The organisers of the planned #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest, scheduled to commence on August 1, have rejected the proposal from Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun for confined protests. In a meeting with the organisers, IGP Egbetokun suggested that protests be limited to identified locations and advised against street rallies, citing security concerns. “It is not advisable to go on street processions because as you are planning peaceful protests, some are planning violence,” he stated. Despite these concerns, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a lawyer representing the Take It Back Movement—one of the groups behind the protest—firmly rejected the IGP’s proposal. The protests,…
Author: Editor Francis
In a significant move towards enhancing youth engagement and development, President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a mandated secretariat for youth affairs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The announcement was made by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike during an interactive session with stakeholders in the Bwari area council on Monday. During the engagement, Minister Wike also called on residents to cancel the planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1 and 10. He emphasised the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns of the populace through dialogue and proactive measures. Similar interactive sessions were held with residents of Gwagwalada, Kuje,…
Telecoms giant MTN has closed all its stores and service centers across Nigeria following widespread outrage from subscribers after the network provider barred their lines on Sunday. In a viral video circulating on social media on Monday, a mob is seen dismantling a barricade outside an MTN office. The footage shows a large crowd of angry subscribers vandalizing the telecommunications company’s office in the FESTAC Town area of Lagos State. The unrest was triggered by the network blocking subscribers due to mismatches between their National Identification Number (NIN) and SIM registration. Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, responded…
International Breweries Plc has reported a pre-tax loss of N61.81 billion for the second quarter of 2024. This marks a slight improvement compared to the N89.35 billion pre-tax loss recorded in the first quarter of the year. However, the company’s losses have worsened since the corresponding quarter of the previous year when it recorded a pre-tax loss of N37.31 billion. For the first half of 2024, International Breweries Plc’s pre-tax losses amounted to N150.23 billion, a 262.6% increase from the N41.43 billion recorded in the first six months of 2023. Key Financial Highlights: – Revenue: N119.98 billion, up from N61.73…
The exchange rate between the Nigerian naira and the US dollar dropped to a four-month low of N1,611 at the official Investor and Exporter window on Monday. This decline was reported by the FMDQ, where currencies are traded officially. The depreciation of the naira on Monday reversed the gains experienced at the end of last week when the Central Bank sold forex to traders. According to FMDQ data, the naira closed at N1,611.40 on July 29, 2024, compared to N1,609 at the close of trading on Friday. Intra-day highs and lows recorded N1,622/$1 and N1,500/$1, respectively, indicating a significant disparity…
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has instructed all telecommunication companies in the country to reactivate lines that were recently barred due to issues with the linking and verification of National Identification Numbers (NIN). This reversal comes after the regulator initially set a deadline of July 31 for telecom operators to bar all lines with unverified NINs. The sudden change in the NCC’s stance is likely influenced by planned protests and allegations that the government was attempting to suppress these demonstrations by restricting telecommunications. Over the weekend, millions of lines were blocked by major telecom operators, including MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and…
President Bola Tinubu has officially signed the bill establishing a new national minimum wage of N70,000 for workers. The signing ceremony took place at the Council Chambers of the presidential villa, attended by the leadership of the National Assembly and other government officials. Further details to follow…
The Federal Ministry of Education has issued a circular to all Vice Chancellors of Nigerian universities, emphasizing the need to protect staff, students, and public infrastructure during the nationwide protest scheduled for August 1. The circular, disseminated through the National Universities Commission (NUC) and signed by Acting Executive Secretary Dr. Chris Maiyaki, acknowledges the right to protest while expressing concerns about potential violence. Titled “Urgent Arrangements for the Security and Safety of University Staff, Students and Property During the Proposed Nationwide Protests,” the directive follows instructions from the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman. “The Minister of Education has directed…
The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has called on its members to refrain from participating in actions that could undermine the Federal Government, ahead of a nationwide protest planned to commence on August 1st. The protest, organized under the hashtag #EndBadGovernance, is expected to take place across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. NARTO emphasized that it does not support any actions that would disrupt the movement of petroleum products and the haulage of goods and services. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appealed to the protest organizers to call off the demonstration, assuring the public that…
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has attributed the widespread anger and hunger across Nigeria as the primary reasons behind the planned nationwide protest set for August 1. Speaking at the grand finale of the 2024 Ibadan Cultural Week, organised by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Makinde addressed the audience at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, emphasising the citizens’ right to protest. “Yes, protest is everybody’s right,” Makinde stated, urging that the demonstrations be conducted peacefully. He emphasised the importance of avoiding violence and the destruction of public facilities, noting, “We used your money to build all…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Francis Akajiobi, a 50-year-old businessman, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos for attempting to smuggle 1.2 kilograms of cocaine to Spain. This arrest was announced in a statement by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, and published on the Agency’s website on Sunday. According to the statement, Akajiobi was caught with the cocaine hidden in the soles of his sandals as he prepared to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Madrid on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Akajiobi claimed the drugs were given to him at…
The Central Bank of Nigeria has said it sold a cumulative amount of $148 million to authorised dealers in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market. According to the CBN acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Hakama Sidi-Ali, the transactions were conducted on Monday and Tuesday to provide liquidity to the FX market. Ms Sidi-Ali, disclosed that the CBN sold FX to 29 authorised dealer banks at exchange rates between N1,470 to one dollar and N1,510 to one dollar. Ms Sidi-Ali reiterated the commitment of the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, to stabilising the foreign exchange market. According to her, Mr Cardoso assured that…