Author: Festus Adeloye

WhatsApp, a leading messaging platform in Nigeria, may soon suspend its services in the country. This potential move follows the imposition of a $220 million fine on Meta Platforms for allegedly breaching data privacy laws. According to TechCabal, Meta is considering withdrawing certain services in Nigeria in response to the recent regulatory demands. Sources familiar with the discussions revealed that the company is evaluating the impact of the new order. A WhatsApp spokesperson addressed the situation, stating: “We want to be really clear that technically, based on the order, it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria or globally.…

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, August 1, called on people protesting against President Bola Tinubu’s administration to embrace dialogue. Wike said the government is ready to listen and also walk them through some governance issues that they may not have been privy to. The minister made the appeal while presenting staff of office to the four newly appointed graded chiefs of Karu, Kwali, Pai, and Yaba in the territory. Commending protesters in the FCT for being nonviolent, Wike urged them to continue to resist those who wanted to destroy the nation. He said Abuja as the…

Amid the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday, August 1, met with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Wike, dressed in a white suit, drove into the State House, Abuja, in a Prado SUV for the meeting with President Tinubu at about 4pm. While the exact purpose of Wike’s visit was not disclosed, it comes amidst ongoing protests in the nation’s capital. The FCT witnessed protests in some parts including around the Central Area, particularly the vicinities of the Eagle Square where protesters defied warnings from security agencies to vacate the area.…

Seven mass transit buses were set on fire on Thursday in Potiskum, Yobe State, during the #EndBadGovernance protests. The buses were torched on the grounds of the local government secretariat. Witnesses reported that a group attempted to create chaos but was quickly restrained by security forces. Dungus Abdulkarim, spokesperson for the Yobe State Police Command, confirmed the incident and assured that those responsible would be held accountable. The nationwide protests, which began on August 1, 2024, are expected to continue until August 10, addressing economic hardships and calling for government reforms. In response to the unrest, the state government has…

Organised Civil Society on Thursday knocked the Nigeria Police Force for tear-gassing “defenceless protesters” in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Bauchi, and other states in the country. In a statement, the United Action Front of Civil Society said three peaceful protesters tear-gassed by the police fainted in Abuja with many others injured. The CSO leader Olawale Okunniyi alleged that pro-government protesters forced anti-hunger protesters out of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, the venue designated by the government. “The anti-hunger protesters sensing danger and possible violent clash, decided to quietly move in peaceful procession to the Eagle Square, where they had earlier designated…

The Borno State Government has declared a 24-hour curfew across the state following a tragic explosion at Kawori Market in the Konduga area on Wednesday night. The explosion, attributed to a Boko Haram suicide bomber, resulted in 16 deaths and several critical injuries. Police Public Relations Officer ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso issued a press release on Thursday regarding the curfew, which was implemented after consultations between Governor Babagana Zulum and security officials. The curfew aims to restore law and order and ensure public safety in the wake of the incident. The statement read: “In view of the constitutional mandate of…

The nationwide hardship protest in Kano has escalated into violence, with hoodlums taking advantage of the situation to loot shops and offices. What began as a demonstration against economic difficulties quickly devolved into chaos as mobs attacked businesses across the city. The looters were seen ransacking properties, removing valuables such as chairs, computers, and other equipment. Stay tuned for more details…

Hundreds of youths have begun the #EndBadGovernaceInNigeria protest in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The protesters gathered at the Rumuola Junction along Aba Road and gradually built up to over 100 before starting the protest. As they moved several other youths who were waiting patiently in several strategic areas joined as the number of protesters continued to swell. The youths some carrying placards now numbering over 500 are marching through the busy Aba Road heading to the Government House, Port Harcourt. Some of the inscriptions on their placards read, “We say no to bad governance in Nigeria”, There is…

MTN Nigeria’s network services experienced a slowdown on Thursday morning, coinciding with the commencement of nationwide protests against bad governance. The disruption affected a substantial number of MTN’s subscribers, who expressed frustration and speculated about the cause of the slowdown on X (formerly Twitter). MTN has not yet commented on the issue. However, the timing of the slowdown has raised speculation among users about a potential link to the government’s efforts to manage communication during the protests. @Sunnyjoflife tweeted, “All of a sudden, MTN Network is not working properly on the 1st of August. These people know what they’re doing.…

In recognition of the fundamental and guaranteed constitutional rights of citizens to assemble and protest, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN has directed all the Chairmen/Chairpersons of the 130 Branches of the NBA to ensure that their respective Human Rights Committees take up observed or reported cases of breach of fundamental right(s) of any citizen, harassment, intimidation or torture perpetrated by law enforcement agents, the protesters or other identified members of the public in the course of the protest. Chairmen/Chairpersons of NBA Branches have also been directed to set up Situation Monitoring…