Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Wednesday, 28th April 2021
1. Buhari Begs US To Relocate AFRICOM Headquarters
The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the United States government to relocate the headquarters of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) from Germany.
Buhari on Tuesday during his virtual meeting with the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken noted that there is the need to move the command headquarters closer to the theatre of operation.
Naija News reports that AFRICOM is one of the 11 departments of defence combatant commands of the US which focuses on addressing security challenges affecting African countries.
Currently, AFRICOM is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.
But according to a statement by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, Buhari has asked for the relocation of the headquarters as part of efforts to tackle the insecurity in Nigeria and other African countries.
2. Senators To Meet Buhari Over Insecurity, Summon Service Chiefs
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday agreed to set an appointment with President Muhammadu Buhari to enable all 109 Senators to meet with him in a closed session to discuss security matters.
It mandated the Joint Committees on Foreign Affairs; Defence and National Security to engage the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno, Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (Rtd) and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, on the regional implications of the recent development in Chad.
The Senate also resolved to summon the Service Chiefs to brief lawmakers on steps taken so far to address the rising spate of insecurity in Nigeria.
These formed part of resolutions reached, following a motion on the deadly activities of bandits and Boko Haram terrorists in some Local Government Areas of Niger State and other parts of Nigeria.
3. Insecurity: Nigeria Has Collapsed, Governors Only Running To Abuja To Take Pictures With Buhari – Wike
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has lamented the deplorable situation of security in Nigeria with the increasing attacks in various states of the federation.
Wike also lambasted the various state Governors whom he accused of not taking needed steps in tackling insecurity in their respective domains but always quick to rush to Abuja whenever issues arise.
The Governor spoke on Tuesday at the Rivers State government house in Port Harcourt during an interactive session with some traditional rulers, political leaders, and other stakeholders in the state.
In his submission, he urged Governors particularly those of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to focus more on finding solutions than politicizing issues and running to Abuja to show how close they are to the President.
He said the Governors by their actions are not doing anything to solve the problems and are also wasting valuable time the President might have used to address other issues.
4. CJN Tanko Fixes Date To Swear In 18 New Appeal Court Justices
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad will on Thursday swear in 18 judges whose appointment to the Court of Appeal was approved last week by President Muhammadu Buhari.
It was gathered that the event scheduled for around 10am at the Supreme Court complex in Abuja will hold whether or not the strike by court workers was called off.
Naija News recalls that Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari had last week communicated Buhari’s approval via a letter to the CJN.
5. Biafra/Oduduwa: Calls For Secession Unreasonable- Lai Mohammed
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has rejected the calls for secession, saying that more effort is needed to break Nigeria than to fix it.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Newsnight which aired on Monday, the minister said the nation’s strength lies in its diversity.
Speaking further, the minister kicked against the open grazing of cattle and animals as part of the measures to tackle the farmers/herders clashes in some parts of the country.
According to Mohammed, the present system of animal husbandry is not sustainable, adding that “ranches must be established all over, grazing reserves must be established.”
On the security challenges in the country, the minister backed several calls for the creation of state police.
Mohammed said he is of the opinion that the move would help tackle the myriads of security threats in several parts of the nation.
The minister however called on the National Assembly and the States House of Assemblies to collaborate to enable it to happen.
6. Benue: Declare State Of Emergency, Address The Nation – Ortom Tells Buhari
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation over its worsening insecurity.
Naija News had earlier reported about an attack on Abagena community housing Internally Displaced Persons camp in Makurdi Local government Area of Benue by armed Fulani herdsmen that left seven people killed, while many others were injured.
Angry youths who were not pleased with the development took to the Makurdi-Lafia road to protest on Tuesday morning, blocking the roads with the dead bodies.
Reacting in a statement on Tuesday through his spokesperson, Jimin Geoffrey, Ortom asked President Buhari to declare a state of emergency over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation.
7. Nigerian Army Warns Against Sharing Pictures Of Dead Soldiers On Social Media
The Nigerian Army has warned members of the public against the indiscriminate sharing of pictures of soldiers who die in battle.
The Army warned members of the public that sharing the images of such soldiers who die in active duty is unpatriotic.
The Army in a statement on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima warned that legal action will be taken against those that continue sharing such images after its warning.
Yerima noted that sharing such images is done most times without considering the impact it may have on the families of the dead soldiers who may have to read information about the death of their loved ones first on social media.
8. Osinbajo Identifies Reason For Current Attacks, Other Challenges In Nigeria
Nigeria’s number two citizen, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has revealed why Nigeria is experiencing security issues among many other challenges at this time.
The Vice-President in a statement released on Tuesday, April 27 through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said that the current challenges facing the country are to prepare the nation for the future.
Naija News understands that Osinbajo stated this while receiving the Yakanaje Uke, (in Nasarawa State), Alhaji Ahmed Hassan, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The VP in the statement titled ‘We are re-organizing Nigeria’s security architecture’ acknowledged the fact that the country is under serious security challenges and there is a need to reorganize its security architecture.
9. Hoodlums Burn Federal High Court In Abakaliki, Injure Security Guards
Hoodlums on Tuesday attacked and set ablaze the Federal High Court located in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
It is understood that the fire set by the attackers using fire bombs affected the library and security posts of the building.
Naija News gathered the hoodlums also injured two security guards during the attack that was said to have occurred around 1am.
It took the efforts and quick intervention of firefighters to put out the fire at the court premises located along the Enugu/Abakaliki Highway.
Confirming the incident, the Spokesperson of the Ebonyi Police Command, Loveth Odah said the attackers who came in their large numbers, scaled the court perimeter fence to carry out the attack.
10. Insecurity: Call For Help, You Are Overwhelmed – Saraki Tackles Buhari, APC
Former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to seek urgent help over Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
In a statement on Tuesday, Saraki condemned the multiple attacks on lives and properties in the country on Monday which claimed at least 15 cops and five soldiers.
The PDP stalwart also lamented the killing of abducted students of Greenfield University in Kaduna, adding that the situation “cannot continue” and “cannot become Nigeria’s new normal”.