5 Trending News Stories in Nigeria

There were several stories that made news headlines in the country during the weekend. In this article, we shall be looking at five notable trending news stories that got many people talking.

1. Airline Operators threatened shutdown suspended

Airline Operators of Nigeria had announced that it would shut down its operations from Monday, May 9 due to the increase in Aviation fuel. The cost of Aviation fuel, which was initially N160 a few months back, now sells for N700 per litre. The operators, through its president, Abdulmunaf Sarina, sent a letter to the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, to this effect. In a recent development on Sunday evening, the union has called off its planned strike action after it got several calls from prominent and well meaning Nigerians.

2. Godwin Emefiele’s presidential bid causes stir

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has said that he is contemplating if he would contest in the 2023 presidential elections. He said his decision to obtain the N100m All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential form would cause him his entire savings. However, some group of farmers and businessmen were said to have contributed the money for him to run.Consequently, Emefiele was criticized for his statement on Saturday.

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Activist and former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, were among those who lambasted the CBN governor. She tweeted, “I just read your waffling neither-here-nor-there tweet reacting to news of your payment of N100m for the APC nomination form for the 2023 presidential election. Seems you did not read what the APC spokesperson said to @Bloomberg. Resign. Stop embarrassing the country. Stop…”

3. ASUU strike persists

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have said that it would embark on an indefinite strike. This was because their demands have not been met by the federal government. In February 14, 2022, the union had earlier gone on a one month warning strike. It was later extended by two months which ends on May 9, 2022. However, their grievances have not been met. The National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said that he heard the government wanted to meet with the union but he was not told.

Osodeke told Vanguard, “We too heard it in the news what the Minister of Labour (Dr Chris Ngige) said about meeting with us. But as we talk, nobody has reached out to us for any meeting. We don’t know when the meeting will be called. However, I think before going to the press to announce any proposed meeting, what ought to have been done is to inform us. Anyway, we are waiting for the meeting when it is called.”

4. Tinubu’s campaign coordinator has resigned

On Saturday, May 7, the coordinator of Bola Tinunu’s presidential campaign group, Abdulmumin Jibrin, resigned from his position. He made this announcement on his Twitter page saying, “I have done my best for APC. It’s time to move on. I will announce my new political party within the next 24 hours. Insha Allah. I will make a formal statement in due course.”Many persons are expectant of what Jibrin’s new political party would be.

5. JAMB set to hold 2022 exams

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has began this year’s exams. The examination is scheduled to hold from Friday, May 6, 2022 to May 14, 2022. The Board has also informed the candidates that no examination would be rescheduled for whatever reason. Hence, candidates have been advised to stay close to their examination venues.

However, those who wrote the 2021 JAMB exams are still at home due to the ASUU strike. This has become a cause for worry for many parents whose wards are in government owned universities. A parent, Chisom Kanu said, “My daughter will be writing JAMB on Monday. Guess what? Universities have been on strike for months. What’s the point?”

What is your take on these stories? Kindly share your thoughts.