Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 16th October, 2024
1. FG Denies Plan To Increase Taxes Paid By Nigerians
The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, has denied reports that the federal government plans to impose more tax or increase the amount of tax paid by Nigerians.
Adedeji made the denial on Tuesday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Mohammed Sani Musa.
According to the FIRS boss, the tax reform bills sent to the National Assembly by the government of President Bola Tinubu are not intended to introduce new taxes or increase existing ones but to harmonize them.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Senator Musa also confirmed the tax reform proposals are not targeted at increasing individual or company taxes.
He, however stressed the need for the FIRS to embark on sensitization of Nigerians on the intentions of the tax reform bills.
Naturenex reports President Tinubu had transmitted four bills to the two chambers of the National Assembly aimed at giving legislative frameworks to some proposals of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee headed by Taiwo Oyedele.
2. ‘This Recurring Disaster Is A Shame’ – Peter Obi Reacts As National Grid Collapses Twice In Less Than 24 Hours
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has frowned over the persistent national grid collapse, plunging Nigerians into darkness.
Naturenex reports that the national power grid collapsed again, marking the second occurrence in less than 24 hours and causing widespread outages nationwide.
The first collapse occurred on Monday evening, significantly disrupting domestic and business activities in the country.
In a statement via X, Peter Obi described the national grid collapse as a recurring ‘disaster’ and national shame.
The former governor of Anambra state said the blackout is a glaring testament to the failure of leadership and policy implementation at the highest levels.
Obi noted that the latest power grid collapse is symbolic of leadership and government that has consistently failed to prioritize the welfare and economic well-being of the people.
He also cited other African countries that generate and distribute electricity efficiently, unlike Nigeria, which has a lower GDP and a larger population.
Peter Obi called for urgent and comprehensive power sector reform, adding that Nigerians deserve a government that prioritizes measurable development indices.
3. Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Rises To 32.7%
Nigeria’s inflation rate increased to 32.7 per cent in September, marking a reverse from two consecutive months of decline, where it stood at 32.15% in August.
This uptick was primarily attributed to a rise in Month-on-Month Food Inflation, which escalated to 2.64% from the previous 2.37%.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported these findings in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) Report for September.
According to the Bureau, the headline inflation rate for September 2024 was recorded at 32.70%, in contrast to the August 2024 rate of 32.15%. This indicates an increase of 0.55% in the headline inflation rate from August to September 2024.
On a year-on-year comparison, the headline inflation rate was 5.98 percentage points higher than the rate observed in September 2023, which was 26.72%.
This data illustrates that the headline inflation rate rose on a year-on-year basis in September 2024 when compared to the same month in the previous year, September 2023.
4. Sunday Igboho: FG Summon British High Commissioner
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has summoned the British High Commissioner over the recent visit of Yoruba Nations agitator Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, to 10 Downing Street to submit a petition.
Naturenex understands that Igboho submitted the petition on behalf of Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, the leader of the Yoruba Nation movement.
The movement is seeking the immediate intervention of the UK Prime Minister and his government in their agitation to set up a country that will be predominantly owned by indigenous Yoruba people
This was made known in a statement signed by Amb. Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday, October 15.
According to the statement, the High Commissioner, during the meeting, acknowledged the alarm generated by the petition, but stated that reports have been highly misleading.
Confirming the delivery of the letter, the High Commissioner explained that it falls under an established practice allowing petitions and letters to be submitted to No. 10.
While stating that the UK government and the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee did not endorse the petition, the High Commissioner reiterated the UK government’s policy of not interfering with the sovereign affairs of other nations.
He noted that similar petitions have been rejected by the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee and the UK Government in the past.
5. Delay In IPMAN-Dangote Meeting Extends Uncertainty Over Fuel Pricing
The anticipated meeting between the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the management of Dangote Refinery to discuss fuel pricing remains in limbo, leaving many Nigerians disappointed.
Originally scheduled for Tuesday, the meeting aimed to finalize arrangements for the direct purchase of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the Dangote Refinery.
This follows the decision by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to withdraw from its intermediary role in the distribution of PMS from the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery.
Earlier, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, had announced that marketers could now directly buy fuel from the Dangote Refinery, a move expected to lower pump prices.
IPMAN had expressed optimism about securing more affordable fuel for the market and initiated discussions with Dangote’s management.
