₦airaland Forum

Peter Obi should step back from the media to allow President Bola Tinubu's team to cease using him as a diversion from the country's failures

Once Peter Obi is out of the picture, Nigerians can genuinely focus on asking questions, & BAT PR team won't have anyone to hide behind.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's PR team needs to begin showcasing the achievements of their principal, almost a year into his term. Enough of using Peter Obi as a distraction from the underwhelming performance of BAT since taking office.

madridguy:
You should also forget sentiment and be honest with yourself. Will you be happy someone go online, make videos to spoil your brand?

madridguy:
Noise making as usual

Some Nigerian tweeps have threatened to boycott all Erisco Foods products for allegedly bullying and intimidating Mrs Chioma Okoli, a female customer who was arrested for giving the tomato product of the company a negative review.

Nigerian police last week asked Chioma Okoli to show up to allow justice to take its course in the matter involving her and Erisco Foods Limited.

SaharaReporters in January reported that policemen on the alleged orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, invaded the residence of Okoli in Lagos State.

SaharaReporters learnt that the team of policemen from Abuja who claimed to be acting on the orders of the Inspector General of Police moved to re-arrest Okoli without serving any court order authorising them to do so.

Also in January, Effiong disclosed that Okoli had received the sum of N1.9 million donation from Nigerians for legal fees.

ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer in a statement on Thursday, reaffirmed the commitment of the police to “upholding the rule of law in the Erisco Tomato matter”.

According to him, it is imperative to caution members of the public against spreading misinformation and attempting to manipulate public sentiments.

He said the recent developments in the case are deeply worrisome, particularly the use of crowdfunding as a means to influence legal proceedings, adding that such actions undermine the integrity of the justice system and threaten the principles of fairness and accountability as they are highly inimical to the existence of the rule of law.

Adejobi admonished Nigerians, most especially social media influencers, to resort to embracing the rule of law, and shun all displays of sentiments in the case.

However, SaharaReporters learnt last week that the police had not served Chioma Okoli yet.

Speaking with SaharaReporters, Chioma Okoli's lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said, "The Force PRO in his statement stated among others things thus: ‘We therefore advise the suspect to cease the continual jumping bail and turn up in court.’

"However, this document is the certified true copy of the record of proceedings of the first day that this case came up at the Federal High Court in Abuja on 7th December, 2023.

"You can see from this document that I was in court and I represented Chioma. I appeared in protest on that day because she had not been served. I had to withdraw my appearance because she was not served.

"The police were represented by their lawyer, M. L. Anthony, who admitted in the open court as you can see from the record that they were yet to serve Chioma with the charge. As you can see from the record, it was Mr. Anthony who pleaded for an adjournment to enable them to do the needful; that is to enable them to serve Chioma with the charge.”

Meanwhile, social media users in Nigeria have expressed anger at the treatment of Chioma Okoli by the police and the company.

For instance, Shehu Gazali Sadiq (@Shehusky) tweeted, "I boycotted Erisco Food since last year that the brand started oppressing Chioma for some product review. I cannot continue to patronize a monster with this face. I don’t know why you still buy the watery and sugary tomato paste. #BoycottEriscoFoods.”

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Also @Morris_Monye tweeted, "If Nigerians did not tackle this Erisco issue like this, other organizations won’t learn. All organizations will now be careful before oppressing any Nigerian.

"When you use a bazooka to kill a fly in your house, you will most likely destroy your house in the process.”

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Also @itspauldaniels tweeted, "Very true. Nigerians should be very far from Erisco food because it means even if what you buy is po!son you can’t speak."

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Tiaraoluwa (@TheOluwabukunmi) wrote, "This Erisco situation is so ridiculous. They’re willing to do everything and anything except that which will actually work; apologise to Chioma and withdraw their unnecessary suit. It’s giving ‘he who the gods want to destroy, they first make mad.’”

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@General_Oluchi, "Now that Erisco has hired a professional image cleaner to handle this issue, let me use this opportunity to advise Osigwe and his team that, my mess is not cleanable. It stinks like a skunk and I won’t get tired. I was not paid or hired, never have been, so money is not my motivation.

