• Nationwide protest begins today, August 1
• Two courts restrict protesters to Abuja Stadium and four locations in Ogun State
• Vice Chancellors claim students might begin to pay ₦80k for electricity fee in universities
• FG suspends Arik Air plane due to $2.5m debt
• Senate President endorses ₦50k monthly payment of 10,000 Niger Delta youths in new initiative

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

Nationwide protest begins today, August 1

The long-awaited hunger, bad governance and unemployment nationwide protest begins today, August 1, and the tension in the country is high as Nigerians (citizens and the government) do not want a repeat of the 2020 ENDSARS protest.

Ahead of the protest, there have been reports of food prices rising beyond regular rates as the people are mass buying in advance of the protest should chaos ensue in the country following the advent of the protest.

Banks and other financial institutions have announced that they will also be closing on August 1 as the fear of protest lingers. Financial institutions, stores, and supermarkets have often felt the anger of protesters because when chaos begins, these places are the first to be hit.

Two courts restrict protesters to Abuja Stadium and four locations in Ogun State

Two High Courts of FCT and Ogun State have restricted all Abuja and Ogun State protesters to specific locations within the territories as permitted spaces to protest.

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), led by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, ruled that all protesters should not go beyond the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

The High Court of Ogun State, led by Justice O. Ogunfowora, announced that Ogun State protesters could only march within four locations, which are MKO Stadium (Abeokuta), Ansar-ud-Deen Comprehensive High School (Ota), Remo Divisional High School (Sagamu), and Dipo Dina Stadium (Ijebu-Ode).

Vice Chancellors claim students might begin to pay ₦80k for electricity fees in universities

The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities have all come together to discuss the high costs of paying electricity fees due to the increased electricity tariff and have concluded on attaching ₦80,000 electricity to each Nigerian student’s fees.

According to the Secretary-General of CVCNU, Prof Yakubu Ochefu, universities cannot meet up with the ₦200 million fees they have to pay monthly for electricity as they were charged ₦61 million per month before the hike in electricity tariff.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced suddenly in April 2024 that it would be increasing its electricity tariff fees for all Band A customers from ₦68/kWh to ₦225/kWh.

FG suspends Arik Air plane due to $2.5m debt

The Nigerian aviation authorities have suspended Arik Air’s plane over its outstanding debt of $2.5 million.

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) revealed that the FCT High Court enforcement department had issued an order regarding Arik Air to Atlas Petroleum Ltd.

The High Court also issued a notice of public auction of the planes should the $2.5 million debt remain unpaid.

Senate President endorses ₦50k monthly payment of 10,000 Niger Delta youths in new initiative 

Senate President Godswill Akpabio recently launched a “Youth Internship Scheme” programme focused on catering to the needs of 10,000 youths in the Niger Delta.

The programme was initiated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and will foresee a monthly payment of ₦50,000 to these eligible 10,000 youths.

The Senate President Godswill Akpabio spoke in favour of the initiative, praising the Niger Delta as a protest-free space as he requested that the youths ignore the hunger and hardship protest against the President.