Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 12th August, 2024
1. ‘Probe $1.5 Billion World Bank Loan To States, $3 Billion Chinese Loan’ – SERAP Urges Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has been charged by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and appropriate anti-corruption agencies, to promptly and thoroughly investigate the spending of $1.5 billion World Bank loan obtained by the 36 states and Abuja for poverty reduction and social protection across the states.
SERAP said, “Suspected perpetrators of corruption and mismanagement should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any proceeds of corruption should be fully recovered.”
SERAP also urged him to direct Fagbemi and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly investigate the alleged mismanagement of the Chinese loans of $3.121bn obtained by the Federal Government.
In the open letter dated 10 August 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “Ensuring accountability for the spending of World Bank loan and Chinese loans would build trust in democratic institutions with the ultimate aim of strengthening the rule of law.
2. We Challenge You To Bring Forth Contrary Fact – Senate Replies Obasanjo On ‘Fixing Salaries’ Claim
The Nigerian Senate has said that it is petrified by claims made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo stating that the National Assembly fix their salaries and allowances beyond what was approved by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
Recall that the former nation’s leader had alleged that lawmakers in Nigeria’s parliament allocate funds to themselves under the guise of salaries and allowances while at the same time collecting sundry funds from the executive branch.
Obasanjo said, “In your case, with all due respect, you’re not supposed to fix your salaries. But you decide what you pay yourself, the allowances that you give yourself, new paper allowances.
“You give yourself all sorts of things, and you know it is not right. It is immoral.
“You’re doing it, the Senate is doing it, and you beat your chest. In some cases, the executive gives you what you’re not entitled to. You all got ₦200 million.”
Responding to the accusation via a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, insisted that the Senate only receives salary allocated constitutionally by the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission.
Adaramodu challenged anyone with contrary fact to come forward with their evidence.
3. ‘The Eight Years Of Buhari Was Just A Waste For The North And The Country’ – Shettima
The National President of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), Yerima Shettima, has described the eight years in office by former President Muhammadu Buhari as a waste for the northern region and the entire country.
He submitted that the North has been neglected for so long by the previous leaders and the people of the region have been pushed to the wall.
Shetimma made the submission in an interview with Vanguard which was published on Sunday.
He described the eight years of the Buhari government as a waste, adding that the decision of the northern people to join the recent #EndBadGovernance protest provoked the people and if the leaders do not do the needful, worse protests may happen in the future which will consume everybody.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu only inherited the challenges in the country and the frustrations of the people.
The AYCF president, during the interview, also debunked reports in certain quarters that the reason for anger in the North is because appointments by the government do not favour the region.
He said while the north is suffering injustice from the appointments by the Tinubu government, the problems in the region are more than the issue of appointments.
4. #EndBadGovernance Protest: Organisers To Sue FG Over Deaths Of Protesters – Sowore
Human rights activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore, has announced that the organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests plan to take legal action against the Federal Government over the killings of protesters during the demonstrations.
Naturenex reports that this decision follows the nationwide #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protests, which started on August 1 in response to widespread economic hardships faced by Nigerians.
Protests took place in cities like Lagos, Kano, Gombe, Kaduna, Yobe, Borno, Niger, Kebbi, and Abuja, with some instances turning violent.
In an interview with The Punch, Sowore, one of the organisers, stated that the government was the first to escalate the protests into violence.
When asked about the number of protesters killed and arrested during the demonstrations, Sowore replied, “So far, we know of 17 persons murdered in cold blood by the Nigeria Police Force. We know of a police officer who was killed by a fellow policeman who rammed a water cannons armoured carrier into his van in Katsina State and an immigration officer who shot himself accidentally in Borno State.”
Sowore expressed deep sorrow for those who lost their lives or were injured while exercising their constitutional right to protest peacefully.
He emphasized that the government was the first to bring violence to the demonstrations, using water cannons on peaceful protesters in Kano and firing bullets at protesters who were armed only with placards.
5. NDIC Gives ₦5 Million Each To Defunct Heritage Bank Customers
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has announced the successful disbursement of insured deposits of up to ₦5 Million each to 82.36% of the total customers of the defunct Heritage Bank.
This follows the revocation of the bank’s license by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on June 3, 2024.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Bashir Nuhu, the NDIC noted that the remaining 17.64% of insured deposits are still pending due to issues such as Post-No Debits instructions or the lack of a Bank Verification Number (BVN) associated with the accounts.
The CBN’s decision to revoke Heritage Bank’s license was driven by persistent financial instability and regulatory breaches by the bank, as outlined under Section 12 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020.
The move was part of the apex bank’s broader mandate to maintain a stable financial system in Nigeria.
