Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 7th April 2022
1. FG Reacts To Terrorists’ Attack On Kaduna Military Base
The Federal Government has stated that the Nigerian Army repelled terrorists who attacked a military base in the Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna State.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made this known in a chat with State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Naija News recalls that eleven soldiers were killed and several others injured during the attack on the military base on Tuesday.
During a fierce gun battle with the troops which lasted for about two hours, the gunmen who came into the community with motorcycles were said to have also burnt down some armoured personnel carriers (APC) belonging to the troops.
According to Mohammed, the terrorists who attacked the military base were repelled by Nigerian troops, adding that the criminals also suffered heavy casualties.
Mohammed berated the media for not reporting every success of the military in its war against terrorism, adding that the media is propagating the terrorists’ agenda.
2. Two Dead As Goodluck Jonathan Escapes Death In Auto Crash
Former President Goodluck Jonathan escaped death in an auto crash in Abuja on Wednesday.
It was gathered that the auto crash which occurred on Wednesday claimed the lives of two of his aides.
One of Jonathan’s aides, who confirmed the accident, said the former president was fine and okay.
The ECOWAS Special Envoy was on his way from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to his Abuja residence when the accident occurred.
3. 2023 Presidency: I Won’t Step Down, PDP Must Zone Ticket To The South – Fayose
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has vowed to go all the way in contesting the 2023 presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Fayose argued that the only right thing for the PDP to do is to zone its presidential ticket to the south, given that the ticket was zoned to the north in 2019 and southerners respected the party’s decision to allow only northern candidates emerge at the Port Harcourt convention.
The former Governor made his stand known on Wednesday during an interview with Channels Television.
He added that there is no truth in the reports going around that the PDP would throw its 2023 presidential ticket open as he is a member of the committee that worked on zoning and at no point in time did they agree not to zone the ticket.
Fayose also carpeted some members of the party advocating for a consensus candidate, saying he wonders who will step down for who in the race to the 2023 presidency.
He added that the only thing that can make him agree to a consensus candidate is if he is the chosen one.
4. Buhari Signs New Executive Order Into Law
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday signed Executive Order 11 into law.
Naija News understands that the law which mandates the government to institutionalize maintenance of public buildings was signed into law moments before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting attended virtually today by the President.
Having signed the order into law, Buhari noted that the maintenance of public facilities has gone beyond just a culture but an economy, employing Nigerians.
The President reiterates that the order now gives legal backing to the country’s national maintenance policy, following its earlier approval by the Federal Executive Council.
According to Buhari, the government had already started adopting the policy to give a facelift to some of its buildings like the Federal Secretariat Abuja and 24 others spread across the country, Naija News reports.
5. Court Shifts Judgment In Defection Suit Against Ayade
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday shifted judgment delivery in the defection suit against the Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade till April 7.
Justice Taiwo Oladipupo Taiwo shifted the judgment delivery to enable him to consider the implications of a Court of Appeal fresh judgment on defection and related matters.
A Court of Appeal sitting Enugu State a few days ago had ruled that defection did not constitute any known offence but constitutional rights of freedom of association as enshrined under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution is guaranteed.
The Peoples Democratic Party had asked the court to declare the seat of Ben Ayade vacant for dumping the party for the All Progressives Congress.
6. COVID-19: FG Issues New Directive On Midnight Curfew, Large Gatherings
President Muhammadu Buhari-led government on Wednesday lifted the midnight curfew and the restriction on large gatherings.
According to the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, the ban was lifted following the receding of covid-19 cases in the country.
The committee called on states governments to continue to ensure the use of facemasks for indoor activities.
7. NURTW Takes Action Against MC Oluomo, Dissolves Lagos Council
The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has dissolved the Lagos council of the union previously headed by Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya popularly known as MC Oluomo.
The National body also announced the appointment of Seyi Bankole as the new head of the Lagos NURTW in place of MC Oluomo.
Until his latest appointment, Bankole was the secretary of the union in Lagos State.
The developments were announced in a statement on Wednesday titled ‘Dissolution of Lagos State Administrative Council’ jointly signed by the NURTW national president, Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, and general secretary, Alhaji Kabiru Ado Ya’u.
8. Terrorists Release BOA MD, Alwan Hassan After Nine Days
Bandit terrorists have released the acting Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Alwan Hassan, after being held for nine days.
Naija News reports that Hassan was part of the kidnapped victims of the Kaduna-Abuja train that was attacked by terrorists on March 28.
Family members had said that the bank chief was last seen boarding the Kaduna-bound train with over 362 passengers and had not been found since the terror attack.
In a chat with The Nation, a senior official of the bank said the bank chief was released by his abductors on Wednesday.
Confirming Hassan’s reunion with loved ones, he stated that Hassan’s family and friends are grateful to God for the return of their son.
The official, however, refused to disclose if any ransom was paid to the terrorists or how much was paid.
9. Ortom Speaks On PDP Throwing 2023 Presidential Ticket Open
Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has denied media reports that the party has thrown its presidential ticket for the 2023 election open.
It was widely reported on Tuesday evening that the PDP zoning committee had shunned zoning arrangements and thrown the presidential ticket open to all aspirants.
But in an interview on Arise News on Wednesday, Governor Ortom stated that the committee has not jettisoned zoning nor made the ticket available to all presidential hopefuls.
Ortom, Chairman of the zoning committee, however, reiterated his earlier statement that members of the committee only reached a unanimous agreement on zoning the presidential ticket.
The governor stated that a report of the committee will be forwarded to the National Executive Committee of the party.
10. Nigeria’s Debt Stock To Increase By N720 Billion In 2nd Quarter – DMO
Nigeria’s debt stock is expected to increase by a total sum of N720 billion in the second quarter of the year 2022.
This revelation is contained in a statement issued by the Debt Management Office.
Naija News understands that the country’s total debt stock as of December 2021 was N39.55trillion.
The new document made available to newsmen on Tuesday, however, explained the schedule of local borrowings that will result in the seven hundred and twenty billion increase in debt stock.
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 Nigeria News