Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 18th August 2023.
1. FG Gives N5 Billion To Each State As Palliatives
President Bola Tinubu-led government has given each state of the federation, and FCT, N5 billion palliative to cushion the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum disclosed this during an interactive session with State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday.
Naija News had earlier reported that Vice-President, Kashim Shettima chaired the statutory meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday.
The meeting considered varying issues, including the Federation’s financial status, general issues, especially but the deployment of palliatives aimed at cushioning the harsh effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
2. 36 Military Officers Killed In Niger State Ambush, Jet Crash – DHQ
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday confirmed that thirty-six military officers were killed in Niger State.
This was disclosed days after bandits ambushed military officers in Niger State.
Insurgents had ambushed troops in the Zungeru area of the state and some gallant troops of the Nigerian Army paid the supreme price.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, revealed this when he gave a breakdown of casualties in the ambush of troops in Niger State and an evacuation helicopter that crashed on August 14, 2023.
The breakdown was given at the biweekly briefing of the Defence Media Operations.
He added that onboard the crashed Air Force aircraft on evacuation mission were 14 previously killed soldiers, seven wounded soldiers, two pilots, and two crew members.
Buba when asked about the cause of the helicopter crash, restated that an investigation is still underway to determine the cause and urged citizens to be wary of propaganda by terrorists and remain patriotic.
3. We Are Ready To Storm Niger – ECOWAS Troops
Troops from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have expressed readiness to join a standby force to intervene in Niger, following a coup against President Mohamed Bazoum.
After the presidential guard’s coup, ECOWAS gave a 7-day ultimatum for the restoration of the president, threatening sanctions and potential military action.
In response, the junta vowed to resist foreign intervention and also threatened to kill President Bazoum.
Meeting in Accra, Ghana, Defence Chiefs from the 15-member regional bloc decided to activate their standby force.
All members, except nations currently under military rule and Cape Verde, have committed to this force.
ECOWAS commissioner, Abdel-Fatau Musah, confirmed this stance to Al Jazeera.
4. Court Adjourns In Fresh Suit Filed Against Emefiele By FG
The federal government of Nigeria on Thursday arraigned the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court.
Naija News reports Emefiele was arranged before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT high court in Maitama on a 20-count charge of illegal procurement.
The arraignment over N6.9 billion alleged procurement fraud was however stalled due to the absence of the first and second defendants who are said to be indisposed.
The second defendant is a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro.
Yaro and her company, April1616 Investment Limited are to be charged along with Emefiele on 20 charges of procurement fraud, conspiracy and conferring corrupt advantages on his associates.
The offence is contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
5. Ribadu, State Governors Meet Over Insecurity, Fuel Subsidy Palliatives
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu‘s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, met with the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on Thursday in Abuja to deliberate on the rising insecurity challenges in the country.
Among other agenda of the meeting is how to ensure smooth distribution of palliative to Nigerians to cushion the effect of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and the recently signed electricity act.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the chief press secretary to Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, Bologi Ibrahim, said Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq chaired the meeting.
6. ‘APC Will Rule Nigeria For Sixty Years’
The former Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani expressed confidence on Thursday that under the leadership of the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has the potential to govern for more than six decades.
This bold prediction recalls a similar statement made about 15 years ago by Vincent Ogbulafor, the then-national Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ogbulafor had asserted that the PDP would dominate for at least 60 years due to its commendable policies. However, the party was unseated in the 2015 elections, contradicting his forecast.
Despite the historical context, Zailani remains optimistic about the APC’s future under Ganduje’s guidance.
7. Goodluck Jonathan Reacts, Condemns Violence, Killings In Bayelsa State
Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the growing violence and killings in his home state of Bayelsa ahead of the November governorship elections in the state.
Jonathan in a personally signed statement on Thursday decried the growing spate of violence which he said is politically motivated.
He called on the politicians and other stakeholders in the state to eschew electoral violence and be prepared to accommodate diverse opinions, pursue peace and act professionally.
Naija News recalls following the violence in Bayelsa, the Police arrested eight with dangerous weapons for allegedly terrorizing the Nembe Bassambiri community.
Reacting, the former President said the development calls for concern.
8. Emefiele: Court Okays FG’s Withdrawal Of Firearm Charge Against Suspended CBN Governor
Federal Government’s oral application before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, which seeks to withdraw a firearm charge against suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has been approved.
Naija News recalls that the Nigerian government had earlier accused the suspended CBN governor of illegal possession of firearms.
The government, however, said in its latest application that the decision to withdraw the charge against Emefiele is informed by emerging facts and circumstances of the case, which requires closer investigation.
In his ruling on Thursday morning, Justice Oweibo held that the application filed by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), seeking the withdrawal of the case is found in Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which empowers him to withdraw the charge and no there was no requirement for the application to be in writing.
In allowing the withdrawal of the charge, the judge wondered what good it would do to the defence if the court did not allow the withdrawal.
9. Soludo, Otti, Wale Edun, Bagudu, Kyari, Others Get Fresh Appointment As Details Of NEC Meeting Emerges
The National Economic Council (NEC) has constituted an Ad-hoc Committee to engage with the leadership of labour unions in a bid to create a forum for dialogue towards resolving issues surrounding the petrol subsidy removal across the States.
Naija News reports that the decision was reached at the 135th meeting of NEC chaired by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima in Abuja on Thursday.
The committee comprises the Nigerian Governors Forum Chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo; Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State; PDP Governors Forum Chairman, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.
Speaking at the meeting, the Vice President said the committee will liaise with the leadership of labour unions in the country to find a way forward on the emerging issues in the interest of the nation.
The Council also received progress reports on the ongoing nationwide distribution of rice, grains, fertilizer, other items to States and N5 billion financial support, provided by the Federal Government and commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for their interventions.
NEC noted the various interventions by State governments and urged them to upscale the distribution of palliatives towards alleviating the suffering of citizens especially the vulnerable groups.
The council also mourned the death of some military personnel in Niger State and observed a minute silence in honour of deceased, while commiserating with their families.
10. Tobi Amusan Finally Cleared Of Doping Allegations
World Athletics has given sprinter Tobi Amusan the green light to compete in the upcoming world championship in Budapest, Hungary.
In an announcement on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) confirmed that Amusan “did not commit an anti-doping rule violation.”
He said, “A panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal, by majority decision, has today found that Tobi Amusan has not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within 12 months.
“AIU Head Brett Clothier has indicated the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is disappointed by this decision and will review the reasoning in detail before deciding whether to exercise its right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within the applicable deadline. The decision is currently confidential but will be published in due course.”
Amusan was provisionally suspended by the AIU for missing three drug tests, but the Nigerian decided to contest the charge.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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