Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 23rd December, 2024
1. Stampedes Occurred In Past Administration, Tinubu’s Reforms Should Not Be Blamed – FG
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has advised politicians to desist from politicizing the tragic stampedes during food distribution exercises in Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija.
He argued that similar occurrences were recorded during past administrations, stressing it should not be linked to President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.
The Minister, however, sympathised with the families of the deceased, adding that the incidents show the importance of proper crowd management during such charitable activities.
While acknowledging the noble intentions of organizers seeking to relieve vulnerable members of society, the minister admonished all individuals and organizations planning similar events to comply with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on liaising with police formations for effective crowd control and security measures.
He emphasized that collaboration with the police and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is crucial to safeguarding lives and ensuring that such efforts to assist those in need do not inadvertently lead to further distress.
He called for a collective sense of responsibility and urged citizens to unite to ensure that the Yuletide season is marked by peace, goodwill, and joy and free of preventable tragedies.
2. Tinubu Gov’t Lifts Ban On Mining In Zamfara After Five Years
The Federal Government has officially removed the prohibition on mining operations in Zamfara State, five years after its implementation.
The latest development was confirmed during a press conference by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, represented by Segun Tomori, on Sunday.
The statement indicated that the Federal Government’s decision to lift the ban on mining exploration in Zamfara State was based on notable improvements in the security landscape throughout the region.
Alake remarked that Nigeria stands to benefit significantly from revitalized economic activities in a mineral-rich state like Zamfara, which is abundant in gold, lithium, and copper resources.
He further clarified that while the initial ban was well-intentioned, it inadvertently created a gap that illegal miners exploited, resulting in the loss of national resources.
Additionally, he highlighted the substantial potential of the state to enhance national revenue.
3. Atiku Identifies 5 Reasons Tinubu’s 2025 Budget Can’t Solve Nigeria’s Economic Challenges
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, says the proposed 2025 budget submitted by President Bola Tinubu can’t address Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Atiku, in a statement on Sunday, said the proposed budget is business as usual.
According to him, the 2025 budget can’t address Nigeria’s economic challenges because it has weak budgetary foundations, contains disproportionate debt servicing figures, has a lot of unsustainable government expenditure, does not have sufficient capital investment and imbibes regressive taxation.
Naturenex recalls President Tinubu last week Wednesday, presented a ₦47.9 trillion 2025 budget proposal to the National Assembly.
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the 2025 budget is a continuation of the trend under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration since 2016, wherein budget deficits have been consistently presented, accompanied by an increasing reliance on external borrowing.
4. Tax Reform Bills: ‘You Don’t Know What You Are Doing, This Arrogance Of Power Must Stop’ – Edwin Clark Fires Northern Governors
Elder statesman and leader of the Ijaw nation, Edwin Clark, says the proposed tax reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu must proceed.
This is as he called out the governors of the northern states over their opposition to the tax reform bills which are currently before the National Assembly.
Speaking during the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Clark said most of the northern governors don’t know what they are doing.
The leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) lamented that certain persons want the country to be run based on their own terms.
Clark also called out the National Economic Council (NEC), under the leadership of Vice President Kashim Shettima, for overstepping their boundary.
He said NEC has turned itself into an executive body playing politics with the country instead of being an advisory body to the President.
The Ijaw national leader also accused the state governors of abandoning their respective states and staying in Abuja just because they want to get more money for themselves.
5. Dangote: IPMAN Announces New Petrol Price Across Nigeria Effective Monday
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says fuel stations across the country would sell petrol to customers at the rate of ₦935 as from Monday, 23rd December.
The IPMAN National President, Alhaji Maigandi Garima, made the disclosure on Sunday during a chat with newsmen.
He assured that outlets across the country would adopt the new price template based on the recent price slash of fuel coming from Dangote Refinery.
Naturenex recalls in a bid to provide relief for Nigerians ahead of the holiday season, Dangote Petroleum Refinery announced a price reduction for its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) product, to ₦899.50k per litre.
The announcement was made in a statement released on Thursday morning by the company’s Group’s Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina.
