The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Abia begins clearing of destitute from streets

    Abia begins clearing of destitute from streets

    Abia State government has announced the decision of the administration of the state to sanitise streets of major towns in the state of destitute.

    The action which started in Aba South Local Government Area of the state saw the local government chairman, Hon. Uchechukwu Wogu leading a team from the LGA to include his deputy, Mrs. Nkiru Ugwu; Immigration officers, led by Okoronkwo Jessy; and officers from Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), evacuating destitute who have converted the popular Bata junction, along the Aba-Owerri road as their enclave.

    The state government had stated its commitment to restoring sanity on Abia roads and reducing the menace of unnecessary obstruction in the environment caused by street beggars.

    Read Also: Otti, others splashes ₦52.5m on Abia Warriors 

    Investigations by our correspondent revealed that some people who posed as destitute in the daytime around Azikiwe, Ehi Road and some parts of Aba Main Park, turned to become hoodlums at night as they attacked, dispossessed other unsuspecting residents of their belongings.

    During the last administration of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia State government had raised the alarm over the surge of beggars in the state, alleging that some persons that they couldn’t disclose their identity, from neighbouring states were using their trucks to bring and dump the destitute in the state, especially, within the Opobo Junction area of Ogbor Hill, Aba.

  • Ohanaeze leadership crisis worsens

    Ohanaeze leadership crisis worsens

    • Youths shut out acting leader

    Crisis has erupted in the apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, as the youth wing of the organization on Friday barred the acting leader of the group, Amb. Okey Emuchay,  from the national headquarters of Ohanaeze in Enugu.

    Emuchay who was the Secretary General of Ohanaeze, assumed the position of acting President General, following the death of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, penultimate week.

    But the youths’ declaration followed a statement issued by the national leadership of Ohanaeze, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, which declared the acting youth leader of the organization, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu a “persona non grata, fraudster and impostor.”

    In the said statement issued last Wednesday, Ohanaeze also referenced a directive contained in a letter by Ambassador Emuchay, which asked Okpalaezeukwu, on July 24, 2024, to relinquish his current position and revert to his former position as the secretary of the youth body.

    The statement also expressed worry over what it described as the unruly, unscrupulous, despicable, odious, and sacrilegious conduct of Okpalaezeukwu at the national headquarters of Ohanaeze after he was relieved of the position as acting national youth leader.

    Read Also: Two Ohanaeze leaders claim ‘acting President General’

    But, in a communiquê read out to newsmen on Friday after its national executive council meeting at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo secretariat in Enugu, the youth wing described the parent body’s statement as an insult to the entire Igbo youth.

    In the communiquê, read by the publicity secretary, Chika Adiele and endorsed by 23 of the 24-member NEC, the youths passed a vote of confidence on Okpalaezeukwu and reaffirmed their solidarity and support for him.

    They insisted that “Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu remains the acting national youth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, as unanimously elected by the National Executive Committee(NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, ratified and confirmed by both the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by President General, and Ime Obi Ohanaeze Ndigbo( the Highest Decision Making Body as recognised by the Constitution); and this Authority subsists until an elected Youth Leader of Ebonyi State Extraction emerges. 

    “We bemoan the reckless statement of a supposedly elder in the person of Mazi Alex Ogbonnia, who ordinarily should rein in on Okey Emuchay, to accord our dearest departed father and hero(Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu) a befitting honour and reverence, before the tussle of usurping and exercising the powers of President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

    “Emuchay in this instance, is in a frolic of his own, chasing personal vendetta. The NEC never met to take any of the alleged decisions in his write up. In fact, Alex was not present in the quoted meeting as he was said to have traveled to America and it is from there that he wrote based on hearsay.

    “The Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo lacks the powers to remove and/or replace any executive officer; therefore Emuchay’s attempt to unilaterally remove the acting National Youth Leader- Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu.”

    While declaring Emuchay as an enemy in the house, the youths in turn declared him “persona non grata, and therefore bar him from entering the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, henceforth.”

  • Anambra targets lowest position for under-5 mortality rate

    Anambra targets lowest position for under-5 mortality rate

    Wife of Anambra state governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, on Tuesday, August 6, said the state was committed to moving from its present second spot as the state with the lowest number of Under-5 mortality to the first position.

    Soludo’s wife stated this in Awka during the launch of Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap held at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre.

    She expressed confidence that the state would maintain the spot for as long as it takes.

