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On April 21, 2024, Abuja residents raised an outcry against a Chinese supermarket located within the China General Chamber of Commerce along Airport Road in Abuja.
According to the eyewitnesses, the store refused to sell to Nigerians stating that only Chinese nationals could shop there. This claim was subsequently confirmed by a group of residents who went to the Asian supermarket and were also denied access by a security guard, who emphasized that he’d been given a “Chinese-only” directive.
What happened after this discovery?
Following this revelation, Nigerians took to social media to express their displeasure, calling the attention of the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to the situation.
On April 22, 2024, the commission sealed the supermarket after interrogating Nigerian workers in the establishment. The FCCPC, led by the Director for Surveillance and Investigation, Boladale Adeyinka, stated that to ensure consumer protection, the store would remain closed until the owner appeared before the commission tribunal for a lawful inquiry.
What is the Chinese supermarket’s response?
The mart owner – Mrs Cindy Lui Bei – who had been caught on CCTV coverage fleeing the supermarket with her family around 8:26 am on Monday, April 22, released a statement on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, denying the allegations. She claimed that her store was a retail shop which was scheduled to downsize and eventually close up, further reiterating that the shop was in no way being discriminatory. Mrs Cindy Bei further stated that the situation was a miscommunication from the security guard as she had attended to two Nigerian customers the same day the mart was sealed. She also stated that she managed several Nigerian staff and was cordial with them.
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To catch up on discrimination cases in Nigeria, click here.
On Monday, April 23, X user @mooyeeeee, shared a video that showed a group of students at Lead British International School, Abuja, bullying another female student.
The video has since spurred thousands of reactions online and many people have called the school management to look into the matter.
Hours after the post went viral, Namtira’s cousin, who, like other users, had watched the video in horror, announced that the school had been shut down for three days for investigation and that the culprits would be expelled.
Dowen College: Sylvester Oromoni
In December 2021, a video of a 12-year-old boy writhing in pain surfaced on the internet and sparked outrage. The boy, identified as Sylvester Oromoni, was a pupil of Dowen College, a boarding secondary school in Lagos. A few days after the footage went viral, Oromoni died.
His father claimed he’d sustained internal injuries after he was beaten by fellow students who bullied and tried to get him to join a cult. The school management, however, claimed he was never a victim of bullying and was injured during a football match. What followed was a legal back and forth between the school management and parents who insisted that their son opened up to them about being bullied before he died.
In April 2024, a Lagos coroner, Mikhail Kadiri, ruled that Oromoni suffered “avoidable excruciating pain” due to parental and medical negligence. He also exonerated the school of negligence and the students accused of bullying the deceased.
“The alleged suspects played no part in Sylvester’s death, but were victims of their past misdeeds.”
Deeper Life High School: Don Davis
In December 2020, 11-year-old Don Davis gained the public’s attention and sympathy after a video his mum made about his poor state made it to the internet.
In the video Davis’ mum, Mrs Deborah Okezie, lamented about her son’s health and the mistreatment he suffered from senior students in his school, Deeper Life High School, Uyo.
“They will remove his boxer and push their legs and hands into his anus,” she said. “Look at a child I sent to school. He came back with a broken anus,” she said in the viral clip.
Shortly after the case became public, the Deeper Life Bible Church, owners of the school responded to Mrs Okezie’s claims and issued a statement noting investigations into the matter. However, the school later changed their story and claimed that Davis came to the school ill, and Mrs Okezie, was in fact not his mother.
Subsequently, Mrs Okezie instituted a legal case against the school management including the two senior students who allegedly abused her son. However, in May 2022, all parties settled out of court.
Premiere Academy: Keren-Happuch Akpagher
In June 2021, 14-year-old Karen Happuch Akpagher’s, a boarding student at Premiere Academy in Abuja, died from complications after she was sexually molested.
Remnants of a condom were found in her privates, resulting in sepsis. According to Karen’s mum, she withdrew her daughter from school after a frantic call in which she complained about her health and asked to come. Mrs Akpagher said Karen didn’t feel like her normal self and she took her to the hospital two days after she returned from school. At the hospital, the doctors discovered the condom and sperm remnants that caused sepsis in the 14-year-old. Mrs Akphagher said she never got a chance to ask her daughter about the person who abused her.
In March 2022, Mrs Akpagher instituted a ₦10billion suit against the school management over negligence and failure of duty of care to her daughter. The latest update on the case was the court’s admittance of vital evidence against the school management in July 2023.
