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Issues Around Hunger Protests In Niger

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Fears have arisen in Niger State due to protests and the hijacking of a truck carrying food by enraged youths and women.

Earlier this month, a group of women staged a protest against the high cost of living and resulting hunger. However, the protest escalated when some youths joined in, blocking the Kpagungu axis of Minna-Bida Road.

The women carried placards with messages such as “No food, we are dying of hunger,” and “Govt: Control food prices before we die of hunger,” demanding improved living conditions and reduced costs.

This protest led to traffic congestion on the busy Minna-Bida Road, a crucial route linking the North-Central and North-West to the South-West of Nigeria.

Aisha Jibrin, considered the initiator of the protest, and 24 others were initially arrested but later released.

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More recently, two days ago, protesters seized trailers loaded with food in Suleja, prompting security forces to intervene. This marked the second major protest in the state, with youths obstructing numerous trailers traveling from Abuja to Kaduna.

The youths set fire to tires on the road and began looting bags of grains, rice, and beans before security personnel dispersed them with force. Despite the intervention, several bags of food were already taken.

The Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the protest and subsequent police action to clear the highway.

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, attributed the hunger protests to the activities of food speculators, whom he accused of hoarding and transporting food out of the state. He issued an executive order to halt this practice, authorizing the confiscation of trucks found loading food supplies in rural markets.

The recent events have raised questions about the extent to which such actions are permissible, with concerns voiced by various stakeholders. Comrade Abdullahi Jabi, Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, North Central Zone, urged for a more productive approach to engage and mobilize youths, cautioning against politicization of the issue.

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Efforts to reach Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, representing Niger East, for comment on the alleged neglect of youths in his constituency, were unsuccessful.

Prominent political figure in Minna, Yahaya Idrees, accused the senator of detachment from his constituency, particularly amid the recent protests. The protests largely occurred in Niger East, where the senator was expected to undertake empowerment programs.

Observers emphasize the need for collaborative efforts beyond the state government, suggesting the involvement of both legislative and executive arms in addressing the root causes of the unrest.

Social scientist Mohammed Farouk attributed the recent behavior of youths to economic and social deprivation, emphasizing the importance of empathy and servant leadership from those in positions of authority.

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Hospital Board Suspends Doctor Over Negligence In Kano

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Dr. Mansur Nagoda, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board, has sanctioned the immediate suspension of a medical officer at the Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital. This action follows numerous complaints from patients and staff regarding the doctor’s unauthorized absence from duty.

Dr. Nagoda disclosed that the suspended doctor, whose identity is withheld, left the hospital without informing any authority or management personnel. Despite attempts to reach her, she claimed to be on the premises but failed to report to the doctors’ quarters or fulfill her duties, leaving a dialysis patient distressed.

Emphasizing the ethical responsibility of doctors to prioritize patient care, Dr. Nagoda stressed the need for accountability and professionalism within the healthcare system. He warned that proper arrangements must be made with another doctor when absent from duty, and negligence will not be tolerated.

The suspension will remain in effect pending the investigation’s outcome, demonstrating the board’s commitment to upholding standards of conduct among healthcare workers. Dr. Nagoda reiterated the board’s expectation for all personnel to fulfill their duties diligently, emphasizing consequences for those found derelict in their responsibilities.

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Oyebanji approves 50% subsidy on improved oil palm, cocoa, cashew seedlings for Ekiti farmers

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Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of Ekiti State has authorized a 50 percent subsidy on oil palm, cocoa, and cashew seedlings for distribution to farmers in the state during this planting season. Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, conveyed this information in a statement released to the press in Ado-Ekiti.

He explained that this initiative is part of the strategic measures undertaken by the Oyebanji administration to generate employment, foster wealth creation, and revive Ekiti State’s agricultural sector to its former glory, particularly harking back to the prosperous era of the 1970s when it was renowned globally as a leading cocoa production hub in Nigeria.

Boluwade emphasized that the program aims to rejuvenate the state’s agricultural prowess by replacing aging trees in existing plantations and those lost to bushfires with high-quality seedlings possessing shorter gestation periods. Furthermore, concerted efforts are underway to attract enthusiastic young farmers into cocoa plantation farming.

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‘We’ve no hotel’ – Nigerian Correctional Service clears air

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The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) clarified that the Correctional Service Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (COCOS) Hotel and Gardens Project was not financed by the Federal Government. Umar Abubakar, the agency’s Public Relations Officer, made this statement in Abuja on Wednesday, emphasizing that the hotel was an investment of the NCoS Cooperative Society.

Responding to concerns raised about the facility, Abubakar stressed that the hotel, featured on the Service’s official Facebook page, was solely aimed at enhancing staff welfare. He attributed its establishment to strategic planning and efficiency within the agency’s cooperative unit.

Abubakar expressed bewilderment at attempts to discourage meaningful investments, highlighting that the “COCOS Hotels and Gardens” was inaugurated on March 1, 2021, by former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola. He asserted that the report in question is not only deceptive but also aimed at spreading misinformation. Abubakar clarified that the hotel was constructed in 2021 and is exclusively owned by the Correctional Cooperative Society, established in 1996 for all personnel of the service.

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