Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 11th October, 2024
1. My Husband Not Cause Of Hardship – Tinubu’s Wife
Senator Oluremi Tinubu has come to the defence of her husband, President Bola Tinubu, amidst rising economic hardship in Nigeria, asserting that he should not bear the blame for the current situation.
This statement comes as Nigerians grapple with escalating prices following the removal of the fuel subsidy, which saw petrol prices surge from ₦198 to ₦1,030 per litre.
During an event at the Palace of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Thursday, the First Lady emphasized that the Tinubu administration is still in its early stages and should be given time to implement its policies.
She stated that the administration is focused on addressing the nation’s challenges and fostering economic growth.
The fuel subsidy was abolished during President Tinubu’s inaugural address on May 29, 2023, with the President citing the policy as an impediment to Nigeria’s progress.
The decision, however, has sparked widespread criticism and discontent among citizens facing increasing financial strain.
Senator Tinubu was in Ife to inaugurate a hostel and a 2.7-kilometer road named after her, which were donated to Ọbafẹmi Awolọwọ University (OAU) by the Ooni of Ife.
2. NNPCL Lacks Power To Fix Fuel Prices In Nigeria – Falana
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has said Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)’s action to fix imported and locally refined fuel prices is illegal and void.
Naturenex reports that Falana, in a statement on Thursday, referred to remarks made on September 5, 2024, by the Executive Vice President of Downstream NNPC Ltd, Adedapo Segun, who explained that under Section 205 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), NNPC Limited is established to operate in a deregulated market where free market forces determine petroleum prices.
Segun had said, “The market has been deregulated, meaning that petrol prices are now determined by market forces rather than by the government or NNPC Ltd. Additionally, the exchange rate plays a significant role in influencing these prices.”
However, Falana objected to the comment, stating that NNPCL has no legal authority to set the petrol price in Nigeria.
The human rights lawyer pointed out that despite Segun’s claim, NNPCL set the fuel price refined by Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited last month without allowing market forces to dictate the pricing.
Falana noted that on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, NNPCL again bypassed the mechanism of market forces in determining the cost by announcing new pump prices for fuel refined by the Dangote Refinery.
According to Falana, NNPCL actions violate Section 205 of the Petroleum Industry Act, which mandates that market dynamics determine the prices of petroleum products.
3. Reverse Petrol Price Hike Immediately – TUC Tells FG, NNPC
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called for a reduction in petrol prices, urging the government to lower them below the levels seen in June 2023.
Naturenex reports that TUC President Festus Osifo made the call during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
He said: “We demand that the price be brought down, not just to what it was before, but even lower.”
Osifo called for government intervention in the sector by providing foreign exchange to the Dangote Refinery at a rate of $1 to ₦1,000, instead of the current rate of over ₦1,600, to help reduce petrol costs.
Osifo stressed the importance of making petrol affordable, available, and accessible for all Nigerians, noting that the commodity is vital for households across the country, regardless of whether they own vehicles.
He urged the Federal Government to grant all marketers licenses to lift petrol from the Dangote Refinery through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Osifo also suggested that the NNPCL should import refined petrol from other sources if the Dangote Refinery cannot meet Nigeria’s daily consumption needs.
4. Hardship: ‘Review Your Policies Immediately’ – PDP BoT Tells Tinubu
The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised concern over the worsening economic hardship in the country and called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately review his policies.
Naturenex reports that BOT, in a communique after its meeting at the Party headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, urged Tinubu to make critical investments towards food production, revamp the manufacturing sector to stimulate employment opportunities and mitigate the suffering of Nigerians.
The BoT also alerted Nigerians that the alleged electoral manipulation of the Edo State governorship election is part of the sinister plot by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to impose a One-Party system and totalitarian rule on the country.
The board insisted that from the votes cast at the polling units, it is clear that the PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, won the election, adding the party will take every legitimate step to ensure the recovery of the mandate freely given to them.
5. Petrol Price Hike: ‘T-pain’ Is Undisturbed By Nigerians’ Hardship – Atiku
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has asserted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is unconcerned about the hardship in the country.
Naturenex reports that the former vice president made this known while reacting to the recent petrol price hike.
Recall that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, adjusted the pump price of fuel from N897 per litre to N1,030 in Abuja, and from N855 to N998 in Lagos.
The increase in fuel had no doubt affected Nigerians as they continued to groan over the economic situation.
In a post via X on Thursday, Atiku stated that the haphazard approach of the administration of President Tinubu to fuel subsidy management is the reason for the economic crisis in the country.
