News
Protest: Northern Youth Urge States, LGAs, to Review Economic Policies, Palliatives Distribution Structures

Protest: Northern Youth Urge States, LGAs, to Review Economic Policies, Palliatives Distribution Structures
By: Michael Mike
The Northern Christian Youth Professionals have commended President Tinubu’s administration for the substantial revenue savings achieved since the removal of the fuel subsidy, advising the states, local government areas to review economic policies and palliatives distribution structures.
In a statement signed by the association Chairman, Isaac Abrak said: “The redirection of these funds towards enhancing the living conditions of Nigerians, particularly the less privileged, is a testament to the President’s genuine intention to end the misappropriation of trillions of naira by a select few oil cabals under the guise of paying oil subsidies.”
Abrak said: “However, the recent national protest tagged #EndBadGovernance has highlighted that despite these efforts, state and local governments have not yet efficiently utilized these funds to improve the lives of Nigerians, especially the very poor. This reality calls for state governors and local government chairmen to urgently review the mechanisms they use to administer these funds and distribute palliatives.
“Interestingly, this protest has revealed youth and community leaders who can be integrated into these structures to ensure that the impact of these funds and other forms of palliatives, such as food commodities, reaches those who need it the most.”
He added that: “Last month- July, while protesters were organizing, the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursed N1.354 trillion, with states receiving N461.979 billion and local governments receiving N337.019 billion. Between January and May this year, a total of N10.13 trillion was shared among federal, state, and local governments, marking a 179% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The breakdown of these disbursements includes N1.88 trillion for the Federal Government, N2.05 trillion for State Governments, and N1.41 trillion for Local Governments.
“To ensure food reaches the tables of ordinary Nigerians, President Tinubu dispatched 20 trucks of rice to each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with each truck containing approximately 1,200 bags of 25kg of rice. Additionally, the administration released 102,000 metric tons of grains, including maize, millet, and garri, from the National Food Reserve. This distribution aims to alleviate the food crisis and high commodity prices. Despite these efforts, the desired results continue to elude us, heightening frustrations nationwide.
“It is imperative that state governors urgently review their economic policies and distribution structures to ensure that palliatives effectively reach those in need. While it is easy to blame the state governors, the responsibility also lies with the leadership of distribution networks, including religious bodies such as the Christian Association of Nigeria, Jama’a tu Nasril Islam, traditional rulers, civil society groups, professional organizations, and youth and student unions. These bodies must critically examine and improve their internal distribution mechanisms.
“Government at the sub-national level must avoid politicizing the distribution of palliatives and governance in general, as evidenced by the recent protests that affect us all. Individuals driven by selfishness, greed, and poor integrity must be consciously weeded out from administering government intervention programs, especially at the grassroots level.”
Abrak advised that “President Tinubu should continue to embrace constructive criticism as an opportunity to do more, while we all must also self-examine and strive to improve our characters and roles as followers and citizens in moving our country forward. Members of the National and State Assemblies should reconsider their wages and allowances, which have long been criticized as excessively generous.”
He said: “We, the Northern Christian Youth Professionals, urge the #ENDBADGOVERNANCE Protesters to end the protest and join other stakeholders to work together to ensure that the benefits of the subsidy removal reach every Nigerian, particularly the most vulnerable among us.”
Protest: Northern Youth Urge States, LGAs, to Review Economic Policies, Palliatives Distribution Structures
International
Israeli envoy expresses sympathy to innocent victims of war with Hamas

