The talented goalkeeper for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Stanley Nwabali, has emerged on the radar for some clubs in Saudi Arabia and France, as well as Kaizer Chiefs, a team in South Africa.

Naija News reports that Nwabali is currently the first-choice goalkeeper for South African club Chippa United, which plays in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

However, the 27-year-old player has become highly sought after due to his exceptional performances at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.

According to reports, there is strong interest from Kaizer Chiefs to secure Nwabali’s services, as he has proven to be a valuable asset.

This demonstrates the Nigerian’s skill and reliability in the competitive league.

Naija News reports that Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, recognized Nwabali’s abilities and selected him as the number one goalkeeper for the AFCON tournament, surpassing Francis Uzoho.

This decision has paid off, as Nwabali has only conceded two goals in six matches, against Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.

Nwabali’s outstanding performances have given the Super Eagles a fighting chance in the continental competition, which they last triumphed in 2013.

Speaking on the latest interest, Nwabali’s agent, Mohammed Lawal, has now hinted at a big move for the player.

“There is interest in France and Saudi Arabia. There is no surprise because of his performance during the Afcon tournament in Ivory Coast,” SNL24 quoted Lawal saying.

“I have only seen [Kaizer Chiefs links] in newspapers. I cannot comment on anything regarding local interest, please speak to the chairman of the club.”

The Nigerian government has expressed regrets over the current food crisis in the country and, in response, reassured the citizens that it will release food items from the National Food Reserves as a strategy to lower food prices.

Naija News reports that this announcement was made yesterday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

Idris, who spoke following a meeting of the Special Presidential Committee in Emergency Food Intervention, which was called upon by President Bola Tinubu, said the federal government is also in talks with some major millers and major commodity traders across the country to see what is available in their stores.

The meeting, organized by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, is part of the government’s efforts to address the increasing food prices in the country.

Idris further stated that the government will collaborate with major millers and commodity traders to ensure the availability of food items.

The minister said: “We just rounded off a meeting. It is a special presidential committee to address the issue of food shortage or lack of enough food on the table of most Nigerians.

“What I will tell Nigerians is that the President has directed that government needs to step in to stem this tide. The government will not fold its arms and see the way Nigerians are suffering in terms of the availability of these food items.

“Now, some of these will involve unlocking the foods that are available in most of the storage facilities (National Food Reserve) around the country. You know that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has some food reserves. They are going to be made available to Nigerians.

“The government is also talking to major millers and major commodity traders, to also see what is available in their stores. To open it up, so the government will provide some intervention, discuss with them and provide some intervention to make this food available to Nigerians.”

He, however, alleged that some disgruntled Nigerians were taking advantage of the situation, adding that there is still food in this country.

Idris said: “What the government is noticing is that there is still food in this country. Some people are taking advantage of the situation, especially because of the high cost and the depreciation in the value of our currency that has led to the cost of these food items also going up.

“All these issues were discussed; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Yemi Cardoso) was at the meeting. The Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy (Wale Edun) were there, and of course, the Chief of Staff and the National Security Adviser were there. The NSA was there because of some national security implications.

“All these have been discussed and like I said, this conversation or discussion is going to continue.”

Assuring that the Federal Government would continue to take steps to ameliorate the current situation, the Minister said: “This is just the beginning of that meeting. It is going to continue tomorrow (today) and the day after tomorrow. The government is very concerned about what Nigerians are going through, especially what happened in Minna yesterday (Monday). The government is taking some action to ensure that Nigerians have some relief in terms of the availability of food on their tables. Of course, this meeting is not by itself exhaustive. It’s just like I said, the beginning.

“I want to plead with you to understand with the government. By the time these meetings are concluded, we’ll be able to issue a definite statement on what the position of government is in this regard. But all I can say is that discussions are ongoing, and very soon, a solution will be in sight.”

Idris mentioned that certain actions are contingent upon the subsequent meeting regarding this challenging situation. He reiterated that the government is taking significant measures to ensure that Nigerians receive relief.

Naija News reports that the federal government’s decision is coming after the House of Representatives decried the state of hunger currently in Nigeria, appealing to the Federal Government to promptly unlock the food reserves and allocate grains to impoverished citizens.

Doing so, the lawmakers believe, will address the prevailing hunger crisis in the country.

