The lone flag-bearer: an icon of Nigeria’s EndSARS protests fights on

On October 1 last year, a young man hoisted a pole bearing the Nigerian flag above his head and set off on a quiet protest.

Flagboy, as he would come to be known by thousands of people, walked the streets of Alausa, Lagos state to draw attention to the EndSARS movement against police brutality.

Nigerians have been demonstrating for the disbanding of the special anti-robbery squad of the Nigerian police force since 2017, but 2020 brought a new vigour to the movement.

I had to climb that stand so that everybody around in the neighbourhood, even those that were not protesting and those that were, could see what we were doing

In person and online, people came together across Nigeria under the hashtag EndSARS.

But Flagboy’s protest was a solitary one, until a chance encounter changed his life.

“I was moving around with the flag when someone directed me to a protest and told me to go there with it,” said Flagboy, who asked not to be identified for his safety.

“He was a total stranger,” he said, adding that he had no knowledge of the large-scale protest planned in his area.

“I didn't really prepare for the protest. It just happened. I had been carrying my flag before that day, so I carried it to the protest. It was a continued journey for me.”

Almost immediately after Flagboy arrived at the march on October 10, his giant flag began to attract attention.

Seeing him action, the organisers designated him flag-bearer.

“The flag was what everybody followed, so my duty was to stir up the flag in the direction we were going,” he said.

“So, if I leave a location and go to another, everyone follows.”

It was in this new role that Flagboy climbed up onto a police booth to wave his flag with audacity.

At that moment, Ayodeji Adegoroye took the photo that would go on to become a symbol of EndSARS for many Nigerians.

"I was intrigued at first when I saw him," Ms Adegoroye, a photography enthusiast, said.

"And then he climbed the police stand, and I thought I should take a picture. I was not very tall, and so I had to move forward to capture the flag flying properly.”

Ms Adegoroye’s photo of Flagboy exploded on social media after some public figures reposted it.

As the image took on a life of its own, being shared on WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook, some questioned whether Ms Adegoroye should have demanded credit.

"But that was not why I did it. I took that picture as a reminder that we did something and that I was a part of it,” she said.

“It made me very happy that it was something I did so many people referred to."

Flagboy had no idea his photo had gone viral as he was not actively using social media at the time.

But his image and the voices of others encouraged more and more young people across the country to assemble every day.

The street protests continued until October 20, 2020 – the day of what became known as the Lekki Massacre. Amnesty International said at least 12 protesters were killed and hundreds injured when armed men opened fire on peaceful protesters gathered at a toll gate in the Lekki district of Lagos.

Nigerian security forces deny involvement in the incident, which drew condemnation from around the world, and the Lagos state government has set up a panel to investigate.

The protests moved online after the shooting, and as protesters who were arrested languished in jail without charge or had their bank accounts frozen.

But there is one citizen who takes to the streets of Lagos every day, despite the risks. Flagboy.

He is grossly unsatisfied.

“The killing of the protesters was even more serious than what was happening before. We were protesting for them to end SARS and review their budget and stop corruption and what they did in response to that was to kill people.

“Killing people is a more grievous offence than the other ones. So why are we not protesting this?”

He also feels a personal responsibility to the movement after his viral photo encouraged people to join.

"Many people who came out to Lekki, definitely not all of the people who came out, but many, did because they saw my flag. And I'm sure that some of those people are gone now. So, if nobody is protesting for their deaths, I should protest for their deaths."

He continues with his protest despite the concern of friends and family. As long as the flag is still flying, he says, there is hope.

Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

The most expensive investment mistake you will ever make

When is the best time to start saving in a pension? The answer is simple – at the earliest possible moment. The first pound, euro, dollar or dirham you invest is the most valuable, as it has so much longer to grow in value. If you start in your twenties, it could be invested for 40 years or more, which means you have decades for compound interest to work its magic.

“You get growth upon growth upon growth, followed by more growth. The earlier you start the process, the more it will all roll up,” says Chris Davies, chartered financial planner at The Fry Group in Dubai.

This table shows how much you would have in your pension at age 65, depending on when you start and how much you pay in (it assumes your investments grow 7 per cent a year after charges and you have no other savings).

Age	$250 a month	$500 a month	$1,000 a month
25	$640,829	$1,281,657	$2,563,315
35	$303,219	$606,439	$1,212,877
45	$131,596	$263,191	$526,382
55	$44,351	$88,702	$177,403

Covid-19 jargon buster: from apex to zoonotic disease

Coronavirus: Doctors urge public to help track Covid-19 cases with tracing app

Coronavirus: How we should prepare for the next crisis

HAJJAN

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

While you're here

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Gavin Esler: What we lose when we allow languages to die

What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.

There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.

Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.

People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.

There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.

The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).