A counter-rally to the planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1 across the country has begun in Lagos and Bayelsa states, as many took to the streets with placards saying, “Say No to Protest”.
This is coming as many Nigerians have engaged on social media, calling for protests in all 36 states of the federation to demand an end to bad governance in the country.
Youths, from different locations, stormed Lagos Island to express their support for the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, while calling on others to “shun violent protest”.
Similarly, in Bayelsa State, women were seen in large numbers with placards stating, “Say no to protest in Bayelsa”.
Reacting to the posts circulating online, a human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, stated on Facebook, “Hungry and jobless individuals are protesting against protests. This is outrightly ridiculous. Or, how do you see it?”
Another X user, Ifeanyi, stated, “One of the reasons they said Nigerians should not protest is because hoodlums might hijack the protest and end up destroying things.
“Therefore, they say no to protests. But today, there are some groups of people in the street, chanting ‘No to protest.’ So, are they saying hoodlums can’t hijack such a protest?”
“No Protest In Lagos” protest already started on Lagos Island. Not even a security personnel is present to prevent “hijacking,” an X user, @ayemojubar observed.
Planned nationwide protest: Counter rallies begin in Lagos, Bayelsa
Planned nationwide protest: Counter rallies begin in Lagos, Bayelsa
NSCDC to deploy 30,000 personnel across Nigeria
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps will deploy 30,000 personnel across the country to safeguard critical national assets and infrastructure in response to the planned nationwide hunger protest.
This announcement was made by the NSCDC Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, during a meeting with Commandants and Zonal Commandants at the Corps’ national headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
Audi highlighted the necessity of the deployment due to intelligence reports indicating that criminals may attempt to hijack the protest to cause chaos and harm innocent Nigerians and national infrastructure.
The protest, set to begin on August 1, has been organised by young Nigerians and various civil society groups under the #EndBadGovernance banner.
Nigerians are demonstrating against the soaring cost of living and the perceived failure of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to address economic hardships.
Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023, ended the fuel subsidy with the promise of redirecting the funds towards infrastructural development.
However, the policy, along with ongoing security issues in farming regions, has led to increased transportation costs and subsequent food inflation.
While affirming Nigerians’ right to protest, Audi emphasised that the demonstrations must remain peaceful and warned against any destruction of government property.
He assured that the NSCDC would protect peaceful protesters and be prepared to arrest any troublemakers.
The CG said, “Your duty is to ensure the protest is peaceful as we do not want violence, destruction of assets, killings and burning of properties; therefore it behoves you to work within the whims and caprices of the NSCDC Standard Operating Procedures and Code of Ethical Standard.
”Your role is to maintain peace and ensure that government infrastructure, utilities and property are adequately protected from hoodlums who might want to hijack the whole process to carry out their nefarious acts”
“Do not molest or harass any citizen as they protest peacefully knowing fully well that they have the right to protest but they do not have the right to destroy government properties.
“Based on the foregoing I have ordered the deployment of no fewer than 30,000 personnel nationwide which includes Intelligence and other Tactical Units across all formations; the Zonal Commanders and all State Commandants in the 36 States and FCT are to supervise their personnel and monitor the protest with a view of ensuring the protection of lives and property as well as securing the nation’s critical assets and infrastructure.”
The NSCDC boss expressed the corps’ readiness for the protest and stated that the meeting aimed to finalise strategies for the deployment.
He also urged Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu’s administration, which he claimed is working hard to improve living conditions and appealed to parents to discourage their wards from participating in the protest.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ariwoola bows out August 22
The incumbent Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, is to formally bow out as head of Nigeria’s judiciary on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
Ariwoola has been at the helms of affairs of the judiciary in the past three years when his predecessor, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad suddenly resigned from office due to ill health.
The traditional Valedictory Court Session for the retiring Chief Justice of Nigeria has been scheduled to hold on Thursday, 22nd August, 2024.
A statement by the Director of Information and Press for the Court, Dr Festus Akande on Monday in Abuja indicated that the valedictory ceremony will hold at the Supreme Court Complex and shall be attended by eminent persons.
Akande said that the Apex Court’s 2023/2024 legal year ended on Friday, 19th July, 2024 while the Court Proceeded on vacation on Monday, 22nd July, 2024 .
He explained that the court will resume for the 1st term 2024/2025 legal year on Monday, 23rd September, 2024 while the ceremony to usher-in the 2024/2025 new legal year is scheduled to hold on Monday, 30th September, 2024.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ariwoola bows out August 22
Niger youths begin hunger protest on Abuja-Kaduna Road
In anticipation of the nationwide hunger protest scheduled for August 1 to 10 under the hashtag #EndBadGovernment, some youths in Niger State, on Monday, took to the streets to voice their discontent with the current economic hardships facing Nigerians.
This demonstration comes just a week after Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago declared that Niger youths would refrain from street protests, asserting that the state’s youth are generally peace-loving.
