My Blog

Tag: #ENDHUNGER

  • #EndBadGovernance: Court grants bail to Baze Uni senior lecturer

    The Sokoto state High Court has granted bail to Dr. Abubakar Alkali, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering at Baze University.

     

    Dr. Alkali had been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) for the past three weeks on allegations of supporting the #EndBadGovernance protests.

     

    A lawyer familiar with the case shared the news with SaharaReporters, praising the intervention of legal bodies.

     

    His words: “Dr. Alkali, the Baze University lecturer, has just been granted bail by Sokoto State High Court.

     

    “We also want to commend the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the NBA Citizens’ Liberties Committee, and the Sokoto Branch of the NBA for their unwavering support and intervention in this matter.”

     

    The detention of Dr. Alkali, initially brought to public attention by his lawyer Deji Adeyanju, had sparked significant concern.

     

    On September 14, 2024, Adeyanju posted on Facebook, revealing the lecturer’s abduction by the DSS and his subsequent detention in Sokoto State.

     

    “Dr. Abubakar Alkali, senior lecturer at Baze University, was abducted by the DSS three weeks ago and taken to Sokoto State for supporting the #EndBadGovernance protest. He has been in custody since then,” Adeyanju’s post read.

     

  • Nigerians can’t be patient in poverty…

    Nigerians can’t be patient in poverty…

     …when leaders live flamboyant —Onaiyekan

    The former Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has called for a policy review to minimise the current economic hardship in the country, pointing out that “you can’t tell someone to be patient with poverty while we see the people who are supposed to address our poverty live flamboyantly.”
    He made the call in an interview with journalists on the sideline of a Marian Concert organised to mark the 2024 feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Abuja.
    Mr Onaiyekan, who decried the economic hardship in the country, urged Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for leaders at all levels always to make the right decisions to curb the tension in the land.
    “If the nation is ruled well, there is more likely to be peace. By ruling well, we mean when there is a sense of justice and equity, that our common resources are equitably distributed, not equally because we cannot all have the same salary.
    “There is a limit to what that people can handle. You can’t tell someone to be patient with poverty while we see the people who are supposed to address our poverty live flamboyantly, building huge mansions and having fleets of cars without caring how they are fuelled, whereas the rest of us are queuing to get a few litres of fuel,” he said.
    Mr Onaiyekan added, “There’s a need to review some of the policies that are giving rise to the kind of pain and poverty that we are not familiar with. We are not used to this. The middle class is now being completely wiped out. Everybody is now becoming poor.
    “We are praying, especially now that we are celebrating a Marian Concert, that Mother Mary, who is the Queen of Peace and Queen of Nigeria, will help us handle the nation so everyone will live in peace with one another and enjoy the good that God has given to this country.”
  • Delta Flags Off 4th Tranche of D-CARES to Boost Economic Resilience

    Delta Flags Off 4th Tranche of D-CARES to Boost Economic Resilience

    Delta State government commences the fourth tranche of Delta Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (D-CARES), doling out grants of varying sums to 97,365, bringing the total to 110,000 beneficiaries.
    At an event, today, Tuesday, 17th September 2024, at the Dome Event Centre in Asaba, presided over by the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Francis O. Oborevwori, alongside key dignitaries, indigenes of the state had live-changing encounters as they were granted various sums in cash and tools to activate their economic potentials.
    The Honourable Commissioner for Economic Planning and Chairman of the State CARES Steering Committee, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen announced a formal name change of the programme, now titled Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES).
    Meet Sunday Ekedayen: Delta State's visionary Commissioner for Economic Planning
    Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (left) in a handshake with Mr. Sunday Ekedayen
    This initiative, originally designed as part of a national effort to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been instrumental in supporting the poor and vulnerable across Delta State.
    To date, over 110,000 beneficiaries have been impacted by grants, livelihood support, and improved rural infrastructure.
    The 4th tranche aims to reach an additional 97,365 beneficiaries across six platforms, including cash transfers, public works, livelihood support, rural infrastructure, agricultural inputs, and MSME support.
    The Commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment to transparency and fairness in selecting beneficiaries.
    With over 200,000 Deltans reached since the programme’s inception, the D-CARES initiative continues to play a pivotal role in fostering economic resilience and inclusivity across the state.
  • #EndBadGovernance Protests: Kano Court Frees 37 , Grants Bail to Others

