Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:
1. National Anthem Bill Passed:
The House of Representatives, on Thursday, passed for third reading, a bill reverting to ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’, the old National Anthem. The bill sponsored by the Majority Leader of the House, Prof Julius Ihonbvere, underwent an accelerated consideration on the floor of the House before passage.
2. Sanusi Reappointed Emir of Kano:
There was jubilation in Kano State on Thursday as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf announced the re-appointment of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano. He made the announcement after signing the new emirate council law at Government House, Kano.
3. Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal
The Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has scheduled judgment for Monday in the petition by Social Democratic Party, SDP, and its candidate in the last governorship election in Kogi, Murtala Ajaka. Ajaka and his party are challenging the declaration of Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner of the election held on November 11, 2023.
4. Tinubu Directs Review of Tertiary Institutions’ Governing Boards:
President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive review of the recently announced governing boards of tertiary institutions. He expressed concerns that the constitutional Federal Character principle did not reflect in the nominations of members of the governing councils.
5. House of Representatives Urges Reopening of Banex Plaza:
The House of Representatives on Thursday urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army to reopen the Banex Plaza in Abuja for business activities. It also urged the authorities to use modern technology, such as surveillance and closed circuit television, to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the attack on Army personnel in the plaza recently.
6 Local Production of Military Equipment to Commence:
The Federal Government said on Thursday that the country was poised to begin local production of military equipment with the recent signing of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Bill by President Bola Tinubu. The Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru, said following the signing of the bill, the FG had been in talks with 50 local firms for local production of firearms in the country.
7 Grandmother Buries Newborn Baby Alive
The grandmother of a 17-year-old girl identified simply as Favour has buried her daughter’s newborn baby alive in the Ogombo area of Ajah, Lagos State. It was gathered that when the grandmother observed that the teenager had gotten pregnant, she became angry and did everything possible to hide the pregnancy from members of the public.
8 Two Persons Sentenced to Death for Armed Robbery:
An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division on Thursday sentenced two persons, Benjamin Joseph (32), and Stephen Orban (25), to death by hanging for robbing two persons of cash and valuable items. The convicts were arraigned on December 30, 2022, on four counts bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.
9 Naira Depreciates in Parallel Market:
The Naira on Thursday depreciated in the parallel market to N1,515 per dollar from N1,495 per dollar on Wednesday. Similarly, the Naira depreciated to N1,485.66 per dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, NAFEM.
10 Sultan of Sokoto Calls on FG to Address Poverty and Hunger:
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has told the Federal Government that Nigerians were increasingly being frustrated by poverty and hunger, thus challenging the political office holders to rise to their responsibilities of protecting Nigerians and uplifting their living standards.
