Here is a roundup of some Nigerian newspaper headlines, accompanied by our advocacy-driven demands for government action in addressing citizens’ concerns.
1. The Guardian: Subsidy: Obi demands Transparency on Savings, Presidency Calls Him Desperate
The Presidency and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, clashed yesterday over President Bola Tinubu’s sudden removal of the fuel subsidy on 29 May, 2023.
Speaking on Arise Television, Obi, a former Anambra State governor, demanded transparency on the billions supposedly saved since the policy shift, challenging the government to show Nigerians where the funds were invested.
However, the Special Advisor to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, branded Obi ‘shallow’ and unfit to discuss economic and governance matters.
Our Take: The Presidency must rise above political name-calling and provide Nigerians with clear, verifiable details on how the savings from the fuel subsidy removal have been used; citizens deserve transparency, not deflection.
2. Daily Trust: Flood: Residents Resist Evacuation, Seek Help
Residents of flood-prone communities in several states are resisting evacuation and are instead asking the authorities to come to their aid, Daily Trust reports.
Our Take: The government must recognise that evacuation without viable alternatives is unrealistic for many affected residents and should urgently provide decent temporary shelters, food supplies, and health services to encourage safe relocation. True disaster response goes beyond alerts, it requires humane, proactive measures that support people’s dignity and make evacuation a safer, more acceptable option.
3. Punch: Defections: Hurricane Tinubu sweeps 12 more senators, Reps
Ten National Assembly members from Akwa Ibom State elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Young Peoples Party have resolved to join Governor Umo Eno in the All Progressives Congress.
Our Take: As defections reshape the political landscape, elected officials must remember that their mandate comes from the people, not party interests. Nigerians deserve leaders who are committed to delivering on campaign promises, not those switching allegiances for personal gain. The government and political actors must prioritise policies and actions that address citizens’ pressing needs, security, jobs, healthcare, and education, over power consolidation.
