Osinbajo responds to nationwide anti-government protests (Read full details)

Yemi Osinbajo

As Nigerians trooped out Monday to protest against the federal government’s shoddy handling of the economic crisis skyrocketing prices of food items, the presidency said it was not unaware of the hardships people face daily.

Acting president Yemi Osinbajo said the protesters’ pains were noted and that the government would work towards re-positioning the economy to ease them off.

“To those who are protesting, WE HEAR YOU loud and clear,” he tweeted. “We hear you loud and clear, those who are on the streets protesting the economic situation and even those who are not, but feel the pain of economic hardship.”

“We hear you loud and clear. You deserve a decent life and we are working night and day to make life easier.”

To those who are protesting, WE HEAR YOU loud and clear.

— Prof Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) February 6, 2017

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To those who are on the streets protesting the economic situation & those who are not, but feel the pain of economic hardship, we hear you.

— Prof Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) February 6, 2017

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The protests championed by music star 2Face lost a bit of momentum when the Afro-pop singer pulled out, citing security concerns. His decision to stay off today’s protest divided opinions among Nigerians.

But his call to action had received widespread popular support and several civil society organisations vowed to carry on with the protest.

Though the Lagos command of the Nigerian police had warned against the demonstrations because of possibility of “breakdown of law and order with attendant loss of lives and property,” it, however,  provided security for the protesters.

Buhari extends leave (Read full details)

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his 10-day leave.

The notice of the extension was contained in a letter dispatched to the National Assembly.

Buhari’s spokesman Femi Adesina said the president extended the leave on the advice of his doctors.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly today, February 5, 2017, informing of his desire to extend his leave in order to complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors,” he said in a statement.

“The President had planned to return to Abuja this (Sunday) evening, but was advised to complete the test cycle before returning. The notice has since been dispatched to the Senate President, and Speaker, House of Representatives.

“Mr. President expresses his sincere gratitude to Nigerians for their concern, prayers and kind wishes.”

Vehicle importation ban can trigger transnational crime, says lawmaker (Read full details)

Tokunbo Vehicles

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Poverty Alleviation, Sen. Ali Wakili, says the ban on importation of vehicles through land borders can engender rise in transnational crime.

Wakili at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja said that increased crime could be recorded because adequate measures were not put in place for the implementation of the ban.

According to him, though the policy is good, the timing is bad in view of the fact that the alternatives available are not adequate.

The former Controller of Customs said that the ban had started inflicting hardship on border communities’ residents, who rely mainly on border trade for livelihood.

“The timing is bad in view of the present hardship in the country.

“With the ban, the Customs Service will be inundated with anti-smuggling activities; there will be wastage of time, wastage of resources and loss of lives.

“The Customs Service will equally have bad public relations from the border communities because they will be antagonistic to officers.

“You people in the media reported when there was a problem at the border last year over a vehicle that someone was shot dead and there was riot as a result.

“Besides, every day you report clashes around Badagry and Idiroko borders.

“This policy just came in December and you are implementing it by the first day of January without taking the people into confidence by explaining to them what you want to do.

“There was not even moratorium, no grace period. Some people from the North came to me during our last recess to say that this policy is anti-people,’’ he said.

According to Wakili, while smuggling should be discouraged at all cost, government ought to have created enabling environment before going on with the ban.

He said, ‘’People will be ready to do the correct thing once there is an enabling environment.

“I have said over time that we should build inland container depots and rejuvenate the railways.

“By the time we build the inland container depots, people will consign their goods and as soon as they drop from the ship, put them on the train and take them to the hinterlands.

“ We are not saying the Customs Service does not have the right, we are saying that it is bad timing.

“We do not want the hardship Nigerians went through during the ban on importation of rice to repeat itself.’’

The lawmaker urged the Service to have a re-think on the policy, adding that the present administration was voted in to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians and not to inflict pain on them.