Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 5th August, 2024
1. President Tinubu Calls For Suspension Of #EndBadGovernance Protest
President Bola Tinubu, in a nationwide address on Sunday, called on protesters across the country to end the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Naturenex understands that the protest tagged #EndBadGovernance started on the 1st of August and is expected to end on the 10th of the month.
The reaction of the President came after several calls from prominent Nigerians like the ex-vice president, Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi and several others to attend to the demands of the protesters and address them.
The protests which had been hijacked in some states, have seen government and private properties being looted and damaged.
President Tinubu, who spoke 7 am, on Sunday, expressed sadness over the turmoil and violent protests unleashed in some of our states.
Naturenex reports that Tinubu noted that he is pained by the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and other states, the destruction of public facilities in some states, and the wanton looting of supermarkets and shops, contrary to the promise of protest organisers that the protest would be peaceful across the country.
2. Tinubu Reveals Why He Removed Fuel Subsidy
President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, revealed why his administration removed fuel subsidy.
Tinubu during his nationwide broadcast on the #EndBadGovernance protests, said the subsidy was removed to reverse the decades of economic mismanagement.
The President defended his decision to remove petrol subsidies upon assuming office, saying, “These decisions I made were necessary if we must reverse the decades of economic mismanagement that didn’t serve us well.
“I can assure you that I am focused fully on delivering the governance to the people – good governance for that matter.”
The President argued that aggregate government revenues have more than doubled, hitting over ₦9.1tn in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, due to efforts to block leakages, introduce automation, and mobilise funding creatively without additional burden on the people.
He maintained that productivity is gradually increasing in the non-oil sector, reaching new levels and taking advantage of the opportunities in the current economic ambience.
3. Protest: ‘Your Speech Missed The Mark, Failed To Convince Nigerians’ – Atiku Fires Tinubu
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticized President Bola Tinubu over his speech delivered on Sunday in response to the #EndBadGovernance protest by Nigerians.
Atiku said the speech by President Tinubu failed to convince Nigerians or address the demands of the protesters.
The former Vice President said the President’s speech lacked substance and failed to ignite the faith of Nigerians in his reform activities which has caused economic hardship in the country.
Atiku, in his statement on Sunday, made available to Naija News by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, said Tinubu’s speech failed on all fronts, including getting leaked prematurely, which is another sign of the dwindling confidence in his administration.
The PDP chieftain added that the present economic hardship is the sole responsibility of the current administration, and the government needs to start providing solutions instead of blaming past governments and those in the opposition parties.
4. No Admission For Students Under 16 Years Of Age – JAMB
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has emphasized that students below the age of sixteen (16) would not be considered for admission into tertiary institutions for the 2024/2025 session.
JAMB made the assertion on Sunday through its spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin.
Speaking during a press conference, Benjamin stated that the move is based on the directive from the Chairman of the 2024 tertiary admission policy meeting, who is also the Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.
He said in line with the decision taken at the policy meeting, the minimum age for admission remains 16 years.
The JAMB spokesperson noted that the move is necessary in order to save the integrity of the education system.
Fabian further expressed concern over the new trend of what he described as a strange admissions practice labelled as “Daily- Part-Time” (DPT) by certain polytechnics and “Top Up” (TU) by some universities.
According to him, such programmes are not approved by the relevant authorities and are fraudulent means to “side-line quality, approved quota for full-time admission, falsify records and consequently, rake illegitimate income.”
5. “It Is Almost Better For The President To Have Kept Silent Than To Make This Kind Of Broadcast” – Protest Organizers Slam Tinubu
Organizers of the #EndBadGovernance protest have accused President Bola Tinubu of being out of touch with reality as touching the needs of the masses in Nigeria.
The organizers of the protest stated this while reacting to the nationwide presidential address by Tinubu on Sunday in response to the protest which has engulfed some major cities in the country since Thursday, August 1.
The protest organizers submitted that it would have almost been better for the President not to make a speech than to have made a speech which failed to address their demands nor ignite any trust in the heart of the masses.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Sunday, the National Coordinator of Youth Rights Campaign, Micheal Lenin, expressed disappointment with the President’s speech. He said the President in his speech, only justified the violence against protesters and journalists while dismissing the demands of the protesters.
