Oppression, but call it the law [ISSUE 3. S4]
Hi, <<First Name>>,
Your move.
This week, our rage is concentrated on the unexpected forceful eviction of the Tarkwa Bay residents. We hope you can spare a minute to send an . You can also donate to the cause through Just Empower Initiative.
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Addicted to loans or whatever Lady Donli said
Buhari and his gang (of very rad government people) are seeking a $1 billion agriculture loan. The minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Sabo Nanono, said the purpose of the loan is to purchase farming equipment for “local farmers”.
We’ve discussed the growing number of agro- investment businesses in Nigeria, many of which are for-profit social businesses geared towards aid and support for local farmers. Is the government planning to create an agro-business structure?
Last year, the administration proposed a loan of 30 billion dollars for the approval of the Senate, 1.3 billion of which was towards agriculture. At the time, Senator Dino Malaye said that he doesn’t like loans- he said if we must, they should at least be towards infrastructure and profit regeneration.
The government is also seeking to borrow N2 trillion from the national pension fund. At the moment, Nigeria owes just a little shy of $90 billion in foreign debt. The game is the game.
What happens in the army?
A Nigerian army officer in Osun state fatally stabbed 2 people and injured 5 others (including his wife) in the process. A team of his colleagues who arrested and detained him confirmed that Private Olodi Blessed he was on official medical leave from counter-terrorism frontlines in Nigeria’s North-east, the team fighting Boko Haram and the other radical groups.
There’s understandable apprehension around the mental and physical wellbeing of the Nigerian army officers in the frontlines. Some military personnel are allegedly left on the frontline for 3 to 4 years at a time- no breaks, no mental health check-ins. Others who do get time off, like Mr Blessed, often go off the deep end; in 2017, a soldier opened fire on his colleagues in Chibok, and a few others have taken their own lives- by stabbing and shooting.
The military is generally quiet about these things, but in November of last year, the United States Military held a mental health workshop for the Nigerian army forces- Here’s to hoping it intensifies sensitization.
Lassa Fever Outbreak: It’s in the garri, apparently
A doctors-without-boarders doctor, Anthony Etim, in Jigawa was diagnosed with Lassa fever over the weekend. The doctor is being treated in isolation, but he is one of many, many Nigerians who have been infected since the on and off outbreaks that started in 2018.
The natural carrier of the virus is the Lassa Virus is rats (their pee, their saliva… ew), but the disease is also spread through human to human transmission. Dr. Boniface Okolo, director of Public Health in Enugu (one of many Nigerian states currently experiencing the outbreak), said that the key spreader is Garri. To prep their cassava for sale, garri sellers leave it to dry on mats spread on the floor-- if you are a person in Nigeria, you KNOW rats, casually strolling at night, have DEFINITELY pissed on that mat a few times.
Though the health sector claims they have it under control, staff told the Nigerian Guardian that they are anxious about it. One doctor said the government is not being provocative and, as a result, the problem will remain. Another asked the question on my mind: It’s 2020, why are people dying from rat disease?
I believe what both medical professionals are saying is this: the disease is as a result of a bigger problem in Nigeria. The health sector should be working to tackle the immediate concern, but we need to clear the dirt!
Okun Ayo, Tarkwa Bay
On the morning of Tuesday, the 21st of January 2020, the residents of Tarkwa Bay and Okun Ayo waterfront communities were given two hours to leave their homes. The Nigerian Navy entered both communities and began shooting in the air. What was initially told to a community chief was a military drill, but that ended up as marching orders. This is the 24th forceful eviction since 2013. Over 60 thousand people have been displaced-- many of whom are now living on the street. Please join us to take action about this by sending a message to the Lagos State government-- We have outlined a simple, super stress-free way to do it . You can also donate to the cause through Just Empower Initiative- they’ve been working with and rehousing displaced Nigerians since 2014.
Trouble in “budget-city”: (it makes no sense, but I’m sticking with it)
So, the N10.594tr 2020 budget for the Nigerian State was signed and approved in December (a first, I might add. The 2019 budget was not signed until June), and while the President is up-to-speed and ready to go (hopefully, he signed the thing), some lawmakers have confessed that they are hazy on the details of their cut: the N128b National Assembly budget.
Initially, the National Assembly budget was N125b (37b of which was designated to remodelling the National Assembly), but then 3b was added for reasons unknown to even those involved apparently. The specific details of this part of the budget were strangely omitted.
When the Nigerian Guardian asked the Senate’s official spokesperson, he told them to ask the Senate president because he, a member of the House of Assembly, doesn’t think he is in the best position to speak on it. A proper clown fest.
Recommended Reads
Thousands of residents forcefully evicted from their homes in Okun Aayo and Tarkwa Bay: https://todaynewsafrica.com/shocking-pictures-thousands-of-poor-nigerians-forcibly-evicted-from-okun-ayo-and-tarkwa-communities/
The Atlantic outlines how friends can be a key asset in dissecting sexual assault experience: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/01/sexual-citizens-friends-affect-views-assault/605425/
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