"I will only step away from spearheading a boycott only if Erisco withdraws his case, apologizes and pays Chioma for damages and tell his friends at the police to back the f*** off."

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A.C. Harrison (@Harriseen_) tweeted, "@General_Oluchi e be like your bro Erisco dey into Oil and Gas too! E be like dem dey run fake fire extinguishers too o!

"@EriscoOfficial Let Chioma gooooo oooo.”

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Wemimo Adewuni (@wemimospot) said, “#istandwithChiomaOkoli and I will be boycotting EVERY item that comes from Erisco Foods!

"Such bold faced tyranny will not be supported!

"I loooooove how @sisiogelagos asked this question: "WHO DIED AND MADE YOU GOD, ERIC."

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@General_Oluchi tweeted: "The same man whose wife swore he’s the best thing to happen to her is telling us that there are prison rooms for pregnant women and Chioma can stay there if she likes!

"For those who keep saying that I’m trying to render his 3k employees jobless, here’s your boss saying he’d rather close down his business than let Chioma go! He is the one already making arrangements to fire you people, so you better start looking for jobs elsewhere!

“I would rather die; I would rather close down Erisco Foods to fight for my right!”

The National Action on Sugar Reduction (NASR), a coalition, has called for an increase in tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) to reduce the burden of obesity.

Omei Bongos-Ikwue, a representative of the NASR, made the call during a rally on Saturday in Abuja to commemorate the 2024 World Obesity Day, celebrated annually on March 4.

“We urge the government to implement higher taxes on sugary drinks,” said Mr Bongos-Ikwue. “The goal of this pro-health tax is to protect more Nigerians from the risks of obesity, alleviate the burden on the healthcare system, and promote a healthier society.”

According to him, statistics have shown that one in eight people worldwide grapples with obesity.

He said the alarming statistic had also revealed that 30 per cent of Nigerians were overweight and that 15 per cent of such figures were classified as obese.

Mr Bongos-Ikwue said the World Health Organisation (WHO) had also underscored the global scale of the obesity crisis, with more than one billion people affected worldwide.

He said the disease was majorly attributed to excessive calorie intake and that obesity posed a significant threat to health.

According to him, SSBs emerged as the primary source of added sugar in diets and have been scientifically linked to abdominal obesity.

“SSBs are identified as a key driver of cardiometabolic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

“This rally featured an extensive awareness campaign, engaging choreography by volunteers, games, and informative factsheets aimed at enlightening the public,” he stated.

I once met Peter Obi on the plane, I was impressed by his simplicity - @B_ELRUFAI
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#miconpodcast #achatwithelrufai

Nigeria is not good right now; I'm not the typical APC person to come out and say things are jolly, they are not - @B_ELRUFAI
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#miconpodcast #achatwithelrufai

The declaration was made in the report of the Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission (ATJPC), the executive summary of which was made available to journalists on Friday in Awka, the state capital.

It noted that restiveness and killings had resulted in a structural problem of demographic sustainability because women were finding it difficult to find mating partners.

The report stated that women were some of the worst-hit victims, as they might continue to suffer from killings, rape, loss of husbands and sons and denial of livelihoods.

It also noted that thousands of young people had been killed in Igboland since 1999, when restiveness became pronounced in the region, just as many had fled the rural areas.

“It has reduced the likelihood that women will be able to find suitable mating or marriageable partners while also increasing the likelihood that females will end up unmarried and reproductively unfulfilled,” it said.

The commission said the security challenges will further increase the number of unmarried women residing in the South-East.

“These women could remain unmarried or wait out their productive years in search of a suitor who has likely been killed.

“They may feel intimidated about giving birth to a child outside marriage for fear of being labelled wayward and humiliating their families for birthing children into illegitimacy,’’ it declared.

