Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 4th October, 2024
1. Tinubu Reacts To Niger Boat Accident, Issues Directive To National Inland Waterways Authority
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed condolence to the families of the deceased involved in the boat accident in Niger State.
Naturenex reported that at least 150 passengers are believed to be missing following a recent boat accident in the Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
The boat transporting over 300 individuals, predominantly women and children, capsized during a journey to celebrate Maulid on Tuesday.
The passengers were reportedly en route from Mundi Community to Gbajibo Community for the Maulid festival when the tragic incident occurred.
In a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu commiserated with the families of the victims and prayed for the repose of the souls of the dead.
Tinubu also ordered the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to investigate the spate of boat accidents in Niger state and across the country and devise modalities to check the trend.
2. Tinubu Govt To Reduce Electricity Costs
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has assured Nigerians that there may be a reduction in electricity costs in the coming months.
Naturenex reports that this comes amid ongoing efforts to improve power generation and distribution across the country.
Adelabu highlighted that, despite concerns about rising electricity tariffs, electricity remains a more affordable option compared to running generators on petrol or diesel, given current fuel prices.
The minister provided these remarks on Thursday, October 5, during a courtesy visit by Mr. Tosin Adeyanju, Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, who led the agency’s management team to the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Adelabu also emphasized that, in comparison to neighboring African nations such as Togo, Mali, and Niger Republic, electricity rates in Nigeria are still the cheapest. However, he acknowledged that the low income levels in the country make electricity costs seem high for consumers.
3. Beans Now Out Of Reach, Food Inflation In Nigeria Would Increase – Rewane Predicts
An economist, Bismarck Rewane, has predicted that food inflation would increase in Nigeria in the coming weeks.
Rewane, who lamented specifically about the rising cost of beans, said the floods which have destroyed many farms, the high cost of moving goods from the farms to the market and the increase in the price of petrol from about ₦600 to about ₦1,000 are factors responsible for the increasing price of food products in Nigeria.
He made this known on Thursday while speaking on Channels Television.
Rewane said some food items, such as onions and rice, have recorded a little reduction in prices, but beans has been on the increase and getting out of hand.
The economist attributed the hike in beans’ prices to recent flooding, which ravaged food-producing states like Borno, Bauchi, and Sokoto, amongst others.
Rewane, however, expressed optimism that the duty waivers on food items introduced by the federal government would in the long run, moderate prices of foodstuff in the market.
4. Boko Haram: Military Contractors Not An Option – Defence Chief Replies Ndume
Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, has ruled out the use of military contractors in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against terrorism.
Musa stated that the funds that would be allocated to pay contractors could be better used to strengthen and equip the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Naturenex reports that his response came after Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, suggested employing military contractors to combat terrorists in the country, following a deadly Boko Haram attack that left six farmers dead and five others abducted in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area.
Musa, speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show, highlighted that relying on military contractors has not yielded successful results in other countries, such as Mali and Afghanistan, where contractors have been engaged for years without achieving a lasting resolution.
He emphasized the complexity of asymmetric warfare, stating that it involves non-state actors who are highly mobile and difficult to track, often benefiting from informants.
While acknowledging Ndume’s right to suggest alternative strategies, Musa firmly rejected the idea, underscoring that investing in building the military’s own capacity through joint training with international partners like the U.S. and Europe is the more sustainable and effective option.
He further pointed out that Nigeria has made significant progress in eliminating terrorists, and more successes are being recorded.
5. Federal High Court Bar VIO From Confiscating Vehicles And Imposing Fines
The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has issued a landmark ruling declaring that the Directorate of Road Services, commonly known as the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), must immediately cease confiscating vehicles or imposing fines on Nigerians for road traffic violations.
Delivering the judgment in case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023 on October 2, 2024, Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha stated that the VIO is not legally empowered to seize vehicles or impose harsh sanctions on motorists.
This ruling follows a lawsuit brought by rights attorney Abubakar Marshal from Falana and Falana Chambers, which aimed to challenge the authority of one of the country’s most notorious road traffic enforcement agencies.
The decision significantly curtails the powers of the VIO, offering relief to millions of motorists who have long faced the threat of vehicle confiscation and fines.
However, it is important to note that the ruling does not extend to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), which has operated for decades as Nigeria’s largest body of road traffic marshals.
