WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:05.280 Nigeria Aviation Minister, Festus Chamo says the Ministry has directed 2 00:00:05.320 --> 00:00:09.000 for the aviation staff who released the video footage containing 3 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:13.039 the aspect of an Ibom Airlines passenger Comfort Emanson or 4 00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:16.399 Bob scene in an indecent appearance with her chest sexual 5 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:20.120 organs exposed after the passenger shirt was torn by an 6 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:24.160 Ibom Airline staff while security operatives were seen in the 7 00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:28.039 viral video dragging the aggrieved passenger out of the aircraft 8 00:00:28.120 --> 00:00:31.920 following an act of confrontation between the passenger and Ibom 9 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:35.560 Airlines hostesses which one of the hostesses blocked the right 10 00:00:35.640 --> 00:00:38.479 of way of the passenger and prevented the passenger from 11 00:00:38.520 --> 00:00:41.799 disembarking from the plane and after countless warning to the 12 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:45.479 airline passenger to leave the road, the passenger went physical 13 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:48.159 with the hostess by allegedly slapping her on the face, 14 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:51.280 which the confrontation with the hostess apparently led to the 15 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:55.119 alleged destruction of the plane divider cotton, which Hibom Airlines 16 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:58.479 valued at two thousand, five hundred dollars as stated in 17 00:00:58.600 --> 00:01:01.759 count five of the five count charges the police filed 18 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:05.319 against the passenger at a Keja magistrate caught in Lagos State. 19 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:10.359 The Aviation Minister Festus Kamo, who described the behavior of 20 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:14.400 the passenger as unruly, said, although the airline staff is 21 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:17.640 right to video record the event of the passenger's behavior 22 00:01:17.719 --> 00:01:20.599 for the purpose of legal action, but it is totally 23 00:01:20.680 --> 00:01:23.480 unacceptable for the staff to release part of the video 24 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:28.200 that exposed the passenger's nakedness, especially her breasts. Details of 25 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:32.920 the minister's statement reads verbatim below. Enough is enough reading 26 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:36.519 the Riot Act on Aviation Safety and Security in reference 27 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:39.439 to the case of unruly Comfort Bob on Ibom Airline 28 00:01:39.480 --> 00:01:43.640 and related incidents. Earlier today, we again woke up to 29 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:47.519 viral videos of a female passenger on Ibom Airline, now 30 00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:51.319 identified as Comfort Emanson or Comfort Bob, who went berserk 31 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:54.760 and physically assaulted both the flight crew and the ground staff. 32 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:59.560 The incident took place yesterday, August tenth, twenty twenty five, 33 00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:02.480 on himbil Bomb Airline flight number Q one hundred and 34 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:06.079 fifty three from Uyo to Lagos at about fourteen fifty 35 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:10.199 four hours. Ibom Airline has since issued a statement to 36 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:13.479 provide some context to the effect that the whole unfortunate 37 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:16.520 incident arose because of the refusal of the passenger to 38 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:20.000 switch off her phone during takeoff as required by extant 39 00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:25.800 international civil aviation regulations. Consequently, in the last few hours, 40 00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:28.479 I have been speaking with the Commissioner of Police of 41 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:31.879 the Airport Police Command, the DG of the NC double 42 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:35.159 A and his team, the end of Faan and her team, 43 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:38.599 the COO of Ibom Air and his team about the incident. 44 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:42.439 Apart from the indefinite flight ban imposed on the said 45 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:47.439 unruly passenger both local and international by the Nigeria Civil 46 00:02:47.479 --> 00:02:52.080 Aviation Authority NC double A, the police has promptly arranged 47 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:55.159 her this morning at the Akeja Magistrates caught for criminal 48 00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:58.520 offenses and remanded her at Kirrikiri Prisons as she could 49 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:02.400 not provide adequate surreoce in court. I have attached the 50 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:06.159 charge sheet and remand order for clarity. We also note 51 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:09.280 the scuffle that took place between the unruly passenger and 52 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:13.879 ground personnel before she was eventually subdued. This was because 53 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:17.639 of her uncooperative attitude. Whilst we support the filming of 54 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:21.520 her recalcitrant behavior as evidence to prosecute her, what is 55 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:25.319 deplorable is to release such evidence containing indecent exposure to 56 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:29.599 the public to ridicule her that is totally unacceptable to us. 57 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:32.919 We will not fold our arms and tolerate the debasing 58 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:36.879 of womanhood. I have therefore directed that whoever released that 59 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:40.439 part of the video containing the indecent exposure amongst the 60 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:44.319 staff should be singled out and adequately sanctioned. I have 61 00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:47.719 also directed that the airlines must continue to train and 62 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:50.919 retrain their staff in public relations and how to deal 63 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:54.919 with potentially explosive situations in order to diffuse them promptly 64 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:59.479 or knit them in the bud except when it becomes inevitable. 