    #EndBadGovernance Protests: Kano Court Frees 37 , Grants Bail to Others

    A Senior Magistrate Court in Kano State has dismissed the First Information Report (FIR) against 37 protesters arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
    The court, presided over by Ibrahim Abubakar Mansur, also granted bail to 48 other protesters, but with stringent conditions.
    The protesters were represented by a coalition of legal professionals from various organizations, including the Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement (CEFSAN), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
    According to the court’s ruling, each of the 48 protesters granted bail must deposit N1,000,000 (One Million Naira) at the Registry of the Kano State High Court and provide two reliable sureties.
    The case has been adjourned to September 18, 2024, for further mention.
    This development comes after a similar ruling by a Senior Magistrate Court in Gyadi-Gyadi, Kano State, where 36 protesters were unconditionally discharged, and 35 others were granted bail.
    The protesters were arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests, which called for an end to bad governance and corruption in Nigeria.

  • Food Security: Ogun bans levies in markets, to introduce price control

    Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has disclosed plans by his administration to introduce a price control mechanism in the state.
    Governor Abiodun also disclosed that henceforth, all forms of market levies have been suspended, noting that only development and environmental levies will be allowed, as they are meant for the development of markets in the state.
    The governor disclosed these during a meeting with market leaders led by the Iyaloja General, Chief (Mrs.) Yemisi Abass, at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
    Abiodun said as part of measures to control the uptick in the prices of food items, the state government will soon commence the operation of its Bulk Purchasing Company, which has now been rebranded as Gateway Trading Company, to ensure that the cost of food items is much more affordable for the people.
    Governor Abiodun also noted that the Gateway Trading Company would, in the first instance, begin operations in the four zones of the state.
    “We’ve also resolved that we will begin the implementation of bulk purchase and selling in the state. To that extent, the state government has rebranded our bulk purchase company. It is now called Gateway Trading Board.
    “Gateway Trading will now assist in bringing food items to our teeming public at prices that will be significantly below what they can obtain when they go to the market themselves.
    “So, we are going to aggressively implement our Gateway Trading objectives. They will first start in the four zones; they will buy in bulk and resell at prices that will be more affordable to our people,” he said.
    Governor Abiodun also announced the ban on all forms of levies in the markets in the state.
  • #EndBadGovernance: Court grants N10m bail on each 10 Protesters 

    #EndBadGovernance: Court grants N10m bail on each 10 Protesters 

    1. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja, Wednesday, granted N 10 million bail each on the ten #endbadgovernance# protesters who were charged with attempt to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu between July 1 and August 4, 2024.

     

    Pending the perfection of their respective bail conditions, the Judge ordered that they be remmanded in prison custody.

     

    According to the court, the defendants are produce one surety each in the same amount while the sureties must be resident in Abuja.

     

    The sureties must have property in Abuja and must deposit documents of the properties to the court in addition to swearing to affidavit of means.

     

    Also both the defendants and the sureties must deposit their international passports and three recent passport photographs with the court.

     

    Justice Nwite while rejecting the objections of the Inspector General of Police against the bail request however ordered the defendants not to participate in any public rally throughout their trial.

     

    Meanwhile, September 27 has been fixed for commencement of their trial.

     

    The accused persons were said to have committed the treason offence during their one week nationwide protests when they allegedly levied war against Nigeria.

     

    The offences were said to be contrary to sections 96, 410 and 413 of the Penal Code.

     

    Inspector General of Police (IGP) who brought the charges against them alleged that the accused persons broke into the Abacha Army Barracks and openly called on the military to take over the constitutional government of President Tinubu.

     

    He also alleged that they attempted to force their way into into the seat of power during which they allegedly burned down police station and injured police officers.

     

    They were also said to have incited the Nigerian public against the government and destroyed several public properties comprising Police station, High Court complex and National Communication Commission (NCC) facilities.

     

    The accused persons are Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simon, Angel Love Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello Nurudeen Khamis and Abduldalam Zubair.

