This Week in Nigeria: Strikes, Scarcity, and Security

August 31, 2024

Hey Zitizen,

A new week, a new edition of PoliZ Konnect. This is your go-to Newsletter for all major governance-related news in Nigeria.

In this week's edition, a bit of the same old same old. Petrol scarcity is hitting hard, sparking frustration nationwide, while resident doctors have downed tools, and ASUU is threatening to join them.

Adding to the chaos, under-18s are now banned from writing WAEC and NECO exams, and a BBC journalist got detained at Lagos airport. Here’s everything you need to know.

We’ll be discussing all these news items during our Twitter Space today at 7 PM! Come, let’s break down what's really happening in Nigeria.

Join Us.

Join our special guest, Abiola Durodola, Co-founder of Advokc, to break it all down. Don’t miss it! Set a reminder here.

Petrol Scarcity: Who/What is to be blamed?

The petrol scarcity crisis is still on. Long queues at petrol stations have become the norm, and Nigerians are frustrated.

A Gov’t Agency- Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has accussed marketers of hoarding fuel, while marketers deny these claims, saying the allegations are baseless.

Fuel hike

Medical Students Regain Freedom After 9 Days

Some good news – twenty medical students, including a house officer, have been freed after being held captive for over a week.

These students were kidnapped along the Otukpo-Enugu Highway in Benue State. They’re back with their families but still under the watch of security operatives and getting medical care.

ASUU Strike: Will It Happen Again? 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is back in the news, threatening another nationwide strike. The Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, has been meeting with ASUU to avoid another shutdown.

FG Bans Under-18s from Writing WAEC and NECO

The Federal Government has directed that no under-18s should take the WAEC and NECO exams. This new move is causing a lot of uproar. Parents and students alike are not happy with the new policy, saying it’ll hinder the academic progress of young, brilliant minds.

Resident Doctors Go on Strike

Earlier this week, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) started a seven-day warning strike. Why? They’re protesting over the abduction of their colleague, Ganiyat Popoola, who’s been in captivity for eight months.

NARD’s president, Dele Abdullahi, says this strike is serious business, with no emergency services during this period.

The Resident Doctors Protesting

BBC Journalist Soyinka Arrested at Lagos Airport

Adejuwon Soyinka, a BBC journalist, was detained by the DSS at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. They say it was a case of ‘mistaken identity,’ but it’s raising eyebrows about how these things are handled.

After intervention by the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, Soyinka was released. This incident is part of a growing trend of journalist detentions under the current administration, raising concerns about press freedom.

FCCPC Gives Traders One Month to Lower Prices

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) isn’t playing around with exploitative pricing. They’ve given traders and market players a month to adjust their prices.

Guess what? Our website will soon be live! We will be posting long form explainer articles and stories about how government policies/laws are affecting youths in Nigeria. Something to look forward to.


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So, there you have it—your weekly dose of what’s happening.

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Till we see next week! Stay active!