Atiku noted that Tinubu’s silence to the current challenge in the country is worrisome.
6. Repent Or We Send You Back To Your Creator – Matawalle Tells Bandits Informants
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has warned bandits’ informants to repent or be sent back to their creator.
Naturenex reports that Matawalle gave the warning on Thursday, during an assessment visit to Gundumi village, Isa and Sabon Birni local government areas of Sokoto state.
Expressing sadness at the few presence of people in the village, the Minister assured the residents that business activities would soon bounce back.
He said, “This place used to be lively with a lot of business activities. I assure you it will bounce back. We are going to cite a military base here.
“But you must fear God. Those who have been calling and informing bandits about the movement of security operatives and also about their brothers should desist henceforth. You better repent or we send you back to your creator.”
7. Appeal Court Sets Aside Rivers 2024 Budget Passed By Edison-Ehie Group
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the ruling of the Federal High Court that annulled the ₦800 billion budget passed by a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Edison Ehie.
The appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, deeming it lacking in merit.
In its ruling, the court noted that Governor Fubara had previously withdrawn his counter-affidavit during the proceedings at the lower court, which subsequently barred him from initiating an appeal in a case he had not contested at the trial level.
The judges emphasized the importance of adhering to the rule of law, cautioning that the current political dynamics within the Rivers State House of Assembly reflect what they described as “executive dictatorship” under Governor Fubara’s leadership.
The court characterized the situation as a “joke taken too far,” highlighting the potential threats to democratic governance in the state.
The court held that Governor Fubara’s decision to present the 2024 Rivers State Appropriation Bill to only four out of 31 members of the Assembly amounted to a gross violation of section 91 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
8. Bandits Appoint, Depose Village Heads In My Communities – Sokoto LG Chair
The Chairman of Isa Local Government Area in Sokoto State, Alhaji Sharifu Kamarawa, has informed the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, that several communities within the council remain under the control of bandits.
This revelation was made during the minister’s visit to the local government secretariat on Thursday.
Kamarawa highlighted the serious security challenges facing the region, specifically naming the notorious bandit leader Kachalla Bello Turji as the figure behind the ongoing unrest.
He disclosed that Turji’s gang has taken to appointing and deposing village heads in the affected areas, further complicating the governance and safety of these communities.
The chairman, however, admitted that since the death of Halilu Sububu, the bandits’ kingpin killed about a month ago, there had been a significant reduction in attacks on their communities.
According to him, they can now ply some roads which were formerly deserted.
In his remarks, the minister said President Bola Tinubu was seriously concerned about insecurity in the North, a reason he appointed northerners Ministers of Defence and heads of security operatives.
9. Defence Headquarters Dismisses Asari Dokubo’s Claims Of Military Aircraft Intimidation
The Defence Headquarters has reacted strongly to a viral video featuring former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, who claimed he possesses the capability to bring down military aircraft allegedly hovering over his residence during the recent local government elections in Rivers State.
In the video, Dokubo suggested that the aircraft were attempting to intimidate him due to his vocal support for the elections, stating, “The federal government knows that I have the capacity to bring down any aircraft.”
In response, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, dismissed Dokubo’s assertion as “laughable,” asserting that the former militant was merely “blabbing” and lacked the actual capability to challenge the military or to down its aircraft.
Buba further clarified that the use of aircraft and helicopters by various security agencies is integral to national security operations, underscoring the military’s commitment to professional conduct within the framework of democracy. He noted that it is up to relevant authorities to address statements of this nature.
Addressing unrelated concerns regarding the escape of 13 repentant Boko Haram fighters from a rehabilitation camp, Buba stated that the military is not responsible for the Deradicalization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRRR) program. He reassured the public that measures are in place to ensure the program’s effectiveness.
10. ‘If You Have Nothing To Say, Keep Quiet’ – Reuben Abati Blasts Tinubu’s Minister
Nigerian journalist, Reuben Abati, has slammed Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, over comment that Nigeria is expecting a $50 billion investment in the oil sector by December.
Naturenex reports that Lokpobiri, while speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, said with foreign/local investors’ concerns being addressed, coupled with the efforts to boost oil production to about 2.7 barrels per day, Nigeria remains a titan of African energy and is expecting $50 billion worth of investments in the sector before the end of the year.
According to him, the policy direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revolutionised the oil sector in the last year, making it very attractive to both local and foreign investors.
Reacting to the comment, Abati, during the Arise TV morning show, said Lokpobiri always puts his foot in his mouth and should keep quiet if he has nothing to say.
