- In 2024, Dangote refinery came on stream, shaping the Nigeria upstream and downstream sector in Nigeria
- The publication of “Nigeria and its criminal justice system” by Dele Farotimi and the prosecution of the author by Afe Babalola is another big incident in Nigeria in 2024
- The death of John Okafor, aka Mr. Ibu is a big blow to the Nollywood industry in Nigeria in 2024
The year, 2024 is indeed one of the most challenging years in the history of Nigeria. The said year is full of both economic, social and political challenges, some of which have shaped the year, 2024 and determined how the entire populace view the situation in the country.
However, despite these daunting socioeconomic challenges, there are some events, people that equally helped in shaping the 2024 and of course history around us.
Aliko Dangote
The outgoing year 2024 saw the coming on stream of the Dangote Refinery, which effectively ended the country’s decade of the importation of refined petrol products. The new 650,000 barrel-a-day oil refinery in Nigeria owned by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man has been widely described as a game changer as it is expected to in the medium term boost the country’s forex earning, boost employment and help the country save the huge billions of dollars.
Despite all the ding dong affairs that followed the opening of the Refinery and eventual lifting of the petroleum products from the company, Dangote was able to weather the storm and navigate through the bottlenecks.
Bishop Matthew Kukah
In the face of the threats, political perfidy and other daunting challenges in the country, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah remained resolute, tireless and determined, advocating for justice and democracy and human development. Nigeria. He has remained vocal in his call for good governance and a free and fair electoral process in the country.
Peter Obi
Despite his seemingly disappointed declaration as the third best in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, a member of the Labour Party and the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election continues to keep his hope of getting to the presidency alive with characteristic political moves befitting of his leadership style and persona.
Though, it may seem his ‘Obidients’ waves have gone to rest, the former two- term governor of Anambra State remains active in the political space this year, making speeches that speak to the heart of the people.
In the coming 2027 general election, this seem to be paying off as a coalition of Northern groups, under the umbrella of Northern Obidients Youth Assembly (NOYA), warned against alleged plots to sabotage Peter Obi’s legacy following the internal wrangling within the Labour Party. Already, there has been talks of alliance between his party and other parties for the 2027 presidential election.
Siminalayi Fubara
The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara’s attempt to maintain the political control of Rivers State in 2024 pitched him against his godfather, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The relatively not so known Fubura, who is determined to assert control over his government and the party structure that brought him into office, is proving he was well-schooled in the shenanigans of Nigerian political office holders. Rivers state, the oil-rich base of the country has been staggering and swaggering from one political crisis to another precipitated by the feud between Gov. Fubara and Ex Gov. Wike.
The local government election held this year is one major highlight, which did go down well with him and his predecessor, Mr. Wike.
Ademola Lookman
On Monday, December 16, 2024 Super Eagles and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman was named the 2024 CAF African Footballer of the Year.
The 27-year-old clinched the prestigious prize at a glittering ceremony held at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday.
The Nigerian star edged out tough competition from Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG), Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast/Brighton), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund), and Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns) to claim the prestigious title.0
Lookman’s victory adds his name to the illustrious list of Nigerian footballers who have won the award, joining legends such as Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997), and Victor Osimhen (2023).
His win marks Nigeria’s sixth triumph in the award’s history, as he takes over the mantle from Osimhen, the 2023 winner and his national team mate.
Dele Farotimi
Dele is an activist, a political commentator and author of the book “Do Not Die In Their War”, a treatise on Nigeria’s contemporary political trajectories, and the book “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System”.
On 3 December 2024, he was arrested following his allegation of perversion of justice leveled against Afe Babalola. His arrest and eventual detention by the Department of State Security, DSS sparked off widespread condemnation by notable Nigerians, leading to the immediate past presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi soliciting for his pardon and release.
His latest book was ranked as the amazon best seller.
Davido
In the entertainment industry, the music superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido was also very much visible in the year under review. He married the love of his life Chioma Rowland in a grand affair. The multi-billion naira glamorous wedding ceremony dominated social media space days after the wedding.
The occasion marked the culmination of years of friendship and love, characterised by setbacks, series of scandals, drama and trolls. Davido also bagged a Grammy nomination for the second time, ahead of the 67th Grammys taking place early next year. He also continued his tradition of giving back with plans to donate N300 million to orphanages as part of his 32nd birthday celebration. 2024 also renewed the feud between Davido and Wizkid.
