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FULL LIST: 24 Hours To Hunger Protest, Steps FG Has Taken To Stop Demonstration

Published

1 year ago

July 31, 2024

Editor

Twenty-four hours before the planned 10-day hunger protest, the Federal Government took some proactive steps to quell the demonstration.

Recall that recently, a group, the Take It Back movement called for a nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance in the country.

The group tagged the protest, “Days of Rage” which it said would hold nationwide from August 1 to 10.

However, top government personalities, groups, and religious bodies, including the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Muslim Student Society of Nigeria (Lagos chapter), and the Muslim Rights Concern, have called for the protest to be shelved, citing a palpable fear that it might be hijacked by infiltrators who do not mean well for the country.

Even the former Niger Delta freedom fighter, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, warned organisers of the protest to desist from coming to Niger Delta.

Dokubo-Asari said the agenda of those behind the protest do not capture the problems of the people of the Niger Delta.

While daring them to come to the oil and gas-rich region, he said they would be resisted, alleging that they were merely interested in the resources coming from the Niger Delta, describing them as ‘anarchist.

Additionally, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has urged all groups planning to participate in the proposed nationwide protest to submit their details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective states.

He stated this was to ensure the protest remains peaceful.

Egbetokun said, “We acknowledge the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protest.

“However, in the interest of public safety and order, we urge all groups planning to protest to provide the necessary details to the Commissioner of Police in the state where the protest is intended to take place.”

Although the protest, which has gained traction on social media, has been endorsed by presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

Going forward, this report by PUNCH Online highlights the major steps the Federal Government has taken to stop the protest from being held, as they considered the demonstration unnecessary while demanding time for President Tinubu to govern.

1. Tinubu created centres across the country where Nigerians can purchase a 50kg bag of rice for N40,000.

The FG said it was one of the several initiatives by the Tinubu administration to ease living conditions for citizens.

2. Tinubu directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to sell crude to the Dangote refinery and other upcoming refineries in naira.

The approval given by Tinubu for the sale of crude oil to the Dangote Petroleum refinery in naira is going to force the prices of domestically refined petroleum products to crash, oil marketers, refiners, and experts stated.

Operators in the downstream oil sector commended the move by the President, stating that it would boost the outputs of domestic refineries, shore up the country’s foreign exchange reserves, and strengthen the naira.

3. He met with governors from the All Progressives Congress, under the aegis of the Progressives Governors Forum at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to discuss the growing calls for nationwide protests against economic hardship.

4. Although Tinubu had earlier announced that he may stop the importation of import duties on food and essential commodities, Tinubu suspended import duties to cushion the effect of the inflationary trend in Nigeria. On Monday, he removed the duties on the food importation.

5. The President held emergency meetings with prominent traditional rulers and Ulamas (Islamic religious scholars) at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja as part of efforts by the government to ensure the planned hunger protest, slated for August 1 to 10, is averted nationwide.

6. FG unveiled the Youth Internship Scheme initiated by the NDDC for 10,000 youths of the Niger Delta region and approved N50,000 monthly stipends for them.

7. The Nigerian Communications Commission has directed telecommunications operators to immediately restore all blocked phone lines due to the non-linkage of National Identification Numbers to SIM cards.

This directive was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka.

The telecom industry regulator explained that this directive was in response to the widespread disruption caused by the blockages and to prioritise consumer convenience.

8. President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, signed the new Minimum Wage Act into law.

The brief ceremony was witnessed by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvberem, who represented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

It came nearly two weeks after President Bola Tinubu and the organised labour unions—comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria—agreed on N70,000 as the new minimum wage.
PUNCH

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JUST IN: BBNaija Season 7 Winner, Phyna, Loses Sister, Ruth Otabor After Accident

Published

1 hour ago

August 31, 2025

Editor

The sister of Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Phyna, Ruth Otabor is dead.

The family announced her death on Sunday through a statement by Eko Solicitors & Advocates, saying Ruth passed on to glory on Sunday, at about 6:30 a.m.

“With a heavy heart, the family regrets to announce the passing on to glory of their daughter, sister, and mother on this 31st Day of August, 2025 at about 06:30Hrs,” the statement read.

The family added that they are grieving and requested privacy to mourn Ruth.

“The family is presently grieving and will appreciate to be given a private moment to mourn the departed.

“The funeral arrangement will be communicated to the public in due course,” the statement added.

Ruth had suffered a tragic accident just weeks earlier.