The report recalled the case of Amaka Igwe, the lawyer, who was killed in Onitsha alongside her husband. It also recounted the killing of Harira Jubril near Umunze in Orumba South Local Government Area on May 25, 2022, alongside her four daughters.

It stated that the killings had resulted in destitution or dependencies among men and had led to economic impoverishment for many women, mass widowhood and enforced childlessness.

The commission noted that in rural or farming communities, polygamy had remained prevalent and women’s access to land depended on their relationship with the men in their lives.

“Married women who have no sons can lose access to land and to subsistence in a political economy in which re-marriage can be quite difficult for a woman with children,’’ it stated.

The report stressed that the consequences of insecurity had negated previous progress made on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Anambra, as young boys abandoned education and fled their communities for fear of being killed or abducted.

The United Nations created 17 world development goals called the SDGs in 2015 with the aim of peace and prosperity for people and the planet then and into the future.

Anambra’s 14-man ATJPC was inaugurated in June 2022 to investigate insecurity in Anambra and the South-East. It submitted its final report to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Wednesday.

The commission has Chidi Odinkalu, a human rights lawyer and former chairman of the Nigeria Human Rights Commission, as its chairman.

Akintoye Benson, an aide to the chairman of the Lagos Chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, has reportedly died.

Benson, who was seen in a wrecked vehicle in a viral video, was said to have died in an auto crash on Third Mainland Bridge on Thursday night.

Confirming his death, a friend of the deceased, Ogunseye Vincent, wrote on his Facebook page that the late Benson was a vibrant man with high hopes and vision.

“The news of your passing came to me as a rude shock. You were a vibrant man with high hopes and vision.

“Though the memory we shared remains forever, I take solace in the trust that Olodumare will grant your soul a peaceful rest. Sail well to eternity, Comrade Akintoye Benson (Baba Ogun),” he added.

Until his death, Benson was the chairman of the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN) Zone H.

Efforts to reach Akinsanya for a comment proved abortive as his phone could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.

Pls no matter how hard it is or how big the trouble you got yourself into please don’t take your life, the student that dropped a suicidal note I only blame the hardship and financial strife that lead to his undertaking of such risk, swrs students suffer in this country Walahi

The student in question is Ezugbu Shedrach, A radiography finalist in the University of Nigeria Enugu campus, whom dropped a dropped a suicide note with his friend and fellow student and has gone missing since the early hours of today was searched for in his room in school hostel

Sources have it that he has some complications and some issues in school which can be presumed to contribute to his undertaken.

Hahaha. Why I no go charge 300k for Twitter Space when Rice Man has already paid you and the two men that went with you to his house, to collect the money for his campaign??

Should I do a free work when I know provisions for the money has already been made and paid to you🤣🤣🤣🤣

Tell Serah Aishatu Ibrahim (her bank name) to stop deleting her line of that chats if she is clean.

Minister of Power sef dey carry Power Bank with Oraimo Cord; 😆

Another looting of a truck transporting food items this morning at Daidai Abuja.

This is a broad-day live robbery.

Peter Obi is a fraud. I am 100% sure he pays all the influencers promoting him online. He tried to pay me after I met him for a 2hrs meeting at his instance during the campaign. He called the money: thank you for coming. I repeat, Obi is a fraud. Let him sue me if he is not.

A12-year old Junior Secondary School (JSS-2) student, (name withheld), who was allegedly used to buy two bags of rice by suspected kidnappers has been found.

His father, Pastor Joshua Ogbonna told journalists on Sunday in Lagos that suspected kidnappers allegedly took his son and used him to buy two bags of rice valued at N180,000 from a food stuff seller.

He said that on Friday, March 1, at about 9.00 a.m., his son was asked to buy moi-moi (bean pudding) for family breakfast and did not return home.

According to him, the boy went to the place to buy the moi-moi, the seller told him it was not ready, but collected the money and told him to return when it is ready.

He said some minutes later, his boy went back to the woman to collect the moi-moi, but the boy never returned.

“We were looking for him everywhere, we went to the place he was supposed to buy the moi-moi and asked the lady selling.

