NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

It’s another edition of NRTC WEEKLY Roundup — in this week’s edition, we are focusing on five trending stories across the country.

As usual, the stories will cut across the top five beats in our media organization, NRTC [your one-stop hub for rich and reliable content covering entertainment, sports, politics, business, and more].

As we all know, a day can’t pass without trending stories and we have tracked many of them for you this week. Why not scroll down and treat yourself? 

ALSO READ: NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

Entertainment: Davido returns online vendor money; Politics: May 29 swear-in programme; Education: Nigerian students returning from Sudan trapped in the desert, Business: Suspension of fuel subsidy removal saga, Sport: Arsenal the EPL title dreamer are the stories NRTC WEEKLY will be discussing. 

Business: Suspension of fuel subsidy removal saga

The Federal Government has announced a decision to suspend the removal of fuel subsidy scheduled to be removed in June this year. The decision was reached at the National Economy Council (NEC) meeting held on Thursday in Abuja.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this after the NEC meeting chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

However, NRTC WEEKLY found out that a contrary report by the Minister said the plans to remove fuel subsidy as earlier reported on Thursday was not true.

ALSO READ: NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week 

Ahmed said the Federal government only expanded the subsidy removal committee to include committees from the incoming administration and the state governors.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Communications, to the Minister, Yunusa Abdullahi, which was obtained by NRTC WEEKLY on Friday, the committee will include the state governors.

Ahmed also added that National Economic Council (NEC), deliberated on the issue extensively and concluded that the subsidy must be removed as it is not sustainable, but that there is a need for further consultations, especially the need to involve members of the incoming administration and representatives of the state governments.

Reacting to the suspension story, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) described the move as the “best option” for the country.

Mr. Benson Upah, Head of Information, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said NLC was glad that the government had decided to do the right thing.

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that other Labour Unions described the move as not surprising to them. In their reactions to the non-suspension of the subsidy, Nigerians, especially netizens have knocked the Federal Government for playing with the people’s indulgence.

According to them, changing what they’ve earlier was wrong and uncalled for at this moment. 

“They’re digging graves for Nigerians if the subsidy is not removed. Even when it was not removed, we are buying a litre of petrol at a huge amount not to talk of when it’s now removed.

“The government should talk to themselves and out into consideration the lives of Nigerians to prevent mass death and hunger.”

Sport: Arsenal the EPL title dreamer 

The Internet went agog on Thursday as Arsenal Football Club [Gunner] lost to Manchester City at Etihad Stadium. The club lost 4:1 to drop three [3] points which dashed their hope of lifting the Premier League trophy.

Arsenal, which is currently on 75 points, started the season brilliantly but their knowledge is not enough to make them pass the examination. The club has played thirty-three (33) matches but their rival has only played thirty-one (31) with two points behind them.

As it stands in the League, the only thing for Arsenal to win this year’s EPL title is to commence sleeping on the mountain to pray for Manchester City to lose, NRTC WEEKLY confirmed.

“What’s the essence of starting very well and ending up in a bad way? We were told that this year’s EPL title is not for us but we believe Micheal Arteta will do something differently to stop Manchester City from competing.

“As it stands now if Manchester City does not lose matches, the only trophy is the Gunners playing in the Champions League next season.

“Their efforts were not in vain — in fact, it’s a record-breaking for the club.”

Politics: May 29 Swear-in programme 

As we are thirty [30] days left for the swearing-in of the newly elected president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, preparations are currently ongoing to make the day colourful and violence free.

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that underground activities are currently ongoing by the President-elect to appoint his cabinet as well as the appointment of the Senate President for the tenth (10) National Assembly.

For the preparations, Bola Tinubu arrived in Abuja from France this week to meet with some important persons in the country.

An unconfirmed report obtained by NRTC WEEKLY had it that some people are working against the democratical handing over of power to Bola Tinubu comes May 29.

This has generated a lot of reactions with a lot of people going to media houses and social media to warn against sabotaging the proper handing-over.

“It’s democracy and nothing must happen or hinder the process. The election and there’s a need for a smooth transition of power.

“The so-called cabal must be warned to avoid things that’ll disrupt the peace of the country,” they stated.

Entertainment: Davido returns online vendor money

Superstar singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has refunded N800,000 his aide, Israel Afeare, known as Israel DMW collected from an online herb vendor.

The herb vendor had accused Israel DMW of collecting N800,000 for an advert promotion from her but failed to fulfill his promise.

She disclosed paying Israel DMW N800,000 out of the N1 million he billed her but failed to deliver or refund the money.

Israel DMW was said to have denied in his reaction that he posted vendor products on his story as agreed upon and didn’t collect full payment from her.

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that the issue had caused some undisclosed crisis between the DMW boss and his aide leading to unfollowing him on Instagram. 

After the news of refunding the money, the fans of the award-winning singer urged him to forgive his aide as well as hailed him for the payment. 

They gave kudos to him for not saying he knew anything about the transaction but paid in full. “That’s leadership and boss role. Paying the money does not make him a fool or lose integrity.

“A lot of people in leadership positions should emulate Davido — because everything they do is in their names,” his fans said.

Education: Nigerian students returning from Sudan trapped in the desert 

As buses used in the evacuation of Nigerian students stranded in war-torn Sudan were stopped in the middle of the Sahara desert, people have took to their social media handles to express disappointment.

This was because the transporters insisted on completing their payment after the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa said the federal government provided N150 million for the hiring of 40 buses to evacuate the stranded students to Cairo in Egypt.

Also, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama said the government had expended $1.2 million on the evacuation of Nigerians stranded in Sudan.

However, Air Peace promised to airlift the evacuated students and was denied its landing permit by Egypt insisting on diplomatic approval from the federal government.

Reacting to the ordeal of evacuated students being seen in a viral video, Nigerians berated the government for treating the students in such a manner, NRTC WEEKLY gathered.

A check on the internet by NRTC WEEKLY revealed netizens saying “Why must Nigerians always go through bitter experiences, despite their country’s rich economy?

“We don’t even know where we are in this country.”

Here, the cotton of this week’s episode of NRTC WEEKLY will drop. Join us for another edition next week as we take you around the trending lists in Nigeria.