NEWS
Happening Now: Police Helpless, As Economic Hardship Protests Takeover Lagos
In what can be described as a triumph of the peoples will and breaking into fragments, an anti-hardship protest has broken out in Lagos on Monday.
Biztellers reports that a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) had hit Abuja last week, protesting against the proposed anti-hardship protest the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had scheduled for the last two days of February 2024.
In a similar manner, Benin City, the Edo State capital had witnessed anti-hardship protests, while National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had urged the NLC to pay priority attention to national development, instead of protesting.
This discordant tunes coming out from the civil society and organised labour segments of the Nigerian society almost epitomise the high tempo-political campaigns that precede elections.
What make the situation more intriguing is that in Lagos State, the Police had warned against anti-hardship protests but a group, “Take It Back Movement” (TIB), would have none of that.
The protest, Biztellers reports was to draw attention to the soaring prices of food and the high cost of living in Nigeria.
Residents of Lagos are also worried about the cost of intra-city transportation.
Recall that the Commissioner, Lagos State Police Command, Adegoke Fayoade, on Sunday, cautioned against any form of protest in the state.
He was probably acting of information at his disposal.
According to Fayoade, the police were aware of the plan by some people to protest in the state and would put necessary measures put in place for the safety of the lives and property of Lagosians.
The Police Commissioner assured that nothing would hinder the free flow of traffic or a peaceful environment to let residents carry out their lawful duties.
However, determined not to be held down by the Police authorities, the protesters were seen carrying placards of various inscriptions at the Ojuelegba area of Lagos.
It was gathered that they had matched from Yaba to Maryland and would be joining the planned national protests by the organised labour.
National Coordinator, TIB, Juwon Sanyaolu, explained that the protest was a demonstration of the people’s will against oppressive tendencies and hardship.
In his words, “Yes, despite police attempts to frustrate the people, Lagosians stood their ground. The police are paid with taxpayers’ money. They are meant to secure us.
“We were able to match from Yaba Labour House to Maryland. The protest will continue tomorrow and updates will be given.
“We will join (the) NLC in their nationwide mass action to put an end to this hardship created by the ruling elite.”
On their demands, Sanyaolu said, “The Tinubu-led government must immediately reverse the fuel subsidy removal, the floating of naira and other policies of the International Monetary Fund imposed on Nigerians.”
Some other members of the CSOs, like the Joint Action Front (JAF) and the Coalition for Revolution (CR) were noticed among the protesters.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and a detachment of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) were also seen monitoring the protests.
Asma al-Assad, the wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who bravely battled breast cancer in 2019, has been struck with another health challenge.
The president’s office revealed in a statement on Tuesday that she has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
The statement said, “First Lady Asma al-Assad has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.”
More to follow…………
Bandits launched an attack on Zurak village in the Bashar District of Wase local government area, Plateau State, on Monday at around 5 p.m., resulting in the death of over 40 individuals, including local vigilantes.
According to report, the assault took place while people were engaged in their daily routines.
Residents reported that they were unable to immediately report the incident due to poor communication networks in the area.
Sahpi’i Sambo, a local youth leader, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust, stating that the bandits arrived on motorcycles—two per bike—armed with sophisticated weapons, and began shooting indiscriminately.
He said “More than 40 people were killed while many injured. Residents of the village have fled to neighbouring communities for cover. As of yesterday, security personnel had not yet arrived at the community. It was deadly. ”
As of the time this report was filed, the spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, had not responded to inquiries.
A 61-year-old male Nigerian, with physical challenges, who has resided in the UK for 38 years, has deportation by the Home Office, staring him in the face.
Media reports indicate that Anthony Olubunmi George, migrated to the UK from Nigeria at the age of 24 back in 1986.
According to the Guardian UK, George has been law abiding throughout his unbroken stay in the UK, with a clean record, no criminal convictions.
However, in 2019, he experienced two strokes that had a significant impact on his ability to speak and move.
On his part, George maintains that he no longer has any immediate relatives residing in Nigeria.
His health challenge has exposed to several episodes of homelessness, which left him at the mercy of friends for shelter over the years.
George said, “I don’t know how many different sofas I’ve slept on – too many to count. I don’t have my life, living the way I’m living now. My health problems since I had my stroke are my biggest worry.
“All I’m asking for is some kindness from the Home Office.”
In this regard, George had made multiple applications for leave to remain in the UK, all of which have been denied by the Home Office, with the most recent rejection occurring on May 7, 2024.
In 2005, his previous solicitors submitted a falsified entry stamp in his passport which has since been reported to the police and the legal regulatory bodies.
The Guardian UK cites George as claiming to completely unaware of the passport stamp until several years later.
His present legal representatives trace George’s trauma to previous poor legal representation.
According to his current lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, George’s difficulties can be attributed to his poor past legal representation.
In their latest rejection, officials from the Home Office stated that the situation was not deemed to be an exceptional circumstance.
Counting the failure of his previous applications being on the shoulders of his lawyers, Kandiah has filed an appeal challenging the most recent denial.
Kandiah said, “My client has been living in limbo for 38 years, with no family, has suffered two strokes and has no family left in Nigeria.
“His situation is not just because of Home Office policies but also because of poor representation by previous solicitors who failed to uphold professional integrity and ethical standards.”
The Guardian UK cites a spokesperson for the Home Office, thus, “applications have to be considered on their merits in accordance with the immigration rules with the responsibility on applicants to demonstrate they meet these rules.”
George might not be alone in this, as the Guardian UK also reported the story of Nelson Shardey, a 74-year-old newsagent from Merseyside.
Shardey has been living in the UK since 1977 and was recently denied indefinite leave to remain by the Home Office, despite having spent the majority of his adult life in the country.
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