Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 16th August, 2024
1. ‘Employment, Food Security, Others’ – Tinubu, Equatorial Guinea President Sign Agreements
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo on Wednesday evening in Malabo signed an agreement on Gulf of Guinea Pipeline Project, further affirming partnership for mutual development.
The agreement covered legislative and regulatory measures for the gas pipeline, establishment and operation, transit of natural gas, ownership of the gas pipeline, and general principles.
Naija News reports that this was made known in a statement on Thursday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
In his remarks at the event, President Tinubu, who is on a three-day official visit to Equatorial Guinea, said the signing of the agreement will open up new opportunities for gas exploration and employment.
The President stated that the two leaders had discussed issues related to the creation of employment, food security, multilateral relations, and conflict resolution mechanisms on the continent during a private meeting that preceded the signing of the agreement.
2. Chinese Company Fraudulently Trying To Take Over Nigeria’s Assets Abroad – Presidency
The Presidency has stated that it is aware of the various failed attempts by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, to take over offshore assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria through subterfuge.
Naija News reported earlier that a French court had authorized the seizure of three presidential jets linked to the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of a legal battle involving Zhongshan, a Chinese company.
The company had a business dispute with the Ogun State government, which led to this significant legal action.
But in a statement on Thursday, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated that the Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company.
He said the case in which Zhongshan is trying to use every unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets is between the company and the Ogun State Government.
According to him, the Federal Government is fully aware of efforts being made by the Ogun State Government to reach an amicable resolution on the matter.
3. We Will Not Be Intimidated – NLC To FG
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said the labour union will not be intimidated by the federal government.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the invasion of its headquarters, the letter of threat from the Registrar of Trade unions and the Arrest of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), executive, Opalua Eleojo, were acts by the federal government to intimidate the organized labour.
Ajaero also accused the federal government of insincerity in its activities and promises to Nigerians. The organized labour regretted that the government fooled citizens into believing they would buy a 50kg bag of rice at ₦40,000.
The organized labour explained that the statement by Nigeria Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuwiya Adejobi that the raid of NLC’s headquarters had nothing to do with the labour union was false.
4. NJC Recommends Justice Kekere-Ekun As New CJN To Take Over From Ariwoola
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice Of Nigeria (CJN) to take over from Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Naija News reports Kekere-Ekun was recommended to President Bola Tinubu for appointment as the new CJN at the 106th meeting of the NJC, held on August 14 and 15 and presided over by Ariwoola.
It would be recalled that the current CJN, who assumed office on June 27, 2022, is set to bow out of office on August 22, 2024, after attaining the mandatory age of retirement.
The Council also recommended 27 candidates for appointment as judges of state courts and a candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the FCT, Abuja, to their various governors and the President.
These developments were confirmed by the spokesman for the NJC, Soji Oye, in a statement on Thursday.
5. Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Drops To 33.4%
Nigeria’s inflation rate dropped to 33.40% in July 2024, according to the latest figures released on Thursday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The rate dropped by 0.79% when compared to the 34.19% recorded in June 2024.
Naija News reports the reduction in inflation is happening for the first time in 19 months since December 2022, when it last dropped to 21.34%.
On a year-on-year basis, the rate was 9.32 percentage points higher than in July 2023, when it stood at 24.08%. This indicates an increase in the headline inflation rate on a year-on-year basis for July 2024 compared to the same month in the previous year.
Additionally, on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in July 2024 was 2.28%, slightly lower than the 2.31% recorded in June 2024, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report published by the NBS on Thursday.
6. Ogun Government Confirms Seizure Of Presidential Jet, Accuses Chinese Firm Of Deceit
The Ogun State government has criticized the judicial process that led to the provisional attachment of three Nigerian presidential jets by the Judicial Court of Paris.
The court had ordered the seizure of the jets on March 7 and August 2, 2024, as part of a legal dispute involving a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd.
The jets, which include a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737, and a newly purchased Airbus A330, were undergoing maintenance at airports in France and Switzerland when the seizure orders were issued.
The Dassault Falcon 7X was stationed at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, while the Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 were located at Basel-Mulhouse Airport in Switzerland.
The dispute stems from an aborted contract between Zhongshan and the Ogun State government, initiated in 2007.
