Nigeria: Press zooms in on nationwide protests over removal of fuel subsidy, others

APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The report that the two-day meeting between the Federal Government and the organised labour ended in a deadlock on Tuesday, with the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress leaders vowing to begin a nationwide protest against the removal of fuel subsidy dominates the headlines of Nigerian newspapers on Wednesday.
The Punch reports that the two-day meeting between the Federal Government and the organised labour ended in a deadlock on Tuesday, with the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress leaders vowing to begin a nationwide protest against the removal of fuel subsidy.
This came as oil workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association began an indefinite strike on Tuesday, citing inhumane treatment by the management of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, an agency of the Federal Government.
The strike and planned protest by the organised labour slated for Wednesday (today) over the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government may shut down the country and paralyse the economy.
Oil workers had earlier on Tuesday staged a protest and shut down the commission’s office in Lagos, while also vowing to shut down the agency’s offices nationwide.
Speaking on the planned strike on Tuesday, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the organised labour had no reason to suspend the planned national protests and strike.
Ajaero spoke a few hours after another round of meeting of the Presidential Steering Committee on Palliatives held at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, deadlocked.
“We have no reason to call off the planned protests. If we suspend or call it off, you will know. I can tell you that the mobilisation is very high,” Ajaero said in response to questions from journalists.
The Federal Government had in a last-ditch effort to avert the strike met with the NLC and TUC leaders on Monday but the parley also failed to reach any resolution.
The PUNCH reports that the Federal Government and the organised labour have been at loggerheads following the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023.
The newspaper says that President Bola Tinubu has said that Nigeria and Benin Republic will collaborate to explore their cultures, history and demographics for the benefit of the citizens.
This is contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, on Tuesday.
President Tinubu was speaking as a special guest at the 63rd Independence anniversary of Republic of Benin.
Tinubu, who was invited by President Patrice Talon, noted that the proximity of the two countries and similarity in economy, and outlook on development, made it compulsory to collectively pursue the same goal of growth.
“Nigeria and Benin Republic are conjoined twins. We are joined from one stomach. In every aspect, we are one and we share much in common,” he said, during an interaction with journalists.
The President said the vision of political and economic stability of Nigeria and Benin could only be realised by working together, saying that the partnership would be strengthened and upscaled at various levels.
Tinubu thanked Talon for the honour, and for also inviting six Nigerian governors, who graced the occasion.
The Guardian reports that illegal immigrants are behind most criminal activities in the country, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has said.
The Kwara State Comptroller of NIS, Aminu Shamsuddin, made the statement, yesterday, while addressing journalists in Ilorin, during the 60th anniversary of the Service.
The comptroller noted that the country was surrounded by francophone countries, whose nationals desperately love to stay in Nigeria due to socio-economic hardship in their countries.
He added that NIS had to take extra measures to scrutinise every immigrant at entry point.
“These people think Nigeria is a paradise and, truly, we are the mother of Africa. They always struggle to be part of us and are ready to spend huge sums of money to obtain a Nigerian passport. They also get married to Nigerians in their bid to naturalise, which is why we painstakingly check every immigrant.
“Through our training, we can easily ascertain if someone is a Nigerian or not,” he said.
Shamsuddin explained that processes of scrutiny sometimes make issuance of international passports take some time, and enjoined Nigerians to show understanding and patience.
According to him, NIS is closer to the people than other paramilitary agencies, due to services it renders to the people.
Shamsuddin said the Ag. CG of NIS, Mrs. Caroline Adepoju, directed the 36 states to celebrate the diamond jubilee.
At the event, he rewarded the best officers in the state. Israel Alabi won the 2023 Best Parade Officer and Abdulrafiu Lukman got the Best Parade Commander of the Year. The Best Performing Officer went to Isah Mohammed, while Rasak Aliyu won the most Resourceful Officer of the Year. Provost of the Year went to AbdulBashir AbdulWahab.
The newspaper says that stakeholders in Abuja, yesterday, expressed concern over the state of the power sector in Nigeria, lamenting that about 10 years after privatisation of the electricity industry, supply to end users has remained below 4,000 megawatts.
To address the poor state of the industry, amid clamour for increase in electricity tariff, the stakeholders, who cut across the industry, said there was a need to convene a roundtable to review key issues bedeviling the sector.
With plan to host the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) Market Participants and Stakeholder Roundtable, Mr. Edward Eje, who is the Market Operator, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), said the electricity market in Nigeria has not exceeded invoices of 4,000 megawatts since it was privatised, urging industry players to end blame games and find a leeway.
The Chairman of the conference, Stephen Ogaji, noted that gas-to-power issues, market liquidity, metering of consumers and other value issues would be prioritised and presented to decision makers.
With a theme, ‘NESI Privatisation and its 10-year Milestone: The Journey so Far, Opportunities and Prospects’, Ogaji said the initiative provides a platform for robust and comprehensive discussions on issues and prospects associated with NESI.
“It is our expectation that the event will bring together various experts, operators, vendors, and miscellaneous other stakeholders necessary for progressive determination of the way forward for the sector,” he said.
GIK/APA