Index to Nigerian Newspapers

According to the statement, Akume commended the North Central Governors’ Forum for the solidarity visit. He said the solidarity visit would serve as an encouragement to achieve greater strides for the nation.

The statement partly read, “The Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum and the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, congratulated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on his appointment by the President.

On his part, Akume commended the North Central Governors’ Forum for the visit, stating that the solidarity visit would serve as an encouragement to achieve greater strides for the nation.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, asked the Inspector General of Police, to assist the Oyo State Police Command, was killed by yet-to-be-identified assailants in the evening of Monday, Oyo StateP tasked President Bola Tinubu, According to Akinwole, noting that, The Nigerian populace is constantly assailed by terrorism, armed robbery, stated further that, disheartening that academics who cultivate,.

President Bola Tinubu has restated his resolve to reform the nation's security architecture, mandating the military to crush all the oil thieves. briefing newsmen after a meeting of the security chiefs with the president at the President Villa yesterday the National Securtiy Adviser(NSA) General Babagana Monguno said that the presdient has made it clear that he will not accept any situation in which our fortunes keep declining, the president has also said he will do whatever that is within his powers to enable him pop the operational elements but the intelligent agencies must also make their work easier by providing the type of intelligence they require to carry out thier assignments. Those present at the meeting with the president, were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Farouk Yahaya, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Oladayo Amoo, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo and the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba.       

Civil Society Network for Good Governance (CSNGG), an umbrella body of civil society organisations in the country, has kicked against moves by leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to impose presiding officers on the National Assembly.

The centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has charged the federal government to ensure a transparent and timely utilisation of the $800 million World Bank loan secured ahead of the removal of fuel subsidy and avoid frittering it away as handouts that would neither help the poor nor the economy.

Executive director of the centre, Faith Nwadishi, said the federal government must ensure that the funds are allocated and utilised effectively for high impact projects such as infrastructure development, job creation and economic diversification.  

President Bola Tinubu yesterday pledged to ensure competition in the oil and gas industry in the country, following a visit by officials of ExxonMobil Nigeria, to the State House in Abuja.

None of the parties at the meeting disclosed details of the issues discussed, but THISDAY recalls that a pending matter which could not be resolved by the Muhammadu Buhari administration was the $1.3bn assets sale imbroglio between the company and Seplat Energy Plc on the one hand and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) on the other.

While the acquisition had been scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2022, with Buhari initially giving approval in August 2022, he reversed the decision after the industry regulator, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) disagreed with the takeover. The NNPC insists that it has first refusal rights and has since then blocked the deal between Seplat and ExxonMobil, maintaining that the company has a right to take over the 40 per cent stake for itself.

The federal government has declared Monday, June 12, 2023, as a public holiday in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day celebration.
The declaration was communicated in a statement yesterday, by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Oluwatoyin Akinlade, who congratulated all Nigerians on the occasion.

The statement read: “Nigeria’s democratic journey has, like in many other climes, encountered both stormy and smooth sails, but the ship of State, it’s institutions and most importantly, the Nigerian people have remained steadfast on the tenets of democratic governance.

As part of measures to check arbitrariness in the workplace and to ensure appropriate remuneration for Nigerian workers, the federal government has designed a National Pay Policy (NPP).

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Mr Ekpo Nta told Daily Sun, in Abuja that the policy will calculate the number of hours a worker spends in the office and the quality of work done. That, he said, will determine his remuneration.

The federal government has disclosed that it may inject some foreign exchange into the economy to shore up the value of the naira while market forces stabilise. The Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake stated this on Wednesday while speaking with reporters in Paris.

Although the presidential spokesman was not specific about the nature of the dollar injection, he said: “Don’t forget that Mr. President has taken some very bold steps in the area of economy, in the area of social engineering in the last few weeks, and particularly with reference to the unification of the multiple exchange rates, which has caused very positive multiplier effect.

However, in the short term, we have noticed and expected that there will be a slight spike in the demand and then that would affect the value of the naira viz-viz the dollar.  So, apart from the immediate, short and long term positive effects of that unification policy, there could be a need for an injection of direct foreign exchange into the economy to shore up the value of the naira while market forces stabilise. And in the short run or medium term, there is going to be when the effects of this policy begin to mature.

The federal government yesterday reiterated its commitment to harmonise investment treaties with the kingdom of Netherlands for mutual benefit of the two countries. The permanent secretary ministry of industry trade and investment Dr. Evelyn  Ngige said this at a round-table negotiation on investment promotion and protection agreement between Nigeria and the kingdom of Netherlands in Abuja.

