By Wisdom Deji-Folutile
As the curtain draws on 2024, Nigerians have emerged on the other side of 365 days as a deeply resilient population amidst profound challenges and transformative events. From tragic missteps in military operations to economic hardship fueling nationwide protests, the country’s socio-political landscape was shaped by a series of significant incidents that captured global attention.
FTN takes a deep dive into the top stories that defined 2024—the highs and lows, the moments of national pride and sorrow, and the milestones that forced Nigerians to confront their shared realities. These narratives, ranging from the controversial launch of the Dangote Refinery to the heartbreaking Okuama killings, reflect the complexities and dynamism of all that went right—and wrong—among over 200 million people in Africa’s most populous nation.
1. Tragic Airstrike in Sokoto Continues Dismal Trend of Civilian Bombings
In late December 2023, Nigerians were left appalled at the news that a military drone strike killed 85 civilians gathered for a religious celebration. The incident was the latest in recent errant bombings of residents in Northern Nigeria where armed bandit groups have remained rampant. Amnesty International’s Nigeria office said 120 people were killed in that attack, citing reports of its workers and volunteers in the area. Unfortunately, this unfortunate precedent was reenacted in December 2024, Sokoto State, as a Nigerian military jet targeting bandits mistakenly killed 10 people. Several were also left wounded as the fighter jet pursuing bandits in two villages mistakenly bombed civilians.
2. Nationwide Protests Against Soaring Cost of Living
Nigeria’s economic performance continued its downward trend from 2023 well into 2024, with inflation skyrocketing to unprecedented highs and breaking decades-long records. In what has now been monikered the ‘T-Pain’ era by citizens on social media, the Bola Tinubu administration’s defining reputation has been the harshness of its policies on the country’s population. The effects of increased electricity tariffs, removal of fuel subsidies and the resultant inflation were so significant that in July, BusinessDay reported that local vendors resorted to selling yams in cut pieces to make it affordable to those who cannot buy a whole tuber.
On August 1, 2024, thousands of Nigerians took to the streets in major cities, including Lagos and Abuja, protesting against soaring inflation, removal of fuel subsidies, and increased electricity tariffs. The demonstrations, marked by the slogan “Enough is Enough,” were met with a heavy security presence, with reports of at least seven protesters losing their lives due to clashes with law enforcement. Nearly 700 people were arrested.
On October 1, 2024, marking Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary, citizens in several states protested against severe economic hardships. Demonstrators demanded better job opportunities and living conditions, expressing frustration over government reforms that led to high inflation and a weakened currency. Clashes with police were reported in Abuja, with a strong security presence in cities like Lagos. 
3. Dangote Petroleum Refinery Kicks Off and Subsequent Developments
Around September 2024, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Africa’s largest oil refinery with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, commenced operations in Nigeria. The refinery’s launch was highly anticipated, with extensive media coverage highlighting its potential to transform Nigeria’s oil sector by reducing dependence on imported refined petroleum products. The Nigerian government had announced that loading the first batch of petrol from the Dangote refinery commenced on September 15.
The government said petrol from the Dangote refinery will only be sold to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) which will then sell to various marketers in the short term. Despite the initial optimism, the refinery faced significant challenges post-launch. In October 2024, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to invalidate import licenses granted to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and other companies. The refinery argued that these licenses undermined its operations and market position. 
Additionally, there were disputes over crude oil supply agreements and stake holdings between Dangote and the NNPC. The refinery accused the downstream regulator of issuing licenses for the importation of substandard fuels, further complicating its operations. 
These legal and operational hurdles sparked widespread discussions across Nigeria. Supporters of the refinery emphasized its potential benefits, including job creation and economic growth. Critics, however, expressed concerns over monopolistic practices and the refinery’s ability to meet domestic fuel demands effectively.
4. Controversial Tax Reform Deepens North-South Divide
Towards the latter part of 2024, the current administration proposed a tax reform bill aimed at reallocating VAT revenue. The proposed 2024 Tax Reform Bills stem from the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Tax Reform, chaired by the renowned fiscal policy expert Mr. Taiwo Oyedele. Established in 2023, the committee was tasked with overhauling Nigeria’s outdated tax framework to enhance revenue generation, improve compliance, and address inefficiencies in tax administration. The reform bills comprise four separate bills: The Nigeria Tax Bill (NTB), The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill (NTAB), The Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill (NRSEB), and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill (JRBEB). The major objectives of the bills are to consolidate various tax laws into a unified framework, simplify compliance and reduce multi-layered taxation. The bills also aim to expand the tax base to generate sustainable revenue and address complexities within the current tax system.
The proposed bills have been met with significant controversy. As of December 2024, however, the bills have passed a first and second reading at the Senate.