However, as of the time of this report, no meeting has taken place, leaving consumers and marketers alike uncertain.
Speaking to Daily Trust, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, IPMAN’s National Publicity Secretary, confirmed the delay, stating, “We are still waiting for Dangote Refinery to convene the meeting. The current status remains unchanged.”
This delay has dampened hopes for an immediate reduction in fuel prices, a relief many Nigerians had anticipated following the talks.
6. PDP Govs Resolve Crisis, Nullify All Suspensions
The Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDP-GF) has directed conflicting party members to return to their previous positions.
The chairman of the forum and governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, announced following the governors’ meeting that concluded in the early morning of Tuesday.
Mohammed mentioned that as a political organization, the PDP was expected to face disagreements among its members, but he assured that these issues could be addressed and overcome.
“There is no crisis. The Governors, BoT, the National Assembly caucus have agreed that the NWC should revert to status quo,” the PUNCH quoted Mohammed.
He said all the suspensions have been nullified.
7. ‘Don’t Drag Me Into It’ – Kwankwaso Reacts To NNPP Crisis
The presidential aspirant of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has chosen to remain silent on the internal crisis currently affecting his party in Kano State.
When approached by journalists at his residence on Miller Road, Kano, on Tuesday, Kwankwaso declined to comment on the issue.
The leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement said, “I don’t want to talk, please. Don’t drag me into what I am not supposed to be dragged into. The chairman of the party has spoken and continues to speak. Reach out to him.”
According to Daily Trust, tensions within the party have escalated, leading to the suspension of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, and the Commissioner of Transportation, Muhammad Diggol.
8. Rivers Elections: Why We Withdrew Policemen – IGP Egbetokun
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has clarified the decision to withdraw police officers from local government headquarters in Rivers State, following the recent election of new local government chairmen.
According to Egbetokun, once the elections concluded, the police no longer found it necessary to maintain their presence at local government secretariats.
Naturenex recalls that after the newly elected Chairmen were sworn in and directed to resume duties at the Secretariats, suspected thugs launched attacks, setting some local government buildings on fire and causing extensive damage to government property.
The IGP’s comments came during a Tuesday meeting with Police Strategic Commanders in Abuja.
He elaborated on the legal challenges the police faced in their role in the Rivers State elections. “We acted very professionally and followed legal and democratic tenets,” he said, explaining that contradictory court orders had placed the police in a complex position.
Egbetokun noted that multiple court rulings—one in Abuja advising against police involvement in the election, a subsequent order in Rivers supporting police participation, and finally, another Federal High Court directive barring police engagement—complicated matters.
9. Most Houses, Offices Of Politicians In Nigeria Stockpiled With Hard Drugs – Senator Sumaila
The Senator representing Kano South in the National Assembly, Kawu Sumaila, has indicated that many politicians in the country harbour hard drugs in their homes and offices.
Speaking on Tuesday while contributing to a debate during plenary on the general principles of a bill seeking to establish a national institute for drug awareness and rehabilitation, Senator Sumaila said the drugs are usually stockpiled by the workers.
He added that he could take the Senate leadership to houses and offices of political leaders where mountains of hard drugs are stockpiled.
The lawmaker said politicians and appointees should be made to go through compulsory drug tests before elections and appointments.
The Senator was, however, ruled out of order by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary.
Cited order 36 of the standing rules of the upper legislative chamber, Jibrin said; “Your contribution is not relevant to the subject matter.”
10. Why Nigeria, Libya AFCON Qualifier Match Won’t Take Place – CAF
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has explained why the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Libya won’t take place as scheduled.
The match was originally scheduled to take place in Libya at 8 p.m. following the first leg, which saw the Super Eagles triumph over the Mediterranean Knights with a narrow 1-0 victory at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday.
The return leg was mired in controversy, primarily due to the harrowing experience faced by the Super Eagles players and officials, who reported being stranded at the Libya airport for over 14 hours.
The ordeal ultimately led to their decision to return home rather than participate in the scheduled match.
In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, CAF said the case between the two nations will be referred to the competent CAF bodies.
The statement read, “The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifier fixture between Libya and Nigeria will not take place as scheduled tonight.
“The matter will be referred to the competent CAF bodies.”