65 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:04.080 I've also directed a joint security meeting between relevant agencies 66 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:08.159 next week for better coordination of security measures in situations 67 00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:12.240 like this or similar ones we witnessed recently. For genuinely 68 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:16.800 aggrieved passengers, there are clearly laid down remedies to address grievances. 69 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:21.199 The Consumer Protection Directorate of the nc double A has 70 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:25.040 consistently advertised these remedies, and there is no point trying 71 00:04:25.079 --> 00:04:27.560 to take the laws into ones hands that may lead 72 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:32.120 to dire consequences. We will continue to apply equal sanctions 73 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:35.519 available to us in aviation on any such airring passengers 74 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:38.639 that is lengthy flight bands and report the matters to 75 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:42.439 other law enforcement agencies to do their bit within their powers. 76 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:45.839 We have reported that a careful study of the viral 77 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:50.920 video involving the Imom Airline personnel, legos, airport security operatives 78 00:04:50.920 --> 00:04:54.639 and an aggrieved passenger comfort emnson on board the airline 79 00:04:54.680 --> 00:04:58.680 plane on Sunday, indicated that while the enraged passenger was 80 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:02.319 being dragged off the plane by three men who held 81 00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:05.240 her two hands and legs, suspending her a little bit 82 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:08.279 on the air, a lady putting on Ibom air corporate 83 00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:11.120 clothes who was behind the camera lens, could be seen 84 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:13.839 in the video to have approached the passenger at the 85 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:16.879 door point of the plane while the passenger was about 86 00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:19.959 to be taking out, apparently dipped her hand towards the 87 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:23.240 waist part of the passenger, untucked the passenger shirt from 88 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:27.439 the trousers, grabden, pulled the passenger's shirt towards her head, 89 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:30.199 and in the process the passenger shirt got tore and 90 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:34.959 the passenger's chest, sexual organs or private parts were completely exposed. 91 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:38.519 The action of the Ibom Airline staff appeared to be deliberate, 92 00:05:38.839 --> 00:05:41.720 as the airline female staff was not part of those 93 00:05:41.800 --> 00:05:45.040 dragging the passenger off the aircraft, and after the female 94 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:49.319 passenger's body was exposed, the Ibom Airline's female staff never 95 00:05:49.480 --> 00:05:53.040 joined or assisted the security operatives to drag the passenger 96 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:56.240 off the plane. This indicated that the motive of the 97 00:05:56.279 --> 00:05:59.360 female's staff of Ibom Airline was solely to remove the 98 00:05:59.399 --> 00:06:03.920 passenger sh shirt and expose the aggrieved airline passenger to ridicule. 99 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:27.680 Madam na as a gud and here as a stanuel, Will. 100 00:06:31.879 --> 00:06:36.519 Lady wi you bring me in a morg A careful 101 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:40.959 study of the viral video involving the Ibomb Airline personnel, legos, 102 00:06:41.079 --> 00:06:45.399 airport security operatives and an aggrieved passenger comfort a manson 103 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:48.680 on board the airline plane on Sunday indicated that while 104 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:52.399 the enraged passenger was being dragged off the plane by 105 00:06:52.519 --> 00:06:56.160 three men who held her two hands and legs, suspending 106 00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:58.839 her a little bit on the air, a lady putting 107 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:01.399 on a bomb Air corporate clothes who was behind the 108 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:03.839 camera lens, could be seen in the video to have 109 00:07:03.959 --> 00:07:06.920 approached the passenger at the door point of the plane 110 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:10.360 while the passenger was about to be taking out, apparently 111 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:13.040 dipped her hand towards the waist part of the passenger 112 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:16.759 untuck the passenger shirt from the trousers, grabbed and pulled 113 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:20.160 the passenger's shirt towards her head, and in the process, 114 00:07:20.439 --> 00:07:24.240 the passenger shirt got tore and the passenger's chest, sexual organs, 115 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:27.680 or private parts were completely exposed. The action of the 116 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:31.279 Ibom Airline staff appeared to be deliberate, as the airline 117 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:34.519 female staff was not part of those dragging the passenger 118 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:38.519 off the aircraft, and after the female passenger's body was exposed, 119 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:42.279 the Ibom Airlines female staff never joined or assisted the 120 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:45.879 