Day Five of Nationwide Protest: Demonstrations Persist Despite Presidential Appeal

The nationwide protest against poor governance and hunger continues today as the demonstration enters its fifth day.

Naija News reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed the nation on Sunday morning, urging protestors to suspend their actions while highlighting his administration’s accomplishments.

Despite this appeal, demonstrators remain active in Plateau, Lagos, and other states across the country.

Stay tuned to Naija News for ongoing coverage of the fifth day of these widespread protests.

Isah Zaki, a leader of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests in the Bauchi North zone, has expressed significant discontent with the President’s recent address. He noted that potential easing of protests in Bauchi North may be disrupted by hoodlums harming local businesses.

In Lagos, protesters have begun gathering at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota. Meanwhile, in Katsina, demonstrators waved Russian flags and chanted in Hausa, “Hunger is killing us,” as reported by DailyTrust. Police have responded with teargas to disperse them.

In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), security forces have intervened to disperse protesters in the Karu area, arresting three individuals. Yahaya Abdullahi, a protester, reported that security agents used teargas against them.

Group Demands Wike Sack Over Alleged Attacks On Women

The Renewed Hope Change Ambassadors have called for the removal of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The group cited his “incessant attacks” on women’s rights and “demarketing” of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his government as the main reasons for the call.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its President, Dr Florence Adenifuja, the group claimed that Wike has a history of violence against women. The group emphasized that Wike’s “anti-people’s actions” are a threat to society.

The statement reads, “The Renewed Hope Change Ambassadors can no longer afford to be silent in the face of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike’s recurring attacks on women. We have watched him over the years repeatedly abuse women in every office he has held.

“It’s an open secret that Wike constantly terrorized women during his tenure as the Chief of Staff to former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi. Women in Rivers State faced the worst during Wike’s tenure as Governor of the state.

“He has now brought the same abusive behaviour into the FCT Ministry since he was appointed Minister. Female staff members of the ministry not only work in fear due to his abusive tendencies towards women, but some are now resigning for the sake of their sanity and mental well-being.

“If the Minister can constantly attack the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Ireti Kingibe, imagine what ordinary women go through in his hands.

“Wike has repeatedly undermined the power of the FCT electorates by vowing that he would singlehandedly stop Kingibe’s re-election in 2027. He has made himself a dictator, blatantly disregarding the fact that he is just a member of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s executive council.

“His latest attack against Sen. Ireti Kingibe is the dubious allegation that she is the one sponsoring the protest in Abuja. Whereas, it was Wike’s irresponsible comments that ignited the rage of the youth.

“At this point, it appears the Minister is deliberately trying to discredit President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his government by inciting the youth to protest. His insensitive comment, stating that youths cannot peacefully protest in the FCT under his watch, significantly contributed to the later violence of the protests.

“His anti-people’s actions pose a threat to society. The current political crisis and instability in Rivers State are a result of his selfish actions. If he is not stopped, Wike will turn the FCT into a war zone as he did in Rivers State. FCT residents, especially women and youths, have already lodged thousands of petitions against him.

“Therefore, we urge President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to heed the people’s voices and stop tolerating Wike’s insubordination and irresponsible behaviour by dismissing him now! This is the same Wike who has been falsely claiming that he brought President Tinubu to power when, in fact, it was the President’s graciousness that pulled Wike from political oblivion by appointing him as minister.

“The President should be cautious of Wike. He has a history of betraying his benefactors. In the recent history of Rivers State, we witnessed how he betrayed and antagonized the man who propelled him to political fame, former governor Rotimi Amaechi. His betrayal often begins with clandestine actions against his benefactor and public statements, similar to what he is doing now.

“However, he will fail this time because Nigerians are now familiar with his tactics and stand firmly behind our President. While we would have requested him to resign honourably, his lack of honour prevents this, so we call on the President, once again, to dismiss Wike to prevent a national disaster and restore the confidence of women and youths in this administration.”

