Friday brief: 'Grand' protest against Buhari holds today
+ The promise of 5G & Rehabilitating terrorists
* The Naira/Dollar rate was calculated by averaging buying rates from several Nigerian FinTech startups.
Good morning.
I was on Lagos Island for most of yesterday and had a good time. At one bar later in the evening, I struck up a conversation with a stranger who, apparently, works with a Nigerian agency as a technology consultant. Over drinks, we talked about how brilliant ideas never seem to take off in Nigeria and other matters. Of course, there was ample time to bash Buhari.
To today’s business:
Protest against Buhari at UN
The Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) is set to hold a protest today at the UN headquarters in New York as President Muhammadu Buhari addresses the UNGA 76 crowd.
NINAS began its protests last week at the UN headquarters, brandishing placards and calling for a referendum to decide the future of Nigeria, among other demands.
On Thursday, NINAS’ Chairman, Prof. Banji Akintoye, accused the federal government of sponsoring a counter-protest for tomorrow.
Akintoye, a Yoruba Nation supporter, said the government had started hiring black persons living in the US, offering $500 per head.
Food security: On Thursday, President Buhari in a UNGA meeting said Nigeria is committed to investing in food security and improving agriculture productivity as part of efforts to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
Nigeria to deploy 5G in 2022
The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, says 5G cellular networks will be deployed in January 2022.
In May, the Communication ministry had signed a memorandum of understanding with satellite firm NigcomSat to allow 5G services to ride on its C-band frequency spectrum.
While Pantami’s promise is good news, widespread adoption of the new technology is not cast in stone. Critics have pointed out that many Nigerians still do not have access to 4G, talk less of 5G.
But, following in the footsteps of Kenya and South Africa, the federal government will be hoping that its embrace of 5G will help unleash new possibilities.
As thousands of terrorist surrender . . .
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum on Thursday said a sustainable framework is being developed to properly handle the surrender of thousands of Boko Haram fighters.
Many Nigerians have criticised the apparent embrace of repentant terrorists by the government. But the military and Zulum have previously stated that accepting and rehabilitating the criminals can lead to a quicker resolution of the decades-plus insurgency in the North-East.
Responding to comments that it was being soft towards the terrorists, the military recently said that it was only being humane.
Quote: “I don’t know if people misunderstood humane treatment as being pampering, because if he is sick, we are supposed to treat him; if he is hungry we are supposed to give him food; we are supposed to provide him shelter just like any other person and that is exactly what we are doing,” theatre commander of a joint task force in the North-East, Christopher Musa, said.
What else is happening?
Sunday Igboho: The federal government says it may file fresh charges against the Yoruba Nation campaigner following the judgment of a High Court in Oyo State who recently ruled in his favour.
Kaduna security: The police say it has arrested three out of the 25 suspected members of a gang that kidnapped 121 students of Bethel Baptist High School earlier this year.
Leaked files: The House of Representatives has now resolved to investigate leakage of classified government documents to the public.
The lawmakers have also asked the federal governments to help secure the release of Nigerians illegally detained abroad.
Karma: After a video of a soldier assaulting a member of the National Youth Service Corps went viral, the Nigeria Army has vowed to sanction the officer involved.
Lives lived: Burial plans have been announced for Risikat Adejoke, a former Lagos lawmaker and wife to legendary musician, Sunday Adegeye, aka, King Sunny Ade.
Power: The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it has lost N1.7 billion in nine months to vandalism of electricity infrastructure in Maiduguri and environs.
Pay TV: Multichoice Nigeria says it has paid N8 billion taxes to the federal government as its case with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) persists in court.
And that’s it for this week. See you on Monday.
P.S. Oh yeah, couldn’t compile this week’s quiz. Too lazy.