Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Saturday, 27th November 2021.
Before Government Replaces Fuel Subsidy With N5,000 Transport Allowance To Poor Nigerians
Talks about complete deregulation of the downstream sector of the Nigerian petroleum industry is in the news again to the discomfort of Nigerians who are at the receiving end of the policy. Although the removal of fuel subsidy is billed to happen in June next year, not a few Nigerians will already be depressed by the likelihood of premium motor spirit (PMS) selling more than half the price by the middle of next year. Yet, if the World Bank were to have its way, the money spent by the Nigerian government subsidizing the cost of petrol in the country would have been removed or be out of the Nigerian government’s expenditure by the first quarter of 2022.
Buhari Govt Bow To Pressure Finally Declares Bandits As Terrorists
Bandit terrorists operating in the North-west and North-central regions of the country have been declared as insurgent groups by a Nigerian court.
Naija News reports that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Ministry of Justice had filed a motion ex-parte on behalf of the Federal Government to the effect.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mohammed Abubakar, said the order to tag bandits as terrorists was given by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Abubakar said that the government decided to tag Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other bandits groups in the country as terrorists due to their involvement in the killings of security agents.
Fuel Subsidy Removal: We Will Not Take Workers, Nigerians For Granted – Ngige
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has assured that Nigerians and members of the organized labour will be properly carried along in all steps towards the total removal of fuel subsidy.
This is as the Minister stated that no permanent decision has been taken by the government on the payment of N5,000 to 40 million poor Nigerians expected to happen once the subsidy is removed.
This follows the controversy generated by the disclosure that petrol may sell for as high as N340/liter after subsidy removal and that government plans to pay N5,000 transport allowance to poor Nigerians for a period of time to cushion the effect.
Ngige however submitted on Thursday that the Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed as well as the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari who have made comments on the issue and the likely new price of petrol only spoke as fiscal persons, not what the government has taken a final stand upon.
Diezani Finally Forfeits $40m Jewellery To Buhari Govt
The Minister for Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke, has finally forfeited the $40 million worth of jewellery seized from her residence to the Federal Government.
Naija News reports that the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos upheld the final forfeiture order in a ruling on Friday and dismissed an appeal filed by the former minister.
Allison-Madueke had challenged the seizure of the jewellery from her premises by the EFCC and accused the anti-graft agency of entering her apartment illegally.
In a judgement read by Justice Festus Obande, the appellate court ruled that there was no substance to Diezani’s appeal to overturn the lower court’s order.
‘Flimsy Excuses Of Jittery Minds’ – Malami Denies Using EFCC To Victimize Obiano
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, has debunked allegations that he is seeking political vengeance against Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano.
The Minister stated that contrary to the claims of the Anambra State government, he doesn’t influence the activities of agencies and institutions under his Ministry.
He added that he discharges his constitutional duties without sentiments or political prejudice.
Malami made the submission in a reaction to the allegation by the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Don Adinuba who accused him of using his office against Governor Obiano.
Ekiti 2022: Stop Linking Me To Bola Tinubu, APC – Fayose Warns Aspirants
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has described campaigns of calumny by some aspirants, linking him with the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, as “dead on arrival”.
In a statement on Friday, by his Spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, Fayose pointed out that such campaign will not guarantee anyone the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket.
He reiterated his endorsement of the immediate past PDP chairman in the State, Otunba Bisi Kolawole, to get the party’s ticket.
Kaduna Govt Lifts Telecoms Ban
Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led government has lifted the three-month telecommunications shutdown imposed in October due to the recent attacks by bandits along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.
The Kaduna State Government announced this in a statement released through the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.
According to Aruwan, the relevant government agency in charge of telecommunication has been directed to lift the ban.
Aruwan further stated that other measures like the ban on motorcycles, ban on weekly markets, selling of fuel in kegs remain in force.
Bandits Release One Kaduna Baptist Student
Bandit terrorists have released one of the remaining four Bethel Baptist High school students in Kaduna State after spending over 150 days in captivity.
The President of the state Baptist Conference, Ishaya Jangado, who is also the proprietor of the school had disclosed that the terrorists abducted 121 students on July 2, 2021, at the school premises along the Kaduna-Kachia Highway Damishi in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
The terrorists had released the students in batches.
The Vice-Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the Northern States, John Hayab, in a press conference on Friday said a ransom of five million Naira was paid before the students would be released.
Why Should Buhari Pardon Nnamdi Kanu? – Yakasai Asks
Elder statesmen, Tanko Yakassai has kicked against calls for the release of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Naija News recalls that some Igbo leaders led by a First Republic Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, last week Friday, visited President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock and appealed for the unconditional release of Kanu.
Though President Buhari told them they made a difficult and huge request, the Nigerian leader promised to consider their appeal.
But in an interview with Trust TV on Thursday, Yakassai queried the rationale behind the plea for President Muhammadu Buhari to release the IPOB leader.
90 Boko Haram Terrorists, 128 Bandits Killed In Two Weeks – DHQ
Ninety insurgents have been killed in the North East and 128 bandits have also been neutralised in the North West and North Central within the past two weeks.
Acting Director of Media Operations, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Bernard Onyeuko, made this known at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
He disclosed that troops of Operation Hadin Kai gunned down an unconfirmed number of Boko Haram terrorists in air strikes on November 12 in Baga, near Lake Chad.
Onyeuko further revealed that the troops killed over 50 insurgents and destroyed some of their combat equipment during a repelled attack at Askira-Uba in Borno.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
This article was originally published on Naija News