Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 24th December, 2024
1. Stampedes: ‘I Have Been Giving Out Palliatives In Bourdillon For Past 25 Years Without Any Issue’ – Tinubu Blames Organizers
President Bola Tinubu has blamed the recent stampedes that occurred in Oyo and Anambra States as well as the one in Abuja, on the organizational incapabilities of those giving out the palliatives.
The President, who spoke on Monday during a media chat in Lagos, said it is unfortunate that such stampede incidents leading to the deaths of several persons, including children, happened, but the blame lies at the feet of the organizers.
President Tinubu stressed that he has been giving out palliative care in various forms in his Bourdillon residence in Lagos for the past 25 years and has never experienced any stampede because the events are always well planned and well managed.
He urged those giving out palliatives to the needy in society to improve their organizational capacity and avoid publicising such events if they don’t have sufficient resources to cater for the crowd that may show up.
The Nigerian leader also extended condolences to those who lost loved ones or got injured as a result of the stampedes.
2. ‘I Do Not Mind Cutting Edges’ – Tinubu Insist On Tax Reforms
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has insisted that regardless of the controversies surrounding his administration’s proposed tax reforms, it has come to stay.
Naturenex reports that Tinubu made this known on Monday night during the presidential media chat.
Recall that the tax reform bills, before the National Assembly, have generated controversies and met pushback, especially from the Northern leaders, forcing the lawmakers to initiate a consultation.
However, while addressing the push back, Tinubu said the tax reform might not be embraced by everybody, but it was here to stay.
The president mainted that he is open to negotiations on the issue given the mounting opposition to the bills by some governors and senators.
3. Yuletide: FG Declares December 25, 26, January 1 Public Holidays
The Federal Government has officially declared Wednesday, December 25, Thursday, December 26, 2024, and Wednesday, January 1, 2025, as public holidays to mark Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year celebrations.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, through a statement released on Monday in Abuja by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo extended heartfelt greetings to all Nigerians, encouraging them to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the festive season represents.
He urged citizens to use the holiday period to strengthen family bonds and promote harmony within their communities.
The minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering peace, security, and prosperity across the nation, calling on Nigerians to remain steadfast in their dedication to national progress.
4. Edo State Govt Defies Tinubu’s Attorney General, Says Local Govts Remain Under State Control
Officials of the Edo State government have declared that local governments remain under the control of state governments, insisting that the Supreme Court overstepped its boundary with its recent ruling on local government autonomy.
The officials of Governor Monday Okpebholo insisted on Monday that the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, can’t overrule laws validly made by the Edo State House of Assembly.
Naturenex recalls Fagemi last Thursday, said the Edo State House of Assembly lacks the constitutional right to suspend elected chairmen and vice chairmen of local governments in the state.
However, in what seems to be setting the tone for a constitutional crisis, certain officials of the Edo State government insisted that the state government retain control over local governments.
Speaking on Channels Televison, the Special Adviser to Governor Okpebholo on Legal Matters, Andrew Emwanta, said, “the Constitution has placed local governments under state control, and that remains the law,” accusing the Supreme Court of overstepping its bounds.
Also, a member of the Governor’s legal panel, Kassim Afegbua, challenged the authority of the AGF.
5. You Will See Positive Outcomes Of Tinubu’s Reforms In 2025 – FG To Citizens
The Federal Government has assured citizens that they would feel more the positive outcomes of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms in 2025.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the President cared for the good of the citizens through policies he introduced in 2024.
In his statement on Monday, titled “Counting the gains of President Tinubu’s economic renewal”, Idris listed student loans, consumer credit, the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) policy, Electricity Act, Tax Reform Bill and foreign diplomatic visits as some policies that would affect the economic positively in 2025.
Alhaji Idris assured that when the Tax Reform Bill is passed in 2025, it will boost the country’s economy. He explained that many more citizens would benefit from the government’s consumer credit scheme.
The Minister of Information enjoined Nigerians to support the President in his economic reforms.
He promised that the citizens’ sacrifices would be rewarded with development and prosperity.