security operatives to drag the passenger off the plane. This 121 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:49.240 indicated that the motive of the female's staff of Ibom 122 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:52.639 Airline was solely to remove the passenger shirt and expose 123 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:56.560 the aggrieved airline passenger to ridicule. The video of the 124 00:07:56.639 --> 00:08:01.240 passenger's partial nakedness, especially her two breasts completely exposed due 125 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:03.519 to the apparent action of a yet to be arrested 126 00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:07.759 and prosecuted female staff of Ibom Airlines, has since gone viral, 127 00:08:08.199 --> 00:08:11.600 with some pornographic channels already updating their channels with the 128 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:16.079 partial nakedness of the Ibom Airlines passenger. According to Punch 129 00:08:16.199 --> 00:08:21.319 newspaper comfort Emanson, the passenger accused of assaulting airline officials 130 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:24.759 aboard an Ibomair flight from Muyo to Lagos has been 131 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:28.720 charged in court and remanded in Kirrikiri Correctional Center in Lagos. 132 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:33.720 Tunday Machud, special Adviser on Media and Communications to the 133 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:39.720 Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus kmo Sam, confirmed 134 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:42.399 the development in a post on his official ex handle 135 00:08:42.440 --> 00:08:45.759 on Monday. The more reason the flying public should be 136 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:49.679 more careful. The unruly passenger on the Yuyo, Lagos bound 137 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:53.840 Ibomair Miscomfort Emanson, has been charged to court and she's 138 00:08:53.960 --> 00:08:58.240 now cooling off in Kirrikiri, Machud wrote. Ibom Are in 139 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:02.440 a press statement on Monday, said that ibom Ere confirms 140 00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:06.240 that on Sunday, August tenth, twenty twenty five, an incident 141 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:10.039 occurred on board our Uyo Lagos flight involving a passenger, 142 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:13.960 Comfort Emanson, whose conduct posed a serious threat to the 143 00:09:14.039 --> 00:09:19.320 safety of our crew, passengers and aircraft. Shortly before take 144 00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:23.039 off from Muyo, Emanson was instructed, in line with standard 145 00:09:23.080 --> 00:09:27.360 aviation safety procedures, to switch off her mobile phone. She 146 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:30.879 bluntly refused to comply until the pilot in command made 147 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:34.519 an announcement, after which a fellow passenger seated beside her 148 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:38.200 took the phone and switched it off. This action prompted 149 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:42.519 a verbal tirade from Emanson. The situation was eventually calmed 150 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:46.960 and the flight departed as scheduled. Upon arrival in Lagos, 151 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:50.840 Emanson waited for all other passengers to disembark, and then 152 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:54.200 proceeded to confront the purser who had earlier instructed her. 153 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:59.279 She walked up to the unsuspecting purser, stepped on her, forcibly, 154 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:02.279 tore off her whig, removed her glasses and threw it 155 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:05.000 to the foe, and used her footwear to assault her. 156 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:08.879 She slapped her several times, and when the other cabin 157 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:12.799 crew member tried to intervene, she slapped her too. She 158 00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:16.399 then attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use 159 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:18.840 as a weapon, an act that could have damaged and 160 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:23.039 grounded the aircraft. By this time, the pilot in command 161 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:28.240 had alerted airport security. Before security could arrive, the purser, 162 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:31.799 as seen on the viral video on the Internet, prevented 163 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:36.720 the passenger from leaving the aircraft until security arrived. The 164 00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:40.159 arrival of IBOM air security personnel did not deter the 165 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:43.639 passenger as she attacked him as well, lashing out violently 166 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:48.399 at both Hibombair and FAAN security. She was then restrained 167 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:52.600 and removed from the aircraft by force. Even after disembarking, 168 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:57.519 she continued to assault both Hibombair and FAAN security staff 169 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:01.840 and even slapped the ground supervisor. The passenger was removed 170 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:04.840 from the ramp and taken into custody by FAA and 171 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:08.360 Security and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for 172 00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:12.799 further investigation. Ibom Air has since submitted a report on 173 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:16.799 the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and placed 174 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:20.000 a travel restriction on Emanson, who will no longer be 175 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:24.360 permitted to fly on any of our aircraft. Ibomair reiterates 176 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:27.799 its zero tolerance policy towards any form of unruly or 177 00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:32.639 violent conduct that threatens the safety of passengers, crew or equipment. 