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.

The federal government says 43 percent of Nigerian children between the ages of five and 11 actively participate in economic activities. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Daju Kachollom, said this in Abuja yesterday when she led a road walk to the National Human Rights Commission’s headquarters. She noted that child labour violates children’s rights to education, health, mental and moral growth.

She cited the 2016-2017 MICS Survey stating that 39 percent of children engaged in child labour work in such dangerous industries as artisanal mining, granite quarrying, commercial sexual exploitation, and armed conflict. She said the government was committed to the global fight against child labour.

 

 

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has raided some communities in Kogi, Niger, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau States, over the rising activities of bandits in the FCT. Operation G-7 arrested three Chinese nationals, a community leader and some illegal miners, and recovered firearms from them. The JTF also raided Azam village, where an illegal mining site was discovered and 21 illegal miners were arrested.

The erstwhile Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, is still in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) one week after he was suspended, Daily Trust reports. Although officials of the secret police have yet to make offence(s) of the embattled former anti-graft agency boss public, it was learnt that Bawa is still being grilled over his role in the currency redesign.

A source said there are other issues he’s being grilled on but his role in the February cash crunch topped his issues. It would be recalled that operatives of SSS immediately picked him up shortly after he was suspended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

Meanwhile, human rights advocates and civil society organisations, have faulted the continued detention of the former EFCC chairman, calling on the secret police to either charge him to court or release him.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ended the fuel subsidy due to resource drying, urging better investment in public infrastructure, education, healthcare, and jobs. He also called for a unified exchange rate to direct funds towards real economy investments. His administration will treat both new and old naira notes as legal tender, reduce interest rates, and target higher GDP growth and reduced unemployment. They will review investor complaints and ensure dividends are repatriated home. Tinubu pledges to work with international partners to end conflicts and make Nigeria a more perfect nation and democracy.

The army made a significant announcement about the redeployment of its general and senior officers to new positions both at its headquarters and around the nation. It was noted that some General Officers Commanding were among the impacted officers. General Officers Commanding and other senior officers were among the individuals impacted by the reorganisation, which was announced on Monday, According to him, the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. GA Umelo was transferred from the Defence Simulation Centre to the Defence Headquarters and made Director-General.

The army made a significant announcement about the redeployment of its general and senior officers to new positions both at its headquarters and around the nation. It was noted that some General Officers Commanding were among the impacted officers. General Officers Commanding and other senior officers were among the individuals impacted by the reorganisation, which was announced on Monday, According to him, the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. GA Umelo was transferred from the Defence Simulation Centre to the Defence Headquarters and made Director-General.

Concerned Nasarawa Stakeholders Forum staged a peaceful protest yesterday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, in response to the state assembly crisis. They carried placards with messages such as “Governor Sule, don’t set the state on fire,” “Nasarawa assembly must be freed from bondage,” “Police cannot be partisan,” and “Assembly elections outside the assembly complex are illegal,” among others. 

During the protest, the forum’s convener, David Manga, urged the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to summon the Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State Maiyaki Muhammed Baba, and possibly redeploy him due to alleged partisanship in the state.

The crisis engulfed the state assembly, according to Daily Trust, with the emergence of two speakers – Daniel Ogah Ogazi, representing Kokona East constituency, and Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, a former speaker in the assembly.

The Trade Union Congress has described as “empty policy laced with lies”, the Federal Government’s directive to state governors to draw plans on the palliatives to mitigate the impact of the recent petrol price increase. TUC President, Festus Osifo, at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, said the congress did not trust the process.

He also asked the government not to worsen the citizens’ suffering with the proposed increases in electricity tariff and tuition fees of unity schools and tertiary institutions. Osifo restated the congress’ opposition to the proposed 7.5 percent VAT on diesel as well as privatization of medical centres and teaching hospitals.

He commended President Bola Tinubu “on the suspension of the excise duty on telecom. This suspension is for six months. We think it should be scrapped completely. Nigerians will bear the brunt if introduced. It must be scrapped.  It’s of no essence.”  He urged the president to address the insecurity in Plateau and other parts of the country.

 

 

 

Terrorists have claimed responsibility for the Monday’s surveillance helicopter crash in Badna, Chukuba ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. The Nigeria Air Force had said its MI-171 helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed on Monday near Chukuba village in Niger State and that investigation had commenced to determine the probable cause of the incident. But terrorists, in a two-minute-and-seventeen-second video, on Tuesday claimed they brought down the jet using AK47 rifle. Daily Trust Fact-Check team used different tools to verify the video which returned with no similar search. This means that the video is new on the internet. It may not be deep fake; therefore, the chances of it being authentic are likely and high. The narrator in the video, who spoke in Hausa, said they belonged to Dogo Gide group, one of the notorious bandits that had terrorised parts of Niger State, causing deaths of many farmers and security operatives. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, yesterday cleared air on helicopters’ crashes, citing seasonal challenges which are weather conditions. He spoke in his office at NAF headquarters, Abuja, when Niger State governor, Umar Bago, paid him a condolence visit over the killing of soldiers in the state. Responding, Governor Bago appealed to NAF not to be tired of fighting insurgents, urging the air chief to send some detachment and some fighter planes to Minna airport for quick interference when the enemies are advancing.

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Department of State Services to vacate the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Ikoyi, when contacted, described the development as “strange”, issued on his behalf on Tuesday evening, Tinubu said the issue between both agencies would be resolved amicably. Preventing officials of the anti-graft agency from accessing their work place, they would be resolved amicably..

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Department of State Services to vacate the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Ikoyi, when contacted, described the development as “strange”, issued on his behalf on Tuesday evening, Tinubu said the issue between both agencies would be resolved amicably. Preventing officials of the anti-graft agency from accessing their work place, they would be resolved amicably..