Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Thursday, 28th January 2021
1. Buhari Signs 2021 COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations
President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Health Protection Regulations, 2021.
Naija News reports that President Buhari signed the regulations on Wednesday afternoon.
The provision contains guidelines designed to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
2. Details Of Buhari’s Meeting With New Service Chiefs Emerge
The details of the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the newly appointed Service Chiefs have emerged.
In a statement on Wednesday by the Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, President Buhari charged the new service chiefs to be patriotic and serve the country well.
Buhari also congratulated them on heading their various services and asked them to be role models to their officers.
3. 2023: Presidential Election Not Feasible Without Constitutional Change – Adebanjo
A chieftain of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, on Wednesday said, the presidential election in 2023 is not feasible until there is a change in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Adebanjo when asked on the criteria for Afenifere to back a presidential candidate said, “I don’t see the practicability of an election in 2023 without a change of the constitution with all the inequities and iniquities in it.”
He stated this while speaking on PUNCH Online interview programme, The Roundtable.
4. Fresh Lockdown To Be Imposed In Nigeria If… – FG
The federal government has threatened to impose another lockdown in Nigeria if people fail to abide by existing protocols on the prevention of COVID-19.
The National Incident Manager of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr Mukhtar Muhammad dropped the hint during an interview in Abuja on Wednesday.
He explained that though it will be a difficult decision to take, the government won’t hesitate if it is discovered the cases keep rising due to non-compliance by citizens.
Muhammad however assured that the government was doing its best to control the situation without imposing another fresh lockdown.
5. NASS Stops Health Minister From Spending N10bn On COVID-19 Vaccine
The National Assembly has ordered the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire to suspend further action on spending N10bn on the production of COVID-19 vaccines.
The instruction was handed down on Wednesday by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Health when the Minister and other top government officials in the health sector appeared before it to defend their spending plan.
The lawmakers noted that the Ministry officials couldn’t give a satisfactory explanation on how the N10billion will be utilized.
6. What I Discussed With President Buhari – Makinde
Details of the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, has emerged.
Speaking to State House correspondents, Governor Makinde said he was at the villa to seek the collaboration of the Federal Government to effectively tackle the security challenges in the state.
Makinde said, “This afternoon, I met with His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari to brief him on the security situation in Oyo State and seek collaborations required for some of our intended security plans to work effectively.
7. Sarkin Fulani To Akeredolu: Reverse Quit Notice To Herdsmen
Sarkin Fulani, Senator Walid Jibrin, has advised Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State to reverse the quit notice he issued to Fulani herders to leave the forest reserve in the state.
Naija News reports that the decision has generated huge controversies since the seven-day ultimatum was issued last week.
However, in a meeting on Monday, governors of the South West agreed to ban night grazing in the region and stop open grazing in order to stop farmers/herders clash.
But in a statement on Wednesday, Senator Jibrin asked the governor to dialogue with the herders and come to a compromise with them.
8. Arrest Nnamdi Kanu Now – Arewa Youths Tell Buhari
The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately arrest the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
According to AYCF National President, Yerima Shettima, the Nigerian government should devise a means to arrest and repatriate Kanu to face his trial.
He accused Kanu of taking advantage of the unemployment rate in Nigeria to recruit people and instigate them against other Nigerians.
9. Restructuring: Soyinka Tables Fresh Request Before National Assembly
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has urged the National Assembly to take responsibility as calls for the restructuring of Nigeria continues.
Wole Soyinka, a vocal critic of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, said this while speaking in an interview on AIT’s Kakaaki programme on Wednesday.
The Nobel laureate stated that if the Presidency is not doing anything about restructuring, the National Assembly has the powers and moral authority to act.
10. Herdsmen: Why Tinubu Is Afraid Of Buhari – Afenifere Chieftain, Adebanjo
A leader of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has revealed why the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, refused to speak on the Fulani herdsmen crisis.
Speaking on Wednesday to The Punch, Ayo Adebanjo accused Tinubu of not wanting to offend President Buhari.
He stated that Tinubu believes Buhari will help his presidential ambition in 2023, hence his silence over the herdsmen crisis in the southwest.