Provided here are the major news highlights from across the country for this week as reported by PUNCH Online.
This week, the Federal Government retracted an official statement, suspended a newly announced policy, Africa mourned the loss of Nollywood icon John Okafor, known as Mr Ibu, and there was a distressing incident of bandits attacking schools in Kaduna, abducting students and teachers.
Here are the notable news events from March 3 to March 9, 2024:
- Africa Mourns Mr Ibu
The renowned Nollywood actor, Mr Ibu, whose real name is John Okafor, passed away at the age of 62.
He died in a Lagos hospital on Saturday, March 2, 2024. His death closely followed the passing of another actor, Quadri Oyebamiji, also known as Sisi Quadri.
Tributes have been pouring in from various regions. The Actors Guild of Nigeria and his colleagues expressed their sympathies. Mr Ibu had been battling health issues, which eventually led to the amputation of his legs. His final years were marred by controversies and family conflicts. His demise was mourned extensively by the local media in Ghana, South Africa, and other African nations. He leaves behind a legacy of humor and memorable performances in Nollywood.
Reports emerged of attacks on warehouses and food trucks in some areas of the country. Security has been heightened at National Emergency Management Agency warehouses nationwide following incidents of looting by suspected hoodlums in Abuja.
Police commands in several states have deployed personnel to safeguard warehouses and food storage facilities. Emphasis has been placed on the importance of maintaining social harmony, and Nigerians have been urged to engage in peaceful protests amidst economic hardships.
Furthermore, the Nigeria Customs Service and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission foiled attempts to smuggle grains and staples to neighboring countries by intercepting 141 trucks. President Bola Tinubu directed that the intercepted trucks be redirected to local markets to stabilize prices.
Meanwhile, in response to frequent attacks by hoodlums, truck drivers have threatened to go on strike if the situation persists. The escalating attacks on trucks and warehouses, coupled with rising food prices and cost of living challenges, have prompted truck owners to caution that continued assaults on their vehicles might disrupt the transportation of food and fuel commodities. They have called for enhanced security measures and urged state governments to address the issue to prevent further disruptions in the supply chain.
The government is focused on addressing food scarcity through long-term strategies, including collaborations with organizations like the World Food Programme and initiatives to boost agricultural productivity.
As for the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, he attributes food scarcity to various factors such as smuggling, flooding, and policy decisions.
The Federal Government issued a warning to revoke the operating licenses of power distribution companies that deliberately withhold electricity supply from consumers, causing widespread blackouts across Nigeria.
Despite efforts by the Ministry of Power and electricity generation firms, many Distribution Companies (DisCos) are failing to distribute the electricity provided to them by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
Expressing disappointment over the decline in power supply, Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu cautioned of severe repercussions, including license revocation, for deliberate underperformance by DisCos.
The government’s focus is on prioritizing repairs to damaged transmission infrastructure to enhance power supply in affected areas.
Recent data revealed that DisCos failed to distribute approximately 1,769.91 megawatts of electricity between February 1 and 14, 2024. Adelabu has summoned DisCos and TCN to address the poor power supply situation, stressing plans to settle outstanding debts owed to power generation and gas supply companies. He encouraged electricity consumers to remain patient as improvements are being made to enhance the power supply in Nigeria.
In Kaduna State, over 280 students and teachers from Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School in Kuriga were abducted by bandits.
The abduction occurred shortly after insurgents kidnapped 200 internally displaced women in Borno State.
Assuring the community, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State stated that efforts were underway to secure the release of the abducted individuals. Amnesty International and other organizations have called for immediate government action to ensure the safe return of the students and teachers.
According to PUNCH Online reports on Saturday, negotiations have commenced for the release of the abducted students and teachers. The state government has engaged an experienced negotiator known for facilitating such releases. Concurrently, the military has initiated search operations in the forests to locate the victims.
- Minimum Wage and Regional Disparity
The week witnessed debates on the minimum wage as different worker groups in various states proposed varying figures. The Nigerian Labour Congress in the South-West suggested a minimum wage of N794,000, while the Trade Union Congress proposed N447,000. In the Federal Capital Territory and the North-Central region, workers demanded N709,000 as the minimum wage. Conversely, workers in the North-West called for N485,000.
In the North-East, states like Taraba and Gombe proposed N60,000, whereas Bauchi and Adamawa sought a 50% raise in the current wage, and Borno and Yobe agreed to the final proposal of the presidential tripartite committee.
For the South-South, workers proposed N850,000, while in the South-East, the proposed figures ranged from N540,000 to N447,000, with Enugu State’s TUC suggesting N447,000. The diverse proposals highlight the challenge of establishing a uniform minimum wage that considers the varying economic conditions and cost of living across Nigeria’s regions.
- Reversal I: Expatriate Employment Levy
The Federal Government’s introduction of the Expatriate Employment Levy faced a sudden reversal as it suspended the implementation barely a week after President Bola Tinubu’s announcement. The levy, a financial obligation on employers hiring foreign workers, mandates companies to pay $15,000 for expatriate directors and $10,000 for other categories.
Offenses like failure to submit an EEL, not registering an employee, providing false details, or not renewing the EEL within 30 days can result in fines of up to N3 million per violation.
The abrupt suspension followed widespread criticism from private sector bodies, citing concerns about its potential negative impact on Foreign Direct Investment and economic stability, especially regarding the devaluation of the naira.
- Reversal II: UAE Visa U-turn
The United Arab Emirates’ announcement of lifting visa restrictions for Nigerian travelers initially made headlines, only to be quickly rescinded. A document shared online by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, indicated the lift of the suspension, attracting considerable attention.
However, Onanuga later clarified that the UAE had not resumed issuing visas to Nigerians and distanced the circulated document as unauthorized by either government.
This series of events left many puzzled, raising doubts about the credibility of official communications.
Moreover, the retraction reflects the broader pattern of diplomatic uncertainties between Nigeria and the UAE.
The UAE had prohibited citizens from Nigeria and 19 other African countries from entering its borders in 2022.