178 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:36.720 Such behavior will be met with the strongest possible response. 179 00:11:38.360 --> 00:11:45.080 GUIGNI management of National Youth Service Corps under the leadership 180 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:49.360 of Brigadier General Olukunley Nafieu, has given reasons why serving 181 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:53.639 Nigeria Youth Corps member Hashier Rita Aguamaye was denied n 182 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:57.519 YSC discharge certificate that could have enabled her exit the 183 00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:00.720 one year mandatory program after she can depleted the one 184 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:04.120 year paramilitary service to her nation as a new graduate. 185 00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:08.039 And according to a statement posted and made available by 186 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:12.759 NYSC on Sunday with no name of the authority responsible 187 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:15.799 for the press statement written or mentioned in the statement, 188 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:21.440 the NYSC said Corps member Returugumei's discharge certificate was withheld 189 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:24.879 and her service yet extended by two months following her 190 00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:28.919 alleged absence or failure to attend the April twenty twenty 191 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:35.080 five n YSC biometrics clearance at etiosa Local Government Area Secretariat, 192 00:12:35.559 --> 00:12:39.159 and the month stated by NYSC was barely few days 193 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:41.799 after the Corps member had cried out loud in the 194 00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:45.519 month of March twenty twenty five over the apparent increasing 195 00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:48.879 high rates of hunger as a result of rising costs 196 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:52.399 of living in Nigeria and as such, she described the 197 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:56.480 President Bola Armedtenubu as a terrible president. In a swift 198 00:12:56.559 --> 00:13:01.360 reaction to the reason given by NYSC Rita Aguamee's lawyer, 199 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:05.720 barrister in nibihe f Young, while answering questions from channel's 200 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:10.639 television program presenters on Monday morning said the statement issued 201 00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:14.399 by the management of the National Youth Service Corps NYSC 202 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:17.879 on its decision to extend the service period and withhold 203 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:21.440 the certificate of National Service of Corps member Hashie Rita 204 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:25.320 Aguamaye alias Raye, does not represent the truth of the matter, 205 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:29.879 saying on April seventh, twenty twenty five, Rita was physically 206 00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:33.039 present at the Local Government Secretariat for the head count 207 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:36.679 and clearance, with the NYSC official at the local government 208 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:40.440 level deliberately refused to attend to her, even after six 209 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:43.960 hours waiting, during which she was asked to go back 210 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:47.440 and queued up on the line repeatedly, the NYSC official 211 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:51.480 still refused to attend to her, and thereafter, on April eleventh, 212 00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:54.399 twenty twenty five, the Corps member went to meet the 213 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:57.879 NYSC official and begged her to allow her perform her 214 00:13:57.960 --> 00:14:03.720 April twenty twenty five biometrics clearance. The NYSC female official 215 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:07.519 refused and asked the core member to leave. This, Amnesty 216 00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:12.279 International said the National Youth Service Corps NYSC must rescind 217 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:16.840 its decision. The Amnesty International described as arbitrary and outrageous, 218 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:21.960 saying NYSC allegedly used bureaucratic tricks to extend the core 219 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:26.519 member national service year over the government's unacceptable intolerance of 220 00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:31.879 dissenting voices, with former Nigeria Vice President Atiku Abubaka describing 221 00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:36.039 the NYSC action as impunity and as such cautioned the 222 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:40.080 government against subjecting everything to politics. And on Monday morning, 223 00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:43.519 the former governor of an Ambra State, Peter Obe, issued 224 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:47.000 a statement and said in our country today, hunger and 225 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:50.440 poverty are not just distant statistics. They are the harsh 226 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:54.399 reality that millions of our people face daily. Recently, the 227 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:58.559 United Nations stated that about thirty four million Nigerians will 228 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:01.960 face acute food in socie security and about sixty three 229 00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:05.159 percent of our population, which is about one hundred and 230 00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:10.080 thirty three million people, now live in multi dimensional poverty. Inflation, 231 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:13.879 even with the suppressed statistics is nearly thirty percent, while 232 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:17.799 unemployment and economic mismanagement have nearly wiped out our once 233 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:21.720 vibrant middle class. Families who once lived stable lives are 234 