Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 16th September 2021
1. ‘You’re All Jokers’ – Presidency Slams Yoruba Nation Agitators Over UN Protest
The Presidency has berated Yoruba Nation agitators over the ongoing protest at the United Nations headquarters in New York, United States of America.
Naija News reports that the agitators had stormed the UN headquarters on Tuesday and Wednesday, to protest against the Muhammadu Buhari government.
The protester under the aegis of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) urged world leaders to facilitate the conduct of a referendum in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on Wednesday, said the Nigerian government expected the agitators to use the UN meeting to garner attention to their causes.
He attacked Yoruba Nation agitators for associating with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which has been labelled as a terrorist organisation.
Shehu stated that no one can take the Yoruba Nation agitators seriously if it continues to associate with IPOB and ESN.
The Presidency, however, asked Nigerians all over the world to ignore Yoruba Nation’s talk of human rights promotion.
2. I Never Compared Nnamdi Kanu, Sunday Igboho To Boko Haram – Gbajabiamila
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has denied comparing IPOB members and Yoruba nation agitators to Boko Haram terrorists.
The speaker had in his welcome address stated that the criminals masquerading as agitators for secession are bent on destroying the country and they do not mean well for Nigerians.
While stating that such criminals are no different from Boko Haram, Gbajabiamila added that the government will not allow them to take the country down the path of destruction.
In a statement sent to Naija News by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Lanre Lasisi, Gbajabiamila pointed out that no name was mentioned in his address.
3. No Recoveries Made On Stamp Duty Since 2016, Malami Tells Govs
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has denied the claim that it has recovered funds generated from stamp duties.
Recall that the 36 states through their Attorneys-General dragged Malami before the Supreme Court over the alleged failure of the government to remit funds generated from stamp duties into state accounts.
In the suit filed on August 24, the state attorneys argued that they are “the sole authority to administer and collect stamp duties on all transactions involving individuals/persons within their respective states.”
But in a statement on Wednesday by his spokesman, Umar Gwandu, said the minister has written a letter to all the 36 governors to explain the situation surrounding the stamp duty saga.
Gwandu stated that the federal government is yet to recover stamp duty funds made from January 15, 2016, to June 30, 2020.
4. 2023: Jonathan Speaks On Defecting From PDP To APC
Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has denied rumours of defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Jonathan camp made the fresh denial on Wednesday after rumours emerged again that the Bayelsa-born politician has dumped the PDP for APC.
Severally, there have been rumours that Jonathan will dump the PDP for APC and contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the ruling party.
On Wednesday, the rumour mill went into overdrive that he has finally joined the APC, sparking anxiety from various quarters.
But when contacted for a reaction, the former president’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze said there is no truth in the defection rumours.
He added that his principal is very busy with other activities and should he decide to defect, it will be communicated through appropriate channels, and not the rumour mill.
5. We Will Lift Twitter Ban Very Soon, FG Promises Nigerians
The Federal Government has again promised to soon lift the ban on Twitter’s operations in Nigeria.
Naija News reports that the Nigerian government had on June 4, announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter services in the country hours after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet was deleted for violating the company’s abusive behaviour policy.
In a statement released by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the government attributed the suspension to “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”.
Briefing State House reporters on Wednesday after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Mohammed stated that it is very close to restoring Twitter services in the country.
The minister stated that the government is working hard to restore Twitter’s operations in Nigeria, hundred days after the platform was banned.
Mohammed added that the government is mindful of the anxiety of Nigerians and both parties are working very hard to put a closure on the matter.
6. We Are Ready To Eat Fish – Gani Adams Fires Miyetti Allah Over Opposition To Anti-Open Grazing Law
Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has stated that the Southwest is ready to find new ways to balance meals if the cost of a cow goes as high as N2 million due to anti-open grazing laws.
Recall that Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), during a public hearing on the recently passed and signed Anti-open grazing law in Lagos, had claimed that cows would sell for as high as N2 million if the bill is passed.
Naija News reports that most southern States have made laws prohibiting the open grazing of cattle in a bid to end clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the region.
Speaking on Wednesday as a guest on PUNCH interview programme, The Roundtable, Gani Adam stated that the Yoruba people in the South-West will start eating fish and other alternatives to beef.
The Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, leader hailed southern governors for banning open grazing in the region.
7. ‘Don’t Be Scared Of Anything’ – Gov El-Rufai Charges Colleagues
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has called on his fellow governors not to be scared of whatever may be the fallout of granting financial autonomy to state Houses of Assembly.
This was as he disclosed that an Executive Bill will soon be sent to Kaduna State House of Assembly seeking financial autonomy for the legislature.
He said that the move was to enable the states’ Houses of Assembly function more effectively and efficiently.
Naija News reports that the Governor spoke on Wednesday at a press conference which held on the sidelines of the on-going 8th edition of the National and State Assembly Service Commissions conference holding in Kaduna.
8. Food Prices Rise As Nigeria’s Inflation Drops For Fifth Straight Month
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says Nigeria’s inflation rate dropped for the fifth consecutive month in September, but the prices of food have continued to rise.
Naija News reports that the latest data published by the bureau shows that the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation, dropped to 17.01 percent in August.
The NBS stated that in the released CPI report, the rate is 0.37 percent points lower than the 17.38 percent recorded in July this year.
Inflation dropped from 18.17 percent in March to 18.12 percent in April before dropping further to 17.93 percent, 17.75 percent, and 17.38 percent in the months of May, June, and July respectively.
The NBS said that on a month-on-month basis, the Headline index increased by 1.02 percent in August 2021, adding that this is 0.09 percent rate higher than the 0.93 percent recorded in July 2021.
9. Boko Haram Founder’s Son And Notorious ISWAP Leader Al-Barnawi Killed
The vicious leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Abu Musab Al-Barnawi has been reportedly killed in Borno State.
It was gathered from multiple sources that the dreaded ISWAP leader was killed in the last week of August, this year.
According to DailyTrust, there are two versions on how the notorious terrorists was killed.
One version claimed he was killed by Nigerian soldiers while the second version claimed that his death was due to internal rivalry in ISWAP.
10. Sit-at-home: National Assembly Members Unite Against Marginalisation Of South-East In Nigeria
Members of the National Assembly from the South-East geopolitical zone rose from a caucus meeting on Wednesday and stood in solidarity with South-Easterners over their marginalisation in the scheme of things within the Nigerian commonwealth.
Naija News reports that the federal lawmakers said they feel the pains of the South-East people and their quest for equity, justice, and protection of their lives and property in every part of the country.
“The Caucus, therefore, resolved to continue to fight for a level-playing ground and an enabling federal system where Ndigbo are able to develop their homeland at their own pace and equally pursue their happiness and actualize their enormous potentials in every part of the country, unmolested,” read the communique issued at the end of the meeting.
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