Nigerian Senate Holds Emergency Session Ahead of Nationwide Protests

The Nigerian Senate is currently in an emergency session, chaired by President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, in preparation for the nationwide hunger and hardship protests scheduled to begin on Thursday.

Before the session, lawmakers observed a minute silence in honor of the late Senator Ifeanyi Uba, ahead of the anticipated official notification of his demise from his family to the Senate. The upper chamber then dissolved into a closed-door session.

The emergency session was announced by the Red and Green Chambers on Sunday, and the House of Representatives also convened a plenary session on Wednesday to focus on critical matters requiring immediate legislative attention.

According to a statement issued by the spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Rotimi Akin, the Wednesday plenary will focus on addressing pressing national issues. The statement read: "The House of Representatives wishes to announce that, pursuant to the directive of the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, PhD., a plenary session has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Honourable members have been duly summoned from their respective constituencies to attend this crucial session."

Akin noted that it is customary for the House to reconvene from recess to address pressing national issues. The details of the session are expected to be released soon.

The nationwide protests, set to begin on Thursday, are a response to the ongoing economic hardship and hunger faced by many Nigerians. The emergency session is seen as a crucial step in addressing these pressing issues and finding solutions to the challenges facing the country.