The year 2024 saw a flurry of fast trending stories. From the economy to sports and politics, it was never a dull moment. Below are some of the top trending topics that grabbed the attention of Nigerians.
1. CAF Awards: Ademola Lookman crowned 2024 CAF Player of the Year
Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman, was named the CAF Footballer of the Year for the past year. Lookman was announced as the winner at an elaborate event in Marrakech, Morocco. The Atalanta star won the prize ahead of Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. Ademola Lookman’s award dominated the media as Nigerians reacted to the exploits of the Atlanta forward for club and country.
2. Fuel Scarcity: NNPCL, Marketers Trade Blames Over Lingering Queues At Filling Stations
The confusion that followed fuel subsidy removal dominated the first half of 2024. Marketers, NNPC and Dangote were at daggers drawn as they battled for the soul of fuel distribution and pricing. The conflict caused a major disruption leading to fuel scarcity. The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited(NNPCL) had explained at the time that the lingering fuel scarcity troubling Nigerians was because of panic buying and exploitative practices by some petroleum marketers. The fuel issue was a major talking point of 2024.
3. Electricity Tariff: Nigerian govt announces increase in electricity tariff
Everyday in 2024, Nigerians talked about the high cost of electricity in the face of epileptic power supply and a national grid that collapses almost every month. But against the backdrop of poor power supply, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, still gave the go-ahead to raise electricity rates for customers in the Band A category further drawing the anger of Nigerian consumers
4. Osimhen-Napoli Saga: Galatasaray Reach Agreement To Sign Osimhen On Loan
The Napoli-Osimeh conflict snowballed into a global issue in 2024. However, a truce was reached when Galatasaray made a last minute offer to the Nigerian born global superstar. As hope faded for Osimeh in the January 2024 transfer window, the Turkish Super Lig champions reached an agreement with Napoli for the loan signing of Victor Osimhen. Transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano had revealed at the time that the Nigeria international will spend the entire 2024/25 season with the Turkish giants. Galatasaray will cover the striker’s entire salary until the end of the season. It was a relief for many football fans when the protracted issue was finally resolved and Osimeh was able to do what he knows best - score goals.
5. Shakes Up Oil Industry: Tinubu Directs Central Bank to Take Over Crude Sales from NNPC
In a major policy shift in 2024, President Bola Tinubu directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to take over responsibility for crude oil sales from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The President also announced a shake-up in the oil sector to ensure transparency amid concerns about declining oil revenue and opaque practices within the NNPC.
6. Revelation: Each Time A Kidnapper Uses A Phone To Communicate, The device Connects To Nearby Cell Towers - Colonel Hassan Stan-Labo (rtd)
A security consultant and defense strategist Colonel Hassan Stan-Labo revealed the nexus between crime and technology that each time a kidnapper uses a phone to communicate, the device connects to nearby cell towers. Stan-Labo suggests leveraging geotagging techniques to trace communication by terrorists and kidnappers. This revelation elicited a lot of reactions from Nigerians who had wondered why the intelligence and security community are not deploying technology to combat the crime wave in the country.
7. 3 Protesters Shot Dead | Chief of Defence Staff Speaks On Military Stepping In
The end bad governance protests turned bloody when law enforcement agents fired shots at protesters leaving 3 people dead. The #endbadgovernance protest was one of the highlights of 2024. At a point, the military had threatened to step if the protest turned violent
8. Bobrisky: FG suspends prisons officers
The Federal Government suspended the officers in charge of the Maximum and Minimum Custodial Centres, Kirikiri, Lagos State, following an audio leak indicating that cross dresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky who was convicted of a crime and sentenced to six months in jail was given an apartment outside the custodial centre.
9. Tinubu talks tough, vows to prosecute Russian flag sponsors in hunger protest
The #endbadgovernance that rocked 2024 took a new twist when protesters in some parts of northern Nigeria took to the streets to wave the Russian flags. This strange development was a shock to many Nigerians as they wondered why the Russian flag suddenly become a symbol of the protest in that part of Nigeria. Analysts had pointed to the growing influence of Russia among Nigeria’s neighbours. This influence was explained to have been a possible reason. Others also opined that the youths may have been sponsored by agents of destabilsation
10. Tax Reform Bill: How Nigeria’s VAT reforms will reduce inflation
Tax Reform Bill proposed by President Bola Tinubu which aims to promote uniform procedures for a consistent and efficient administration of tax laws to facilitate tax compliance by taxpayers in line with current realities. While some Nigerians have commended the bill as a transformative bill that will revolutionise the tax system in the country, opposition to the bill continues to mount with the most criticism coming from the northern part of the country leading to debate being suspended in the National Assembly. However, the President has insisted the bill has come to stay.
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