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:25.919 now slipping into poverty. On the Lea Saware, the founder 235 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:28.679 of Saha A Reporters News Media, said he was ready 236 00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:31.440 to stand beside the Corps member and escort her to 237 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:36.759 collect her NYSC discharge certificate last week, but the government 238 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:40.399 of President Bolah Ahmed Tanubu prevented him by thus unlawfully 239 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:44.799 detaining him at the police station. In quotes, Sirware said, 240 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:47.720 it is with deep sadness and renewed outrage that I 241 00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:53.759 address the ongoing injustice against Rita Iguamoye Raye. Nigeria's National 242 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:58.879 Youth Service Corps NYSC has seized her discharge certificate because 243 00:15:58.919 --> 00:16:03.159 she criticized the Ta Nubu regime over economic hardships. I 244 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:06.039 was fully prepared to stand beside her to help her 245 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:12.639 receive her NYSC discharge certificate. However, the criminal Assawaju Bolahmed 246 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:16.600 to Nubu regime unlawfully detained me in Abuja this past week. 247 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:21.519 This regime thrives on intimidation, repression and silencing the youth. 248 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:24.960 We had promised to fight for her justice and that 249 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:29.639 promise remains unbroken. We will not stop until we achieve victory, 250 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:32.960 not just for Raye, but for every Nigerian denied their 251 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:36.399 rights by an oppressive system. We must not forget that 252 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:40.960 Rai's courage and uncompromising stance compelled the authorities to increase 253 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:44.919 the monthly allowance for her colleagues to seventy seven thousand niras. 254 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:49.559 This significant improvement was won through her sacrifice, and it 255 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:52.279 is an injustice of the highest order that she continues 256 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:55.240 to be denied what is rightfully hers upon completion of 257 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:59.240 her service year. We will not abandon her. Her fight 258 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:03.279 is our fire. The struggle continues until we win. We 259 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:08.519 reject the nysc's spurious position in its entirety. Youth Corps 260 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:11.640 member Ashier Rita A Gumaye Reei's case could not and 261 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:15.599 should not be dismissed as a mere biometric clearance issue. 262 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:20.319 This was not about paperwork. This was punishment in retaliation 263 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:24.880 for her public criticism of Asswaju Bola Ahmed Tanubu's disastrous 264 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:29.359 economic policies. Silencing dissent is not service to the nation. 265 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:32.920 It is a service to tyranny. We stand with Raye. 266 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:37.240 We will continue to fight against NYSC until the injustice 267 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:42.359 is corrected. Revolutiono NYSC, in the press release, has said 268 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:47.039 that the NYSC management wishes to clarify a misleading information 269 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:51.039 circulating on social media regarding Corps member Ushier Rita A 270 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:55.319 Gumaye State Code number twenty four B eight thousand, three 271 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:59.200 hundred and twenty five. Contrary to false claims that she 272 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:03.519 was denied as Certificate of National Service CNS due to 273 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:07.920 critical remarks about the government. This assertion is entirely unfounded 274 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:11.359 and false in its entirety. Rita is among the one 275 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:14.839 hundred and thirty one Corps members whose Certificates of National 276 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:21.519 Service CNS were withheld for valid disciplinary reasons. Specifically, Rita's 277 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:24.559 service year has been extended by two months for failing 278 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:28.480 to attend the April twenty twenty five biometrics clearance, a 279 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:32.599 decision that aligns with the NYSC by laws. It is 280 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:35.960 important to note that this extension is a standard procedure 281 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:38.599 and not unique to her case, and the principle of 282 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:42.960 equal treatment was only applied in this case. The NYSC 283 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:46.240 management thus urges the public to approach this matter with 284 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:50.160 understanding as extending service for non compliance is a long 285 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:54.240 standing tradition within the NYSC and should not be politicized. 