She explained that the boy was there earlier but the moi-moi was not ready, she collected N1,000 from him and asked him to come back later.

“She explained that when he came back, he came with a man and the lady thought the man was his father, the man collected the moi-moi from her and they both left.

“She said the man was putting on a white top and black trousers, dark in complexion. I told her we have been looking for him, and there after, we went to New Oko-Oba Police Division at Abule-Egba, to make entry, so that they can help me look for my child,” he said.

Mr Ogbonna further explained that while they were still at the station, around 5.00 p.m., he received a call from another police officer, who said he was calling from Red House Police Station, Iju Ishaga.

Mr Ogbonna said that the officer told him his son was with them and he should come to the station.

He said he went there with three policemen from the New Oko-Oba Police Division, where they told the officer that there was a report of a missing child.

“The police officer, who called me, said this is not a case of a missing child, but theft.

The officer said the child stole two bags of rice. I asked, how can a 12-year old boy steal two bags of rice, I told the officer that we live in Abule-Egba.

The police showed me a footage of two men and the boy, who went to the rice seller. The policeman said that the men bought two bags of rice for N180,000.

“The officer said one of the men claimed that they had a church event and needed to buy rice. The man claimed he was the father of the boy.

“He asked the boy to wait at the rice shop, while he went home to get the money, he left with the two bags of rice in company of the other man,” he explained.

Mr Ogbonna said the officer explained that when the man did not come back with the money, the rice seller asked the boy the “whereabouts of his father who brought him there.”

“My boy told the rice seller that he didn’t know the man nor where he lived, they started beating him, calling him thief, while he was being beaten a man came up to his rescue.

“They told him all that happened. They went to police station with my boy to report the case, that was when they called me. The Police said there was a CCTV Camera that captured them when they were coming to carry the rice.

“They didn’t show me where they were carrying the rice. The rice sellers insisted that I must pay for the rice, I told them, I can’t pay for two bags, I will pay for one bag for my son to be released to me.

“I paid N90,000 for one bag of rice. After that Police said I must bail my child, I told them how can I bail a child. They insisted, then I told them, I will leave my child with them if they refuse to release him to me.

“I later paid N5,000 to bail my son,” he said.

Mr Ogbonna said he left the Red House Police Station for Oko-Oba Police Division to close the case of missing child with N10,000 payment.

He said his son later told him how he met the man on his way to buy the moi-moi.

According to his son, while going to buy the moi-moi, a man stopped him, and requested him to hold his phone for him that he wanted to use water to wash his legs.

He said his son explained that after the man washed his legs, he collected the phone from him, hit his head, made some incantations, he said that was the last thing he remembered.

“My son said the only thing he could remember was that he was on top of a motorcycle to a place with the man, where they took a tricycle (Keke Maruwa) to another place, and from there, they took another motorcycle to Opawale, where the man abandoned him.

“The trauma was hell for my son. He has not recovered up till now. It was God, who saved his life,” Mr Ogbonna said.

The Lagos Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, stressing that the police were investigating the case.

Mr Hundeyin advised traders to beware of fraudsters using innocent children as collateral to obtain goods.

“Insist that they leave with their brother or sister and bring the money before they can take any item,” he counselled.

Shettima, who gave the assurance on Saturday, when he visited former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, maintained that President Bola Tinubu-led administration would leave no stone unturned to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians.

Nigeria's Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has vowed that the present administration will deploy available resources to fight insecurity to ensure national peace and stability.

Shettima, who gave the assurance on Saturday, when he visited former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, maintained that President Bola Tinubu-led administration would leave no stone unturned to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians.

While expressing appreciation to Vice President Shettima for the visit, former President Buhari commended the present administration for its efforts towards stabilising the economy.

He said, “I am very pleased that they are able to stabilise the situation and continue to really get concerned about Nigerians. I am very happy about their performance.”

Meanwhile, many Nigerians have been experiencing hardship following the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira by Tinubu’s administration.

