30 we lost, probably about four or five could be said to have died from the heat wave. We pray Allah to accept their souls.’’
The NAHCON boss also explained the circumstances that led to President Bola Tinubu’s approval of N90bn subsidy for the pilgrimage exercise on the heels of the increment in hajj fares that saw pilgrims pay as much as N8m, among other issues with private tour operators.
He said, “Recall that by the final deadline of 12th February 2024, the unforeseen spike in foreign exchange rates had totally complicated matters, necessitating fresh adjustment of the year’s hajj fare from the initially announced N4.9m.
“The financial projection after the foreign exchange liberalization was that each pilgrim would have to top up about N3.6m in addition to the initial payment. The situation impelled urgent intervention.
“Recognising the gravity of the situation, NAHCON promptly engaged with the Federal Government to mitigate the effects of the high cost of the foreign currency with an appeal for the government to approve a concessionary rate of N850 as exchange rate for the dollar component of the hajj fare.
“That appeal was further amplified by other reputable stakeholders in the project. We are grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his swift approval of N90b instead.’’
Arabi said NAHCON devised a distribution strategy which played a crucial role in ensuring that all the stakeholders involved in the 2024 hajj benefited from the government’s support.
“Each pilgrim was supported with N1,637,369.87 from the N90bn except for pilgrims under the Hajj Savings Scheme who enjoyed more.
“Hence, all registered intending pilgrims, except those on HSS, were required to pay a balance of N1,918,094.87 since the N90bn was not sufficient to make up for the balance.
“However, new registrants were asked to pay N8,454,464.74, being exempted from the Federal Government’s intervention. It is on record that eligible officials and stakeholders from all tiers of government enjoyed the subsidy from the N90b,” he stated.
The chairman stressed that the hajj subsidy was transparently utilised and further gave assurances of improving the processes to ensure equitable access to facilities and services for all future pilgrims.
Nationwide protest: Enugu police raises alarm over plots to hijack exercise, warns against violence
Ahead of the announced nationwide protest, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu has warned against acts of violence and breach of public peace.
The Command said this was necessary to protect lives, property, and critical national assets.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe.
The warning, he said, was considering available intelligence revealing the sinister plans of criminal elements to infiltrate, hijack the planned protest, and unleash mayhem on law-abiding citizens and property in the State.
The intelligence, the Commissioner further stated, showed that the hoodlums, as experienced during the violent EndSARS protests, “intend to attack fellow citizens, destroy public and private property, and perpetrate acts of looting. However, he reiterates the collaborative commitment of the police and other security forces to deal decisively with such criminal elements.”
He added that while the CP recognized the constitutional rights of citizens to lawfully assemble and express their grievances, as currently touted, “it will be completely unacceptable for them to allow such assemblies or protests to be hijacked and made to become violent, especially in these challenging times.”
The CP cautioned those intending to carry out the planned protest in Enugu State to find reasons to shelve the plans, given the available intelligence, and seek alternative peaceful means to express their grievances.
The Commissioner emphasized that proceeding with the idea “will require them to strictly adhere to existing laws, particularly the Public Order Act.
“Hence, they must apply, stating their leaders, date, time, place of takeoff, and duration of the exercise, subject to thorough assessment and approval of such applications.”
He urged residents of Enugu State to remain law-abiding, vigilant, “and promptly report to the nearest police station, criminals that may want to hide under the guise of the protest to wreak havoc.”
Nationwide protest: Enugu police raises alarm over plots to hijack exercise, warns against violence
INTERPOL unveils strategies to trace politicians’ looted funds
The Vice-President of the International Criminal Police Organisation for Africa, Garba Umar, has said his organisation was proposing a silver notice to help trace and recover stolen funds from corrupt politicians and criminals.
Umar stated that with the initiative, politicians who stole money and criminals would have no way to hide their proceeds.
He spoke at the workshop on the fight against financial crime organised by Interpol and Japan International Cooperation Agency in Abuja on Monday.
Umar said, “We are bringing what we call silver notice. The silver notice will trace wherever the funds are, the money that was stolen by corrupt leaders, corrupt politicians, and corrupt individuals, criminals.
“For the first time in the history of the Interpol, we are now introducing the silver notices. The EFCC and the NFIU will trace where this money is, not only tracing the money, but repatriating the money through our MLAT, our natural legal, diplomatic channels, and so on. This is what we are doing, through police-to-police international cooperation.
“If you think you have stolen money and you want to go and hide it, no.”
Umar urged law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts against financial crime, adding that law enforcement agencies that have not yet been integrated into the I-247 facility should proceed to do so.
