Good morning, Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 21st September 2024
1. I Didn’t Come To Look For Money, I Came To Work – President Tinubu
On Friday, President Bola Tinubu declared that he was not in office as the leader of Nigeria to seek any personal gain or accumulate wealth.
The President, who spoke during a meeting with the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly who visited him at the Aso Rock Villa, said he is in office to work for Nigeria and Nigerians.
President Tinubu emphasized that despite the challenges, his administration remains committed to delivering tangible results and making a positive difference in the nation’s infrastructure, food and energy security, education and long-term economic stability.
The Forum of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly was led by former Senate President Ken Nnamani and had in attendance 15 others, including former senate presidents, former speakers of the House of Representatives, former deputy senate presidents, and former deputy speakers of the House of Representatives.
Addressing them, Tinubu said: ”I didn’t come to look for money and exploit the situation; I came to work. I asked for the votes, and Nigerians gave them to me.”
The President acknowledged the support and encouragement from the Forum members, irrespective of party affiliations, and implored them to continue fostering unity and camaraderie to achieve national development goals.
He also sought more outstanding collaborations between the legislative and executive arms of government in delivering national prosperity.
2. We Have Not Reintroduced Cybersecurity Levy – CBN
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has clarified that it has not reintroduced the previously suspended cybersecurity levy on electronic transfers, following reports suggesting otherwise.
On May 6, 2024, the apex bank mandated all commercial, merchant, non-interest, and payment service banks, as well as mobile money operators, to charge a 0.5 percent cybersecurity levy on electronic transfers.
However, just two weeks later, on May 20, the CBN withdrew this directive, effectively suspending the proposed levy.
Recent media reports claimed that the CBN reinstated the levy, citing references from the “Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade, and Exchange Policy Guidelines for the Fiscal Years 2024-2025.”
In response, the bank issued a statement on Friday, emphasizing that the guidelines referenced were issued prior to December 31, 2023, and its position regarding the suspension of the cybersecurity levy has not changed.
The CBN stated, “Some recent media publications referencing aspects of the Guidelines refer to policy positions of the Bank issued prior to 31st December 2023, which have changed in the light of revisions and updates in 2024.
“One example is the Cyber Security Levy, which was suspended in May 2024, superseding the circular reported in the Guidelines.”
3. Some People In Government Should Be Put In Jail Permanently – Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that some people in power should be permanently behind bars for their past misdemeanour and criminal misconduct.
He noted that government officials with “questionable” integrity cannot make fair decisions for the greater good.
Obasanjo stated this on Thursday at the memorial lecture of Denis Joseph Slattery in Lagos.
The Slattery Memorial lecture was organized by the Old Boys’ Association of St. Finbarr’s College at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island.
The memorial was attended by notable persons, including Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River, ex-footballer Segun Odegbami, music producer ID Cabasa, and actor Patrick Doyle.
He said, “If you look clinically at the people in government today at both executive and legislative levels, some of them should be permanently behind bars for their past misdemeanour and criminal misconduct.”
“You cannot expect thieves to give good judgement in favour of the owner of the property.”
Obasanjo recalled his shocking experience with corruption, citing how a government official normalized criminal behaviour when confronted.
4. Edo Guber: Treat APC Riggers, Thugs As Criminals – PDP Charges Edo Citizens
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked Edo State citizens to come out en masse to vote at the Saturday governorship election and treat any person who attempts to disrupt, manipulate or rig the poll as a criminal.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, also charged the people of Edo State to” defend themselves by confronting and resisting any attempt by fake security personnel who are reportedly being deployed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to abduct innocent citizens, snatch ballot boxes and disrupt the election“.
In a statement, on Thursday, Ologunagba said the directive is “predicated on alleged plans by the APC to garb its thugs allegedly imported from Imo and Kogi States with fake police and military uniforms to infiltrate the security agencies and unleash violence on innocent citizens before and on election day”.
