Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 14th October 2023.
1. Tinubu Pulls Out FCT From TSA
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pulled the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) out of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
The announcement was made today (Friday) by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, during a press conference in Abuja.
Naija News understands that the new order FCT Administration would have to utilize the territory’s Internally Generated Revenue IGR for the development of the nation’s capital.
Wike confirmed this during the press conference, adding that the President has approved the creation of the FCT Civil Service Commission to allow for staff career progression.
2. Certificate Saga: Tinubu Asks Supreme Court To Reject Atiku’s New Evidence
President Bola Tinubu has asked the Supreme Court to reject the application filed by Atiku Abubakar, seeking to introduce fresh evidence in his appeal of the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
Recall that Atiku had alleged that President Tinubu’s academic records submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were fraught with discrepancies and forgeries.
The former Vice President also requested for the US court for the northern district of Illinois to compel Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records.
Following the release of Tinubu’s documents, Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is now seeking to introduce these records at the apex court in his appeal of the tribunal judgment.
The PDP candidate had filed an appeal before the apex court on September 18, 2023, but no date has been fixed for hearing the appeal.
3. Tinubu Appoints Heads For CAC, ITF, FRCN, and Other Agencies (Full List)
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new Chief Executive Officers of several agencies and parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
The President’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale who made this known in a statement on Friday noted that the appointments are in line with Tinubu’s resolve to base Nigeria’s economic revival on the foundation of trade expansion through small, medium and large-scale industry facilitation in the country.
4. Tinubu Approves N217 Billion For Nationwide Road Repairs
President Bola Tinubu has approved N217 billion for the emergency repairs of over 260 federal roads spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, disclosed this on Thursday while speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Umahi further disclosed that President Tinubu has approved more road construction works, including project upgrades, to show his deep interest in reinstating most of our roads in the country.
He also revealed that the President approved the resurfacing of the Third Mainland Bridge, the construction of the Lekki deep seaport road in Lagos, and the reconstruction of two collapsed bridges in Enugu.
5. Action Disastrous‘ – Shehu Sani Slams CBN Over Lifting Of Forex Ban On Rice, Cement, Others
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has faulted the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to lift the ban on 43 items from accessing foreign exchange.
In a post he made on Friday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Sani stated that the decision of the apex bank is a disastrous economic strategy which would only worsen the economic situation of the country.
The former lawmaker stated that the nation’s scarce forex should be used to support local production not for the importation of items.
Sani urged the new CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardozo, to think of better ways of addressing the economic situation in the country.
6. ‘Why President Tinubu Stalled Nnamdi Kanu’s Release’ – Source
President Bola Tinubu has reportedly stalled the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Sources that spoke with SaharaReporters revealed that the release of the IPOB leader was hindered because of Imo State politics and the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Recall that Kanu was arrested in Nairobi, Kenya and was repatriated to Nigeria under the administration of Muhammadu Buhari.
Upon his return to the country, Kanu was charged with terrorism and has been detained at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Sources in the Presidency that spoke with SaharaReporters on Friday said President Tinubu has ordered the release of Kanu but he was advised against doing so at this time by some politicians close to him.
7. The Presidency Is The One Holding Nnamdi Kanu Not The Supreme Court – Ejimakor
Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has said that the presidency is behind the continued detention of the agitator.
Ejimakor stated this on Friday via his X handle.
He argued that the Supreme Court is not responsible for the continued incarceration of Kanu.
The lawyer said this while reacting to the release of Sunday Igboho.
He asserted that the Federal Government cannot continue to detain Kanu with the release of Sunday Igboho, a Yoruba Nation agitator.
8. CSU Certificate Saga: Stop Waging War Against Tinubu – Apapa Faction Warns Peter Obi
The Lamidi Apapa faction of the Labour Party (LP) has warned the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to stop taunting President Bola Tinubu over his academic records.
Recall that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, had accused President Tinubu of submitting a forged Diploma certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the election.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, the LP flagbearer asked Tinubu to present his true identity, as the issue seems to portray all Nigerians as criminals.
Reacting to the development on Friday in a press briefing, the factional National Publicity Secretary of the party, Abayomi Arabambi, asked Obi to stop waging war against Tinubu over the certificate controversy.
Arabambi described the press conference addressed by Obi over the certificate saga as “needless and unwarranted” and counselled him to allow the Supreme Court of Nigeria to adjudicate and resolve the matter.
9. Tinubu Names Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser As He Appoints New Aides
President Bola Tinubu on Friday appointed Mr. Bayo Onanuga as his special adviser on information and strategy.
The President also named Ms. Delu Bulus Yakubu as his Senior Special Assistant on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The appointments were confirmed in a statement by the President’s special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
According to the statement, the new aides would be in charge of ministerial coordination and strategy as professionals who have prior working experience within the architecture of the Federal Ministries they will be coordinating with.
10. Israel Ground Forces Storm Gaza To Battle Hamas Militants
Israeli ground troops have reportedly stormed Palestine regions and begun operating inside the Gaza Strip to battle Hamas following its offensive attack on Israel earlier.
The Israel military confirmed the latest development in a statement issued Friday, Naija News understands.
The army said troops had entered Gaza to battle militants, destroy weapons and search for evidence about the missing hostages held by Hamas.
The announcement did not appear to be the beginning of an expected ground invasion of Gaza. Israel has been massing troops along the Gaza border since last Saturday’s deadly incursion by Hamas militants.
The Israel Defense Forces disclosed in a statement today, however, that infantry forces and tanks entered the Gaza Strip on Friday in “localized raids” in order to clear the area of potential terrorists and locate missing Israelis in a likely precursor to a full-scale incursion in response to the weekend Hamas onslaught that killed more than 1,300 Israelis.
According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, armoured and infantry forces carried out searches and “thwarted anti-tank guided missile squads that intended to infiltrate into Israeli territory.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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