Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 2nd September, 2024
1. Tinubu Arrives In China For State Visit
President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Beijing, China, to commence his state visit, where he will also participate in the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit.
The summit, themed “Joining Hands to Advance Modernisation and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,” is a significant event aimed at strengthening ties between China and African nations.
The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, confirmed Tinubu’s arrival in a post on X.com on Sunday.
The state visit is expected to focus on deepening diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and China, with potential discussions around trade, investment, and technological collaboration.
During the visit, President Tinubu is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top government officials.
2. We Are Under Financial Pressure, Fuel Supply Is Threatened – NNPCL Cries Out
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) says the organization is facing financial strain due to the supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol.
The NNPCL, in a statement on Sunday signed by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, said the financial strain has placed pressure on the company and poses a considerable threat to the availability of fuel in the country.
The company however added that despite the current situation, it is working with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to maintain a consistent supply of petroleum products nationwide.
The statement titled ‘NNPC Ltd Faces Financial Strain Due to PMS Supply Costs, Impacting Supply Sustainability’ reads: “NNPC Ltd. has acknowledged recent reports in national newspapers regarding the company’s significant debt to petrol suppliers. This financial strain has placed considerable pressure on the Company and poses a threat to the sustainability of fuel supply.
“In line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), NNPC Ltd. remains dedicated to its role as the supplier of last resort, ensuring national energy security. We are actively collaborating with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to maintain a consistent supply of petroleum products nationwide.”
The acknowledgement by the NNPC comes hours after reports emerged that global petrol suppliers have become increasingly reluctant to provide fuel on credit to the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), due to a growing debt of over $6 billion.
3. Tinubu’s Kinsmen Dominating Security Agencies – NEF
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has criticized President Bola Tinubu over what it describes as the dominance of the South-West in recent appointments of heads of key security agencies, alleging that this reflects a promotion of sectionalism in the country.
This backlash comes in the wake of the appointment of Adeola Ajayi as the new Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the swearing-in of Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
The NEF’s spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, expressed concern that these appointments continue a trend of favoring individuals from the South-West region, which includes previous appointments such as the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, all of whom are from the South-West.
The forum, which had earlier expressed regret for supporting Tinubu during the 2023 General Elections, stated that the President’s current actions threaten national unity by marginalizing other regions of the country.
NEF has called for more inclusivity in government appointments, warning that continued sectional favoritism could undermine the foundation of solidarity essential for maintaining a cohesive and diverse society.
This sentiment has been echoed widely on social media, where criticisms have been leveled against Tinubu for allegedly favoring his kinsmen in various high-profile appointments since taking office.
The NEF has hinted that it will prioritize a candidate who is “more inclusive, less controversial, and more aligned with the interests of all regions of the country” in the 2027 polls.
4. Okonjo-Iweala Strikes Back, Vows To Sue Over Gov Otti Smear
The Director-General of World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said she would take legal action against politicians who use her name for propaganda.
Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said this in reaction to a blog post that claimed she criticized Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.
The fake report claimed that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala accused Governor Otti of deceiving the citizens of the state through propaganda. It added that she was disappointed with the leadership pattern of the Governor.
The report also claimed Mrs. Iweala criticized Governor Otti for allegedly devoting time to criticizing the previous administration.
Reacting to the report, Mrs. Iweala explained that the report was a misrepresentative of the paper she delivered at the last Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Lagos.
5. Atiku Urges Tinubu Administration To List NNPCL On Stock Market
Former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to promptly list the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) on the stock exchange, as stipulated by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate in the 2023 election emphasized that such a move would enhance the company’s profitability, transparency, and corporate governance.
Naturenex reports that Atiku’s remarks came in response to NNPCL’s recent decision to transfer the management and operation of the Warri and Kaduna refineries to private operators.
He criticized the NNPCL’s current structure, labeling it a facade, as it still functions as a financial tool for the federal government.
In a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku questioned the consistency of the Tinubu administration’s policies, especially concerning fuel subsidies, and stressed the need for greater transparency in contract awards.