286 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:59.480 The NYSC scheme remains committed to discharging its mandate in 287 00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:04.920 line with the dictates of the Constitution. Nigeria is ours, Nigeria, 288 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:09.960 We serve. Former Nigeria Vice President Hatiku Habu Baka said, 289 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:14.039 what manner of impunity is this? Everything should not be 290 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:18.839 subjected to politics. I hope that Ashie Rita Aguamea's NYSC 291 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:22.440 discharge certificate is not being withheld because she had the 292 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:25.920 courage to complain about the economic hardship under the President 293 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:30.400 Bola Tenubu led administration. It is unacceptable that the young 294 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:34.039 lady who had served her country without queries should not 295 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:37.480 have received her National Youth Service Corps certificate one year 296 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:42.119 after passing out. The appropriate authorities should take urgent steps 297 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:46.680 to ensure that she gets her discharge certificate. Amnesty International, 298 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:50.119 in a press release said the National Youth Service Corps 299 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:55.079 NYSC must rescind its arbitrary and outrageous decision to deny 300 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:59.839 Rita Ushie widely known as Raye, her NYSC discharge certificate 301 00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:04.559 upon completion of a year of national service. Using bureaucratic 302 00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:08.640 tricks to extend her national service shows unacceptable intolerance of 303 00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:13.759 dissenting voices. The flagrant decision to withhold her certificate may 304 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:17.240 not be unconnected with her comments on social media on 305 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:20.880 the widespread economic hardship as a result of President Bola 306 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:25.400 Tanubu's economic policies. It is perfectly within her right to 307 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:29.839 express discontent peacefully. Instead of punishing her by withholding her 308 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:34.880 NYSC certificate for her opinions on rampant inflation, the authorities 309 00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:40.039 should prioritize addressing the country's escalating economic woes. The Nigerian 310 00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:43.960 authorities must stop responding with abuse of power and intimidation 311 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:48.279 to individuals and groups who express dissenting opinions in utter 312 00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:53.160 disregard for the Nigerian constitution and international law. Holding and 313 00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:57.799 voicing dissenting views is not a crime. In March, Ritaashier 314 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:00.400 faced threat to life and violence for her her viral 315 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:05.640 TikTok video criticizing President Bola Tanubu's government over unprecedented economic 316 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:10.279 hardship that plunged millions of people into abject poverty. Since 317 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:14.559 May twenty twenty three, series of economic policies introduced by 318 00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:18.039 Nigerian government have been undermining the ability of people on 319 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:21.799 low incomes to secure their right to adequate standard of living. 320 00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:26.200 Millions of people in Nigeria are increasingly unable to meet 321 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:30.440 the costs of education, food and healthcare. No one should 322 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:35.039 be punished for expressing dissenting opinions. Authorities have obligation to 323 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:39.480 uphold and respect the right to freedom of expression without discrimination. 324 00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:43.400 Former Governor of a Nambra State, Peter Obey, in a 325 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:48.000 detailed statement on Monday, said, in our country today, hunger 326 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:50.920 and poverty are not just distant statistics. They are the 327 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:55.160 harsh reality that millions of our people face daily. Recently, 328 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:59.359 the United Nations stated that about thirty four million Nigerians 329 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:02.960 will face it acute food insecurity and about sixty three 330 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:06.039 percent of our population, which is about one hundred and 331 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:11.400 thirty three million people, now live in multi dimensional poverty. Inflation, 332 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:15.279 even with the suppressed statistics, is nearly thirty percent, while 333 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:19.000 unemployment and economic mismanagement have nearly wiped out. Are once 334 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:23.359 vibriant middle class families who once lived stable lives are 335 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:26.759 now slipping into poverty. But this is not just ordinary. 336 00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:30.359 It is as a result of incompetent leadership without capacity 337 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:33.680 and compassion, who are not interested in putting the Nigerian 338 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:37.920 people first in their actions. Other nations have faced similar 339 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:42.319 challenges and turned their fortunes around through disciplined leadership, sound 340 00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:45.759 economic policies, and a total commitment from the leaders to 341 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:49.359 invest in human development and pulling their people out of poverty. 