Index to Nigerian Newspapers

President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that he does not care who succeeds him in 2023, unlike former President Olusegun Obasanjo who worked to ensure that late President Umaru Musa Yar'adua succeeded him in 2007. On the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, Buhari said he cannot release him because he would not interfere in the judicial process. He also said the government was open to a political solution if he turned a new leaf. Buhari said Kanu should be given an opportunity to defend himself in Nigeria's system  and that there is a possibility of a political solution if he behaves himself. He also expressed no fear for the unity of Nigeria, as he has been in detention for more than three years and believes that Nigeria is better together than separate. On restructuring, he asked promoters to properly define the concept and look at the map of Nigeria to determine what they mean in their own concept of restructuring.

Crisis has hit the Kebbi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the emergence of a factional leadership under a former Chairman of the party, Bala Sani Kangiwa. A top shot of the party and member of the new faction, Abdulllahi Mohammed Lamba, said the division became necessary following impunity in the conduct of the last state congress. His faction enjoys the support of senators Adamu Aliero and Yahaya Abdullahi of Kebbi Central and North senatorial districts, and is in control of all the 21 local government offices of the party. A federal lawmaker from the state has described the emergence of the faction as part of moves by Aliero's camp to seek attention after losing its structure during the just concluded party congress. Patrick Obahiagbon, a former member of the House of Representatives and Chieftain of the APC, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the top echelon of the party to propound a pathway ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He also advised party members not to allow their personal and selfish interests to override the interest of the party. However, efforts to speak to the State Chairman of APC, Abubakar Kana Zuru, proved abortive as he did not pick calls to his number or reply to a text message sent to him. However, a source at the APC national secretariat said the Buni-led national caretaker committee would move in fast to address the issue.

The Governor of Bayelsa State on Tuesday led a high-powered delegation of Federal lawmakers from the state, party leaders and others to felicitate with former Governor Henry Seriake Dickson after his swearing-in as a second term Senator. Diri who described Dickson as their political leader and father said that it was important to ensure that emphasis is placed on experience in the choice of candidates for the National Assembly. The sad incidents affected the arrangement to celebrate the inauguration of the lawmakers in recognition of the mourning mood of the Ijaw nation.

The new federal lawmakers are H.E Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, Senator Konbowei Benson, Senator Benson Agadaga, Hon. Fred Agbedi, Hon.(Mrs.) Marie Ebikake, Hon. Mitema Obodor, Hon. Oboku Oforji, and Hon. Rodney Ambaiowei.

On Wednesday, retired military personnel marched through Abuja under the banner of the Coalition for Concerned Veterans to demand payment of the pension arrears that resulted from the introduction of the new minimum wage. which picketed the Ministry of Finance and said that even though they had written to the Minister of Defence, we had given them the reins and that their compensation was excessive under government policy.

The group picketed the Ministry of Finance to protest the payment of debarment allowance to only servicemen that retired from 2017, reduction of their health allowance and NHIS not catering for surgeries. Leader of the group, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, said despite writing to the Minister of Defense, they have not received any response from the government. The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed Shamsuna, said the issue of pension arrears has been addressed in the 2022 budget and 24 months arrears would be paid in due course.

The federal government is planning to pay transport workers while finalizing a decision on the N5000 monthly payment to the poor as the monthly subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit or petrol ends by June. Zainab Ahmed Shamsuna,One other proposal that has been made, get them registered and pass a subsidy through them using vouchers. There are several options that we are currently working on, Zainab revealed. She said that kerosene and diesel prices have been deregulated except petrol. The government would not cut its recurrent budget. Two weeks after the National Assembly passed the bill. Remember we have a revenue challenge and everything that we do, we can’t put an exit package..

The Nigerian government paid N36bn to subsidise electricity consumption in the first quarter of 2023, with N12bn paid to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET). The government intervened due to the absence of cost-reflective tariffs, covering the gap with tariff shortfall funding. DisCos reported most frequently reported issues, including metering, billing, and service interruption, accounting for over 79% of total complaints.

 

The Federal Inland Revenue Service has said it generated N6.405 trillion in 2021 despite the economic downturn experienced in the globe due to the coronavirus pandemic. Companies Income Tax amounted to N1.896tr; Petroleum Profits Tax amounted to N2tr; Value Added Tax amounted to N2.07tr; Electronic Money Transfer Levy amounted to N114 billion; Earmarked Taxes amounted to N208. “The Service issued certificates for the sum of N147. Nami explained that in line with the law, the country entered into a second economic recession within five years..

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says since Nigeria got its independence 63 years ago, the country has not lived up to expectations. He spoke in Abuja yesterday during the public presentation of a book written by a former Minister of Trades, Investment and Industry, Olusegun Aganga. He said at independence, Nigeria was viewed as a shining light to the black race.

“We’ve disappointed ourselves, we’ve disappointed Africa, we’ve disappointed the black race and we’ve disappointed the world,” he said. Obasanjo said to chart a new course for the country, the leaders needed to admit their failure.

 

 

Former Presidernt Olusegun Obasanjo - Olusegun Aganga

The chairman of Roots Television Nigeria, Dumebi Kachikwu, has said he will vie for the presidency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He called on Nigerians to give the ADC a chance, insisting that Nigeria could not get it right because the citizens allowed the same set of people to pilot their affairs again and again. Kachikwu, during a virtual broadcast titled “My Opening Argument’, said he will champion public reforms, eliminate corruption and win the war against terrorism.

The chairman of Roots Television Nigeria, Dumebi Kachikwu, has said he will vie for the presidency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He called on Nigerians to give the ADC a chance, insisting that Nigeria could not get it right because the citizens allowed the same set of people to pilot their affairs again and again. Kachikwu, during a virtual broadcast titled “My Opening Argument’, said he will champion public reforms, eliminate corruption and win the war against terrorism.

Alwan Ali Hassan, the managing director of the Bank of Agriculture, who was kidnapped together with other travellers on the tragic Abuja-Kaduna train last Monday, has regained his freedom. Hassan was one of 398 passengers who purchased tickets for the 186 km Abuja-Kaduna rail line, according to Daily Trust, but was attacked a few km into Kaduna by militants who had detonated explosives on the rail line. The MD was released, according to a terrorist who spoke in Hausa, because of his advanced age and the spirit of Ramadan. However, a source last night claimed that cash was actually given to the terrorists when Alwan confronted them and struck a bargain with them for his release. The man informed them that he is ill and that it will be their loss if they don't reach a settlement and he passes away. They settled on N100 million, which was paid in installments at several locations in Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna, according to him.