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

Friday Omosola Featured, Leading Stories 23/12/2023

NRTC Weekly roundup: trending news stories across the country

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, metro, and leading stories].

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?

Politics: Tinubu slashes bus fares, orders free train rides for Nigerians, sport: Manchester wins City FIFA club world cup; entertainment: Mayorkun jewellerry,— metro: Security Measures Heightened for the Holidays business: Yuletide food prices on the rise are the stories to discuss this week NRTC WEEKLY.

Politics: Tinubu slashes bus fares, orders free train rides for Nigerians,

Many Nigerians, especially those struggling with the rising cost of living, have expressed relief and joy at the prospect of cheaper travel because of the initiative of President Bola Tinubu on the reduction of transportation fares and the offer of free train rides.

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that the relief has been trending on social media, with people sharing stories of how the initiative will ease their financial burden and allow them to celebrate with their loved ones.

Commuters who rely on public transportation for work and daily activities are also celebrating the reduced fares, seeing it as a much-needed break from the financial strain.

Some have praised President Tinubu for taking a proactive step to address the challenges faced by ordinary Nigerians during the holiday season.

NRTC WEEKLY confirmed that while many are excited, some remain cautious and raise concerns about the implementation and sustainability of the initiative.

Doubts have been raised about the feasibility of enforcing the 50% discount across all bus companies, with concerns that smaller operators might not be able to comply or might inflate their prices beforehand.

The free train rides, while welcomed, are limited to specific routes and dates, leaving some Nigerians in remote areas feeling excluded, NRTC WEEKLY gathered.

The initiative’s short duration, ending on January 4th, has also sparked concerns about a potential surge in travel costs and overcrowding as the festive season comes to an end.

Sport: Manchester wins City FIFA Club World Cup

Manchester City’s historic FIFA Club World Cup victory over Fluminense sent ripples of joy through the blue half of the footballing world.

Manchester City Coach, Pep Guardiola with the cup (PHOTO CREDIT) Manchester City Facebook.

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that citizens erupted in cheers, sharing celebratory hugs and photos online with the streets of Manchester, adorned in sky blue.

This win cemented City’s status as global giants—fans basked in the glory of conquering a new frontier, proudly hailing their team’s relentless dominance.

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that some netizens applauded Pep Guardiola’s tactical prowess and unwavering belief in his squad were hailed as key to this historic triumph.

Entertainment: Mayorkun jewellerry

Nigerians on social media have been buzzing with a range of reactions after singer Mayorkun’s lost jewellery was found and returned in Calabar.

NRTC WEEKLY confirmed that many expressed relief and happiness for Mayorkun and gave kudos to the honest finder.

Singer Iyanya Mbuka, aka Iyanya, and some Nigerians, praised Calabar residents for their honesty and integrity.

NRTC WEEKLY confirmed that the reactions to Mayorkun’s lost-and-found jewellery reveal a heartwarming mix of relief, community pride, humor, and a touch of skepticism.

The incident sparked conversations about honesty, integrity, and the power of social media in connecting people across Nigeria.

Metro: Security Measures heightened for the Holidays

Nigerians’ reactions to the heightened security measures for Christmas have been mixed, with some expressing relief and others concerned about inconvenience or potential overreach.

Police operatives allegedly take to the streets of Port harcourt to harass youths. (Photo Credit: Twitter)

Those in favor of the increased security cite the recent rise in criminal activity, including kidnappings and armed robberies, as justification for the stricter measures, NRTC WEEKLY learned.

Some argue that the extra police presence and security checkpoints will deter crime and make communities safer during the festive season, but others are concerned about the potential for harassment or abuse by security forces.

They point to past instances where security measures have been used to target or intimidate certain groups of people.

NRTC WEEKLY confirmed that there are also concerns that the increased congestion caused by checkpoints could make it difficult for people to travel and celebrate with their loved ones.

Some Nigerians believe that the heightened security measures are simply a publicity stunt by the government, arguing that the real problem is the lack of adequate resources and manpower to effectively combat crime.

They believe that the government should focus on addressing the root causes of crime, such as poverty and unemployment, rather than resorting to temporary security measures.

Business: Yuletide food prices on the rise

Nigerians are known for their festive spirit, especially during Christmas are being dampened by a significant rise in food prices, NRTC WEEKLY confirmed.

The cost of staple foods like rice, chicken, and beans has skyrocketed, making it difficult for many families to afford the traditional Christmas feast.

Despite the challenges, many families are adapting their Christmas menus, opting for more affordable alternatives like beans, yams, and plantains.

Some are also getting creative in the kitchen, coming up with new and delicious dishes using local ingredients.

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 stories in Nigeria.