Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Sunday, 27th August 2023.
‘There Is No Need To Panic’ – NCDC Speaks On New Deadly COVID-19 Variants
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said there is no reason to panic about reports of the new EG.5 and BA.2.86 subvariants of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Naija News reports that NCDC, in a press statement issued on Saturday and signed by its Director General, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, said the deadly subvariants have not been identified in Nigeria.
Recall that on August 9, 2023, the World Health Organisation designated EG.5, a descendant lineage of XBB.1.9.2, and its sub-lineages as a variant of interest.
The omicron variant was detected in 51 countries, including China, the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, France, Portugal, and Spain.
The risk assessment conducted by the WHO shows that the EG.5 variant poses a low risk at the global level and causes symptoms like those seen with other COVID-19 variants, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, and sore throat.
President Tinubu’s Allies, Oshiomhole Battle For APC Soul With Governors
In a bid to water down the influence of governors in the All Progressives Congress (APC), allies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have kick-started moves to wrest control of the ruling party.
Naija News gathered that this has pitched Tinubu’s men against some governors and former governors like Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and former Cross River governor Ben Ayade.
It was gathered that some key allies of the President were plotting to hijack the party from the firm grip of the governors. The latest development is the replacement of vacant positions in the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC.
Recall that Yahaya Bello had stormed the APC secretariat with his supporters, plotting to disrupt the inauguration of the anointed officers from Kogi, comprising the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, and the now replaced Zonal Organising Secretary (North Central Zone), Ikani Okolo.
Chicago Varsity Provided Two Certificates Belonging To Tinubu – Atiku
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said the Chicago State University has produced two similar certificates which showed that President Bola Tinubu attended its institution.
Atiku, through his United States counsel, Angela Liu, stated this in a statement on Saturday in response to a submission by Tinubu’s lawyers to an application filed at a United States Court in Chicago, Illinois.
Liu stated that the first certificate provided by Chicago State University was signed by three people, and the other was signed by two individuals.
Recall that Tinubu, in response to the petition of Atiku in the U.S., blamed the errors discovered in his academic certificate on the clerk of the Chicago State University (CSU).
Former Military Spokesperson, General Bernard Onyeuko Is Dead
A former spokesperson of the Nigerian Military, General Bernard Onyeuko has reportedly died.
Naija News gathered the former military spokesperson died on Saturday morning after complaining of cold and was rushed to a private hospital where he eventually died.
The death was confirmed to PRNigeria by a credible source.
Another close friend of the deceased similarly told the publication that the retired general was hale and hearty on Friday until he fell ill on Saturday morning and gave up the ghost shortly after.
General Onyeuko only retired from the Nigerian Army after the recent appointment of new service chiefs and was a former Director, Defence Media Operations.
Ganduje: EFCC, CCB Probe Kano Anti-graft Boss Over Alleged Corruption
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) have begun an investigation of Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado over alleged corruption.
Naija News reports that Rimingado was reinstated as the Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) on June 21 by Governor Abba Yusuf.
Recall that in 2022, the immediate-past governor of Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje, had sacked Rimingado on allegations bordering on corruption and abuse of office.
However, in a letter sent to Rimingado, the EFCC asked him to send PCACC’s Director of Finance and Accounts to appear at its headquarters in Abuja on August 29.
What President Tinubu Discussed With US Special Envoy
President Bola Tinubu has advised U.S. Presidential Envoy & Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Molly Phee, to ensure that U.S. policy is intentionally collaborative with independent African democracies at a time when they are under assault by anti-democratic forces within and outside of the continent.
Naija News reports that this was made known in a statement on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
The President noted that American-backed development finance and multilateral institutions, which were designed to support war-torn Europe after World War II, require swift and comprehensive reform to meet the developmental requirements of younger democracies in Africa, which operate in authoritarian-crowded environments, such that the legitimate yearnings of Africans would no longer be manipulated to serve the narrow aims of self-seeking demagogues through unconstitutional takeovers of power.
House Of Rep Members To Get N150 Million Each For Constituency Projects
The leadership of the House of Representatives has set aside N150 million for each member to carry out projects in their constituencies, totalling N54 billion.
Naija News reports that a member of the Green Chamber, who pleaded for anonymity, made this known during an interview with The Punch on Friday.
The lawmaker said the constituency allowances are part of the few privileges available to lawmakers to impact their various constituencies directly.
According to the member of the lower chamber, the money for the constituency project is like a palliative for them to give back to their constituencies across the country.
How Lagos APC Political Gladiators, Power Brokers Caused Rejection Of Sanwo-Olu’s Cabinet Nominees
Details have emerged revealing why the Lagos State House of Assembly rejected 17 of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s cabinet nominees.
Recall that the Lagos Assembly had disqualified seventeen out of the thirty-nine commissioner nominees sent to it by the Governor.
Naija News reports that 22 of the Commissioner nominees were, however, confirmed by the lawmakers on Wednesday.
This follows the presentation before the House by Hon. Mojeed Fatai of the report of the 12-man ad hoc committee on the screening of the Governor’s commissioner nominees.
PDP Chieftain Fires ‘Rebel’ Wike As Damagum Keeps Mum Over FCT Minister’s Position On Appointment
The decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagun, to remain silent following claims by former Rivers State governor and newly appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that he notified him (Damagun) when he was nominated as a ministerial designate by President Bola Tinubu, has not gone down well with some leaders of the PDP.
Naija News reports that former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, a member of PDP, was one of 45 ministers inaugurated at the presidential villa on Monday.
During a press conference at the FCT Ministry’s office in Abuja, Wike said PDP cannot sanction him for accepting President Tinubu’s ministerial appointment.
Recall that before his appointment, there have been calls by some members of the PDP for Wike’s suspension over his association with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his acceptance of the ministerial offer.
Ganduje Swears In New APC NWC Members At Midnight [Photos]
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has sworn in new members to replace vacant positions in the National Working Committee (NWC).
Naija News reports that the former Governor of Kano State performed the inauguration at the party’s National Secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, at midnight on Friday.
Recall that the former APC Deputy Spokesperson, Murtala Ajaka, resigned from the party to pursue his gubernatorial ambition in the upcoming Kogi election in the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Abubakar Kyari, who was the Deputy National Chairman (North), and Betta Edu, who was the National Women Leader, resigned from their posts to take up ministerial appointments.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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