PDP demanded that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) provide a designated means of identifying police assigned to specific polling units.
5. Why Coca-Cola’s $1 Billion Investment Didn’t Work In 2021 – Presidency
The Presidency has said the $1 billion Coca-Cola investment would work in the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the investment dead did not work under former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021 because the business environment was bad.
Onanuga stated the following criticisms that greeted the new investment deal announced by the Presidency on Thursday.
In a statement titled ‘Explainer: Understanding Coca-Cola’s $1 billion investment’, Onanuga said the administration of President Tinubu has created the required business environment.
It read, “Naysayers and doubters scorned the $1 billion fresh investment pledge in Nigeria made by the company’s global leadership to President Bola Tinubu today (Thursday) in Abuja, saying the company made a similar promise in 2021.
“Yes, the company made a similar promise three years ago. But it couldn’t fulfill it because of the challenging business environment prevailing in Nigeria then. As the company’s spokesperson said, while the company made the commitment in 2021, it was also hit by excise taxes.”
“Our investment pledges are always predicated on a predictable and stable environment. The $1 billion pledge has now been renewed based on the stable environment, which has been promised through the Tinubu government economic stabilization plan,” he quoted the company’s spokesman.
6. How We Recovered ₦4 Billion Stolen Public Funds Within 24 Hours – ICPC
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the recovery of approximately ₦4 billion in funds misappropriated by public officials within the past 24 hours.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja during the One-Day National Anti-Corruption Coalition (NACC) Members Hybrid Interactive Forum, ICPC chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu mentioned that the nation was plagued by deep-rooted problems, particularly how public funds are being spent.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) emphasized the importance of putting money into tech solutions that could reduce the issues associated with corruption, especially when buying goods and services for the public.
He further stated that the commission plans to utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool in its efforts to combat corruption.
Aliyu said: ”Today, I want to underscore the potential of technological solutions in promoting accountability and good governance.
”Technology can work wonders because it is not biased like humans. It can help us tackle challenges if we use it properly and effectively.
”This technology, as I have mentioned, has the capability to address numerous issues.
”We know there are digital platforms that sometimes, unfortunately, contribute to corruption
”However, I can tell you that in the last 24 hours, we have been able to recover four billion Naira of public funds, which were diverted into private accounts.”
The ICPC boss stressed how alarming it is to see how much money is being misappropriated, and some individuals have billions of naira in their possession for personal gain.
7. Jewish Priests Write Tinubu, Appeal For Nnamdi Kanu’s Release
A group of Jewish priests from the Unique Forum of Orthodox Judaism has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
This plea comes as concerns grow about Kanu’s deteriorating health, with his family urging the Nigerian government to allow him access to medical treatment outside the Department of State Services (DSS) detention facility in Abuja.
The IPOB leader has been held in solitary confinement since 2021 after his controversial rendition from Kenya.
In an open letter, the forum emphasized that Kanu’s release could help bring peace and stability, particularly in Nigeria’s South East, where tensions have escalated due to his prolonged detention.
The group’s leader, Rosh Nasishemtov Ihe Madunweiheyah, along with members, visited Kanu’s family at their ancestral home in Isiama Afaraukwu, where they stressed that Kanu’s imprisonment is unjust and called on President Tinubu to respond to the growing demands for his freedom.
During the visit, Madunweiheyah read from a letter co-signed with the forum’s chairman, Elder Okamulata Egbu.
The letter asserted that Kanu was only advocating for the rights of his people and posed no threat to warrant his continued imprisonment.
The forum further argued that Nigeria’s current troubles are tied to Kanu’s unjust treatment, stating that divine displeasure has fallen on the country as a result.
8. ‘Spice Things Up, Christianity Doesn’t Take Away Romance’ – RCCG’s Pastor Adeboye Tells Couples
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has counselled Christian couples who do not engage their spouses in romance in the name of spirituality.