Burnaboy
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu MFR, professionally known as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer.
In 2024, Burna Boy became embroiled in a public dispute with fellow Nigerian musician Speed Darlington. The feud began when Darlington questioned the legitimacy of Burna Boy’s 2021 Grammy Award for Twice as Tall, which was co-produced by American rapper and producer Sean “Diddy” Combs. Darlington alleged that Burna Boy’s association with Diddy might have influenced the award outcome, suggesting that external factors played a role in his Grammy win. In response to these allegations, Burna Boy filed a defamation complaint, leading to Darlington’s arrest by the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja. Following his arrest, Darlington’s mother publicly pleaded with Burna Boy to forgive her son and facilitate his release. Darlington was later granted bail after meeting stipulated conditions.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was during a special General Council meeting on 29 November, 2024, reappointed Director General of the World Trade Organisation by the General Council for a second four-year term, which will commence on 1 September 2025.
In recent years, the WTO has played a vital role in helping Members navigate pressing global challenges, including the pandemic, conflict, and heightened geopolitical tensions.
The DG is deeply committed to working alongside the talented and dedicated staff of the WTO to build a more inclusive, equitable, and rules-based multilateral trading system that benefits all.
The dead
The year 2024 saw the demise of many prominent Nigerians, some of their deaths seemed to be questionable and unbelieving.
Junior Pope
John Paul Obumneme Odonwodo (May 7, 1981 – April 10, 2024), popularly known as Junior Pope, was a Nigerian actor and film producer who appeared in various Nollywood films, including Secret Adventures (2007), Bitter Generation (2010), and Nkoli Nwa Nsukka.
Odonwodo was a Christian and married Jennifer Awele Okpuno on 26 July 2014. They had three children together. Pope died in a boat accident on the River Niger in Anambra State while traveling to Asaba, Nigeria, to shoot a movie. Three crew members also lost their lives in the incident.
Initially, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) declared him alive after videos circulated online showing him on the boat and villagers attempting to revive him. However, he was later officially announced dead.
Junior Pope was buried on 17 May 17 2024, in his hometown of Ukehe in the Igbo Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria
Amechi Muonagor
Amaechi Muonagor (20 August 1962 – 24 March 2024) was a veteran Nigerian actor, comedian, and movie producer. He was nominated for the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for Best actor. He joined the Nigerian movie industry Nollywood in 1998 and had starred in many movies including Taboo 1 (1989), Aki and Pawpaw, Karishika (1998), and Aki na Ukwa (2002), Igodo (1999).
In 2016, it was reported that Amaechi was suffering from diabetes and had left the film industry. In 2023, he suffered from a stroke that resulted in partial paralysis of his left leg. On 24 March 2024, Amaechi died of kidney failure, at the age of 62. His death threw the entire Nollywood industry and even beyond into inexplicable mood of loss and tragedy.
Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah
Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah (3 September 1971 – 27 July 2024) was a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the senator representing Anambra South senatorial district from 2019 until his death on 27 July 2024. He was the CEO of Capital Oil (CCO), which he founded in 2001.
On 27 July 2024, Ubah reportedly died of a cardiac arrest in London, at the age of 52. He was said to have departed Nigeria for the United Kingdom two days earlier on 25 July.
A close family source said he died in a hospital where he went for surgery. Before his death, he had declared his interest to contest for Anambra state gubernatorial election in 2025 under the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC.
Onyeka Onwenu
Onyeka Onwenu MFR (31 January 1952 – 30 July 2024) She was born January 31 1952 in Imo state. She was a Nigerian singer and songwriter, actress, human rights and social activist, journalist, politician, and X Factor series judge. Dubbed the “Elegant Stallion” due to her significant impact on African culture and entertainment, Onwenu was a chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture. In 2013, she was appointed the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development.
On 30 July 2024, Onwenu passed out after performing at the 80th birthday party of The CEO Emzor Pharmaceuticas Stella Okoli in Lagos State. She was immediately taken to Reddington Hospital where she was confirmed dead. Onwenu was 72.
