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Planned anti-economic hardship protests: Araraume weighs in, says national interest must be preserved

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, has appealed to the government and people of Nigeria to work collaboratively towards the preservation of the national interest.
Araraume, who spoke against the backdrop of the nationwide protests being planned for August 1-10, 2024, said that it was important that all eyes are on the ball of harmony, unity, peace and progress in the course of any people-to-government action.
According to him: “The citizens are free to engage with their government on issues that affect them. Their resort to public space protests underscores the depth of their dissatisfaction with the state of affairs.
“On the other hand, the fact that government has taken a number of steps to avert the protests is a clear indication that the government is well apprised of the pains, the complaints and the angst of the citizens.
“I believe genuine steps are being taken to address the contending issues that have made the economic condition difficult for the vast majority of Nigerians.”
Araraume expressed confidence that the government is committed to resolving the issues causing hardship for the populace and urged Nigerians to remain patient and exercise restraint.
He highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Federal Government to develop policies and implement strategies aimed at addressing public concerns and delivering tangible improvements.
In particular, Araraume commended the recent decision of the President for
approving the sale of crude oil to Dangote refinery and other legitimate local refineries, in local naira currency, as a positive step towards alleviating economic challenges faced by Nigerians.
He emphasized that such measures should be recognized as part of a broader initiative by the administration to address the country’s economic issues effectively.
Furthermore, Araraume pointed out that the government under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership has just announced the suspension of import tariffs and taxes on essential food items, stating that this action demonstrates the administration’s commitment to making life more affordable for the people and signifies that the citizens’ agitations are beginning to yield positive results.
“Since government is already taking steps towards addressing the public concerns, embarking on public space protests becomes needless. Protests would have been well advised had the government ignored reports about planned nationwide anti-economic hardship protests.
“But if they must protest, I pray that they would be guided by national interest and take steps to guard against politicization of the action, economic sabotage, as well as hijack of the protests by unscrupulous elements and hoodlums.
“Our unity must be preserved; our harmony must be strengthened while our economy must be bolstered; and, one pragmatic way to bolster the economy is by shunning protests and allowing organized bodies and existing government institutions like Labour bodies, National Assembly, traditional rulers, religious leaders, non-state actors to engage with government on the economic situation on behalf of and in the interest of all and sundry.”
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Nigeria’s inflation jumps to 24.23% in March 2025

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 24.23% in March 2025, according to the official government data source, the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The rise in the country’s inflation rate, from 23.18% back in February 2025 to 24.23% in March 2025, reflected a major increase in the rising commodity and energy costs in the last few weeks.
According to the March 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) Report which measures the inflation rate released by the government agency on Tuesday, the country’s food inflation rate was 21.79% year-on-year in March 2025.
The food inflation rate, however, showed a decrease compared to the food inflation rate of 23.51% recorded in February 2025.
Economists had predicted that the country’s inflation rate which decreased minimally in February would rise when the Dangote Refinery and the state-run NNPCL got entangled in a petrol price war that culminated in the temporary termination of a naira-for crude agreement between the two oil companies and the subsequent increase in the pump price of petrol.
Some observers had also said the minimal reduction in the prices of food commodities experienced earlier in February was not sustainable, attributing the temporary decline in the prices of food to the importation intervention of the Federal Government.
Food and commodity inflation have skyrocketed as Nigerians battle what can pass for the worst cost of living crisis since the country’s independence over six decades ago, a development that economic wizards have attributed to President Bola Tinubu’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of the forex rates.
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Plateau 51: Mutfwang mourns, says “we failed you”, begs affected community

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has apologised to the people of Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) for the failure of government and security agencies to protect lives and properties.
Fifty-one persons were gunned down early Monday in the Zikke community of the LGA, with houses razed and many displaced about two weeks after a similar attack led to the killing of scores of persons in Bokkos Local Government Area.
Less than two days after the most recent assault, Governor Mutfwang apologised for the government’s inability to protect the people.
Fifty-one persons were gunned down early Monday in the Zikke community of the LGA, with houses razed and many displaced about two weeks after a similar attack led to the killing of scores of persons in Bokkos Local Government Area.
Less than two days after the most recent assault, Governor Mutfwang apologised for the government’s inability to protect the people.
The governor said this on Tuesday at the palace of the Paramount Ruler in Miango.
“I will tell you the truth: I have been crying since yesterday because I had trusted God that all the arrangements were put in place, that this will not happen again. We have made investments in security,” he said.
But like all human arrangements, sometimes they fail. I want to admit that on Sunday night into Monday morning, we failed you. Please, forgive me.”
He urged the people not to relent in their efforts to secure their communities and ensure that they complement security agencies’ efforts by providing vital information for intelligence gathering and expose the antics of the criminals.
Governor Mutfwang, in the company of security chiefs and members of the state executive council, was in Zikke community to commiserate with the people on the death of over fifty persons killed in Monday’s attacks.
The Paramount Ruler of Irigwe land, Ronku Aka, who is the Brangwe of Irigwe, urged the government to come to the aid of the communities with the provision of social amenities in the area.
The governor and the entourage also went to see some of the families who lost their loved ones in the attack. The victims have been buried just as members of the community demanded action to stem the rising wave of insecurity in the state.
Plateau State has been a hotbed of attacks, but the renewed spate of attacks adds a fresh layer of twist to the decades-long crisis rocking the North-Central state.
After the most recent assaults, President Bola Tinubu ordered security agencies to fish out the masterminds, describing the attacks as condemnable.
While experts have linked the lingering Plateau crisis to farmers-herders tussle for resources, Governor Muftwang said it was sponsored and genocidal.
According to him, over 64 communities in the state have been taken over by gunmen.
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