This report presents the week's greatest headlines.
Nigerians hope to swap Grammys for AFCON; protests hit Kogi, Niger and Rivers as Nigerians complain about excessive price of residing; states are being given N3.3 trillion allocations at the same time as Nigerians, together with Labor leaders, urged state governors to justify elevated allocations by addressing rising hardship among the many plenty.
Listed here are the highlights of the week's greatest information tales, from February 4 to 10, 2024.
The 66th annual Grammy Awards have been offered Sunday night in Los Angeles, United States, to kick off the week. A file variety of Nigerians have been represented on the Grammys, with Davido, Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Asake and Olamide nominated, because of the Finest African Efficiency class.
However Monday morning was all about returning house empty-handed. Their followers took to the web to lament the losses.
South African Tyla received the primary Grammy Award for Finest African Music Efficiency along with her single 'Water', leaving the Nigerian stars behind.
Apparently, netizens challenged the Tremendous Eagles to avenge the Grammy loss to Tyla by defeating South Africa's Bafana Bafana as Nigeria was scheduled to play South Africa within the semi-finals of AFCON in Ivory Coast on Wednesday for an opportunity to win the finale. . This led to an exhilarating semi-final match that stored the Africans on the sting of their seats.
After a fierce 90 minutes of play, the Nigerian nationwide workforce, the Tremendous Eagles, discovered themselves tied at 1-1 and compelled into one other half-hour of additional time. All of it got here right down to a penalty shootout, which Nigeria received 4-2. The Grammy loss was avenged and Nigerians had an important day on the web mocking South Africa with Tyla's 'Water'. Nigerians additionally claimed that 'Amapiano', a music style that has its roots in South Africa, now belongs to Nigeria. A number of celebrities joined within the web chatter.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored the decisive kick that secured Nigeria's place within the closing. However one hero reigns…
Tremendous Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali received the Man of the Match award after saving two penalties within the shootout.
With a number of clear sheets and noteworthy saves, Nwabali is about to safe the match's Golden Glove award. Within the match, Nwabali stored 4 clear sheets in a row, which helped him break Alloy Agu's clear sheet file and equal Finest Ogedegbe's 44-year-old file.
Along with his clear sheets, Nwabali has made quite a few essential saves at important moments in matches. Followers praised his essential saves and known as him the important thing for Nigeria to win the match.
The ultimate towards Ivory Coast might be performed on Sunday (tomorrow) at 9pm Nigerian time.
In what can solely be described as a bitter victory, PUNCH On-line reported 5 deaths following the AFCON victory, with many reportedly dying through the penalty shootout. Those that misplaced their lives embrace stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; the Deputy Bursar of Kwara State College, Alhaji Ayuba Abdullahi; a consultant named Mikhail Osundiji; a member of the Nationwide Youth Service Corps, recognized as Samuel; and an Anambra-born businessman primarily based in Ivory Coast, Osondu Nwoye.
Many specialists have warned Nigerians, particularly these with pre-existing well being circumstances, to keep away from extreme emotional stress throughout such occasions. Some have even warned girls to maintain their hypertensive husbands away from the AFCON finals on Sunday
President Bola Tinubu returned to Nigeria after a two-week personal go to to Paris, France. The president returned at a time when protests erupted in components of the nation over rising meals and residing prices, with indignant youth and girls taking to the streets.
Tinubu led quick interventions to deal with the scenario, whereas talks are underway to extend meals provides and scale back costs, in collaboration with millers and commodity merchants.
After a sequence of conferences, over 102,000 tonnes of assorted grains from the Nationwide Meals Reserve and the Rice Millers Affiliation of Nigeria have been launched to deal with the meals disaster. The Minister of Data and Nationwide Steerage, Mohammed Idris, introduced to State Home correspondents the discharge of 42,000 tons of maize, millet, garri and different uncooked supplies from the strategic reserve.
As well as, discussions with the Rice Millers Affiliation led to a dedication of 60,000 tons of rice. The federal government mentioned it was able to import uncooked supplies if vital and ready to take punitive motion towards meals collectors to make sure meals safety for Nigerians.
Protests broke out in a number of components of Nigeria, together with Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Kano and Niger State, over the rising price of residing, meals costs and poor energy provide. In Port Harcourt, dozens of married girls protested outdoors the workplace of the Port Harcourt Electrical energy Distribution Firm over extended energy outage, which they mentioned was affecting their private lives, together with marital relationships.
Some placards carried by the Rivers girls learn: “We lack romance with our husbands” and “Our husbands now not contact us at evening.”
Equally, in Kano, indignant youths and girls took to the streets to specific their grievances over the financial challenges dealing with the nation and the excessive costs of meals gadgets. In the meantime, residents in Niger state protested the excessive price of residing and demanded authorities intervention.
A brand new wave of protests adopted the ban imposed by the Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management on the manufacturing of alcoholic drinks in pouches and small bottles. A coalition of civil society teams protested on the Nationwide Meeting. The Meals Beverage and Tobacco Senior Employees Affiliation and the Nationwide Union of Meals Drinks and Tobacco Workers rejected the plan, citing potential job losses for greater than 500,000 staff.
The Home of Representatives has directed its committee on NAFDAC to research the circumstances surrounding the company's ban on the manufacturing of pouched and bottled drinks.
The Federal Account Allocation Committee allocations to 36 states and 774 native governments elevated to N3.34 trillion from July to December 2023, a rise of 19.5% over the earlier half yr in keeping with figures obtained earlier this week from the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics. .
Nearly all of income shared at FAAC conferences comes from oil exports, taxes, and different regulatory allocations, with the federal authorities receiving 52.68%, the states 26.72%, and native governments 20.60 %.
Regardless of larger allocations, some governors have been criticized for failing to mitigate the impression of the removing of gasoline subsidies, with complaints of poor infrastructure, rising kidnappings and insecurity.
Labor leaders and Nigerians have urged state governors to justify the elevated allocations by addressing the hardships confronted by the plenty.
