Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Friday, 12th February 2021
1. President Buhari Gives Scholarship, Automatic Employment, Others To 110 Ex-NYSC Members
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, 11th February, 2021 offered 110 ex-National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who had distinguished themselves in service automatic employment in the federal civil service.
They also got scholarship offers for post-graduate studies up to the doctoral level in any university in Nigeria, as well as cash rewards.
The President made the announcement during the virtual 2018/2019 President’s NYSC honours award ceremony held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
2. Insecurity: I Don’t Believe Buhari Is In Charge Of Nigeria – Soyinka Blows Hot
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka on Thursday, declared that he doesn’t believe President Muhammadu Buhari is in charge of the affairs of the country.
He made the submission in reaction to the growing spate of general insecurity in the country and with particular reference to the alleged criminal activities of some Fulani herdsmen.
Soyinka in his submission during an interview session with Arise TV, said as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, Buhari can’t be in charge and things would be as bad as they are in the country.
3. FG Sends Strong Warning, Reveals What It Plans To Do To #OccupyLekki Protesters
The federal government of Nigeria has warned that it will not allow any fresh protest at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on Saturday by #EndSARS protesters.
The government in a press statement on Thursday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed warned that security operatives have been directed to crush any protest.
Mohammed noted that government already has intelligence reports that some people want to hijack the protest to cause violence, and security operatives have been put on alert to prevent such action that could destabilize the peace of the country.
4. Bauchi Governor Roasts Yoruba, Backs Fulani Herdsmen Carrying Guns
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has said Fulani herdsmen carry firearms to protect themselves against cattle rustlers who attack, kill and take away their possessions.
Speaking as a Special Guest of Honour at the launch of NUJ’s magazine titled ‘Correspondents’ Watch” on Thursday, Bala Mohammed slammed the South-west for refusing to accommodate herdsmen.
The Bauchi governor noted that the north has over the years accommodated westerners, stressing that Fulani herdsmen have the right to live anywhere as Nigerians.
5. Cryptocurrency Ban: Senate Summons CBN Governor, SEC DG
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday directed the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele to appear before its Committees on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, ICT and Cybercrimes, and Capital Market to brief it on the recent decision to ban cryptocurrency in the country.
The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Lamido Yuguda was also summoned to appear before the committees on the same issue.
The summon follows a motion sponsored by Senator Istifanus Dung Gyang, (Plateau North) and Senator Adetokumbo Mukhail Abiru, (Lagos East) on the recent decision of the CBN to prohibit cryptocurrencies in Nigeria.
6. Foreign Herdsmen Fueling Insecurity In Nigeria – Ortom
The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has said that foreign herders are the ones fueling insecurity in the country.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Ortom asked President Muhammadu Buhari to push for a review of the ECOWAS protocol for the movement of persons, goods, and services within the sub-region.
He noted that the non-implementation of the protocol is the reason for the high level of insecurity in the nation.
7. Fani-Kayode Has Not Communicated His Defection Plan – PDP Spokesperson
The Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday noted that it has not received any formal information from the former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, about his plan to dump the party for the All Progressives Congress.
The spokesperson of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Thursday said PDP can not act on speculations surrounding Fani-Kayode’s defection.
Naija News had earlier reported that the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, said the former minister has joined the ruling party.
8. We Are Not Afraid Of Security Operatives – #OccupyLekki Protesters Fire Back At FG
The planned Lekki tollgate protest will go ahead on Saturday 13th February as planned, organizers have told the federal government of Nigeria.
According to the organizers in a press statement on Thursday, their decision to launch a fresh protest at the Lekki toll gate is beyond the decision of the Lagos judicial panel to reopen the tollgates.
The statement titled, ‘EndSARS Season 2; Why we will #OccupyLekkiTollGate on Saturday – Campaigners’, noted that the recent decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ban cryptocurrencies and other pertinent issues informed their decision to stage a fresh protest.
They added that the government has not implemented any of the promises made to them during the #EndSARS protests that held last year.
9. Police Lied, My House Was Attacked By Fulani Herdsmen – Soyinka Breaks Silence
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka on Thursday accused the police of lying when it denied the reported Fulani herdsmen attack on his house.
Soyinka in a statement where he narrated his side of the incident, said he was not personally attacked but the herdsmen and cows attacked his residence.
He also countered the police version which reported just a stray cow, noting that it wasn’t even a case of two or three cows but a whole herd.
It will be recalled that the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force debunked trending rumours that Professor Soyinka was recently attacked in his house by some Fulani herdsmen.
10. COVID-19: UAE Suspends Flights From Nigeria To Dubai
United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has announced the suspension of airlifting of Nigerians to Dubai as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s biggest airline, announced the decision of the UAE authorities to its passengers on Thursday.
Air Peace, which operates to Sharjah-Dubai, apologised for the flight disruptions