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday, empathised with Edo people in the wake of the rise in prices of goods and services and overall cost of living occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal, by announcing measures to ameliorate the sufferings currently faced by residents.

In a statement, Obaseki said the state has reduced the number of work days that civil and public servants will have to commute to their workplaces from five days a week to three days a week, among other measures.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has commended the Federal Government for approving importation of petroleum products by private firms. Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of IPMAN Enugu Depot Community, in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States, said this while reacting to the development in Awka on Sunday.

The Nigerian Economic summit group (NESG) has urged the federal government of Nigeria led by president Bola Tinubu to implement various social intervention programs to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.

Government should also engage in targeted cash transfer programmes that will provide financial assistance directly to low income households or individuals affected by the removal of fuel subsidies. these cash transfers can help alleviate the increased transportation costs and basic necessities. 

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 marketers, who pledged their support after a meeting with the President at the State House on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, also committed themselves to contribute to the government's palliative measures by making available between 50 and 100 mass transit busses.

This was disclosed by the association's Chairperson, Dame Winifred Akpani while speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with Tinubu.

The independent national electoral commision (INEC) president Bola Tinubu and the all progressive congress (APC) yesterday jointly opposed the five ad hoc staff of the INEC subpoenaed by the presidential candidate of the PDP from testifying before the presidential electoral petition court.

Socio–Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to set up a presidential panel of enquiry to probe US$2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion public funds of oil revenues and budgeted as fuel subsidy payments allegedly unaccounted for between 2016 and 2019, as documented by the Auditor-General of the Federation.

Nigeria has been designated the country with the largest number of people lacking access to electricity with 86 million of its over 200 million population living without electricity as of 2021, has revealed. According to the report compiled by the International Energy Agency, the United Nations and the World Health Organisation, It said bridging electricity access gaps, especially for people living in poor and remote regions, Many developing economies in sub-Saharan Africa, are hobbled by scarce financing, inadequate risk mitigation resources, the report stated. ” it added. Saying as a result, this aspect of health infrastructure is often neglected, leading to inadequate access to electricity, it stated. “Because small national power systems predominate in the region, It added, “It is important to note that integrated access planning, attract private investment in the energy sector, “Supporting technological innovation and digitalisation could reduce costs,.

The House of Representative on Wednesday, urged President Bola Tinubu,  to constitute a high level Presidential committee to undertake a holistic review of the processes of the Nigeria Air project. Mr Nnolim Nnaji, the Chairman of the committee on Aviation said this in Abuja after careful evaluation of the issues of the Nigeria Air. 

He said the committee was totally dissatisfied with the actions of the former Minister of Aviation, in going ahead to flag off the operations of Nigeria Air in spite a standing court injunction against such.

In conclusion, looking at the total amount required to fully starts the airline which is put at 250,000,000 dollars. “The Nigerian government and its citizenry can raise these funds without necessarily subjecting itself to the ridicule we have been exposed to by this recent episode,” he said.

The management of Air Peace has denied claims by the former minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, that two of its Boeing 777 aircraft leased for a monthly fee of $250,000, were parked for several months leading to its incuring over $19 million loss. Reacting to an interview the minister granted to a national television station on Sunday evening, Chief Operating Officer of the airline, Toyin Olajide, described the claims as a blatant lie, insisting that Air Peace has three and not two Boeing 777 aircraft which were never leased or rented, but bought outrightly by the airline.  

“We implore the general public to disregard these lies told by the former minister of aviation against Air Peace during the Arise TV interview. We take serious exception to a situation where Airpeace is being misrepresented in the public sphere, causing wrong perceptions about our brand,” Olajide said. 

The Ministry of Education has said the federal government can no longer foot the bill for universities. The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Andrew David Adejo, said this at a press briefing Wednesday in Abuja while clarifying the Students Loan Bill signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday. “Introduction of tuition fee is not arising from the act; No! Whether we like it or not, the government can no longer foot the bill for universities. That is why we are doing Private Public Partnership (PPP),” he said.

Responding to a question on if the act would introduce tuition fees in public institutions, Adejo said, “The universities already have autonomy, the autonomy they are yet to have is financial autonomy. It is when they get it that they can answer that question and the government is working towards that.” Responding to a question on if the act would introduce tuition fees in public institutions, Adejo said, “The universities already have autonomy, the autonomy they are yet to have is financial autonomy. It is when they get it that they can answer that question and the government is working towards that.”

