PoliZ Konnect: Nigeria’s Protests, Disaster, and Oil sector palava

Hey Active CitiZen!

We’re excited to bring you the very first edition of PoliZ Konnect, your go-to Newsletter for all major governance related news in Nigeria.

Each week, we’ll be breaking down the key happenings in a fun, easy-to-read way that keeps you in the loop without the stress.

From protests to Olympic drama, here’s the quick rundown of what went down this week in Nigeria.

• Nationwide protest

  This past week, the #EndBadGovernance/#EndHunger protests kicked off across Nigeria. The protests began on the 1st of August, spreading like wildfire to 20+ states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

  People showed up and made their voices heard. On the 4th, President Tinubu addressed the protesters, and asked to dialogue.

  To curb the violence and looting that followed the protests, Plateau, Bauchi, and Katsina states, along with Kano, Borno, Yobe, and Nasarawa, imposed curfews. 

  Tragically, in Niger, no fewer than three persons were killed following a clash between security operatives and the protesters.

  In Zaria, a 16-year-old boy, Isma’il Muhammad, was killed by a soldier enforcing a 24-hour curfew. According to the Nigerian army, the soldier has been arrested and is under investigation. 

  The protest, initially set for 10 days, saw a smaller turnout after the 7th day. Still, protesters in Abuja and few other states kept at it and showed up on the 10th day (yesterday).

• Olympic Woes: A National ‘Disaster’ 🥇🙅‍♂️ Nigeria’s performance at the Paris Olympics? A ‘disaster’ according to our Sports Minister. Zero Medals!

  We can’t decide which was worse- the Nigerian cyclist who had to borrow a bike from the German team, or the athlete who missed the 100m race due to screw-ups by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the Nigerian Olympic Committee. 

  But guess what? some Nigerians won medals—just not for Nigeria. Yep, they won for other countries. Tsk tsk tsk.

• World Bank Funds, Not FG Cash: Governor Makinde 

  President Tinubu recently announced that ₦570 billion was sent to the 36 states to help people out. But hold up! Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says that money actually came from the World Bank’s COVID-19 relief fund, not the FG.

  Makinde explained it like this: the World Bank was just paying the states

  back for what they’d already spent fighting COVID-19. 

• Crude Oil: Dangote vs. NUPRC 🛢️🔥 

  Dangote Group has called out the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), accusing them of not delivering enough crude oil.

  NUPRC clapped back, saying they’ve already sent over 29 million barrels to Dangote Refinery between January and June 2024. 

  But Dangote Group wasn’t having it—they said, 29 million barrels? Where? According to the group, they have received just one cargo.

  Now, Dangote is pushing for the NUPRC to follow the Petroleum Industry Act and let refineries buy crude directly from local producers, instead of dealing with international middlemen.

• No N70k Allowance for Corps Members 😢 Corpers were hyped, thinking the new N70k minimum wage would boost their allowance. But alas, the NYSC DG has poured sand in their garri, announcing that the allowance is staying the same for now. So, it’s back to stretching every naira and making that allawee last.

• Tony Elumelu Calls Out Oil Theft  🔍 Tony Elumelu is urging the federal government to name and shame those behind the massive crude oil theft.

  In an interview with the Financial Times, he shared his own struggle, revealing how criminal gangs have been stealing oil from his company’s pipelines, slashing production significantly.

• Is WhatsApp leaving Nigeria? Few weeks ago, the Nigeria’s Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) slapped WhatsApp with a $220 million fine over alleged violations of Data Protection laws.

  Besides the fine, FCCPC ordered WhatsApp to stop sharing user data with Facebook and third parties without consent, and to enhance user control over data usage.

  WhatsApp responded, claiming the order is inaccurate and threatens their ability to operate. The fine and rumors that WhatsApp might leave Nigeria, has generated mixed reactions.

ICYMI: Are you Active? PoliZ held its very first workshop yesterday, featuring Vahyala Kwaga of BudgIT, who delivered an insightful session on “How to be an Active Citizen”. Missed it? No worries—we’ve got you covered! Check out the recording here. 

That’s a Wrap!

So, there you have it—your weekly dose of what’s happening. If you enjoyed the Newsletter, don’t forget to tell a friend to tell a friend to subscribe to PoliZ Konnect.

Don’t forget to stay Active!

Until Next Week, 

Ijoba,
Chief Enthusiast Officer,
PoliZ NG.