Israeli envoy expresses sympathy to innocent victims of war with Hamas
By: Michael Mike
Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman has expressed sympathy for the innocent souls that died in the war with Hamas.
Freeman expressed his sympathy on Sunday on the occasion commemorating the 2nd year memorial of the war with Hamas.
He said:”Friends, as we remember the victims of October 7, we also express sympathy for the innocent Palestinians who have lost their lives in this war—a war Israel never wanted, a war Israel never started – a war that was forced upon us.
“We grieve for every innocent soul, because we value life—all life.”
The envoy insisted that they are not foreigners and neither did they colonise the land.
He said: “We are not foreigners in Israel, we did not colonize the land of Israel; we returned to it. Jews have lived in Jerusalem, Tiberias, Hebron, Tsfat and every part of our land for over 3,000 years. Through exile and dispersion, we prayed toward Jerusalem, and we remembered Jerusalem at every wedding, every festival, and at every dinner table.
“We revived our language, planted forests, gathered exiles, welcomed survivors, and built a modern technology-based economy in a nation reborn.
“Israel was not created because of the Holocaust. It was created in spite of it.”
He stressed that: “Israel is not built on pity. Israel is built on courage, on faith, on history.
“And today, “Never Again” is not just a slogan. It is the Iron Dome that protects children in Sderot. It is the Israeli pilot in the sky. It is the 18-year-old girl in olive uniform, standing guard so that our children can sleep at night.”
He also expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump of the United States “for his steadfast support, his courage in recognizing truths others ignored, and his unique efforts in bringing our hostages home and helping to finally end this war.”
Highlights of the evening were virtual testimonies of survival of the October 7 2023 attack.
Israeli envoy expresses sympathy to innocent victims of war with Hamas
News
South East Group Distances Self from Sowore’s Free Nnamdi Kanu Protest

South East Group Distances Self from Sowore’s Free Nnamdi Kanu Protest
By: Michael Mike
A South East group, Task force and Committee for Free Nnamdi Kanu, has distanced itself from the FreeNnamdiKanuNow Planned Protest by Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara reporters and presidential candidate of AA in the last general election.
Sowore has called Nigerians out to protest the continued detention of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu by the Nigerian government. The protest is scheduled across the country on Monday, October 20.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the Convener and Executive Secretary, Task force and Committee for Free Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB, Barr. Emejulu Okpalaukwu Okpalaezeukwu, said no group from the Southeastern region is involved in the Sowore’s planned protest.
He said at no point did they ever contemplate staging any kind of protest, especially when political moves were already going on for the release of Kanu.
He said besides, traditional rulers from the region are on top of the issue.
Okpalaezeukwu also said he suspected an ulterior motive for the protest, especially as it is coming at a point where traditional rulers have gone far in the attempt to release Nnamdi Kanu.
He also alleged that there are people benefiting from the continued incarceration of Kanu and would not want him released.
He insisted that they are not against anybody protesting but doubted if it will serve any good purpose at this point in time as efforts are high to get Kanu released, stating that they are against any move that can jeopardise the ongoing efforts.
He called on “Ndi Igbo, particularly igbo traders, youth and peace loving Nigerians to stay away from Sowore’s October 20 2025 protest.” He said: “We have concluded spiritual and political actions to peacefully secure freedom and release of Nnamdi Kanu for peace, security, understanding, unity, development and progress of mankind.”
He said our further findings indicate that Nnamdi Kanu being “symbol of Igbo resistance against marginalization is” always attract multi dimensional support and contributions of Ndi Igbo and good people Worldwide, towards his freedom and release.”
He however said this protest does not have the blessing of Ndi Igbo and all the traditional leaders from the South East.
He said: “In view of the above, let all traders, youth, students and civil servants go about their normal businesses.
“If protests must take place, allow the politicians, those against and those for , do the protest PEACEFULLY.”
He therefore charged the security agencies to do their work so as to ensure the protest is not hijacked.
South East Group Distances Self from Sowore’s Free Nnamdi Kanu Protest
News
Troops arrest terror logistics suppliers, intercept food items in Borno

Troops arrest terror logistics suppliers, intercept food items in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Nigerian army troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested three suspected logistics suppliers of Boko Haram terrorists during a special operation in Borno State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation, codenamed Strangulation, was conducted following credible intelligence on the movement of terrorist logistics networks in Dowoshi and Alagarno areas.
The sources said that the troops raided a suspected hideout in Dowoshi where two suspects were arrested with five bags of snacks, small chops, and other sundry items meant for delivery to the terrorists’ logistics team.
According to the source, the suspects had been under surveillance for some time before being apprehended.

Their arrest subsequently led to the capture of the main logistics supplier at about 12:30 p.m. on Saturday in Alagarno, with two additional bags of sundry items recovered.
The suspects and exhibits are currently in military custody for further investigation.
End
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