Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 24th October, 2024
1. President Tinubu Reshuffles Cabinet
President Bola Tinubu has carried out his much-anticipated cabinet reshuffle.
The cabinet reshuffle was announced on Wednesday after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which took place at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja.
Naturenex reports President Tinubu scrapped the Niger Delta Ministry as well as the Ministry of Sports Development.
He also merged the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy.
The cabinet reshuffle is the first to be carried out by President Tinubu since he assumed power as Nigeria’s leader in May 2023.
The President sacked five Ministers, redesignated ten, and appointed seven others into his cabinet.
According to a statement from the presidency on Wednesday, President Tinubu relieved five Ministers of their duties, thanking them for their contributions to his administration and the governance of the country.
He then charged the newly appointed Ministers, as well as their reassigned colleagues, to see their appointment as a call to serve the nation. He added that all appointees must understand the administration’s eagerness and determination to set Nigeria on the path to irreversible growth and invest the best of their abilities into the actualization of the
government’s priorities.
2. FG Exposes Those Behind Rising Food Inflation
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Tunji Bello, has highlighted grain hoarders as a significant contributor to the rising food inflation in Nigeria.
Naturenex reports that he made this statement during a town hall meeting with key industry stakeholders in Kano on Wednesday.
Addressing the audience at the Afficent Centre, Bello revealed that FCCPC investigators discovered a troubling practice where merchants are stockpiling newly harvested grains to create artificial scarcity, driving up food prices.
The event in Kano follows similar sessions in Abuja and Lagos, part of the FCCPC’s efforts to combat anti-consumer practices.
Bello called for cooperation among Kano stakeholders to curb these harmful activities, emphasizing that while only a few are guilty, it is a shared responsibility to ensure fair pricing of goods and services.
3. Cabinet Reshuffle: President Tinubu Scraps Niger Delta Ministry And Ministry Of Sports Development
President Bola Tinubu has scrapped the Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of Sports Development.
The approval was given on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, as confirmed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
He added that there will now be a Ministry of Regional Development to oversee all the regional development commissions, such as the Niger Delta Development Commission, North West Development Commission, South West Development Commission, and North East Development Commission.
The National Sports Commission will take over the role of the Ministry of Sports.
The FEC also approved the merger of the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy.
4. FEC Approves $618 Million Loan For Purchase Of Fighter Jets
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a loan of approximately $618 million from a consortium of financiers to procure six M-346 attack jets manufactured in Italy and ammunition for the Nigerian Air Force.
Naturenex reports that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced this on Wednesday, October 23.
The Air Force has indicated that the initial three jets are anticipated to arrive by early 2025, with subsequent deliveries expected to continue until mid-2026.
5. FG Issues 60-Day Deadline For Property Owners To Settle Debts Or Lose C of O
The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has issued a 60-day ultimatum for all Federal Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) holders to clear their outstanding debts, warning that non-compliance will result in the revocation of their titles.
This directive was delivered by Minister Ahmed Dangiwa during the 29th Conference of Directors of Lands, held in Abuja on Wednesday.
Dangiwa expressed concern over the widespread non-compliance of landowners, which has significantly impacted the government’s revenue.
He further explained that numerous owners of federal properties have failed to meet their obligations by neglecting to pay ground rent and other statutory fees for several years.
He also condemned certain resident associations that have obstructed Ministry officials from gaining access to estates for billing and enforcement purposes.
6. FG Drops Money Laundering Charges Against Binance Executive
President Bola Tinubu-led government, on Wednesday withdrew the money laundering charges filed against an executive of Binance Holdings Limited, Tigran Gambaryan.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in April arraigned Binance, a cryptocurrency firm, and Gambaryan, on allegations of money laundering.
Gambaryan has been in detention since February following the clampdown on the cryptocurrency firm over alleged manipulation of the Nigerian currency.
A lawyer representing EFCC announced the withdrawal of the charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja Wednesday morning.
The hearing, coming two days before the 25 October earlier scheduled as the return date by the trial judge in the open court last Friday, appeared to have been intentionally held to avoid public attention as much as possible.
