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: Bandits Abduct 150 Persons in Four Days
Bandits have abducted 150 people in a series of attacks on several communities in Zamfara State over the past four days.
Our Take: The rising wave of abductions in Zamfara State demands urgent and coordinated action from the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Security Advisor, and the Zamfara State Government. These authorities must intensify intelligence-driven operations to rescue the abducted persons, strengthen security presence in vulnerable communities, and ensure that perpetrators are swiftly apprehended and prosecuted to deter future attacks.
2. The Guardian: Concerns over New Customs Levy, Weak Import as Car Ownership Turns Luxury
The newly-approved Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) four percent free on board (FOB) valuation charge has stirred concern among importers, clearing agents and the business community, who express worry of the consequences of an increase in the cost of clearing for the citizens’ survival.
Our Take: We urge the federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Customs Service, to review the newly-approved four per cent FOB valuation charge in light of its potential to worsen economic hardship for millions of Nigerians. The National Assembly should also step in to conduct a comprehensive review of trade and import policies affecting essential goods like vehicles, with the aim of promoting affordability and protecting low- and middle-income citizens.
3. Punch: Nationwide Alert: Federal Government Warns of Five-Day Flooding in 19 States
The federal government has forecasted heavy rainfall over a five-day period that may trigger flooding across 19 states and 76 locations.
Our Take: The Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), state emergency management agencies, and local governments, must immediately activate early warning systems and deploy rapid response teams to high-risk areas to prevent loss of lives and property. State governments in the affected regions must urgently sensitise residents, clear drainage systems, and provide temporary shelters for possible evacuations.