FG Assures of Relief from Food Inflation and Shortages Soon

The Federal Government of Nigeria has assured that the country will soon overcome its current food shortages and inflation, which have reached 40 percent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, outlined the government’s plans to address these issues. Kyari revealed that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is implementing measures aimed at increasing food production, with expectations of a bumper harvest by October or November.

Kyari attributed the food shortages to several factors, including seasonal variations, reduced agricultural land, flooding, and other challenges. He also pointed out that the current period, from June to July, is traditionally a lean season in agriculture.

“We are confident that the bumper harvest expected later this year will help alleviate the current food shortages,” Kyari stated. “We are making significant efforts to enhance food production, including distributing fertilizers to farmers and acquiring new farming machinery.”

The minister also mentioned the government’s focus on mechanized farming to replace outdated practices. “We have ordered 200 tractors and 9,000 other implements from Belarus to modernize our farming sector,” he added. “Our goal is to move away from archaic tools like hoes and adopt more efficient farming methods.”

Algerian Teen Kaylia Nemour Makes History with Gold in Uneven Bars at Paris Olympics

Algerian gymnast Kaylia Nemour has made history by becoming the first African to win an Olympic medal in gymnastics, securing gold in the uneven bars event at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.

The 17-year-old, who was born in France, dazzled with her high-flying routines to score 15.700 points, surpassing China’s Qiu Qiyuan, who took silver with 15.500 points. American gymnast Sunisa Lee earned the bronze medal, while defending champion Nina Derwael of Belgium finished fourth.

“I’m so shocked; it’s been a lifelong dream. I can’t believe it’s actually happened,” Nemour said, expressing her disbelief and excitement.

Her remarkable performance not only achieved a historic milestone for Africa but also highlighted her exceptional talent on the global stage.

Youths in Kano Launch Nationwide Prayer Campaign Amidst Rising Hardship

In response to the worsening economic hardship and the deterioration of peaceful protests in Nigeria, a group of youths in Kano has initiated a nationwide special prayer campaign. The initiative seeks divine intervention to address the country’s growing difficulties.

Residents of Kano have gathered at various locations to participate in these prayer sessions, aimed at seeking relief and support amid the ongoing unrest. This move comes in the wake of violence that has marred planned peaceful protests, leading to attacks on public and private properties, as well as incidents of looting, killings, and injuries.

The group is also preparing for a nationwide day of prayer and fasting scheduled for August 12, 2024. Mubarak Ibrahim, one of the campaign organizers, emphasized the spiritual focus of the initiative, stating, “The day has been proposed as a National Prayer Day where we will engage in additional prayers and fasting, seeking Allah’s forgiveness and mercy.”

Ibrahim highlighted the belief in the power of prayer as the primary tool to confront the current situation, noting that the President’s recent speech did not adequately address the people’s needs. The campaign will begin on Friday, with Quran recitations continuing through Saturday, and the fasting to commence on Monday.

“This is a voluntary, youth-led effort, and we are collaborating with Islamic leaders in various states to finalize the arrangements,” Ibrahim added. “This initiative is not sponsored but driven by the collective will of the youth to seek divine assistance in these challenging times.”

Nigeria Issues Travel Advisory for UK Amid Surge in Anti-Immigration Violence

The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a travel advisory for Nigerians planning to visit the United Kingdom due to recent violent unrest across the country.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Amb. Eche Abu-Obe, the advisory comes in response to escalating anti-immigration and far-right violence in various UK towns and cities. The unrest has been marked by attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers, mosques, and clashes with law enforcement, following the tragic killing of three young girls at a concert.

Amb. Abu-Obe urged Nigerian travelers to exercise heightened caution and avoid large public gatherings, political demonstrations, and protests. He also recommended that travelers remain vigilant and avoid crowded areas to ensure their safety during this period of heightened unrest.

