Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 3rd January, 2025
1. ‘Use Local Hospitals, Don’t Visit Lagos Alone, Reconsider Tax Reform Bills’ – Peter Obi Sends Fresh Message To Tinubu
Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider some of the policies and strategies of his administration.
He also urged the President to reconsider some of his personal actions, noting that he is no longer the Governor of Lagos State but the leader of the entire Nigeria.
As part of his submissions on Thursday morning, when he held a press conference in Abuja on the state of the nation, Peter Obi charged President Tinubu to spend festive seasons in other parts of the country apart from Lagos so as to feel the pain of the people.
Obi also decried the challenges of insecurity in the country, lamenting that several Nigerians have died needlessly as a result of banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping.
The LP chieftain said the recently increased new minimum wage has not solved the economic challenges in the country, and condemned the prevalence of poverty among the citizens, which he blamed for the recent stampedes during private palliatives distribution in parts of the country.
On the proposed tax reform bills, Obi said the government must first make the country productive before taxing the people. He added that the bills must be thoroughly debated.
2. Nigerians Are Living In Abject Poverty, Especially Working Class – NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has decried hardship experienced by citizens as a result of government policies and inflation.
The Public Relations Officer, NLC, Lagos Council, Ismail Adejumo, said there was need for the government to roll out palliatives that would help to cushion the effects of hardships in the new year.
Addressing organized labour’s demand for the withdrawal of the Tax Reform Bill and the need to review the minimum wage in an interview on Thursday with News Central, Adejumo stated that the ₦70,000 minimum wage was not a living wage.
The NLC’s Lagos Council spokesman explained that President Bola Tinubu promised workers living wage which was yet to be paid.
He noted that with the rising inflation, workers cannot survive with ₦70,000 minimum wage.
3. ‘They Will Reap The Lies’ – Obasanjo Drops Fresh Claims On Nigeria’s Refineries
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has made fresh claims regarding the operations of government-owned refineries in the country.
He also questioned the ability of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to run the refineries effectively.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television which was published on Thursday, Obasanjo challenged the claims by the government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu that the refineries have resumed operations.
Citing a Yoruba adage, Obasanjo said those who lie about their achievements would have to look for cover-ups when the truth is eventually exposed.
During the interview, Obasanjo recalled how and why Shell refused an offer from him as Nigeria’s president to manage the nation’s refineries.
He also recounted how his successor rejected a $750m offer by billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote to manage the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries back in 2007 after he had negotiated the deal.
According to him, it is clear the NNPCL lacks the capacity to run the national refineries, yet rejected Dangote’s offer.
4. Tinubu’s 15% Inflation Goal for 2025 Aspirational — Economist, Rewane
Economist, Bismarck Rewane has characterized President Bola Tinubu’s 15% inflation target for 2025 as overly optimistic, describing it as “aspirational” and “bullish.”
Rewane made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Business Morning segment of the Sunrise Daily breakfast program on Thursday.
Naturenex recalls that in his 2025 budget presentation to the National Assembly on December 18, 2024, President Tinubu expressed confidence that Nigeria’s inflation rate, which had risen to 34.6%, would drop to 15% by the end of the year 2025.
However, Rewane questioned the feasibility of this target, suggesting that a more realistic expectation would be a reduction to around 27% or 25%.
Rewane emphasized that, based on the current economic environment, his outlook was more in line with a reduction to the mid-20s range rather than the much lower figure proposed by Tinubu.
5. ‘I Might Not Be Bold Enough To Take Descisions Tinubu Is Taking If I Was The President’ – Uzor Kalu
Former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu has said President Bola Tinubu is taking bold decisions to reverse the economic challenges in the country.
Naturenex reports that Kalu made the remark on Thursday at Ekoli, Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State during a New Year visit to the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Stanley Okoro-Emegha.
According to him, Tinubu is aware of the current hunger in the county and Nigerians should be patient with him.
Kalu stated that Tinubu’s hard descison would be difficult for him to take if he (Kalu) was the president.
The ex-Abia State governor explained that he was personally sad over the situation, calling on Nigerians to show understanding.