  • #EndBadGovernance protest: Gov Eno rewards A/Ibom Youths with N310m

    Unlike the Federal Government that has gone after the youths with violent clampdowns and trumped up charges, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has fulfilled his promise to reward youths in the state for boycotting the recent #EndBadGovernance protest.
    At a thank-you gathering in Uyo, the governor announced a N310 million cash reward, distributed as N10 million per Local Government Area (LGA), to be shared among youths across party lines.
    The governor commended the youths for listening to his appeal to shun the protest, stating that their actions showed they were not ashamed to do well.
    He acknowledged the issues that led to the protest, including hunger, unemployment, and high food prices, and assured that his administration was working to address them within available resources.
    Governor Eno also announced additional benefits for Akwa Ibom youths, including:
    – 100 youths per LGA to be added to the Ibom Community Watch, regardless of political affiliation
    – Increased student bursary from N10,000 to N20,000 for undergraduates and N20,000 to N30,000 for postgraduate students
    – An employment portal to be created by the Ministry of Labour and the Senior Special Assistant on ICT to connect youths with job opportunities
    – A digital platform for oil companies in Akwa Ibom to harvest applicants for interviews
    – A monthly N50,000 business grant for 5,000 youths to start small businesses
    Stakeholders at the gathering urged the governor to complete the abandoned Ibom Science Park, initiated by former Governor Obong Victor Attah, to fast-track technological growth in the state.
  • NBA condemns recent increase in pump price of fuel

    NBA condemns recent increase in pump price of fuel

    The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Afam Osigwe, SAN, has condemned the recent increase in the pump price of fuel by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

    The Association said that significant and abrupt hike from 617 Naira to about 900 Naira has imposed an unbearable burden on the already overstretched finances of ordinary Nigerians and further aggravate the economic challenges faced by

    In a press statement issued by the president of the association, Afam Osigwe, the NBA acknowledges the necessity of economic reforms and recognizes the government’s responsibility to make difficult decisions, these decisions must be made with the utmost consideration for their impact on the welfare of the citizens.

    The Association which says the sudden price hike as not only harsh but also unjustified at this time calls on the Federal Government to immediately halt the implementation of this policy and engage in meaningful dialogue with all relevant keyholders, including civil society organizations, labor unions, and economic experts, to explore more sustainable and less punitive alternatives.

    He also urge the government to prioritize the welfare of its citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, and to pursue policies that alleviate rather than exacerbate the hardships faced by the Nigerian people.

    The president however assured Nigerians that the NBA will engage constructively with the government to find a more equitable solution that ensures economic stability while safeguarding the interests of all Nigerians.

  • Governor Bago Declares 3-Day Public Holiday To Distribute FG Palliatives 

    Governor Bago Declares 3-Day Public Holiday To Distribute FG Palliatives 

    Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago has declared Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week as public holidays to allow for the effective distribution of palliatives to residents across all the 25 Local Government Areas of the State.
    Speaking at a press conference at Government House, Minna, the governor announced that the state had supplemented the N5 billion palliative fund from the federal government with an additional N250 million.
    Below are the highlights of the modalities adopted for distribution:
    All the Wards in Suleja, Chanchaga, Bida and Kontagora Local Governments are to have N20 million per ward.
    All the Wards in the remaining 21 Local Government Areas of the State will get 10 million Naira each.
    Traditional Institutions to get N80 million.
    Internally Displaced Persons to get N75 million.
    Logistics and Organized Labour, to gulp N110 million
    Political parties to get N150 million.
    All the money is to hit the Local Government council Account by Monday next week.
    The cash will be injected into the local markets in the state.
    Five trucks of Rice will be distributed to each Ward of the 25 Local Government Areas.
    40,000 bags of Maize is still anticipated from the Federal government and the state government will add 10,000 bags to make it 50,000 bags for distribution to all the polling units across the state.
    The governor said the state and local governments will repay 58 per cent of the N5 billion in 20 months, while the federal government covers the remaining 42 per cent. Local committees, including former and current public office holders, will oversee the distribution process.
    Local Government and Ward Committees are to decide what food items to buy depending on the needs of their people.
    Standing Committees comprising Former and serving public office holders are to ensure effective and efficient distribution of the palliatives in their respective Constituencies.
    Also to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, Governor Umaru Bago disclosed some steps taken by the state government to ease movement of goods and services .
    200 CNG Luxurious Buses will be made available to provide free public transportation to all students and pupils in public schools.
    Civil Servants will also benefit at a discounted rate .
    100 of the Buses are to ply the Suleja to Abuja axis.
    50 Buses to ply Minna and 50 to other Local Government Areas.
    Directives have been given to the Ministries of Lands and Agriculture to provide 10,000 hectares of arable land in every Local Government.
    By December 2023, 250,000 arable lands should be cleared to boost national policy on food security.
    Farm Machinery to be provided
    500,000 youths are to be employed in the pilot scheme in Agricultural activities.
    400,000 women are to be employed as pickers of Shea nuts.
    On Education;
    Payment of bursary to students is to be revived.
    Governor Umaru Bago used the medium to appeal to Nigerlites to be patient as his administration remains committed to serving them better.
    He however warned that anyone who is found wanting in the distribution of the palliatives will be jailed to serve as a deterrent to others.
  • #EndBadGovernance: 10 Protesters charged with attempt to overthrow President Tinubu, remand in prison