The policies have drastically increased the prices of goods and food items. Even though the International Monetary Fund has praised Tinubu for having the courage to make tough economic decisions that his predecessors failed to make, many Nigerians have lambasted the government for being anti-poor.

Consequently, there have been protests in some states against the current hardship and unprecedented high cost of living.

Insisting that the present administration is committed to tackling all forms of security threats across the nation, the vice president said his visit to Daura was informed by the need to identify with the former president and also commiserate with the government and people of Katsina State over the recent bandit attacks in some communities in the state.



According to a statement by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the vice president assured the people of Katsina and other parts of the country affected by terrorist attacks that Tinubu’s administration would deploy available resources to fight insecurity.



He said, “I am here essentially to pay homage to the elder statesman. This is my first time coming to Daura since he came back home and we felt duty-bound to come and identify with him and also to commiserate with the people of Katsina, the governor and the government over the sad incidents of some loss of lives in the past couple of days.



“We also want to assure them of the federal government’s determination to secure their lives and also to convey the best wishes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to his excellency, former President Mohammadu Buhari and the good people of Katsina.”



The vice president also reassured the people of Katsina and Nigerians at large that the “federal government will leave no stone unturned and will expend whatever resources that are needed to safeguard the lives and properties of the citizenry.”



The vice president also paid courtesy calls on the Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Umar Faruq Umar and the Emir of Katsina, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Abdulmumini Kabir Usman.



The Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha were among the dignitaries who accompanied the vice president on the visit.

Popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1 or K1 De Ultimate, has cancelled his forthcoming 67th birthday celebration over the current state of the nation.

Wasiu Ayinde who is well known as a strong loyalist of President Bola Tinubu revealed this in a press statement he issued on Thursday.

The veteran singer said he preferred that his loyalists made donations to people in need rather than celebrate his birthday with him.

This decision comes barely a month after the singer cried during a live performance during which he sang about how Tinubu's performance had left Nigerians disappointed so far.



His statement reads: “To the glory of God Almighty, I shall be turning 67 years on this planet earth on 3rd of March 2024.

“A joyous day for me, that many of my friends and associates across the globe usually join with me and my family to celebrate.

“My fans, both home and abroad, always make the best out of that day in history.

“Now that the day is near and inside of me, there is nothing much happening in our country Nigeria to warrant me celebrating at this point in time.

“Many people are praying for survival at this point; to feed well is a big issue for many and, as someone that benefits from many of these people crying and lamenting, I share in their pains and see no reason I should be celebrating.

“Yes, I agree what our country is passing through now is not permanent and government is trying in every possible way to get things fixed and I believe God Almighty shall open ways and better direction for the leadership of our dear country.

“I, hereby, implore and request all my loved ones, instead of coming to celebrate, eat and drink at this time, please choose this my coming birthday celebration to help someone nearer to you.

“Try to, at least, secure a better living at this critical period of our nation’s travails to share however small the gift to people.

“God Almighty shall replenish your pockets in multiple fold as you choose to get along with me on this.

“I thank you immensely and I shall live to appreciate you all so very much till my last day on this planet earth.”

Ukraine has donated 25,000 tonnes of wheat as emergency food assistance to 1.3 million vulnerable, crisis-affected people in northeast Nigeria amidst rising inflation and food price spikes.

This is contained in a statement by Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, spokeswoman for the British High Commission’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, on Friday.

The statement said the donation was made under the auspices of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) response in the North-East.

It explained that the contribution was part of Ukraine’s humanitarian ‘Grain from Ukraine’ initiative launched by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The statement disclosed that the shipment was made through a collaborative effort from the UK, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, the Republic of Korea and Sweden, who transported it from Ukraine to Nigeria.

According to the statement, the grain intervention was informed by the soaring prices of staple food in Nigeria, pushing basic meals out of reach for millions of vulnerable families nationwide.

“This is a really tough time for many people across the world, including in Nigeria. It is important that we help the most vulnerable populations. The UK is proud to be part of the global community supporting WFP to distribute lifesaving grain across Nigeria, reaching over 600,000 people.