Announcing the withdrawal of the charges, the lawyer said Gambaryan, a United States citizen, was merely an employee of Binance, whose activities he was being prosecuted for.
Mark Mordi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) representing Gambaryan, agreed with the prosecution, saying that his client was not involved in the company’s broader financial decisions.
7. FG Fixes Deadline For Sacked Ministers To Handover, Gives Directive On Merged Ministries
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has announced that his office is actively collaborating with the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to carry out the presidential directive on the merger and winding down of several ministries.
In a statement released Wednesday night in Abuja, Akume confirmed that directives have been issued to facilitate the implementation of the President’s approval.
He stressed that all handover and takeover processes must be completed by Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
Outgoing ministers without successors should transfer their duties to the respective Permanent Secretaries.
Akume further explained that the merger of the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, along with the winding down of the former Ministry of Sports Development, is being overseen by both the SGF’s office and the Head of Civil Service.
He also highlighted that the renaming and expanded mandate of the former Ministry of Niger Delta Development has taken effect immediately. Relevant supervising authorities and commissions under the new ministry have been notified.
Permanent Secretaries have also been instructed to ensure a smooth transition and to submit one copy of the handover notes to the SGF for record-keeping.
8. There’s No Basis To Scrap Niger Delta Ministry, Don’t Use Our Money To Develop Other Regions – Edwin Clark Tells Tinubu
Prominent South-South leader, Edwin Clark, has countered the decision of President Bola Tinubu to scrap the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
The former federal commissioner for information argued that there is no basis for the President to scrap the Ministry, alleging that the plan of the Nigerian leader is to use the money from the region to develop other regions of the country.
Naturenex recalls President Tinubu, on Wednesday, scrapped the Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of Sports Development.
Tinubu said a Ministry of Regional Development would oversee all the regional development commissions, such as the Niger Delta Development Commission, North West Development Commission, South West Development Commission, and North East Development Commission.
The National Sports Commission will take over the role of the Ministry of Sports.
However, Clark, who is the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said President Tinubu has no good plans for the people of Niger Delta.
He argued that President Umaru Yar’Adua created the Ministry for the development of the region and to curb insecurity in the region; therefore, President Tinubu has no basis for scrapping the Ministry.
Clark further said the decision to scrap the Ministry should not be unilateral, and the government must explain the reason for its action to the people.
9. North-Central To Produce Damagum’s Replacement In November PDP NEC Meeting – Ologbondiyan
A former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has said the party leadership has resolved that the North-Central will produce a candidate in November to replace the acting chairman, Umar Damgunm, as the substantive national chairman of the party.
Naturenex reports that Ologbondiyan made this known on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief.
Ologbondiyan said it is a consensus conclusion of the PDP leaders who met in Abuja on Tuesday and postponed the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting initially scheduled to hold on October 24 to November 28, 2024, that the North-Central will produce a replacement for Iyorchia Ayu who was removed by a court judgement in 2023.
When questioned if all the leadership of the party agreed that the North-Central should produce a candidate for the chairmanship position in November, Ologbodiyan said, “Part of the discussion and decision reached last night is that come November 28 the North-Central will produce a replacement to Ambassador Iliyasu Damagum, I can say that anywhere.”
10. Governor Alia Suspends Benue Attorney General For Challenging EFCC, ICPC’s Legality
The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, on Wednesday, suspended the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim.
The suspension follows Mnyim’s involvement in a coalition of states legally challenging the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Naturenex reported that the Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved judgment on the suit filed by 19 states of the federation.
However, three out of the nineteen states challenging the constitutionality of the laws establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were reportedly withdrawn from the suit.
The three states are; Anambra (9th plaintiff), Adamawa (16th plaintiff), and Ebonyi (18th plaintiff), separately submitted applications for withdrawal before the Court.
The Attorney General of Anambra State, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje, informed the court that she wishes to withdraw from the suit, having filed a motion for withdrawal on October 20.
However, Alia, who was taken aback that the state joined other states to challenge the legality of the anti-corruption agency, was said to have ordered the suspension of the attorney general.
Alia announced the indefinite suspension of Mnyim during a press conference in Makurdi, capital of Benue.
