Author: Farouk Abbas

POLICE authorities have fired tear gas at protesters at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja in a bid to disperse the demonstrators who had converged to press on with their demands. The protesters, lesser than the number witnessed the previous days, had converged at the facility. But after some hours, police officers fired tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters. The MKO Abiola Stadium is the designated venue for the protests in the nation’s capital. A court order had restrained the #EndBadGovernance demonstrators from using other areas. On Friday, tear gas canisters were also fired at the protesters when they…

THE Nigerian Army has said soldiers did not loot Barakat Stores but rather recovered lots from hoodlums who took advantage of the #EndbadGovernance protest. The director, army public relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, stated this while reacting to a viral video insinuating that troops participated in the looting spree by some unscrupulous persons who took advantage of the protest on Thursday in Kano to loot a store. He explained that contrary to the misconception portrayed in the purported video, soldiers of 3 Brigade NA responded to a distress call of hoodlums’ attack on Barakat Stores in the metropolis, adding that…

THE military on Friday warned looters taking advantage of the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests to desist from the destruction of lives and properties. At a press conference in the nation’s capital Abuja on the second day of the rallies against economic hardship and high cost of living, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, said the extent of destruction experienced on the first day of the demonstrations was “crazy”. He said the Armed Forces will take action and won’t allow the looting and destruction to fester. The defence chief said the Bola Tinubu administration has been in power for…

IN line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and FERMA’s commitment to keeping the public informed about our agency’s activities, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has implemented various strategic initiatives for the effective monitoring and maintenance of federal roads nationwide. These initiatives are part of the Agency’s efforts to support the President’s vision of a more connected and prosperous Nigeria. Under the leadership of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi PhD, FERMA has completed 286 capital, recurrent, and direct labour projects across the six geopolitical zones, between August 2023 to date, and approximately 22,800 direct…

INSPECTOR General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has reacted to the protests which held across the nation, on Thursday, saying a policeman was murdered. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday night, Egbetokun said some officers also sustained injuries during the protest while some stations destroyed. Egbetokun, who described Thursday’s action as mass uprising, said his men have been placed on red alert. “Police stations have been destroyed. There have been attempts to take over government houses.” “In places like FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, among others, we recorded incidents of unprovoked attacks on our security personnel where one policeman…

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, said security agencies have identified a Senator who allegedly sponsored protests in the nation’s capital. He disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja after a security council meeting. Though the minister did not disclose the identity of the senator, he alleged that the lawmaker provided food for the protesters. “That is sponsorship. A senator providing food for protesters. At the appropriate time, security agencies will invite the senator and find out how you will be sponsoring this kind of thing against the government of the day.” He…

THE Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has approved the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on 87 legal practitioners. A statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Hajo Sarki Bello, says the swearing-in ceremony of the 87 successful Applicants is scheduled to take place on Monday, September 30, 2024. At its 164th plenary held on Thursday, the LPPC considered five (5) different petitions written against some of the Applicants and determined that each of the petitions lacked…

THE Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), has commenced ‘Operation Free our Roads’ initiative nationwide in line with Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The Managing Director/CEO, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi PhD, disclosed this on Wednesday 31st July, 2024 at the Agency’s Headquarters, Abuja. Engr. Agbasi revealed that under this administration, about 286 Capital, Recurrent and Direct Labour works that are within FERMA Scope of works have been completed by the Agency across the six Geopolitical Zones, and approximately 22,800 direct and indirect jobs were created which has improved the quality of lives of the benefiting youths along…

A LARGE number of protesters are currently marching on a major road in Kugbo, Asokoro in Abuja Municipal Council Area (AMAC). The protesters who are in hundreds have refused to retreat despite gunshots and teargas fired by security operatives. A Federal High Court in Abuja had restricted protesters to Moshood Abiola Stadium. But while some of them proceeded to the stadium, others assembled at various spots across the nation’s capital. Security operatives have been having a tough time controlling the crowd of young persons who are insisting that they would remain on the streets until their demands on an improved…

THE Police in Abuja have fired tear gas to prevent #endbadgovernance protesters in the nation’s capital from gaining entry into the Eagles Square. Protesters in their numbers on Thursday shunned an order by the Federal Capital Territory which restricted the protest to the MKO Stadium in the city. Justice Sylvanus Oriji gave the order on Wednesday while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike. The protesters, however, marched to the Eagles Square which they initially planned to use to make their voices heard. As they approached…

PROTESTERS have blocked the Abuja-Keffi Expressway and set up bonfires around the Orange Market axis of the ever-busy road. Vehicles have been forced to make detours, and most businesses along the axis have shut down as large groups of youth trooped out to participate in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests which commenced on Thursday. A detachment of police officers, however, has quickly moved to disperse the crowds and is currently trying to put out the bonfires on the road.