“This contribution will go some way to addressing rising food insecurity driven by conflict and regional instability. We continue to back measures that help reduce its impact in Nigeria, support livelihoods and promote peace.

“Deadly conflicts and persistent violence in northeast Nigeria have driven millions of people out of their homes, off their farms and across the region, jeopardising agriculture and livelihoods production,” said Cynthia Rowe, British High Commission development director.

Ms Rowe also noted that over the past three months, unlike in previous years, prices of key staples across several markets in Nigeria increased above pre-harvest levels, hampering food access for vulnerable families who depended on harvest and markets for their supplies.

“In Maiduguri, for example, the wholesale prices of red beans have increased by 210 per cent compared to the same period last year (February 2023). Similarly, prices of maise and sorghum increased by 176 per cent and 188 per cent, respectively.

“The country is also grappling with its fourth consecutive year of chronic food insecurity, with 26.5 million people across the country projected to face acute hunger during the 2024 lean season between June and August, according to the November 2023 Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis.

“WFP is committed to working with the government and partners to build more resilient, inclusive, and effective food systems, taking advantage of its current footprint in the country,” Ms Rowe added.

She also said through its ‘Out of Conflict into Solutions’ food systems approach, WFP seeks to prioritise emergency food assistance for the most vulnerable groups while supporting self-reliance by rebuilding assets to improve long-term food security and resilience.

According to Ms Rowe, these include climate change adaptation, timely access to nutritious food, and promoting innovative financing to support WFP operations.

In 2023, WFP invested $200 million in the agricultural economy through locally purchased food and cash transfers to crisis-affected families for food redemption in local markets, Ms Rowe revealed.

Also commenting on the gesture, David Stevenson, WFP representative and country director in Nigeria, expressed the organisation’s appreciation to the Ukrainian government for the donation.

Mr Stevenson stated, “We extend our heartfelt thanks to the government of Ukraine, partners, and donors for their unwavering support through the Grain from Ukraine Initiative. This collaborative effort plays a crucial role in alleviating suffering and maintaining human dignity in areas facing conflict and food price increase.

“As part of WFP’s ongoing humanitarian operations, the wheat donation will be combined with cash and other commodities to meet the basic food and nutrition needs of crisis-affected women, men and children for a two-month period.”

He added, “WFP has the tools and willingness to support the government in restoring and unlocking the agricultural potential of northeast Nigeria making it again the breadbasket of the country. But we cannot achieve this alone.”

Mr Stevenson also mentioned that collective action was needed to bring peace and stability, ensure stable markets, encourage financial investments, and generate employment “through enhanced collaboration with Nigerian private sector partners, suppliers, transporters, service providers, and retailers.”

He said, “To ensure continued food and nutrition assistance to crisis-affected people in northeast and northwest Nigeria, WFP urgently requires $154 million for the next six months (March-August 2024).”

Strange things are happening in Ibadan due to hunger and hardship. Ladies, beware! Some shameless men now roam Ibadan wooing ladies so that they can gain easy access to their breast milk.

Faced with empty wallets and growling stomachs, they brainstormed a rather unconventional solution.

They roamed the streets of Ibadan with a peculiar determination, armed with pickup lines, but with a different mission - to cure hunger, not lust.

A lady, speaking anonymously, confided in me that at first, she was mesmerized by their poetry and charm. 'It's been ages since someone had said such sweet words to me,' she said. 'And then we started making out - kissing and licking. Then I revealed one of my boobs to seduce him. But that was where I made a mistake. He won't do anything else other than sucking my breast for hours like a malnourished kid whose country has been ravaged by famine,' she narrated as a tear fell from her eyes. 'I had to end the relationship a week later as all he ever wanted was for me to breastfeed him."

Another lady, Funmi, lamented over the recent trend. 'The men should understand that they're not the only ones being punished by Tinubu. We are also hungry. If you want breast milk, meet your mothers. I'll never allow any man to suck my breast again in the guise of romance.'