The call was after the approval of a motion of utmost national significance, put forth by the elected representative of Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency in Ogun State, Ibrahim Isiaka.

Isiaka, taking charge of the discussion, highlighted the challenging nature of the cost of living for Nigerians.

He expressed his concern over the escalating price of cement, despite having access to all the necessary raw materials for its production.

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the Federal Government to fix the prices of goods and petroleum products within seven days.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa specifically ordered the government to fix the price of milk, flour, salt, sugar, bicycles, and their spare parts, matches, motorcycles and their spare parts, motor vehicles and their spare parts as well as petroleum products, which includes diesel, Premium Motor Spirit and kerosene.

The judge gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit No FHC/L/CS/869/2023, filed by human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, against the Price Control Board and the Attorney-General of the Federation, listed as the first and second defendants.

Falana had approached the court to determine whether by virtue of Section 4 of the Price Control Act., the first respondent is carrying out its duty to impose a price on any goods that are of the kind specified in the First Schedule to the Price Control Act.

“A declaration that the failure or refusal of the respondents to fix the prices of bicycles and spare parts; flour; matches; milk; motorcycles and spare parts; motor vehicles and spare parts; salt; sugar and petroleum products including diesel, petrol motor spirit, and kerosene is illegal as it offends the provision of Section 4 of the Price Control Act, Cap., Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” Falana said.

At the hearing of the case on Wednesday, the plaintiff, Falana informed the court that the motion on notice was premised on Section 4 (1) of the Price Control Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

He also told the court that the defendants in the suit have been served with the processes since it was filed in May 2023, but refused and failed to file any response or counter to it.

Falana consequently urged the court to grant all the reliefs sought since there is no counter from the respondents.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa, after listening to Falana’s submission, observed that the respondents did not file any counter to the suit.

The judge citied decided cases and held that, “all the reliefs contained in the motion paper are hereby granted as prayed.”

Falana, in the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by a lawyer in his chambers, Taiwo E. Olawanle, stated that the first defendant, the Price Control Board, was established by the Price Control Act, and it is saddled with the responsibility to fix a price on goods to stabilise the general price level, prevention of hoarding of goods, protection of customers from exorbitant prices, among others.

The second defendant is the Chief Law Officer of the country.

He also stated that the plaintiff has been involved in the defence and promotion of human rights in Africa for over three decades and that on account of his human rights works, the plaintiff has been honoured by many local and international organisations.

The deponent averred that on January 3, 2023, he was informed by the plaintiff “that the following commodities are listed in the Price Control Act: bicycles and its spare parts, flour, matches, milk, motorcycles and spare parts, motor vehicles and spare parts, petroleum products, salt and sugar.

“The Act basically gave the first respondent powers to fix the prices of the wide array of commodities listed above.

“Though the price of the commodities listed above is supposed to be imposed by the first respondent, the only petroleum products that are fixed to a certain amount are not being enforced.

“That the price of a bag of rice which was formerly N8,000 has risen to N45,000 in the market.

“The situation in the market is by each passing day is becoming unbearable for consumers as prices of goods kept rising daily.

“Sellers are not always sincere as they are so desperate to make excessive profits at the expense of the buyers.

“Food prices which human beings should not be deprived of are on the high side due to lack of price fixing by the first defendant. And that buyers are at the receiving end when the prices of goods are increased as they tend to suffer for it more.”

In a move to reduce the pressure on the naira, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has raised a 7,000-man special task force across its 14 zonal commands to clamp down on dollar racketeers.

The spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said the commission had summoned the proprietors of private universities and other schools charging tuition in dollars.

The naira has been on a free fall against the dollar in the past weeks with the currency losing value against the greenback.

In the past weeks, the naira had plunged from about 900/dollar to over 1,400/dollar at the official market.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, who appeared before the House of Representatives on Tuesday, disclosed that Nigerians spent $98bn in 10 years on foreign education, healthcare and personal travels, which had impacted the naira.

He spoke against the backdrop of the central bank’s battle to stabilise the exchange rate amid dollar shortage.

Cardoso argued that the foreign exchange market was facing increased demand pressures, causing a continuous decline in the value of the naira.

