Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 31st December, 2024
1. Tackle The Challenges And High Poverty Rates In Bauchi Before Attacking Tinubu – Presidency Replies Gov Mohammed
The presidency on Monday, urged Governor Bala Mohammed to focus on resolving the developmental and poverty challenges in his state rather than issuing threats against President Bola Tinubu.
The presidency cautioned the Bauchi State Governor against making inflammatory statements against the government and President Tinubu and urged him to retract his words.
The Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, who gave the word of caution, said the statements coming from the Bauchi State Governor are unbecoming of his office and public status.
Naturenex reports the position of the presidency comes as a direct response to an earlier statement by the Bauchi State Governor, who described the Tax Reform Bills introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, as anti-North and a threat to the unity of Nigeria.
The Governor argued that President Tinubu‘s reforms seemed designed to benefit specific regions of the country while leaving the North at a disadvantage.
Mohammed urged the Federal Government to review its policies to ensure they reflect the interests of all Nigerians.
He warned that ignoring the cries of the people could lead to unrest, emphasising that leadership requires listening and sensitivity to the needs of the masses.
However, in response, the presidency described the Governor’s statement as unfortunate, adding that his submissions does not represent the position of the Northern region.
2. Warri Refinery Resumes Operation
The Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Company (WRPC), located in Warri, Delta State, has commenced production at a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, announced this development on Monday.
During his visit to the facility earlier today, Kyari, who was addressing a team on the tour, said: “We are taking you through our plant. This plant is running. It is not 100 percent. We are still in the process. Many people think these things are not real. They think real things are not possible in this country. We want you to see that this is real.”
Among the tour team was the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Chief Executive Officer Farouk Ahmen.
3. ‘Respected Elders Are Spreading Lies’ – Kwankwaso Fumes Over Alleged Agreement Of Power Sharing Between Him, Atiku, Peter Obi
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has dismissed the purported report of reaching an agreement with the opposition presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, to share power by alternating terms.
Naturenex reports that Kwankwaso, in an interview with the BBC, expressed anger over the lies.
He stressed that he was unaware of such a claim but had heard reports that Atiku’s camp had been meeting with regional leaders, including clerics, to propagate the narrative.
The former governor of Kano State also explained that he had found peace since leaving the PDP for the NNPP and distanced himself from the power-sharing agreement.
4. PDP Leadership Crisis Deepens As Udeh-Okoye Declares Himself National Secretary
The ongoing leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic turn on Monday, as Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye proclaimed himself the party’s National Secretary, citing a recent Court of Appeal judgment.
Arriving at the PDP national headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, Udeh-Okoye asserted his right to the position, even though Senator Sam Anyanwu retains physical control of the office, with his personal belongings still in place.
Addressing journalists, Udeh-Okoye, a former National Youth Leader of the PDP, stated that his actions were in full compliance with the Court of Appeal ruling, which affirmed him as the rightful replacement for Senator Anyanwu.
He emphasized that the party’s National Legal Adviser, Alhaji Kamaldeen Ajibade, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had acknowledged the judgment.
Senator Anyanwu, who has yet to vacate the office, has remained silent on the development. Sources close to Anyanwu revealed that he has not sought a stay of execution against the court ruling.
His loyalists, however, dismissed Udeh-Okoye’s actions as “a pipe dream,” asserting that Anyanwu remains the legitimate occupant of the position.
5. ‘Do Not Lose Hope’ – Obasanjo Reveals Those Responsible For Nigeria’s Woes
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has asserted that the actions of Nigerian leaders and their followers are responsible for the challenges bedevilling the country.
Naturenex reports that Obasanjo made this known during an interview on Arise TV’s morning show on Monday, admitting that Nigerians are going through hardship and urged them not to lose faith as the new year begins.
The former president said God wants Nigeria to be a land flowing with milk and honey, not a desert, a basket case, or a failed country.
Obasanjo also expressed confidence that Nigeria will soon assume its rightful position among nations, emphasising that he remains a steadfast optimist about the country’s future.
Speaking about United States President-elect, Donald Trump’s previous remarks about Nigeria, Obasanjo maintained that Nigeria needs to find a way to make Trump understand that the country is not what he described.
6. Tinubu Celebrates Warri Refinery Reopening As Landmark Achievement
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for the successful reopening of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), calling it a historic step towards revitalizing Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the refinery’s return to operation as a significant milestone, instilling renewed confidence in his administration’s commitment to boosting local refining capacity.
Dormant for years, the Warri Refinery has resumed operations at an initial capacity utilization of 60%, producing essential petroleum products such as Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and naphtha.
Naturenex reports that this follows the earlier restart of a 60,000 barrels-per-day facility at the Port Harcourt Refinery in November, part of a broader strategy to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products.
President Tinubu applauded the efforts of NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, for spearheading the restoration of Nigeria’s refining capabilities.
7. Fubara Presents ₦1.1 Trillion 2025 Budget To Rivers Assembly
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara on Monday presented the 2025 budget proposal of ₦1.1 trillion to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led State House of Assembly during a plenary session.
The proposed Appropriation Bill, titled the “Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development”, reflects Governor Fubara’s blueprint for consolidating his administration’s achievements in 2024 while charting a sustainable development path for Rivers State.
Governor Fubara, who arrived at the Assembly complex with members of his cabinet and other top officials, outlined the fiscal year’s priorities and funding strategies.
He described the 2025 proposal as a testament to Rivers State’s economic growth and efficient governance, emphasising its focus on agriculture, education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.
8. Man Sentenced To Death For Stealing Chicken Regains Freedom From Kirikiri Prison
A resident of Osun State, Segun Olowookere, who was sentenced to death for stealing chicken, has regained his freedom.
Naturenex gathered that Olowookere was released from the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison following his pardon by Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.
Nollywood actress, Biola Adebayo, in a video posted via social media on Monday, was seen standing with Olowookere outside the prison after the man regained his freedom.
She was full of praise to Nigerians for their support and also appreciated Governor Adeleke for his intervention.
9. NNPC Debunks Kyari’s Exit Rumors, Says Decision Rests With Tinubu
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has said that only President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the final say in the purported exit of its Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, in January 2025.
The NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye said this while speaking to Daily Post on Monday.
Some industrial stakeholders believe that Kyari, who would turn 60 years on January 8, 2025, may retire from service and be replaced with one Bayo Ojulari.
However NNPC described Kyari exit claims as false, insisting that it is the prerogative of Tinubu to keep or fire the company’s GCEO.
He further explained that NNPCL’s appointments are based on expertise, skills, and ability to deliver, not on ethnicity, religion, or other sentiments.
10. Power Sector Privatization Was Marred By Political Interference – Tonye Cole
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tonye Cole, has blamed politicians for the efficiency in the power sector.
The billionaire businessman said Nigeria’s current electricity challenges would have been a solved problem during privatization by the previous government but for political interference.
In an interview with News Central on Monday, Cole commended the efforts of Atedo Peterside, who chaired the government’s electricity privatization committee.
Recalling the exercise process, the APC chieftain narrated that the generation and distribution sectors of the privatization process were handled transparently, but political interference marred the distribution sector.