Six months later, there is still no news of any suspects being arrested. Albeit protests have continued under the Justice for Karen hashtag.
Chrisland School: Purity Okojie
In October 2021, Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson-Okojie cried out and claimed her 8-year-old daughter, Purity, was being bullied by a teacher in school.
“She tells her to her face that she does not like her mother; tells her that celebrity kids are badly behaved, and she should not bring her ‘aura’, she should stop feeling proud, she should not bring her online drama to school,” the actress wrote on Instagram.
In response to Okojie’s call-out, the school management issued a statement noting an investigation into the alleged case of bullying. The actress, however, did not share further updates on the matter.
With the prevalence of these stories, there’s an urgent need for the government, school administrators, policymakers and relevant bodies to create safe and inclusive learning environments where every student can thrive without fear of harassment or discrimination.
We’re not sure who the national grid is in love with, but it has fallen again. Now that you have to go about your daily activities without relying on electricity, we thought we might show you a few options to consider…
God didn’t give you the sun during the day and the moon at night for no reason. Remember when your parents said they read with the glow of moonlight in their younger days? It’s time to test that theory. Don’t wait for Nepa when the moon is out there wasting.
Read with fireflies
You call them “tanatana”, I call them the future of illumination. Let’s do something: when you’re free, catch a thousand fireflies and hang them up on your ceiling and voila! Now, you have free light 24/7. If that isn’t peak creativity, I don’t know what is.
Try Ironing with Solar Energy
Everything happens for a reason, including the crazy heat in Nigeria. Don’t let the sun shine in vain. Instead of waiting for NEPA, get a stove iron, your laundry and ironing just got easier. This solution is more economical than industrial irons that add millions to your electricity bill. Additionally, your clothes will come out smooth without any burns.
You might not be Thor Odinson, but hey, I believe in you. If lightning obeys a movie character, how much more you? When the next thunderstorm happens, go outside with your metal rod and Dunlop slippers, ready to produce your electricity.
No laundry machines? Throw your clothes away!
We were born naked, and we will die naked. It doesn’t matter if you start early. If you switch to leaves, you won’t have to worry about laundry or ironing. Leaves are clean, sustainable and very affordable. Plus, you don’t have to buy them too.
Sleep outdoors more
So, no light to power your fan? The solution is to switch to natural breeze. Mosquitoes and other bugs will likely suck you dry, but the pain will be worth it when a cool breeze touches your soul.
Buy a messenger bird
Don’t waste money on airtime or data for a phone you’ll be unable to charge. The fun part is the person you’re calling will also not be reachable because their phone is dead. However, you can’t go wrong with a bird. An eagle, hawk or turkey works. As long as it has wings, it can deliver your messages for you. But, if someone catches your bird and throws it inside their soup, I’m not there o.
Like the 10 fingers, electricity bands are not equal. If you’ve ever wondered why the electricity rarely trips off in certain parts of the country while some areas only get light on public holidays, your answer is here.
There are five bands according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). They include Band A, B, C, D and E.
Band A
These are Nigeria’s true rich kids. Users who fall under this band are entitled to a minimum of 20 hours per day. With states like Lagos, FCT, Oyo and Edo receiving the highest electricity rations, it is expected to find Band A customers in this category. Areas in Lagos with this amount of electricity include Akowonjo, Abule-egba, Ikeja, Ojodu, Oshodi, and parts of Yaba whose band currently costs ₦225 per kw/h.
Band B
If you’re part of this class, you are also rich and privileged. Band owners here get a minimum of 16 hours of light per day. With the national grid falling multiple times during the year, you still fall within the priority list of your electricity provider. This band costs between ₦61 – ₦64.07 per kw/h depending on their tariff plan.
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Band C
This class of people aren’t doing too bad. Because Nigeria’s electricity generation is low, we’d probably rank them as comfortable. People who fall under this band have a minimum of 12 hours of electricity per day. At least, if you go to work for twelve hours, there’s a good chance you enjoy light for the other half of the day. This band pays between ₦48.50 to ₦52 per kw/h.
Band D
If you only ever get light from midnight till dawn, then this is probably your class. Folks in this class enjoy what many Nigerians would call “stable light”. But hey, you get to charge your devices and iron your work clothes just before dawn. It’s a quiet type of luxury. This band costs between ₦32 to ₦52 per kw/h depending on the tariff plan and demand.