    She also pledged the readiness of her pet project, Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo to ensure children of the state were saved from the threats of diseases aggravated by poor nutrition.

    Acknowledging prevalent protein deficiency among Nigerian children caused by accessibility, availability, and affordability of food items, including protein sources, the governor’s wife assured closure of such gaps through the provision of all-round, effective intervention for homes and communities.

    She described nutrition as life and remained top of the six pillars of her programme as every other pillar depended on it to exist.

    She said: “The idea behind this journey is to rescue our children with special nutritional needs. Ours is only a complementary step that supports existing strategic government policies.

    “In the medium term, we want to move from our present second spot as the state with the lowest number of Under-5 mortality to the first position and maintain the spot for as long as it takes. We are very close.

    “In driving a commitment that thinks inclusiveness, we want to ensure that our children are saved from the threats of diseases aggravated by poor nutrition.

    “Aware of the prevalent protein deficiency among children in Nigeria caused by accessibility, availability and affordability of food items, including protein sources, we want to close the gap by providing all-round, effective intervention for homes and communities.

    “The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number three captures our idea most succinctly.

    While insisting that the pap is not only free but strictly for children with special nutritional needs, Soludo revealed that local government areas with a high population of children with malnutrition would be major focal points.

    Read Also: Igwe tussle: Anambra community seeks govt, police intervention

    “We have carefully created a seamless distribution pattern for this product across the twenty-one local government areas of Anambra State.

    “Every local government will have a known referral centre where this meal can be accessed.

    “Each referral centre will develop a database that feeds our central database with information about collection, monitoring, and progress.

    “Every child who is on the meal will be consistently monitored to ascertain their recovery progress. Records must be kept up to date to help us evaluate cases and results.

    “I, therefore, appeal to those in whose care we are leaving this product to understand its purpose and always stick to that.”

  • Southeast silence against Nigeria not Tinubu — Onoh

    Southeast silence against Nigeria not Tinubu — Onoh

    President Bola Tinubu’s former spokesman in the south east, Denge. Dr. Josef Onoh, has told the Kaduna politician, Senator Shehu Sani, that the south east zone’s refusal to join in the bandwagon hunger protest is a protest against Nigeria instead of the Tinubu administration.

    Onoh said that the adamancy in the region was because Nigeria has refused to accord the south east its due status as an integral part of the country but imposed hardship on the region in the past 54 years and now try to put the blame on President Tinubu. 

    He asked the rest of the regions in the country not to expect the south east to be in the vanguard of the present protest when those other regions feel that the south east is not good enough for appointment or any other substantial inclusive infrastructure.

    Onoh’s submission followed Senator Sani’s tweet where he queried why the protest was not taking place in all parts of the south east region.

    Onoh said: “The South East is silent because the protesters demanded scrapping of the 1999 constitution and to replace it with a people-made constitution, without providing their own people-made manuscript for that new constitution.

    “The South East is silent because the protesters demanded that the president should toss the nation’s legislative arm of the government, the National Assembly, and exhibited ignorance of the President’s lack of constitutional powers to scrap any arm of the government.

    “The south east is silent because even under a democratic setting, the south east region is on high level of militarization, and the protesters are also chanting for military rule which would be more devastating to the region. 

    “The south east is silent because our silence has exposed the ‘real enemies’ of President Tinubu. 

    “The south east is silent because we do not have the political luxuries, influence, entitlement and benefits the  regions participating in the protest have for they have continuously basked in its glory. The north have produced presidents, the south-south and south West but not the south east, hence we see it as a problem between husbands and wives while we are the houseboy. The same north asking why we are not protesting  forgot  they once told us we are a dot in a circle so why has the dot become important now?

    “When we had tears to shed, no region whipped away our tears. When we had a voice to shout, they said we were mad. When we cared, they said we had other motives. Today we are the least represented region in the current administration, we feel we are not wanted, we feel we are hated, we feel isolated, we feel distant, we feel the current administration doesn’t care about us hence we have continuously lived under a state of hardship and hopelessness that we don’t have any more tears to shed nor energy to protest. 

    Read Also: Tinubu celebrates Senator Yar’Adua on 60th birthday

    “We have been so traumatized to the extent that we now laugh rather than cry but our laughter is actually the highest level of walling. Unfortunately we feel the pain of the protesters, you cry and we hear your message loud and clear but unfortunately we are helpless to offer any support or join in your protest against our president. Our only message is ‘welcome to the club.’ Nigerians are suffering but we the south easterners have never known anything other than hardship and suffering. We are constantly treated like outcasts in our country.