The Chinese company had sought court orders in relation to this dispute, leading to the attachment of Nigerian assets abroad.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Ogun State government, through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, condemned the legal actions taken by Zhongshan.
The government described the latest developments as part of a broader attempt by the Chinese company to appropriate Nigerian assets in foreign jurisdictions.
Ogun State accused Zhongshan of concealing the litigation from both the Nigerian government and Ogun State authorities, as well as their legal counsel.
This, the government argued, allowed the company to quickly secure seizure orders without full disclosure to the court regarding the nature of the assets.
The Ogun State government and the Federal Government have reportedly taken immediate steps to lift the provisional attachments on the jets.
The statement also accused Zhongshan of reneging on earlier discussions aimed at reaching an amicable resolution.
The Ogun State government likened the case to the infamous P&ID case, describing it as another instance of unscrupulous individuals disguising themselves as foreign investors with the intent to defraud Nigerian entities.
7. You’ve Reduced Governance To A Huge Joke – Ganduje Blasts Gov Yusuf
The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has slammed the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, over claims that the documents used in the alleged corruption trial instituted against him were stolen when hoodlums invaded a Kano high court during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Naija News reported that Yusuf, while speaking on Wednesday during an assessment visit to the State High Court, shared his concern over the corruption charges case files taken away by the protesters.
The Governor, who was conducted around the court premises by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Isah Dederi, Chief Registrar of the High Court, Abdullahi Ado Bayero, and other High Court Judges of the state, was furious at what had happened at the court.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Ganduje accused Governor Yusuf of reducing governance to a huge joke, stressing that no decerning mind will buy into such propaganda.
Ganduje also said it had become clear that Yusuf’s government allegedly funded the violent protest that occurred in Kano, calling on the Federal Government to probe the incident.
8. Tinubu Is Doing A Lot To Alleviate The Sufferings Of Nigerians – Minister
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, emphasized that President Bola Tinubu is fully aware of the challenges facing Nigeria and is actively working to mitigate the hardships experienced by its citizens.
During a visit to Bauchi State on Thursday, where he met with Governor Bala Mohammed, Umahi expressed the federal government’s commitment to addressing the country’s pressing issues.
Naija News reports that the minister was in Bauchi to offer condolences and support following a devastating flood that claimed seven lives and caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure.
Acknowledging the challenging economic situation inherited by the current administration, Umahi noted that President Tinubu is striving to improve the nation’s economic landscape.
He urged Nigerians to support and pray for the president, emphasizing the importance of unity and collective effort in overcoming the country’s difficulties.
9. ‘No APC Meeting Can Be Summoned Without My Knowledge’ – Gov Alia Stops Party From Meeting In Benue
The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, on Thursday, prevented a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Executive Committee (SEC) from holding in the state.
The Governor declared that as the leader of the APC in the state, he wasn’t aware of any meeting.
Alia who spoke at a press conference at the Government House in Makurdi, added that as the Chief Security Officer of the state, no legitimate meeting can hold without his consent and approval.
Naija News reports the position of the Governor comes as a direct reaction to the SEC meeting of the Benue APC announced by the faction led by Austin Agada.
Governor Alia warned that the said meeting can’t go ahead, adding that there would be consequences if any person or group attempts to disrupt the peace of the State by converging for any unauthorised meeting.
10. “International Embarrassment” – Peter Obi Knocks Tinubu Govt Over Seizure Of Presidential Jets, Raises Fresh Questions
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has lambasted the government of President Bola Tinubu over the reports on the seizure of some jets in the country’s presidential fleet by foreign business partners.
Obi, in a personally signed statement on Thursday, described the development as an international embarrassment.
He accused the Tinubu government of operating in secrecy and running the government like a personal family asset.
The outburst by the former Anambra State Governor follows the disclosure that a French court had authorized the seizure of three presidential jets linked to the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of a legal battle involving Zhongshan, a Chinese company.
The company had a business dispute with the Ogun State government, which led to this significant legal action.
Obi, in his reaction via a statement released on his X account, said the development has exposed the failed leadership in Nigeria.
He also accused the Tinubu government of mismanaging the country’s resources while a large portion of the citizens continue to languish in poverty.
The former presidential candidate questioned what both the Ogun state and Federal governments did before the French court action.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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