🗞️ Nobody hates you more than the government: Part 2
There is no other way to say this - I am burnt.out. 100% over everything. But you’re not my therapist so let’s do the news.
This edition was written with Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn” playing on repeat in my head.
In this edition
The police have arrested another civilian for protesting
The US has halted HIV funding.
Over 3,000 Nigerians might be getting deported from the US
This edition is 1,610 words (approx. 4 min read)
They’re letting the people go
Dele Farotimi
Dele Farotimi who was arrested last year for allegedly “defaming” influential people in Nigeria’s legal system, particularly Afe Babalola in his book "Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System", has been released.
The book claims that Babalola had corrupted the judiciary and procured a revised Supreme Court judgment.
Farotimi was arrested at the start of December last year and granted bail after paying N30 million about three weeks later.
He was *abducted* from his home in Lagos State by police officers from Ekiti, apparently without informing the Nigerian police
They have now opted to let Farotimi go because the Ooni of Ife, accompanied by other monarchs, visited Babalola's house and asked him to let it go.
Following Babalola’s decision to let it go, the Nigeria Police Force filed a notice of discontinuance on January 29th at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti.
Omoyele Sowore
Nigerian activist, campaigner and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore was arrested last week and charged with "cybercrime" for criticising Nigeria's Inspector General (IGP) of Police Kayode Egbetokun on social media
The police offered Sowore administrative bail after his arrest but he refused the conditions and stayed in custody
The police then filed 16 charges against him for posts on his Twitter account, including: Calling Egbetokun "the illegal IG of Nigeria Police Force"; Posting Egbetokun's picture with the caption "Mediocrity, incompetence, corruption, a country run by characterless people can.
Still not free
Henry Nwodo
The police also arrested activist Henry Nwodo for his participation in the planning of the #OccupyPoliceHQ protest against police harassment in Abuja - note, they hadn't even started protesting.
Eyewitnesses say five police officers grabbed Nwodo while he was on the road around 8:30 PM on Sunday, heading to the market.
As is their way: they were in an unmarked black car with no plates. They had been waiting for hours before his arrival
Accounts suggest they beat him and seized his phone during the arrest - so they basically kidnapped him.
Nwodo was arrested on the 27th of January and is still in police custody.
Reports say the police have restricted Nwodo’s access to a lawyer
According to his friends on Twitter, Nwodo is currently at Mabushi police station in Abuja where he has been beaten terribly. The police have tried to force him to write a statement without the presence of his lawyers which he has rejected even in the face of intimidation and torture.
Meanwhile, Nnamdi Kanu is still locked up despite multiple courts asking the FG to let him go
Lawyers against sex work discrimination
The Federal High Court in Abuja is set to deliver its judgment on March 12, 2025, regarding a lawsuit filed by the Lawyers Alert Initiative for Protecting the Rights of Children, Women, and the Indigent. - Premium Times
The suit seeks to stop the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) from arresting and prosecuting sex workers in Abuja.
The lawsuit, filed in May 2024, questions whether this is just another avenue to abuse women.
The main question in the lawsuit: is harassment, arrest, detention, and prosecution of sex workers part of the AEPB’s job? (there is a clause in the AEPB Act that says they can stop sale or offering of goods in unauthorised places, so are sex workers considered *goods*?)
Lawyer’s Alert also wants the court to stop AEPB from conducting further raids, arrests, or prosecutions targeted specifically at female sex workers
The organisation said AEPB frequently uses police to arrest women standing on the streets, waiting for clients, while male counterparts were often not arrested under similar circumstances.
In response, The Minister of the FCT, along with the AEPB and the FCTA, filed a counter-affidavit denying the allegations.
Check back for updates on the 12th of March
Payouts all ‘round
Kaduna State is finally paying teachers
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has ordered his money people to pay N548 million to the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Endwell Scheme, which the previous administration had withheld. This move resolves a long-standing industrial dispute between the union and the state government - Channels
The Kaduna Universal Basic Education Board explained that the resolution followed a series of negotiations between the NUT and the Kaduna State Government.
As part of the agreement, the NUT Endwell Fund, which represents statutory salary deductions for teachers to support them during service and retirement, will be managed independently by the NUT.
The Endwell Scheme will also be restructured to improve efficiency and accountability.
NYSC payout
Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, the Director-General of NYSC says corps members will start receiving their new allowance of N77,000 in February 2025. This start date for the new allowance had been shifted multiple times since the country’s minimum wage was changed in September 2024.