However, Prior to her death, Onwenu wrote in an opinion piece on Premium Times in 2021 on how she’d like to be buried; “Do it quickly, quietly and privately,” she said, emphasising that her burial should be devoid of unnecessary fanfare. “Celebrate me with prayers, lunch or dinner afterwards. Share some jokes about me and laugh. “Make merriment and then go about your business. If my friends want to celebrate me, they should do so while I am alive, so that I can enjoy it with them, not when I am gone and have no idea about this. That is me Onyeka Onwenu,” she said.
John Okafor
John Ikechukwu Okafor (17 October 1961 – 2 March 2024), popularly known as Mr. Ibu, was a Nigerian legendary Veteran actor and comedian. He appeared in over 200 Nollywood films including those from the Mr. Ibu series.
In October 2023, Okafor revealed that he was suffering from an ailment that threatened to make it necessary to amputate one of his legs. He said he was struck by the problem while on a movie set with other Nollywood actors.
He appealed to his fans and the public for prayers and financial assistance to cover his medical bills. He also shared a video of himself lying in a hospital bed, expressing his fear of losing his leg.
The Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation, which was established by the former Senate President of Nigeria, paid off Okafor’s entire medical expenses as of 18 October 2023. The foundation also stated that Okafor still required a lot of financial assistance to sustain him in the hospital and for his travel abroad for further treatment.
In November 2023, Okafor underwent a leg amputation after suffering from an illness that required seven surgeries. His family said the amputation was done to keep him alive and increase his chances of recovery.
Okafor died at Evercare Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria on 2 March 2024 at the age of 62 as a result of cardiac arrest. The burial took place in his home town on the on Friday 28th of June 2024.
Following his death, his adopted daughter Jasmine renamed his million-follower TikTok account to her own name and deleted all of the videos that did not feature her.
Sisi Quadri
Tolani Quadri Oyebamiji, popularly known as Sisi Quadri is reportedly died on March 1, 2024.
Oyebamiji celebrated his 44th birthday on December 25, 2023.
His death was announced by some of his colleagues in the Yoruba movie industry.
The Nigerian film industry entered a mourning period with the demise of the famous comic actor Tolani Oyebamiji, better known as Sisi Quadri. He was 44.
Sisi Quadri, who gained fame for his role in ‘Seranko Seniyan’ (2004), starred in various films, including “Aje Ni Eegun,” “Iya Oko Mi,” “Omo Iya Oko,” “Oluwa-Burna.”
He also appeared in a skit with Mr Macaroni, Isbae U, and others.
Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu
Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu (4 September 1942 – 25 July 2024) was a Nigerian politician and businessman. He was considered one of the richest Igbo men in Nigeria. Iwuanyanwu was until his death the 11th president-general of Ohaneze Ndigbo; preceded by George Obiozor.
On 25 July 2024, Chief Iwuanyanwu died following a brief illness. He was 81.
Herbert Wigwe
Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe CFR (15 August 1966 – 9 February 2024) was a Nigerian banker and businessman. He was the group managing director and CEO of Access Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s top five banking institutions, after succeeding his business partner, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
Wigwe was married from 1994 to Doreen Chizoba Wigwe (née Nwuba), born 12 July 1967, and had five children.
Wigwe was among six people who died on 9 February 2024 after the Eurocopter EC130 in which they were travelling crashed near Nipton, California.
Also involved in the crash were his wife Doreen Chizoba Wigwe, his 29-year old son Chizi Wigwe, former Nigerian Exchange Group Plc Chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and two crew members.
The passengers were on their way from Palm Springs International Airport to Boulder City, Nevada on a charter flight operated by Orbic Air to attend the Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
The remains of Wigwe and his family were repatriated to Nigeria, where they were buried in his hometown in Isiokpo, Rivers State, on 9 March, following a week-long wake in Lagos that was attended by several prominent personalities, including billionaire and Africa’s richest person Aliko Dangote, who pledged to rename the road leading to his oil refinery in his honor, amidst other tributes.
Events/ activities/groups
National Anthem
On May 29, 2024 President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024, officially reinstating the old national anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”. This announcement was made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday during a joint session of the National Assembly, marking the Silver Jubilee of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
The event, which also commemorated the first anniversary of President Tinubu’s administration, saw the President confirming ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ as the new official national anthem.
