The Harbingerngr News

THE Alabe royal family has nominated Prince Saheed Aregbeshola to occupy the vacant stool of Osolo of Isolo. The Alabe family is one of the four families comprising the Alagbeji ruling house and whose turn it is to produce the next Osolo. Aregbeshola’s name will be forwarded to the Alagbeji royal family who will in turn formally present him as the candidate for the family. Speaking at a well-attended family meeting, the acting head of the Alabe royal family, Chief Rasak Alabe said the decision to nominate and affirm Aregbeshola as the next Osolo–elect was a popular choice  According to him, this was evident in the large turn–out of family members, including recognised leaders of the Alabe family.  Alabe said: ‘’Even at the family level, we can tell you authoritatively that he has been the backbone of this family, maybe without him the Alabe branch of the Alagbeji ruling house would have been removed from the family register, all because he has always been there for us. “I want to enjoi

*Court restricts #EndBadGovernance protesters in Ogun *We won’t condone acts of vandalism in Ondo, Lagos  — Security agencies, *As UNILAG postpones examinations  AHEAD of today’s nationwide protest, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and his Ekiti State counterpart, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, yesterday, said Nigeria cannot afford another repeat of the EndSARS experience especially in their respective states. Also, security agencies in Ondo State said they are on ground to ensure peace. This came as an Ogun State High Court, yesterday, ordered the sponsors of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest to limit their activities to four locations in the state. Similarly, the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, and National Association of Ogun State Students, NAOSS, yesterday, distanced themselves from the planned nationwide protest against hunger and poor governance. We’ve not recovered from #EndSARS protest —Sanwo-Olu Addressing Lagos residents on the need to shun violent prote

President Bola Tinubu yesterday signed the new N70,000 minimum wage bill into law. The president signed the bill in the council chamber of the State House, in the middle of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting. The council suspended the meeting to allow the leadership of the National Assembly, led by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, witness the signing of the bill. Last Tuesday, the Senate and House of Representatives passed the new minimum wage bill. The bill passed first (President Bola Tinubu’s request), second (debate on general principles), and third readings — all within an hour — in the upper and lower legislative chambers. The legislation increased the country’s minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000.  The law also provides for a review of the minimum wage every three years. The last minimum wage of N30,000 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019. Prior to the enactment of the new minimum wage act, the federal government and organised labour held a serie

*As pro-govt rallies rock Nigeria l FG bids to placate youth to avert protests *IGP summons Adegboruwa lRight to peaceful protest, pillar of democratic governance — 36  CSOslNo going back on Eagle Square usage, protest campaigner tackles WikelFG directs varsity VCs to secure staff, students, property lNBA urges dialogue, warns against anarchy lLosers in 2023 polls behind planned protest — AkpabiolWike mobilizes stakeholders against protests in AbujalDon’t turn South West to theatre of war, hardship ‘ll soon give way — S/W APC leaderslAPC to organize counter rallies, says it won’t allow election losers topple Tinubu leaders The Presidency has said Nigerians have the constitutional right to peaceful protest and no one can deny them this. The declaration came on a day pro-government protests, organised by statement chairmen of All Progressives Congress, APC, rocked state capitals across the country and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. The Federal Government is also said to be ta

  Following public outcry, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed all mobile service operators to reactivate all lines that were disconnected over as the time duration given consumers to undertake the verification of their NINs with their SIMs was too short. Customers had come on social media to complain about not being able to make calls with mobile phones, an indication that their lines were disconnected. It was gathered that the main office of MTN in Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was crowded by Nigerians who wanted to ensure that their lines were reconnected. The situation was similar in other MTN offices in the FCT and states of the federation as it was perceived to be a move by mobile communication operators to sabotage communication ahead of the national protest starting from August 1. Subsequently, the NCC, in a statement on Monday, said it took the decision because the consumer is its priority. “Over the weekend, many telecom subscri

•Telcos shut service centres in fear  •Angry subscribers storm MTN, Glo, Airtel  offices, vandalise facilities •ALTON berates destruction •NCC orders  immediate reactivation of barred lines Barely 48 hours to the planned nationwide protest against hardship in the country, telecom operators (telcos) in Nigeria, have borne the brunt of angry Nigerians, after they complied with the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC’s  deadline to bar numbers not properly linked with the National Identity Number, NIN. No sooner the telcos, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Glo and 9Mobile, disconnected thousands of subscribers who they said didn’t comply with the NIN-SIM linkage directive, than angry Nigerians stormed their offices across the country to vent their frustrations, accusing the telcos of deliberate efforts to shut down their networks as a way of sabotaging the planned protest slated between August 1-10, 2024. Trouble started when a prominent Nigerian lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, S

