• #FearlessOctober protest records low participation from citizens across Nigeria
• Emirates Airlines resumes commercial operations two years after hiatus in Nigeria
• NBS reveals petrol import reduced by 3.58 billion litres after fuel subsidy removal
• Passengers decry Dana Air’s ticket refund after airline’s suspension
• Flood worsens despite ₦180 billion budgeted on dams across Nigeria

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss. 

#FearlessOctober protest records low participation from citizens across Nigeria

The much-awaited protest by Nigerians to demand visibility from the government has recorded minimal turnout from citizens across the country.

The #FearlessOctober protest was organised by the Take It Back Movement. It was aimed at demanding that the federal government consider the people in its anti-people policies that have left Nigerians starving and a high cost of living.

The group was enraged that the government had made life difficult for Nigerians instead. Though there was a low turnout of protesters, the police officers were quick to disperse the crowd in some states by shooting teargas canisters.

Emirates Airlines resumes commercial operations two years after hiatus in Nigeria

Emirates Airlines has officially resumed flights in Nigeria after its two-year hiatus due to trapped funds and other things.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) flag bearer airline touched ground at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on October 1.

The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, had promised that Emirates Airlines would resume its work in Nigeria as there was no longer bad blood between the airline and Nigeria.

NBS reveals petrol import reduced by 3.58 billion litres after fuel subsidy removal

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigeria saw a significant decline in the importation of petrol by 3.58 billion litres since President Bola Tinubu announced the fuel removal subsidy in 2023.

“In terms of imported products, 20.30 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit were imported in 2023 relative to 23.54 billion litres in 2022, showing a decrease of 13.77 per cent. This downward trend is even more notable when compared to H2 2022.

“In the latter half of 2022, petrol imports stood at 11.98 billion litres, resulting in a 30.22 per cent drop when compared to H2 2023, equivalent to a reduction of 3.62 billion litres,” the report stated.

Passengers decry Dana Air’s ticket refund after airline’s suspension

Passengers have complained about not receiving their trapped ticket refunds from Dana Air four months after its suspension by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

Affected passengers of Dana have taken to social media to lament about their trapped refunds with the airline, although the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations state that airlines are obligated to refund passengers their money within seven days (one week) of a flight’s cancellation.

Flood worsens despite ₦180 billion budgeted on dams across Nigeria

Since the Alau Dam incident, the government has set its eyes on the rehabilitation of the dams across the country to avoid similar flooding.

However, despite allocating ₦179.77 for the construction and maintenance of these dams for the past decade (before the recent announcement of the allocation of funds), there still seems to be complaints about the poor state of the dams.

Reports have stipulated that perhaps the findings were not done through the proper channels as the current state of dams in Nigeria is fearful and could lead to another tragic flooding which will erase thousands of lives and destroy properties.