Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 8th December 2021
1. President Buhari Sacks AEDC Management, Appoints Interim Board
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the immediate sack of the management of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) over the strike by electricity workers.
Naija News reports that the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) on Monday embarked on a strike to demand their unpaid allowances, salaries and unremitted pension deductions.
This strike by the electricity workers left some areas in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger states without power for hours.
But in a statement on Tuesday issued by his spokesman, Ofem Uket, the Minister of State for Power, Goddy Agba, said the management board of the company was sacked over the strike embarked on the workers.
Uket stated that the President also directed the setting up of a new management team to oversee the day-to-day operations of the company.
2. Your Decision To Place Travel Ban On Nigeria Discriminatory – Senate Tells UK
The Nigerian Senate has frowned at the decision of the United Kingdom Government to slam a travel ban on Nigeria due to discovered cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
The Red Chamber stated that the travel ban was discriminatory and unfair, asking the Executive to meet with the British authorities in order to lift the ban and remove Nigeria from its red list.
Naija News recalls that the United Kingdom on Saturday banned all flights from Nigeria following the three cases of the Omicron Variant detected in the country.
This is coming after the Canadian government also imposed a travel ban on Nigeria after detecting the variant from travellers who landed in the country from Nigeria.
Moving a motion on Tuesday on the floor of the chamber, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (PDP – Enugu West) said the decision by the British government to include Nigeria in their COVID-19 list was unjust and cruel.
He stated that the ban has affected many Nigerians who had planned to spend their Christmas and New Year holidays with their families in the country.
The former Deputy Senate President said that the cases of the Omicron variant didn’t originate from Nigeria, hence it was wrong of the UK government to place a travel ban on Nigeria.
He, however, said the travel ban amounts to profiling and discrimination as well as an attack on Nigeria’s cordial diplomatic relationship with the UK.
3. Tears As Truck Kills Many Students, Injures Others In Lagos
Some students of Ojodu Grammar School in the Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos State have been killed while others sustained severe injuries during a freak accident on Tuesday afternoon.
Naija News gathered that a truck was said to have lost its brake and rammed into the students who were about to cross the road.
It was learned that the truck driver fled the scene but was arrested by students and residents of the area. However, the truck was destroyed and set ablaze by an irate mob.
The number of the students dead and those injured were reportedly up to seventeen.
4. Buhari Writes Senate, Seeks Passage Of Finance Bill 2021
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday urged the senate to without hesitation consider the passage of the 2021 Finance bill that will guide the implementation of the 2022 appropriation figures.
Naija News reports that the President made the call in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan.
At the plenary on Tuesday, Lawan while addressing fellow lawmakers said that President Buhari requested that the bill is passed, noting that doing so will help support the 2022 budget of Economic growth and sustainability that is presently before assembly.
President Buhari also noted in the statement that the Bill will help to address some radical reforms in the finances of the government.
5. NCDC Confirms Three New Cases Of Omicron Variant
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, on Tuesday, reported three new cases of Omicron Variant in the country bringing the total number of cases in Nigeria to six.
Following the outbreak of the virus in the country, the likes of the United Kingdom, Canada have placed a travel ban on Nigerians.
NCDC in a statement released on Tuesday through its Director-General, Ifedayo Adetifa, disclosed that three additional cases of the virus have been detected in passengers linked to South Africa in November.
The statement reads in part, “The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has confirmed three more cases of COVID-19 with the B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2 lineage, i.e., the Omicron variant, in Nigeria.
“In addition to the three cases announced earlier on 1st December 2021, this brings the total number of confirmed cases of the Omicron variant detected in Nigeria to six. All the Omicron cases so far were detected in persons with recent travel history to South Africa in November.
6. Shekarau Opens Up On Discussion With Tinubu During Visit
Former governor of Kano State, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau has opened up on what APC chieftain Bola Ahmed Tinubu told him during their meeting.
Naija News recalls that the former governor visited Tinubu in his residence on Sunday, December 5.
The visit led to lots of raised eyebrows as Tinubu is a supporter of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje who is battling with Shekauru for control in Kano APC.
In a recent interview with BBC Hausa on Tuesday, December 6, the senator opened up on the purpose of the visit.
He stated that Tinubu had insisted on his visit while he was in Abuja but he was not available and could not honor the invitation because he was in Kano, so they rescheduled.
7. Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer Cries Out Over His Client’s Treatment In DSS Custody
Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lawyer to the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the Department of State Service (DSS) of denying his client maximum possible comfort as directed by the court.
Ejiofor made the accusation in a statement was titled, ‘Update On Today’s Visit To Our Indefatigable Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu At The Headquarters Of The Department Of State Services (DSS) Abuja’.
Naija News reports that Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 2, 2021, ordered the secret police to allow Kanu to practice his faith, change his clothes, among other things while in custody.
After delivering the ruling, Justice Nyako adjourned the trial of the IPOB leader till January 18, 2022.
In the statement issued on Tuesday, Ejiofor berated the DSS for failing to obey court orders granting his client maximum comfort in detention, describing the action as “totally unacceptable, grossly condemnable, and intolerable.”
He stated that the continuous disobedience of court orders by the DSS is becoming worrisome, asking the judiciary to address the ugly trend.
Ejiofor submitted that his routine visit to Kanu in DSS custody on Monday reveals that his client has been denied his medical report after taking his blood more than 21 times.
8. Jos Jailbreak: Prisons Announces Re-arrest Of 21 Inmates
Twenty-one inmates who fled from the Jos Correctional Centre have been re-arrested, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has announced.
Recall that the facility located in Jos, the Plateau State capital came under attack from gunmen suspected to be bandits in November.
A prison official and nine inmates were killed during the attack while one of the gunmen trapped within the facility was killed by security agents.
About ten of 262 fleeing inmates who escaped from the facility have been recaptured and 252 inmates are still on the run.
Following the development, the Federal Government immediately published photos and names of some of the escaped inmates.
A statement on Tuesday by the spokesman of the Plateau Command, Geoffrey Longdiem, said some of the fleeing inmates were arrested while others returned voluntarily.
Longdiem added that the inmates were arrested in collaboration with other security agencies.
9. Sanwo-Olu Announces Fourth-wave, Issues Fresh Restrictions
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has announced the fourth wave of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state.
Naija News reports that the governor disclosed this in a state broadcast on Tuesday.
During the broadcast, the governor also revealed that individuals without covid-19 vaccination certificate will not be allowed to attend social events.
10. Zulum Donates N5m To Injured Soldiers In Borno
Governor Babagana Zulum has donated N5 million to soldiers injured during a gun duel with the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Borno State.
Naija News reports that troops of the Nigerian Army engaged ISWAP insurgents at Rann in Kala Balge Local Government Area of the state.
The insurgents mounted gun trucks and motorcycles and attacked troops deployed at the Forward Operational Base (FOB) in the area.
During the battle, the troops gallantly killed 26 and captured the terrorists’ combat vehicles, 18 AK 47 rifles and one M-21 rifle with a large quantity of ammunition.
The soldiers also destroyed several other pieces of equipment belonging to the terrorists.
During a visit to the Army Hospital at Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri, on Tuesday, the governor commiserated with the injured soldiers and the Nigerian Army.
Zulum, who was accompanied by some commissioners and a lawmaker, consoled the soldiers and commended them for their gallantry and patriotism in dealing with the terrorists.
He asked that the money be shared with all soldiers who are on admission and those that were not involved in the clash between troops and the insurgents.
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