AS the nation gears up to witness the beginning of the 10-day- hunger protest on Thursday, the safety of all during protests remains paramount. The protest, which is scheduled to be held from August 1-10 across the 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, seeks to force the government to address the harsh economic realities bedevilling the populace. However, engaging in any protest requires some preparations that you must note as it’s easy to become carried away with the agitation. Therefore, in this piece, this newspaper highlights some key tips to stay safe before, during and after…

ORGANISERS of the planned #EndBadGovernance nationwide demonstrations slated for August have rejected a proposal by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun for confined protests. At a meeting with the organisers on Tuesday, the IGP suggested confined protests in identified locations and advised against street rallies. “It is not advisable to go on street processions because as you are planning a protest, some are planning violence,” the IGP advised. However, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), a lawyer for the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups organising the nationwide protests, rejected the proposal of the IGP. Human rights lawyer Femi…

THE Nigeria Customs Service has suspended import duties and taxes on essential food items. This was revealed in a video posted on X, by the Customs Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, where he said the suspension is to make food items affordable for Nigerians. He acknowledged that the global inflation is affecting nations including Nigeria, saying the NCS is committed to implementing the Federal Government’s directive on the suspension of tariffs on essential items. “Global inflation is impacting nations worldwide, including Nigeria. To address this, the federal government through the Nigeria Customs Service is suspending import duties and taxes on…

THE Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has grounded some aircraft belonging to Airik Airline over a $2.5m debt. A statement by the management of the agency on Tuesday said the move was a sequel to an order by the enforcement department of the FCT High Court, regarding a debt of $2.5m owed by Arik to Atlas Petroleum International Ltd. It said, “On the 19th day of July, 2024, the enforcement department of the FCT High Court enforced an Order made by the Court regarding a debt of $2.5 million owed by Arik Airline to one Atlas Petroleum International Ltd. by…

THE Police Service Commission has finally announced the commencement of training for newly recruited police constables. The development comes following a recent heated crisis between the commission and the Nigerian Police Force regarding the list of successful candidates. A dispute arose between PSC and NPF after the former released the list of 10,000 successful applicants for constable and specialist cadre roles in the Nigeria Police Force on June 4. The police had rejected the list, alleging that the recruitment exercise was marred by corruption and irregularities. However, the commission vowed not to cancel the list, prompting the Minister of Police…

THE International Police Organisation (INTERPOL), on Monday, revealed that “hundreds of thousands of dollars” are being laundered out of Nigeria to other African countries and across the world every hour. The organisation also said money laundering across Africa and the entire world has assumed a monstrous dimension, adding that it would require a concerted efforts of every security agencies in Nigeria and other countries to address. Garba Baba Umar, the INTERPOL Vice President for Africa, revealed this at EFCC Academy, Abuja when he declared a four-day workshop for Nigerian law enforcement agencies open. The INTERPOL official, however, said the organisation…

THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has directed police top brass to protect intending participants of the planned #EndBadGovernance protest slated for August 1 to 10, 2024. This was contained in a response letter by the IGP to the request of human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa. Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had on July 26, 2024 written the IGP to provide police coverage for protesters. The IGP, in his response letter dated July 29, 2024, directed senior police officers to attend to the request of the senior lawyer. Egbetokun’s response was signed by his Principal Staff…

COMMUTERS plying the Keffi-Abuja expressway were on Monday left stranded after military officers barricaded the highway to conduct a stop-and-search operation on vehicles entering the nation’s capital. The soldiers mounted a road block at Sani Abacha barracks before the popular AYA roundabout. Security agencies did not give any prior warning before to the blockade that has caused a gridlock extending as far as Nyanya Bridge, more than 12 kilometres from the checkpoint. Civil servants and traders who work in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) live outside the city centre in places such as Nyanya, Karu, Maraba and Masaka. After hours…

TELECOMMUNICATION companies in Nigeria have commenced the final phase of disconnecting Subscriber Identity Module numbers (telephone lines) not linked to National Identification Numbers. Two senior officials from the telcos who were not in a position to speak publicly on the matter confirmed this development to The PUNCH on Sunday. The disconnection was initially scheduled for April 15, 2024, but the Nigeria Communications Commission postponed it to July 31, 2024, after carefully considering the various challenges encountered by subscribers and requests for extensions. “This is not only about MTN; it’s an industry issue. The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria…