Headlines

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has on Monday sworn in seven newly appointed ministers at the Council Chambers of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The newly sworn-in ministers include Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment; and Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Others are Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (Trade and Investment); Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development; Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development; and Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, Minister of State for Education.

The appointments of the seven ministers were confirmed by the Senate last week, following their nomination by President Tinubu.

This comes shortly after the Presidency announced the removal of five ministers from Tinubu’s cabinet.

A large crowd of Nigerians gathered in Abuja on Monday to protest against the escalating fuel costs, persistent fuel shortages, and deteriorating economic conditions in the country.

The protest, led by Abdullahi Bilal of the “Two Million Man March Against Oil Scam Cabal,” along with Barrister Napoleon Otache and Olayemi Isaac from the Citizens and Economic Freedom Rights Activists in Nigeria (CEFRAN), called for immediate government intervention to address what they described as failures in leadership within the oil sector.

The demonstrators expressed their anger over the surging fuel prices and prolonged fuel queues, stating that these issues have contributed to rising inflation and pushed millions of Nigerians into poverty. They criticized the current fuel subsidy system, claiming it benefits only a small group while leaving the general population to face high costs.

The protesters called for full deregulation of the oil sector, demanding a system with greater transparency, competition, and fairer fuel pricing. They also condemned the importation of adulterated fuel, which they described as a corrupt practice that harms vehicles and businesses. The group urged authorities to halt the importation of substandard fuel and hold accountable those responsible for allowing it into the country despite quality control assurances.

In addition, the demonstrators voiced frustration over the unfulfilled promises surrounding the Dangote Refinery, which was expected to address Nigeria’s fuel crisis. They questioned the billions spent on developing new refineries and refurbishing older ones, pointing out that fuel shortages persist, forcing Nigeria—an oil-producing country—to continue relying on costly imports.

Highlighting the economic toll, protesters noted inflation rates above 24% and a 200% increase in fuel prices, which they said are driving more Nigerians into poverty.

The protest leaders called on President Bola Tinubu to replace the leadership in the oil sector, increase accountability, and prioritize the needs of citizens. The group vowed to continue mobilizing until their demands for reform and transparency are addressed.

Addressing journalists during the demonstration, Abdullahi Bilal stated, “The Two Million Man March stands as a united voice for every citizen who has been betrayed by a system that continues to enrich a few at the expense of many.

“Today, we call for the immediate resignation of the current leadership in the country’s oil sector. Their management has failed Nigerians.

“Under their watch, we have seen fuel prices skyrocket without consultation or consideration of the devastating impact on the people. We have endured fuel scarcity while substandard, adulterated fuel is imported, causing further hardship.

“We demand the complete removal of the fraudulent fuel subsidy regime that has only served to enrich a select few. Full deregulation is necessary to introduce transparency, competition, and fairness to our oil sector.

“We also demand an end to the importation of adulterated fuel into Nigeria. This harmful practice must stop immediately, and those responsible must be held accountable for the damage caused to our vehicles, businesses, and livelihoods.

“Nigerians have suffered long enough, wasting hours and days queuing for fuel. We demand a sustainable solution to the fuel scarcity crisis—no more excuses, no more delays. We deserve better.

“We also want to highlight the failure of the much-anticipated refinery. Nigerians were promised that this would solve our fuel crisis, but it has failed to deliver.

“This mismanagement has led to inflation reaching a shocking 24.5% as of November 2024. Fuel prices have increased by over 200%, plunging millions of Nigerians into deeper poverty.

“To the government, we say: enough is enough. Nigerians will not stand by while the oil cabal continues to thrive at the expense of our nation’s welfare. We demand accountability, and we demand it now.”

Supporting Bilal’s position, Barrister Napoleon Otache and Olayemi Isaac emphasized, “This act of economic sabotage has led to endless fuel queues, skyrocketing fuel prices, and unprecedented disruptions in the daily lives of Nigerians.

“We demand an immediate end to fuel queues, transparency, and accountability from all involved parties. We want to know how substandard fuel continues to enter the country despite assurances of quality control.”

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested about 130 foreign nationals in Abuja for alleged involvement in high-level cybercrimes, hacking, and activities related to national security.

