Hi! Please leave a “like” if you found this edition helpful after reading it. Love you!
In this edition
Military accidentally bombs civilians again
Another multinational has left us
Kids getting kidnapped under the government’s watch
The government takes discrimination seriously
This edition will take about 7 minutes to read
Terrorism, crime & insecurity
Military kills civilians
Last week, the military “mistakenly bombed” Tudun Biri village in Kaduna State during a religious gathering, resulting in the deaths of at least 120 civilians and numerous injuries.
This incident adds to at least six accidental military bombings of civilians between 2017 and 2023, resulting in over 420 deaths, as reported by PUNCH.
In response to this recent “accident”, President Bola Tinubu ordered an investigation.
The government has promised preventive measures and initiated a probe to ensure citizen safety in future operations.
Kidnapping
NYSC corps abducted
NYSC confirmed the release of two kidnapped corps members in Zamfara. They were abducted while travelling from Uyo, Akwa Ibom, to Sokoto State. - Channels
Out of the 11 kidnapped, three escaped during the incident. One was rescued on September 1, another on October 20, and the latest two on Thursday. However, four remain in captivity.
Eddy Megwa, the Director of Press and Public Relations for NYSC, expressed relief at the recent rescues, emphasizing efforts to free the remaining captives.
The released corps members are receiving medical care and will rejoin their families before continuing their national service.
Megwa urged caution to travel corps members, advising against night travel and suggesting breaks after 6 p.m. to minimize the risk of similar incidents —
Despite multiple attacks on NYSC students, the government gas refused to cancel the program or take measures to ensure their safety
Highway attacks
Attackers ambushed the team bus of Sunshine Stars, a football club, along the Ore-Benin expressway - The Cable
The attack resulted in injuries to players, the team manager, club officials, and a ball boy.
The injured were promptly taken to the hospital for treatment with the help of Federal Road Safety Corp officers.
University students abducted
The Federal University Lafia students in Nasarawa State staged a protest following yet another abduction incident targeting students living off-campus in Gandu near the university.
Reports indicate that earlier this week, the attackers forcefully entered the off-campus lodge and abducted an undisclosed number of students while shooting into the air.
The students protesting are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of those kidnapped.
The students, expressing fear and frustration due to escalating insecurity, held placards with messages such as 'Student Lives Matter' and 'A cry for one is a cry for all', demanding action for the safe return of their kidnapped peers.
The state Police Public Relations Officer mentioned that details surrounding the abduction were still unclear, but claimed to be working to find the abducted students.
More Prisoners free
The Federal Government paid fines and compensation totalling N52 million for 399 inmates across Kaduna State to decongest correctional centres.
This initiative, part of a national program we reported last week, released 68 inmates from various centres in Zaria, Makarfi, Soba, and Ikara.
Each released inmate was also given N10,000 for transportation.
The program aims to alleviate overcrowding by releasing prisoners whose crimes qualify for a fine that they couldn't afford.
The program targets inmates with fines of up to one million Naira and is expected to benefit over 4,000 inmates nationwide.
Speaking of prison, here’s more crime
Ex-governor steals car
The Zamfara State Government says that they have recovered about 50 operational vehicles allegedly from the possession of the former governor, Bello Matawalle.
Following a Federal High Court judgment in Sokoto, the vehicles were retrieved from the ex-governor's residences in Gusau and Maradun.
In the past, Matawalle has denied taking (*cough stealing*) any government property upon leaving office.
Zamfara’s new Governor Dauda Lawal, through a spokesperson, emphasised the administration's commitment to state development rather than targeting individuals negatively.
After Lawal assumed office on May 29, 2023, controversies emerged regarding missing operational vehicles and the misappropriation of public funds from the former administration.
This drove security agencies to investigate upon which they recovered some vehicles from Matawalle's residences.
This search led Matawalle to request a court order preventing further action. That order has now been dismissed, hence the latest vehicle recovery.
Kano official steals benefits allocated to people with disabilities
Kano State Police Command has arrested Tasiu Al’amin-Roba, a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor for misappropriating food and provisions allocated to vulnerable groups like lower-income people with disabilities, homeless people and widows.