342 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:54.400 A recent example is what is happening in Argentina. In Argentina, 343 00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:58.079 over fifty two percent of its population lived in poverty 344 00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:01.119 by early twenty twenty four, acording to the World Bank, 345 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:05.960 with millions of Argentines unable to meet basic needs, inflation 346 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:10.240 was above two hundred percent and economic confidence had collapsed. 347 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:15.079 Yet within two years, through decisive action to cut waste 348 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:19.880 in governance and prioritize economic stability, the newly inaugurated president 349 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:22.480 was able to cut down the poverty rate to thirty 350 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:25.759 eight point one percent from fifty two percent in just 351 00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:29.519 two years, and extreme poverty fell to eight point two percent, 352 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:32.960 with inflation just around two to three per cent monthly. 353 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:37.279 As at twenty twenty five, the urban poverty had declined 354 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:40.839 to thirty one point six percent, lifting millions of people 355 00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:45.039 out of poverty. Investor confidence grew in the economy began 356 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:48.359 to grow. The people now see real improvements in the 357 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:52.960 daily lives. Both Argentina and the current Nigerian leadership assumed 358 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:55.640 office in the same year, and this proves what I 359 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:59.000 have always stated that two years may not be enough 360 00:23:59.079 --> 00:24:02.119 to change a nation with a one hundred percent turnaround 361 00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:04.279 but it is more than enough to kick start the 362 00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:08.160 transformation journey that will change the fortune of our dear country. 363 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:11.680 With the people witnessing real and genuine change. But only 364 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:15.400 if the leadership is honest, focused and committed to the people, 365 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:20.960 Nigeria can work. We can reduce hunger and restore dignity 366 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:24.480 to Nigerians. But this will not happen while corruption and 367 00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:29.200 criminality dominate our governance. Our nation requires leaders who will 368 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:33.400 put the people first, manage resources prudently, and stand firm 369 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:38.200 in rejecting corrupt practices. Nigeria will work, but only if 370 00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:42.319 we as leaders commit to tackling corruption, cutting the cost 371 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:46.920 of governance, and focusing on critical areas of development like education, 372 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:50.519 health care, and lifting the people out of poverty, just 373 00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:54.480 as other nations have done with remarkable results, a new 374 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:58.359 Nigeria is possible. We had reported that after the Nigeria 375 00:24:58.440 --> 00:25:02.559 be Afra Civil War, the National Youth Service Corps NYSC 376 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:06.440 was established on May twenty second, nineteen seventy three to 377 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:09.960 give the youths the opportunity to leave their parents and 378 00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:13.240 stay alone to contribute to the betterment of the West 379 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:18.359 Africa country Nigeria. Interestingly, a few days ago, one of 380 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:21.640 the serving CORPSS, Hashie Rita A Guamaye, went to the 381 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:24.720 market in Lagos State to buy foodstuffs, but she was 382 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:27.480 shocked that the prices of foodstuffs in the month of 383 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:31.160 March have again increased far more than they were previous months. 384 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:34.839 Apparently faced with the heat of passion, her Guamaye took 385 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:37.480 to social media to call on the youths to unite 386 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:41.359 and defend the country from total economy collapse, saying it 387 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:44.000 was her first time to leave her parents and start 388 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:47.880 paying domestic bills alone, adding that the money she spends 389 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:52.200 on transport is more than the monthly salary NYSC is 390 00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:55.480 paying her. Begging the youths to stage a thirty days 391 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:59.640 non stop challenge protest to make the country President Bola 392 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:03.039 Arma to Lubu, she described as a terrible person to 393 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:07.200 be alive to his political and institutional responsibilities of making 394 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:11.039 cost of living reasonably okay for people to afford, stressing 395 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:14.680 that some Nigerians are pretending to still be rich whereas 396 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:19.079 the bad economy has pushed them into poverty. This Reno Omakri, 397 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:24.119 former presidential spokesperson who have been living abroad since twenty fourteen, 398 00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:27.440 reacted and said that there is no country in the 399 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:30.759 world where a paramilitary official like the Corpos is permitted 400 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:34.400 to criticize the government. She didn't participate in. 401 00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:38.519