A lot of newsworthy events shaped July 30 to August 6. Here is a list of some selected top national stories across Nigeria.
- Subsidy Removal: We’ve Saved Over N1trn – Tinubu
- Niger Coup: Junta-led Burkina Faso and Mali warn against military intervention
- Ohanaeze invites Simon Ekpa for discussion over sit-at-home controversy
- Guinea warns President Tinubu-Led ECOWAS against military intervention in Niger Republic
- Helicopter Crashes Into Building In Lagos (VIDEO)
- Protesters Pull Down National Assembly Gate
- Illegal migrants behind most crimes in Nigeria – NIS
- Osinbajo: Why I Stayed Away From APC Caucus Meeting
- Ganduje appointed APC National Chairman
- Tinubu Replaces Ministerial Nominee, Picks Keyamo, One Other
- Nigerian senators reject Tinubu’s electricity cut-off, military plan in Niger Republic
Subsidy Removal: We’ve Saved Over N1trn – Tinubu
On Tuesday, the Federal Government disclosed that it had saved over N1 trillion since the removal of subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made the announcement during his nationwide economic broadcast.
In a little over two months, we have saved over a trillion Naira that would have been squandered on the unproductive fuel subsidy which only benefitted smugglers and fraudsters. That money will now be used more directly and more beneficially for you and your families, he said.
Niger Coup: Junta-led Burkina Faso and Mali warn against military intervention
On Tuesday, Burkina Faso and Mali disclosed that they would back Niger’s newly installed junta and warned against military intervention in the country’s affairs.
Recall that General Abdourahamane Tiani, commander of the Guards, deposed President Mohamed Bazoum‘s government late last week.
The coup has been widely condemned internationally, with the West African bloc ECOWAS giving him a week to return power to Bazoum.
Ohanaeze invites Simon Ekpa for discussion over sit-at-home controversy
On Tuesday, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo extended an invitation to self-acclaimed Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, and his group for a dialogue in response to the ongoing sit-at-home protests.
These protests are in opposition to the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President General of Ohanaeze, made the announcement in a statement issued on Monday.
He strongly condemned the persistent calls for sit-at-home protests and urged people to disregard them.
Guinea warns President Tinubu-Led ECOWAS against military intervention in Niger Republic
On Tuesday, the Republic of Guinea issued a warning to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by Nigerian president Bola Tinubu, cautioning against any planned sanctions or military intervention targeting the military juntas in the Republic of Niger.
In a statement, Guinea expressed solidarity with Niger Republic and stated that it will not participate in measures against Niger, emphasizing that sanctions and military intervention cannot be viable solutions to the current problem.
Instead, such actions could lead to a human disaster with consequences potentially extending beyond the borders of Niger.
Helicopter Crashes Into Building In Lagos (VIDEO)
On Tuesday, an unidentified helicopter collided with a building and burst into flames which resulted into chaos break out in the Oba Akran, Ikeja region of Lagos State.
The incident took place next to the AP Filling Station and United Bank of Africa on Oba Akran Street in Ikeja, the administrative centre of Lagos State.
The event took place around 3.30 pm, according to an eyewitness. The survival of the helicopter pilots remained unknown at the time of this publication.
Protesters Pull Down National Assembly Gate
On Wednesday, the National Assembly’s gate in Abuja was torn down by irate demonstrators.
Joe Ajaero of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Festus Osifo of the Trade Union Congress, leaders of the demonstrators, requested that security personnel stationed at the legislative building open the gates so that the irate workers may vent their resentment.
Following the failure of the security officials to adhere, angry protesters pulled down the gates and thronged into the assembly complex to vent their anger.
Illegal migrants behind most crimes in Nigeria – NIS
On Thursday, the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS disclosed that illegal immigrants are the ones perpetrating most of the criminal activities in Nigeria.
The Kwara State Comptroller of NIS, Aminu Shamsuddin, made the disclosure during the 60th anniversary of the Service in Ilorin.
He stated that the country is surrounded by francophone countries, whose nationals are vulnerable and desperately seek to stay in Nigeria.
Osinbajo: Why I Stayed Away From APC Caucus Meeting
On Thursday, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s immediate past Vice President, explained why he missed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting.
According to a letter of apology addressed to the acting APC chairman, Abubakar Kyari, Osinbajo stated that he was too busy with international duties abroad to attend the meeting.
1.6m Children Out Of School In North East – UNICEF
On Thursday, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that 1.6 million children in the North East are not attending school.
Phuong Nguyen, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Maiduguri, revealed this during a Foundation Literacy and Numeracy in the North-East Seminar held in Maiduguri.
She stated that UNICEF is dedicated to leaving no child behind in its efforts to accelerate education delivery in Nigeria.
Ganduje appointed APC National Chairman
On Thursday, former Kano Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje clinched the National Chairmanship position of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Ganduje was appointed the APC Chairman at the party’s 12th National Executive Meeting on Thursday in Abuja.
The party’s NEC also elected former Senate spokesman, Ajibola Basiru, as the National Secretary.
Tinubu Replaces Ministerial Nominee, Picks Keyamo, One Other
On Friday, Maryam Shetty, a ministry nominee, was replaced with Festus Keyamo and Dr. Maigari Mahmud by President Bola Tinubu.
This was made known at Friday’s plenary session of the Senate when Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from the President.
Recall that the president had sent the name of the nominee alongside 48 names to the National Assembly for screening and confirmation.
In a letter sent to the Senate on Friday, the President replaced Shetty’s name with it with Mairiga Mahmud.
Nigerian senators reject Tinubu’s electricity cut-off, military plan in Niger Republic
On Friday, senators reportedly rejected pleas to support President Bola Tinubu’s decision on Niger Republic in a closed-door executive session.
The senators are against deploying soldiers and cutting off power supply to Niger Republic, actions already taken by the Nigerian government.
On Friday, the Senate agreed to have a detailed debate on Tinubu’s request regarding possible military action by ECOWAS against the military leaders and coup plotters in Niger Republic.