Following the withdrawal of the bank’s license, the NDIC had assured the public that it would commence the payment process for the 2.3 million depositors of Heritage Bank.
The disbursement began just four days after the bank’s liquidation, demonstrating the NDIC’s commitment to swiftly addressing the concerns of affected customers.
According to Nuhu, the use of BVNs as a unique identifier played a crucial role in locating depositors’ alternate accounts in other banks, thereby facilitating the prompt disbursement of funds.
6. Protest: ‘With What Is Happening, Some Of Our Leaders Would Run Away’ – Shettima
The National President of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), Yerima Shettima, on Sunday, stated that the problem in the northern region of the country was caused by the myopic nature of the leaders of the region.
Shettima, who spoke against the backdrop of the recent #EndBadGovernance protest and its impact on the region, accused northern leaders and representatives of failing to develop the region by embezzling money meant for the region’s development.
He said with the way things are going, some of the leaders may have to run away because the people have now realized that they have power and sovreinty belongs to them.
The ACYF president added that the leaders of the region must realize it is no longer business as usual, and they have to come back and speak to the people because actual power belongs to the people.
Shettima urged political leaders to understand that they are the servants of the people and the protests have shown that they can’t keep doing things the way they have been doing them.
7. Tinubu Should Be Held Responsible If The Satanic Agenda Against Dangote Refinery Succeeds – Atiku’s Aide
Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has asked Nigerians to hold President Bola Tinubu responsible if the agenda against Dangote Refinery succeeds.
He claimed that there is a deliberate agenda of both local and external interests to kill and bury Dangote refinery.
Naturenex reports that Dangote Refinery claimed that it is yet to receive 26 million barrels of crude allocation facilitated by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Dangote Refinery said it wants Nigerian refineries to be able to buy crude directly from the companies that produce as specified in the Petroleum Industry Act.
The Group Chief, Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Refinery Anthony Chiejina accused NUPRC of being unable to enforce domestic crude supply obligations to Nigeria refineries as specified in the PIA Act.
However, NUPRC had claimed it facilitated 26 million barrels of crude oil allocation to Dangote Refinery in the first quarter of 2024.
Speaking via a post on his X handle on Sunday, Ibe lamented that the drama to kill and bury Dangote Refinery is playing out in the presence of everybody.
8. Man DSS Arrested For Producing Russian Flag Never Handled A Sewing Machine – Family
The family of one of the tailors accused of mass-production of the Russian flag in Kano, Ahmad Yusuf Muhammad, has said Muhammad was not involved in the act he was arrested over.
Naturenex recalls that the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested some tailors suspected to be mass-producing the Russian flag in Kano State.
The agency posted on its X handle, that the “Service has apprehended some tailors in Kano State responsible for making Russian flags being distributed in the area. Some of their sponsors have also been picked. An investigation is ongoing.”
However, Ahmad’s brother, Nasiru Yusuf Muhammad, in a chat with Daily Trust, said his brother was never a tailor and has never handled a sewing machine.
He, therefore, called on the security agencies and concerned authorities to investigate the case carefully and do justice to everyone.
9. Hunger Motivated The North To Actively Participate In The #EndBadGovernance Protests – AYCF President
The National President of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), Yerima Shettima, has submitted that the hunger in the North is part of why the people in the region actively participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Naturenex reports the protest in some northern states snowballed into violence, accompanied by a looting spree and destruction of properties.
Speaking on the development, Shettima told Vanguard in an interview published on Sunday that the north is worst hit by the hunger and economic hardship prevalent in the country.
He said insecurity has forced the people in the region to abandon their farms, and they are unable to receive palliative from the government, which in turn provoked the people to storm the streets rather than die silently.
He added that while some policies of the Bola Tinubu government caused more hardship, the problem started during the government of former president Muhammadu Buhari.
The ACYF president said the government needs to declare a state of emergency on insecurity in the north.
10. ‘It Is Time For Peter Obi, Atiku, Kwankwaso, Others To Reform Democracy’ – Salihu Lukman
A former National Vice Chairman North-West of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has expressed deep concern over what he describes as the government’s excessive spending under President Bola Tinubu, despite widespread hunger and poverty in the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday titled, “#EndBadGovernance Campaign: What Next?”, Lukman lamented that the Tinubu administration appears to be on a “roller coaster of aggrandized spendings” while millions of Nigerians struggle with economic hardship.
He argued that this misalignment of priorities is partly responsible for the volatile situation currently gripping the nation.
Lukman urged all committed democrats in Nigeria to rise to the challenge and work towards mobilizing citizens to channel their frustrations in a constructive manner.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naturenex. See you again tomorrow.