    “Irrespective of the above, I still believe in President Tinubu, he might not have all the solutions but if we come together as a nation irrespective of whether we like each region or not, I believe a variegated group must agree they want to be a people, preserving our tolerant permissive society and to achieve that we must have the will power to do so rather than protest. 

    “My advice to the President is simple, the problem with Nigeria is political, and time to review some policies. Technocrats and 90 percent of your current appointees have failed you with exception of a select few. And their silence in the current situation is more dangerous than the protest. It once more affirmed my position that your technocrats have failed you because they know nothing about the political problems affecting Nigeria nor have the structure to support you in moving the country forward. 

    “They only wait for the master to show the Jagaban magic and have left you to be a lone sailor, sailing against turbulent waters. It’s time to reshuffle your cabinet because you can’t fight politicians using technocrats who are best suited to work as lecturers in a university environment. Same politicians and their political structure made you the revered Jagaban of today, a magician can never perform his magic without his wand, hence it’s time to pick up your wand.

    “Finally, we need to transform the political narratives and perceptions of Nigeria from a nation saturated by looters instead of leaders, hence I urge the president to strengthen the EFCC and unbundle every political shackles that has interfered with their duties from prosecuting the so called sacred cows. Nigeria isn’t India that has abundance of sacred cows. 

    “The south east will remain deaf and dumb to any protest call against President Tinubu or Nigeria because they don’t see our nation or the current administration from a different light outside the hardship and suffering they have always known and dealt with in Nigeria.”

  • Protests: I admire your spirit of patriotism, let’s build together, Kalu empathises with youths

    Protests: I admire your spirit of patriotism, let’s build together, Kalu empathises with youths

    Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu has commended youths for their interest in the development of the country, saying that their resolve to conduct a peaceful protest showcased their patriotism and confidence in the greatness of Nigeria. 

    Kalu however asked them to reconsider their position to stage the protest. 

    He said that their genuine intentions might be hijacked by hoodlums. 

    Speaking at an extraordinary town hall meeting with the representatives of various youth groups from across the country on Wednesday in Abuja, the deputy speaker who empathised with the youths said that the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is addressing their plights. 

    While acknowledging that they have a constitutional right to protest, Kalu at the town hall meeting organized by the leadership of the House advised that it is not the best option for them in pressing home their demands from the government. 

    Read Also; Make protest peaceful, says NADECO USA

    He said: “What you’re doing here is normal, it’s not funny or fun and we regret that it is happening as those who are in leadership.

    “We are not happy that it is happening. So, your agitation is in order. The pain you’re expressing is in order. I also was like you some years ago, from University days as a student union leader in the University of Calabar. In my thirties also, I became a local government chairman. In you, I see a lot of local government chairmen, House of assembly members, Hour of members of governors and presidents.

    “Don’t underestimate what you’re doing. You have the spirit of patriotism. If you don’t love Nigeria, you won’t be here. If you don’t like this country you won’t sit here from beginning till now. Your love for Nigeria has kept you here and for that I want to say thank you.

    “I want to thank the Speaker, Rt Hon. Tajudeen Abass for not being in USA or anywhere abroad. I want to thank him for being here to engage with you. We are here to hear your pain.

    “Not that all the solutions will come out today but to show you that we care. Every word you’ve spoken here today will be put to use. We are intentional about this. 

    “Your needs cannot be overemphasized. I can relate to your pains very well. I can also understand the efforts the elderly ones, the leaders are making. I appeal to you, you need a feedback to go with. We are communicating. Youths are fair. They believe in justice, equality and you’re not going to judge unfairly. 

    “When a woman gets pregnant, it take 9 months to birth a child. This administration is one year in office. I know our pains are real, but ook at the effort we have made so far on economic, education initiatives and other policies such as consumer credit scheme and so on.

    “Protest is your right, but remember all things might be necessary but not all things are expedient. You have the right to protest but remember it’s better we build. You want to build this country that’s why you’re here, but there are so many of them that will join you tomorrow who want to destroy what you’re trying to build.

    “We know that your objective is to heal this country, we know that you love this country, but the question is the neighbor that will join hands with you tomorrow thinking the way you’re thinking? How do you stop him from breaking that transformer you see on the road? 