Robotics technician: Emerging profession boosting efficiency of industries

By Hong Qiuting, People’s Daily

At a demonstration area of robot applications of Guangdong Cui Feng Robotics Technology Co., Ltd. in south China’s Guangdong province, Zhuang Yongchun was standing in front of a row of spinning robotic arms. After he made a few taps on a teach pendant, these robotic arms moved accordingly. Zhuang carefully inspected whether the gripping and rotating actions of the robotic arms were accurate and smoothly transitioned.

“It’s not easy to make robots screw in screws and fetch screws from a box using their mechanical arms smoothly,” said Zhuang, who’s a robotics technician. “Our profession has emerged as a result of the rise of intelligent manufacturing.”

In simple terms, Zhuang’s daily work involves the development and application of industrial robots. He is primarily responsible for providing industrial robots to companies with specific needs and designing robot production lines for factories undergoing industrial automation upgrades.

A factory that produces medical sheet metal parts hoped to upgrade its production line for automation. Upon learning the news, Zhuang visited the factory.

“First, we need to assess the condition of the press brake and determine if it is compatible with our equipment. We also need to evaluate the bending bed and molds to ensure they meet the production requirements,” Zhuang added.

After noting down the key technical specifications, Zhuang returned to his office and discussed with colleagues, designing solutions, simulating movements, and conducting 3D design.

“After multiple rounds of discussions and approval of the plan, we signed an agreement, and once the customer places the purchase order, we would start with drawing, procurement, assembly, and conduct action, signal, and hardware testing,” Zhuang said. He added that the automation upgrade of a production line, from design to installation of 10 robotic arms, for example, can be successfully put into production in 5-10 days.

“For the factory, using robots can save labor costs. Previously, it required two or more people for bending, but now only one bending robot is needed,” Zhuang told People’s Daily, adding that this significantly improves production efficiency.

In fact, bending technique is closely related to people’s daily lives. Televisions, refrigerators, computer cases, vending machines, data center servers, and many other electrical products on the market rely on the technique.

Previously, during his visits to enterprises along the industrial chain, Zhuang discovered that many factories in Dongguan, Guangdong province were employing the bending technique. Before the development of bending robots, products had to be manually produced, which often resulted in deviations and the production of defective goods.

“Can we develop a robot to alleviate the burden on workers and improve efficiency?” This question lingered in the mind of Zhuang and his team.

The challenge with bending robots lies in keeping sheet metal products securely attached to the robot’s suction cups while the robot performs bending actions. “At that time, no one in the world has tackled this challenge,” Zhuang said.

Zhuang diligently studied various comprehensive technologies related to robots, such as machine programming, circuits, machine tools, and engineering design. He continuously updated his knowledge system and devoted himself to the research and development of robot projects.

“After a year of efforts, we finally developed a bending robot and introduced this technology to the sheet metal industry nationwide, promoting the industry’s transition towards intelligent manufacturing,” Zhuang said. So far, this robot has been employed by more than 60 companies from over 10 provinces and municipalities, according to him.

While working on projects, Zhuang has also focused on talent training. He said that over the years, he has trained hundreds of robotics technicians, who are now working in various manufacturing companies and operating various production line robots.

“As the industry continues to develop, technology is constantly advancing, and we must keep pace with the times and make continuous progress,” Zhuang said. He hopes that while China works to make its industries intelligent, more people will take on the jobs of robotics technician and other emerging professions.

Experts Call for Enhanced Clinical Governance to Address Nigeria’s Healthcare Challenges

Health experts are urging government officials at all levels to focus on clinical governance as a crucial element for improving Nigeria’s healthcare system. They argue that the lack of clinical governance in many hospitals has led to suboptimal patient care and hindered the sector’s development.

The discussion on clinical governance was highlighted during the launch of the AGCare Specialist Clinic in Asaba, Delta State. Dr. Chukwuka Monye, the clinic’s founder, emphasized that addressing the issue of inadequate clinical governance has been key to the clinic’s success amidst Nigeria’s broader healthcare challenges.

