Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 13th November, 2024
1. Tinubu Orders State Burial For Late Chief Of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja
A delegation from the Nigerian Army, led by Major General Kamal Yusuf, announced on Tuesday that President Bola Tinubu has directed a state burial for the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
The announcement was made during a condolence visit to the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan, at his palace in Osun State.
Major General Yusuf, a classmate of the late Lagbaja at the Nigerian Defence Academy, reflected on their early days together, recalling how they travelled by train from Osogbo to Kaduna to begin their military careers.
During the visit, Yusuf informed Oba Olaniyan that the late General would rest at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja, where Nigeria honours its national heroes.
“Our visit here is to express our condolences and inform you of the burial plans. President Tinubu has directed that Lieutenant General Lagbaja be given a state burial,” Yusuf stated, adding that arrangements have been made to accommodate family members who wish to attend the ceremony.
Delivering a condolence letter from the Nigerian Army, Yusuf expressed hope that such tragic losses would not recur.
2. Details Of Meeting Between Saudi Crown Prince And Tinubu Emerge
Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, has praised President Bola Tinubu for his economic reforms, highlighting potential avenues for collaboration between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
The commendation was made on the sidelines of the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh.
In a statement on Tuesday, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, disclosed that Tinubu and Salman discussed areas of cooperation in sectors such as oil and gas, agriculture, and infrastructure.
The two leaders also deliberated on establishing the Saudi-Nigeria Business Council to further strengthen economic ties.
Onanuga added that Nigeria is pursuing an agreement with the Saudi government for a proposed $5 billion bilateral trade facility, which could significantly boost trade between both nations.
3. Nigerians Will Shed Tears If They See Our Investigation – Olukoyede Discloses Reason For Unstable Power Supply
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has blamed the unstable power supply in Nigeria on corruption.
Olukoyede disclosed that contractors awarded projects supply electrical equipment often opted for substandard materials.
He stated that this was the major cause of frequent equipment failures, outages, and grid collapses.
The EFCC chair made the revelation during a visit by the House Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes in Abuja on Tuesday.
Olukoyede lamented that Nigerians would be in tears if the Commission discloses what it has uncovered during its investigations.
Olukoyede also stated that during its investigations, the commission discovered that in the last 20 years, capital project implementation and execution in the country had not exceeded 20 per cent.
He noted that the country could not achieve infrastructural or other forms of growth under such conditions.
4. ‘Cost Of Production Is Now Less Than ₦600’ – Oil Marketers Tackle Dangote Refinery Over Fuel Price
Oil marketers in the country have demanded a reduction in the price of petrol coming from Dangote Refinery.
According to the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), the cost of production is now less than ₦600, so petrol from Dangote Refinery should also reflect the new price.
Speaking on Tuesday during a broadcast by Nigeria Info FM 99.3, the spokesperson for PETROAN, Joseph Obele, explained that the reduction in the cost of production is a result of the crude for Naira concession given to Dangote Refinery by the Federal Government.
He, therefore, insisted that it is wrong for Dangote Refinery to insist its products will be sold at the prevailing international market price when they enjoy so much concessions from the government.
Dr Obele said the refinery should consider reducing its price in line with the new cost of production in order to ease the current hardships in Nigeria.
5. Okpebholo, Idahosa Officially Sworn-in As Edo State Governor, Deputy
Senator Monday Okphebholo has officially been sworn-in as the Governor of Edo State.
Naturenex reports that Dennis Idahosa was also sworn-in as the Deputy Governor of the State.
The ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the state capital, two months after the All Progressives Congress (APC) clinched the ticket to the Dennis Osadebay House.
Recall that Okpebholo emergence came after his victory in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the state, having defeated his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Asue Ighodalo.
Okpebholo becomes the fifth governor of the state since the Fourth Republic commenced in 1999.
6. FG Bans Flight Crew From Working With Multiple Airlines, Cites Safety Concerns
The Federal Government has issued a directive restricting licensed flight crew members, including pilots, from working with multiple airlines.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) announced the restriction following findings that some flight crew members have been providing services across different airlines, a practice now deemed illegal.
In a circular (NCAA/DGCA/AOL) dated November 6, 2024, and signed by the Acting Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, the NCAA emphasized that allowing flight crew to operate across airlines poses a risk to safety.
The circular further clarified that the licenses issued to pilots and other crew members are operator-specific and are based on the airline’s approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
According to the NCAA, allowing crew members to operate across airlines disrupts the continuity and adherence to specific SOPs, which could compromise flight safety.
7. No Bomb Explosion In Jos – Gov Mutfwang
The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, has said there was no bomb explosion at the old Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) site, near the Terminus Market, in Jos North Local Government Area.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang praised the people of Jos for being sensitive to their environment and raising an alarm for security purposes.
Mutfwang, however, expressed disaffection with the viral spread of rumour concerning the Jos incident. He advised that social media should be used responsibly and not as a tool to spread false information.
8. Governor Okpebholo Orders Probe Of Obaseki’s Administration
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has disclosed the setting up of a Committee to investigate the immediate-past administration of Godwin Obaseki over its failure to inaugurate 14 Edo Assembly lawmakers-elect into the 7th Assembly.
Naturenex reports that Okpebholo made this known during his inaugural speech as the new governor of the state.
Governor Okpebholo also ordered the State Chief Judge to immediately investigate the initial delay of former Governor Obaseki to inaugurate duly-cleared judges by the National Judicial Council (NJC) last year.
He promised not to betray the confidence reposed on him and his deputy governor, adding that the people’s welfare would be the top priority of his administration.
9. We’re Ready To Lift Dangote Petrol, Will Disclose Price By Tomorrow – IPMAN
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) has said members of the organization are ready to lift petrol from Dangote Refinery.
The National Assistant Secretary of the IPMAN, Yakubu Suleiman, said the controversies over the time was IPMAN’s insistence that they would want to purchase petrol directly from Dangote refinery and not through middlemen.
Speaking with Arise TV on Tuesday morning (today), Suleiman stated that the association would continue its meeting with Dangote refinery team today to agree on pricing.
He disclosed that by Wednesday, a new petrol price would be annouced to Nigerians.
IPMAN Assistant Secretary further dismissed the allegation of a cartel running the organization and the oil industry.
He added that IPMAN is not a cartel but was seeking a fair business process that would benefit Nigerians.
10. Oshiomhole Met With Babangida, Obasanjo To Increase Fuel Price – Sowore Alleges
Nigerian human rights activist and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, has criticized former Edo State governor and ex-president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Adams Oshiomhole, describing him as an “Agaracha” labour leader who, according to Sowore, was never a true activist.
Sowore made these remarks during a recent podcast with Glitch Africa Studios posted on YouTube.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), claimed that Oshiomhole had previously collaborated with Nigeria’s former military head of state, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, to implement Nigeria’s first fuel price increase in 1992.
According to Sowore, this move revealed Oshiomhole’s lack of genuine activism.
Sowore argued that Oshiomhole’s actions had consistently contradicted the principles of true activism, despite his image as a labour leader.
He claimed that the former NLC president’s support for fuel price increases showed he prioritized alliances with government leaders over the interests of the Nigerian people.