    “The objective of #EndSARs was good but were you able to manage it? Your conscience told you let’s stand on the street to send a message but others became the messengers of violence, looking for stores to loot. You’re not looters, you’re not criminals, you’re youths that love your nation. You mean well but do they? That’s the question. If you can answer it well, then you can stand. I urge you to have a rethink in the implementation of your right”.

  • August 1: Why protesters must embrace peace, by Ken Eneduwa

    August 1: Why protesters must embrace peace, by Ken Eneduwa

    The principal partner at Oceanwaves Strategies, Ken Eneduwa, has urged Nigerians to conduct themselves peacefully during the planned August 1, nationwide protest.

    Eneduwa made the appeal a chat with journalists on Saturday, July 27.

    While commenting on the #EndBadGovernanceprotest, he emphasised that it is the constitutional right of Nigerians to protest as well as the necessity for such demonstrations to be conducted peacefully.

    He said he is on the side of the government while he acknowledged the severe high cost of living facing Nigerians.

    He also cited hunger and the widespread suffering of the downtrodden, less privileged, and disadvantaged members of society.

    While recognising the legitimate grievances driving citizens to the streets, he urged protesters to engage with the government and security agencies to prevent the movement from being hijacked by criminals and arsonists.

    He said: “The protest is a civic right of the citizenry, but it must be peacefully done. While the economic situation is dire and the plight of the less privileged is undeniable, we must ensure that the protests do not devolve into chaos.

    “Coordination with security forces is essential to safeguard against those who might exploit the situation to attack government properties and political figures, which would only set Nigeria further back,” he admonished.

    Read Also: Sunday Igboho slams ‘faceless’ protesters plotting to destabilise govt

    Eneduwa, while condemning threats and bullying from some members and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urged that the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly is enshrined in Section 39 and 40 of the 1999 constitution and that “this should be respected, wether you are for rhe protest or against rhe protest.”

    “The supporters of the government equally have the right to stage their own peaceful protest in support of the government but planning a counter protest the same time with the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria is an attempt to ridicule or mock genuine agitation and could escalate to avoidable violence. 

    “The government should by now have understood that the attempt at suppressing the will of the people and bullying of the citizens into cowing is counterproductive. All the billions the government has allegedly spent on campaign against the protest would have been used to address some of the demands of the protesters.”

    Recall that the Inspector General of Police, Egbedokun, and other security agencies have warned protesters against violent demonstrations. 

  • August 1: ‘Youths urged to engage FG through dialogue instead of protest’

    August 1: ‘Youths urged to engage FG through dialogue instead of protest’

    Businessman and philanthropist, Chief Emeka Agba, has urged Nigerians to shun any form of protest but rather engage the federal government through dialogue even as the August 1 planned protest gathers momentum.

    Speaking at a press conference to address national issues, the founder, Chief Emeka Agba Foundation, said more Nigerians must become active in engaging the government through dialogue rather than protest.

    He said: “I would like to say that the protest should be jettisoned entirely, it should not take place. If that is what is needed to stop the protest, I am totally not in support of any protest. 

    “Not because I am not affected as a Nigerian by the way the government is functioning, or with the high cost of things in Nigeria. 

    “In fact, I am mostly affected because every now and then, I know the effort I’m putting in order to have electricity in the house and buy water for my children and all that. 

    “However, when you talk about protest with the present situation of Nigeria, it’s like somebody whose house is on fire, instead of using water to quench the flame, you went and got a gallon of gasoline and started pouring in there.

    “The protest, if it takes place, will double the suffering of Nigerians and Nigerians should stop looking at countries like Kenya, because they think Kenya had a protest. I am a very good friend of people in Kenya, including their President and the opposition party, in fact the president of Kenya is our in-law, as we speak.

    “So protests of any kind right now will really destroy things and make people suffer more, because at the end of the day, if the protests take place, it’s still you and I who will pay for what seems to have been lost, or what seems to have been damaged. 

    “Even if they borrowed money to fix those things, it is still taxpayers’ money that the government will still come back to fix it and It is still going to add to our suffering.

    “So what I think we should do, alternative to the protest, you know, neutral people as we have remained, should no longer remain too neutral, rather the government should expect us to come over to them, to continue to compel or pressure them with the demands of the masses, in a more civilized and more decent manner. 

