More Iranians are using social media to vent anger at what they see as the corruption and extravagance of a privileged few, while the majority struggles to get by in an economy facing tighter U.S. sanctions.
The country has been hit by a wave of protests during the 2018, some of them violent, but as economic pressures rise, people are increasingly pointing fingers at the rich and powerful, including clerics, diplomats, officials and their families.
One person channeling that resentment is Seyed Mahdi Sadrossadati, a relatively obscure cleric who has amassed 256,000 followers on his Instagram account with a series of scathing posts aimed at children of the elite.
In one recent post, he blasted the “luxury life’’ of a Revolutionary Guards commander and his son, who posted a selfie online in front of a tiger lying on the balcony of a mansion.
Openly criticising a well-known member of the powerful military unit that answers to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is in itself an unusual act of defiance.
Air Nigeria landing at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos, Nigeria
Air Nigeria landing at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos, Nigeria
Flight operations were on Wednesday evening disrupted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos following a power outage.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outage occurred at about 6.05pm and lasted for over an hour before it was restored.
The situation placed the nation’s busiest airport in total darkness, leaving airline officials, passengers and other airport users frustrated as they could not proceed with the boarding processes.
An official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), told NAN on condition of anonymity that the outage was caused by disruptions from the Ayobo and Ikeja Transmission Lines which supplies power to the facility.
“What happened was that there was intermittent disruption of power supply and it was unstable during the period it lasted but it was eventually restored,” the source said.
The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs Herrientta Yakubu, who confirmed the development, said power had been restored to the airport.
An aviation expert, Capt. John Ojikutu, decried the ugly development, saying as a Category 1 airport, the MMIA ought to have independent power supply, especially in case of emergencies.
“FAAN is expected to have independent power line from Ikeja and Ayobo transmission lines as planned for MMIA in 2007; what has happened to that proposal?
“This is a shame on all of us including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“Again, how did NCAA certify the MMA if the power problem that could affect the airport safety facilities has not been resolved?
” We have a long way to go with the NCAA safety oversight functions,” he said.
Visiting Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday expressed confidence in Conakry that blossoming relations between Zimbabwe and Guinea would translate into greater economic cooperation.
“I am confident that the friendship and fraternal relations will translate into strong economic ties through our bilateral relations.
“As well as the various frameworks within the African Union and United Nations,’’ he said at a dinner held in his honour by his counterpart Alpha Conde, the state-run news agency New Ziana reported.
During Mnangagwa’s visit to Guinea, the two countries signed four memoranda of agreements aimed at creating a framework for diplomatic cooperation.
“These include the framework agreement of cooperation, agreement on the establishment of a joint commission, agreement on reciprocal exemption of visas for holders of diplomatic and service passports.
“Also memorandum of understanding for the establishment of political and diplomatic consultation between the two ministries in charge of foreign affairs.
“The agreements mark the framework for furthering and deepening cooperation,’’ Mnangagwa stressed.
Conde, speaking through an interpreter, commended the first visit from his Zimbabwean counterpart.
In a communique released at the end of the two-day visit, the two countries also agreed to exchange experts in agriculture and to explore opportunities in mining, technical cooperation and tourism.
The two leaders also welcomed the principle of speaking with one voice on all regional and international forums.
Mnangagwa extended an invitation to Conde to visit Zimbabwe, which he accepted.
The U.S. government, through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), has donated 3.3 million bed nets for distribution in Akwa Ibom .
The U.S Embassy said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
“PMI is jointly implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“The bed nets, valued at 9.7 million dollars, will be distributed in all local government areas of the state.
“ The U.S. government also provided an additional 1.6 million dollars for logistics, including transportation and community mobilization – for a total contribution of 11.3 million dollars,” it stated.
The embassy explained that the Akwa Ibom Government led the planning, coordination and distribution efforts which concluded on Oct. 12.
It stated that the bed net distribution was a critical component of the ongoing efforts to end malaria in Nigeria, which killed an estimated 107,000 people in 2016.
The disease is especially prevalent during the rainy season, when the mosquito population increases.
The Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong, was quoted as saying “the provision of these bed nets is a call to action to us in the state government to even do more for the health of our people”.
“This activity will benefit the 5.9 million residents of Akwa Ibom.
“At a minimum, two people within each household will have at least one net for use to prevent malaria under the distribution plan”.
The embassy said that a similar distribution would begin in late November in Bauchi State.
Sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net every night is one of the best ways to prevent malaria.
“Bed nets put a vital barrier between people and the mosquitoes that carry malaria, most importantly during the hours from dusk to dawn.
“Nightly use of insecticide-treated bed nets prevents infections, which in turn prevents the spread of malaria.
“Since 2011, PMI has procured 42 million insecticide treated nets for Nigeria, valued at 126 million dollars.
“Over 50 per cent of the overall 490 million dollars in U.S. funding for malaria control goes into procuring and distributing insecticide treated bed nets, malaria diagnostic kits and malaria medicines,” it stated.
It stated that PMI supported advocacy and mobilization to encourage members of the community to sleep under the bed nets every night, and trained health workers to test for malaria before treatment.
The Federal Government (FG) on Tuesday closed its case at a Federal High Court Lagos, in a 55 million dollars debt recovery suit it filed against Agip Oil Company Ltd.
The suit, filed since 2016 by the government’s counsel, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), is one among others by the government, seeking to recover almost 12 billion dollars in missing crude oil revenue from some international oil companies.
The Federal Government is claiming 55 million dollars from Agip for missing crude oil revenue.
The FG accused Agip of under-declaring the volume of crude oil it shipped out of the country between January 2011 and December 2014.
Government claims that Agip short-changed it to the tune of 55 million dollars.
The plaintiff is therefore, praying the court to compel the oil firm to pay the sum, with an annual interest rate of 21 per cent
On Tuesday, the Federal Government, represented by Mr Ituah Imahnze, informed the court that it was closing the case for the plaintiff.
Consequently, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun adjourned until Wednesday for Agip to begin its defence.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plaintiff filed the suit, to recover lost revenues arising from undeclared and under-declared crude oil shipments from Nigeria to different parts of the world.
The Federal Government had also sued Total Nig. Plc, alleging that the oil company under-declared the volume of crude oil it shipped out of the country between January 2011 and December 2014.
Government accused the oil company of short-changing it to the tune of 245 million dollars by allegedly shipping several barrels of crude oil out of Nigeria, without making due remittance to the authorities.
The FG also filed similar suits against Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Chevron Petroleum Nigeria Ltd, Shell Western Supply Trading Ltd, among others.
Former Vice-President of Nigeria, and PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar
Former Vice-President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has commended the Federal Government for agreeing to pay N30,000 minimum wage negotiated with labour leaders in the country.
Abubakar made the commendation in a statement his Presidential Campaign Organisation on Tuesday in Abuja.
He described Nigerian workers as the “goose that lays the golden egg” and was worthy of the best pay that Nigeria could afford.
Abubakar recalled that he had last week stated his commitment to a living wage as one of the pillars of his soon-to-be-launched policy document on making workers’ welfare a priority.
He commended the patriotism displayed by the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and other labour affiliates in suspending the planned nationwide strike.
The former Vice President also called on the National Assembly to speedily pass legislation that would make the new minimum wage a statutory requirement.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to keep promise and abide by the new minimum wage agreement.
“No sacrifice is too great to make for us to get Nigeria working again and that is what the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation is all about.
“Abubakar means jobs, jobs that would pay the minimum wage and above because Nigeria should benefit the masses and not those who are in top government positions.”
Pic 13. From left: President Muhammadu Buhari congratulating the Chairman, Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage Amal Pepple during the submission of the report of the Committee to President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday 6/11/18 (Photo: Callistus Ewelike)
Pic 13. From left: President Muhammadu Buhari congratulating the Chairman, Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage Amal Pepple during the submission of the report of the Committee to President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday (6/11/18) (Photo: Callistus Ewelike)
The Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage on Tuesday recommended an increase in the existing minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000.
Chairman of the Committee, Amal Pepple, made this known in her remarks when the committee presented its report on the Review of National Minimum Wage to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Pepple explained that the recommendation made by the committee was predicated on the high cost of living, occasioned by the exchange rate as well as the rising inflation rate in the country.
She said that the committee also considered micro-economic indicators including the revenue and expenditure profile of the government.
Pepple expressed the belief that the implementation of the recommended minimum wage would boost the purchasing power of the working class, increase consumption expenditure, and stimulate economic growth.
“Consideration was also given to the critical role of the informal sector in employment generation and the need for a realistic minimum wage that will not stifle the growth of the sector and the overall economy.
“After carefully weighing these critical factors and bearing in the mind the overriding interest of the economy, the committee, while noting the offer of N24,000 by the Federal Government, is recommending an increase in the existing minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000.
