This report covers the major news stories from February 4 to February 10, 2024, featuring significant events and developments.
Sunday night marked the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, United States. A record number of Nigerian artists including Davido, Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Asake, and Olamide were nominated in the Best African Performance category. Despite high expectations, on Monday morning, the artists returned home empty-handed, and fans expressed disappointment online.
Tyla from South Africa secured the inaugural Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance with her single ‘Water’, outshining the Nigerian contenders.
Following the Grammy disappointment, Nigeria faced South Africa in the AFCON semi-finals. The intense match ended in a 1-1 draw, leading to a penalty shootout that Nigeria won 4-2. This victory prompted Nigerians to taunt South Africa on social media, seeking redemption for the Grammy loss.
Stanley Nwabali, the goalkeeper for the Super Eagles, was hailed for his exceptional performance, earning him the Man of the Match award and positioning him as a strong contender for the Golden Glove award in the tournament.
Unfortunately, the AFCON victory was marred by five reported deaths during the celebrations, urging caution among individuals, especially those with underlying health conditions, to avoid excessive emotional stress.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu returned to Nigeria from a private visit to Paris, amidst protests over the rising cost of living. The government swiftly initiated measures to address food supply and prices, releasing over 102,000 metric tons of various grains and collaborating with stakeholders to stabilize the food crisis.
In tandem with the protests, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control’s ban on the production of alcoholic beverages sparked further demonstrations, prompting the House of Representatives to launch an investigation into the ban.
Despite receiving increased allocations, state governors have faced criticism for failing to alleviate the impact of fuel subsidy removal and address the rising challenges faced by the masses, accentuating the urgent need for effective governance.