Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 11th September, 2024
1. “Worst Flood In Decades” – President Tinubu Reacts To Maiduguri Flood, Issues Directives
President Bola Tinubu has reacted to the flood which has ravaged some communities in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, describing it as the worst in recent decades.
The President, who expressed concern and sympathy for the victims of the flood incidents, directed all relevant agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to assist the affected persons and communities.
Tinubu, in a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, assured the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, of the commitment of the federal government in mobilizing resources to support the state in dealing with the flood.
He also commiserated with those who have lost lives and properties as a result of the flood disaster triggered by the overflow of the Alau dam.
2. Subsidy Removal Will Free Up Resources For Critical Investments – Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has defended his administration’s decision to remove the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, during the opening of the 17th Annual Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Banking and Finance Conference held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu articulated that the removal of the subsidy was a necessary step to liberate financial resources for crucial investments across the country.
According to the President, this move is part of broader reforms aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s macroeconomic environment and restoring confidence in the nation’s economy.
He emphasized the importance of these reforms at a time when Nigeria faces numerous interconnected challenges.
The theme of this year’s CIBN conference, ‘Accelerating Economic Growth and Development: The State of Play and the Way Forward,’ was highlighted by Tinubu as both timely and imperative, underlining the critical juncture at which the Nigerian economy currently stands.
The conference serves as a platform for financial experts and policymakers to deliberate on strategies for economic advancement amidst these reforms.
3. We Should’ve Joined Hunger Protest, Tinubu Doesn’t Want Voice Of Opposition – NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it regretted not joining the #EndBadGovernance protest held in August.
The Head of Information of the NLC, Benson Upah, said it was regretful that President Bola Tinubu-led federal government does not want opposition’s voice.
Upah noted that the practice of using the Department of State Services (DSS) and Police to arrest voices challenging the government policies shows dictatorship is creeping into Nigeria under President Tinubu’s regime.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, on Tuesday, the NLC spokesman stated that the federal government wants to use the continued arrest of its leaders to distract the organized labour.
The NLC leader maintained that Ajaero was not given any invitation, nor was he avoiding the security agencies. He explained that even as of Tuesday, the DSS has not given any explanation for arresting and detaining Ajaero.
4. Reps Order JAMB To Remit ₦3 Billion To FG
The House of Representatives has directed the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to transfer ₦3.602 billion to the Federal Government Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
During an investigative hearing in Abuja, Rep. Bamidele Salam, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, emphasized that this remittance is a straightforward legal obligation, not open to personal interpretation.
He clarified that the issue does not pertain to the debate over the 25 per cent versus 50 per cent as contended by JAMB.
The Committee reached a consensus that JAMB must remit the specified amount to the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) and provide proof of this transaction within a 30-day timeframe.
Naturenex understands that the FRC had previously brought JAMB before the committee regarding an unremitted operating surplus.
Representing the FRC, Bello Aliyu indicated that as of 2021, the liabilities amounted to ₦390.725 million, based on the records submitted to the Committee.
He further stated that following JAMB’s 2022 audited financial statement submission, the liabilities were recalculated and communicated to them.
5. ‘Abure Is A Big Fat Liar’ – Aisha Yesufu Denies Embezzling Labour Party Campaign Funds
Popular activist and chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Aisha Yesufu, has denied the allegations levelled against her by the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, on mismanaging the party’s campaign funds.
Yesufu, who was the chairman of the campaign fundraising team, made the denial in a video posted on her official YouTube account on Tuesday.
The denial is a direct response to the allegation by Abure that she and Pastor Itua Ighodalo, were responsible for managing the campaign funds of LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, at the 2023 election.
Speaking at the LP National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Monday, Abure said he didn’t have access to the party’s campaign funds, and those who managed the funds mismanaged them.
However, Yesusfu in her denial, described Abure as a big fat liar.
She also challenged the LP National Chairman to account for the proceeds of the ‘Labour Party N1,000 Challenge’ campaign donations he has been raising since 2022.
6. Ajaero, SERAP: Tinubu’s Oppressive Control Now Surpasses Military Dictators – Atiku
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Joe Ajaero, and the invasion of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) office by men of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Atiku said President Bola Tinubu’s level of oppressive control now imposed on Nigerians, civil society organizations and the media has surpassed the time of military dictators.
In a statement on Tuesday, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused President Tinubu of intimidating opposition voices.
Atiku admonished the President to channel his security agencies towards terrorists and bandits perpetrating violence across the country and stop inflicting suffering on Nigerians.
7. ‘Tinubu Never Built Lagos Alone, You All Have Been Gloating’ – Presidency
The presidency has countered Nigerians using the statement that President Bola Tinubu, ‘The man who built Lagos State has been unable to build Nigeria,’ for the citizens to see.
Naturenex reports that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, in a statement via his X handle on Tuesday, said those taking a dig at Tinubu over his performance have been gloating, stressing that the President set Lagos State on the path of irreversible progress.
Ajayi stated that Tinubu never claimed that he built Lagos alone, as widely speculated and some of the landmark projects he started in the state still stand.
The presidential aide also listed Tinubu’s achievements in Lagos State, adding that his considerable progress as Governor of the state is unarguable and was not achieved in one year.
8. Peter Obi Demands Transparency On Fuel Subsidy Removal, Urges Accountability
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has once again shared his thoughts on the removal of fuel subsidy by the present administration led by President Bola Tinubu.
Obi argued that if subsidy has truly been removed, the government should disclose the projects where the funds have been diverted.
He emphasized the need for transparency in government figures.
The LP stalwart shared his reservations during an interview with News Central.
He asserted that while subsidy has been removed, the country’s debt continues to rise alongside the cost of living.
He further advocated for the preservation of democracy in Nigeria, stressing the importance of biometric systems and greater scrutiny in Nigeria’s borrowing and spending.
The former Anambra governor highlighted the need to prioritize areas requiring urgent attention to improve the nation’s development.
9. DSS Succumbs To Pressure, Releases Seized Passport, Mobile Phones Of Joe Ajaero
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released the passport of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
Recall that Ajaero’s phones and passport were confiscated following his arrest and detention which spanned several hours, in Abuja on Monday.
Naturenex earlier reported that Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while on his way to the United Kingdom to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London.
He was later granted administrative bail after an extended period of detention.
The NLC on Monday accused the DSS of arresting Ajaero without a warrant.
Ajaero’s detention had sparked widespread concerns and intense speculation regarding the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention.
However, lawyers close to the NLC president told SaharaReporters that the DSS was later forced to release Ajaero’s passport and mobile phones.
10. Joe Ajaero’s Arrest: No One Above The Law In Nigeria – Presidency Replies UK TUC
The Presidency has declared that there was no violation of human rights concerning the recent arrest of the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Naija News reports that the Presidency stated this while refuting allegations of human rights abuses and violations made against President Bola Tinubu’s administration by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the United Kingdom.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, indicated that the TUC commenced its conference in London with its leader making unfounded assertions regarding human rights violations in Nigeria.
Onanuga emphasized that the Nigerian government was “incorrectly and unjustly accused of rights abuses” because the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, was prevented from travelling abroad after disregarding an invitation from a law enforcement agency involved in an ongoing investigation.
The Presidency remarked that Ajaero perceives himself as above the law, asserting that “his actions, however, carry significant repercussions, as no individual is above the law in Nigeria.”
He said contrary to the “erroneous impression” being created, “the invitation extended by the Department of State Services to Mr. Ajaero has nothing to do with his role as the President of NLC.