The governor of Nasarawa State, Speaking on Channels Television, who was Managing Director of African Petroleum about two decades ago, Mr. Mohammed Shehu, expressed support for the removal of fuel subsidy, citing lack of transparency in the scheme. Nigeria’s ailing refineries were built in the 60s, but have since gulped billions of dollars in Turnaround Maintenance, with the expected outcomes mostly disappointing. He recalled that as Managing Director of AP, he stated that the consumption moved to 50 million litres per day, was known by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. Sule argued that Nigeria had been subsidising petrol for surrounding countries; He stated that subsidy should have been removed in 2015, Sule stated, money was most times released to fix one part, monies released were shared among all the facilities, leading to what he described as “zero work”. “We have not really managed these things well, ” he added. Sule lamented the unavailability of reliable data on Nigeria’s fuel consumption, which he said strengthened the argument for subsidy removal. He statedt “As I am talking to you now, That is what the government is paying. I asked the officials of the NNPC,‘how are you determining this consumption? we are determining the consumption by lifting’. “You are not determining the consumption by actual usage within Nigeria. They have no way of confirming this. He assured that the Dangote refinery would reduce fuel prices, since smugglers will stop buying from the country, yesterday backed the removal of fuel subsidy, citing lack of transparency in the scheme. He disclosed that from January 2022 to date, as subsidy claims was yet to be reconciled by the RMAFC, He identified such projects to include provision of an affordable transport system, and resuscitation of domestic refineries to eliminate dependence on imported fuel, Shehu expressed optimism that when the refinery became operational, which is characterised by opaqueness and other ambiguities..

President Bola Tinubu has assented to a fresh amendment to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria unifying the retirement age of judicial officers in the country. With the signing of the Constitutional Amendment Bill, The signing of the bill into law, took place on Thursday at the State House, 2023’ presented by the outgoing 9th National Assembly. Speaking while signing the amendment bill into law, President Tinubu pledged his administration’s dedication to strengthening the judiciary,.

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday met members-elect of the 10th National assembly across the different political parties and charged them to work together to choose good leaders for both chambers after their inauguration on June 13.

Although Tinubu met the lawmakers behind closed doors, THISDAY gathered that the president also told the gathering to go into the next session of the National assembly with the single resolve of putting the nation ahead of partisanship in the discharge of their duties.  

President Bola Tinubu has called on the European Union to assist Nigeria and Africa in strengthening security and economic development to alleviate poverty in the continent. The President spoke during a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council, Mr. Charles Michel.

The President spoke during a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council, Mr. Charles Michel. The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union.

According to President Tinubu, Nigeria and the whole of Africa would require the help and partnership of her friends and development partners like the EU to address the excruciating poverty in the continent.

President Bola Tinubu has called on the European Union to assist Nigeria and Africa in strengthening security and economic development to alleviate poverty in the continent. The President spoke during a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council, Mr. Charles Michel.

The President spoke during a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council, Mr. Charles Michel. The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union.

According to President Tinubu, Nigeria and the whole of Africa would require the help and partnership of her friends and development partners like the EU to address the excruciating poverty in the continent.

President Bola Tinubu has charged the National Population Commission (NPC) to be prudent and produce credible and reliable data for national development. The President also urged the Commission to take advantage of the delay in conducting the census in the past years to leverage on the current electronic and digital age. The President, who ex- pressed his unwavering support to the Commission, gave these charges yesterday at the Presidential Villa while receiving its management led by its Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra. While expressing concerns over the delay in conducting another enumeration in the country since the last exercise done in 2006, the President said: “It is disappointing that up until now we have not been able to conduct another enumeration of our people. 

According to him, the NPC requested the release of the allocated N31 billion capital al- locations, in the 2023 budget, for preparatory activities, while putting the total cost of the census, after a methodology review, at N546.72 billion. Kwarra also requested the President’s approval for an additional N225.2 billion to cover training and fieldwork allowances, retraining of trainers, and the conduct of a sec- ond-class Trial Census.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has said some “big and important economic decisions” being taken by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration in Nigeria are being noticed around the world. He said this on Wednesday while responding to questions from State House reporters after meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Montgomery, who said subsidy removal and exchange rate reform would improve the business environment, revealed that his meeting with the vice president focused on issues ranging from trade, security, defence to economic relations.

We discussed our long standing partnership between the UK and Nigeria; we have many areas of shared interest; including a good history of development cooperation. Some excellent trade and investment arrangements and we have also have some good cooperation on security and defence. On the decision of the British government to ban foreign students including Nigerians from bringing family members to the country as a part of the new plan to cut immigration numbers, Montgomery said the issue was not part of his discussion with the vice president.