Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Government has scheduled an emergency meeting for Wednesday (today) morning in response to a planned nationwide protest slated for August 1.

This comes after President Bola Tinubu pleaded with the organisers to shelve the protests and give his administration more time to execute people-oriented programmes.

A circular shared with the punch on Tuesday by sources with knowledge of the meeting indicated that all the ministers, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume and the Special Advisers to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman; Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, were among those invited for the meeting.

The circular, signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office, Richard Pheelangwah, dated July 23, 2024, was titled, ‘Planned Nationwide Protest.’

It read, “I am directed to invite you to attend a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on the above subject slated as follows: July 24, 2024, Time: 10 am prompt, Venue: Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Conference Room.

“Attendance is mandatory. Please, accept the warm regards of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”

The planned session is coming amid the clamour for nationwide protests from August 1 over the rising cost of living and the economic hardship in the country, which has blamed on the removal of fuel subsidy, the floating of the naira and other economic reforms implemented by the Tinubu administration.

The planned demonstration, inspired by the recent Kenya protests, has gained traction on social media, where it is trending under the hashtags ‘EndBadGovernance,’ ‘TinubuMustGo’ and ‘#Revolution2024.’

However, the Presidency and the police authorities called on youths to abandon the plan, describing it as ill-advised.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Tuesday conveyed the President’s plea to Nigerians in an interview with State House correspondents, after a meeting with Tinubu.

He said, “On the issue of the planned protest, Mr President does not see any need for that. He asked them to shelve that plan and he has asked them to await the government’s response to all their pleas.

“So, there is no need for a strike. The young people out there should listen to the President and allow the President more time to see to the realisation of all the goodies he has for them.”

Idris said the President took the protesters’ grievances seriously and was committed to ensuring a better future for Nigeria.

He mentioned the speedy passage of the National Minimum Wage Bill by the National Assembly and the recent approval and delivery of grains to state governments as evidence of the President’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerians.

President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to shelve a planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest slated for next month.

Information Minister Mohammed Idris, who briefed selected State House correspondents after a meeting with the President on Tuesday, said Tinubu urged the organisers of the protest to shelve the plan and await the President’s response to their complaints.

“The issue of the planned protest, Mr President does not see any need for that. He’s asked them to shelve that plan. He’s asked them to await the government’s response to all their pleas,” the minister said.

The protest against economic hardship, which is gaining traction on social media, has been scheduled to be held across all states of the Federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August. The organisers of the protest have been faceless.

Prices of food and basic commodities have gone through the roof in the last months, as Nigerians battle one of the country’s worst inflation and economic crisis sparked by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.

The Federal Government, through the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the Nigeria Police Force as well as the House of Representatives have warned against the planned demonstration.

The House of Representatives has directed the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to immediately reverse the recent electricity tariff hike for Band A customers.

This directive was given on Tuesday after the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Power.

The report recommended a return to the old tariff, citing the inability of Nigerians to afford the new rate.

The NERC had announced a tariff hike, which would have seen Band A customers pay N225 per kilowatt.

However, the House of Representatives has now resolved to probe the tariff hike pending an investigation.

Presenting the report, Chairman of the Committee on Power, Victor Nwokolo, stated that the new tariff is unaffordable for Nigerians. The Committee’s recommendations were adopted by the Committee of the Whole and subsequently passed.

Global human rights movement, Amnesty International has berated the Bola Tinubu-led government for threatening protesters.

AI was reacting to comments made by Tinubu’s media aide, Dada Olusegun, who said those planning the nationwide protests in the country will “meet the strongest resistance of your lives.”

In a post on X, the organisation stated:

”Threatening peaceful protesters is unlawful. It is a clear attack on freedom of assembly — which is guaranteed by international law and Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution:

”Nigerians must not be denied the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed right to peaceful protest; through veiled threats of violence and false insinuations.”

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has commenced a 5-day training to enhance the skills and knowledge of 20 staff drawn from the Headquarters and Institutes for the design and operation of Biogas and Biomethanol plants holding at the headquarters, Abuja.

The agency’s Deputy Director Information, Chima Akwaja disclosed this in a recent press statement stated that the intensive onsite training which will end on Friday, July 26, 2024, is being conducted in collaboration with SRH Berlin, Germany, a reputable organization known for the design and development of commercial-scale biogas and biomethanol plants.

In addition to the onsite training, NASENI and SRH Berlin are offering two online training courses on the design of medium-scale biogas and biomethanol plants. Trainees will be trained on several aspects of the design process, including process control, CAD/CAM, material science for biogas production, methanol synthesis, hydrogen production, and safety principles.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Mr, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, ably represented by the Deputy Director, Nano Science Department, Science Infrastructure, Dr. Chika Ezeanyanaso said, “this training is a very important step in equipping our staff with the necessary knowledge and expertise to design and manage biogas and biomethanol plants effectively.”

“The participants were carefully selected to represent different NASENI institutes, ensuring a comprehensive transfer of knowledge across the organization,” she said, further revealing that the model design for the biogas plant had already been developed and the training would focus on the practical application and hands-on learning.

She urged the 20 participants to approach the training with utmost seriousness and importance, emphasizing the transformative impact it would have on NASENI’s renewable energy initiatives.

The training is being facilitated by a team of seven experts from SRH Berlin, Germany, namely: Ronald Schnell, Gnana Swaroop, Osvaldo Romero, Edward Antwi, Nomu I, Uduak Bassey, and Michael Hartman. The training will also empower the staff with cutting-edge skills and knowledge.

Engr. Anas Yadiz, SA to the EVC on Science and Engineering Commercialisation, who is the coordinator of the training, said NASENI was poised to drive the adoption of biogas and biomethanol technologies, contributing to Nigeria’s broader renewable energy goals and paving the way for a more sustainable future.

He said this collaborative effort showcases the Agency’s commitment to fostering innovation, enhancing the skills of its workforce, and leading the charge towards a greener, more energy-efficient Nigeria.