In this post, we digest some top stories that make up the front pages of major Nigerian newspapers on Wednesday, 28 August, 2024, and provide key advocacy asks.
Flights of fancy: Govs slammed for wasting N160bn on unviable airports
Six state governments including Ekiti, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Yobe, Nasarawa, and Bayelsa have spent about N160 billion on airport projects that opposition politicians and aviation professionals classified as unviable.
It is time for responsible governance and accountability. The expenditure of N160 billion by the Ekiti, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Yobe, Nasarawa, and Bayelsa state governments on airport projects raises serious concerns about fiscal responsibility and public interest.
We call on all stakeholders – citizens, civil society organisations, and the media – to demand transparency and a thorough review of these projects. We must ensure that public funds are utilised in ways that bring real, tangible benefits to the communities they are meant to serve.
Mpox spreads to 19 states; cases now 40
The current Mpox outbreak in Nigeria has spread to 30 local government areas in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with 40 confirmed cases so far.
We call on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) to work with community stakeholders in the planning and execution of awareness programmes to ensure that messages are culturally sensitive, effectively created and disseminated.
‘FG allows child marriage but bans writing WAEC, NECO exams at 16’
The federal government’s decision to prohibit under-18 candidates from taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the National Examination Council has led to conflicting reactions from stakeholders.
We urge the government to address the core issues in the education sector such as lack of quality education and the high number of out-of-school children, as we do not think that this action is a response to the problem.
Agony in South East as kidnappers lay siege to communities
Tales of woes have continued to persist in the south-east geo-political region due to the unending spate of kidnappings in the zone.
The surge in kidnappings across communities in the southeast is not just an alarming statistic; it is a dire threat to the safety, security, and well-being of citizens. We urge the federal government to take immediate and decisive action to end this crisis.
FAO: 31.8 Million Nigerians Grappling with Food Insecurity
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), yesterday, said that over 31.8 million Nigerians were suffering from acute food insecurity, worsened by malnutrition among women and children across the country.
The President Bola Tinubu-led government should implement policies that support agricultural productivity, such as providing subsidies for farming inputs, investing in modern farming techniques, and improving rural infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses.
The federal, state, and local governments can play a crucial role in solving this problem by providing accountable and transparent incentives to farmers. The government also needs to address the inefficiencies in the supply chain by improving transportation networks and reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks to help lower the costs associated with getting food from farms to markets.