The Senate and the House of Representatives had earlier passed the legislation to revert the national anthem from “Arise, O Compatriots” to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” in separate sittings. This legislative move was aimed at reconnecting with the country’s historical roots and restoring a sense of national pride tied to Nigeria’s early post-independence era.
Approval of new minimum wage
After months of writhing and wrangling, President Bola Tinubu on July 28, 2024 signed the new minimum wage into law.
President Bola Tinubu signed the executive order establishing a minimum wage of N70,000 ($45) for workers across Nigeria at the State House in Abuja, thereby ending months of industrial dispute between various levels of government with their workers.
The move comes after months of intense deliberations between the Federal Government, labour unions, and the private sector to agree on the welfare of workers in the country.
According to experts, the increase form N30,000 to N70,000 is expected to provide much-needed relief to workers struggling to cope with inflation amid the rising cost of living in the country.
Hunger protests
On August 1, 2024, protests erupted in multiple cities across Nigeria as frustrated citizens took to the streets, voicing their anger over increasing hunger and “bad governance.”
The demonstrations are part of a larger wave of unrest spreading across Africa in places such as Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and now Nigeria.
The demonstrations spiraled out of control in parts of the country, including the northern Yobe and Kano states where authorities declared a 24-hour curfew as private and public properties were looted in chaotic scenes that also saw many vehicles burned.
In Kano, protesters stormed and looted a digital innovation park scheduled to open the week after.
Gunshots rang out in the capital Abuja and also in the neighboring Niger state as police lobbed tear gas to disperse defiant protesters. In Niger, at least six people are now feared dead, local media reported.
Another three people were reportedly killed in the northwestern Kaduna state, according to Reuters, citing eyewitnesses. The Kaduna Police Command did not return many request for comment.
In Abuja, protesters gathered outside the national stadium, where they faced off with pro-government supporters.
Activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju told newsmen that there were counter-demonstrations by pro-government protesters who arrived in buses accompanied by a security vehicle. Josephine Adeh, a police spokesperson in the city, denied this.
“The protesters became violent and began throwing stones at the police, reasons why the police had to disperse them,” she said.
Demonstrators gathered under the ‘End Bad Governance in Nigeria’ coalition, using the slogan “10 Days of Rage,” and are demanding the reinstatement of a fuel subsidy whose abrupt removal last May caused a dramatic spike in the cost of food, transportation, and other commodities.
These increases have hit a populace already struggling with widespread unemployment and soaring inflation rate of 34%, the highest level in nearly 30 years.
Emergence of Lukawaras terror group
On November 7, 2024 the Defence Headquarters confirmed the emergence of a new terror group known as ‘Lukarawas’ in the Northwestern states of Sokoto and Kebbi.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said the new terror group is exacerbating insecurity in the North-West region but the Armed Forces of Nigeria are already containing them.
In his words, “Troops are confronted with a new terrorist sect in the North-West. This sect is known as Lukawaras, the Lukawaras are affiliated to terrorists in the Sahel particularly from Mali and Niger Republic.
“They began incursion into Northern part of Nigeria, mainly Sokoto and Kebbi states, and like I mentioned, they came in from Niger and Mali axis,” General Buba said.
He added that the new terror group emerged from Mali and the Republic of Niger after the coup that led to the breakdown of military cooperation between Nigeria and Niger.
The military also declared nine terrorists wanted for their roles in the security challenges bedevilling the nation.
Borno flood disaster
Borno State faced flooding after the collapse of the Alau Dam on 10 September 2024. The Maiduguri and Jere local government areas were particularly affected: according to the National Emergency Management Agency, over 70% of the residents in Maiduguri were displaced. At least 150 people died.
The United Nations refugee agency in Nigeria described it as the worst to hit the city in thirty years, affecting over one million people.
The flooding was a part of the 2024 Nigeria floods.
The flooding displaced over 70% of the residents in Borno state and over 70% of Maiduguri town was affected, according to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). It said at least 30 people died and over 400,000 were displaced.
The state General Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital were also affected as a result of the flood. The IDP camps were also affected as people were relocated from the El Miskin Camp to the Bakasi Camp for safety according to the director-general of NEMA.
After the flooding caused the wall to collapse, 270 prisoners escaped from the medium security Nigerian Correctional Service prison in Maiduguri. So far seven prisoners have been recaptured with Governor Zulum alleging that some members of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram were among those who had got out.
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