He said, “As law enforcement agencies, it is our collective responsibility to strengthen our response against financial crime and ensure that this does not happen.
“Law enforcement agencies that have not gotten the integration of the I-247 facility, please, don’t hesitate to go to the National Central Bureau, and tell your agency, we need to link up.
“You know why? Because the criminal data of 196 countries are domiciled with the NCB. And the only way to be part of the global village at your table, in your own office, is to get connected with the I-247 facility.”
Highlighting the facility’s significance, Umar stated that it played a crucial role in tracking and apprehending the Binance executive who had fled Nigeria in under 10 minutes.
He said, “You just check on your decks. Somebody has stolen this money. This guy that escaped, what do you call Nadim? The crypto, Bitcoin guy that escaped.
“I was contacted and immediately escaped. In 10 minutes, I go to where he is, where he’s hidden. Within another 10 minutes, I get connected with all the countries there to block him.
“All you need to do is to connect you from your system, insert all the details, and one by one, you will see the movement of criminals. Information, you got it first-hand, online.”
The Director of Interpol Financial Crime Anti-Corruption Center, Isaac Ogini, said the silver notice would kick off in January 2025.
Ogini said, “Silver notice will be targeting asset recovery, tracing and recovering of assets. As nature will have it, we will be starting the pilot in January next year. And I want to specifically thank the Nigerian government. Specifically, the director, and CEO, of NFIU. “
Also speaking, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, who was represented by the Director of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control Department of the EFCC, Francis Usai, said the agency was restrategising its operations to effectively tackle financial crimes.
He said, “The EFCC is restrategising its operations with a focus on prevention, knowing that it is easier and cheaper to prevent corruption from happening than investigating and prosecuting corruption.”
Protest not necessary – Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has questioned the rationale for a protest on August 1, insisting that he is already addressing most of the challenges confronting the nation, especially those concerning youths.
The President spoke through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who confirmed that the issue of the proposed protest came up for deliberations at the Federal Executive Council meeting.
According to Idris, the recent student loan policy of the federal government was targeted at the youth population, such that no Nigerian child who secures admission will drop out on account of fees.
His words: “The position of FEC is that most of the demands that the protesters are making are actually being addressed by the federal government and therefore it is the view of the government that there is really no need for the protests again because most of those things that the protesters are putting forward have already actually been addressed or are being addressed by government.
“Like we have said repeatedly, this is a listening government. The President has listened to the voices of all those who are planning this protest and the message is that there is no need for it.”
The Information Minister further noted: “The last council meeting here at the briefing, we announced that a number of trucks, 20 precisely, had been given to the state governors for onward distribution to those who actually are in need of them, the poorest of the poor in society and those who are actually in need, but government did not stop there.
“There is also rice that is being sold at about 50 per cent of its cost, a bag of rice is being sold as we speak now. This rice has been taken to various centres across all the states of the federation and is being sold at N40,000. Centres have been created, so that those who need this rice can go there and buy this rice at N40,000.
“In the first instance, about 10 trucks have been made available to each of these states and indeed, this is just to begin, I know that some of the comments you hear are that ‘it is never enough’.
“Government has not pretended that these supplies are indeed enough. But these are the necessary first steps that are being taken, and more such interventions are being made in the interim. Of course, this is, like I said, an interim measure because there is so much investment going into the agricultural sector.”
Protest not necessary – Tinubu
Keyamo overrules NAMA, suspends planned 800% levy hike
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has suspended its earlier announced increase in navigational charges.
This was made known through a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of NAMA, Abdullahi Musa, on Monday.
The NAMA spokesman noted that the backtrack by the agency was in response to the directive of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
Musa added that the decision follows the Minister’s recognition of the current economic challenges faced by Nigerians.
Last Friday, NAMA announced its intention to raise its navigation charge by 800 per cent, a decision that raised concerns from both passengers and stakeholders in the aviation sector.
Musa further noted that the minister emphasised the need for further consultation before implementing any changes, highlighting the importance of being sensitive to the plight of Nigerians amidst these economic challenges.
Details later…
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BREAKING: IG orders police to safeguard #EndBadGovernance protesters nationwide
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has instructed senior police officers to ensure the protection of participants in the #EndBadGovernance protests set for August 1-10, 2024.
This directive was issued in a letter dated July 29, 2024, and signed by his Principal Staff Officer, CP Johnson Adenola. The order follows a request from human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), who sought police protection for the hunger protesters.
Adegboruwa had formally requested police protection in a letter to the IG on July 28, 2024. The letter confirmed that the IG had instructed senior officers to address the lawyer’s request.
The letter also announced that the IG has scheduled a meeting with Adegboruwa at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday to discuss the request in more detail.
