Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 15th September 2021
1. President Buhari Seeks Approval For Fresh $4bn, €710m Loan
The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded a letter to the National Assembly seeking its approval to borrow fresh $4,054,476,863 and €710 million loans.
Buhari in the letter on Tuesday urged the national assembly to approve grant components of $125 million.
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, read the letter in the Senate on Tuesday.
Buhari in the letter stated that due to the demands in the country, there is a need to raise more funds for some “critical projects”.
2. Security Alert: Boko Haram Leaders Relocating To Southern Kaduna – DSS
The Department of State Services, DSS, has alert security agencies in Kaduna State over the influx of Boko Haram leaders and their soldiers into Southern Kaduna from Sambisa forest.
According to a memo by the DSS, security agencies were urged to step up surveillance and intelligence gathering” in the state.
The secret police revealed that Boko Haram terrorists have relocated from Sambisa forest in Borno state to Rijana forest in Chikun local government area of Kaduna.
The memo sighted by Peoples Gazette stated that a “senior Boko Haram fighter, Ibrahim (FNU) alongside his foot soldiers” were relocating to join their counterpart “under the leadership of one Adamu Yunusu (aka Saddiqu)”
The DSS ordered the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) to increase security measures in the “aforementioned areas and environs,” and that operatives of the corps “should be placed on alert and report accordingly.”
3. ‘We’ve Been Pushed To The Wall’ – ASUU Hints When Lecturers Will Start Strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Tuesday accused the Federal Government of defaulting on its promise to implement the Memorandum of Action (MOA) signed by the two parties last December.
The Lagos Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Dr Adelaja Odukoya who was joined by other union leaders from various universities in the zone at a press conference in Lagos, disclosed that academics in the nation’s public universities can embark on strike any moment from now.
The union leaders lamented that the government is trying to cripple the union by withholding check-off dues of members for over a year. They held that these dues ran into millions of naira and that the act was perpetrated by the government through the controversial Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS).
4. Grant Amnesty To Detained IPOB Members, Oduduwa Agitators, Orji Kalu Tells Buhari
A former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to grant amnesty to the detained members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Yoruba Nation agitators.
Naija News reports that IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu and some members of the proscribed group are being detained in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).
Also, some Yoruba Nation agitators and supporters of Sunday ‘Igboho’ Adeyemo are being detained in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force.
But in a statement he personally on Tuesday, the Senate Chief Whip and Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District in the National Assembly demanded that all arrested agitators should be released.
The lawmaker added that granting all detained agitators amnesty will show that the federal government is fair and that will improve unity in the country.
Kalu, however, asked the government to give all detained IPOB members and Yoruba Nationa agitators the same treatment as repentant Boko Haram insurgents and bandits.
5. The Real Boko Haram Leaders Don’t Go To War – ‘Repentant’ Commander Exposes How The Terrorists Work
An ex-Boko Haram commander who has ‘repented’ and submitted to troops of the Nigerian Army has disclosed that the true leaders of the terrorist group don’t go to the battlefields.
According to him, the majority of those killed or captured by the troops in recent times are ordinary fighters or low-ranking commanders of the dreaded group.
The ex-fighter identified as Adamu Rugurugu further disclosed that the top leaders are fond of sending them to the battlefronts to die while they remain faraway and secured in the strongholds.
Rugurugu made the disclosures in a video clip as reported by PR Nigeria where he added that most of them were recruited into the Boko Haram terrorist group against their wish, indoctrinated, and sent to the battlefields to carry out operations.
He told others who are yet to surrender to do so and lay down their arms, noting that the promise made to them by the leaders about doing it for God and a special reward for them in paradise is nothing but pure scam.
6. COVID-19: Obaseki Restricts Unvaccinated Civil Servants From Work
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has barred civil servants who have not been vaccinated from going to work.
Naija News recalls Obaseki had declared that starting from the second week of September, people in the state will be required to show their COVID-19 vaccination cards before gaining access to public spaces.
Following the directive, a group went to court, seeking to restrain the government from carrying out its threat but the governor stood his ground.
In a statement on Tuesday by the Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Health, Osamwonyi Irowa, said the government with effect from September 15, 2021, will commence the enforcement of the “no vaccination card, no access to public places” policy.
According to Irowa, all those who are yet to take the COVID-19 vaccine have also been barred from accessing public places.
7. SCOAN Crisis Deepens As Global Congress Insists Evelyn Can’t Succeed TB Joshua
Aggrieved members of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) have rejected Evelyn, the late Prophet TB Joshua’s widow, as the new leader of the Church, insisting that the late founder expected his successor to be from among the Pastors in the Church whom he had anointed.
They contended that Evelyn had no basis parading herself as the new leader of SCOAN, claiming that she was neither anointed a Pastor by Joshua nor was she among the founding members of the Church.
Naija News recalls that SCOAN had, in a statement posted on its Facebook page, announced that the activities of the Church would be directed by Evelyn and called on its members and followers to pray for the wife of the late televangelist as she takes over the leadership role.
But in a statement issued in Akure under the auspices of the Global Congress of SCOAN Members, (GCSM) and signed by one Adedeji Opeyemi, President of GCSM, and Secretary, Mr. Brown Chimieze, the SCOAN members rejected Evelyn as leader and adduced reasons for their position.
They claimed that the rule of SCOAN has been swept aside by a few members whom they alleged were building stumbling blocks against the progress of the Church and urged all Christians and people all over the world to help in sustaining the church from ruin.
8. UAE Lists Six Nigerians As Sponsors Of Terrorism
Six Nigerians have been list by the United Arab Emirates as financiers of Boko Haram and other criminal activities.
According to WAM news agency, the list was released after the Emirate federal cabinet met in the capital Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Nigerians placed on the watch list were Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad.
This is coming after the UAE accused an official of the Nigerian government of sponsoring the terrorist group which has killed thousands of people in the country.
The Emirate authorities are yet to release the name of the official, amidst reports that some people in Nigeria are mounting diplomatic pressure not to publish the name.
9. APC Appoints Akume, Dogara, Others As Members Of National Reconciliation Committee
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bid to close ranks among disgruntled members of the party has named a National Reconciliation Committee.
The nine-member committee is chaired by Senator Abdullahi Adamu with Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo as the secretary.
The National Secretary, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the APC, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe who made this known in a statement on Tuesday said the date for the inauguration of the committee will be announced later.
10. ‘I Sympathise With Southeast But Zoning 2023 Presidency Unconstitutional’
Former Governor and Senator representing Nasarawa West, Abdullahi Adamu, has kicked against the zoning of the presidency to the southeast in 2023.
Speaking to newsmen at a media parley on Monday, the Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture stated that zoning the presidential ticket to any zone is not backed by the constitution.
According to him, the 1999 Constitution (as amended) did not mandate political parties to zone presidency or any other political office to any part of Nigeria.
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