    “The moment we talk about protest, there are so many hoodlums, jobless people, hunger is worsening in the country. They will take the advantage to begin to destroy people’s property, and start looting people’s, we’ve seen it here in this country.

    Chief Agba also addressed the recent dialogue in the petroleum sector as regards petroleum products, scarcity and more importantly the Dangote Refinery which many Nigerians thought could answer the perpetual fuel problems when when it starts supplying fuel, prices could crash to pre subsidy removal levels among other expectations,seemed not to be the case.

    He therefore urged the federal government to ensure a win win situation regardless of whoever is affronted in the interest of the masses to sort whatever is the accusation and counter accusation as regards the Dangote refinery, petrol supply and all other indices to ameliorate the suffering of the people. 

    Read Also: Protest: First Lady distributes 1,750 bags of rice to vulnerables in Oyo

    “The interest is Nigeria first because if Nigeria doesn’t grow, we have limited capacity for growth.Chief Emeka Agba Foundation  asserted that, it is crucial that we address these issues to move forward as a nation. According to him, we need to reclaim our dignity, support local industries, and ensure our leaders are working in the best interest of Nigeria. We must also scrutinize the role of foreign missions and religious leaders in shaping our national narrative. Together, we can build a stronger, more self-reliant Nigeria.

    ‘Our leaders should have pride in our nation’s capabilities. They should not be dependent on foreign validation, such as making speeches at Chatham House. True leadership means believing in our own potential and leading with confidence and self-respect’

    “Well, for minimum wage, my take on it is that if the other states can follow the two states that have accepted to pay. To me, even the 70,000 as a minimum wage, is a welcome development. It’s better than the previous amount, so, it’s a good step in the right direction, but let’s see how far this can go and I hope other states comply.”

  • Southern youth leaders mobilise against nationwide protest

    Southern youth leaders mobilise against nationwide protest

    …advocate for dialogue

    The Southern Youths Development Forum has urged youths across the country to shun the planned nationwide protest, saying that it is not the solution to Nigeria’s economic challenges.

    The national president of the forum, Pastor Bassey James, who gave the admonition during a press conference in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, on Tuesday, July 30, appealed for dialogue rather than protest.

    James described President Bola Tinubu as a listening and responsive leader who is ready to dialogue with the youths of the country to seek ways to improve the economy, alleviate hardship, and pursue national development.

    He said: “We are opposed to the protest because of the fear that disgruntled people will hijack the protest and cause crisis, mayhem, and destruction of critical national assets which will further compound the problems in the country.

    “The tension across the nation is high and patriotism demands that we come together in a time like this to preach peace, unity, and love in the overall interest of Nigeria.

    “We are already planning a national youth dialogue which will be kickstarted in Abuja, Uyo, Kaduna, and Lagos. It is better to talk, discuss, and build a united Nigeria for the benefit of all and ensure equal opportunities.”

    Read Also: Troops kill two sit-at-home enforcers in Abia

    Speaking further, the president of the group contended that if the protest is allowed there will be massive economic losses, suffering, and violence which will be a setback in the country.

    He said: “Most businesses are yet to recover from Endsars protests of 2020. Even the government has not fully rebuilt the infrastructures destroyed then and this one will compound the issues.”

    James said that Tinubu’s administration has good intentions for the country, assuring that things will change for best under him because he is pro-masses, and has fought for and supported democracy over the years.

    “Mr President is putting in place a sustainable economic blueprint which is a work in progress, the indicators are visible in security, human resources development, infrastructures, agricultural education, and other areas.

    “However some of the good things will take some time, a few months to actualize. It is not possible for a government that is only a year to do all the things, but Nigerians can see the sincerity of purpose in this administration”, he maintained.

  • Shelve protests, embrace dialogue to resolve issues, NBM of Africa urges youths

    Shelve protests, embrace dialogue to resolve issues, NBM of Africa urges youths

    The President of Neo Black Movement (NBM) of Africa, Olorogun Ese Kakor, has called for suspension of the planned nationwide protests. 

    He urged youths to rather engage the Federal Government in dialogue to address critical issues on wellbeing of the citizenry to secure commitments on implementation.

    He also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to seek urgent ways of ameliorating the hardship in the country by reviewing certain economic policies impeding on welfare of the masses and injecting more friendly policies that would quicken the economic recovery of his administration towards improving the living standards of the people.