THE Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola has charged the Nigerian Christian faith to provide social services like education, healthcare, vocational training, help to alleviate poverty and provide opportunities for economic empowerment, which can reduce frustration and unrest. Delivering the lecture at the annual Apostles of Peace International Awards at Archbishop Vinning Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos, Ogunsola charged the Church to do more in area of youth engagement, advocate for justice and fairness, “By speaking out against corruption, inequality, and human rights abuses, advocate for policies and practices that promote justice and fairness, addressing some of the root causes of conflict.” Ogunsola, who spoke on the theme: “Peace in Nigeria,” charged: “The Church must be more youth-centered, seek to understand them so we can engage them in positive activities such as sports, arts, and community service, to reduce the likelihood of them being d

Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief  Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has kicked against the nationwide protests planned for August 1 over the hardship in the country. Igboho in a statement issued said:  “I, Chief Sunday Igboho, am issuing this press release in response to the planned protests by some unknown and faceless individuals, who are working to disintegrate the country.  ‘’Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assumed office on May 29, 2023, he has implemented revolutionary policies, which his predecessors lacked the political will to pursue.  ‘’These bold steps have, unsurprisingly, unsettled those who believe it is their birth right to rule Nigeria. And in response, there have been attempts to undermine his administration, particularly on social media, with the aim of creating discord between the government and the people. ‘’Recently, we have become aware of notices from unknown individuals threatening ’10 days of rage’, beginning August 1, 2024, under the slogan ‘T

Olumide Akpata LABOUR  Party, LP, governorship candidate in the September 21, poll in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, has expressed support for the August 1, 2024, protest, but asked the protesters to be peaceful in articulating their grievances. He also called on the security agencies to be restraint and professional in managing the protests. Akpata in a statement, said: “The recent surge of discussions across news outlets and social media platforms regarding planned protests by citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria set to commence on August 1, 2024, has drawn significant attention.  “These protests, aimed at addressing perceived inadequacies in governance, have elicited diverse reactions from various segments of Nigerian society. “It is paramount to emphatically state that the right to peaceful assembly and free expression, including the right of citizens to protest, are fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.  “As citizens of this great

THE ninth edition of the popular reality TV show, Big Brother Naija, BBNaija, kicked off, yesterday night with 14 pairs of 28 housemates, who will give viewers premium entertainment for the next 71 days. Among the first set of housemates to enter the house include Chinwe and Zion, who go by the pair name Zinwe, followed by the duo of Sooj and Topher, DJ Flow and Ruthie, Chinne and Nne, a niece and her aunt, who are known as Ndi Nne.  Others were Femi and Michky, who are known as Radicals, Shaun and Victoria also known as Shatoria, Wanni and Handi, an identical twins and DJs from Kaduna State.  We also have Ben and Tjay known as Betta, Toby Forge  and Mayor Frosh aka Streeze, Kassia and Kelkyrae, Chizuba and Onyeka, Neita, Damilola and her partner known as Tami among others. This year, we have four identical twins in the house, the Mbadiwe twins and DJ twins from Kaduna, Wanni and Handi. The housemates are full of lives, promising nothing but full drama and entertainment.  This year’s s

•Constitution provides freedom of expression not destruction —Ex-Kaduna CAN Chair Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Niger State, has pleaded with the Federal Government to reduce fuel price and regulate the prices of food items even as he called on Christian faithful to pray more to confront the challenges facing the country rather than join the proposed nationwide protest. In a message in Minna, State Chairman of CAN, Most Reverend Bulus Yohanna, said "Let us shun protest.Violence has never yielded positive results but peace can easily turn things around. As you are aware, there are plans to stage a nationwide protest across the country but as Children of God and responsible people known for peace, I urge us all to shun the protest but speak to our children/wards and members of our congregation. “Peaceful protest with clear demands is good but such could be hijacked by miscreants, who can lead to arrests/shootings and we cannot afford to lose any of our children. There is no

*Nabs Lagos-Ghana Tramadol syndicate kingpin Operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, weekend, arrested a Spain-based businessman, 50-year-old Francis Akajiobi at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos. Spokesman of the agency, Mr. Femi Babafemi, while confirming the arrest, said Akajiobi was arrested after parcels of cocaine weighing 1.20 kilograms were discovered in his pair of sandals while attempting to board his Royal Air Maroc flight to Madrid, Spain. He said: “The two parcels of cocaine were concealed in the soles of a pair of black sandals Akajiobi was wearing to board his flight when NDLEA operatives intercepted him on July 25, 2024.  “During his preliminary interview, he claimed the consignment was delivered to him at a bar in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and was to deliver it to his friend and neighbour in Spain for a fee of 5,000 euro upon successful delivery to the recipient. “In the same vein, a susp