Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Saturday, 13th March 2021.
1. Buhari Deceives Nigerians, Increases Petrol Price To N212 Per Litre
The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has announced an increase in the pump price of petrol to N212.61 a litre.
Recall that the federal government had two weeks ago denied plans to increase the petrol price in the country.
But the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) announced late Thursday that the retail price for a litre of petrol for the month will be between N209.61 and N212.61.
According to the PPPRA, the ex-depot price, which is the amount sold by fuel depot owners to marketers, will be N206.42, while the landing cost stands at N189.61 per litre.
2. Kidnappers Invade Kaduna School, Abduct ‘Only Female Students’
Suspected gunmen have abducted students at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanism in the Mando area of Kaduna State.
According to the BBC, a witness said half of the female students were taken but not a single male was abducted.
The development was confirmed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who disclosed that the investigation is ongoing.
3. Monguno: Billions Approved For Weapons Under Buhari Missing
The National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Babagana Munguno, on Friday disclosed that billions of naira approved by president Muhammadu Buhari for purchase of weapons can not be accounted for.
According to Munguno, the new Service Chiefs assumed office and could not access weapons their predecessors ought to have purchased.
The former service chiefs are: ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin; former Chief of Army Staff; Tukur Buratai, former Chief of Naval Staff; Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; and former Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar.
4. #FuelPriceHike: No Increase In Petrol Ex-Depot Price – NNPC Insists
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has insisted that there is no increase in the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol this month.
This is despite a template released by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) that the new price of petrol has reached N212.6 per litre.
The ex-depot price is the price at which the product is sold by the NNPC to marketers at the depots.
In a post on its verified Twitter handle on Friday, the NNPC ruled out any increment in the ex-depot price.
5. #FuelPriceHike: Buhari Didn’t Approve Fuel Price Hike, Disregard The Information – FG Tells Nigerians
The federal government has disclosed that the recent fuel price hike noticed by Nigerians on Friday wasn’t approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipreye Sylva made the submission in his reaction to the increase in the pump price of petrol witnessed by Nigerians across the country on Friday morning.
The Minister urged Nigerians to disregard the pricing template published by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) which pegged the new pump price of petrol at N212.61 per litre.
He stated further that there would be no increase in the pump price of petrol until the conclusion of talks with the organized labour in the country.
6. Herdsmen: ‘Notorious Fulani Terrorists Iskilu Wakili Very Deadly’
One of the leaders of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Ibarapa of Oyo state, Olu Adegoke, has described the captured Fulani warlord, Iskilu Wakili, as very deadly.
Naija News reports that the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) and other vigilante groups on Sunday stormed Wakili’s home in Kajola area of Ibarapa, and arrested him after an alleged gun battle with his men.
Speaking to The Cable, Adegoke warned that Wakili, if released by the Nigeria Police, will not be welcomed back to Ibarapa.
7. Supreme Court Upholds Ex-Gov Dariye’s 10-year Jail Term
The Supreme Court has upheld the 10-year jail term given to former Plateau Governor, Joshua Dariye upon his conviction on the offence of embezzlement.
A five-man panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mary Odili, gave the unanimous ruling on Friday during the hearing of an appeal filed by the former governor.
The apex court granted Dariye’s appeal in part, by quashing the one-year sentence imposed on him by the Court of Appeal in relation to the offence of criminal misappropriation.
The lead judgment which was read by Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, however, upheld Dariye’s concurrent conviction and sentence by the trial court and the Court of Appeal on the offence of criminal breach of trust
8. Army Secures Remaining Students At Attacked Kaduna School
The Nigerian Army has moved the remaining students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation (FCFM), Afaka in the Mando area of Kaduna State to 1 Division Garrison Command in Ribadu Cantonment.
Naija News had reported that suspected gunmen invaded the school and abducted the female students on Thursday night.
According to the BBC, a witness said half of the female students were taken but not a single male was abducted.
The development was confirmed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who disclosed that the investigation is ongoing.
9. FG Deletes N212 Per Litre Petrol Template From Website
The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has deleted a link holding the new prices of petrol, Naija News understands.
It was gathered that the controversial template which had caused a major backlash from Nigerians was previously accessible here: http://pppra.gov.ng/pms-guiding-price-for-march-2021/.
It was unclear whether pressure was mounted on PPPRA to delete the template to douse public outcry, a move that was not immediately clarified by officials.
10. How Zamfara Govt Attempted To Subvert Buhari’s No-fly-zone Order
Officials of the Presidency have accused Governor Bello Matawalle and some of his aides of trying to undermine the ‘No fly’ restriction placed over the state by President Muhamadu Buhari.
It was gathered that the Zamfara government had openly opposed the no fly order and the ban placed on mining activities.
This is despite the rising insecurity in the state that led to the abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls a few weeks ago.
Speaking to The Punch, a presidential official expressed surprise that the Zamfara State Assembly could pass a vote of no confidence in the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, even though the NSA was not a state government official.