The government, led by Governor Abba Yusuf, discovered that the bags of food intended for distribution to vulnerable groups were repackaged and stored in a warehouse.
The commissioner of police was then directed to investigate and identify all suspects involved. The investigation revealed Tasiu Al’amin-Roba and a friend.
After Al’amin-Roba’s arrest, the government is taking steps to address the situation and ensure appropriate distribution to those in need.
Money, Governance, Economy
Nigeria is facing another cash scarcity, the second in less than a year.
Throughout the week, people had difficulty getting cash from banks in various parts of the country.
Banks are enforcing withdrawal limits, varying between N10,000 and N50,000, with some ATM terminals not dispensing cash.
In Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Gombe, Edo, Sokoto, and Ekiti States. many bank customers and POS operators, who spoke to The PUNCH said that it is becoming a challenge to access cash.
Though the CBN has yet to officially respond, sources within the bank attribute the challenge to the upcoming celebration, dismissing it as a temporary trend.
Meanwhile, The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) told banks to remove certain types of financial institutions from their instant payment services.- Tech Cabal
This includes companies that don’t take deposits but process money transfers.
The NIBSS wants banks to stop using these institutions for outward transfers, meaning sending money out, but they can still receive money from them. This move aims to follow regulations and make sure only authorised organisations handle customers’ funds.
Some reports suggested that fintechs like Kuda, Moniepoint, Opay, and PiggyVest would be affected, but these companies clarified that they are not included in the restrictions. They assured their customers that their money is safe because they operate under different licenses that allow them to handle deposits securely.
More multinational exits
Procter & Gamble (P&G), renowned for brands like Pampers and Gillette, is ceasing its production in Nigeria, opting for an import-only approach.
This move mirrors the actions of other major corporations such as Unilever and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), all departing due to economic challenges and currency issues.
Despite having operated in Nigeria since 1993 with two factories, P&G's departure is attributed to prevailing economic and currency problems.
Following GSK's departure in August, the cost of medications surged sevenfold. A drug I bought for 11,000 naira in April is now 70,000 naira.
This significant price hike has caused people in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to turn to herbal remedies (Agbo) due to the unavailability and soaring prices of essential medicines like Antimalaria medication, Augmentin and Ventolin inhalers.
The reliance on Agbo reflects the dire situation where many Nigerians cannot afford crucial medications. However, health experts caution about potential risks associated with herbal remedies due to inconsistencies in their preparation.
Weekly protests report
The University of Calabar students protest fee increase
The University of Calabar witnessed a halt in academic activities due to a student protest against a 100% tuition fee increase for the upcoming academic sessions.
Around 100 students peacefully protested by blocking campus entry roads, causing traffic congestion and displaying placards against the fee hike.
They expressed dissatisfaction with the university's decision, citing the economic challenges faced by Nigerians due to increased prices of goods and services without a corresponding rise in income. The protesters demanded that the university keep the previous fee structure.
As a result, the university has paused the fee hike plans until further notice
Governance
Budgets, and the law, how’s that going?
The 2024 Appropriation Bill proposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has raised concerns due to its allocation of only 12.5% for both health and education. Stakeholders feel the allocation is a lot less than what is needed in these, which could worsen living conditions for people in the country. - Guardian.ng
Additionally, the allocation goes against Tinubu’s manifesto. The budget allocates 4.9% to health, which is contrary to the promised 10% commitment. Similarly, they allocated 7.9% for education - a sector Tinubu promised commitment to, falling significantly short of the needed support.
Experts criticize the budget's emphasis on reducing the deficit and increasing tax revenue rather than prioritizing adequate funding for critical sectors. They argue that neglecting the social sector might lead to economic challenges and hinder inclusive development.
Various professionals stress the importance of investing in education and healthcare, citing their crucial roles in enhancing human capital, productivity, and societal well-being. They highlight that insufficient funding could lead to compromised infrastructure, limited opportunities, and worsening health conditions, ultimately hindering economic growth.
The call for adequate and sustained funding in the social sector is vital to promote sustainable development, reduce inequalities, and create a healthier, more educated workforce. Neglecting these sectors may lead to increased social costs, dependency on external aid, and long-term adverse effects on the economy and society as a whole.