“We believe that the implementation of the recommended minimum wage, will, no doubt, boost the purchasing power of workers, increase consumption expenditure and ultimately stimulate business and overall economic growth.”
“The committee has also produced a Draft National Minimum Wage Bill 2018 for consideration by the government.
“We strongly believe that the enactment of the draft bill into law is very critical to the operation and future reviews of the National Minimum Wage,’’ she said.
Temitope Mustapha on AMRULLAH Hospital stretcher in Kaduna
Temitope Mustapha on AMRULLAH Hospital stretcher in Kaduna
By Temitope Mustapha
Passing through Kaduna State on Sunday 21st of October 2018, to connect to Kano State for a two day Media Dialogue on ‘Equity for the Girl Child Education’ , I never thought would end up bloody for me.
About 4:35pm (local time), Two times this gentleman who was in the same car with me woke me up and said “Madam stay awake” I replied him, see i had written stories previous nights before I embarked on this journey. Again this man woke me up and said “Madam please stay awake”.
Then I opened my sleepy eyes very wide and clearly, I saw Military officers seated on their vehicles. Suddenly, a fellow passenger like me said “Madam we have been making calls to know the safest road” and I said you mean this road is safe for us all? They all answered Yes. Suddenly at Kaduna By- Pass, I saw a trailer blocking the road and traffic was building up and the driver of the same car I boarded (public transport of course) beckoned on one of the youths holding a fibre of an iron, of course he responded in Hausa language & another passenger translated this to me that he wanted to find another route out of By- Pass.
Suddenly, a number of the young men sighted me in the car & my driver started pleading with them, telling them ” Da Allah ki ya kuri” ,I was the only female in the car and extremely unusual of me I wore what you saw in the pictures above with an headtie ( turban) that I had on me.
RACE OF MY LIFE The young men best described as Miscreants were more than 15, they started hitting the side of the car I was, Actually my head was blank, I couldn’t say one word of prayer, I didn’t panic and I was ready to run the race of my life.
Immediately my fellow passengers took to their heels from the front door and the left door side , then I summoned courage opened the right side door which was already confronted by men holding all manner of irons and stones. My turban ( headtie) fell off , And I started running towards an uncompleted building immediately I realised I could be finished in the building, With heavy stones landing on my back and long metallic objects hitting my body from people running after me ,I turned an thought of crossing the Gutters on Kaduna by- Pass.
O Yes I fell down with the heaviness & marathon of stones landing on my body then I watched myself being LYNCHED with all manners of iron rods, sticks and i was being stoned at the same time.
Nobody dared stopped these youths from stoning me neither was I rescued from their hands. I actually saw one of them videoing what they were doing to me & I sincerely was running within me to catch up with breathe. Death is Painful.
I suddenly didn’t feel the hitting of the irons on my body again & the stones were no longer making sounds to me. I was hearing ,Jesus is Lord inside my Head clearly as if with a mega phone, I was seeing my mother, my Son & my daughter’s faces all at the same time & somehow I kept hearing in my head that all they were doing was not up to Labour Pains.
I crawled inside the Gutters of course I was already almost inside the Gutters by by-Pass. I felt peace in my body & I found solace inside the Gutters. I saw these youths gathered on the other side ,I blurrily saw a crowd of men watching me , And I saw clearly one of them carrying a stone with his two hands right over me, I raised up one hand pleading to him & making gestures appealing. That was the last I saw.
HEAVY SLEEP OVER POWERED ME Heavy & Deep Sleep came over me inside the Gutters, the thing overpowered me & I watched my hand threw away, from this moment I didn’t know what happened again, I cannot tell what, where & anything about me again. I don’t know what switched me off. I was completely switched off.
Till I woke up at AMRULLAH Hospital (also along Kaduna by-Pass ) on a stretcher, I started talking telling them I am a Journalist with Voice of Nigeria and I was only passing by Kaduna State to attend a Media Dialogue in Kano State. I attempted standing from the stretcher my body didn’t respond. I was asked for phone numbers, Heaven helped me to remember my younger sister’s number & the father of my children’s number.
