Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, in his 64th Nigeria’s Independence Day speech, urged citizens to be patient amid the current economic difficulties. He also defended his controversial reforms, such as the removal of fuel subsidies and allowing the naira to float. He claimed these changes are beginning to show positive signs and insisted Nigeria is “winning the war on terror and banditry” and has eliminated over 300 commanders of Boko Haram and bandit groups within one year despite ongoing violence in regions like Zamfara and Kaduna. Tinubu expressed optimism that this would lead to increased food production and lower food costs. Nigeria continues to face high inflation, particularly in food prices, which rose to 37.52% year-on-year in August 2024. Protests in Abuja and Lagos criticized the government’s handling of the economy.
2. Meanwhile, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, in his October 1 post on X, expressed disappointment in Nigeria’s progress since independence. He said Nigeria has fallen behind its peers, citing poverty, insecurity, and corruption. He urged reflection and called for building a productive nation free of tribal disunity and religious disharmony, emphasizing that true independence should prioritize citizens’ well-being. In addition, Former vice president and PDP Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar warned of Nigeria sliding into a one-party dictatorship under Tinubu’s rule and called for a stronger opposition to safeguard democracy.
3. Iran launched its largest attack on Israel, firing 200 ballistic missiles. Israeli defenses, supported by the U.S. and allies, intercepted most of the missiles, though some struck military bases, schools, and restaurants. One person in the West Bank died, and two Israelis were slightly injured by shrapnel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran would face consequences for this “big mistake,” raising fears of a regional war. Iran claimed the attack was retaliation for the deaths of Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. In response, Israel has escalated its conflict with Hezbollah, deploying more troops to southern Lebanon despite calling the incursion “limited.” Iran has threatened harsher strikes if Israel retaliates. Allies like the U.S. and U.K. supported Israel’s defense.
4. The vice-presidential debate between Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz was a civil, policy-focused discussion, unlike the contentious Trump-Harris presidential debates earlier in the year. Both candidates spent more time attacking their opponents’ running mates than each other. Vance appeared more comfortable and defended Trump’s policies, while Walz, after a shaky start, found his footing on topics like abortion and the Capitol riot. The debate saw agreement and clashes, particularly over Trump’s false election claims. Vance’s strong performance cemented his image in conservative politics, while Walz held his ground but struggled with specific topics like foreign policy and gun control. While the debate is unlikely to shift the election’s outcome, Vance’s future in national politics seems promising.
5. Zenith Bank experienced service disruptions across its digital platforms on October 1, 2024, due to routine IT maintenance from 12:01 am to 2:30 pm. The maintenance affected fund transfers, mobile banking, and internet services. The bank apologized for the inconvenience via a message on X, explaining the maintenance aimed to enhance service quality. They also reminded customers to safeguard their account details against phishing attempts. By October 2, services were restored. Similarly, Unity Bank also resolved network issues affecting its customers and apologized for the disruption.
6. Tobi Amusan, the world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, has announced a documentary titled Homecoming, chronicling her athletic journey. The trailer, produced by sports studio ATHLST, was revealed by Amusan via X (formerly Twitter). The documentary shows her career highs, including her 2022 world record race in Oregon, and lows, such as her provisional suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit in 2023, which she was later cleared. Amusan currently holds the world record of 12.12s in the 100m hurdles, and she is the Commonwealth and African champion and a three-time Diamond League titleholder.