Additionally, Government officials expressed concern over the insufficient budget for Disability Commission in the 2024 Appropriation bill.
Minister Betta Edu urged the National Assembly to increase funding, highlighting the need for equal opportunities for disabled individuals.
She emphasised the importance of facilities supporting Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in public spaces.
Nigeria takes discrimination seriously?
HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act
The House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Control plans to enforce the HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act (2014) to stop discrimination at work based on HIV status.
They're committed to supporting those affected and ensuring fair treatment.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) also marked World AIDS Day, urging global leaders to prioritize HIV in health agendas.
Their goal is to eradicate HIV by 2030 through community-led efforts and access to treatment.
No discrimination against disabilities
The government is taking action to make public buildings more accessible for People living With Disabilities (PWDs). - The Cable
They plan to shut down buildings that don't meet certain accessibility standards for PWDs and enforce a law that requires organizations to have 5% of their employees as PWDs.
This was announced by James Lalu, the head of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
They will start taking action from January 16, 2024, after giving organizations five years to comply.
They'll create a task force to ensure these laws are followed and will assess both the physical facilities and the employment of PWDs in these organizations. The government fully supports these measures to make public places more inclusive for people with disabilities.
Government gives back 🥳
Small businesses
The Federal Government will begin allocating funds to small businesses and manufacturers in Nigeria.
This is to support them as they adjust to the heavy burden of the petrol subsidy removal
The Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, said they will have two programs: one will give grants of N50,000 to very small businesses in all local areas.
The other will give loans a small and medium-sized businesses and manufacturers at low interest rates. They’ve allocated N150 billion for this.
Wheat Subsidy
Wheat farmers in Kaduna praised the government for subsidising farming inputs by 50%. They lauded President Bola Tinubu's initiative, expecting increased production to provide affordable food-- Punch
The chairperson of the farmers’ association, Alhaji Bashir Tanko, told the News Agency of Nigeria that many beneficiaries had received alerts for the redemption of the inputs at designated areas in Kaduna State.
He noted, however, that a larger number of wheat farmers could not afford the mandatory N180,500 (50%) deposit to qualify for the subsidy.
But not too much
A report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) found that only 8.0% of households affected by the 2022 floods in Nigeria received help from the government.
The floods affected about 64% of Nigerian homes, causing problems like loss of life, damage to jobs, and disruptions to services.
Both farming and other jobs were hit hard, leading to less money and problems with food. To stop this from happening again, the report suggests the government use warning systems and plans for floods, including working with communities at risk.
It also suggests making plans for what to do after a disaster, like helping with food, keeping people safe, stopping diseases, and supporting jobs.
Other
No fewer than three shops and valuables worth millions of naira were destroyed on Friday by fire at Bakin Kasuwa area in Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa - Vanguard
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to identify, within 90 days, its officials involved in the registration of the underage during the continuous voters’ registration (CVR) exercise in polling units across the country. - .Vanguard
Niger Govt signs MOU with Tata on mechanized agriculture - Guardian.ng
Nigerian inmates at Kirikiri Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Apapa, Lagos, have warned they may riot over alleged racial segregation by authorities - Gardian.ng
The Delta State Police Command on Wednesday confirmed the arrest and detention of an officer for allegedly shooting a motorist as seen in a viral video - Guardian.ng
The Ogun State Government has announced a N50 million reward for anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of the killers of Taiwo Oyekanmi, the state’s former Director of Finance and Administration - Vanguard
The Supreme Court, on Thursday, slated December 15 to deliver its judgement on the appeal that is seeking to compel the Federal Government to release the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention - Vanguard
The Dangote Oil Refinery is finally set to commence fuel production as the first crude shipment arrives at the facility today, December 7, 2023 - Vanguard
Fox Petroleum will invest $7.5 billion in NNPCL over the next three years. This is according to a company statement issued on Monday, December 4 - Nairametrics
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has lamented the strangulation of 21 power projects in the South East since 2019, blaming it on the activities of residents. - Punch
Thanks for reading!