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Reps hail Tinubu on proposed subsidy removal, ask Nigerians to be patient

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The house of representatives has commended President Bola Tinubu over his decision to discontinue the petrol subsidy regime.

The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution commending Tunubu during the plenary session on Tuesday after the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Jimoh Olajide from Lagos.

While delivering his inaugural address on Monday, Tinubu said “petrol subsidy is gone” because the immediate administration did not make provision for such in the 2023 appropriation.

Tinubu commended his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari for “phasing out the petrol subsidy regime which has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor”.

Speaking on the motion, Olajide said the funds that should be used for subsidy would be channelled to other development issues.

The lawmaker said Tinubu’s policy would favour the “downtrodden”.

He told his colleagues to support Tinubu to “deliver dividends of democracy” to Nigerians.

“H asked for it, he campaigned for it and he is ready for the task ahead,” he said.

“The tutor-general of Nigerian politics is concerned about the masses and has the meaningful objective to utilise Nigeria funds appropriately with budgetary reforms agenda on education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, food, security and above all security of lives and property as embedded in the constitution.”

The resolution was unanimously adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Femi Gbajabiamila, the presiding officer.

The house congratulated Tinubu and appealed to “Nigerians to remain patient, resilient and prayerful so that the President can deliver on his promises”.

THE BACK AND FORTH

After the motion was passed, Ugonna Ozurigbo, a lawmaker from Imo, raised a point of privilege, demanding that there should be a debate on the motion due to its significance.

“I think it is very important that you should give us a little time to discuss and express our feelings on this motion that was brought on,” he said.

But responding, Gbajabiamila said the gavel has been hit noting that the matter could be raised at a different time during plenary as a point of relevance.

“There is no breach of privilege, we have hit the gravel. We cannot go back,” he said.

“As we go along, anyone that wants to speak on the issue of subsidy — I am giving the leeway even though it would fall on the sword of relevance.”

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KFC apologises to Gbenga Daniel’s son over discriminatory treatment

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Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Nigeria, an international fast food restaurant chain, has issued an apology to Adebola Daniel, son of Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun state, over discriminatory treatment.

In a statement on its X page on Thursday, the fast-food chain expressed deep regret for the distress experienced by the customer and pledged swift action to address the issue.

On March 27, Daniel posted on his official X page about his experience at the KFC outlet at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) branch.

According to Daniel, the restaurant had stopped him and his family from entering, stating that “no wheelchairs were allowed”.

Following his statement, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on March 28, said it had shut down KFC over discrimination against Daniel.

FAAN instructed KFC management to tender an unreserved apology, in writing, to Daniel, and a policy statement of non-discrimination be written and pasted conspicuously at its door post at MMIA before it resumed operation.

Reacting to the accusation, KFC reiterated its commitment to opposing bias or discrimination in any shape or form, with inclusivity and respect as fundamental principles of its values.

“KFC is unwavering in our stance against bias or discrimination in any form, with inclusivity and respect as non-negotiable pillars of our values,” the company said.

“However, this recent incident has underscored the pressing need for immediate action. We have embarked on efforts to address the situation.

“We deeply regret the frustration and distress experienced by our guest and extend sincere apologies to those affected.

“In response, we are urgently implementing inclusion training for all our employees. This incident is not reflective of our standards, and we will act swiftly to rectify it.

“We are actively exploring actions to equip our team members and restaurants better to ensure that every guest feels genuinely welcomed and that we deliver empathetic customer service that proactively addresses the diverse needs of each guest.”

‘FCCPC CONDEMNS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CONSUMERS’

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) condemned the discrimination against Daniel.

In a statement on Thursday, Adamu Abdullahi, FCCPC’s acting executive vice chairman (EVC) and chief executive officer (CEO), said the commission strongly condemns any form of discrimination against consumers, especially those based on disability.

Abdullahi said the commission would work with relevant authorities to ensure appropriate redress for the aggrieved consumer.

He said the commission would also ensure KFC took full responsibility for its actions.

The EVC said section 17 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) emphasises the obligation to eliminate practices detrimental to competition and consumer welfare to safeguard consumer interests.

Abdullahi said discriminatory actions, such as those witnessed at the KFC outlet, undermined their principles and would not be tolerated.

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FRSC to impound vehicles transporting animals and humans together

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The Bauchi command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it will prosecute owners of vehicles conveying animals with humans, after impounding the trucks.

NAN reports that Patrick Ikaba, FRSC sector commander in the state, said this on Thursday.

Ikaba said the command has been mandated by the FRSC headquarters to seize vehicles conveying animals and passengers at the same time.

Ikaba said this has become imperative because in the event of a crash, the animals fall on the passengers, compounding the fatality rate.

He added that animals and humans must be conveyed separately.

The sector commander urged the public to desist from the act, adding that FRSC is setting up mobile courts for the offence.

“It is either you are carrying animals or you are carrying passengers and this is very common among big trucks as they have adopted it as a method of loading, which is very dangerous,” Ikaba said.

“We advise that henceforth, where you need to load them, they should be separated.

“It is only just one person that is allowed to take care of the animals while they are being transported from one place to the other.

“The move we are making in this regard is to begin to organise mobile courts where any culprit will be made to face a magistrate and explain why he has to contravene the laws of the land.

“This is very serious and we are going to swing into action any moment from now as we are liaising with the courts and we have the magistrate already on ground to take our cases.”

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FAAN shuts KFC outlet that humiliated Gbenga Daniel’s wheelchair-bound son

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The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has shut down a KFC outlet at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

This move came less than a day after the airport branch of the fast-food restaurant allegedly humiliated a wheelchair user, Adebola Daniel, the son of former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel.

Sharing his experience, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, Daniel said he was “made to feel “less than human” because of his disability.

He said while passing the time alongside his wife and siblings, at the restaurant ahead of his flight, a manager of the restaurant told him to leave the premises because “No wheelchairs allowed.”

“To be disabled in Nigeria is to be undesirable, unwelcome and unaccepted. As I’ve said before, it’s a lonely, scary and isolated place. Never has this been more true than it has ever been today where I faced the worst sort of public humiliation that I have ever experienced. To think that this happened at an international brand, KFC at an international airport – Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos – is unthinkable,” he said.

Reacting, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, announced in a statement on Thursday, March 28, 2024, that the restaurant has been shut down.

According to the statement signed by Obiageli Orah, the law clearly states, “A person shall not deprive another person of access to any place, vehicle, or facility that members of the public are entitled to enter or use on the basis of the disability of that person.” This legislation underscores the seriousness with which the Nigerian authorities view discrimination, particularly in spaces accessible to the public.

The incident came to light after a Passenger with Reduced Mobility (PRM) reported on social media the unfair treatment they encountered at the KFC outlet within the airport premises.

Reacting to these allegations, FAAN’s MD/CE, Olubunmi Kuku assembled a team to investigate the claims. The team included other officials of the agency such as the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, and the Regional Manager South West, Sunday Ayodele, among others.

Following the investigation, FAAN said the allegations were confirmed to be true and proceeded to close the KFC facility implicated in the discriminatory act.

As part of the corrective measures, KFC management has been instructed to issue a written apology to the affected individual and to publicly display a policy statement of non-discrimination at their facility.

This statement must be visibly placed at the entrance of the KFC outlet at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport before the establishment is allowed to resume operations.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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