6. Why Nigerians Are Yet To Start Enjoying New, Reduced Petrol Price – Fuel Marketers
Fuel marketers have explained why Nigerians have not started enjoying reduced petrol prices despite announcements and confirmations by both Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
It would be recalled that 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 NNPC also confirmed a reduction in ex-depot prices to ₦899 per litre in Lagos.
Based on these developments, 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.
Observations across the country, however, show the new price regime has not taken effect in many filling stations.
Speaking on the development during Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s breakfast show Sunrise Daily, the president of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Billy Gilly-Harry, said the delay in effecting the new price is because many stations are still selling the old stock bought at ₦970.
He explained that it would not be healthy for the marketers to make a loss on the product but assured that before the week runs out, the reduced price regime would take effect as filling stations get fresh supplies.
He assured that as soon as members of the organization start loading from both NNPC and Dangote at the new reduced price, it will reflect in the market.
7. ‘I Do Not Have Any Regret Removing Fuel Subsidy’ – Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has insisted that the removal of fuel subsidy was in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Naturenex reports that Tinubu, on the assumption of office on May 29, 2023, removed fuel subsidy with immediate effect, which led to severe economic challenges and a high increase in the cost of goods and services.
During his first presidential media chat aired on Monday, 23rd December, President Tinubu said that the swift decision was made to preserve Nigeria’s future and that of a generation that is yet unborn.
He said, “Nigeria was spending its future and was not investing. We were spending the fortune of our future generations, we were not investing.
“We were just deceiving ourselves. That reform was necessary. Why should you have expenditures that we don’t have revenue for?
“We should teach management in all our programmes, we have to manage our resources.
“There is no way you give out fuel and allow all the entire neighbouring countries as Father Christmas. I don’t have regret whatsoever removing the subsidy. It is necessary.
“We cannot spend our future generation investments upfront.”
8. ‘We Are Depressed By The Stampedes’ – Tinubu’s Minister Outlines Steps To Prevent Future Disasters
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, says the federal government is depressed due to what happened during palliative distributions in three different locations of the country last week.
The Minister noted that while the government was saddened by the stampedes that claimed lives in Ibadan, Anambra, and Abuja last week, it had to talk about safety procedures for future programmes.
Speaking on Monday during Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Yilwatda said the failure of the event organizers to follow protocols and safety procedures was responsible for the stampede.
He noted that the federal government conducts palliative distribution on a larger scale and does not record such disasters because it follows necessary protocols and safety procedures for such activities.
According to him, organizations need to pick appropriate venues for their events, conduct risk and vulnerability tests, involve the police and adhere to registration in order to avoid future disasters while distributing palliative to the needy.
Yilwatda emphasized the need for protocols to be on the ground and proper crowd control measures put in place for future events in order to prevent stampedes, injuries and deaths.
9. ‘I Moved Minimum Wage To ₦70,000 To Fight Corruption’ – President Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu on Monday declared that corruption in all its ramifications, is bad for the people.
Tinubu made the declaration while answering a question during his first presidential media chat about the intention of his administration to fight corruption.
The Nigerian leader said increasing the minimum wage of workers in the country to ₦70,000 is part of the measures adopted to fight corruption in the country.
He stressed the need to identify the root causes of corruption and deal with such causes.
The President added that as part of measures towards fighting corruption, he has made more money available to the state and local governments and is always open about how much the government is making on a monthly basis.
According to him, transparency is one of the tools used to fight corruption.
Tinubu noted that it is difficult to eliminate corruption, but it can be reduced to the barest minimum by meeting the people’s needs.
10. Tinubu Speaks On Controlling Prices To Reduce Food Costs
President Bola Tinubu has dismissed any possibility of price control to bring down food prices in the country.
Naturenex reports that Tinubu, who spoke on Monday during the presidential media chat, said he does not support price control.
According to him, the forces of demand and supply would eventually force prices down.
He remarked, “I don’t believe in price control. I’m sorry. What we have to do is to keep supplying the market.”