The suspects, primarily of Chinese and Malaysian origin, include 87 males and 26 females. Seventeen Nigerians were also among those arrested during the operation in the Jahi area of Abuja.

According to a statement by Force spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Sunday, the operation was carried out in coordination with officers from Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja, and the National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC). The raid targeted a building in the Next Cash and Carry area, where the suspects were allegedly using computers and advanced technology to carry out illegal activities.

The operation was led by AIG Benneth Igweh, Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 7, on Saturday, November 3, 2024. The police have seized exhibits from the scene, which are currently being scientifically analyzed.

“We are investigating the matter, and the suspects will be charged in court upon the conclusion of our investigations,” the statement read. The public will be updated as investigations progress.

Bandits have attacked the Turare community in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State, abducting local activist Ibrahim Mai Kaita.

Kaita, known for his advocacy for good governance in the region, was shot during the attack, while his two wives were also taken to an unknown location.

Katsina State has seen a rise in banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism in recent years, with many incidents going unreported.

In response, the state government, led by Governor Umar Dikko Radda, has intensified efforts to address insecurity, including the creation of the Katsina Vigilante Service, a community policing initiative.

However, recent actions by the kidnappers show that more actions need to be taken by the State Government to ensure the safety of people in Kastina state.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump commenced a final push across key U.S. swing states on Sunday, with less than 48 hours remaining before the close of a closely contested presidential election.

Speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump urged his supporters to vote on Tuesday, repeating claims of election fraud without evidence. “The fate of our nation is in your hands. On Tuesday, you have to stand up,” he said.

According to AFP, over 76 million voters have already cast early ballots, with the race heading to a tight conclusion. Polls show several states in a statistical dead heat, making this election one of the closest in recent history.

Despite the high stakes, the campaign strategies of Harris and Trump differ significantly. A final poll by The New York Times/Siena College, published on Sunday, indicated small shifts in battleground states, but results remain within the margin of error in all seven surveyed states.

Harris, focusing on the critical Great Lakes region, spent Sunday in Michigan, making stops in Detroit, Pontiac, and concluding with a rally at Michigan State University. Meanwhile, Trump focused on Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia—states with significant influence in the Electoral College system, which allocates votes based on population.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized drugs valued at ₦4.4 billion, concealed in the lavatories of an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the seizure in a statement on Sunday.

The drugs were discovered on October 29, 2024, during the cleaning of flight ET900, which had arrived in Lagos from Addis Ababa.

Babafemi stated that the illegal substances, comprising 845 wraps of cocaine weighing 18.72 kilograms, were hidden in nine plastic bags placed inside the waste collectors of the two rear lavatories of the aircraft.

“At least 30 suspects are being questioned in connection with the seizure,” Babafemi said. He noted that the cocaine was part of an international drug smuggling operation involving syndicates operating between Brazil, Ethiopia, and Nigeria.

Investigations revealed that the drugs were transported from Brazil to Ethiopia by couriers who ingested and later excreted the substances in Addis Ababa. From there, other traffickers attempted to smuggle them into Nigeria via Lagos, but their plan was intercepted with the cooperation of Ethiopian Airlines and airport authorities.

In a related operation, NDLEA officers also intercepted drugs concealed in body cream containers and artworks. On October 28, the agency blocked attempts to export 2.928 kilograms of cocaine, cannabis, and tramadol to Australia, the UAE, and the UK through courier services.

Further drug seizures were made at the Apapa seaport in Lagos, where operatives recovered 754,000 pills of tapentadol and acetaminophen worth ₦525 million.

The drugs were found in a container from India during a joint examination conducted with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.

Abuja-based Human Rights Radio has gone off air to protest the arrest of minors during the #EndBadGovernance protest.

Ahmed Isah, owner of the station, announced this while featuring on the Berekete family, a breakfast programme.

Isah, who used to anchor the radio program every week day, was not in the studio in the morning, due to what he described as a shock he experienced since the condition of the children became known after they were arraigned on Friday.

He called in through the phone around 8 20 am in the live program, where he expressed his anger about the development, and ordered the station to be shut down immediately.

He said the radio station would remain shut till Tuesday when there would be further discussion on the topic, before going off again, till Wednesday when the listeners views on the matter through phone calls, would be entertained.

The Tinubu administration has been under pressure since images of the minors went viral last week.