Read also: ADC lawmaker, Abejide threatens to leave party over criticism of Tinubu
“I am to inform you that the Inspector General of Police has directed the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence), the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters, and the Commissioners of Police (CPs) in charge of State Commands across the country to attend to your request,” the letter stated.
“I am also to inform you that the Inspector General of Police wishes to have a meeting with you at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, to deliberate further on your request,” it concluded.
The post BREAKING: IG orders police to safeguard #EndBadGovernance protesters nationwide appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
EPL: He’ll make players better – Jaap Stam hails United’s new coach
Manchester United legend Jaap Stam has backed the club’s newly appointed coach, Ruud van Nistelrooy, to challenge manager Erik ten Hag’s decisions at Old Trafford.
He reckons that the former Manchester United striker will bring quality and experience to the club.
United had, during the week, announced the appointment of Nistelrooy as assistant manager at Old Trafford.
He replaces Mitchell van der Gaag, whose contract was terminated and the former striker will now work with Ten Hag.
Jaap Stam warned that Ten Hag should be ready to have Nistelrooy challenge his decisions.
“As a manager, you need people who will go against you and challenge you and hopefully Ruud and Rene [Hake] will do this,” the former centre-back told The Athletic. “Ruud, of course, is a legend for the club.
“At United now, Ruud can hopefully, bring some quality to the strikers in coaching and make the players better as individuals. He’s been a manager himself, too, so that should help. I like the appointment.”
EPL: He’ll make players better – Jaap Stam hails United’s new coach
IG orders police protection for protesters
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed senior police officers to protect participants in the #EndBadGovernance protests scheduled for 1-10 August 2024.
The police chief gave the directive in a letter dated 29 July 2024, signed by his Principal Staff Officer, CP Johnson Adenola, following a request by human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN).
According Online reported that Adegboruwa had, on 28 July 2024, written to the police chief seeking police protection for the hunger protesters.
According to the letter, the police chief instructed senior officers to comply with the senior lawyer’s request.
It added that the IG also requested a meeting with Adegboruwa at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday to deliberate further on his request.
“I am to inform you that the Inspector General of Police has directed the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence), the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters, and the Commissioners of Police (CPs) in charge of State Commands across the country to attend to your request.
“I am also to inform you that the Inspector General of Police wishes to have a meeting with you at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, 30 July 2024, to deliberate further on your request,” the letter read.
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Reshuffle cabinet for fresh ideas, Ajaka tells Tinubu
The Kogi Governorship Candidate of Social Democratic Party, Murtala Ajaka, has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider rejigging his cabinet to give room for fresh innovation and ideas.
Ajaka made the appeal in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.
The plea comes one month after a former Senator representing Kaduna Central District in the 8th National Assembly, Shehu Sani, and the Coalition of United Political Parties called on the President to reshuffle his cabinet to bring in fresh leadership that could alleviate the burden on the masses.
Nigerians have been struggling with economic difficulties occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and some economic policies implemented by Tinubu’s administration.
The challenges have made it tough for many Nigerians to keep up with the skyrocketing cost of foodstuffs and hyperinflation plaguing the country.
But Ajaka believed a major shakeup in the presidential cabinet could assuage frayed nerves and give Nigerians, especially the organisers of the nationwide planned protest, the confidence that Tinubu is exploring every available option to cushion the country’s economic woes.
He said, “I acknowledge that the high cost of living is a pressing concern for all of us, and it is only natural to want immediate solutions. However, change takes time, especially when it comes to implementing long-term reforms that will have a lasting impact.
“We must trust in our President’s commitment to fixing our country and give him the chance to address these challenges. He is on course. We should not distract his attention
“Furthermore, I want to trust that the President will consider reshuffling his cabinet shortly and bring fresh ideas and people who will key in his renewed hope. This could bring fresh perspectives and renewed energy to his administration, allowing for greater progress and development.”
The former deputy spokesman for the All Progressives Congress also appealed to the president to caution his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga over his recent incendiary statements.
While acknowledging that Tinubu is doing everything possible to fix the nation, the SDP governorship candidate raised concerns that Onanuga’s unguarded utterances on sensitive issues would continue to create more enemies for the president if not properly addressed.
“Also, I would like to advise the President to caution or suspend his Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, who is bent on creating enemies for the president rather than friends due to his utterances on social media. It is no secret that our country is going through a period of intense economic hardship.
“As a special adviser, Onanuga ought to be working towards fostering unity and ensuring that government policies are communicated effectively to the Nigerian people. However, his actions and words seem to be doing quite the opposite. His rhetoric has been divisive and inflammatory, creating adversaries for the President and his administration across the country,” he stated.