Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Tuesday, 23rd March 2021
1. EFCC, ICPC Will Probe Nigerians Flaunting Unexplainable Lifestyles – Lauretta Onochie
President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide on social media, Lauretta Onochie, has said the nation’s anti-corruption agencies would probe Nigerians who flaunt lifestyles they cannot afford offline and online.
Naija News reports that Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
In a post on her Twitter page, Onochie said such persons will be invited by the anti-graft agencies to explain the sources of their wealth and properties.
2. 2023: INEC To Resume Voter Registration
The Independent National Electoral Commission is set to resume the Continuous Voters Registration nationwide in the second quarter of 2021.
The commission head of ICT, Ibadan, Wunmi Balogun, disclosed this at the training of electoral officers and assistants electoral officers of Polling Units (PUs) in Ibadan on Monday.
Balogun in his statement said the commission would use INEC Voters Enrolment Devices for the CVR instead of the Direct Data Capturing Machine.
Mutiu Agboke, Oyo INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) said the training was to address the challenges faced by voters on access to polling units during elections.
3. ISIS, Al-Qaeda Planning To Penetrate Southern Nigeria – US Govt
The United States Government has warned its Nigerian counterpart that terrorist groups, ISIS and Al-Qaeda are planning to penetrate Southern Nigeria.
Commander of the US Special Operations Command, Africa, Dagvin Anderson, made this known during a press conference at the weekend.
He said the groups are looking to make an inroad into Southern Nigeria, this is just as It confirmed that Al-Qaeda has started penetrating the north-western part of the country.
Anderson added that AlQaeda is also expanding to other parts of West Africa, adding that the US will continue to partner with Nigeria in sharing intelligence.
4. Merchants Of Violence Responsible For Insecurity In Nigeria – Minister
The Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi has declared that some ‘merchants of violence benefitting from insecurity are responsible for the current security challenges in Nigeria.
The Minister stated this on Monday during a One-Day National Defence and Security Summit held in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
He added during the event held at the National Defence College that the insecurity in the Northeast and some other regions has plunged Nigeria into a critical situation which needs decisive and urgent actions.
5. Yoruba Nation: Don’t Come To Ondo, Akeredolu Warns Sunday Igboho
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has warned Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho Adeyemo and others agitating for a sovereign Yoruba State to stay away from the state.
Naija News reports that supporters of the activist stormed Lagos State on Sunday where they organized a rally to create more awareness on the need for the creation of Yoruba Nation.
Speaking while swearing in Princess Catherine Oladunni Odu as the new Secretary to the State Government on Monday, Akeredolu said Ondo people have decided to stay in the Federal Republic of Nigeria as constituted at present.
Akeredolu said no part of the entire state, known and delineated as Ondo State, would permit any gathering or agitation of Yoruba nation.
He said the right of citizens to discuss, agitate and even fight to right perceived wrongs, culminating in self-determination, must be done within known and acceptable parameters and all concerned must agree to pursue the same objectives to achieve a desirable or desired end.
6. Assassination Attempt On Me Shows Nigeria Sitting On A Keg Of Gun Powder – Ortom
Governor Samuel Ortom on Monday declared that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder which may soon explode if urgent solutions are not deployed.
The Governor said this when he expressed worries about the level of insecurity in the land which he says is affecting everybody.
Ortom spoke at the end of an emergency State Security Council meeting held in Makurdi, the state capital where he also warned people to desist from politicizing Saturday’s assassination attempt on his life.
He however cautioned that the people of the state should remain calm and allow the security agencies to deal with the situation.
7. FG Reveals How It Will Raise $1.5bn For Port Harcourt Refinery Rehabilitation
The Federal Government has explained how it will raise the $1.5 billion needed for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery.
Recall that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on March 17 approved the plan of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to rehabilitate the refinery with $1.5bn.
In an interview with Channels Television on Monday, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, said the federal government will not borrow all the monies needed for the rehabilitation project.
The minister said part of the money ($800) will be sourced from the Federal appropriation of 2020 to 2022 to fund the project.
He added that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will also fund the rehabilitation project with $200 million.
8. 2023: Real Reason I Left PDP for APC – Daniel
Former Ogun State Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel has stated he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) because it has “too many options.”
Speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, Daniel called on Nigerians to separate party politics for good governance.
He said: “Why APC? There are too many options at the party. One thing is sure that we are going through health and economic challenges, we must do less of political contestations and give support.”
Commenting on suggestions the APC was trying to create a one-party state by fishing for members of other parties, Daniel pointed out the PDP was once in the same shoes.
9. Boko Haram: Insurgents Will Be ‘Extinguished’ In Nigeria – CDS Irabor Vows
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Lucky Irabor has disclosed that the military is more than prepared to crush insurgency and restore peace in the country.
This is as he revealed that fresh strategies which involve dealing with the prevailing security challenges confronting the nation will be activated by the military.
Irabor made this known during a One-Day National Defence and Security Summit with the theme: “Promoting Kinetic Operations as a major Plank for Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency in Nigeria” on Monday in Abuja.
He narrated that it is no news that Nigeria is facing a lot of security challenges including terrorism, insurgency, farmers/herders conflict, ethno-religious conflicts, kidnapping and banditry but the Armed Forces are ready and committed to ending the criminal operations.
He added that members of the armed forces are trained to combat anything that threatens the peace and territorial integrity of the nation.
10. Kaduna: Parents Of Afaka Students Block The Streets, Give Govt 48 Hours To Rescue Their Children
Parents of the 39 abducted students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna state, on Monday took to the streets to demand urgent government action on the rescue of their children.
The parents lamented that its been several days since armed bandits stormed their children’s school and abducted some of them and they have heard nothing from the government.
They worried that the government is not doing enough on rescue efforts and their children may also go the way of some students abducted by criminals and are yet to be rescued after several years in the captivity of their abductors.
The parents in a press statement signed by Kambai Sam and Comrade Friday Sanni demanded government safely rescues their children within 48 hours.
They also called on stakeholders including non-governmental organizations and the international community to prevail on the government to take action.