Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 15th March 2022
1. 2023: Osinbajo Breaks Silence On Informing Buhari Of Presidential Ambition
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has distanced himself from the report that he has informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his presidential ambition.
The media aide to Osinbajo, Laolu Akande described the report as false and mere speculation.
According to AIT, Akande in a chat with its correspondent said the report is not factual.
Earlier on Monday, there were reports that the Vice President had informed his boss about his intention to succeed him.
It was reported that a source claimed that President Buhari gave his blessing to his Vice as he has done for other presidential aspirants who have informed him of their intention.
The source further stated that President Buhari is been careful of publicly supporting a presidential aspirant ahead of the 2023 general elections.
2. Blackout Looms In Lagos, Seven Other States As National Grid Collapses Again
No fewer than eight states including Lagos will again experience blackouts, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company confirmed.
This is as the national grid collapsed for the second time in 2022, Naija News reports.
The states affected include Lagos, Enugu, Kaduna, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States, among others.
Nigerians have been lamenting the poor supply of electricity in the last few months.
While the issue persists, EEDC in a terse text to its customers on Monday said that the system collapse occurred on the national grid at 10:40 am.
3. Nigeria Police Release Statement On Reported Planned Nationwide Strike By Operatives
The Nigerian Police Force has denied trending reports that its operatives have chosen a date to commence nationwide strike action over poor welfare issues.
The Police in a statement on Monday evening signed by the Acting Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi rubbished the planned strike action, describing the publication to that effect as fake and mischievous.
Naija News recalls the statement follows earlier reports that operatives of the Nigerian Police Force have fixed March 26 as a date to begin an unprecedented two-week warning strike across the country.
According to the report, the police officers are going on a warning strike to protest against their poor working conditions, poor salaries, lack of genuine welfare benefits, and outdated weapons.
But the statement from the Force PRO said there is no truth in the report and those behind it are only trying to misinform the public and heat up the polity.
Adejobi stated that Police operatives are aware that any form of strike action from them is equal to mutiny which is contrary to their rules of engagement.
He added that the IGP is committed to the welfare of the police officers and efforts are ongoing to ensure the full implementation of the increment of salaries and allowances as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The statement urged the Police officers to remain committed to securing the lives and property of Nigerians.
4. “Serial Betrayer And Ungrateful Person” – Wike Lambastes Obaseki, Apologizes To Oshiomhole
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has lambasted the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, describing him as a serial betrayer and ungrateful person.
Wike while unleashing words against the Edo State Governor said former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomole who warned him about Obaseki’s behaviour has been vindicated.
Naija News recalls both Wike and Obaseki have been involved in a war of words over the crisis plaguing the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike in his latest outburst on Monday where he responded to the Edo State Governor, said he had been warned but ignored the warnings about the character of Obaseki.
Speaking at an event in Rivers State on Monday, Wike said he regrets supporting Obaseki in the Edo 2020 governorship election, describing him as the most ungrateful person he has met in his lifetime.
He added that he has personally invested in PDP and his state has also contributed resources to the well-being of the party but he denied threatening the party.
Wike challenged Obaseki to unveil what he has done for the party since joining the PDP after he was shown the exit door in APC.
5. All Airlines In Nigeria To Shut Down In 3 Days Time – Onyema
The chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema has warned that all Airlines in the country would shut down in three days time over the non-availability of Aviation fuel to run their operations.
Nigerian Airline Operators are urging the federal government to grant them operational licenses so they can import fuel following the recent fuel scarcity across the country.
We have only three more days, all airlines in Nigeria will shut down. We are not threatening this country, it is a fact”, Onyema said.
Onyema stated this while at a meeting of oil marketers and Airline operators at the National Assembly.
Also in attendance at the meeting is the NNPC CEO, Mele Kyari and other stakeholders.
6. ASUU Extends Strike For Two Months
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has extended its warning strike for another two months.
Naija News reports that the union’s National Executive Council, NEC met over the weekend in Abuja to discuss the way forward over the industrial action as it could not receive a positive response from the Federal Government over its demands.
After hours of deliberation, the union decided to extend the strike by two months.
7. FBI List: EFCC Arrests Osondu Igwilo, Others For $100m Fraud
Osondu Victor Igwilo, a suspect wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) since 2018 has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The development was confirmed by the spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, adding that Igwilo was the alleged leader of a criminal network of “catchers”.
Uwujaren noted that Igwilo was arrested alongside Okafor Nnamdi Chris, Nwodu Uchenna Emmanuel and John Anazo Achukwu at a studio in the Sangotedo area of Lagos.
The suspects were accused of fraud, money laundering, and identity theft to the tune of about $100millon.
It was gathered that the suspects allegedly perpetrated a scheme involving false promises of investment funding, impersonating United States bank officials in person and via the internet.
8. Drama As Abba Kyari’s Wife Slumps In Court
There was a mild drama at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday during the bail hearing of the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari and six others.
During court proceedings, a lady identified as the wife of the former commander of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) fainted inside the court and caused panic.
She slumped on the ground shortly after trial Justice Emeka Nwite deferred ruling on applications that Kyari and six other persons facing drug trafficking charges with him, filed to be released on bail pending the determination of the case against them.
The lady, who wore a black Hijab, fell on the floor while armed operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, were leading Kyari and the others away from the court premises.
9. INEC Releases Final List Of Candidates For Ekiti Guber
The final list of candidates for the Ekiti governorship election has been released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Naija News reports that the country’s electoral agency had fixed June 18, 2022, for the governorship election in the South West state.
In a statement on Monday by its spokesman, Festus Okoye, INEC said it released the full list of candidates for the election after it had published their personal information last month.
The INEC spokesman said the final list is published in the agency’s State and Local Government offices in Ekiti as well as its website and social media platforms.
Okoye added that the agency complied with the Electoral Act 2022 and the constitution by releasing the list of the contenders for the much-anticipated event.
10. Federal Government Speaks As ASUU Extends Strike
President Muhammadu Buhari-led government on Monday reacted to the extension of the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Naija News had earlier reported that the union extended the strike by eight weeks due to the failure of the Federal Government to address the issues it raised in a 2020 FGN/ASUU agreement.
The union’s National Executive Council, NEC met over the weekend in Abuja to discuss the way forward over the industrial action as it could receive a positive reply from FG.
The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba in reaction to the decision of ASUU, noted that the government met all the demands of the union.
Nwajiuba while speaking with newsmen at the end of the commemoration of the 2022 Commonwealth Celebration in Abuja said all earned allowances, as well as the revitalization funds demanded, had been released.
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