Against the backdrop of the announcement, Garima told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja that Nigerians would now be able to purchase fuel at ₦935 as from Monday.
6. ‘All Options Are On The Table’ – Okupe Hints At Peter Obi’s Possible Exit From Labour Party
Former Director-General of Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign Organisation, Doyin Okupe, has attributed the wave of defections from the Labour Party party to its failure to establish a sustainable structure after the 2023 elections.
Naturenex recalls that six LP lawmakers recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on the floor of the House of Representatives.
In an interview with journalists in Lagos State on Sunday, Okupe noted that the Labour Party’s current challenges have left elected members seeking political relevance and survival elsewhere.
Okupe explained that the defections were predictable, as many elected officials would not remain in a party with uncertain prospects.
The former Labour Party chieftain also cited Peter Obi’s recent meeting with opposition leaders, including the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in Adamawa as a sign of open-ended options and possible exit from the party.
7. IGP Visits Kwara, Issues Fresh Directive As Citizen Dies In Police Detention
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) to immediately take over the investigation into the death of Jimoh Abdulqaudri, who lost his life while in police detention in Kwara State.
The IGP also paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased on Sunday, describing Abdulquadri’s death as unfortunate.
Naturenex earlier reported that the 35-year-old Abdulquadri, a resident of the Balogun Fulani community in Erubu/Asunnara, Ilorin, died in police custody in Kwara State in the early hours of Friday, 20th December.
IGP Egbetokun, during his visit to the family of the deceased on Sunday, directed the FCID to take over the case and ensure quick dispensation of justice.
According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the IGP reiterated the determination of the Force to stamp out unprofessional conduct among its personnel.
8. Why Tinubu Is Delaying Appointment Of Ambassadors – Presidency
The Special Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, has addressed concerns over the delay in the appointment of Ambassadors.
Naturenex reports that concerns have continued to mount over the absence of envoys in Nigeria’s 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates globally as President Bola Tinubu delays appointments.
In an interview with Premium Times, Dare stated that President Tinubu is deliberate about those who would be appointed to the position because of their key roles.
According to him, Tinubu is concerned about foreign policy and might make the appointment before the end of the year.
9. 2025 Budget: Unnecessary Spending By Presidency, National Assembly Is A Breach Of The Constitution – SERAP To Akpabio, Tajudeen Abbas
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to significantly reduce the lavish budget allocations for the presidency and National Assembly.
The Association argued that the ₦9.4 billion earmarked for travel, meals, and catering for the presidency, alongside the proposed ₦344.85 billion for lawmakers in the 2025 budget, reflects unnecessary spending that could be diverted to address Nigeria’s growing budget deficit and improve public services.
Speaking via a letter dated 21 December 2024 but released on Sunday, the agency’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, expressed the organisation’s concerns.
The organisation urged Akpabio and Abbas to request President Bola Tinubu to present a revised supplementary appropriation bill reflecting reduced budgets for the presidency and the National Assembly.
They further called on the National Assembly to publicly disclose the proposed budget breakdown, pressing lawmakers to commit to reducing the ₦344.85 billion allocated for 2025.
Among the notable concerns is the sharp increase in allocations for asset rehabilitation and repairs. While ₦14 billion was allocated for these purposes in 2024, the 2025 budget proposes ₦26 billion, an increase of ₦12 billion.
SERAP also flagged excessive allocations for travel expenses, revealing that the presidency plans to spend ₦8.74 billion on local and international trips by Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
10. ‘Nigeria Belongs To Everybody, Stop Giving Appointments To Your Friends Alone’ – Clark Tells President Tinubu
Prominent south-south leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has urged President Bola Tinubu to avoid tribalism and nepotism in his appointments.
Clark accused the President of only giving appointments to his cronies and allies without considering their competence for such positions.
Naturenex reports the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) made the allegation on Sunday during the day’s edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television.
He urged President Tinubu to realize Nigeria does not belong to him alone and that every Nigerian should be treated equally.
According to him, the problems in Nigeria would remain, except the leadership embraces everybody.
