Good morning, Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 9th November 2024.
1. Economic Hardship: It Is Overwhelming – Osinbajo Sends Message To Tinubu
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo has urged President Bola Tinubu to alleviate the economic hardship of Nigerians.
Osinbajo expressed worry over the increasing food insecurity in the country.
He advised the president to focus on improving the welfare of Nigerians, particularly as the country faces significant economic hardships.
The erstwhile Vice President shared his concerns while speaking at the 2024 Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ) conference.
He highlighted the pressing need for targeted social welfare programs, accessible healthcare, and policies that address the rising costs of essentials such as food, transportation, and housing
2. Tinubu Grants More Powers To Ministers Of State
President Bola Tinubu has approved a significant policy shift, granting ministers of state full authority to oversee the agencies and departments under their supervision.
Previously, permanent secretaries would send files related to the departments and agencies under a minister of state’s supervision to senior ministers for final approval.
This system limited the decision-making capabilities of ministers of state, effectively reducing their roles to nominal positions.
According to a source from the office of the head of service of the federation who spoke with The Cable, President Tinubu expressed dissatisfaction with the previous structure, which he believed resulted in the “underutilization of the expertise and capabilities” of ministers of state.
“The president was not pleased with the prevailing governing framework in which ministers of states were just ministers in name,” the official disclosed.
The new directive enables ministers of state to grant all necessary administrative approvals, allowing them to make decisions and direct actions within their areas of responsibility.
3. Hardship: 33 Million Nigerians To Live In Hunger In 2025 – Report
At least 33 million Nigerians will live in hunger by 2025, according to a report by Cadre Harmonisé amid the hardship in the country since President Bola Tinubu’s administration took over in May 2023.
With the country’s population currently projected at around 223.8 million, the increase in the number of Nigerians that would live in hunger in 2025 rose from 7 million in 2023.
The report by Cadre Harmonisé led by the Federal Government and supported by partners, including the United Nations World Food Programme, decried food insecurity in Nigeria, with 33.1 million people projected to face high levels of food insecurity between June to August 2025.
Between October and December 2024, 25.1 million people are likely to experience food insecurity. Among them, 3.8 million live in the northeastern states. The figure is projected to rise to 5 million by 2025.
“This represents an alarming increase of 7 million people from the same period last year, driven by economic hardship, coupled with record-high inflation, the effects of climate change, and persistent violence in the northeastern states of the country.
“Between October and December 2024, 25.1 million people are expected to experience acute food insecurity, even at the peak of the harvest season. Of this, 3.8 million live in the northeastern states, and this number is projected to rise to 5 million,” Channels TV quoted the report.
According to the WFP, 5.4 million children and nearly 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women at risk of acute malnutrition.
4. What Are You Doing For The Country? — Ooni Tells Nigerians To Stop Blaming Govt
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has urged Nigerians to stop blaming the government, but do something for the betterment of the country.
Naturenex reports the monarch spoke during an official showcase of Ojaja City in Akure on Friday.
The Ooni stated that his passion for the country made him delve into the project, noting that the aim was to reduce the housing deficit in the country.
According to him, the official showing of the project is to let everybody that matters in the country to know that whenever there is will, there is a way.
5. ‘PDP Crisis Started Among Northern Leaders, Obasanjo Attempted A Third Term’- Lamido Opens Up
A former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sule Lamido, has attributed the ongoing challenges facing his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), partly to the repercussions of divisions among northern leaders in 2007.
Lamido, who has been a long-standing member of the PDP since its inception, was asked in a recent interview why he remained loyal to the party without shifting allegiances despite the ongoing crisis within the umbrella camp.
Explaining the reason for his stand and perspective on the present status of the PDP, the former Governor of Jigawa State said: “Understanding the essence of the PDP may pose a challenge for individuals under the age of 30. We are discussing a timeline that spans from 1998 to the present—almost 30 years. Those who were around 10 years old during that period would now be in their early 30s.
“Thus, articulating the philosophy of the PDP is intricate, underscoring the importance of historical context. One cannot evaluate the current state of the party without considering its origins and evolution. In 1998, Nigeria was grappling with a profound crisis of trust and cohesion. As a federation, we had lost faith in one another, leading to significant divisions within the country.”
Asked whether Obasanjo made attempts for a third term in office, the former Governor said: “Yes, he did attempt a third term. I heard he justified it by saying, “If I leave now, with just four months left, I’ll be betrayed by those I considered allies”. Maybe that’s why he tried for a third term. But it collapsed, and he brought in Yar’Adua.
“Yar’Adua had strong leadership qualities, and he came from a respected family. And those who contested against him were northerners, allies of his late older brother. In 2007, the PDP was powerful, controlling over 25 states, while Buhari had no stronghold. Yet, Buhari claimed he won against the PDP and challenged the results up to the Supreme Court. We started seeing cracks in the North from that point.”
