Throughout the week, Nigerians and the entire African continent bore witness to a series of significant events that left an indelible mark on all levels of society, both within the country and across the continent.
Another Coup d’état
The Military again took over power in Gabon deposing Ali Bongo, who had been in power since 2009 after the death of his father.
The Army junta announced the takeover on national television in Gabon and annulled the results of last Saturday’s election, which declared President Bongo the winner.
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chairman ECOWAS Heads of State, as well as other world leaders, condemned the development in Gabon. A Move that prompted the African Union to suspend Gabon from the organisation.
NLC declares nationwide strike
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) remains steadfast in its efforts to urge the Federal government to promptly mitigate the repercussions of fuel subsidy removal.
In a recent announcement, the NLC revealed its plan to initiate a two-day warning strike commencing next Tuesday.
The primary objective of this industrial action is to draw attention to the concerns and grievances of the Nigerian workforce regarding the removal of fuel subsidies. The NLC emphasizes the necessity for the government to take concrete steps to alleviate the resulting economic challenges faced by citizens.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero who stated this during a news conference at the Labour House in Abuja, while addressing resolutions passed by the NLC National Executive Committee (NEC), accused the federal government of abandoning the talks and failing to follow some of the resolutions reached at prior meetings.
Constitution of NDDC Board
The Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission was also constituted during this period.
The NDDC is a federal government agency established in 2000 with the sole mandate of developing the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
President Bola appointed Chiedu Ebie as the Chairman of the NDDC Board while Samuel Ogbuku will serve as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Protests trailed the announcement of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart as the representative of Cross River state on the NDDC board.
Not too Young to Run
On Friday, 32-year-old Khalil Suleiman Halilu was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the new Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of (NASENI) with immediate effect.
His appointment followed the sacking of his predecessor Dr Bashir Gwandu, the CEO of NASENI.
Khalil Suleiman Halilu will serve for an initial term of five years which is in line with the provisions of relevant sections of the NASENI Act, 2014.
Man City complete £53m Matheus Nunes signing
Premier League champions and Champions League holders Manchester City have completed the signing of Portugal international Matheus Nunes from Wolves in a deal worth £53 million.
Wolves will get 10% from Manchester City for future sales or any profit made on Nunes in the future.
Nunes was part of the Sporting team that Man City trounced 5-0 in the last 16 round of the UEFA Champions League last season on their way to the club’s first ever Champions League title.
The Portugal international signed a five-year contract with City.
South African fire kills over 70 people
In Johannesburg, South Africa, a night-time fire engulfed a dilapidated five-story building that served as shelter for squatters and homeless individuals. The inferno claimed the lives of a 74 people, including 12 children.
Amid the chaos, as flames enveloped the building, some residents resorted to desperate measures to evade the blaze. A number of them resorted to leaping from windows as a last-ditch effort to escape the rapidly spreading fire. Regrettably, it is likely that several lives were lost during these escape attempts, as confirmed by a local government official.
Seven children, with the youngest among them being just one year old, died while trying to jump out the window as reported by an emergency services spokesperson.
Simone Biles has broken a 90-year record by winning her eighth all-around title at the US Gymnastics Championships.
Biles win comes less than a month after the four-time Olympic champion returned to the competition after taking two years brake to work on her mental health.
Her floor routine earned a score of 15.400, giving her an all-around total of 118.450, with Shilese Jones 3.9 points back in second.
Biles moves ahead of Alfred Jochim, who claimed his seventh US title in 1933
Some residents broke into a warehouse in Yenagoa reportedly in search of palliatives that were kept by the Bayelsa State government.
It was not clear if the warehouse housed food items, but reports say that it contained palliatives meant for victims of the 2022 flooding, which has been described as one of the worst floods in Nigeria’s history.
Writing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade; Editing By Adeniyi Bakare