6. Peter Obi Visits IBB, Reveals Details Of Their Discussion
The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has visited Nigeria’s former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, at his residence in Minna, Niger State.
Obi, in a post via his X account on Thursday, confirmed that he visited IBB after his visit to Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi.
The Labour Party chieftain disclosed that the discussions between him and Babangida focused on national issues.
According to Obi, he also used the opportunity to wish the former leader a happy new year.
The former Anambra State Governor described IBB as a wise man whose perspective on issues he is always ready to listen to.
7. NNPCL Invites Obasanjo To PH Refinery, Denies Stopping Crude Oil Supply To Dangote
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has invited former President Olusegun Obasanjo to tour the Port Harcourt Refinery and verify its current operational status.
This invitation comes in response to Obasanjo’s recent interview with Channels Television, where he referenced advice from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) indicating that the refinery might not function efficiently. SPDC, which was approached for equity participation in the refinery, reportedly raised concerns about corruption affecting its operations.
The former president also accused NNPCL of allegedly misleading Nigerians about the refinery’s performance.
In a statement, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, emphasized the company’s dedication to transparency and accountability.
Soneye extended an invitation to Obasanjo to witness the progress made at the refinery since its rehabilitation, highlighting the organization’s transformation efforts.
Soneye explained that NNPCL’s efforts at the Port Harcourt Refinery went beyond routine maintenance, involving a complete overhaul to meet international standards.
He noted similar rehabilitation projects underway at the Warri, old Port Harcourt, and Kaduna refineries.
According to Soneye, NNPCL’s transition from a government corporation to a private entity with limited liability has shifted its focus to profitability, positioning it as a competitive global energy company.
He reiterated the organization’s commitment to maintaining refineries at global standards and ensuring sustainable operations to bolster Nigeria’s energy security.
Addressing Obasanjo’s remarks, Soneye clarified that NNPCL values the former president’s insights and contributions to national discourse.
He assured Nigerians of the company’s commitment to building a brighter future through its transformative initiatives.
8. Peter Obi Speaks On Merger Deal With PDP, NNPP Ahead Of 2027 Election
The Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has dismissed reaching a merger deal with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) or any other party.
Naturenex reports that Peter Obi made this known on Thursday morning during a press conference in Abuja on the state of the nation, stating that no agreement has been established with other parties.
The former Governor of Anambra State called on all lovers of Nigeria in the political space to unite in 2027 and defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of mismanaging the country’s resources.
According to him, the level of corruption in Nigeria remained high, including the cost of governance, which has led to an astronomical increase in public debt under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu of the APC.
Peter Obi maintained that government officials willfully mismanaged public funds in 2024 through incessant foreign travels.
Speaking further, Peter Obi frowned at the insecurity situation in the country, stating that it is unfortunate that Nigerians are dying needlessly due to banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping-for-ransom.
9. Fubara Wins As Court Dismisses Suit Seeking To Compel Governor To Re-Present 2024 Budget
The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit seeking to compel Governor Siminalayi Fubara to re-present the 2024 budget to the 26 lawmakers led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule.
The suit, filed by the Registered Trustees of the Association of Claimants of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners, listed the Government of Rivers State, Governor Fubara, and the Attorney-General as defendants.
Delivering judgment on December 20, 2024, Justice S.M. Aprioku ruled that the suit was “hasty and premature.”
He noted that jurisdictional issues related to the legitimacy of the 27 “former lawmakers” to make laws for the state are still pending in various courts.
10. I’ve Made Up My Mind That If This Is The End, So Be It – Peter Obi
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said he was ready to give everything to ensure the country works.
Peter Obi decried the attitude of his fellow politicians toward him because he wanted a country that works for the citizens.
In a press conference on Thursday, Obi stated that being an opposition politician was not easy.
According to him, everything and everyone in the ruling class has been against him.
The Labour Party chieftain condemned the continuous increase in taxes, noting that the country was not productive.
He stated that the government cannot tax citizens who are finding it hard to eat, and who do not have work.
He said taxing can only be done when the country empowers the citizens.
Peter Obi ointed out the poor business environment killing companies and industries, and the high number of unemployed citizens, including out-of-school children and internally displaced persons in the country.
