Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Tuesday, 26th January 2021
1. FG Extends Eased COVID-19 Lockdown In Nigeria By One Month
The federal government on Monday announced the extension of phase three of the national COVID-19 lockdown by one month.
This was announced by the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha during the weekly task force briefing in Abuja.
He said the extension is necessary due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
2. Nigeria’s Security Situation Better Than In 2015- Lai Mohammed
President Muhammadu Buhari-led government on Monday said although the country is facing security issues, the security situation is better than it was during the 2015 government.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made this claim while speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, was also at the press conference.
He said, “I can say without hesitation that, though Nigeria is facing security challenges, the situation is far better than what we met in 2015.”
3. Orlu: Gov. Uzodinma Imposes Curfew In 10 Imo LGAs As Gunmen Clash With Soldiers
The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma on has imposed a 6pm to 6am curfew in some affected Local Government Areas of the State following the breakout of violence on Monday.
Naija News gathered the violence is a result of clashes between gunmen and a combined team of police and soldiers in Orlu, Imo state.
The LGAs affected by the curfew declared by the Governor are: Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Isu, Nwangele, and Nkwerre.
Uzodimma in a statewide broadcast declared urged residents to respect the curfew as security agents have been directed to deal decisively with violators.
4. Details Of What Governors Agreed With Miyetti Allah During Monday’s Meeting Emerges
Some state Governors led by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi on Monday held a meeting with national leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) in Akure, Ondo State capital.
Naija News reports the focus of the meeting was to proffer workable solutions on curbing criminal activities by bandits, kidnappers, and others who hide in forests to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens.
At the end of the meeting, which lasted for about three hours, all parties agreed to prioritize national security, hence an agreement was reached to ban night grazing across the South-West region.
MACBAN was also urged to embrace modern ranching which prevents cattle roaming that results in the destruction of farms.
5. Release El-Zakzaky’s Wife For COVID-19 Treatment, Court Tells Kaduna Prison
A Kaduna State High Court has directed the Kaduna Prison Service to release Zeenat, wife of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El–Zakzaky, for COVID-19 treatment.
In the ruling delivered on Monday, the presiding judge, Justice Gideon Kurada, ordered that Zeenat be immediately moved to a government isolation facility to begin treatment for the virus.
Before the judgement, counsel to El-Zakzaky, Femi Falana (SAN) had presented a medical report to back up his argument for the release of Zeenat.
6. Court Frees Atiku’s Lawyer Over Alleged $2m Fraud
Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, a lawyer to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has been cleared of any case of money laundering and financial wrongdoing.
A Federal High Court in Lagos dismissed a $2million money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Giwa-Osagie.
Delivering a ruling on Monday, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke held that the EFCC failed to establish that the money said to have been delivered to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2019, was illegal.
7. Criminalising Fulani Herdsmen Is Wrong – Presidency
The Presidency has warned against criminalizing Fulani herdsmen in the country, noting every tribe has its own criminal elements.
Senior Special Assistant on Social Media to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie, made this known in a series of tweets via her Twitter handle on Monday.
Onochie faulted critics of the Buhari administration for accusing Fulani herdsmen of every heinous act perpetrated by criminals in their region.
8. UK COVID-19 Strain Now In Nigeria — PTF
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Monday said the cases of B117 strain of COVID-19 have been recorded in Nigeria.
The strain was first reported in the United Kingdom and South Africa.
The SGF stated this during the task force briefing on Monday.
Mustapha noted that four people have been diagnosed with the B117 strain in Nigeria.
He noted that three among the affected people are travellers from Nigeria to other places while the fourth person was discovered in-country.
9. Provide Details Of Planned N729bn Payments To 24.3 Million Nigerians, SERAP Tells FG
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Federal Government to provide details of the proposed payments of N729bn to 24.3 million poor Nigerians for six months.
The group made this known in the Freedom of Information request dated 23 January 2021 and signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
SERAP also wants the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadia Umar-Farouq, to provide details about the mechanisms and logistics for the payments.
10. Chelsea Sack Lampard, To Appoint Tuchel As Manager
Chelsea Football Club has announced the sack of Head Coach Frank Lampard after a poor run of form in the Premier League.
Naija News learned that the club is set to appoint former Borussia Dortmund and PSG boss, Thomas Tuchel, as the new manager.
In a statement on Monday, Chelsea thanked Lampard for what he has achieved in his time as Head Coach of the Club and wished him good luck in his managerial career.