6. Tinubu Govt Winning War Against Insecurity – Minister Insists
Nigeria’s Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reiterated the incumbent government is winning the war against insecurity.
He says the country’s security remains a top priority in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Naturenex reports that Idris made this remark in Abuja on Thursday during the inaugural international conference hosted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), titled “Interrogating the Root Cause of Violence in the Sahel and Its Impact on Nigeria’s Territorial Integrity.”
The event united experts, policymakers, and key stakeholders to evaluate and suggest strategies for overcoming the obstacles presented by violence in the Sahel area.
In his address, Idris said Tinubu is committed to addressing the problematic state of insecurity in the nation by enhancing investments in technology, personnel, and intelligence collection.
The Minister recognized that the Sahel region has turned into a hub of turmoil, violence, terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and violent extremism, with a significant impact on Nigeria due to the nation’s porous borders with the region.
7. Tinubu Writes NASS, Submits Four Tax Reform Bills
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted four tax reform bills to the House of Representatives, urging for their consideration and prompt passage.
The announcement was made during a plenary session on Thursday, where Speaker Abbas Tajudeen read the President’s letter outlining the significance of the proposed legislation.
The bills, designed to align with the objectives of Tinubu’s administration, include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, aimed at providing a comprehensive fiscal framework for taxation in the country.
Additionally, a tax administration bill is included, which seeks to establish a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes, with the goal of reducing disputes within the tax system.
Another key piece of legislation is the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, which will repeal the existing Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service.
Lastly, the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill is set to create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman to oversee tax-related disputes and enhance taxpayer protection.
President Tinubu emphasized that these bills are essential for strengthening fiscal institutions across the nation and are in line with the government’s broader objectives.
8. Court Summons Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has issued a public summons against the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to attend court and answer a fresh 16-count charge pending against him.
Naturenex reports that by the summons, the immediate former governor of Kogi State, Bello must attend court on October 24 in response to the summons and for his arraignment along with two other defendants.
Justice Maryanne Anenih issued the order for public summons in a ruling on Thursday, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In granting EFCC’s application, Justice Anenih ordered the commission to publish the public summons in a widely circulating newspaper.
According to the Nation, Justice Anenih also ordered the “EFCC to paste copies of the public summons on Bello’s last known address and in conspicuous places on court premises.”
The EFCC had claimed that it had been unable to serve the former governor of Kogi State with the charge filed on September 24 in which the ex-governor and two others were charged with criminal breach of trust to the tune of ₦110.4billion.
The other two defendants in the charge are Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
9. ‘APC-led Govt Is Clearly Against Poor Masses’ – Kwankwaso
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in the last general election, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said Nigerians, especially the northern region, are tired of the current situation in the country.
Naturenex reports that Kwankwaso said this while receiving members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who decamped to the NNPP in the state.
The former Governor, who received the decamped members of the APC from Dala, Kiru and Gwale local government areas at his Miller Road residence in Kano, stated that the administration of the APC is clearly against the poor masses.
He said the APC, which was created to salvage the hardship of the poor masses, has now turned against them, with insecurity and poverty eating deep into the fabric of Nigeria.
Kwankwaso also said that Nigerians will change the current government in the 2027 election.
10. Reps Seek Judicial Reforms To Address Delays In Pre-Trial Hearings
The House of Representatives on Thursday called on the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, to review cases involving individuals who have been in prolonged pre-trial detention and take swift action to expedite their trials.
Additionally, the House urged the judiciary to implement innovative case management techniques to ensure quicker hearings, especially for those who have spent excessive time awaiting trial.
This appeal followed a motion raised by Rep Ahmed Sani Muhammad during a plenary session in Abuja.
In his motion, Muhammad highlighted that both the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and International Human Rights Standards guarantee the right to a fair and speedy trial.
He expressed concern that many individuals are enduring extended pre-trial detention, often for years, far exceeding legal limits. This not only violates their rights but also exacerbates prison overcrowding.
Muhammad noted that many of those held are accused of minor offences that require minimal investigation, raising concerns about the efficiency of the justice system.
He warned that delayed trials undermine the rights of the accused, contribute to prison congestion, and erode public trust in the judiciary.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naturenex. See you again tomorrow.