Soon, words spread like wildfire across the city as it became a hot topic at local hangouts and hookup joints. Even "runs girls" are not left out as everyone shared anecdotes about the lengths some men would go to have a sip of that sweet, lactating nectar.

'I don't even allow them to touch my breasts. Why should I? You can't pay me 2000 naira for a short time, and after pounding me, you still drink my milk worth thousands of naira. No way!' Miss Precious, a popular runs girl, thundered.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have called on President Bola Tinubu to end the hardship he inflicted on the nation.

The National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, NAS/PC has weighed in on the economic crisis in Nigeria with a clarion call on President Bola Tinubu and the political class to stop further grandstanding and get to work to fix the economy, curb insecurity and tame food inflation.



The NAS Capoon, Mr Abiola Owoaje in a press statement entitled ‘The Spectre of Hunger in Nigeria: Enough of the Grandstanding by the Political Class,’ said the devastating effect of the economic policies of the Tinubu administration and the lack of vision of most of the state governors were responsible for the current hardship faced by Nigerians.



Owoaje therefore advocated for urgent taming of insecurity and sweeping agricultural reforms from the Federal Government and the various state governments to salvage the situation.



He said, “However, we need to point out that the political class with President Tinubu at the apex needs to move swiftly to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians. This time calls for honest, pragmatic and responsible leadership from Nigeria’s political class in dousing tension over economic shocks being faced by several Nigerians.



“Democracy is about the people thus the expectation it would lead to improved lives for the people without hindrance. Section 14 (2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 declares that security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. A government that cannot tame insecurity and which for the past few months has been unable to improve the lives of its citizens through its policies and programmes calls to question its capability both at the central and the sub-national levels to preside over the affairs of the citizens.



“Now is the time for President Tinubu to walk the talk. His promise to further boost food production through aggressive mechanisation should not just be empty talk. Nigerians expect him to pursue governance with the same vigour he deployed in the realisation of his presidential ambition.



“Agricultural initiatives like the Anchor Borrowers Programme that have been fraught by loan repayment hiccups and official corruption should be reviewed for efficiency. The complaints by All Farmers Association of Nigeria that several beneficiaries of the scheme are not farmers should be addressed. Nigeria can no longer afford laudable schemes being sabotaged by supervisory government officials and the political class.”



He listed the implementation of state police in the long run, agro-rangers as a stop-gap measure, and the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and access to finance and technology by farmers as other measures to curb food inflation in the country.



Owoaje expressed disappointment with state governors for being able to improve the lives of their people with the increased revenue to the states between July 2023 and February 2024.



He therefore challenged the various state governments to shake off their complacency in public policy formulation and work for the people.

Families Of ‘Repentant’ Terrorists, Displaced Persons Threaten To Return To Jungle Over Hardship, Neglect, Says Life Was Better Under Boko Haram Occupation

Some displaced persons in Borno state have threatened to return to the territory under the control of Boko Haram terrorists, SaharaReporters has learnt.

Like the IDPs, some family members of repentant Boko Haram fighters have issued the same threat, citing hunger and hardship in the IDP camps.

This comes as hardship bites hard across the country, sparking nationwide demonstrations by organised labour.

Just like the IDPs, the families of the repentant Boko Haram fighters have accused authorities of neglecting the daily supply of food and other necessities.

To them, life was better under Boko Haram occupation; as such, returning to the jungle was a matter of survival.

According to them, the supply of basic necessities has been cut off and there are no farmlands available to cultivate.

"Some of our colleagues here in Dikwa have decided to return to the bush because life is not any better here in the camp. We're just suffering here," a displaced person lamented.

"We took the decision to leave our families behind and relocate to the Boko Haram-controlled area because it is all about dying whether here or there," another person added.

However, the Borno state governor, Babagana Umara Zulum described the complaints as baseless, saying, "those who want to return to Boko Haram in the bush are free to do so."

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, is among those leading the ongoing two-day massive protest in the state over the bad state of the economy in the country.