AMRULLAH Hospital… Totally to my rescue, about six drips including flagyl & All manners were set into my system. I was revived, Head suturing were done, the young Muslim doctor was crying while suturing my head, hospital attendants were cleaning stretcher stained with my blood. Everybody was put on guard. The Miscreants traced me to the hospital & demanded that the lady brought in should be released by the hospital to be killed. This Muslim hospital saved me, hidden me away from them & I realised I was kept in a ward locked with a nurse who was given instructions not to open the ward to anyone she possibly didn’t know the voice. Only the Hospital Manager, the doctor on duty & two nurses were given access to where I was.
2nd Day
I asked the only face I saw when I woke up from the “deep sleep”, I said Please who brought me. He looked at me with tears filled in his eyes & said A JTF Member brought you life-less. He said “we rejected you because you were not breathing and demanded he should not drop your body with us”
The AMRULLAH Hospital Manager said, when we refuse to take you the JTF Man dropped you on our stretcher & said you could come back that we should try.
AMRULLAH Hospital treated me & stabilised me. Then A thousand plus calls came on the Hospital Managers’ Phone, they said My Family Members were dead alive & Colleagues had sleepless night.
MANAGEMENT OF VOICE OF NIGERIA STOOD FOR ME In the Midst of it all, Mr Ahaziah Suleiman, the Executive Director of News, Mr Ben Shemang, Hajia Sani, Hajia Hauwa even the Director General, I heard all sets contacts in motion for my proper care.
VON KADUNA STATE CORRESPONDENT SUDDENLY BECAME A MOTHER
Her name is Hajia Asmau, she was the family I saw, she was the colleague on ground, she wept uncontrollably and was still the one consoling herself, I watched Asmau wiped tears several times. Above all this lady risked her life to identify with me in the hospital and practically carried a wheeled chair colleague to her house to ensure my safety.
Baba we all call him, Hajia Asmau’s Husband was there to carry me from the vehicle to hospital stretcher, he was there all through right beside his wife fixing my neck most times carrying me on wheel chair. Hajia Asmau’s children all cried uncontrollably and kept asking their Mother, Mummy what did she do to them.” Her family owned me straight up.
AGAIN MY BOSSES & COLLEAGUES TRIED
Aisha John Mark, Gloria Essien and Omolayo Alabi all pinned Professor Dr Ogrimma down, owner of SKILLS HOSPITAL, He was there for VON, Of course curfew did not allow X-tray operator to be at work. But Dr Ogrimma tried for me. He ensured the fractured hand was well tied and he gave instructions that further saved me.
UNICEF TEAM & KADUNA STATE GOVERNMENT ALSO CARED I Sincerely hail Mr Geoffrey Njoku, UNICEF Head Communication Officer, who i learnt contacted his colleagues in Kaduna State and informed them of my attack the same night I was revived at AMRULLAH Hospital. Of course UNICEF contacted Kaduna State government. Lo & Behold ! Commissioner For Health Kaduna State visited the following afternoon of the attack, he later sent an ambulance who took me to government hospital on “KD State government’s demand though no bed space & everywhere was already filled with victims.
44 MILITARY HOSPITAL & MY FRACTURED HAND
My bosses didn’t sleep nor take a Nap over my situation in Kaduna. The third day of the incidence my Bosses contacted General Burutai’s Men to save the situation as there was still curfew & I almost couldn’t walk. A very calm Army Boss reported at Hajia Asmau’s residence with his men, the third day and carried me to 44 MILITARY HOSPITAL to attend to my dangling fractured & dislocated hand. The army medical doctors insisted on thorough x-ray including that of my head. At the end, the Army left me better.
VON DELIVERED ME WHOLE TO MY FAMILY
Spending three days in Kaduna State at the heat of the crises wasn’t easy at all for my family. (Though Hajia Asmau’s presence created relief for my mother) VON sent an official car with the office nurse and armed men escorted my scattered body with my breathe intact out of Kaduna town. I was exchanged into VON official car @Kaduna Toll gate.
I do have a lot to say about Kaduna State October 2018 crises. While recuperating & been on bed rest, I think when my Nurse ( My mum’s eyes are few times away from me) I think about being carried from the Gutters by an Unknown Possibly Muslim JTF Member, I think about AMRULLAH Hospital ( a complete Muslim hospital who God used to stabilised me after coming of deep sleep & yet not delivering me into the hands of the Hot Headed Miscreants, I think about the safety of Nigerian road users TRAVELLERS in the midst of CRISES across Nigeria???
So many thoughts feeling my sutured head but I sure must put all these thoughts down…
That I am Alive alone for now ,I am grateful to God Almighty.
