Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 4th April 2022
1. APC Still Cleaning Up The Mess Created In Nigeria By PDP – Presidency
The presidency on Sunday lambasted the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) describing the opposition party as a serial failure.
The presidency statement, issued by the spokesperson to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Garba Shehu submitted that the PDP and its members plundered the nation’s resources during their sixteen years in power at the federal level.
Shehu added that the damages done by the PDP are still been cleaned up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration led by President Buhari.
Naija News understands the statement issued by Shehu comes as a reaction to the communique issued by the PDP Governors after their meeting in Abia State on March 24 when they resolved that the APC has become a menace to Nigeria and has plunged the people to unimaginable levels of hardship.
Reacting the Presidency accused the PDP of intentionally presenting wrong facts about the Buhari government and attempting to hoodwink Nigerians ahead of the 2023 elections.
It said with the APC at the helm of affairs, Nigerians are the better for it and despite the attempts by the PDP to pull down the government through sponsoring fake news and agenda, the ruling party is turning the country around.
2. Nigeria Moving Towards State Of Bankruptcy – Pastor Adeboye Raises Alarm
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye has warned that Nigeria is borrowing too much.
He lamented that with the increasing rate of borrowing, the nation is steadily moving towards a state of bankruptcy.
Pastor Adeboye warned further that if Nigeria keeps borrowing at the current rate, the coming generation and children will keep paying debts for a long time.
Naija News reports the popular clergyman sounded the note of warning during his sermon on Sunday where he recalled that most of what the country is earning goes back into servicing debts.
3. ‘I Won’t Be Intimidated By Anybody’ – Suspended Abuja Imam Speaks
The suspended Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, Abuja, Shiekh Nuru Khalid, has vowed not to be intimidated or bullied by anybody.
Naija News had reported how the cleric delivered a sermon on Friday where he lampooned the incumbent government over ongoing insecurity challenges in the country.
In his recent sermon which led to the suspension, Sheikh Khalid preached some measures that the electorate should consider if the government fail to protect their lives.
Hours after his preaching, the mosque committee suspended the cleric for allegedly violating the tenets of Islam.
Reacting to his suspension, Sheikh Khalid denied inciting the public against the Muhammadu Buhari government as claimed by the committee.
He asked the Chairman of the committee, Senator Saidu Dansadau, to show evidence that his sermon was inciteful and against Islam.
The cleric stated he is not bothered about his suspension, adding that he would accept whatever God decides for him and Nigerians.
Sheik Khalid, however, said that he learnt about his suspension in the media, stressing that the committee has not sent his letter of suspension.
4. ’21 Passengers Still Missing’ – NRC Gives Update On Kaduna Train Attack
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has stated that 172 persons have been rescued from the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
Naija News reports that the Managing Director of the corporation, Fidet Okhiria, made this known in a statement made available to reporters on Sunday.
Okhiria stated that two more passengers had been rescued, making the total of safe passengers 172, while 21 passengers are still missing.
The NRC boss sympathized with the injured passengers and everyone on board the AK9 train for the trauma the unfortunate incident has them.
He, however, disclosed that the NRC will collaborate with security agencies to rescue other missing passengers aboard the attacked train.
5. 2023: Pastor Adeboye Speaks On Preferred Candidate, Party Ahead Of Elections
General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said he has no preferred political party or candidate because the RCCG is mainly represented in every party.
The clergyman made this known on Sunday during the Church’s thanksgiving service in Lagos State, where he noted that he doesn’t have a preferred political party nor candidate because it will be a disservice to the other parties fully represented at the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
The general overseer further urged his members to go out and vote. According to the 80-year-old cleric, it is their civic duty to vote and ensure their votes count.
6. Buhari’s Govt Has Failed Nigerians – Obasanjo Reacts To Kaduna Train Attack
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has condemned the terror attack on an Abuja-Kaduna bound train last week Monday.
Naija News reports that at least nine persons were killed, over 16 persons injured and 21 passengers were declared missing after terrorists bombed the train.
Reacting to the attack, Obasanjo stated that the Muhammadu Buhari-led government has failed to protect the lives and properties of its citizens.
The former Nigerian leader stated that Nigerians are no longer safe following the frequent attacks on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway and the invasion of the Kaduna International Airport.
He made this known at his residence, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Sunday while receiving a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Dr Ugochukwu Williams.
He, however, asked the present government to address the security challenges facing the country and asked Nigerians not to allow bandits and terrorists to overtake the country.
7. Second Niger Bridge Very Close To Buhari’s Heart – Ahmed
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has said the construction of the second Niger Bridge is very close to President Muhammadu Buhari‘s heart.
She made this known on Saturday during an inspection of the project which has so far gulp N157bn, Naija News reports.
Ahmed was accompanied by the Managing Director of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Uche Orji, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Gilbert Ibezim, among others.
The minister disclosed that she came to inspect the project to see the amount of work done and to see where all the funds have gone.
She asserted that the project would be beneficial to the people of the South-East and other parts of the country when completed, adding that it is one of the most iconic projects in the country
Ahmed revealed that the project has created about 20,000 jobs at the construction site, commending the skills of the construction workers working on the project.
8. ‘God Yet To Speak To Me About 2023 Election’ – Adeboye Says As He Denies Backing Osinbajo, Others
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has denied backing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
Recall that RCCG, Nigeria’s biggest pentecostal Church, had come under fire for setting up a directorate of politics, in what many see as a plan to back the unconfirmed presidential ambition of Osinbajo.
Speaking on Sunday, Pastor Adeboye said that he does not support any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Daddy GO, as he is fondly called by his congregation, said he needed to make clarification amid the criticisms against the church’s creation of a Politics Directorate and the instruction to members to be politically involved in the 2023 elections.
He added that politics is not his calling and he will never be a politician.
On the 2023 elections, Pastor Adeboye said he does not know if the 2023 general election will hold as scheduled.
He stated that God is yet to speak to him about the 2023 elections as He did in 2019.
9. Nigeria Has Not Had A Better President Than Buhari Since 1914 – Masari
The Katsina State Governor, Bello Masari has submitted that President Muhammadu Buhari is the best President Nigeria has ever had since 1914.
He added that no government has performed better than the current administration since the 1914 amalgamation.
Naija News understands Governor Masari made the submission in Katsina at a rally organized by the beneficiaries of the Federal government’s Social Investment Programme (NSIP).
In his words, “Since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, the country has never had a better government and President like Muhammad Buhari.”
He added that President Buhari has done what no other administration has thought of and needs more support and encouragement to perform better.
He said if the NSIP programmes are turned into law, their continuity will be guaranteed beyond the current administration.
10. FG Cancels Pre-arrival COVID-19 Test For Fully Vaccinated Travellers
The Nigerian Government has cancelled the pre-arrival PCR COVID-19 test for fully vaccinated travellers entering the country.
Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, made this known in a revised travel protocol.
Mustapha directed that fully vaccinated passengers are required to show verifiable evidence of a vaccination certificate and permit to travel certificate.
The SGF, who stated that the new measures will be effective from April 4, noted that minors will be accorded the same privileges as persons who are fully vaccinated persons.
Mustapha said passengers who are not able to show evidence of full vaccination will be treated as unvaccinated or partially vaccinated under the new protocol.
Those are the top Nigerian newspapers headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News