Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 6th September, 2024
1. Vice President Shettima Summons Lokpobiri, Kyari, Ribadu Over Fuel Price Increase
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Thursday met with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu over the recent increase in the price of petrol in the country.
The Vice President met with the trio at the State House in Abuja over the recent decision by the NNPC to increase the price of petrol at its filling stations to ₦897 per litre.
Naturenex understands the meeting conveyed by Shettima, was based on a directive by President Bola Tinubu aimed at addressing the challenges in the oil and gas industry, especially the current prevailing challenges of pricing and scarcity.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, which also had in attendance the Executive Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Ugbogu Ukoha, Lokpobiri said President Tinubu is worried about the ongoing developments in the energy sector, and is equally sympathetic to the plight of Nigerians.
The Minister added that President Tinubu has mandated them to take action to ensure stability in fuel supply and pricing.
He said in line with Tinubu’s directive, Vice President Shettima is spearheading efforts to ensure that petroleum products are accessible across the country.
While cautioning against panic buying, he assured Nigerians that measures are being put in place to ensure the scarcity and queues at filling stations disappear by the end of the week.
2. FG Makes Fresh Announcement On WAEC, NECO Age Limit
The federal government has announced that exceptionally gifted children under the age of 18 may be permitted to take the West African School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
Naturenex reports that this announcement comes amid controversies surrounding the earlier age limit declared for school candidates to enroll in WAEC, NECO, and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the country.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during a visit to the Federal Government Academy in Suleja on Thursday, said: “We are going to develop criteria to guide what we will call Gifted children.’
Mamman made this announcement while attending to questions on the government’s plans for gifted children, given the government’s new education policy that sets age limits for candidates writing WAEC and NECO examinations.
Following a tour of the National School for the Gifted, Prof. Mamman, accompanied by Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, addressed the media to announce a two-week extension of the resumption date for students at the Federal Government Academy, Suleja.
He clarified that ongoing renovations at the institution necessitated this decision.
3. FG Predicts 5 Days Of Heavy Rainfall, Flooding In 21 States
The federal government, on Thursday, predicted five days of heavy rainfall, which may affect several cities across 21 states of the country.
The National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre of the Federal Ministry of Environment, which gave the warning, added that the heavy rains may come with flooding, which may affect 123 locations in the states.
The rainfall and flooding are predicted to happen between September 4 to 8, 2024.
The government also warned communities downstream of the River Benue to evacuate the area due to the increasing water level of the river.
4. NNPC Yet To Lift Our Petrol, We Have Not Announced Any Price – Dangote Refinery
Dangote Refinery has announced that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is yet to lift Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol from its refinery.
It also added that the refinery is yet to announce any price for the sale of petrol from its refinery to members of the public.
The Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, made the clarification in a statement on Thursday where the company reacted to a report which claimed the NNPC has lifted fuel from Dangote refinery and is selling it at ₦897 per litre.
Dangote said it is yet to finalize contractual agreements with the NNPC nor announce a price for its products, hence members of the public should disregard any misleading information on the subject matter.
5. Edwin Clark Calls For Wike’s Arrest, Writes Police IG
A former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South, Edwin Clark, has formally addressed a letter to Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, urging the immediate arrest and prosecution of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
During a press briefing held at his residence in Asokoro on Thursday, the Ijaw leader expressed his concerns regarding Wike’s recent remarks, in which he threatened to incite violence against the governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Naturenex recalls that Wike made these statements while addressing attendees at the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, during the party’s state congress on Saturday, cautioning PDP governors to refrain from interfering in the party’s matters in Rivers.
Reacting, during the briefing on Thursday, Clark remarked that the statements made by the former governor of Rivers State represented a “blatant disrespect” towards President Bola Tinubu, who appointed him.
He characterized these remarks as “unrestrained” and asserted that they constituted a form of treason, as they had the potential to incite violence within the nation.
The Elder statesman noted that Omoyele Sowore, the Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress, along with #EndBadGovernance protesters, had been detained for similar offences.