She underwent a leg amputation after being hit by a truck linked to Dangote Group near Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. Eyewitnesses said the heavy-duty truck crushed her leg before it was eventually stopped by a bystander.

The accident occurred only six days after Ruth graduated from Auchi Polytechnic. Her sudden death has left the family and fans in mourning.

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NSE Pledges To Mentor Young Engineers, Elects New EXCO Members In Bauchi

Published

3 hours ago

August 31, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Bauchi State branch has pledged to mentor young engineers in order to advance the engineering profession in the state.

Engr. Shehu wakili, the newly elected Vice Chairman of NSE in the state, made the pledge in an interview with newsmen on Sunday after the announcement of the election results of the newly elected Executive Council Members during the 2025 Annual General Meeting of NSE.

“The election was free and fair as the election was held and the results were announced where we became victorious.

“We will try and strive to make the society move forward. We have so many agenda to achieve, we want to increase our membership by so many activities and we want to carry our young ones and mentor them as and when due.

“There are so many ways to attract members and number one is by activities where you engage members and also by knocking their doors and invite them.

“I want to call on all of us that were elected to work hard for the progress of this society in general,” he said.

According to him, the year 2025 is the election year but not for the branch Chairman but for other EXCO members.

The positions, he said, included the Vice Chairman where he was the winner, Engr. Ibrahım Adamu won the General Secretary position, Engr. Abubakar Isah got the Asst. General Secretary’s position while Engr. Mohammed Sulaiman got the Financial Secretary position.

He explained that Engr. Abdulkadir Abdullahi won as the Treasurer, Engr. Adamu Chinade, Technical Secretary, Jawahir Hashim, Asst. Technical Secretary, Salis Kabir, Publicity Secretary, Engr. Ibrahim Lawal, Internal Auditor and Fatima Adamu as Asst. Publicity Secretary.

In an acceptance speech on behalf of other elected members, Engr. Ibrahim Lawal extended their gratitude to God and members who found them fit to serve the society and promised to serve to the best of their abilities.

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Nigeria Grappling To Balance Rapid Urbanization, Infrastructure Demands — Don

Published

3 hours ago

August 31, 2025

Editor

Dr. Ibrahim Lawal, a senior lecturer at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, says Nigeria is still grappling with the challenge of balancing rapid urbanization, infrastructure demands and the need to combat the impact of climate change.

Lawal, who stated this in Bauchi on Sunday during the 2025 Annual General Meeting and Public Lecture of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Bauchi state branch, said this is as a result of the growing population.

The Don, while presenting a paper titled ‘Building an environmentally sustainable and resilient future: The Nexus of climate change, infrastructure and engineering in Nigeria, called on governments at all levels to treat infrastructure as a priority sector for climate action.

The lecturer, who is from the department of Engineering, ATBU, said “Understanding this intersection unveils both the hurdles faced and the Innovative solutions forged to navigate towards a more sustainable future.

“In Nigeria, the dynamic interplay between climate change, infrastructure development, and engineering practices is critical in shaping the nation’s path towards a sustainable and resilient future.

“For a sustainable and resilient future the nexus of climate change, infrastructure, and engineering practices in Nigeria presents both an opportunity and a challenge”.

He however, maintained that Nigeria has a better chance at an environmentally sustainable and resilient future where communities thrive, infrastructure endures and the environment flourishes despite the challenges posed by an ever-changing climate.

Also speaking, The Emir of Bauchi, Alh Rilwanu Adamu, represented by Alh. Jibrin Jibo, Dan Saran Bauchi, insisted that a call for climate-resilient infrastructure is a call for survival, progress, and continuity in the country.

According to him, it’s a call for engineers, policymakers, traditional rulers, and communities to rethink how they plan, design, and maintain the structures upon which their lives depend.

“Engineers must continue to innovate, drawing on global best practices while adapting them to our local realities,” said the Emir.

He charged them to lead the course of transformation, adding that to succeed, they must collaborate with all stakeholders.

In his remarks, Engr. Abdulkarim Hassan, the Chairman, NSE, Bauchi branch, said the branch has made significant strides in advancing the mission and vision of the Society.

He explained that as part of the mandate to promote technical development and professional competence among its members, the branch conducted several technical visits during the year which broadened their technical exposure.

This visits, he said, also created opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge exchange between its members and industry personnel.

Also, Engr. Margaret Oguntala, the President of NSE who was represented by Engr. Ibrahim Usman, NSE National Exco, Northeast, called on the members of the society in Bauchi state to encourage visitation to project and construction sites to foster relationships.