Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 2nd August, 2024
1. #EndBadGovernance: Organizers Tell Tinubu What To Do To End Protests
The organizers of the #EndBadGovernance protests have declared that they would not leave the streets except President Bola Tinubu meets their demands.
The organizers stated that once the President meets their demands, the protest, which kicked off on Thursday, 1st August, would be called off immediately.
The Director of Mobilisation, Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, made this known while speaking to journalists in Abuja.
He said the oppression in the country has been going on for too long, and the protest is part of efforts to ensure it does not continue.
2. Wike Visits Tinubu Amid Nationwide Protests
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to Punch, the minister arrived at the presidential villa around 4 pm.
Wike, who arrived in his black Toyota Prado Sports Utility Vehicle, was ushered into the President’s office immediately.
Though the topic of their discussion remains unknown, it is most likely connected to the ongoing protests in the nation’s capital.
However, Wike did not brief journalists after the meeting.
Amid the nationwide protests which began on August 1, the FCT saw massive demonstrations from crowds who thronged the central business district and suburbs as security officials fired teargas to disperse protesters.
There was a heavy security presence at Eagles Square, the proposed rendezvous point for the protest as armed personnel barricaded the route leading to the Presidential Villa.
Nigerians are protesting the rising cost of living, organisers of the protest say.
3. IGP Issues Fresh Order, Says A Police Officer Was Killed, Others Injured During Protests
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has revealed that a police officer was killed while carrying out his duties amidst the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest on Thursday.
Naija News reports that the police boss disclosed this during a press conference held in Abuja following the supposed peaceful protest that turned violent in some locations across the country on Thursday.
Egbetokun further disclosed that some of his officers sustained injuries from individuals posing as protesters.
The police chief expressed sorrow over the destruction of several police stations across the country by violent rioters.
He emphasized that the incidents witnessed in major cities on Thursday were characterized by “mass uprising and looting” rather than peaceful protests.
Despite prior warnings issued by the police, Egbetokun noted that the organizers of the protests were conspicuously absent during the demonstrations, allowing miscreants to hijack the events.
In light of these events, the IGP said that the force has placed all units on red alert.
4. ‘Protest Demanding Relocation Of Igbos From Lagos Is Deeply Troubling’ – Atiku
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concern over the protest demanding the relocation of Igbo people from Lagos State and Southwest State.
Naija News reports that amidst the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest, the hashtag #IgboMustGo has been trending on the microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
In a statement via his X handle, Atiku, the Peoples Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, said the decision is troubling and fundamentally opposed to the principles of unity and coexistence in the nation.
Atiku called on the Nigerian government and relevant security authorities to immediately take action against those inciting such hatred and division.
He further called on Nigerians to unite against such divisive rhetoric and champion unity, tolerance and understanding.
5. Security Agencies Uncover Senator Sponsoring Protests – Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, noted thay security agencies in the territory have identified a senator as one of those sponsoring the anti-government protest.
Wike made this claim after an emergency FCT Security Council meeting in Abuja.
The former governor of Rivers State, said it was discovered that the senator called some security operatives to accompany a truckload of food for the protesters.
He said in due time, relevant agencies would invite the senator for questioning.
6. Protest: You Recruited Hoodlums To Instigate Violence – PDP Blasts Nigerian Govt
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has slammed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government for allegedly instigating violence in the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest.
Naija News reports that the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, made this known in Abuja, during the first day of the citizen-led hunger protests being held across major cities in Nigeria.
Ologunagba asserted that the nationwide protest would have been averted if the APC-led government had dropped its insensitivity and shown sincere commitment to the citizens by addressing the current hardship occasioned by its ill-implemented policies.
According to the PDP chieftain, there is hunger and poverty, and further called on the Federal Government to immediately review all its anti-people policies that are “suffocating lives in the country.”
Ologunagba said that Nigerians expect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the nation amid the ongoing protest personally, announce major policy reviews, and order an investigation into the alleged looting of subsidy and palliative funds.
7. Gov Yusuf Declares Curfew As Violence Spreads In Kano
The Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has declared a 24-hour curfew in the state following the degeneration of the protest against hunger in the country.
The governor declared the curfew at a press conference held at the Government House on Thursday.
He said, “After careful consideration, we have come to terms that 24-hour curfew should be put in place to further prevent looting and vandalisation of businesses and killing of innocent citizens.”
He further directed all security agencies in the state to ensure full compliance with the directives to ensure the restoration of peace in the state.
Naija News understands that curfew has also been declared in Borno State and Yobe State.
8. I Highly Support FG’s Windfall Tax Policy – Femi Otedola
Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, has said the federal government’s Windfall Tax policy would help to ensure equitable distribution of wealth in Nigeria.
The Executive Chairman of Geregu Power PLC said the Windfall tax policy of the federal government showed ethical leadership from the current administration.
On his X handle on Thursday, Femi Otedola said the tax on banks from their profits would help in the health, education and infrastructure development of the country.
Otedola explained that the current policy would empower banks to play roles in the country’s development.
He further advised the federal government to ensure the tax is invested in critical sectors of the economy for development.
9. ‘Millions Of Naira Down The Drain’, FG Cries As Protesters Vandalize NCC Building In Kano
The Federal Government has decried the destruction of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) office in Kano State, stating that millions of naira have gone down the drain.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said this while reacting to the looting and setting ablaze of NCC’s Industrial Complex by protesters.
Tijani lamented that the NCC Digital Park Kano ought to be launched next week in support of the federal government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme.
He added that a part of the building also hosts the ministry’s “buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school students” which should also start next week.
He explained that the activities of hoodlums who hijacked the peaceful protest, looted the NCC building and set it ablaze have set back the federal government’s journey to create jobs for youths.
10. Tension In Daura As Protesters Troop To Buhari’s Residence, Emir’s Palace
Angry Nigerians who joined the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest on Thursday stormed the residence of former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, his hometown in Katsina State.
Naija News reports that the mob which attempted to break into Buhari’s residence expressed their displeasure over the country’s current economic situation.
According to Daily Trust, an eyewitness said the protesters lit bonfires in front of Buhari’s house and shouted on top of their voices.
The term, ‘Bama yi’ which literarily translates as “we don’t want”, is usually used as a form of disapproval during protests.
The source added that while the angry protesters continued shouting, an unidentified person came out of Buhari’s residence to address the angry youths.
According to the witness, the person asked the mob to select one person to speak, and the video will be recorded and shown to the former president.
After leaving Buhari’s residence, the angry youths reportedly headed for the palace of the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar Farouk.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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