Medical News
US suspends HIV meds funding
US President Donald Trump has suspended HIV/AIDS treatment funding for Nigeria and other countries, as part of his executive order halting foreign aid.
this suspension will last at least 90 days, potentially affecting 20.6 million people worldwide who rely on US-funded HIV treatment.
Nigeria has over 2 million people living with HIV, and the country depends heavily on international aid for HIV treatments
In response to this disruption, Dr Temitope Ilori, Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, says Nigeria is actually lowkey already working on producing its own HIV commodities like test kits and anti-retroviral drugs domestically by 2025.
Dr Illori says this is part of a broader strategy to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on foreign aid and make significant strides toward ending AIDS as a public health issue by 2030.
Illori did not say if the domestically produced tests and meds would also be available for free.
Governments are building hospitals
Lagos
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says his 280-bed multi-specialist general hospital in Ojo Local Government Area will be ready for operation by December 2025. The hospital started construction in 2021 so it must be quite the “state-of-the-art”
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government has approved N9.78 billion to rehabilitate of 114 Primary Healthcare Centers across the state.
This initiative is part of Governor Umar Namadi’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage and improving healthcare access in all 27 LGAs in the state.
The project will be funded through the World Bank’s Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress for Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services Program, which aims to enhance immunization coverage, reduce malaria, and strengthen health systems in underserved areas.
Outside Nigeria
What’s happening in DRC
Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been brutally attacked by M23 terrorists, allegedly backed by Rwanda. The rebels have apparently captured the city after intense fighting with Congolese forces.
The city has been hit with looting, gender-based violence, and murder and displacement. Hospitals are now overwhelmed by injured patients
Over 200,000 people have been displaced. Many have fled across the border to Rwanda, while protests in DRC's capital, Kinshasa, demand international condemnation of Rwanda's involvement.
M23 is primarily after valuable minerals like coltan, crucial for global tech production — DRC has a lot of coltan, and many tech companies exploit this.
The Congolese government has accused Rwanda of supporting M23 with troops and weapons, though Rwanda denies the claim.
As fighting intensifies, both Congolese and Rwandan forces have clashed along the border, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
In 2012, M23 briefly took control of Goma but was forced to retreat under international pressure. However, the group resurfaced in late 2021, benefiting from alleged support from Rwanda. Despite various peace efforts over the years, including UN-led negotiations, the conflict has continued, exacerbated by the control of lucrative resources like coltan
Countries exit ECOWAS
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have officially left ECOWAS, after months of back and forth. This
All three countries are under military rule — ECOWAS president and other countries tried to get the military rulers to go back to democracy but they said no.
Last year, they accused ECOWAS countries of being too aligned with Western interests and have pivoted towards Russia for support.
Despite the withdrawal, ECOWAS says they will still acknowledge passports and identity cards from the three countries, and trade ties will continue.
The countries have now formed their own group, called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and will circulate new AES passports while creating a joint military force to tackle the ongoing jihadist insurgency.
While some citizens support the decision, others are concerned about the economic implications.
Trump’s immigration crackdown is getting to Nigerians
Around 3,690 Nigerians in the United States are faced with deportation under Trump’s new rule to hunt and deport illegal immigrants.
Somalia is the African country with the most citizens facing deportation (4,090 citizens). Nigeria comes second with 3,690 people on the list, Ghana holds third with 3,228 illegal immigrants - HumAngle
I guess fair enough since Nigeria claims to have deported 800+ illegal immigrants in 2024
Other news
NAFDAC has shut down the Cemetery Market in Aba, Abia State, again for selling fake drinks - Premium Times
According to the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the FG deported about 828 illegal immigrants in 2024 - Punch
Two people have been confirmed dead, while five others were rescued alive after a two-storey building collapsed at Mega Mall Estate, Mobile Road, Inikpa, Ikota, Ajah, Lagos State - This Day
An explosion at a mining site in Sabon Pegi, located in Mashegun Local Council Area of Niger State, has resulted in the death of four people - Premium Times
EFCC has arrested former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf for corruption - Premium Times
This edition was written by Adetomiwa.
That New News is an independent self-funded project by me (Adetomiwa). Thank you for reading, sharing and donating. I love you like I birthed you 😘
I just wanna say thank you for all your efforts in providing the news in the way you do. I'm sure all of the people who follow & read are just as thankful.
Even though the state of things is all kinds of fucked up right now, I'm hoping you're able to find the time and space to rest in the way you need. Sending much love and strength to you. 🫂