Here is a roundup of some Nigerian newspaper headlines, accompanied by our advocacy-driven demands for government action in addressing citizens’ concerns.
1. Daily Trust: Eid Al-Adha: Tinubu, Atiku, govs preach hope, peace
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nigerian Muslims and the global Muslim Ummah on the occasion of this year’s Eid Al-Adha, calling for sacrifice, devotion and selflessness.
Our Take: President Tinubu, as you urge Nigerians to embrace sacrifice and selflessness this Eid, may we respectfully suggest that you lead by example, perhaps start by sacrificing some of the perks of power for the sake of the people, trimming the fat off government spending instead of just the Sallah rams, and showing that devotion to nation-building means more than festive greetings.
2. Vanguard: Eid-el-Kabir: High cost of transport, food dampens celebrations
As Nigerian Muslims join their counterparts in other parts of the world to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir, prices of food items and transport fares have risen sharply.
Also, the prices of various sizes of rams, which is symbolically slaughtered to mark the ocassion has gone up, forcing many Muslim faithful to settle for alternatives.
Our Take: Mr. President, as citizens struggle to afford rams, rice, and even the transport fare to their hometowns, perhaps it’s time your administration sacrificed economic lip service for real relief, because at this rate, it’s not just rams being slaughtered, it’s also the average Nigerian’s purchasing power.
3. The Nation: Eid: President seeks prayers for troops battling terrorists
President Bola Tinubu yesterday urged Nigerians to pray for troops battling bandits and terrorists in the Northeast and Northwest.
Our Take: Dear Mr. President, while prayers are noble and needed, our troops also require more than divine support. They need proper equipment, decent welfare, timely salaries, and a clear, corruption-free security strategy. Let’s not keep sending brave soldiers into battle with little more than our ‘thoughts and prayers’, while the real fight against underfunding, mismanagement, and security leaks rages on behind the scenes.