According to him, factors contributing to this situation include speculative forex demand, inadequate forex due to low remittance of crude oil earnings to the CBN, increased capital outflows, and excess liquidity from fiscal activities.

To address exchange rate volatility, he said a comprehensive strategy had been initiated to enhance liquidity in the forex market.

This includes unifying FX market segments, clearing outstanding FX obligations, introducing new operational mechanisms for Bureau De Change operators, enforcing the Net Open Position limit for commercial banks, and adjusting the remunerable Standing Deposit Facility cap.

Cardoso revealed that between 200 and 2020, foreign education expenses amounted to a substantial $28.65bn, as per the CBN’S publicly available Balance of Payments Statistics.

Similarly, medical treatment abroad incurred around $11.01bn in costs during the same period. Within the same period, Personal Travel Allowances accounted for a total of $58.7bn.

Cumulatively, Nigerians spent about $98bn on foreign trips, medical tourism and overseas education, a figure the CBN governor said was more than the total foreign exchange reserves of the central bank.

Further compounding the situation, according to Cardoso, has been the consistent decline in Nigeria’s export earnings against the backdrop of increasing imports.

In contextualising the problem, Cardoso pointed out that Nigeria’s annual imports, which require dollars for payment, amounted to $16.65bn in 1980.

Worried by the development, the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, had last Friday met with the CBN Governor and the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to proffer solutions to the naira crisis.

The meeting, according to a statement signed by the Federal Ministry of Finance, was to strategise on stabilising the beleaguered currency.

“This afternoon at Finance HQ, HM Finance & Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede and CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, engaged in a strategic discussion focused on enhancing the efficiency of our financial system and stabilising the naira,’’ the finance ministry posted on its X handle.

To strengthen the national currency and stabilise the nation’s volatile exchange rate, the CBN directed Deposit Money Banks to sell their excess dollar stock latest February 1, 2024.

The CBN, which made the disclosure in a new circular released last week Wednesday, also warned lenders against hoarding excess foreign currencies for profit.

According to officials, the central bank believes some commercial banks hold long-term foreign exchange positions to enable them to profit from the volatile movements of exchange rates.

The new circular introduces a set of guidelines aimed at reducing the risks associated with these practices.

In continuation of the targeted measures, the EFCC revealed it had set up a special task force to enforce the extant laws against currency mutilation and dollarisation of the economy.

It explained that it arrested some perpetrators issuing invoices in dollars and mutilating the naira in Lagos and Rivers States.

Zonal commands

Oyewale said, “The EFCC has raised a special task force in all its zonal commands for the enforcement of extant laws against currency mutilation and dollarization of the economy.

“The taskforce, inaugurated by the Executive Chairman of the commission, Ola Olukoyede, was raised to protect the economy from abuses, leakages and distortions exposing it to instability and disruption

“Already, the commission has made some arrests of perpetrators of issuance of invoices in dollars and mutilation of the naira in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

“Also, proprietors of private universities and other institutions of higher learning charging fees in dollars have been invited by the Commission.

“The commission is committed to the enforcement of all laws in place for the reflation and stimulation of the economy.”

The CBN Act, 2007, stipulates that the currency notes issued by the CBN “shall be the legal tender for the payment of any amount in Nigeria.”

Furthermore, the Act stipulates that any person(s) who contravenes this provision is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a prescribed fine or six months imprisonment.

Meanwhile, The PUNCH findings show the EFCC special task force is operating in all its 14 commands with over 7,000 operatives or about 500 operatives in each command.

The zonal commands are Abuja, Benin, Enugu, Gombe, Ibadan, Ilorin, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Sokoto and Uyo.

A source, who was not authorised to speak on the issue, revealed that all private universities and other tertiary institutions charging dollars and other foreign currencies in place of naira had been invited by the EFCC for a briefing, and sensitised on the fact that only the naira is a legal tender in Nigeria.

A second source, who declined to be named for confidential reasons, said the school proprietors would not be arrested by the EFCC unless they continued to violate the law by accepting foreign currency.

He stated, “The Special Task Force is operating in all our 14 commands, and we have about 500 operatives in each command’s task force; that equals over 7,000 operatives overall.

“We invited, quizzed, and sensitised all the proprietors of all private universities and other tertiary institutions charging dollars and other foreign currencies in place of naira.

