Index to Nigerian Newspapers

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his vacation, which is "open-ended" as his return can be anytime. The President, who was expected to return from his vacation and routine medical examinations in the UK after 10 days, left the country on January 19. A statement by the Special Adviser to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, stated that Buhari had written to the National Assembly informing them of his desire to extend his leave to complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors. The notice has been dispatched to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives. The President is not in the hospital but is at the residence of the Nigerian High Commission in London. The leave extension letter has been received by Senate President Bukola Saraki's office. The president's wife, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has left Nigeria for Saudi Arabia to perform the Lesser Hajj and pray.

The Federal Government in Nigeria plans to spend N400 million on vehicles for former presidents and heads of state if the 2017 estimated spending by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) is approved. The funds for these allowances were not openly budgeted for in the proposal. The SGF, Babachir David Lawal, defended the planned expenditure before the Senate Committee on Federal Character. The committee agreed that the 10% release by the Ministry of Finance for the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation in 2016 was insufficient, which may indicate a problem between the Budget Office and the Ministry of Finance. The committee will investigate the poor release to the OSGF and seek to understand the issue. The request for more funding by the OSGF is considered "justified" by committee chairman, Senator Tijjani Kaura.