THE streets of the world exploded on Wednesday as workers and students, marchers and protesters, sent May Day calls and, in several cities, clashes erupted over local needs and international concerns.

The streets of France, Greece, United States, Chile, Cuba and several cities around the globe, quaked over the Gaza War.

In Nigeria where abysmally low wages, fuel scarcity, a drowning currency and a run-away inflation ruled the waves, the primary international concern for the world-wide protests, was expressly stated. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, made a joint declaration about the on-going genocide in the Palestine: “The UN mechanisms have unfortunately become undertakers and not life savers or peace-making.”

Echoing the universal calls on Workers day, the twin labour centres stated unequivocally: “ War does not benefit workers and the masses. It is mainly workers and the people that die in wars! These wars are therefore not for the protection of the people of the world and neither in our interests. It is purely driven by those who profit from wars- the bourgeoisies either in the West or in the East. We call for global peace and cessation of hostilities so that the killing of men and women and the massive suffering will end.”

This message of Nigerian trade unions was re-echoed in German cities with a youth in Berlin carrying the message: “The rich want war — the youth want a future.” Christening the 2024 May Day as “Revolutionary”, German workers displayed solidarity symbols with Palestinians and protested against Israeli violation of Palestinians right to life.

In Greece, thousands of workers marched through Athens bearing twin demands: pay rises that would bring wages to average European standards, and against the war in Palestine. They massed on the Greek parliament waving Palestinian flags, singing solidarity songs and letting balloons fly.

In the United Kingdom, workers marched on the Trade Department in London and blockaded arms factories in Lancashire, Wales and Scotland, demanding that arms export licences to Israel should be revoked. There were pickets at Barclays and BNY Mellon banks in Manchester for investing in Ebit System. The company produces 85 per cent of the land and air munitions used by the Israeli military. Members of the Palestine Action group which initiated the picketing said: “We will not tolerate genocide profiteers on our streets.”

In Cuba, the people practically emptied into the streets of Havana, at the foot of the giant statue of Jose Marti, the prophet of the South American independence movement. The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, ICAP, stated at the rally: “We demand an end to genocide in Gaza, and Cuba’s removal from the false list of countries that sponsor terrorism.”

These twin demands resonated in some countries. In Nigeria, for instance, where Cuban Ambassador Miriam Morales Palmero on behalf of the international community addressed the May Day rally in Abuja, the Nigerian unions declared: “The economic embargo placed on the nation by the US is an unacceptable punishment for the citizens of Cuba as it seeks to restrict their ability to access the basic necessities of life. The US as the bastion of democratic expressions ought to show leadership in this direction so that the people of Cuba can breathe.”

Clashes broke out in some French cities. In Paris, the clashes led to a number of injuries. The victims included a dozen policemen. The workers led by the labour confederation, CGT, protested for better cost of living, reform of unemployment benefits and, against the genocide in Palestine.

Early morning May Day, pro-Israeli protesters launched attacks on the pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA, campus in an effort to overrun it.

On the eve of May Day, protesters set up barricades in Santiago, Chile and three persons were wounded by gunfire. On this, progressive President Gabriel Boric regretted: “We are normalising violence, we cannot allow criminal gangs to take over the streets of our country.” His words appeared to have sunk in as there were no untoward incidents during the May Day activities organised by the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores, CUT.

In Istanbul, where thousands took on security forces with 210 persons detained, the protests were over inflation, demands for higher wages, labour rights and for a free Palestine.

The pro-worker Bolivian President, Luis Arce, who joined the workers march, announced a 5.8 per cent wage increase in the country.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a former leader of the labour centre, CUT, announced tax cuts for the poor. He told Brazilians: “In our country, there will be no tax breaks to favour the richest, but to those who work and live off their wages.”

In Lebanon, the workers marched against the economic crises which had also involved banks insolvency, and against the genocide in the Palestine. The crowds poured into the streets of Sri Lanka, a country that declared bankruptcy two years ago. The protests mainly focused on rising prices, especially of electricity and higher taxes.

