Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Pundits and economists alike are waiting to see which side will prevail 10 years after protests against petrol subsidy removal empowered the present ruling party. Despite fears of repercussions, some economists and stakeholders agree that removal of the subsidy is a necessary step towards long-needed reform. However, the feasibility of the plans to give transportation grants to poor Nigerians has raised doubts on the source of funds and impact on the volume of money in circulation, as well as transparency and accountability issues. President Muhammadu Buhari's administration has decided to remove the subsidy this year and damn the consequences to free up resources needed to run the economy. A panel chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will meet with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other stakeholders to consider the proposed N5,000 transport palliative and other options aimed at ameliorating the effects of the planned subsidy removal on Nigerians. The options remain hard as labour unions are already up in arms to protest if the decision on subsidy removal is taken.

Gunmen invaded Gbagyi Villa, a community on the way to Kaduna Refinery, on Monday night, killing one person and kidnapping a pregnant wife, children and others. Nigerian army personnel engaged them in a heavy gunfight that lasted over an hour. The wife of the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Plateau State Deputy Governor, Dorcas Silas Vem, was released and a Director of the MoH, Dr. Simon Audu, regained his freedom. Simon Lalong, Plateau State Governor, has vowed to make the state uninhabitable for criminals following recent cases of ritual killings and kidnapping. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged security agencies to invite leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for questioning over their alleged connections with terrorists.

Gunmen have attacked the Sino Hydro Power Electricity Dam project in Zungeru, Niger State, and kidnapped some Chinese and local staff. The police tactical team engaged the hoodlums in a gun battle and rescued expatriates and a local staff, but government has yet to confirm any death. Zaar Development Association (ZDA) has apologised over the attacks on Bauchi emirs and others. Alhaji Umaru AbdulMutallab, the billionaire businessman and father of Farouk AbdulMutallab, is serving a life sentence in a US prison for terrorism act. He communicates with his son on the phone and his mother, brother and sister visited him under strict prison guidelines. AbdulMutallab hopes to see his son again in his lifetime. China's flying car developer eyes ASEAN aerial tour market

Gunmen have attacked the Sino Hydro Power Electricity Dam project in Zungeru, Niger State, and kidnapped some Chinese and local staff. The police tactical team engaged the hoodlums in a gun battle and rescued expatriates and a local staff, but government has yet to confirm any death. Zaar Development Association (ZDA) has apologised over the attacks on Bauchi emirs and others. Alhaji Umaru AbdulMutallab, the billionaire businessman and father of Farouk AbdulMutallab, is serving a life sentence in a US prison for terrorism act. He communicates with his son on the phone and his mother, brother and sister visited him under strict prison guidelines. AbdulMutallab hopes to see his son again in his lifetime. China's flying car developer eyes ASEAN aerial tour market

The gale of attacks by bandits, now classified as terrorists, in the Northwestern part of the country, especially Kaduna and Niger states, was sustained all weekend, leaving in its trail bodies, arson and displacement of citizens. In Southern Kaduna, at least 10 persons were killed, while many houses were also set ablaze. Atak Mawai community in Zaman Dabo Village in Zangon Kataf Council came under heavy gunfire by the attackers in the early hours of yesterday, with most of those killed being burned in their houses. The state government confirmed 11 persons dead, with many others injured. Over 30 houses were burnt in the attack, and the injured were evacuated for treatment. Governor Nasir el-Rufa'i expressed sadness at the latest in a series of attacks in Niger State, where dozens of people have been killed and many houses burnt in fresh attacks at Galadima-Kogo and Galkogo communities of Shiroro Local Council. The attack started around 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and lasted for hours. The Niger State Police Command's Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, refused to comment on the development, but the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal Security, Emmanuel Umar, confirmed the attack. Security men were overpowered by the bandits, and there have been ongoing security operations in the area.

The Igbo apex socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has appealed to stakeholders in the northern region to back its aspiration to produce Nigeria's next president in 2023. It has earmarked N10 billion to support any candidate of Igbo extraction that emerges for the presidential race, and has met with religious groups and clerics in the North. It has also promised to lobby all parts of the country for power shift to the South East region. The Ohanaeze delegation argued that there should be no more abusive words between the North and the South East, and that Igbo have investments worth over N1 trillion in the North and can take over from President Muhammadu Buhari. Shettima responded that it was good to negotiate when seeking political power, and that nobody achieved good results through threats. He stated that politics was about dialogue and negotiation and that people should rise above board.

Russia and China have blocked the United Nations Security Council from supporting a decision by the West African economic bloc ECOWAS to impose new sanctions on Mali, after its military leaders proposed staying in power for up to five years before staging elections. Three African council members, Kenya, Ghana and Gabon, spoke to reporters to back the regional bloc's position. France, Mali's former colonial power, and the United States have also expressed support for the ECOWAS sanctions. ECOWAS has taken strong actions to end the crisis in Mali, and the US, US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and Algeria have called on the military to negotiate with ECOWAS. China has expressed support for Mali's military government, while Russia has rejected the proposed council statement as unbalanced and expressed sympathy to the government. France has condemned the deployment of mercenaries from Russia's Wagner Group, and expressed regret that Mali's transitional authorities are unable to restore government control in many parts of the country.

Violence erupted in Kaduna State, with a herder beheaded and his head taken away. The Kaduna State Government has condemned the renewed killings and appealed to residents to allow the authorities manage the situation. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned Kano State government against taking advantage of Hanifa Abubakar's murder to extort money from operators of private schools. Plan International has called on the government to protect children in schools against increasing violence.