    #EndBadGovernance: 10 Protesters charged with attempt to overthrow President Tinubu, remand in prison

    Nigeria Police, Monday, arraigned ten #endbadgovernance# protesters before a Federal High Court in Abuja, on charges of attempt to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu between July 1 and August 4 this year.

     

    The accused persons were said to have committed the treason offence during their one week nationwide protests when they allegedly levied war against Nigeria.

     

    The offences were said to be contrary to sections 96, 410 and 413 of the Penal Code.

     

    Inspector General of Police (IGP) who brought the charges against them alleged that the accused persons broke into the Abacha Army Barracks and openly called on the military to take over the constitutional government of President Tinubu.

     

    According to the police, they attempted to force their way into the seat of power during which they allegedly burned down police station and injured police officers.

     

    They were also said to have incited the Nigerian public against the government and destroyed several public properties comprising Police station, High Court complex and National Communication Commission (NCC) facilities.

     

    Police also claimed that a 70- year old British citizen, Andrew Martin Wynne now at large was largely responsible for instigating mutiny against the Nigerian government.

     

    The alleged offences were said to have been committed in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Gombe among others.

     

    However, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them.

     

    The accused persons are Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simon, Angel Love Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello Nurudeen Khamis and Abduldalam Zubair.

     

    Sequel to not their guilty plea, Counsel for the IGP, Simon Lough, SAN, asked the court to remand the accused persons in prison pending their trial.

     

    Responding, counsel to four defendants, Marshall Abubakar, however, moved an oral applications for bail of the accused persons.

     

    He cited authorities to justify his oral application for his bail adding that the Federal High Court in the treasonable charges against a politician, MKO Abiola allowed oral application and admitted him to bail.

     

    He continued that his clients were presumed innocent in law until proved otherwise by the IGP adding also that bail is Constitutional rights of the defendants.

     

    He submitted that the defendants had been held in custody for close to a month by police who he said, have completed investigation into the allegations against his clients before bringing them to court.

     

    Concluding, he assured the Judge that the defendants would not jump bail if granted and that they will also not tamper with witnesses in the matter.

     

    Another lawyer, Deji Adeyanju who appeared for three of the defendants faulted the treason charges against the defendants insisting that they only participated in a lawful and legitimate protests against hardships facing them.

     

    Adeyanju argued that police ought to have entered the locations of bandits, kidnappers and terrorists, arrest and charge them with treason offence instead of innocent protesters.

     

    He drew the attention of the court to the proof of evidence attached to the charges adding that no evidence pointed to the direction of treason, mutiny and incitement as alleged by police.

     

    Insisting that bail is discretionary, Adeyanju pleaded with the Judge to exercise his discretion in favor of the defendants by admitting them to bail in liberal terms.

     

    However, counsel to Police, Simon Lough SAN vehemently objected to the bail requests on the ground of gravity of alleged offences the accused persons were charged with.

     

    He specifically cited mutiny aimed at changing democratic government by force through incitement and involvement of a British national against the Nigerian nation.

     

    In a brief reaction, Justice Nwite ordered that the defendants be remanded at Kuje prison in Abuja and Suleja prison in Niger State and

    adjourned ruling in their bail applications till September 11

     

    The Judge ordered that the nine males defendants are to remain in Kuje prison while the only female defendant said to be pregnant, Angel Love Innocent was ordered to be taken to Suleja prison.

     

    Justice Nwite said that he needed time to consult the retinue of authorities cited by lawyers to back up bail applications.

     

    Although lawyers to the accused persons led by Marshall Abubakar had requested

     

    Also Justice Emeka Nwite rejected the request for police custody for four defendants made by Abubakar.

     

    He instead ordered that they be taken to prisons.