Some of the largest pro-Palestinians rallies on May Day took place in South Africa. Supporters of the ruling African National Congress, ANC, organised solidarity marches in the streets before heading to the Athlone Stadium where they joined the May Day rally hosted by party ally and, the largest labour centre, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU. President Cyril Ramaphosa , the country’s President and former scribe of the Mine Workers union, told the rally: “You as workers, need to join this fight to fight for those who are oppressed around the world. And today as South Africa, we have stood up for the rights of those in other parts of the world (who) are currently being subjected to torture, to violence and genocide.” He added: “And that is why as a country and yes, as an alliance, we have stood firm in our support for the people of Palestine. And that is why we say ‘we want Palestine to be free’.”

COSATU President, Zingiswa Losi, declared: “We are here standing in support of our government, of our movement, in support of the Palestinian cause. Our freedom, comrades, is not complete until the people of Palestine are free and they are liberated.”

Alongside Palestine, was the support for the people of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic better known as Western Sahara. Large portions of the country are occupied by Morocco in an attempt to recolonise the former Spanish colony. The Nigeria trade unions declared: “Humanity remains in bondage as long as the United Nations continues to allow the aberration by Morocco to continue.”

The strident 2024 May Day calls will continue, so long as portions of the human race face extinction.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is doing everything possible to destabilise the opposition.

Momodu stated this in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.

The PDP chieftain accused the ruling party of plotting to crush the opposition.

He said, “APC will do everything possible to destroy opposition; buy those who are buyable, to terrorise those who are not buyable and make sure that the party is in disarray, that is all.”

Momodu said President Bola Tinubu is stifling the opposition even after thriving as an opposition leader before his party overtook power from the PDP government.

“You see part of my admiration for then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos was the role he played as an opposition leader.

“But unfortunately, now we have a former opposition leader in government, and they don’t want opposition, it’s an irony,” he said.

Momodu, however, said he is optimistic that the PDP will resolve its issues and bounce back as a strong opposition party.

The PDP chieftain said the party’s presidential candidate in 2023, Atiku Abubakar, is already making moves to bring every member of the party together to forge ahead as a strong family.

Recall that the main opposition party has been hit with crisis following the its presidential election primary in 2023 and its consequent loss at the 2023 general elections.

The long-running crisis in the PDP saw some of its members exiting the party, with the former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha resigning from the party recently.

Ihedioha said he resigned due to inability of the party to play the role of opposition as expected.

He said everything going wrong in the PDP is engineered by APC, adding that the ruling party has bought over some PDP members to disrupt the party.

The Lagos State Government has arrested the occupants of the 86-roomed apartments located under the Dolphin Estate Bridge in Ikoyi.

Naija News reports that the tenants residing in these apartments were allegedly paying an annual rent of about N250,000, while self-acclaimed landlords were collecting rent from them.

The state government has confirmed that the arrested individuals will soon face prosecution by the authorities.

This information was disclosed by the spokesperson for the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adeshina, during an interview with PUNCH Metro on Thursday, subsequent to the visit to the area.

Adeshina clarified that even though the tenants may have been processed through a mobile court, the self-proclaimed landlords will be prosecuted for their use of public street lights to provide electricity to the area.

He mentioned that the state government would ensure that the location is protected from miscreants, in addition to enforcement and arrests.

Adeshina said, “They (the occupants) will be prosecuted if they have not already been taken to court. We have mobile magistrates’ courts that handle such infractions.

“Although the persons collecting money from them are not government officers, it may be difficult to prosecute them. But what we intend to do is, for the fact that we learnt that they were tapping power supply from the street lights, this will be a basis for prosecuting the persons who were purported to be housing them and collecting money.

“We will not allow miscreants to take over the place again. The place was discovered based on complaints from some residents. I can assure you that place will be taken over and protected by the government.”

The news of the occupants being arrested for paying a whopping N250,000 as annual rent to live under the bridge left many in shock. Some Nigerians criticized the desperation of the occupants.