Band E
This is the lowest band that electricity service providers offer to customers. Users have access to a minimum of 4 hours per day and honestly, that doesn’t sound like enough hours of the day. On the bright side, they only cost between ₦32 – ₦43 per kw/h.
The Nigerian National Awards are a series of ceremonial awards given to outstanding individuals for their exemplary service and contributions to the country. These honours are divided into different ranks and categories, showing their hierarchy and significance.
The National Awards were established by the National Honours Act No. 5 of 1964 and have been conferred yearly to deserving individuals since October 1963.
The National Honours Awards Committee, the body in charge of nominations and award presentation, selects nominees according to different criteria, including efforts in nation-building, community development, service to humanity, professional excellence and the upholding of national integrity.
Here is a list of the National Awards in descending order:
Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR)
This is the highest award that can be conferred to civilians. The award is mostly held by presidents and past presidents, with the last individual to attain it being the current President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Notable non-presidential holders of the award are Queen Elizabeth II, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO) for their contributions to nation-building.
Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)
This is the second-highest award on this list. Its holders are usually vice presidents, chief justices, senate presidents, and monarchs in Nigeria. However, there have been exceptions to this rule, and they include Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Godwin Emefiele, Chief Bisi Akande, and Amina Jane Muhammed who were awarded for their work internationally and as nation-builders.
Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR)
This award is given to present or past speakers in the House of Representatives or top cabinet Members in the Executive Council, police chiefs, significant traditional rulers, and distinguished military generals. It is also esteemed to individuals esteemed to have contributed immensely to politics, philanthropy in the society and community development. Past awardees include Tony Elumelu, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and HRM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II.
Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON)
This national honour is often presented to state governors, exceptional members of the legislature, cabinet members of the executive council and any other individuals who have contributed immensely to society as deemed fit by the President and award board. Past awardees include Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, Prof Ali Pate, and Dr Herbert Wigwe.
Office of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR)
This is one of the highest civilian national award in the country. It is awarded to individuals who have shown great leadership and have recorded achievements in the country. This list of awardees ranges from individuals in the business, education and industry to legislature members. Past awardees include Tony Ezenna, Hon. Adebayo Adelabu and Sam Ohuabunwa.
Office of The Order of The Niger (OON)
The Order of the Niger is the second-highest civilian honour in Nigeria, and it’s awarded to individuals who have made immense strides in sectors such as Agriculture, Business, Arts and Culture. Notable past recipients include David Adeleke aka Davido, Kunle Afolayan, and Tiwatope Savage.
Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR)
The award is for individuals who have shown significant commitment and support to the country and its ideals. The award is presented to public servants, community leaders, and worthy individuals in the society.
A notable recipient of this award is musician Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy. Other recipients in the entertainment industry include Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Joke Silva, Kanayo. O. Kanayo, Osita Iheme, Genevieve Nnaji, Patience Ozokwor.
Member of The Order of the Niger (MON)
This award is conferred on individuals who have made admirable contributions to the country in their respective fields. The MON has in the past been awarded to professionals in sports, entertainment, journalism, social or legal advocacy, etc.
The most recent recipients of this award are the officials and players in the National team after their impressive performance in the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), as well as musicians: Innocent Idibia, K1 De Ultimate, and Teniola Apata.
Idris Okuneye AKA Bobrisky, a popular Nigerian socialite, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, for mutilating some naira notes. On April 12, 2024, a Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced her to six months in jail without the option of a fine.
What was her crime?
The EFCC spokesman, Mr Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrest and stated that Bobrisky was arrested on four different counts to which she pleaded guilty. During the judgment, Justice Abimbola Awogboro mentioned that Naira mutilation has become a menace that’s damaging the country’s image. Bobrisky’s sentence was to make an example of how Naira Abuse will be treated going forward
But is the sentence fair?
Naira Abuse has long been a criminal offence in Nigeria, but spraying naira notes when dancing has also been a part of the Nigerian culture for ages; this law hasn’t seen much enforcement in the past. Before Bobrisky, on February 1, 2023, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) arrested Nigerian actress, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, after a video of her spraying and stepping on the new Naira notes circulated on the internet. Just like Bobrisky, she bagged six months of imprisonment.
According to the 2007 CBN Act, the punishment for naira abuse — which includes spraying, stamping, engraving, selling and mutilation — is a fine of ₦50,000 or six months imprisonment. For a first-time offender, members of the public believe that the sentence with no option of a fine was made out of bias, but Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin was also sentenced with the only difference being that she got the option, of a fine because she was a first-time offender who pled guilty. She was eventually granted bail on February 15 2024, but for Bobrisky the case is not the same.