“The aim of the sensitisation was for them to know about extant laws making only naira and kobo legal tenders in Nigeria, as opposed to dollar, pounds, or other foreign currency.

“However, none of the proprietors would be steered or prosecuted for now, unless they go ahead to keep charging in dollars or other foreign currencies.”

Foreign airlines

However, the President of the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria, Dr Kingsley Nwokoma, said there was no cause for alarm, adding that the EFCC’s action would not affect his members.

But he asked banks to repatriate the trapped funds from tickets sold in naira.

Meanwhile, reacting to the development, the Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, Mr. Wale Oyerinde, said, “From what we’ve heard as contained in the CBN Act, dollarisation is an economic offence, so they are on point. It is not whether it will salvage the economy or not. Salvaging the economy requires a multifaceted approach and efforts.

Also speaking, a facilitator with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Dr. Ikenna Nwaosu, said, “The answer first would be that a doctor heal yourself. Many government agencies are still charging in foreign currency. If you look at the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, most of their fees are in dollars for all their services. They issue invoices in dollars. So when your own government agencies have not stopped why are you telling individuals not to charge in dollars. So I can’t say whether it would work or not because they government is not complaint. If you want to do uniform let it get to everywhere. I want to add that if you are saying that you are promoting investment in the country, you have to lead by example.”

Also, the President, Association of Bureau De Change, Aminu Gwadabe, said it was illegal for businesses or individuals in Nigeria to demand payment in forex.

He noted that allowing such would further weaken the embattled naira.

“It is illegal to ask for payment of whatever sort in foreign currency here in Nigeria. The CBN already issued a circular to this effect. Allowing institutions to receive payment in dollars will further cause more damage to the naira which is already depreciating,” he said.

Recently, some schools have reportedly requested for tuition fees in forex. An example of such is Wigwe University, a private university reportedly owned by Group Managing Director, Access Holdings Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe

The CAF Technical Study Group (TSG) has released its initial assessment of the ongoing CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023, affirming that the tournament has surpassed expectations on the field.

As the competition progresses into its thrilling final stages, 50 matches have been officially played, providing ample data for analysis by the team of experts comprising data analysts, technical directors, former footballers, and coaches.

Raul Chipenda, CAF’s Director of Technical and Development, expressed delight with the tournament’s quality, stating, “We are witnessing an exceptional competition. This AFCON stands out as the best in history across multiple aspects.”

Chipenda highlighted the significant reduction in the gap between perceived smaller and larger teams, emphasizing the tactical prowess of coaches and the disciplined approach adopted by teams in various formations. He noted that the tournament has exceeded expectations by showcasing the evolution of the African game.

AFCON: Nigeria’s Super Eagles soar to final after defeating feisty South Africa on penalties
The CAF Technical Study Group, comprised of seasoned football analysts from across the continent, brings a wealth of experience to the assessment process, having served the African football community in diverse technical capacities.

In his concluding remarks, Chipenda emphasized the importance of African nations’ continued investment in football development. He advocated for active involvement from all countries, stating that increased investment would strengthen African football and nurture the emergence of world-class players domestically, reducing reliance on foreign talent.

The House of Representatives has taken a significant step forward in the amendment of the Electoral Act 2022 by passing a bill through its second reading on Wednesday.

Titled “A Bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act, 2022 and for Related Matters,” the bill was introduced by Mr. Francis Waive, the representative of Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency, Delta State.

As presented by the sponsor, the explanatory memorandum accompanying the bill outlines its objectives, including provisions for the pre-registration of voters, implementation of same-day elections, electronic transmission of results, and penalties for frivolous election petitions.

This move underscores the legislature’s commitment to enhancing the electoral process and ensuring transparency, efficiency, and fairness in Nigeria’s electoral system.

• Fresh protest breaks out in Niger after arrest of 25 protesters
• Sowore demands release of Minna protesters
• FG: We’ll open national reserves to address rising food costs
• 88.4m people in Nigeria living in extreme poverty – Ministry of Agriculture
• Lukman, Aborisade, Youth Party slam APC for blaming protests on opposition parties 

Spreading like wildfire, more states are joining in the protests against the high cost of living in the country, which is a reminiscent of the 2011 #OccupyNigeria protest against petrol subsidy removal that lasted more than a week, and 2020 #EndSARS protest against police brutality that dragged for nearly a month.