“Our vision is to make quality healthcare accessible to everyone, not just a privileged few,” Dr. Monye stated. “We are expanding our centers across the country and adopting an integrated approach to healthcare.”

Dr. Ebomwonyi Osagie, Principal Lead of AGCare, elaborated on the clinic’s framework designed to ensure quality care. He noted that clinical governance involves rigorous oversight from patient registration through their entire hospital experience, aiming to minimize medication errors, misdiagnoses, and legal issues.

“Clinical governance is essential to reduce issues to the bare minimum,” Dr. Osagie said. “While errors can occur anywhere, implementing a robust clinical governance framework helps in significantly reducing these risks.”

Dr. Onyi Babatunde, CEO of the clinic, highlighted the facility’s commitment to both quality patient care and community outreach. “In addition to serving those who visit us, we ensure that healthcare reaches individuals who may not be able to come to the clinic by organizing periodic outreach programs.”

The new AGCare Specialist Clinic features a comprehensive range of facilities, including male and female wards, nursing stations, consulting rooms, a pediatric unit, an operating theatre, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), delivery room, X-ray and ultrasound rooms, a CT scan room, pharmacy, emergency and accident unit, dialysis unit, and Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Ebonyi Government Empowers 1,300 Youths with N1 Million Each Amid Nationwide Protests

The Ebonyi State Government has announced plans to empower 1,300 youths with N1 million each to support their business ventures. This initiative comes at a time when nationwide protests against poor governance and hunger are set to commence.

Governor Francis Nwifuru revealed the program during an event at Umuogudu Akpu Ngbo, Ohaukwu, marking the Empowerment and Accountability speech by Hon. Nwachukwu Eze, Member Representing Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency.

Under the scheme, 100 youths will be selected from each of the 13 local government areas in Ebonyi State. Governor Nwifuru praised the youths for their decision to heed his call to abstain from participating in the protests, emphasizing that the empowerment is a token of gratitude for their responsible behavior.

“Our youths have demonstrated exceptional responsibility by choosing not to join the protests,” Governor Nwifuru said. “I am committed to supporting them further and helping them realize their potential.”

Additionally, Governor Nwifuru announced the awarding of a 24km road project for the Umuoguduosha-NIGERCEM Road, which has been contracted to two companies for completion within 18 months.

Hon. Nwachukwu Eze also highlighted his achievements, including securing a billion Naira for a 3km asphalt road, installing solar-powered street lights, and constructing classroom blocks. He also resolved the long-standing Ngbo-Agila crisis, which had caused significant loss and disruption.

The event also saw the commissioning of the Pentecostal Foundation Hospital, funded by Senator Anthony Agbo, and a 3km road project supported by Hon. Eze Nwachukwu.

Presidency Confirms Tinubu’s Achievement of Cultivating 500,000 Hectares Amid Criticism

The Presidency has affirmed that President Bola Tinubu has achieved his goal of cultivating 500,000 hectares of land, in line with the administration’s food security policy. This clarification comes in response to recent criticism of Tinubu’s new pledge to collaborate with state governors on cultivating 10 million hectares nationwide.

Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Tinubu, addressed the criticism following a broadcast in which Tinubu outlined his administration’s ambitious agricultural targets. Journalist Oseni Rufai, commenting on the broadcast, accused Tinubu of failing to meet his earlier promise of cultivating 500,000 hectares and questioned the feasibility of his new 10 million hectare target. Rufai also called for the dismissal of Tinubu’s speech writer.

Ajayi countered these criticisms, stating that the federal government, in partnership with state governors, had indeed exceeded the 500,000 hectare goal. He highlighted that at least five states have contributed to this achievement, with Jigawa and Kebbi alone accounting for 300,000 hectares during the dry season. Niger State is also progressing with plans to cultivate 1 million hectares.

“The President was clear in his broadcast,” Ajayi said. “The 10 million hectare target is a plan and a goal for the future. The cultivation of more than 500,000 hectares has already been accomplished, and nearly every state is engaged in agricultural activities.”