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Today's Headlines:
Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the PRUDENTJ2 roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 29th September 2021.
Here are the major headlines.
1. Presidency Speaks On ‘Little Difference’ Between IPOB And Yoruba Nation Agitators
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has criticized Yoruba nation agitators and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for protesting against his principal at the United Nations.
The presidential spokesman in an article titled ‘My takeaways from the 76th UN general assembly session’, described the protest in New York, US, during the United Nations event as “tribal bullying of government officials”.
According to him, “While President Buhari was focusing on the problems plaguing the nation and in some instances asking for international support to deal with such, a coalition of groups protested outside the UN building.
Shehu then criticized the Yoruba nation agitators for associating with IPOB, stressing that they are “demonstrating there is little difference in their beliefs or their intent”.
He stated that many Nigerians were disconcerted by the “tribal bullying of government officials as they moved to carry out their diligent work between the Nigerian Mission in New York and the UN building, a walkable distance of less than 400 meters”.
2. President Buhari Approves 159 New Radio, TV Stations
No fewer than 159 private organizations, communities, and institutions of higher learning have been licensed to operate radio and television stations in Nigeria.
PRUDENTJ2 understands that the development was contained in a statement released on Tuesday by the National Broadcasting Commission following President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of the proposed stations.
Speaking on the development in Abuja, NBC Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah, said:
“Following the approval granted by the president, NBC has released the list of 159 licenses granted to companies, communities and institutions of higher learning.
3. Afenifere Speaks On The State Of The Nation Says Bandits Have Declared War
The Pan Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere has said that Bandits have declared war on the federal republic of Nigeria.
Afenifere has also told the government to turn Amotekun and Ebube Agu to state police to help in combating insecurity in the country.
The group made this known in a statement after a meeting in the home of its leader Pa Ayo Adebanjo in Ogun state.
4. House Of Reps Names Members Of Electoral Act Amendment Conference Committee
The House of Representatives has assigned seven members to work with the upper chamber of the National Assembly on the Electoral Act amendment bill.
The seven rep members will work with their colleagues from the Senate to harmonize the Electoral Act amendment bill.
The rep members as announced during plenary on Tuesday are:
Akeem Adeyemi, James Abiodun Faleke (APC, Lagos); Aisha Dukku (APC, Gombe); Blessing Onuh (APC, Benue); Nyima Idem (PDP, Akwa Ibom); Chris Azubogu (PDP, Anambra) and Abdullahi Kalambaina (APC, Sokoto).
The delegation is headed by Akeem Adeyemi but no timeline was made known for their activities.
The legislators from the two chambers will work on the bill to harmonize the details, provide a clean copy and get it ready for Presidential assent.
5. Court Sacks APC Federal Lawmaker.
The Federal High Court sitting in Taraba State has sacked the lawmaker representing Bali/Gassol at the House of Representatives, Mubarak Gambo.
Gamba and Garba Chede, who are both members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have been engaged in court battles over who deserves to represent the constituency at the National Assembly prudentj2 learned.
Recall that Chebe was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He was later sacked by the court, with Gambo retaining his position. But in a ruling on Tuesday, the federal high court ordered the reinstating of Chebe.
Justice Simone Amonbita urged Gambo to immediately desist from parading himself as the member representing Bali/Gassol at the lower chamber of the National Assembly.
The judge also directed the dethroned member of the National Assembly to refund all the monies he had so far collected as allowance throughout his period of stay in the Assembly.
Justice Amonbita directed INEC to as a matter of urgency issue a certificate of return to Chede.
6. Six Feared Dead, Many Injured As Soldiers, Shiites Clash In Abuja.
A crossfire in Abuja between soldiers of the Nigerian Army and Shiite (IMN) protesters on Tuesday has resulted in the death of some persons with many others also injured.
It was gathered that not less than six members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria are feared dead as a result of the clash with security operatives in the nation’s capital city.
