Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Sunday, 2nd May 2021.
1. Fayemi To Nigerians: Please Don’t Go To Canada
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has urged Nigerian youths not to allow frustration becloud their hope in realising a better Nigeria.
Fayemi, who is the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, stated this on Saturday when speaking at the 2021 edition of The Platform, an annual conference organised by the Senior Pastor of the Covenant Christian Centre, Lagos, Poju Oyemade.
The former minister said though the country was passing through many challenges at the moment, youths should not “give up and pick that visa and go to Canada” because Canada has a “glass ceiling”.
He said though he won’t “discourage anyone who wants to leave this country in search of greener pastures, education, health care and what have you” because he once “lived outside this country for 15 years” to study and work.
2. Chadian Troops Capture, Kill Boko Haram Fighters From Nigeria
The Chadian military has reportedly killed over 22 Boko Haram fighters who crossed from Nigeria into Chad.
A source in the Nigerian Army told SaharaReporters that the terrorists had crossed via Borno into Chad on Thursday to attack but were repelled by the Chadian troops.
According to the Nigerian army official, scores of the terrorists were killed, but only about 22 of them were captured in a video sent.
“Boko Haram terrorists crossed from Nigeria border into Chad yesterday evening for an attack, but the Chadian troops killed scores of them. The visible bodies are 22, but tens of bodies were laid in the outskirts of the village,” the source said.
3. Prepare For Another Fuel Price Increase – FG Tells Nigerians
The federal government has told Nigerians to prepare for another increase in the pump price per litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva gave the warning while speaking with journalists on Friday, noting that the government can’t continue to pay subsidy due to prevailing economic circumstances.
Sylva spoke on the sidelines of a graduation and awards ceremony organised by the Offshore Technology Institute, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Minister said the government is working on totally scrapping the subsidy regime for petrol.
4. Northerners Using NIN To Pursue Evil Fulanization/Islamization Agenda – Mailafia
A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Obadiah Mailafia, has accused some northerners of pursuing their evil ‘Fulanization/Islamization’ agenda.
In an interview with Tribune, Mailafia claimed that they were using the National Identification Number (NIN) to achieve this agenda.
The controversial ex-CBN chief revealed that some northern individuals are issuing passports and voter cards to millions of foreigners they are bringing into the country.
According to him, these individuals are fighting a demographic Jihad to ensure that the North is the demographic majority by subterfuge.
Mailafia said: “So, for Nigeria, I do not believe in our eternal indissolubility. From the way things are going, some people are hell-bent on destroying the country. They are pushing forward their evil agenda of Fulanisation and Islamisation.”
5. APC vs PDP: Tinubu, Saraki, El-Rufai All The Same – Fani-Kayode
Former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode has described Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nasir El-Rufai, among others as party crossers.
He stated this in a chat with Naija Lives Matter Hotseat hosted by Ope Banwo.
The former presidential aide also stated that there is no difference between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The government critic said this was the reason he relates with individuals who can move Nigeria forward.
“I don’t join parties simply because I want to be on the winning side. If I choose to leave a party, it’s for a reason,” he said.
6. Despite Increasing Boko Haram Attacks Zulum Goes On 21-day Vacation
The Borno State House of Assembly has approved a 21-day vacation for Governor Babagana Zulum despite increasing Boko Haram attacks in the state.
Naija News reports that the lawmakers also gave the approval for Deputy Governor Umar Kadafur to serve as acting governor from April 29 to May 19.
Speaker of the state assembly Abdulkarim Lawan conveyed the approval in a letter dated April 26.
This was made known in a statement to newsmen on Saturday by Malam Isa Gusau, Zulum’s spokesman.
“The governor also requested that in compliance with provisions of section 190 (1) of the constitution, which made him notify the House, the Assembly should approve the Deputy Governor to serve as acting Governor throughout the 21 days, to constitutionally give him the full powers to handle Borno State’s affairs without resort to the Governor,” the statement read.
7. Why Buhari Should Have Spoken With Biden, Not Blinken – Bishop Kukah
Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has said President Muhammadu Buhari should have spoken with his American counterpart, Joe Biden.
Naija News reports that US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken had last week met with President Buhari to discuss issues concerning strengthening democratic governance, building lasting security, and promoting economic ties and diversification.
Kukah however, said “half bread is better than nothing”, adding that the meeting is a sign that Nigeria is going somewhere.
He spoke at the 2021 edition of The Platform, an annual conference organised by the Senior Pastor of the Covenant Christian Centre, Lagos, Poju Oyemade, on Saturday.
8. Insurgency Declined After Buhari Took Power In 2015 – Fayemi
Governor Kayode Fayemi on Saturday said the insurgency in Nigeria has declined since President Muhammadu Buhari took over in 2015.
Fayemi, who is the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, stated this when speaking at the 2021 edition of The Platform, an annual conference organised by the Senior Pastor of the Covenant Christian Centre, Lagos, Poju Oyemade.
The former minister said that though progress has been made in the country’s counterinsurgency, the All Progressives Congress, which is the government at the centre, can do better to secure lives and properties.
Asked by Poju Oyemade to score the APC government on a scale of 1 to 10, Fayemi initially declined, saying, “You cannot be judge and jury in your own case”.
9. Oduduwa Republic: Yoruba Nation Rally Holds In Abeokuta Despite Police Ban (Video)
Yoruba Nation agitators are currently protesting on the streets of Abeokuta, Ogun State, despite the ban by the police.
Information gathered has it that the agitators who are dressed in various local outfits, marched through Ake palace to access other parts of the state capital.
A leader of the group, while addressing the people, said “we had spoken with the police. Nobody can stop us from walking freely on our fatherland.
“That’s Alake’s palace, we are going there. They all know we are fighting their cause. They know we want to save them from the Fulanis.
10. Eight Dead, 36 Other Injured In Osun Trailer Accident
At least eight people were killed on the Osogbo-Ibadan highway in Osun State on Saturday after a large trailer fell from an overpass.
The driver of the truck, carrying 61 people, lost control of its steering and it fell off a bridge, injuring 36 others.
State and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) officials, police, and firefighters visited the scene after the incident to rescue people.
The FRSC zonal commander in the state, Kudirat Ibrahim, confirmed the incident and offered her condolences to the families of the victims.
Speaking through the commission’s spokesperson, Agnes Ogungbemi, the commander said the Volvo trailer with the KMC35ZJ trailer fell off the back of the bridge, and the fuel tanker fell on the occupants, killing eight of them.