After what could be termed a warning shot to ‘test the microphone’ with protests in Kano, Niger and Osun states, another protest broke out yesterday on the streets of Suleja in Niger and Kogi State over the rising cost of living. This is coming two days after protesters stormed the streets of Minna, the Niger State capital.

Suleja, the commercial nerve centre of Niger, is only a few kilometres away from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

An eyewitness, Mr. Yazid Abubakar, said the protesters stormed the popular Moroko Road where the biggest market is located in the town. They carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Leadership is all about improving the life of the masses”, “No food, we are dying of hunger” and “Nigerians are suffering, stop the hardship now,” among others.

They accused political officeholders of insensitivity to their plight as they lamented their inability to feed even once a day.

In response to Monday’s protest, the Niger State Police Command clamped down on 25 protesters. Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrest of one Aisha Jibrin, the initiator of the protest, and 24 others. The earlier protest forced President Bola Tinubu to order a food intervention to check the shortage of food in the country.

Abiodun, in a statement, said: “A large number of women and miscreants mobilised themselves on Monday and blocked Minna-Bida road and Kpakungu roundabout, claiming to be protesting against increase in food prices, causing major obstruction on the highway and deprived motorists, travellers, and other road users from gaining access to attend to their lawful businesses.

“After much persuasion by the police, the protesters deliberately refused to clear the road for public use, while the deputy governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba, addressed the group, yet they turned deaf ears and chose to be violent.

“However, the police adopted minimum force to disperse the protesters who turned violent by attacking the police with dangerous weapons such as stones, bottles, sticks, cutlasses, and damaged police patrol vehicles and parts of the Kpakungu Division roof.
“In the course of this, the police arrested the initiators of the protest, one Aisha Jibrin 30yrs, Fatima Aliyu 57yrs, Fatima Isyaku 43yrs, and 22 other miscreants with dangerous weapons.”

Reacting, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the last general election, Omoyele Sowore, called for immediate release of the women allegedly arrested for initiating the recent food price protest in Niger State, saying the protest was heroic.

He wrote on X: “I have just received information that the woman who initiated the food price protest in Niger State has been arrested by the @PoliceNG for organising this heroic act, she and other women are to be arraigned by the police. The police must release them immediately. These women are going to be the face of this uprising coming the way of Nigeria.”

Protest in Minna over High Cost of Living.Photo: Arise News

Similarly, traders in Lokoja, Kogi State, trooped out to protest the high cost of essential commodities and general poverty across the state. The traders, mainly market women and men, lamented the soaring prices of food items which have affected patronage.

A trader who simply identified herself as Mrs Ladi, who deals in rice and beans, said the sharp increase in the cost of the commodities had affected her business capital as sales were low. She stated that she could hardly make profit after trading.

Another trader, Mrs Laruba, who sells palm oil, lamented that she usually travels to Kogi East to purchase the commodity. But she expressed regrets that the business is no longer profitable. She added that by the time she calculates her expenses and subtracts the same from the cost of the items, buyers often feel cheated.

Weighing in, a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the Federal Government to fix the price of goods and petroleum products within seven days. Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa granted the order following an originating motion filed and argued by the applicant and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).

“I have heard the applicant, Femi Falana in a suit no FHC/L/CS/869/2023 and I have also discovered that despite the service of the originating motion on the respondents namely, Attorney-General of the Federation and the Price Control Board, no opposition to it by way of counter affidavit. So, it is the law that all the facts deposed in the affidavit attached to the originating motion are all deemed admitted. Consequently, all prayers that are sought for in the motion papers are hereby granted as prayed,” the judge declared.

The judge ordered the Nigerian government to fix the price of milk, flour, salt, sugar, bicycles and its spare parts, matches, motorcycles and its spare parts, motor vehicles and its spare parts as well as petroleum products, which include: diesel, petrol motor spirit (PMS) and kerosene.

Falana had approached the court for the following: “whether by virtue of Section 4 of the Price Control Act., the first defendant (FG) is carrying out its duty to impose a price on any goods that are of the kind specified in the First Schedule to the Price Control Act.