He emphasized that the Inspector General of Police should take equivalent action against the FCT Minister and compel him to retract his statements.
6. FG Increases Feeding Allowance Of Inmates By 50%
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), on Thursday, confirmed that the federal government has raised the feeding allowance for inmates by 50%.
The increase becomes effective from August 2024.
The spokesperson of the NCS, Abubakar Umar, confirmed the development in an interview with Punch, adding that the approval is part of efforts to address rising food costs and improve inmate welfare.
He added that the increase is just the first phase, and other adjustments are expected, all targeted at enhancing the living conditions of inmates.
7. Petrol Hike: NNPCL Official Urges Nigerians To Prepare For More Fuel Scarcity
The Executive Vice President (Downstream) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Adedapo Segun, has urged Nigerians to brace for more fuel scarcity.
This warning follows a recent surge in fuel prices, which has significantly impacted citizens nationwide.
Naturenex recalls that the NNPC, on Tuesday, adjusted the pump price per litre of petrol to ₦855 across its filling stations.
Segun, while speaking on Thursday on Arise Television’s Morning Show, emphasized the importance of establishing a competitive market to stabilize fuel prices and ensure a steady supply.
Segun elaborated that NNPCL’s position as the exclusive importer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was not by design, but rather a reaction to shifting market dynamics. He made it clear that the company did not intend to monopolize the market.
Additionally, Segun pointed out that for fuel prices to stabilize, there must be ideal market conditions, especially concerning foreign exchange availability.
8. NIMC Reaffirms September Deadline For NIN/SIM Linkage
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has reaffirmed the September 14 deadline for the linkage of the National Identification Number (NIN) with the Subscribers Identity Modules (SIM).
According to NIMC, its equipment and workers in the over 10,000 registration outlets across the country and in the diaspora are working seamlessly without hitch for enrolment, verification and authentication, and modification of data.
The commission in a statement released through its Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, maintained that other services are also going on seamlessly to meet the needs of Nigeria for the NIN-SIM linkage deadline.
9. Gbajabiamila Can’t Carry-out Oversight Function – Reps
The House of Representatives has said the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has no constitutional right to carry out oversight functions in any government agency or establishment.
The deputy spokesman of the Green Chamber, Philip Agbese, said this in an interview on Wednesday with newsmen.
The statement followed Daily Trust’s report that, Gbajabiamila, a former speaker of the House of Reps, embarked on an oversight visit to some government agencies, such as the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Bureau of Public Enterprises, the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure.
Gbajabiamila also visited the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the National Emergency Management Agency, and the National Hajj Commission.
Daily Trust, in another report, claimed that Agbese said the Chief of Staff can visit for oversight of any government agency.
However, in his interaction with journalists, on Wednesday, the Green Chamber‘s deputy spokesman, said he was misquoted.
The lawmaker explained that oversight function remains the exclusive, constitutional right of the National Assembly.
10. Police Arrest 23-year-old Suspect In Connection With Murder Of Ogun University Student, Christianah
The Nigeria Police Force has apprehended a 23-year-old suspect, Ayomide Adeleye for the murder of Idowu Christianah.
Naturenex reports that Idowu, who was a a 300-level student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUNAAB), Ogun State, was abducted along the Ikorodu-Yaba Road, Lagos, in August by the suspect.
Adeleye is said to be a 200-Level Philosophy student at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ogun State.
Netizens had started trending hashtag #JusticeForChristianah on X to demand the immediate prosecution of the suspect.
Many tweeps also suggested that Ayomide may have been involved in the deaths of his ex-girlfriend in 2018 and his biological sister in 2020 under alleged similar circumstances.
Reacting, in a short statement issued on X while sharing the picture of the suspect being handcuffed, the Lagos State Police Spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed his arrest.
The police said the suspect was handed to them by the Nigerian Army on Thursday afternoon, adding that an investigation was ongoing on the matter.