The clash was said to have occurred around Gwarimpa, close to Galadimawa in Abuja just as the Shiites were about to round off their Arbaeen Symbolic Trek.
The development caused huge confusion as the Shiite members as well as other residents and passers-by scampered for safety in the chaos that ensued.
This comes before reports that forty-two members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as Shiites have been arrested by the Nigerian Police Force.
Speaking with reporters in Abuja on Tuesday, spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, said the suspects were apprehended for being involved in violent protests at the Kubwa-Gwarimpa axis of Abuja.
She added that the suspects who carried charms, stones and some minor explosives, stormed the area in large numbers, obstructing traffic, throwing stones and explosives at security agents.
7. Obaseki Forwards List Of Eleven Commissioner-nominees To Edo Assembly
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has forwarded the names of eleven commissioner-nominees to the State House of Assembly for confirmation.
In a statement on Tuesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, the governor has also appointed two Special Advisers into his cabinet.
Ogie said that the commissioner-nominees whose names have been forwarded to the state Assembly include: Oluwole Osamudiamen Iyamu, SAN; Prof. (Mrs.) Obehi Akoria; Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe; Osaze Ethan Uzamere and Monday Osaigbovo. Others are: Marie Edeko Esq.; Joseph Eboigbe; Moses Agbukor; Isoken Omo; Andrew Emwanta and Mrs. Otse Momoh-Omorogbe.
He added that the two Special Advisers appointed are Crusoe Osagie, who has been appointed as Special Adviser, Media Projects and Sarah Ajose-Adeogun, who is Special Adviser, Strategy, Policy, Projects and Performance Management.
8. NAFDAC Raises Alarm Over ‘Poisonous’ Substance In Palm Oil Production.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised alarm over the use of a poisonous substance by producers and dealers of palm oil.
According to the agency, sellers of palm oil now use Azo dye, a substance well known as Sudan Dye in order to make the product look reddish and attractive to buyers.
PRUDENTJ2 understands that NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Moji Christianah Adeyeye, made the observation at a sensitization campaign in Anambra State.
Adeyeye bemoaned the act, describing it as wicked and inhuman. She noted that the substance is deadly as it causes the gradual deterioration of human health.
According to her, the agency discovered the sharp practices where sellers of palm oil now put Azo dye to make it very reddish for it to look very glittery so that unsuspecting consumers can easily buy them.
9. 2023 Presidency: Akeredolu Reacts To Northern Govs’ Position On Zoning
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has reacted to the Northern Governors’ rejection of zoning the 2023 presidency to the southern part of the country.
Prudentj2 reports that the governors met on Monday at the Council Chamber (Sir Kashim Ibrahim House) of the Kaduna State government house.
The governors, under the auspices of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, held the meeting jointly with some traditional rulers and Emirs from the region led by the Sultan of Sokoto.
In their position made known in a communique after their meeting, the governors condemned zoning as earlier adopted by their southern counterparts, arguing that zoning is not constitutional.
The Northern Governors also rejected the stand of their southern counterparts on Value Added Tax (VAT) collection, saying that VAT collection by state governments would cause economic hardship and multiple taxations.
Reacting to the position of the Northern governors, Akeredolu said his Northern colleagues have expressed and indeed exercised their rights under the freedom of expression.
10. Gunmen Abduct Military General In Lagos
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted Air Vice Marshal Sikiru Smith (retd.), in the Ajah area of Lagos State.
Prudentj2 reports that the abducted general is a cousin to a former Inspector-General of Police and current Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Musiliu Smith.
Sikiru Smith is currently the Chairman of Double Wealth Ventures Limited – a dredging and engineering firm.
It was gathered that the retired military officer was supervising work on a site in the Ajah area of Lagos State on Monday when masked gunmen invaded the place and shot sporadically.
Smith was reportedly taken away in a waiting speedboat and sped away.
According to reports, in an SOS voice note shared by his driver, Corporal Odiji, the retired AVM engaged in a struggle with the gunmen before he was subdued.
Those are the top Nigerian newspapers headlines for today.