“A declaration that by virtue of Section 4 of the Price Control Act Cap, the defendants are under a legal obligation to fix the prices of bicycles and spare parts; flour; matches; milk; motorcycles and spare parts; motor vehicles and spare parts; salt; sugar and petroleum products including diesel, petrol motor spirit and kerosene.

“A declaration that the failure or refusal of the defendants to fix the prices of bicycles and spare parts; flour; matches; milk; motorcycles and spare parts; motor vehicles and spare parts; salt; sugar and petroleum products including diesel, petrol motor spirit and kerosene, is illegal as it offends the provision of Section 4 of the Price Control Act, Cap…, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said the Federal Government is planning to unlock the national food reserves to ameliorate the effect of food inflation on the citizenry. .

This is arising from Tuesday’s presidential committee on emergency food intervention meeting at the presidential villa. Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, Idris said the government is very concerned about what Nigerians are going through.

“Of course, this meeting is not by itself exhaustive. It is going to continue tomorrow and the day after. Now, some of these will involve unlocking the food that is available in most of the storage facilities around the country. You know that the federal ministry of agriculture has some food reserves. That is going to be made available to Nigerians.
“The government is also talking to major millers and major commodity traders, to also see what is available in their stores, to open it up, so that the government will provide some intervention and make this food available to Nigerians.”

Idris said the government has noticed that there is sufficient food in the country, which is being hoarded based on the depreciation of the naira.

“Government will not fold its arms and see the way Nigerians are suffering in terms of the availability of these food items,” he said.

Mr Temitope Fadeshemi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, says 88.4 million people in Nigeria are living in extreme poverty. Fadeshemi spoke yesterday in Kaduna during the distribution of farm inputs and empowerment materials to 250 smallholder farmers.

President Bola Tinubu

He said: “The level of poverty in Nigeria is alarming. An estimated population of 88.4 million people in Nigeria is living in extreme poverty. The number of men living on less than 1.90 U.S. dollars a day in the country reached around 44.7 million, while the count was at 43.7 million for women.

“Overall, 12.9 per cent of the global population in extreme poverty was found in Nigeria as of 2022. This is why the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning in collaboration with FMAFS is making conscious efforts at reducing the spate of poverty across the country.”

According to Fadeshemi, the event marked a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s collective commitment to uplifting the lives of smallholder farmers and fostering sustainable agricultural practices.

Despite government’s several interventions, more Nigerians have continued to lament the rising cost of living. The sharp increase in the cost of essential goods, The Guardian gathered, has compounded the woes of a nation already grappling with high inflation, rising unemployment and stagnant wages.

Since President Tinubu assumed office, the cost of living for ordinary Nigerians has become increasingly burdensome, with essential items becoming increasingly out of reach for many households. Tinubu, in one of his broadcast messages, promised to ease the cost-of-living pain in the country, where he announced a series of measures aimed at easing hardship for Nigerians.

At the broadcast, he expressed confidence in the effectiveness of his proposed measures to improve the country’s economy and citizens’ well-being. However, six months down the line, Nigerians said they were yet to enjoy the benefits of the reforms.

Checks by The Guardian reveal alarming spikes in the prices of key commodities across the country, painting a grim picture of the economic landscape.

The price of a 50kg bag of rice, a staple food in Nigeria, has surged by 85.7 per cent from N35,000 in May 2023 to N65,000 in February 2024.
Similarly, the cost of a 50kg bag of flour has risen by 75.4 per cent during the same period to N50,000 from N28,500.

The story is no different for other commodities; the price of a 50kg bag of beans has skyrocketed by 106.7 per cent to N62,000, up from N30,000 in May 2023.

Meanwhile, a bag of onions now commands a whopping N60,000, representing a 114.3 per cent increase from N28,000. Currently, a crate of eggs has risen to N3,600, leaving one egg at N150.

The former director general of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), Dr Salihu Lukman, has thrown his weight behind protestations against biting poverty among Nigerians. Lukman in a piece titled: “Renewed Hope Exchanging for Renewed Anger” argued that the protestations in Minna, Kano and other parts of the country spoke volume of the realities on the ground.

He identified the decision to remove fuel subsidy, the floating of the exchange rate of the Naira as key reasons behind the astronomical rise in the cost of living in the country.

