Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Wednesday, 26th May 2021
1. Open Grazing Ban: Akeredolu Lambastes Garba Shehu, Describes Him As ‘Agent Provocateur’
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has lashed out at the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Garba Shehu over his recent comments on open grazing.
Akeredolu described Shehu as an ‘agent provocateur’ over his position on the resolutions of the 17 southern governors which banned open grazing after their meeting in Asaba, Delta State.
According to the Governor, Shehu is not speaking for the Presidency or President Buhari over his recent submission which negated the ban on open grazing policy as adopted by the Southern Governors.
He accused the presidential media aide of going beyond the boundaries of his duties to satisfy some particular set of people.
It will be recalled that the Southern Governors banned open grazing and called on the President to address Nigerians on the security situation in Nigeria.
However, in a statement on Monday by the Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, the Presidency said the plan by the governors to ban open grazing in the Southern part of the country is of “questionable legality”.
According to the presidency, the resolution reached in Asaba, Delta state capital, will not solve the farmer-herder clashes.
Shehu asserted that Buhari had earlier approved the rehabilitation of grazing reserves, adding that the clashes between the farmer and herders will be addressed with the President’s approval.
The Presidential aide said despite the negative effects of COVID-19 on the economy, federal funding for the project, which had been delayed, is now being partly unlocked.
Shehu noted that the governors’ action during the recent meeting in Asaba, Delta state is a violation of the constitutional right of Nigerians to live and do business in any part of the country, irrespective of such citizen’s state of origin.
2. FG Returns £4.2m Ibori Loot To Delta Government
The Federal Government has returned the £4.2 million Ibori loot repatriated from the United Kingdom to the Delta state government.
Nigeria’s Accountant-General, Ahmed Idris, made this known on Tuesday while addressing the Abuja House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Assessment and Status of All Recovered Loots Movable and Immovable Assets from 2002 to 2020 by Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria for Effective Efficient Management and Utilisation.
Idris said the decision was in line with the laid down procedure as funds looted from a state are usually returned to the state.
The AGF noted that states could take the federal government to court if such funds are not returned.
3. Nigeria Has Officially Devalued Naira Again
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has officially devalued naira as a result of its introduction of the new Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange (NAFEX).
The CBN has depreciated the currency by 8 percent, to N410.25 per dollar.
The bank also announced a change of policy on its website.
Two weeks ago Reuters news agency reported that the bank would devalue the naira by depreciating from N379 per dollar to keep the price of one naira in the market.
This change means that from now on the market will be able to determine the value of the naira or its exchange rate during the exchange.
Nigeria has long used a variety of foreign exchange policies, which is why the CBN is focusing on the same process now.
4. Six Fighter Jets To Arrive In August — Emefiele
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari-led will get twelve fighter planes from the United States of America to help fight insecurity in the country.
Emefiele disclosed this while answering questions at the end of a two-day monetary policy committee meeting in Abuja.
The CBN Governor lamented how insecurity has affected the economy, adding that the arrival of the planes is in line with a pact made between the Nigerian government and the US government three years ago.
5. Ebonyi: Suicide Bomber Explodes In Botched Attack
A suicide bomber on Tuesday blew himself to pieces when a suicide vest he was wearing exploded in Afikpo town, Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi state.
A source in the area told The Nation that the incident happened around 12noon after the bomber tried to gain entry into a Primary School.
“He made an attempt at entering Amaizu/ Amangballa Primary School but was turned back by the school security since he couldn’t justify his reason for visiting. He immediately started running inside a nearby bush before a big bang was heard,” the source said.
According to the source, residents took to their heels when the bomb exploded but later reconvened at the scene of the incident few minutes after only to discover the suspected suicide bomber laying dead in the pull of his own blood.
6. No Land In Benue For Grazing Reserves, Routes – Ortom Tells Buhari Govt
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has insisted that the North-central state would not provide any land for the establishment of grazing reserves for cattle.
Naija News reports that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had said the federal government plan to commence rehabilitation of grazing reserves in the country.
But reacting in a statement on Tuesday, Ortom described the move by the federal government as shocking, stressing that Benu is not part of any grazing reserves rehabilitation programme.
According to the governor, the state has been gazetted for grazing routes, grazing reserves, cattle colonies and Ruga settlements.
7. EFCC Invitation Unconstitutional, INEC Okay With Our Account – PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as unconstitutional the invitation handed to some of its members by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Naija News reports that the opposition party was reacting to an invitation by the anti-graft agency after a member of the party, Prince Kasim Afegbua, petitioned the EFCC.
Afegbua, a former Media aide to Adams Oshiomhole and Ibrahim Babangida, has been expelled from the PDP for anti-party activities.
Speaking to newsmen at the end of a meeting in Abuja, Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Walid Jibrin stated that the party is not accountable to the EFCC.
According to the former lawmaker, the former ruling party is only accountable to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He wondered why the EFCC should intervene in an issue that is purely that of political parties.
8. 20 Dead As Cholera Breaks Out In Bauchi
At least 20 people have died while 322 have been infected with cholera following the outbreak of the disease in Bauchi state.
State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Aliyu Maigoro, made this known on Tuesday while briefing newsmen on the epidemic at the ministry of health headquarters Bauchi.
Maigoro explained that nine of the people who died hailed from Bauchi local government, four in Misau, three in Ningi, three in Toro, and one person in Giade local governments.
He said the ministry through the state primary health care development agency responded immediately having been notified of the disease to avoid its spread to other communities in the state.
Maigoro added that other response actions so far conducted by the ministry to tackle the disease include the establishment of the state public health emergency operation centre and isolation centres in all general hospitals of the affected local government areas.
9. Five Policemen Dead As Hoodlums Raze Enugu Police Station
Unknown gunmen on Tuesday morning attacked Iwollo Oghe Police station in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
It was gathered no fewer than five persons, including police personnel were feared killed in the attack that saw the police facility totally razed.
It was also learned that most of the vehicles and other property on the premises were burnt down.
Spokesman of the Police Command, Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the incident to reporters at the state police command headquarters in Enugu.
10. Notorious IPOB Member Arrested Over Attacks On Ebonyi Police Stations
The Ebonyi Police Command has captured a notorious gang leader and suspected member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) known as ‘Blood’.
A statement from the police command stated that ‘Blood’ was the mastermind behind attacks on three Police Divisional Headquarters in the state namely Onicha, Abaomege, and Ohaozara.
The police command noted that the suspect died shortly after from gunshot wounds sustained during his arrest.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
The article was originally published on Nigeria News