Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Sunday, 7th March 2021.
1. Bandits Abduct Nine In Fresh Attack On FAAN Quarters In Kaduna
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have attacked the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) quarters in Kaduna, abducting about nine persons.
Naija News reports that the bandits accessed the quarters through the airport runway at about 12.30 am on Saturday, abducting nine people including a whole family of six, a housewife, and her two children.
It was gathered that the incident lasted for hours as military personnel engaged the bandits, but sadly the attackers had their way.
2. Buhari, Osinbajo Receive COVID-19 Vaccine In Aso Rock
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have received their COVID-19 vaccine, Naija News reports.
The President was vaccinated by his personal physician, Dr. Shuaib Rafindadi Sanusi at about 11.51 am at at the Old Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.
Shortly after President Buhari took the jab, Professor Osinbajo was also vaccinated by his chief personal physician, Dr. Nicholas Odifre.
Both leaders were vaccinated against COVID-19 in the presence of some members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
3. Amnesty: Katsina Governor Rips Sheikh Gumi Apart, Says Bandits Can’t Justify Killings
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has slammed Sheikh Abubakar Ahmad Gumi for asking the federal government to give killer bandits amnesty.
Naija News reports that Gumi had on Thursday said if the government can pardon coup plotters under the military regime, then bandits should enjoy the same benefit under democracy.
Gumi while responding to the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna said there is need to pardon bandits for Nigeria to enjoy peace.
But in an interview with THISDAY, Masari – whose state has been among the worst hit by banditry – said bandits killing Nigerians in the north do not deserve amnesty.
4. Finally, FG Presents Letters Of Credence To Ambassadors-Designate [Full List]
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, on Friday gave the 95 ambassadors-designate their letters of credence.
The ambassadors-designate have had to endure a tortuous six months waiting after been cleared by the senate last September.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had in January approved the posting of new envoys to various Nigerian Embassies and missions across the world.
5. Obaseki Meets Former APC Chairman, Oshiomhole
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has insisted that he holds no personal grudges against the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole.
Naija News reports that Obaseki disclosed this to newsmen in Auchi, Etsako-West LGA of the state, at the centenary birthday Thanksgiving of Msgr. Thomas Oleghe and 18th Canonical Erection Anniversary of the Diocese of Auchi held at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Auchi.
Obaseki, who exchanged greetings with an elbow-bump in compliance with COVID-19 preventive protocols, with his predecessor, said he only dislikes Oshiomhole’s style of politics.
6. Finally, Fani-Kayode Reveals Who Is Behind Insecurity In Zamfara, 9 Other State
Former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode has accused a ‘Special Advisor’ of being behind the insecurity rocking Zamfara and 9 other states in Nigeria.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain made this known in a post on his Twitter handle on Saturday.
Fani-Kayode, who did not name the Advisor, stated that his objective was to destabilise 10 states to ensure President Muhammadu Buhari declares a state of emergency in each one.
7. Boko Haram Flee As Soldiers Overcome Deadly Ambush In Borno
Nigerian soldiers have successfully repelled an attack by Boko Haram terrorists, killing two insurgents in a mid-week gunfight in Alagano village, in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno state.
This was revealed in an internal army memo seen by PeoplesGazette on Saturday.
According to the army communication, the terrorists who came in four gun trucks and armed with other sophisticated military hardware were swiftly engaged by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and Tura Takaibango.
“After about 25 minutes of fighting, Boko Haram terrorists wandered in disarray, abandoning two of their corpses with two AK 47 rifles with registration numbers 56-5220254 and 49020839,” the army correspondence said.
8. FG To Make COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate Compulsory For Travel
The Federal Government on Saturday announced that the COVID-19 vaccination certificate will soon become a compulsory requirement to travel anywhere in the world.
Naija News reports that the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, made this known at the New Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
This online newspaper reports that Mustapha made this known shortly after watching President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo receive a jab of the COVID-19 vaccine.
9. Lagos Started Sinking Under You And Not Ambode – Bode George Tackles Tinubu
A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has berated the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He was reacting to comments by Tinubu that the ship of Lagos was heading in the wrong direction within 2017-2018 before incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to Tinubu, Akinwumi Ambode’s administration was leading Lagos State in the wrong direction and couldn’t be allowed to continue that way.
But reacting in an interview with The Punch on Saturday, Bode George said the ship of Lagos has been going in the wrong direction since Tinubu took over control of the state.
10. Why Fani-Kayode Refused To Defect To APC – Yahaya Bello
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello says former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode refused to return to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) because he had a rethink.
Recall that the governor had in a viral video claimed the former minister had dumped the PDP for the APC after meeting with him and the APC interim National Chairman and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni.
However, Fani-Kayode refuted reports that he had returned to the APC, saying that the meeting with the two governors was not defection-related.
But in an interview on Channels Television on Friday, the governor said the former minister’s desire to join the APC should be his freewill and not forced.