A group of youths from Niger State assembled to protest the escalating cost of living crisis. They were spotted along the Expressway in Tafa Local Government Area, holding signs that read ‘Enough is Enough,’ ‘Stop Anti-Masses Policies,’ ‘We Are Not Slaves In Our Country,’ ‘Hardship Is Unbearable,’ and ‘Fuel Subsidy Must Be Back,’ among others.
The protesters were observed marching along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, chanting anti-government songs.
Sule Ndaji, an eyewitness, told reporters that the protest occurred and noted that it was the intervention of soldiers stationed on the highway that persuaded the youths to postpone their demonstration until the officially scheduled protest date.
“I saw the protesters early this morning carrying placards and chanting protest songs. It was the soldiers on the Expressway that calmed the youths, telling them to wait until the date of the protest,” Ndaji said.
Several organizations and agencies in Niger State had previously assured that the youths would not participate in the hunger protest, citing concerns that the organizers might be faceless and that the protest could be hijacked by hoodlums and other miscreants.
Read also: FEC orders NNPC to sell crude to Dangote, other refineries in naira
In response, the governor announced palliatives for Niger residents to prevent involvement in any protests. “We have over 100,000 metric tonnes of food in our reserves, out of which we will be releasing 50,000 metric tonnes to be sold at 50% of its present price. Before the end of the year, we will slash food prices by 90%,” Bago declared at a town hall meeting.
Abiodun Wasiu, spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, confirmed the protest and noted that some youths were seen on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway but were eventually dispersed by law enforcement officers.
“The issue is that some few boys were discovered around Kaduna road, and immediately, Area Commander Suleja moved to the scene with his men and the situation was brought under control. They were dispersed immediately.
“There was no blockade of the road along Abuja Kaduna road. We also heard rumours that there was an issue around Madalla, but as I’m speaking with you, there was no issue, there was no problem in Madalla.
“However, the Area Commander is on a show of force and monitoring the situation within Suleja and its environs. As I speak with you, the area is calm, and people should continue their lawful businesses,” Wasiu stated.
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UNILORIN expels two, rusticates three students for misconduct
The management of the University of Ilorin has punished five students of the institution for alleged misdemeanours committed on campus of the institution.
While two of the affected students were outrightly expelled from the institution, the three other students were rusticated for one academic session.
A statement by the Director, Corporate Affairs of the University, Kunle Akogun on Monday said that the Vice Chancellor had approved the rustication and expulsion of the students after the recommendation of the Students’ Disciplinary Committee recommendation on Friday, July 5, 2024.
The expelled students according to the statement are Olayoonu Amos of the Department of Human Kinetics and Ibrahim Taoreed of the Department of Education Management.
The statement said that the rusticated students, identified as Olabanji, Toluwanimi David, Dosunmu Ezekiel Olabanji and Obadairo-Yusuf Adedoyin Babatunde were asked to leave the school for one academic session.
The details of the affected students include: “Olabanji, Toluwanimi David, (Matric.No.21/52HL103), Department of Communication and Information Science, Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences – Rusticated for one academic session.
“Dosunmu, Ezekiel Olabanji, (Matric. No. 20/66MG101), Department of Marketing, Faculty of Management Sciences – Rusticated for one academic session.
“Obadairo-Yusuf Adedoyin Babatunde, (Matric. No. 20/52HP052), Department of Telecommunication Science, Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences – Rusticated for one academic session.
“Olayoonu Oladayo Amos, (Matric. No. 19/25OA142), Department of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Education – Expelled from the University.
“Ibrahim Taoheed, (Matric. No. 19/25OE111), Department of Education Management, Faculty of Education – Expelled from the University.”
Youths hold anti-protest march in Lagos
Some youths in Lagos State on Monday held a solidarity march, which is to counter the planned nationwide hunger protest, scheduled for August 1.
According Online reports that some Nigerians were planning to protest across the country against hunger and economic hardship in the country.
The protest, which has gained traction on social media, has been endorsed by the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi, respectively.
The youths, who came from different locations, converged on the Lagos Island area of the state and moved across areas like Obalende, Ikoyi, and Lekki.
Speaking with reporters, the youths expressed their support for the Tinubu-led administration and called on Nigerians to plan the demonstration to shun violent protests.
Referencing the 2020 #EndSARS protest that led to the destruction of property and loss of lives in the state, the youths claimed that the planned protest might have a recurrence and they would stop it from happening again.
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JUST IN: Arsenal sign Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori
Arsenal Football Club has officially announced the signing of Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna.
The club disclosed this on Monday in a post on X.
The Gunners wasted no time welcoming their new acquisition, posting on their official page, “Benvenuto, Riccardo Calafiori. Meeting new teammates for the very first time.”
The use of “Benvenuto” means “Welcome” in Italian.
Meanwhile, giving details of the transfer, football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano said, “Official, confirmed. Riccardo Calafiori joins Arsenal from Bologna on a five-year deal.”
Details later…
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Protest: Tinubu’s reforms led to high cost of living – National Youth Council
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has said while it recognised President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to improve the national economy and modernise outdated systems, his reforms have led to high cost of living in the country.
It added that these changes have significantly made life difficult for majority of Nigerians, especially the youth, as many young people are struggling with unemployment and underemployment.