The Minister of state for environment Izhaq Adekunle Saleko on Thursday said that 48 million Nigerians which represents 23 percent of total population still practice open defecation despite 2025 deadline to end open defecation while 159 million Nigerians are without washing hand facilities.

He stated this to address the menace which has barely a year to go. The Federal government needs to construct 1 Million public toilets in public facilities across the country, adding that so far only five thousand toilets have been provided.

Saleko stated this while he appeared before the House of Representatives committee on Environment during an interactive session in Abuja.

According to him, Nigeria is lagging behind in putting an end to open defecation, while stating that the Federal government in terms of funding cannot provide toilet for every Nigerian.

The Minister further explained that the Ministry has taken various steps to address the issue of open defecation in the country.

He said that the ministry has developed the National Environmental Sanitation Policy and its guidelines on sewage and Excreta management to guide the professional conduct on proper excreta disposal and control of open defecation in the country.

He further explained that the ministry has established sanitation desks in the 36 States’ Ministries of Environment and FCT to monitor and ensure proper environmental sanitation at the community and household levels by conducting routine sanitary inspections of premises, and sensitizing the public on dangers of open defecation and the importance of having access to toilet in residential and public places.

Also he called for the commemoration of National Environmental Sanitation Day on 28th June every year to create a massive awareness on the importance of environmental sanitation and good hygiene practices, thereby institutionalizing sound sanitation and hygiene practices among the citizenry.

” The commemoration activities include community cleaning exercises, facilities inspection, organization of quiz competitions among secondary school students to broaden their knowledge on environmental sanitation and hygiene practices and sensitization/awareness creation in selected communities to prevent and control open defecation as well as environmental sanitation-associated preventable diseases such as malaria, cholera, Lassa fever, e.t.c

“Commemoration of world toilet Day on 19th November every year for awareness creation and sensitization of the general public on dangers of open defecation and need to have access and use toilet. The 36 States of the Federation also join in commemorating the day in their respective states.

“Commemoration of Global Handwashing Day on 15th October every year for sensitization and awareness creation on the importance of Sanitation and proper Hand Hygiene.

“Conduct regular sensitization/advocacy and sanitary inspection of toilets in Federal Government owned institutions and Unity Schools Nationwide. The Ministry also liaises with the state Ministries of Environment and Environmental Health department at LGAs to ensure effective routine sanitary inspection of premises in which the presence and status of the sanitary facilities is a major component of the exercise

“The Ministry initiated a programs titled ‘Clean and Green’ in which One of its aims among others is to eliminate open defecation in Nigeria by 2025 and ensure sustainable total sanitation and implementation of green technology initiatives in Nigeria.

“The Ministry is implementing Community Based Intervention on the control of open defecation program nationwide, which has the components of Sensitization/Awareness Campaign and construction/provision of public toilets with Solar Powered Boreholes. This program has been implemented in FCT, Nasarawa, Niger, and Abia states. The Ministry intends to scale up the project to other states of the Federation.

” Flagged off National Environment Sanitation Intervention/Response to Cholera Outbreak prevention and control in Abuja, FCT with series of planned activities targeting control of open defecation nationwide which has been implemented in Kogi, Nasarawa and Kano State.

Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, on Thursday stated that some individuals don’t want the power sector to work because of their selfish gains.

He lamented that despite the number of Ministers the sector has churned, the power sector has continued to face challenges.

He spoke in Lagos at the commissioning of the 63 MVA, 132/33kV mobile station at Ajah, Lagos State.

He said, “We have had over 40 ministers in the past and we are still here, we know there will be resistance and distractions but Nigerians will start seeing our overwhelming impact the moment we complete the TCN projects.”

Daily Trust reports that this is coming amidst the recent increment in tariff which is generating anger and misgivings from Nigerians.

Currently, Nigerians classified in Band A are paying as much as N225/ kilowatts even as some of them have complained about not getting adequate supply.

The minister however admonished Nigerians to endure temporary pains to enjoy permanent pains, saying the government is very concerned about the welfare of its citizenry.

“Nigerians should not be cheated and that is why I don’t call this new tariff cost-reflective but service reflective,” he added.