    Making the appeal for the termination of the protests in a statemen to newsmen in Warri, yesterday, Olorogun Kakor admitted that even though the grounds for protests are quite understandable, the youths must have to first explore all the avenue of dialogue with the federal government before embarking on such protests.

    According to him:  “It is no longer news that the harsh economic situation in Nigeria is biting hard on the people; hence, the need for President Tinubu to alleviate the suffering in the country through a well defined economic blueprint and roadmap”

    Read Also: Legal limits of protest

    He also appealed to the President to consider a short term solution to the hardship while working on the long term answers to help mitigate the poverty and Inflation in the country.

    He acknowledged that President Tinubu has only spent one year in office which is not enough to address all the issues bedeviling the country, he also noted that one year of governance is not enough for Nigerians to judge a president that met a crumbling Economy. 

    While noting that every nation in the world has their economic challenges, especially regarding high inflation rates, he urged Tinubu to quickly address the issue of foodstuff hike and the hyper inflation situation that had contributed majorly to worsening the living standards of the people in the country.

    He also called the President to consider the plight of Nigerians by expediting opening of the borders and reduction in custom duties to allow goods and services, provision of good roads to our farmlands, subsidizing on foodstuffs,education, health care and housing.

    The Pan Africanist Organisation  solicited the President should role out immediate programmes that could urgently help address hunger, sufferings, injustice, inequality, insecurity and unemployment in the country.

    The Pan Africanist group also appealed to the President of Nigeria to be timely in intervening on the aforementioned issues raised by Nigerians in addressing the economic hardship.

    The President of the Pan-African Organisation, however appealed passionately to Nigerians to shelve their planned August 1st Nationwide Protest against hike in price of foodstuffs and sufferings in the country, noting that the protest may be hijacked by hoodlums which will eventually turn into a riot.

    He noted: “No law enforcement agency will fold their hands and watch a protest turning into a riot.He also urged Nigerians to be patient and engage the nation’s President through dialogue”.

    He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the only President   Nigeria has at the moment and therefore needed the support of all Nigerians to move our economy to a greater height.

    “Though Nigerians are going through sufferings and hardship owing to the recent fuel subsidy removal also faulted the removal of subsidy without policies to help cushion the effect of the removal”.

    He noted that the government should have addressed the issue of hardship before removing the subsidy knowing fully well the economic hardship it will cause nigerians. 

    “NBM of Africa wishes to appeal to Nigerians to give the Federal Government enough time to implement her economic policies that will alleviate the present hardship being experienced by the people.

  • LG autonomy not protests, will address bad governance, NRM tells youths

    LG autonomy not protests, will address bad governance, NRM tells youths

    A group, National Rebirth Movement (NRM), has called on youths to shun the planned August 1 nationwide protests against hardship, saying the recently affirmed financial autonomy for local government areas will go long way to enhance grassroots development and ultimately end Bad governance.

    A statement in Abuja on Monday by the Convener of NRM, Folusho Ojo Sylvanus, noted that as Nigeria continues to grapple with issues of governance and seeking enhanced political participation, a new opportunity has emerged for the country’s youth population to make meaningful impact through the newly granted financial autonomy for local government areas in the country.

    “This recent opportunity for enhanced self-governance at the local level presents an unprecedented chance for young Nigerians to engage directly with their communities and effect real change, as they desire, from bottom up.

    “Rather than forming phantom protest movements, which have historically lacked steam and always presenting negative results, now is the time for the youth to seize the moment and participate actively in local governance.

    “Only recently did the President Bola Tinubu’s administration achieve a great feat following the historic victory at the Supreme Court for the Local Government autonomy. This autonomy has represent a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape.

    “By empowering local authorities to make decisions and manage resources independently, the framework aims to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of governance.

    Read Also: Southwest APC moves to avert proposed protest

    “And for Nigerian youths, this autonomy is not just a structural change; it’s an invitation to take control of their own destinies and influence the development of their communities.

    “The central government’s inefficiencies and the perceived disconnect between national policies and local needs have long been sources of frustration. With local government autonomy regime, there is now a clearer pathway for addressing these issues directly at the community level.

    “This present order allows local government to tailor solutions to local problems, manage budgets more effectively, and engage citizens in decision-making processes.

    “While protests, like the End Bad Governance movement, have been instrumental in raising awareness and demanding accountability, their impact on systemic change has often been limited,” Sylvanus stated.