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Anxiety as retired police officers, Sowore stage ‘mother of all protests’ in Abuja, others

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Presidential candidate of African Action Congress, AAC, in the 2023 elections, Omoyele Sowore and other activists have vowed to stage a protest in Abuja on Monday, today, to demand improved welfare for personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

Simultaneously, members of the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers will be picketing the National Assembly complex and the Force Headquarters to demand their removal from the contributory pension scheme, which they described as a “discriminatory pension scheme.”

The retired officers claimed that they have been pushed to the wall with the government’s unresponsive attitude to their yearnings about what they tagged “discriminatory pension scheme.”

In a telephone interview  on Sunday, the Chairman of the union, Mannir M. Lawal, said members from across the 36 states are presently in Abuja for the “mother of all peaceful protests.”

“Nothing is going to stop the protest. We have just met with the FCT Commissioner of Police. We have informed him of our intention.

“We just want to be removed from the Contributory Pension Scheme. We want all our savings to be refunded to us with immediate effect,” he said.

Contrary to reports that Sowore and other activists orchestrated the protest to tarnish the image of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Lawal said that the union solely planned the exercise.

He said, “We only saw Sowore’s own on social media. We are not aware of his planned protest before today.”

Sensitive police welfare politicised, colleagues for ulterior motives – Police

The Nigeria Police Force lamented on Sunday that certain actors in the country have decided to politicize a sensitive welfare issue of the personnel and retired police officers, stating that they are “weaponizing the legitimate grievances of our retired colleagues for ulterior motives.”

Apparently referring to moves by Sowore and other activists, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement that “their intent is not reform, but disruption.”

He accused the unnamed actors of “twisting facts, inflaming sentiments, and sowing distrust in the public space,” stressing that their actions do a disservice not only to the force, “but to the integrity of public discourse in our country.”

“We, however, remain focused on the real issue, which is the welfare of those who once bore the burden of national security with courage and honour.”

The IGP, however, directed Commissioners of Police to ensure the protesters are protected.

Police direct officers to remain in barracks

A leaked memo sighted on Sunday night directed some police officers, particularly those in the nation’s capital, to remain in the barracks until further notice.

“All officers and men serving in the command be confined to the barracks with immediate effect until further notice.

“All to acknowledge receipt for strict compliance please,” part of the memo from Supol Asokoro and dated July 20, 2025, indicated.

Police fidgeting, no going back on protest – Sowore

When contacted , Sowore said despite the oppositions from the Force and the Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, “there is no going back on the protest.”

Also, in a post on his social media handles, Sowore alleged that the Nigeria Police Force and the present administration led by Bola Tinubu “refused to pay the police decent salaries,” insisting that it is a “lack of respect for you to deny them pensions.”

“You humiliated them in service and in retirement. Now you’re scrambling, issuing statements, summoning spin doctors, locking officers in barracks, trying to explain away decades of injustice,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

The Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, on Sunday called on the aggrieved retirees to return to the table for negotiations, stating that the planned nationwide protest was an attempt to discredit the IGP.

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Uganda reaches agreement with US Govt to take in migrants

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August 21, 2025

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Uganda has entered an agreement with the United States to take in nationals from third countries who may not get asylum in the U.S. but are reluctant to return to their countries of origin, the foreign affairs ministry said on Thursday, August 21.

President Donald Trump aims to deport millions of immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally, and his administration has sought to increase removals to third countries, including by sending convicted criminals to South Sudan and Eswatini.

“This is a temporary arrangement with conditions including that individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted,” Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said in a statement.

Waiswa added that Uganda would prefer to receive people from African nationalities under the agreement.

“The two parties are working out the detailed modalities on how the agreement shall be implemented,” he said.

On Wednesday, another Ugandan foreign affairs official had denied a U.S. media report that the East African country had agreed to take in people deported from the United States, saying it lacked the facilities to accommodate them.

Uganda, a U.S. ally in East Africa, also hosts nearly two million refugees and asylum-seekers, who mostly hail from countries in the region such as Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Sudan.

In July, five immigrants from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Cuba, who Washington said had been convicted of serious crimes, were flown to Eswatini, where they are now in a high-security prison. The deportations are being challenged by a group of Swazi and southern African NGOs, with a high court hearing scheduled for Friday.

Also in July, eight men from various countries were deported by the US to South Sudan, via Djibouti, where they were held for weeks in a shipping container. Meanwhile, more than 250 Venezuelans were repatriated to Venezuela after being sent to a notorious El Salvador prison in March without due process.

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FRSC rewards officer for rejecting 104 bribes in one month

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August 21, 2025

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The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has honoured Assistant Route Commander Babatunde Owoeye of the Osun State Sector Command for his exemplary integrity in July 2025.

The commendation was held during a ceremony on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at the Osun State Command headquarters.

Records show that Owoeye rejected bribes from traffic offenders on 104 separate occasions.

He also turned down bribe attempts 18 times in May and 38 times in June, reflecting a consistent commitment to ethical conduct in service.

Speaking during the ceremony, Sector Commander Leye Adegboyega lauded Owoeye, stating that his conduct mirrors the FRSC’s long-standing policy against corruption and extortion among its personnel.

Adegboyega added that the recognition aligns with the anti-corruption agenda of the Corps Marshal, Sheu Mohammed, as well as the commission’s broader efforts to promote professionalism and accountability.

“For his exceptional integrity, Assistant Route Commander Babatunde J. Owoeye has been awarded a commendation and a cash gift of N250,000. He recorded 104 ‘Attempt to Corrupt Marshal on Duty’ (ACS) cases in July alone — a feat that is unprecedented in the command’s history,” Adegboyega said.

The FRSC reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on bribery and assured the public that honesty and discipline within its ranks would continue to be recognised and rewarded.

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Africa could become a renewable superpower – UN chief

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August 21, 2025

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United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has called for greater investment in green energy across the Africa, saying the continent has everything it takes to become a “renewable superpower.”

Speaking at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), Guterres stressed the need to mobilize finance and technology to ensure Africa’s natural wealth benefits its people and to build a thriving renewable energy and manufacturing base.

“Green power in Africa lowers energy costs, diversifies supply chains, and accelerates decarbonization for everyone,” he said.

Guterres warned that mounting debt should not hinder development and urged increased concessional finance and greater lending capacity from multilateral development banks.

He added, “Africa has everything it takes to become a renewable superpower, from solar and wind to the critical minerals that power new technology.”

The conference brought together African leaders and Japanese officials, with discussions on clean energy, economic partnerships, and long-term investment opportunities.

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