Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 22nd September 2021
1. Buhari Writes National Assembly, Seeks Amendment To PIA
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday asked the Nigerian Senate to amend the recently signed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Naija News reports that this was made known in a letter he sent to the National Assembly.
Buhari’s letter was read on the floor of the Senate by its President, Ahmad Lawan, at the commencement of the day’s plenary.
The President is seeking an amendment to the new Act to allow for the removal of the Ministers of Petroleum and Finance from the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
In the letter, the Nigerian leader wants the ministers removed so that they can continue to perform their functions without necessarily being members of the board.
Buhari also wants the amendment to allow the Non-Executive Members to be increased from two to six in the interest of our national petroleum.
2. ‘Your Hands Are Not Clean’ – PDP Dares Buhari To Expose Boko Haram Sponsors
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari for refusing to name and shame sponsors of Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Naija News reports that the Presidency had stated that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is not bothered about exposing terrorism sponsors, rather it is only interested in prosecuting them.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, disclosed that security agencies are working to get solid evidence against these terrorism financiers before charging them to court.
Reacting in a statement on Tuesday signed by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said the refusal by the Buhari government to expose sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria shows that “its hands are not clean”.
The PDP added that the refusal shows that the All Progressives Congress-led government has been allegedly providing official cover for insurgents and bandits terrorizing the country.
It, however, challenged the Buhari presidency to immediately publish the names of the sponsors of terrorism given to it by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
3. Bandits Have Been Overpowered In Katsina, Other States – Lai Mohammed
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says bandits have been boxed-in in Katsina and other North-West states.
Mohammed stated that the security measures adopted by the governors in the fight against bandits and criminals in the state are beginning to yield positive results.
He made this known on Tuesday when he visited Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State at the Government House in Katsina.
Mohammed added that the “table is turning” against bandits in the North-West region after security measures imposed by governors got the bandits boxed in, and the military stepped up its kinetic approach.
The minister stated that the positive efforts of the governors have not received media attention, urging the press to encourage the governors and help in the fight against banditry.
4. El-Rufai Reveals His Position On The Defection Of Fani-Kayode To APC
The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has refused to be drawn into a conversation about the recent defection of former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the Governor, he wasn’t part of the process that brought Fani-Kayode back into APC, and only the party leaders that facilitated his return can give reasons behind their actions.
Naija News recalls Fani-Kayode dumped the PDP for the APC last Thursday and was brought to the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja by the ruling party’s national caretaker committee chairman, Mai Mala Buni where he was received by President Muhammadu Buhari and other party leaders, sparking mixed reactions from various quarters.
Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, El-Rufai who was asked by journalists for a reaction to the development said the matter is out of his purview and only the National Leaders of the party and others involved in the negotiation that brought Fani-Kayode can give reasons for their action.
5. 2023 Presidency: Don’t Set Nigeria On Fire – Gani Adams Warns Baba-Ahmed
Yoruba generalissimo, Gani Adams has berated the spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, over his comments on the 2023 presidency.
Naija News reports that the NEF spokesperson had come under attack for saying the North will retain political power beyond 2023.
Baba-Ahmed while addressing students at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, on Saturday, said the North has the votes and would not play second fiddle to any other part of Nigeria.
He had said, “We will lead Nigeria the way we have led Nigeria before; whether we are president or vice-president, we will lead Nigeria.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland stated that Baba-Ahmed’s comments are capable of setting the country on fire.
Adams added that the statements only revealed the domineering agenda of the north and the plan to permanently perpetuate itself in power.
6. Donald Duke, Pat Utomi, Ahmed Abdulfatai, Attahiru Jega, Others Form New Political Party
Some prominent Nigerians have formed the Rescue Nigeria Project (RNP) to give Nigerians an alternative platform to the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Founders of RNP include former governor of Kwara state, Ahmed Abdulfatai, Prof. Pat Utomi, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke,
Senator Lee Maeba, Usman Bugaje, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo, Yomi Awoniyi, Dr. Rose Idi Danladi, Dr. Sadiq Gombe among others.
Naija News reports that Usman Bugaje was appointed as the coordinator of the RNP.
Speaking at the unveiling, former Kwara Governor, Abdulfatai lamented the state of the nation.
He stated that the high level of nepotism and lack of inclusiveness have given rise to agitations by different ethnic groups.
7. Court Adjourns Nnamdi Kanu’s Case Against Buhari Govt
Justice KCJ Okereke of the Abia State High Court, Umuahia, has adjourned hearing in the suit filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu against the Federal Government.
Recall that Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, had filed an ex parte motion asking the court to make an interim order of the release of Kanu to attend to his health in any medical facility of his choice in Nigeria, pending the hearing of the motion, amongst other things
He demanded an apology from the federal government and ₦5 billion damages for the violation of his fundamental rights.
In its ruling, the court adjourned the case till October 7 for further hearing due to the inability of the Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Nigerian Army to appear in court.
8. Senate President Issues Fresh Directive On Buhari’s Loan Request
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan has directed the Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debt to commence legislative work on the external loan request sent to the lawmakers by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Lawan gave the directive on Tuesday when the matter came up during plenary.
Naija News recalls President Buhari in a letter read in the Senate last Tuesday by Ahmad Lawan, sought the approval of the lawmakers to borrow fresh $4,054,476,863 and €710 million external loans.
Buhari in the letter urged the National Assembly to approve grant components of $125 million.
The Senate Committee working on the President’s request as directed on Tuesday by Lawan is headed by Senator Clifford Ordia (PDP ) Edo.
The Committee has been given a timeline of next week Tuesday to report back to the general house at plenary for consideration of their findings and recommendations.
9. Open Grazing Is Old Fashioned – El-Rufai Tells Miyetti Allah, Tackles Southern Governors
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has stated that ranching is the best and sustainable way of livestock production all over the world.
The eloquent governor added that open grazing is primitive and not sustainable, adding that there are alternative ways of producing livestock.
El-Rufai made these known to reporters shortly after a meeting with officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.
The governor added that ranching would curb the incessant farmers-herders clashes across the country and bring peace to the country.
He added that the Northern Governors’ Forum has supported ranching as the best way to rear and market livestock in the region.
El-Rufai, however, condemned the politicizing of the open grazing system and the passage of anti-open grazing law by some Southern states.
10. Gov Zulum Suspends Management After Surprise Visit Exposed Dead Polytechnic
The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum has slammed a six-month suspension on the entire management of the state-owned Ramat Polytechnic in Maiduguri, after paying a surprise visit to the institution.
Naija News reports that Zulum had obtained National Diploma in Agricultural Engineering from the Polytechnic in 1988 before returning as Rector of the tertiary institution from 2011 to 2015.
When he paid an unannounced visit to the school, the Governor was shocked to see workshops and laboratories were no longer functioning as the “Polytechnic is dead”.
He visited the Polytechnic around 9am and found most of the laboratories out of use, with some covered by cobwebs and rodents roaming around due to neglect.
After carrying out an assessment of the place, the Governor directed the State’s Commissioner of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Babagana Mallumbe, to immediately take over the running of the school.
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