Some leading arguments against the bill include the proposed progressive increase in Value Added Tax (VAT). The reforms propose a progressive increase in VAT rates from 10% in 2025 to 12.5% (2026–2029) and 15% from 2030 onward. Also heavy contended is the Revenue Sharing Formula. The proposed revision of the revenue-sharing formula seeks to allocate a larger share (55%) of VAT collections to State Governments and the Federal Capital Territory, with 35% for Local Governments and a reduced 10% for the Federal Government. The introduction of a retrogressive Development Levy on corporate profits, and a phasing out of support for education and research by 2030 are also heavily debated.
The revised sharing formula also sparked significant opposition from northern leaders. Detractors argued that the reforms favoured economically prosperous southern states, exacerbating the longstanding regional divide and economic disparities between Nigeria’s north and south. 
5. Okuama Killings: Military and Civilian Deaths
In March 2024, the Okuama community in Delta State became the epicentre of a violent confrontation resulting in numerous deaths. The incident was rooted in a longstanding land dispute between the Okuama and Okoloba communities, which had previously led to tensions and sporadic conflicts. The immediate catalyst for the tragedy occurred on March 5, 2024, when a young man from Okoloba, Mr. Pigha Zipamone, disappeared while working on his mother’s farm. He was allegedly abducted by individuals from Okuama, subjected to severe beatings, and ultimately killed. His body was reportedly disposed of in the Forcados River. 
In response to escalating tensions, the Nigerian Army deployed troops from the 181 Amphibious Battalion to mediate and restore peace between the feuding communities. Tragically, on March 14, 2024, these soldiers were ambushed near Okuama. The attack resulted in the deaths of the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel A.H. Ali, along with two majors, a captain, and twelve soldiers. A civilian also lost their life during the ambush. 
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the ambush was executed by armed individuals who opened fire on both the soldiers and some Okuama residents near the community’s jetty. In the aftermath, the military conducted operations in Okuama, leading to further casualties and the burning of parts of the community. 
The Nigerian Defence Ministry condemned the attack on its personnel, labelling it “unacceptable,” and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. The incident underscored the complexities of internal security operations, especially when interwoven with local communal disputes. 
6. Nigeria’s National Power Grid Collapses: A Year Marked by Instability
In 2024, Nigeria’s national power grid experienced a series of collapses in nearly every month of the year, leading to widespread blackouts across the country. These incidents underscored the persistent challenges within the nation’s power sector, including ageing infrastructure, inadequate maintenance, and systemic inefficiencies. The first collapse of the year occurred on February 4, attributed to system failures by power distribution companies. In late March, a subsequent collapse led to significant disruptions in electricity supply, affecting both residential and industrial consumers. On April 9, another grid failure caused widespread blackouts and was trailed closely by another collapse on May 12. In the mid-year, there was yet another collapse—three between June to August. On September 14, an eighth collapse intensified public outcry over the state of the national grid and the need for comprehensive infrastructural upgrades. exactly one month later, on October 14, there were widespread blackouts due to a ninth collapse. The epileptic grid experienced its tenth collapse in November, and another on December 11.
The recurring power outages have prompted widespread criticism of the government’s handling of the power sector. Analysts and stakeholders have called for comprehensive reforms, increased investment in infrastructure, and the implementation of sustainable energy policies to address the systemic issues plaguing the national grid.
7. Stampedes at Charity Events Lead to Multiple Deaths
As unfortunate as many of the headlines from Nigerian Dailies were in 2024, this was perhaps the most tragic. In December 2024, calamitous stampedes occurred during Christmas charity events in Abuja and Anambra State. In Abuja, ten individuals, including children, lost their lives at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church when a crowd surged to receive aid. Similarly, in Anambra, more than 20 people died under comparable circumstances. The two incidents came days after 35 children were killed in a stampede at a carnival in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The tragedies revived conversations concerning crowd control and the perceived irresponsibility of organizers and promoters—suspects including the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola; Oriyomi Hamzat, owner of Agidigbo FM, an Ibadan-based radio station; and the school’s principal, Fasasi Abdulahi, were arraigned in court. Nigerians also considered the current bout of hardship in the country responsible for the deaths recorded in the stampede, with many considering the nature of the events leading to the stampedes as underscoring severe hunger. In the carnival events that led to the death of dozens of children, more than 10,000 people turned up for an event planned for 5,000 children. Some affected parents told journalists that they had accompanied their children to converge at the venue of the “End of the Year Christmas funfair” as early as five hours before the event was scheduled to start. According to the eyewitnesses, parents and children alike were hoping to receive money and food as the organisers promised to give out 5,000 naira each to every attendee, as well as make free food available.
We do everything possible to supply quality news and information to all our valuable readers day in, day out and we are committed to keep doing this.
Your kind donation will help our continuous research efforts.
-Advertisement-
-Want to get the news as it breaks?-
