Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 13th September 2021
1. ‘I Will Be Careful With Your Future Invitations’ – Full Text Of What President Buhari Said And Didn’t Say In Imo – Presidency
The presidency on Sunday observed that various interpretations have been given to some of the statements made by President Muhammadu Buhari during his visit to Imo State on Thursday.
Naija News recalls despite threats by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), President Buhari visited Imo State on Thursday based on the invitation of Governor Hope Uzodinma, commissioned some projects, and left without any recorded incident.
Buhari had commissioned some projects which include Naze-Nekede-Ihiagwa-Obinze Link Road Phase One, an underground tunnel on D-Tiger Road Owerri, the Egbeada Bye-Pass, and the new State Executive Council Chambers at the Government House, among others.
But all that was overshadowed by the attire of the nation’s Commander in Chief and a statement purportedly addressed to Governor Uzodinma during his meeting with southeast leaders in which Buhari said “I will be careful with your future invitations.”
However, a statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina on Sunday observed that some of the things said by the President during his visit were been reported out of context and thought it right to set the records straight.
While acknowledging Buhari said those exact words, Adesina added that some people were deliberately attempting to twist the President’s statement out of context.
2. VAT: Our ‘Feeding Bottle’ Strand Of Federalism Is No Longer Sustainable – Ekweremadu Praises Rivers, Lagos Govts
A former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has praised the governments of Rivers and Lagos States over what he described as their courageous actions as touching the issue of Value Added Tax (VAT) collection.
The lawmaker in a statement on Sunday said the federal government has been shying away from implementing true federalism but rather bent on implementing a version forced on the country by past military regimes.
He made the submission while weighing in on the current face-off between the two state governments and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on the collection of VAT.
Naija News recalls both the Rivers and Lagos State governments have publicly declared their intentions to start collecting VATs generated directly in their states with the Governors signing appropriate bills into law to back up their actions.
The FIRS has kicked against the development and taken the matter to court.
However, the court of appeal has ordered all parties involved to maintain status quo pending the determination of an appeal that was lodged before it by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS.
Making his stand known on the saga, Ekweremadu urged the National Assembly not to interfere by obliging a request from the FIRS which wants the lawmakers to amend Nigeria’s constitution and move VAT collection to the Exclusive Legislative List which will, in turn, give the federal government exclusive right on VAT collection in the country.
He accused the FIRS of attempting to go through the back door to achieve its aim.
3. Lamido Meets Obasanjo, Reveals Details Of Meeting With Former President
Former Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido, on Sunday met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Naija News reports that the meeting was held at Obasanjo’s OOPL Presidential Library residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun capital.
Recall that some workers of the former president were recently abducted by unknown gunmen on their way back from Obasanjo’s farm.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Lamido lamented that nowhere is safe in the country.
He urged the former president to continue contributing to sustaining peace and unity in Nigeria.
4. APC Expels Former Enugu Governor, Ex-Speaker, 39 Others
The Enugu State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expelled forty-one members of the party for taking the state leadership to court.
Naija News reports that those expelled include a former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odo, former military governor, Group Capt. Joe Orji, a former Deputy Governorship candidate of the party in the State, Prince Chikwado Chukwunta, Gen. J.O.J Okoloagu, a former Reps member, Chukwuemeka Ujam and several others.
Recall that the suspended members had dragged the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee in the State, Dr. Ben Nwoye before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja seeking his removal from office.
However, the vacation judge, Justice Sylvanus Chinedu Oriji refused to grant the interlocutory injunction.
He instead ordered that the motion on notice and the entire case be assigned to a regular court at the end of vacation for full determination of the matter.
Speaking to newsmen on Sunday, Nwoye said the forty-one members were expelled following their alleged violation of the provision of the party’s constitution.
5. Police Kill Top IPOB/ESN Commander In Imo While Allegedly Planning An Attack
The Imo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has killed a commander of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) in the state.
The police in a statement released on Sunday said it killed the IPOB/ESN leader after it received intelligence that the agitators are isolated in an uncompleted building situated in a valley in Amaifeke in Orlu LGA of Imo.
The report alleged that the group was planning to resume terror attacks on police and the government.
Naija News learnt that two other persons were also killed alongside the IPOB/ESN commander during a gun battle in Orlu local government area of Imo state.
The spokesperson of the state police command, CSP Michael Abattam, who confirmed the development said on September 11, the command’s tactical teams mobilized and stormed the hideout out of the group located in an uncompleted building in a valley at Essential Home popularly known as NGBUKA in Amaifeke Orlu LGA of Imo State.
6. COVID-19: FG Takes Fresh Action On Foreign Travellers
The Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has relaxed restrictions on foreign travellers without evidence of payment for their COVID-19 PCR test.
Naija News reports that foreign travellers were previously required to show proof of payment for their COVID-19 PCR test before they were boarded on any airline.
But in a memo dates September 11, 2021, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Musa Nuhu, directed foreign airlines to board passengers without evidence of payment for day seven COVID-19 PCR test or generate paid QR code/permit to fly.
The NCAA boss, however, said such passengers would be required to make payment for the repeat day-7 COVID-19 PCR test at their destination airport in Nigeria.
7. SCOAN Appoints TB Joshua’s Wife, Evelyn As Leader
The wife of the late founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, TB Joshua, Evelyn has been appointed as the new leader of the church.
The church in a statement released on its Facebook page said the church activities would be directed Evelyn and under the guidance of God.
SCOAN in the post called on its members and followers to pray for the wife of the late televangelist as she takes over the leadership role.
8. Network Shutdown In Zamfara, Katsina Violates Human Rights – SERAP To Buhari
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has condemned the shutting down of telecommunication services in Zamfara and Katsina State by the Federal Government.
Naija News had reported earlier that President Muhammadu Buhari-led government ordered the shutting down of mobile networks in the two states over insecurity issues.
Reacting to the development, SERAP in a statement released on Sunday, September 12, urged President Buhari to direct Communications Minister, Isa Pantami, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to reverse it’s directive.
According to the rights group, network shutdowns should never have become an entrenched practice in the country.
The statement signed by Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, pointed out that the suspension is a form of collective punishment of residents of the affected states.
9. Southerners Using Open Grazing Law To Attack Buhari’s Fulani People, Loot Treasury – Miyetti Allah Blows Hot
The National Secretary, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Saleh Alhassan, has claimed that the anti-open grazing law being established in the south is just a means of scoring political points.
The factional group of Fulani herdsmen claimed that state governors in the south are exaggerating the herdsmen crisis to get more security votes or loot treasuries.
According to Alhassan, southerners are out to apply pressure on Fulani herdsmen because President Muhammadu Buhari is their tribesman.
While claiming that most bushes in the south are not being used to farm, he added that most cattle in the region belonged to southerners.
10. Niger: Scores Killed As Fleeing Bandit Terrorists Run Into Military Camp
Heightened military operations against bandits in Zamfara and Katsina has forced the fleeing terrorists to run into soldiers at Maganda village near Allawa in Shiroro LGA of Niger State.
The bandits, according to PUNCH, ran into the military camp in Allawa while escaping through the notorious Allawa Forest in their hundreds.
It was gathered that the terrorists had engaged the soldiers in a serious gun battle for several hours.
Though a soldier is reported to be missing after the clash, scores of the bandits were killed while several others succeeded in escaping with bullet wounds.
Those are the top Nigerian newspapers headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
This article was originally published on Naija News