NYCN Vice President (North East), Bishop Kanatapwa, made the call while addressing a press conference on Monday in Abuja ahead of the planned August 2 protest.
The youth organisation called on the federal and state governments to introduce subsidies on food commodities as part of efforts to ameliorate the economic hardship faced by Nigerians, ahead of the August 1 nationwide protest.
The national youth body noted that there was a need for both the federal and state governments to swing into action to reduce prices of daily consumable goods like bread, garri, beans, yam, rice, among others to enable the downtrodden feed.
Kanatapwa stated: “We recognise President Tinubu’s efforts to improve the national economy and modernise outdated systems. However, these changes have significantly increased the cost of living, making life difficult for many, especially the youth. Many young people are struggling with unemployment and underemployment.
“These tough conditions have led many youths to support the planned hunger protests. The protest has gained strong backing from various youth leaders.”
He further called on government to grant importers of food items tax holidays immediately to help reduce prices of daily consumable goods.
Kanatapwa expressed concern that NYCN was being left out of important national programs and projects that require youth involvement, despite its support for national development and President Tinubu’s plans.
“Government at the federal and state level should swing into action to reduce prices of daily consumable goods like bread, garri, beans, yam, rice etc, to enable the downtrodden feed.
“Importers of consumable items should be granted granted Tax Holiday immediately to help reduce prices of daily consumable goods,” he said.
Protest: Tinubu’s reforms led to high cost of living – National Youth Council
Nadal to decide on future ‘after Olympics’
Rafael Nadal said he will make a decision on his future in tennis “after the Olympics” in the aftermath of a shattering straight-sets defeat to old rival Novak Djokovic at the Paris Games on Monday.
“When this tournament is over, I will take the necessary decisions based on my feelings and desire,” said Nadal, after losing 6-1, 6-4 in his 60th career meeting with Djokovic.
Nadal, playing in just his seventh tournament of the year after another campaign disrupted by injuries, admitted that at 38 he did not “have the legs of 20 years ago”.
The Spaniard, a gold medallist at the Olympics in singles in 2008 and doubles at Rio eight years later, won the last of his 22 Grand Slam titles when he captured a 14th French Open in Paris in 2022.
His ranking, which once stood proudly at number one, has slumped to 161 in the world.
In May, he suffered his first ever opening-round loss at the French Open and then skipped Wimbledon to focus on the Olympics.
“For many people it makes little sense, I have been suffering for two years,” added Nadal who described Monday’s loss as “tough”.
“If I feel that I am not competitive I will make the decision to stop. I just try my best every single day, trying to enjoy a thing that I have been enjoying for so much time.
“I have been suffering a lot of injuries the last two years. So if I feel that I am not competitive enough to keep going or physically I’m not ready to keep going I will stop and let you know.”
Despite his defeat, Nadal still has hopes of a gold medal in the men’s doubles where he is playing alongside Carlos Alcaraz.
Monday’s win was 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic’s 31st in a rivalry which began on the same Roland Garros clay courts in 2006.
Nadal was largely outclassed in the much anticipated encounter, only coming briefly to life when he won four games in a row in the second set.
“I’m very relieved,” said Djokovic after the second round win.
“Back in 2006, I don’t think we would have thought we would be playing against each other on the same court at the Olympics.”
Nadal conceded that Djokovic was the better player throughout the contest.
“Playing against Novak, without creating damage to him and without having the legs of, 20 years ago is, is almost impossible now.”
• Signs of age –
In a sign of the wear and tear the pair have endured in recent months, Djokovic wore protective strapping around his right knee while Nadal’s right thigh was heavily strapped.
Djokovic raced to 4-0 lead, on the back of a double break, and held for 5-0 before Nadal stopped the rot much to the relief of a packed, sweltering crowd.
Djokovic pocketed the one-sided opener when Nadal ballooned a forehand wide of the mark.
The statistics made grim reading for Nadal who managed to eke out just four points off the Djokovic serve in the first set.
There was no respite as Djokovic again carved out a double break for a 4-0 lead in the second set.
Djokovic, seeking a first Olympic gold medal, surprisingly handed Nadal a lifeline when he served up a double fault to be broken for the first time.
Nadal retrieved the second break to claw his way back from 0-4 to 4-4 as the top seed went suddenly off the boil.
Djokovic responded in style, a drop-shot leaving Nadal flat-footed as the Serb broke for 5-4 on a fourth break point and clinched victory in style with an ace.
AFP
Soldiers take over Enugu airport ahead of hunger protest
Soldiers have taken over the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu and other strategic points ahead of the August 1st nationwide hunger protest.
This is coming as Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing declared that Igbo Youths will not participate in the protest, which is scheduled for August 1st to 10th, 2024.
However, our correspondent observed heavy movement of military personnel, especially those of the Nigerian Army, in the Enugu metropolis.
At the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Junction along the old Abakaliki-Emene road, several military personnel were seen stationed with weapons.
Also, at the Abakpa Junction and New Heaven Junction along the Enugu-Abakaliki road, an Armored Personnel Carrier was seen mounted with surveillance cameras.
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