Although Bobrisky is also a first-time offender and has pled guilty with a promise to change and use his platform to educate people about the naira abuse, he wasn’t granted bail. This begs to question if there is some sort of bias behind the decisions of the court.
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When did this one start?
The police have started taking Naira Abuse more seriously, rounding up more offenders in the last several months than they ever have before. One Simon Idio was arrested on February 12, 2024, for selling the naira. Who knows what might come next?
To learn other possible ways you might be breaking the law, click here.
Over the last two weeks, Fisayo Soyombo, an investigative journalist working to uncover the corruption in Nigeria, brought the covert and blatant corruption of the Nigerian Customs Services to light.
Who is Fisayo Soyombo?
A Nigerian investigative journalist known for his undercover work in Nigeria’s criminal justice system. He is the Founder/Editor-in-Chief of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
In his investigative journey, he has spent five days undercover as a suspect in a police cell and eight as an inmate in Ikoyi Prison to expose corruption.
Soyombo also drove the equivalent of a stolen vehicle from Abuja to Lagos, passing 86 checkpoints to investigate bribery. He’s also investigated the abandonment of soldiers injured in battle against Boko Haram and the corruption in the handling of corpses at government-run mortuaries and cemeteries. In 2019, Soyombo went undercover for three weeks as a patient at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
With the work Fisayo has done, he has been able to cause impact in a few leading to the release of unjustly imprisoned people, treatment of neglected soldiers, arrest of corrupt police officers and commendations from the ex-governor and minister of interior – Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola among other awards. In other cases, the government has either promised to investigate or dismissed the case.
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What did he uncover about the Nigerian Customs?
Posing as a smuggler in 2022, Fisayo discovered that the Nigerian Customs Service is ridden with corruption. In a report published on February 21, 2024, he stated that he illegally imported 100 bags of rice in November 2022 from the Republic of Benin into Nigeria without facing resistance from security operatives because some NCS officials were paid.
Soyombo linked up with a smuggler who provided insider information about how the customs officers moved, enabling him to transport the rice between Nigeria and the Benin Republic through the forest using motorcycles.
He found that smugglers can bring anything into Nigeria without consequence as long as they pay bribes to customs officers. These officers provide insider information to smugglers, further facilitating smuggling activities. According to Fisayo, the major stakeholders in this ring of corruption include popular businessman, IBD Dende, and Comptroller Hussein Ejigbunu, among other officers of the customs services.
His findings have sparked social media discussions about the need for reform within the agency and the broader issue of corruption in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Customs Services respond
The Nigerian Customs Services hasn’t officially responded to these revelations. However, they have probed a comptroller. The Nigerian police have also investigated FIJ’s board director – Bukola Shonibare under the guise of an invitation.
The Police also demanded that FIJ’s board provide Fisayo Soyombo for investigation. IBD Dende also filed a pre-action statement against Fisayo Soyombo on grounds of defamation and character assassination with a demand for ₦500 million in damages and a retraction of the published report.
Between 2020 to 2024, several bills and pleas have reached the Nigerian Senate regarding the use of firearms. The most recent bill came from Senator Ned Nwoko in January 2024. His bill called for the introduction of a law allowing civilians in Nigeria to own and carry firearms for self-defence stating insecurity as a major reason.
The requirements necessary for owning these firearms as proposed by Senator Nwoko included references from medical doctors, endorsement from local government officials, certification from traditional leaders, and confirmation by the Divisional Police Officer to verify the absence of criminal involvement among others. While this bill has passed its first reading and garnered strong support from other prominent figures, recent events paint this bill as a bad idea.
On Saturday, March 30 2024, the bodies of three dead and four injured children were recovered after a gunpowder explosion in Taraba state. The Commissioner of Police, Taraba State Command, CP David Iloyanomon confirmed the incident happened in Didango Geita, a community in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.
What’s the full story?
The seven victims had reportedly gone to help on a rice farm belonging to the grandfather of one of the deceased. Things took a different turn when an explosion was heard at the site. The eyewitness who reported the event, Mallam Audu Danjuma, said the villagers broke into a panic thinking it was an IED explosion and contacted the police.
