Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 28th August, 2024
1. Tinubu To Embark On State Visit To China
President Bola Tinubu is preparing for another international journey, shortly after his return from France.
Naija News reports that President Tinubu is scheduled to visit China in first week of September.
The Nigerian leader will participate in the 2024 Forum on China–Africa Cooperation during this visit.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale, shared the details of the trip at a press briefing held at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.
Ngelale emphasized that the visit is part of the current administration’s strategy to enhance the welfare of Nigerians.
President Tinubu is anticipated to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
Ngelale announced that President Tinubu will engage with major Chinese firms, including Huawei and the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), to fast-track the Ibadan to Abuja section of the Lagos to Kano rail project.
He further mentioned that Tinubu will also convene with the CEOs of ten leading Chinese corporations, which collectively manage over $3 trillion in assets across various sectors such as ICT, oil and gas, aluminum manufacturing, port development, finance, and satellite technology.
2. The Nigerian Army Will Not Allow Itself To Be Undemocratically Used – Lagbaja Sends Warning To Those Calling For Military Rule
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Taoreed Lagbaja on Tuesday said that the Nigerian military will not allow itself to be undemocratically used to push the interest of some people.
He stated that they would not heed calls to overthrow democratically elected government.
Lagbaja argued that those calling for military takeover are youngsters who have never experienced military rule.
He stated this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the COAS Combined 2nd and 3rd Quarters Conference, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
He stressed that the Nigerian Army was not ready to lose the “new prestige” it has painstakingly built in the past 25 years by allowing safe democratic rule.
Lagbaja noted that the Nigerian Army and its sister services have continued to receive support from the government at both the national and sub-national levels as shown in the recent purchase of 2 BELL UH-1 Huey Helicopters equipped with advanced sensors and enablers to conduct a range of missions, including reconnaissance, surveillance, logistics and medical evacuation, among other functions.
3. NUT Condemns FG’s 18-Year Policy For WAEC, NECO
Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has condemned the federal government’s new age policy for secondary school leaving examinations.
Naija News reported that the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced on Monday that the Nigerian government had instituted a new age policy for secondary school leaving examinations, setting the minimum age at 18.
By the new policy, students below the age of 18 years would not be allowed to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSE) conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO).
NUT, however, argued that the policy was outdated considering that economic realities forced parents to send their wards to school from an early age. This, NUT said, exposes the child to early learning.
Nigerian Union of Teachers‘ Secretary-General, Dr Mike Ene, in an interview with The Punch, stated that the federal government’s policy can only work if it addresses early enrolment of wards by parents at the primary school level.
Ene also noted that exceptional students would also be affected by the policy. He said the policy was poorly conceived.
4. Your Weakened Stance Empowers Simon Ekpa, Engage FG To Release Kanu – Ohanaeze To South-East Govs
The apex socio-cultural organization in the South East, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has accused the governors of the region of being responsible for Simon Ekpa’s disruption of peace in the region.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo said the governors’ weak stance on the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, empowered the Finland-based Simon Ekpa to continuously declare sit-at-home in the region.
In a statement, on Monday, by its Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze advised South East governors to take decisive action by engaging the federal government to ensure Kanu is released.
5. Nigeria Risks Degenerating Into A Banana Republic – Peter Obi Slams FG For Arresting Journalists
The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has slammed the federal government for the continued arrest and detention of journalists in the country for exposing corruption.
Peter Obi said with the continuing trend of the federal government using security and intelligence service agencies to arrest and detain investigative journalists, Nigeria risks degenerating into a Banana Republic.
Obi noted that the time had come for the National Assembly to enact a Freedom of Information Act that would guarantee the rights of Nigerians to access information.
He argued that the fundamental right to free speech is linked to the right to access information about the activities of the government.
The former governor of Anambra State further called on the federal government to release PIDOM arrested by police last week. He emphasized that the government must guarantee an open society where citizens must exercise their right to free speech.
