Nigerian News Notes: 24 JAN 2025

1. Tinubu Commissions Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks, Lauds Armed Forces As Heroes

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Nigerian Armed Forces as the nation’s heroes, pledging his administration’s unwavering commitment to their welfare and support.

The President made the remarks on Thursday during the commissioning of the newly constructed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks and other facilities under the Nigerian Army Special Projects in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Tinubu expressed profound gratitude for the service of the armed forces.

The President highlighted the pivotal role of the military in safeguarding the nation, reiterating the government’s resolve to enhance their welfare.

The newly commissioned Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks is a modern facility designed to alleviate the acute accommodation challenges faced by personnel of the Army Headquarters and other establishments in Abuja.

Naija News understands that the project, initiated on November 26, 2022, by Major General Philip Eromosele and fully funded under the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, was completed on January 9, 2025, under the leadership of the current Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede.

2. ‘Our Position Is Clear’ – NLC President, Ajaero Gives Condition To Allow Hike In Telecom Tariffs

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, has again rejected the proposed 50 percent hike in telecom tariffs by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, in collaboration with telecom operators.

Naija News reports that Ajaero, in an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, asserted that any increase must be accompanied by genuine stakeholder engagement to explore sustainable alternatives that do not jeopardize Nigerians’ livelihoods.

While questioning the rationale behind the proposed hike, particularly given the significant growth of the telecom sector over the years, Ajaero described the move as an undue burden on Nigerians already grappling with rising inflation, high transportation costs, increased electricity tariffs, and the general economic downturn.

The NLC President further emphasized that the proposed tariff hike would worsen inflation and aggravate the economic hardship faced by millions of Nigerians.

3. Tinubu’s Government Approves ₦4 Billion Cash Transfer For Vulnerable Nigerians

President Bola Tinubu-led government has approved a ₦4 billion allocation for conditional cash transfers aimed at supporting vulnerable households across Nigeria, particularly those displaced by conflict and other crises.

Naija News reports that the announcement was made on Thursday by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwada, during the launch of the 2025 Nigeria Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) at the United Nations House in Abuja.

The initiative, set to run from February through April, will provide financial aid to at least 10 million displaced households nationwide, with a focus on those most in need.

According to the minister, the cash transfer initiative has been approved by President Tinubu to support displaced families, particularly in the conflict-affected Northeast.

Beyond the cash transfers, the government has also approved ₦2 billion for interest-free loans to farmers in rural areas, designed to boost food production and self-sufficiency.

4. IGP Bans Police Officers From Wearing Dark Glasses On Uniform, Vows To Punish Violators

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has instructed police officers to cease wearing dark glasses while in uniform.

Naija News reports that this directive, effective immediately, was communicated through a wireless message dated Tuesday, January 21, 2025, and sent to all zonal and state commands within the police force.

The wireless message was identified as CB:4001/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.121/104, was acquired by SaharaReporters on Thursday.

The IGP warned that any breach of this directive will result in strict penalties.

5. ‘They Are Just Some People Playing Games’ – Ifoh Speaks On Nenadi Usman Labour Party Caretaker Committee

The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Obiora Ifoh, has declared that there is no faction in the party.

This is as he described the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee as just “some members coming to play games and laying claims to things that were not true.”

According to Ifoh, who spoke during an interview with Punch, the law does not recognize any faction within the Labour Party.

He, however assured that the party is working to ensure all aggrieved members of the party are reconciled and the party is able to provide a formidable stand going into the 2027 elections.

Ifoh who maintained that all reports about factionalization in the Labour Party are a creation of the media, had earlier in the interview said the party is working to ensure every member is back in the same fold.

6. Northern Nigeria Needs Education, No State In The Region Has 50% Qualified Teachers – Ex-Gov, Babangida Aliyu

A former Governor of Niger State, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has emphasized the need for education in the northern part of Nigeria, stating that no state in the region has achieved a 50 percent qualification rate among teachers.

Naija News reports that the former state leader made this statement during the 22nd Daily Trust Dialogue, which focused on the theme “Food Security: Availability or Affordability,” held at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja on Thursday.

Additionally, Aliyu raised concerns regarding the rationale behind the closure of borders, noting that despite these measures, goods from Nigeria continue to reach other ECOWAS countries.

He called on the Ministry of Livestock to collaborate with universities specializing in education and agriculture to provide training for farmers.

7. WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, All Exams In Nigeria Will Be 100% CBT By 2027 – FG Declares

The Federal Government has announced ongoing plans to fully transition all examinations in Nigeria to 100 percent computer-based testing (CBT) by the year 2027.

Naija News reports that this development was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the inauguration of the Committee on Improvement of Quality Examinations in Nigeria, held in Abuja on Thursday, January 23.

Alausa stated that the committee has been assigned the critical task of addressing significant challenges within the education sector, standardizing examination practices, and ensuring both fairness and quality in assessments.

He underscored the government’s dedication to combating prevalent examination malpractices and improving the overall quality of educational evaluations in the country.

The minister noted that addressing examination leakages necessitates a comprehensive approach, as students are not the sole offenders in these malpractices.

He pointed out that parents also play a role in perpetuating examination malpractices by encouraging their children, while teachers, school principals, and examination supervisors are equally responsible for the increasing incidence of such misconduct in the nation.

8. 50% Tariff Hike Must Be Matched With Excellent Service Delivery – FCCPC Tells Telcos

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said the approval given to telecommunications service providers to increase tariff costs by 50 percent must be matched with efficient service delivery.

Naija News reported that the federal government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), approved a 50% adjustment in telecommunications tariffs.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Chief Executive of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, said while the Commission noted the economic pressures faced by telecom operators, including increasing operational costs, consumer interests remain paramount.

FCCPC stressed that in line with the directive of the NCC to the operators, all tariffs must be clear, straightforward, and free of hidden charges or complexities.

The Commission highlighted that issues such as network congestion, dropped calls, inconsistent internet speeds, unusual data depletion, and poor must be addressed immediately.

9. Police Summon Ex-Presidential Candidate, Sowore

Former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, has revealed that the Nigeria Police Force has summoned him for questioning over a viral video allegedly exposing extortion at a police checkpoint in Lagos.

The outspoken activist and 2019 and 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate raised the alarm on Thursday, claiming that police authorities are preparing charges against him for posting the controversial footage on social media.

Naija News reports that the video shows Nigerian police officers stopping vehicles on the road, including Sowore’s.

He confronted the officers, criticizing them for creating unnecessary traffic on the airport road. Sowore emphasized that their actions were inappropriate and disruptive.

Sowore stated that the video highlights the pervasive issue of corruption within police operations, particularly at checkpoints, where officers are often accused of extorting motorists.

10. ‘This Is Highest Level Of 419’ – Ajaero Blasts Adelabu Over Plan To Migrate ‘Band B’ Users To ‘Band A’

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has described the service-based tariff, which assigns electricity users to different bands according to the service delivered by distribution companies, as the highest form of fraud.

Naija News reports that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during a budget defence session at the National Assembly this week, claimed that 90 percent of electricity users in Band A have confirmed getting the benefit of being in the category, stressing that more customers would be migrated to Band A to enjoy electricity for longer hours.

However, Ajaero, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, questioned the idea of migrating customers from one band to another.