However, CP David Iloyonomon refuted this claim stating it was a gunpowder explosion from a Dane gun triggered by the children. According to him, the anti-bomb unit has carried out a thorough investigation and confirmed this. The Police commissioner further explained that a bombing or dynamite explosion would have blasted the children’s bodies beyond recognition, leaving no survivors. The positioning of the children’s bodies and pellets of gunpowder found at the scene also supports the police’s findings. This paints a clear picture of what happened and takes away the possibility of an IED explosion or an assailant.
The deceased children, all below the age of 12, were identified as Miracle Danjuma, Liyacheyan Bitrus, and Kefas Bitrus. The injured children, Joseph Danjuma, Leah Aluda, Godbless Hassan, and Christian Hassan, are receiving treatment at the state’s specialist hospital in Jalingo, the state capital.
This brings to question whether firearms are a solution to Nigeria’s insecurity problems or the beginning of many possible problems with accidents like this being one of them. Can the Senate trust Nigerians to only use guns for self-defence and to keep them far away from children or should we potentially expect more cases like this?
On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, an incident between KFC represented by the manager at their outlet in the Murtala Mohammed Airport and the son of the former Ogun state governor, Adebola Daniels, broke into the limelight. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) acted swiftly and shut down the branch barely a day later on Thursday, March 28, 2024. The incident has sparked public reaction and criticism. Here’s everything we know about the situation.
What went down between KFC and Debola Daniels?
The issue between Debola Daniels and KFC stemmed from an incident where KFC denied access to Adebola Daniel, the son of former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, who uses a wheelchair. Adebola Daniel shared his experience of being asked to leave the KFC premises at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos because of KFC’s “No wheelchairs allowed,” policy. He described this experience as humiliating and discriminative towards people with disabilities.
In his open message to KFC, Debola asks if he is not human enough to eat at the restaurant.
Debola Daniel via X
What reaction did this get?
This incident prompted a reaction from the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, who announced the shutdown of the KFC outlet following an investigation that confirmed the allegations of discrimination against Adebola Daniel by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at FAAN. The only penalty on the list was a public apology.
Some individuals took to Twitter to disagree with this penalty, stating that an apology would not cut it as KFC violated the law through their actions.
What does KFC have to say about this?
Taking to their Twitter account, KFC released a statement about the incident reinforcing the management’s stand against bias and discrimination and assuring the public that they are training their staff to be more inclusive and servicing to guests regardless of their status and ability.
While Nigerians await KFC’s public apology as directed by FAAN, you can join the conversation on our WhatsApp channel here.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is barely a year into his reign and is already arguably the most critiqued president of Nigeria. One of his lesser-known but still highly criticised actions is his response to the Republic of Niger’s current political instability.
What happened between Nigeria and the Republic of Niger?
On July 26, 2023, junta forces took over President Mohamed Bazoum’s government through a coup. In a bid to return things to order, the ECOWAS imposed sanctions spearheaded by President Tinubu.
However, these sanctions have affected both Niger and Nigeria, disrupting cross-border trade and causing economic hardship in both countries. They have also hindered regional stability and counter-terrorism initiatives in which both countries were involved. What started as an effort to control political turmoil has created multiple problems in that region of West Africa.
What were the sanctions placed on Niger?
The sanctions included the closure of land and air borders, freezing of assets in the ECOWAS Central Bank, suspension of commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger, freezing of state enterprises in commercial banks, freezing of service transactions, including utility services, and a no-fly zone for commercial flights to and from Niger.
What is Nigeria’s business there?
Our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is the sitting chairman of the ECOWAS. And the sanctions with the most effect on Niger’s socio-economic decline are Nigeria’s decision to cut off electricity supply to Niger and close the borders between us.
As the chairman, President Tinubu was instrumental in the decision-making of the ECOWAS board. He received criticism for initially taking forceful measures that affected the trade and security of Nigerian states sharing borders with Niger. Once the border was reopened, he received praise from the Northern governors forum whose states had been most affected in Nigeria.
What’s the current situation?
The ECOWAS sanctions against the Niger Republic were lifted on February 24, 2024, on humanitarian grounds, with the hope of fostering dialogue with the military junta in Niger, Mali and Guinea and improving the socio-economic conditions in the region.
The land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger, the No Fly Zone for all commercial flights to and from the country and the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger have all been lifted.
Public reaction
While some political analysts, like Idayat Hassan, welcome the decision to lift the sanctions, others doubt its impact. Some others believe the ban should have never happened in the first place and that lifting it is a sign of weakness from the ECOWAS, which the junta will exploit.
Do you think ECOWAS could’ve done better, or President Tinubu could’ve managed a better compromise?