He also pointed out that past concessions had failed due to a lack of transparency and investor interest.
Atiku further suggested that credible bodies like the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and Standard and Poor’s should be involved in such transactions to ensure their success.
He warned against repeating past mistakes and underscored the importance of clear and transparent processes in privatizing the refineries.
6. Abure Is Destroying Labour Party – Kenneth Okonkwo
Former spokesman for Obi/Datti Campaign Organization, Kenneth Okonkwo, has blamed the party’s national chairman, Julius Abure for the party crisis.
Kenneth Okonkwo accused Abure of turning the Labour Party into a personal business.
He said the party has no elected officials at the ward, local government and state levels because Abure appointed leaders of the party across the nation contrary to the party’s constitution.
Okonkwo further claimed that despite court judgements on an inclusive convention, Abure refused to obey the court orders.
He further stated that Abure and his executive have hijacked the party that was supposed to represent the interest of the masses and workers.
7. NAF Neutralizes Notorious Terrorist Kingpin, 5 Others In Kaduna
A notorious and wanted terrorist kingpin and five members of his gang, on Saturday, were neutralized by Special Forces of the Nigerian Airforce from the 413 Force Protection Group during a shootout.
The shootout happened along Sabon-Birni road, Kaduna.
Director of NAF Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, who made this known on Sunday, said the terrorists were on their way to attacks and kidnapped innocent citizens in nearby communities when the encounter ensued.
8. ECOWAS To Dump Single Currency Initiative, ECO
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is reportedly shelving its long-standing plan to establish a single currency, known as the ECO, after years of struggling to actualize the initiative.
This development was disclosed by Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Junior, the Co-chair of the ECOWAS joint committees on Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment, Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Political Affairs, Peace, Security, and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), during an interview with Daily Trust in Banjul, Gambia, over the weekend.
The ECO, a single currency initiative, was proposed in the late 1990s and gained significant traction in 2000 when the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) was established.
The currency was intended to serve as a cornerstone for economic growth and integration among the 15 member states of ECOWAS.
It was expected to simplify transactions, eliminate currency exchange complications, and promote a more unified and prosperous West African region.
However, despite its ambitious goals, the initiative has faced significant setbacks over the years, primarily due to political challenges within the member states.
Senator Snowe Junior highlighted these difficulties, noting that the political hurdles have significantly hindered the realization of the ECO currency.
9. SERAP Sues Akpabio, Abbas Over ₦21 Million Monthly National Assembly Running Costs
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
Naturenex reports that the lawsuit, filed against the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, challenges the alleged unlawful practice of the National Assembly setting its own allowances and running costs without transparency or accountability.
The lawsuit follows allegations made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that lawmakers have been fixing their own salaries and allowances, disregarding the recommendations of the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC).
In the suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1289/2024 and filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking an order to compel Akpabio and Abbas to end the practice of the National Assembly determining its remuneration and allowances, termed as “running costs.”
The organization is also calling for the disclosure of the exact amount of monthly running costs paid to lawmakers and a detailed account of how these funds are spent.
SERAP argues that the practice of paying running costs into the personal accounts of lawmakers violates Rule 713 of the Federal Government Financial Regulations, which prohibits the payment of public money into private bank accounts.
The organization further contends that this practice is a breach of the Nigerian Constitution and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, to which Nigeria is a signatory.
10. Anyone Angry I’m Working For Tinubu Should ‘Hug Transformer’ – Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed his contentment with serving under President Bola Tinubu, despite the criticisms and speculations surrounding his appointment.
Wike, a longstanding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the only opposition member in Tinubu’s cabinet, addressed the issue during the PDP Congress in Rivers State.
Wike’s appointment as FCT Minister has sparked discussions, with many suggesting that his ministerial role was a reward for his alleged role in undermining former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election.
However, Wike remains unapologetic, stating that he has no regrets about his decision and is satisfied with his position in the current administration.
His comments come at a time of political tension within the PDP, as members navigate the complexities of working with an administration led by their primary rival, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