In a photograph, CP Fayoade, together with his team, was seen marching with thousands of residents along Awolowo way, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The members of the Nigerian Labour Congress and other concerned citizens on Tuesday began the massive protest across the country.

The protesters were seen in their large numbers on the streets of Lagos State and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to demand immediate intervention from the Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian Government to ease the hardships citizens are currently facing in the country.

They are also protesting the government's alleged failure to implement agreements reached between both parties on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the fuel subsidy.

The decision followed the conclusion of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government to implement measures against the widespread hardship.

VICE President Kassim Shettima has said that Nigeria will fully work when the south east performs optimally in industrialization with adequate power supply.

He equated the region with the Jews, whom he said are “practically mobile, economically enterprising and educationally ambitious.”

The Vice President disclosed that he rejected a proposal that suggested to cut off the south east from electricity supply due to a debt profile, noting that President Bola Tinubu means well for the nation, noting that the south east and the Governors of the zone are the bests among others.

The Vice President made the remarks during the launch of South East Business Roundtable “Light up Nigeria Program”, conducted by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, NDPHC, in Enugu, on Monday.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State said that the ‘Light-Up Nigeria Project’ signals a new dawn for power and industrialisation of the South East region, noting that the initiative aligns with his administration’s disruptive approach to governance underpinned by thinking outside the box.

According to Vice President Shettima, “We have to make the South East work; we’re targeting the south east for a two million job for women and the youths. We’re proceeding to Abia state to commission the power station built by the elder statesman, Prof Barth Nnaji and we will also commission some road projects and back to Enugu to commission the Smart school because education is the greatest gift you can give a generation.”

In his remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of NDPHC, Engr. Chinedu Ugbo said that the forum provided an opportunity to interact with the Vice President and the business clusters in the south east, adding that the lunch was also for the South-East phase of the strategic collaboration between NDPHC and other project parties to provide steady and reliable electricity supply to industrial and business clusters across Nigeria.

Ugbo stated that one major challenge the NDPHC has was the lack of sufficient transmission and distribution infrastructure to transport power from the plants, adding that another challenge stems from financial difficulties in the electric power sector, leading to inadequate payments by distribution companies and Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading company (NBET) to generation companies like NDPHC.

“The huge indebtedness to the generation companies affects the ability of the generation companies to pay for gas supply leading to gas supply shortage and the resulting low generation. At a recent press conference, the Honourable Minister of Power, rightly identified this severe liquidity crisis as a major impediment to electricity supply in the country with over N1.3 trillion owed to generation companies. NDPHC alone is owed close to N200bn out of that.

“These challenges of lack of sufficient transmission and distribution infrastructure to transport electricity from the plants and the sector market liquidity crisis have resulted in gross underutilisation of installed generation assets with unserved potential grid electricity consumers, particularly industries (some of which are represented here today), resorting to expensive and often inefficient selfgeneration.

“In response to these challenges, NDPHC initiated the Light up Nigeria Project, which aims to provide reliable and affordable electricity supply to industries and homes by utilizing underutilized generation capacity, establishing trading agreements with bulk purchasers of electricity, and mobilizing investments to address technical, commercial, and collection losses in the supply chain. Additionally, NDPHC aims to receive full payment for the electricity generated and delivered, without relying on the Federal Government for such payments.

“The project aligns with the Electricity Act of 2023 (graciously signed into law by His Excellency Present Bola Tinubu GCFR), which provides a strong framework for state governments to develop electricity markets at the sub-national level, with the aim of delivering consistent and affordable electricity to residents. Through the Light up Nigeria project, state governments will derive the benefit of increased access to electricity, attraction of investment opportunities, revenue generation and economic growth. At the Federal level, the project will help to reduce the financial burden on FGN’s balance sheet from debt exposure of NBET.

“The project is further reinforced by NERC’s MYTO 2024 which mandates distribution companies to secure adequate bilateral contracts and exit from contractual relationships with NBET. NDPHC remains at the forefront in pursuing bilateral electric power sales and other projects that ensure efficient and targeted electricity delivery to end-users.”