Naturenex reports that the 82-year-old revered cleric took to his official X handle on Friday to admonish Christians never to allow spiritual responsibilities to replace marital duties to each other.
Adeboye, who shared how he and his wife, Foluke Adeboye, usually treat themselves when alone, stressed the importance of maintaining romance in marriages.
The RCCG general overseer stressed that he and his wife still nurture their love with pet names whenever they are alone, emphasizing that “anointing does not reduce romance.”
He said, “The fact that you are a Christian does not in any way take romance out of your marriage. Marriage is the only institution where romance and intimacy is allowed between a man and a woman.
“Some pastors hardly go on dates with their spouses because they consider such a romantic activity as a distraction from their focus on spiritual matters. Some of them don’t even play with their spouses anymore.
“Beloved, the anointing does not reduce the need for romance in marriage. Isaac was an anointed man of God and a successful businessman, yet in Genesis 26:8, the Bible says he was being romantic with his wife: And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
“Don’t become too rigid in your marriage; don’t have more fun elsewhere without your spouse. Make the times that you and your spouse spend together so much fun that you are always looking forward to seeing each other again.
“If you are married, remember how you used to talk for long hours with your spouse before you got married and had children; revive that relationship again.
9. You Are Playing Pranks With God If You Give Fake Testimonies – Mike Bamiloye
The founder of Mount Zion Faith Ministries, Mike Bamiloye, has warned Christians to stop sharing fake testimonies in churches.
He asserted that those behind embellished testimonies are playing pranks with God.
The clergyman shared his reservation on his Facebook account on Thursday
He stressed that people who engage in the acts ‘are being used by the devil’.
This comes amid controversial miracle testimonies shared by church members of Lord’s Chosen Church in viral videos that have since ignited social media discussions.
Bamiloye wrote: “PLAYING PRANKS WITH GOD! If you stand on the Lord’s Altar to give fake testimonies deliberately, you are playing pranks with God! If you mount the Altar of God to deliberately tell lies that
“God has done what He knew nothing about, you are playing pranks with God!
“If you arranged a fake testimony to be said on the Lord’s altar just to pump up congregation, you are playing pranks with God! If the devil set you up to embarrass the church through all his reckless bloggers, you are playing pranks with God!”
The preacher also warned bloggers who are eager to condemn the body of Christ for money, reiterating that they are unaware that they are led by the devil.
He noted that God is supreme, emphasising that he can do all things as established in the Holy book.
10. NNPCL Moves To Revive Brass, Olokola LNG Projects
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has said it is set to revive Brass and Olokola Liquefied and Natural Gas projects.
NNPCL said discussions with investors towards bringing back two Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Brass and Olokola LNG projects, have begun so as to maximize the nation’s abundant gas resources for economic development and prosperity.
NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr. Umar Ajiya, disclosed this on Thursday on the sidelines of the ongoing 2024 Gas Technology Conference and Exhibition (Gastech), in Houston, United States.
“Brass LNG and OK LNG are two LNG projects with the potential of manifold economic benefits for the country which include job creation, power generation, revenue generation and economic diversification.
“The multi-billion-dollar projects were, however, stalled due to unfavourable market dynamics and slow decision-making by the political class in the past.
“In the past, gas prices went down, the economics of the projects meant a high Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), and this was a disincentive for investors and partners. Also, the political class made slow decisions,” Ajiya said.
While describing NNPC as a commercially driven Company that recognizes timely project development and execution, Ajiya explained that there are “abundant gas resources in many parts of the world and therefore, the earlier Nigeria makes smart decisions to bring partners to the table, the better“.
NNPCL’s Chief Finance Officer commended President Bola Tinubu for his support in driving new projects in the Industry through the Presidential Executive Orders on Oil & Gas Reforms.
“We are also happy to have the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 (PIA), which has provided fiscal incentives for investors and is creating the enabling environment that has rekindled hope in the energy sector,” he stated.