He reiterated that all discos must provide 20-24 hours electricity before they charge N225/ kwh, saying, “if not they will be fined heavily.”

The Minister stated that the Ajah Mobile Substation represents a strategic deployment aimed at improving the transmission capacity constraints by over 1300MW across the nation.

According to the Minister, the Ajah mobile substation was aimed at enhancing transmission capacity, energy access and overall advancements towards the 4000MW to 6000MW improvement targets.

He said, “Its strategic placement at key sites such as Okene, Amukpe, Potiskum, Apo, Ajah, Birnin Kebbi and others underscores our dedication to enhancing transmission efficiency and reliability nationwide.

“The versatility of this Mobile Substation cannot be overstated. From addressing major load centers to serving as a stopgap measure during maintenance and emergencies, its flexibility ensures swift responses to fluctuating power demands, thereby contributing to uninterrupted service delivery.”

The Lagos State government has uncovered another illegal settlement under the Osborne Bridge in Ikoyi. 

The state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a post on X with videos.

He wrote, 

“Another illegal settlement was discovered under the Osborne Bridge, Ikoyi. Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps #LAGESCOfficial (KAI) commenced immediate clearance operation.” 

On Wednesday, May 1, LIB reported that the state government discovered 86 partitioned rooms beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge in Ikoyi, Lagos Island. The occupants were reportedly paying an annual rent of N250,000.

Watch the new video below…

An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan on Thursday ordered that a 35-year-old man, Dickson Peter, be remanded in a correction facility for allegedly setting his landlord’s house on fire.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police charged the defendant with two counts of felony and arson.

The Magistrate, Mr M. Mudashiru, who did not take his plea due to lack of jurisdiction, ordered that he be remanded in the Abolongo Correctional Facility, Oyo Town.

Mudashiru said the remand is pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

He adjourned the matter until July 23, 2024, for reference.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Femi Oluwadare told the court that Peter, on April 18, at about 12:30 am, was alleged to have unlawfully set fire to the house of his landlord, Cepas Okeme, and destroyed properties worth N6.5 million.

Oluwadare said that after he set the building on fire, it also spread to the next house property belonging to Bose Ali ‘F’ and destroyed property worth N3.5 million.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 443 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000

A 24-year-old girl, Sophia Nkwor, has been arrested by the police in Delta state for allegedly dumping and drowning her one-year-old son in a well at Araya community, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State.

Parading the suspect before newsmen at the state police headquarters in Asaba on Thursday, May 2, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, said the incident happened on April 26.

“On 28th of April 2024, a case of infanticide was reported at Oleh Division, that a suspect named Sofia Nkwor ‘f’ aged 24 years from Isoko South LGA, dumped her child of one year and one month old in a well along the road in Araya community Isoko South LGA. Children who went to play around the tree discovered the abandoned child floating on the well.”

Speaking to newsmen, the suspect said she decided to kill her child because of her inability to cater for him. Identifying the son as Destiny, she said the father of the child rejected him, adding that she was living with her grandmother in the community.

“l have no helper; it was only me that was taking care of the child; l was the only one that was doing everything and l was tired of doing that,” she said, adding that she was in a bad mood when she committed the infanticide

Tech giant, Google has reportedly laid off at least 200 employees from its 'Core' teams, and will be moving some roles to India and Mexico in a bid to cut costs. 

Asim Husain, vice president of Google Developer Ecosystem, informed employees about the layoffs in an email last week, saying that this was the biggest planned reduction for his team this year.

“We intend to maintain our current global footprint while also expanding in high-growth global workforce locations so that we can operate closer to our partners and developer communities,” the email read, as per the report 

Google's Core unit is tasked with building the technical base for its flagship products and ensuring safety of its users online. It also maintains the company's global IT infrastructure and provides users with internal tools and developer solutions.

At least 50 of the positions eliminated were in engineering at the company's offices in Sunnyvale, California, filings show. Many Core teams will hire corresponding roles in Mexico and India, according to internal documents viewed by CNBC.