6. Ex-Lawmaker Repays ₦1,200 Student Loan With ₦3.1 Million After 47 Years
Honourable Lanre Laoshe, a previous beneficiary of the Federal Government Student Loan Scheme, has repaid his student loan of ₦1,200, which he received between 1976 and 1979.
Naija News understands that the former lawmaker repaid the loan with the current exchange rate, amounting to a total of ₦3,189,217.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) confirmed this development in a statement issued on Tuesday.
According to NELFUND, Laoshe, a former member of the House of Representatives and a past Deputy Whip, expressed his sincere gratitude for the financial assistance he received from the Federal Government during his academic journey.
He mentioned that to ascertain the current value of the ₦1,200 loan, he consulted a table of average annual exchange rates from 1972 to 1985, sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Consequently, he provided a bank draft for this sum to NELFUND, signifying his repayment as a gesture of appreciation to the Federal Government for contributing to his educational pursuits.
NELFUND remarked that Hon. Laoshe’s goodwill and integrity exemplified the profound influence that government support can exert on individuals, underscoring the significance of fulfilling one’s obligations.
7. FG May Convert Arik, Aero Contractors To National Carriers
The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has announced that it is considering merging two prominent Nigerian airlines, Arik Air and Aero Contractors, and converting them into a national carrier.
This disclosure was made by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AMCON, Gbenga Alade, during an interactive session with media executives in Lagos on Monday.
According to Alade, both airlines are facing significant financial challenges and are heavily indebted, making it unlikely that they will be able to repay their outstanding loans.
This situation has prompted AMCON to explore the option of merging the two carriers.
Alade revealed that AMCON had previously presented the idea of converting Arik and Aero Contractors into a national carrier to the former Minister of Aviation, but the proposal was rejected at the time.
The potential merger and conversion into a national carrier is seen as part of broader efforts to address the financial struggles of the two airlines and ensure the sustainability of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
8. Presidency Responds To Ex-APC Chieftain, Lukman’s Criticism Of Governance In Nigeria
The Presidency has responded to remarks made by the former National Vice Chairman (Northwest) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, who criticized the declining state of governance in Nigeria.
Naija News reports that Lukman claimed that each administration has progressively worsened compared to its predecessor.
Lukman expressed his disappointment, stating that while former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government was worse than that of President Goodluck Jonathan, the current administration under President Bola Tinubu seems to be heading towards an even more dismal performance.
He also expressed concern over the lack of organized dialogue among key opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), regarding the upcoming 2027 elections.
In response, the Presidency dismissed Lukman’s criticisms, stating that it would not be sidetracked by such comments.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasized that the administration remains focused on governance and that the results of its ongoing reforms will eventually speak for themselves.
9. We Can No longer Buy Fertilizers, We Want The Days Of Buhari Back – Farmers Association President
The president of All Farmers Association, Kabir Ibrahim, has said Nigerian farmers can no longer afford fertilizers to apply on their farmers due to its high cost.
Kabir Ibrahim said under former president, Muhammadu Buhari, between 2017 and 2020, farmers were able to purchase fertilizer at cheap rates.
Ibrahim regretted that the US dollar to naira exchange was responsible for why farmers could not afford to get fertilizers.
In an interview with Arise TV on Tuesday, Ibrahim explained that the Presidential Farmers Initiative (PFI) of former President Buhari was beneficial to farmers, as it helped to make fertilizers cheap for farmers to afford.
He explained that flooding has also been affecting farmers. He advised the federal government to return the fertilizer subsidy. He stated that farmers should be able to buy fertilizers at cheap rates like in 2017 for the country to have cheap food.
10. NFF Announces German, Bruno Labbadia As New Super Eagles Coach
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German coach, Bruno Labbadia, as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team.
This announcement was made via the NFF’s official X handle (formerly Twitter) early Tuesday morning, following approval from the federation’s Executive Committee.
In a statement released by the General Secretary of the NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, the decision to hire Labbadia came after the Technical and Development Sub-Committee recommended the German tactician for the role.
The statement reads, “The NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to appoint Mr. Bruno Labbadia as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.”
However, specific details about his contract duration, salary, and performance expectations were not disclosed.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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