FULL LIST: Steps FG Has Taken To Stop Protest

Barely twenty-four hours before the planned 10-day hunger protest. The Federal Government took some proactive steps to stop the demonstration from happening.

It was recalled that recently. A group, called the Take It Back movement, had called for a nationwide protest. Which is against hunger and bad governance in the country.

This group tagged the protest, “Days of Rage”. Which is to hold nationwide from August 1 to 10.

However, top government personalities. The groups, and religious bodies. Including the Christian Association of Nigeria. The Muslim Student Society of Nigeria (Lagos chapter). And the Muslim Rights Concern. This groups has called for the protest to be stopped. And also said that it might be hijacked by saboteurs who do not mean well for the country.

Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, the former Niger Delta Freedom fighter, had warned organisers of the protest to desist from coming to Niger Delta.

Dokubo-Asari said the agenda of those behind the protest, do not capture the problems of the people of the Niger Delta.

He dared them to come to the oil and gas-rich region. And he further said they would be resisted. Because he is sure they are just interested in the resources that comes from the Niger Delta. He described them as ‘anarchist’.

Also, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. has implored all groups planning to participate in the proposed nationwide protest. To submit their details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective states. Because this will make sure the protest remains peaceful.

Egbetokun said, “We acknowledge the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protest.”

“However, in the interest of public safety and order, we implored all groups planning to protest to provide the necessary details. To the commissioner of Police in the state where the protest is intended to take place.”

Presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, has also endorsed the Protest.

Here is the highlights of the major steps that the Federal Government has taken to stop the protest from happening. Because they consider the demonstration unnecessary. But also demanding for more time for President Tinubu to govern.

1. Tinubu created centres across the country, where Nigerians can now purchase a 50kg bag of rice for N40,000.

The FG said it was one of the several initiatives of the Tinubu administration to ease living conditions for its citizens.

2. He ordered the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC. To sell crude to the Dangote refinery and other upcoming refineries in naira.

The approval for crude oil selling to the Dangote Petroleum refinery in naira is to force the prices of domestically refined petroleum products to crash. This is according to oil marketers, and refiners, as well as experts.

Operators in the downstream oil sector applauded the move of the President. And they said that, it would boost the outputs of domestic refineries. And also, shore up the country’s foreign exchange reserves. It will also strengthen the naira.

3. The President met with governors from the All Progressives Congress, APC at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja, to discuss the calls for nationwide protests against economic hardship.

4. Meanwhile, President Tinubu had earlier announced that he may stop the importation of import duties on food and essential commodities.

He suspended import duties to mitigate the effect of the inflationary trend in Nigeria. And also, on Monday, he removed the duties on the food importation.

5. President Tinubu held emergency meetings with prominent traditional rulers and Ulamas (the Islamic religious scholars) at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. As part of efforts by the government to make sure the planned hunger protest, stated for August 1 to 10, is stoppped nationwide.

6. The FG unveiled the Youth Internship Scheme initiated by the NDDC for 10,000 youths of the Niger Delta region and approved N50,000 monthly stipends for them.

7. The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has directed telecommunications operators to immediately restore all blocked phone lines due to the non-linkage of National Identification Numbers, NIN, to SIM cards.

8. President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, signed the new Minimum Wage Act into law.

The brief ceremony was witnessed by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvberem, who represented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

And this is coming two weeks after President Bola Tinubu, and the organised labour unions comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has on N70,000 as the new minimum wage.