Author: Vincent Osuwo

With protests set for August 1, 2024, Nigerians, mainly youths, have lamented the hardship in the country since President Bola Tinubu was sworn in on May 20, 2023. Aggrieved over the hyperinflation, insecurity, and alleged wrong economic policies implemented by the Tinubu administration, youths have vowed to protest nationwide, demanding change. Despite several quarters urging the youths and intending protesters to shelve their grievances and give the Tinubu-led federal government more time, the youths have remained undaunted in their resolve to protest. Protest organisers dare Wike, say ‘Eagles Square is public property’ Clamouring with the hashtag #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, the youths are…

President Bola Tinubu signed the new Minimum Wage Bill into law on Monday. Tinubu assented the new law at 2 pm at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The signing was witnessed by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, among others. The National Minimum Wage Amendment Act, which introduces a new N70,000 national minimum wage, has been passed into law by the Senate. The Senate on Tuesday speedily passed the National Minimum Wage Act 2019 (Amendment Bill). This followed the presentation and adoption of a report on the bill by the…

The organisers of the upcoming hunger protest in Abuja have informed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that there is nothing that will prevent them from accessing Eagle Square.  Remember that the Take It Back Movement had written to the minister asking for the use of Eagle Square for its August 1 protest, as well as the provision of security and utilities for the length of the protest. On Friday, the group’s Director of Mobilisation, Damilare Adenola, signed a petition stating that the minister must “ensure the provision of a 24-hour power supply, toilet facilities, water, and…

MTN offices nationwide have been swarmed by angry customers whose SIMs were blocked despite having completed NIN registration and linkage. In the early hours of Monday, Nigerians flooded MTN offices across the country to demand the unblocking of their mobile lines. Several videos and pictures making the rounds on social media showed aggrieved customers queuing at the offices of the telecommunications giant. MTN offices at Festac, Ikeja, Lagos State, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Osogbo, Osun State, Warri, Delta State, among others, have been “besieged” by aggrieved customers. This follows after telecommunications companies in Nigeria started the last phase of disconnecting…

Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been removed from the African National Congress (ANC), the party he formerly led, for advocating for a rival party in the general election on May 29, according to local media.  The ANC’s disciplinary committee found him guilty of “prejudicing the integrity” of the party by joining uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and has given him three weeks to appeal, according to a leaked ANC document. The ANC has not officially verified his expulsion, and MK claims Mr. Zuma was not aware of the decision made by a “kangaroo court.”. Zuma, 82, was an ANC…

Prof. Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education, encouraged Nigerian university students on Monday to remain on campus during the scheduled nationwide protests to avoid risking their lives.  The minister announced this in a letter to university vice chancellors, which was sent by the interim executive secretary of the National Universities Commission, Chris Maiyaki. Certain activists have arranged a countrywide protest scheduled for August 1-10, 2024. The planned demonstration has gained support on social media with hashtags including ‘#EndBadGovernance,’ ‘#TinubuMustGo,’ and ‘#Revolution2024.’ The presidency and police authorities have urged youths to abandon the plot. “The Honourable Minister of Education has directed that…

Russia claimed on Monday that it had downed 39 drones fired by Ukraine overnight, primarily targeting border regions. “The anti-air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 19 drones in the Kursk region, nine above Belgorod, three over Voronezh, and five over Bryansk,” all bordering Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry said on Telegram. Three more people were killed in an “attempted terrorist attack” in the northern Leningrad region near Saint Petersburg, according to the report. Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian fuel depots, refineries, and energy installations are common, particularly along the border. Russia has also conducted huge attacks on Ukrainian power installations,…

Terrorists reportedly ambushed a Nigeria Customs Service patrol camp in Koko, Kebbi State, killing one officer and abducting another.  Mohammed Tajuddeen Salisu, the Public Relations Officer of Kebbi Area Command, said in a press statement released to journalists on Sunday evening that the attack occurred on Thursday. “With deep regret, we announce a distressing incident that occurred at our Koko Besse patrol base on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at approximately 2100 hours. “A group of hoodlums attacked the patrol base, destroying properties and targeting our officers in a contest to the recent boost to anti-smuggling activities in the area. “The…

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is rallying Abuja youths and other stakeholders against participating in the planned statewide hunger and hardship protests from August 1 to 10.  During a ministerial engagement with FCT youths from Abuja South Federal Constituency in Kwali Area Council of the FCT on Sunday, Wike stated, “Youths and other stakeholders in Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils will also be engaged on the same issue in the coming days.” According to the News Agency of Nigeria, a similar meeting with stakeholders took place on Saturday at the Abuja Municipal Area Council. The minister added…

The Labour Party candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, has warned Labour Party members and supporters not to abuse Kenneth Okonkwo, the party’s ex-Presidential Campaign Council spokesman, for his differing views.  A few hours after Okonkwo announced his departure from the LP, the party’s leadership referred to him as one of its moles. Okonkwo quit the LP on Sunday, citing continuing internal discord and a leadership crisis that threatened to split the party. In response to the statement, Obi, who was the party’s presidential candidate in the 2014 general election, stated that despite leaving the Labour Party, Okonkwo…