6. Protest: It Is Incorrect To Say Tinubu’s Speech Leaked – Presidency
The presidency has dismissed claims that the nationwide broadcast speech of President Bola Tinubu leaked before the address on Sunday morning.
Naturenex reports that the issue of Tinubu’s speech emerging online before broadcast had created a buzz among many Nigerians, with many claiming it ‘leaked’.
However, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, in a post via X, said it is incorrect to say that Tinubu’s speech leaked.
Ajayi said advanced/embargoed copies of the President’s speech are usually given ahead of time for preview and editorial production.
According to him, President Tinubu’s speech on the nationwide protest was released to editors on Saturday night, and it is a global practice and standard.
He further urged Nigerians to stop complicating and over flogging simple issues.
7. No Place For Ethnic Bigotry In Nigeria – Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, said the Nigeria he seeks to build has no place for ethnic bigotry.
Tinubu stated this on Sunday morning in Abuja during his nationwide broadcast on the #EndBadGovernance protests.
He warned entities who have threatened other ethnic groups in the country to desists, saying “The law will catch up with you”
The 10-day planned protest, which began on Thursday, primarily against the rising cost of living and hunger, deteriorated into violence, destruction of property and loss of lives in many parts of the nation.
At least 17 persons were reported dead in the “days of rage” protests.
Amid the mayhem, some entities took to their social media handles to ask all Igbos to vacate Lagos State or face massive protests slated for August 20-30, 2024.
The authors of the post also ordered all indigenes of the South-West in the South-Eastern region of the country to return home before the planned protests.
8. Disclose All Candidates Illegally Admitted Prior To 2017 Now Or Never – JAMB Tells Universities, Others
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has warned all tertiary institutions in the country to declare all the students given illegal admissions in their various institutions before 2017 within one month or face the consequences.
JAMB said all admissions conducted outside its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) prior to 2017 should be disclosed within one month, starting from August 1, 2024, in order to accord them legitimacy.
JAMB, in a statement on Sunday by its spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, on behalf of its Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, said any institution that fails to disclose its illegal admissions within the period of grace would no longer have the opportunity to regularize such again.
Benjamin said the directive is aimed at enhancing transparency and fairness in the admissions process while ensuring compliance with the provisions of CAPS.
Benjamin highlighted concerns over institutions colluding with candidates to falsify details for illegal admissions, which has led to fraudulent participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
He said despite warnings, some institutions continue to admit candidates outside CAPS and seek Condonement of Undisclosed Illegal Institutional Admissions (CUIIA).
JAMB said it is discontinuing the CUIIA aspect which allows such affected candidates to be introduced into the system.
9. ‘I Will Become Olubadan’ – Ladoja
The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, on Sunday, stated that he will become the Olubadan of Ibadan.
Ladoja, the most senior of the High Chiefs and next in line to become Olubadan, stated this while appearing on ‘Agbami Oselu,’ a radio programme on Fresh FM in Ibadan.
The former Governor of Oyo State also declared his intention to become a beaded crown monarch in Ibadanland, as stipulated by his status in the revised Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration.
He explained that various Ibadan indigenes and non-indigenes had pressured him to accept the beaded crown to facilitate his ascension to the throne when the time came.
10. #EndBadGovernance: Soyinka Slams Tinubu’s Speech For Ignoring Police Brutality Against Protesters
Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent national broadcast for not addressing the violent crackdown by security forces on #EndBadGovernance protesters.
In a statement issued on Sunday after Tinubu’s address, Soyinka expressed concern over the president’s omission of this critical issue.
Naturenex reports that the #EndBadGovernance protests continued for the fourth day, with citizens expressing dissatisfaction with worsening economic conditions and ineffective governance.
He argued that the government’s approach only encourages impunity among security forces and perpetuates a cycle of resentment and reprisals.
Soyinka highlighted the use of live ammunition as a response to peaceful protests as a critical issue, noting that even tear gas is often misused in such situations.
He remarked that hunger marches are a universal plea for help, signaling a breaking point that demands government attention.
The violent response to these protests, he warned, represents a regression even more severe than the deadly aftermath of the ENDSARS protests.