6. ‘It’s The Greatest Insult I Have Ever Faced’ – Gov Yusuf Speaks On Rift With Kwankwaso
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has categorically denied allegations of a conflict with his political mentor and the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Yusuf also described a political group – “Abba Tsaya da Kafarka” (meaning “Abba, stand on your own”), which was formed to encourage him to make decisions independently of Kwankwaso’s input as ‘the greatest insult’ he has ever faced as a governor.
Naturenex understands that the faction formed within the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) recently gained attention, with the group calling on Governor Yusuf to distance himself from his political mentor.
The movement’s momentum has increased, with members from both the party and other political circles pushing for Yusuf’s perceived autonomy.
Addressing the group’s stand, Governor Yusuf said: “This ‘stand on your own’ slogan is the greatest insult I have faced as governor. It implies that I should repay good with bad. What has Kwankwaso done to me to deserve this? All the good we are doing for the people is overlooked, and instead, they promote this divisive rhetoric,” Yusuf remarked, adding, “It’s as if people do not know what we are doing for them.”
During a press briefing in Kano yesterday, he made this statement, addressing the circulating speculations and rumours of a rift with Kwankwaso.
The governor reaffirmed that his relationship with Kwankwaso remains robust and respectful, as it has been for the last four decades.
7. ‘Singing Colonial Song In UK Parliament Won’t Change Your Identity’ – Shehu Sani Shades Badenoch
Former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, has indirectly criticized the new leader of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, over her recent remarks about Nigeria and her stance on British colonialism.
Sani commented that a Nigerian singing a colonial song in the UK parliament cannot escape their true heritage, saying, “No matter how much and how long an adopted child loves his new home and hates his ancestral home, there will come a day he or she will be reminded by his adopted home that he doesn’t belong there.”
Referencing the continued reminders African Americans face about their roots in Africa, Sani added that no performance in a foreign parliament could alter a Nigerian’s true identity.
“If African-Americans are still reminded that they belong to Africa, a Nigerian singing the colonial song in the UK parliament will not change his or her true identity,” Sani posted on X.
Naturenex reports that the Nigerian-born lawmaker, Kemi Badenoch, has previously defended British colonialism while debating the UK’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement, sparking criticism for her remarks.
8. Former DSS Operative Warns Nigeria To Prepare For War Amid Lakurawa Threat
A former Department of State Services (DSS) operative, Seyi Adetayo, has called for urgent action in response to the emergence of a new terrorist group, Lakurawa, warning that Nigerians must recognize the country is effectively at war.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Adetayo equated Lakurawa with established terror groups such as ISWAP, Boko Haram, and splinter bandit factions that have destabilized much of Nigeria’s North East.
“Lakurawa will become another name that dominates our discourse on terror until Nigeria declares itself at war and implements measures to enhance military and intelligence operations,” Adetayo stated.
The Director of Defense Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, had previously confirmed in November that “Troops are confronted with Lakurawa in the Northwestern states of Sokoto and Kebbi.”
According to Buba, the group is linked to terrorist elements from the Sahel region, particularly from Mali and Niger, who have migrated into Nigeria due to regional instability. Their operations are reported to be concentrated in Kebbi and Sokoto states.
Security experts have partially attributed the group’s foothold to local communities in these states, criticizing them for initially accepting the group rather than reporting their presence to authorities.
The group’s influence has since expanded, leading to heightened security concerns.
9. #EndBadGovernance: There Is No Law In This Country That Says A Minor Cannot Be Tried – AGF Fagbemi
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has stated that there is no law in the country prohibiting the prosecution of minors.
He argued that the recent arraignment of some minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protest was not inappropriate.
Fagbemi spoke at Katampe in Abuja on Thursday evening at the inauguration of the new office of a law firm, the Law Corridor.
He said, “Let me seize this opportunity to clarify something. There is a misconception that, because these (some of those arraigned) are children and minors, various theories have surfaced.
“No law in this country says a minor cannot be tried. And, I have also heard suggestions that they should go to a family court.
“The study of the law and the Constitution leaves you with no other conclusion than that the Federal High Court has the jurisdiction in matters bordering on treason and related issues.
“So, whatever the situation, the President has closed the chapter by his decision to have these young men released.”
10. ‘FG Has Not Asked Workers To Close Their GTB Salary Accounts,’ Details Emerge
Certain reports claiming the federal government has directed civil servants to move their salary accounts away from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) has been debunked.
The denial follows a viral WhatsApp message that reads: “Please let’s all take note, seems GTB now has serious problems and may be shut down any moment from now. Anyone that has money in the bank should do the needful.”
However, the spokesperson for GTB, Cornelius Onuoha, on Friday debunked the message.
He said those behind the messages are the same set of people seeking to blackmail the bank since it declared a N1 trillion profit.
The report is “absolutely false”.
“It is a totally false story. The federal government has also commented about it. These same set of people are looking for ways to blackmail the bank since it declared a N1 trillion profit,” Onouha told The Cable.