Lukman, who was the immediate past national vice chairman Northwest of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), faulted the party for blaming the opposition political parties for the protests over the hardship being faced by Nigerians.

He said: “The protests in Minna and Kano confirm the validity of the concerns raised as far back as August 2023. Sadly, six months after those concerns were raised, the situation is only getting worse as prices of food items are beyond reach of most Nigerians.

“If the truth must be told, there is hunger in the land! As a committed member of APC, it is very depressing that this is happening under the leadership of our party. Even more depressing was the statement issued by Mr. Felix Morka, our National Publicity Secretary, alleging that opposition parties are behind the protests.

“How can we be talking of opposition sponsoring protests in the strongholds of the APC? Both Minna and Kano are strongholds of APC. In the case of Minna, Niger State, APC is the ruling party. Kano is the home state of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the APC National Chairman.

“To suggest that any opposition party could mobilise citizens to protest our government is already defeatist. The hard reality is that these protests are logical responses to the realities facing Nigerians. If these realities continue unattended to, these protests will spread like bush fire across every part of the country within a very short period.”

Speaking with The Guardian, National Publicity Secretary of Youth Party, Ayodele Adio, stated that comments from the presidency, describing the protests as being politically motivated, is insensitive and deeply unfortunate.

According to him, the statement demonstrates how removed those in authority are from the realities of the average Nigerian, and a lack of empathy for the people they were elected to serve.

He said: “Facts are stubborn things, just as no one can hide pregnancy for too long. The reality is that Nigerians are experiencing one of the highest levels of food inflation in close to 40 years while real wages have remained stagnant. The naira has lost close to 80 per cent of its value and has eroded the purchasing power of low- and middle-income earners.”

He said to suggest that anyone needed to be sponsored to express their grievance as was done in Niger and some parts of Kano is to suggest that the Nigeria people are helpless subjects who should be grateful for scraps.

Human rights and lawyer, Femi Aborisade, and former Oyo State Chairman, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Andrew Emelieze, yesterday, said the protests across the country are justifiable. They said the protests were as a result of hunger and hardship in the land.

Aborisade said: “It is compelled by hunger. An hungry man is an angry man. There is hunger in the land. The protests are justifiable. People have been pushed to the wall by hunger, hardship and high cost of living.”

Emelieze said: “As regards the state of the nation, we observed that it has been hellish for the Federal Government workers and indeed Nigerians, since the removal of subsidy on petrol. Our people have been pushed to depression and suicide cases in Nigeria has increased more than ever before. A bank worker just committed suicide leaving behind a suicide note blaming hardship, a soldier in the Nigerian army equally committed suicide, though military authorities had denied the claim of suicide in a manner that suggest falsehood. It is as if our government has declared war on the Nigerian people.”

[Guardian]

Popular Nigerian singer Timaya has taken to social media to issue a safety advisory to fellow Nigerians in South Africa following Nigeria’s victory over South Africa in the semi-finals of the AFCON football tournament.

The match, which ended with Nigeria securing a spot in the finals, seems to have sparked concerns regarding the safety of Nigerians in the host country.

Timaya, through his Twitter account, urged Nigerians in South Africa to “just day your day,” implying that they should remain indoors to avoid potential harm or clashes that could arise following the football match.

The tweet comes in the wake of heightened emotions surrounding the football match.

“If you’re a Nigerian and in SA tonight pls just DEY YOUR DEY!,” Timaya wrote.

Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong has named Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand as one of the players he would give his No.5 jersey up for amid the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

William Troost-Ekong said this in a post via his X account after Nigeria defeated South Africa on Wednesday to qualify for the AFCON final.

Recall that Troost-Ekong was exceptional as the Super Eagles beat the Bafana Bafana to set up a final clash with the host nation, Ivory Coast.

Ferdinand had in a show of support to the Super Eagles, posted several Nigerian flag on X and shared a picture holding the Super Eagles jersey with “Ferdinand 5” boldly written on it.

However, Troost-Ekong retweeted Ferdinand’s post and wrote: “One of the few players I would be willing to give my number up for! Legend!”

Troost-Ekong will hope to lead Jose Peseiro’s men to victory when they face Ivory Coast in the final.

[DailyPost]