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Protest in Nigeria: Nyanya, Mararaba in chaos as protesters overwhelm security agents
By Francesca Hangeior
Nyanya axis of Karu Local Government Council of the Federal Capital Territory and its neighboring Mararaba town, in Nasarawa State, were thrown into chaos Thursday morning, following the protest against bad governance, embarked upon early Thursday by some citizens.
Business activities were grounded as protesters took over the streets and major roads.
Despite the heavy presence of security personnel, compromising the Nigerian military, the police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and local vigilantes deployed to the areas, the defiant protesters overwhelmed them.
Thousands of protesters brandishing dangerous weapons, stones and placards with different inscriptions dared the security personnel stationed in most strategic places.
The protesters took over the popular major Abuja/Keffi Expressway which is even heavily manned by the security personnel, thus preventing vehicular and human movements.
All the banks located in the axis were seen locked with heavy padlocks. Market men and women including shop owners who had earlier come to carry out their day’s businesses, hurriedly locked their shops to avoid them being looted by the protesters.
Although soldiers were seen patrolling the areas and shooting in the air to scare the protesters even as the latter appeared not to be deterred by the action.
As at the time of filing this report, two persons were seen fatally shot at Mararaba by a stray bullet. It was however, not known if the bullet was fired by the soldiers or the police personnel mannig the axis.
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FG moves to allow payment in Naira to NIMASA, NPA
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The federal government is proposing the collection of charges, fines and others, by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), be in naira rather than in foreign currencies.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, spoke on Wednesday during a press briefing at the state house in Abuja.
According to Onanuga, the proposal is part of the economic stabilisation bills (ESBs) to be presented by President Bola Tinubu to the national assembly.
On Monday, the federal executive council (FEC) approved the economic stabilisation bills seeking amendment of tax policies.
Onanuga said the plan is part of an effort from the federal government to prioritise the use of naira and reduce pressure on the foreign exchange (FX) market.
“The second one has to do with the operating laws guiding NIMASA and Nigerian Port Authority (NPA). The amendment under that in the economic stabilisation bills is that all their fees, charges, levies, fines and other monies accruing to them and payable to those agencies will now be paid in naira at the applicable exchange rate,” Onanuga said.
“Hitherto, those agencies were charging in dollars but now collect it in naira. This government wants to put a lot of emphasis on our national currency instead of everything being dollarised in our economy.”
Since the unification of the naira on June 14, the country’s currency has significantly deteriorated, depreciating from N471.67 per dollar to N1667.42/$ in the official market as of Wednesday.
As part of its effort to reduce demand for dollars, the federal government said on October 1, it would commence the sale of crude oil in naira to the Dangote refinery and other local refineries.
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Three arrested in Benin Republic over alleged ‘coup’ conspiracy
By Francesca Hangeior.
Benin prosecutors announced that three notable individuals, including a commander of the presidential guard, have been detained under suspicion of orchestrating a “coup d’etat” in the small West African country.
The other two individuals accused of plotting a coup are a former sports minister and a businessman with close ties to President Patrice Talon.
Elonm Mario Metonou, the special prosecutor at Benin’s court for financial crimes and terrorism, revealed that the alleged coup was scheduled to occur on Friday.
“It seems the Republican Guard commander responsible for the president’s security was recruited by Minister Oswald Homeky and Olivier Boko to carry out a forceful coup on September 27, 2024,” the prosecutor stated.
Homeky was apprehended around 1:00 am on Tuesday while transferring six bags of money amounting to 1.5 billion West African CFA francs ($2.5 million) to the commander, Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre.
Boko, a close associate of President Patrice Talon, was arrested separately overnight from Monday to Tuesday in Benin’s economic hub of Cotonou, the court disclosed.
He had recently hinted at his intention to vie for the presidency in 2026, as Talon is barred by the constitution from seeking another term when his second term concludes.
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