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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Nigerian Newspapers Headlines Today

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Man Slumps, Dies As Fire Razes Another Anambra Market [SUN]

A trader at the old spare parts market, (Mgbuka), Awada Obosi in Anambra State was said to have slumped and rushed to the hospital as fire engulfed the market.

Over 400 shops were burnt down in the inferno.

It was gathered the trader slumped out of shock when he saw his shop on fire, and later died in the hospital as he could not be revived.

He said the fire started early hours of yesterday and had destroyed many shops worth millions of naira, which the cause was yet to be ascertained at the time of this report.

A trader Mr. Chukwudi Aneke said that he lost all his wares to the fire, saying that the fire started from their section of the market.

Operation Amotekun: Real Reasons Yoruba Leaders Created Regional Security Outfit [SUN]

ā–  Insist outfit is constitutional ā–  Operatives to earn N30,000 minimum wage

In the beginning, there was relative peace across the six states in the Southwest. People could travel from one part of the region to the other with ease of mind and peace. Some travellers who enjoy night journeys did not have any reason to be afraid, except for occasional armed robbery incidents on the highways.

But a time came when the relative peace was shattered. And fear gripped many people over travelling from one part of the region to the other. It started with incessant clashes between local farmers and herdsmen, and aggravated by kidnapping, armed robbery during the day, banditry and other forms of social vices.

By the middle of 2019, the menace had become unbearable for the Yoruba, which compelled the six governors in the Southwest to meet in Abuja and elected Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu as their chairman. After the meeting, they mandated the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission to convene a security summit, which was held by the middle of 2019. The summit was held at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State and was attended by all the governors in the region, and other strategic stakeholders.

Boko Haram Fight: Troops May Remain In Borno, Yobe [SUN]

ā–  Signals yet to get to army formations in 2 states ā–  Damaturu residents say no sign to show compliance to order ā–  CSO lampoons FG, says police too weak to replace military in Northeast

Following the decision by the Federal Government to begin withdrawal of troops previously deployed to northern states to combat insurgency beginning from the first quarter of this year, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), a civil society organization, has lampooned the governmentā€™s move to deploy the police as replacement for military in the fight against insurgency.

Speaking on behalf of RULAAC in a chat with Sunday Sun, human rights activist and police reform advocate, Mr Okey Nwanguma, recalled that the order was first mooted by the government in 2019, but it was dropped after an assessment confirmed the unpreparedness of the police to combat the insurgents.

His words: ā€œThis is not the first time that the Federal Government would be mooting its intention to commence the withdrawal of the military from the Northeast. It first hinted on this in early 2019.

Between January and February 2019, in response to that announcement, a team of independent experts was dispatched to Borno State to conduct an assessment of the preparedness of the police to take charge of internal security in the so-called liberated areas in the Northeast. I was in that team and we spoke to the military, the police, Civil Defence and other relevant security stakeholders.

ā€œIn summary, our finding was that nothing had changed with regards to the conditions of service of the police to prepare them for taking over security in the terror-stricken zone. Whether in terms of manpower or personnel strength, training, equipment or motivation, the situation of the police has been deteriorating rather than improving. The police officers deployed to the zone are themselves endangered species.ā€

Nigeria Set For New Oil Licensing Round [LEADERSHIP]

The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) Mele Kyari yesterday disclosed that the federal government is ready to launch a new oil licensing round.

Kyari also declared that more effort would henceforth be concentrated on the production of Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) and natural gas, to better comply with its crude production quota under the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreement.

The GMD who spoke with reporters on the sidelines of the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi, yesterday, noted that the licensing round is part of Nigeriaā€™s bid to hit a 3 million barrel a day b/d output target by 2023.

According to him, Nigeria is still on track to launch a new oil licensing round in the first half of 2020 for both offshore and onshore blocks but would not specify a date.

Many international oil companies have said the country needs to offer more attractive fiscal terms. Nigeria in early November increased taxes on companies operating in its deepwater blocks.

Kyari however revealed that Nigeriaā€™s legislature was in the process of reviewing its petroleum law which will take care of the concerns.

Tackle Poverty To Address Insecurity, Northern Leaders Tell Govs [LEADERSHIP]

Northern leaders under the aegis of the apex socio-cultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday tasked governors from the region to tackle poverty in order to address insecurity in the area.

Secretary general of ACF, Mr Anthony Sani, also urged state governors to unite and address the security crisis.

South-west governors last Thursday launched a security network called ā€˜Operation Amotekunā€™ in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

However, while proferring a solution on how the insecurity crisis in the North can be dealt with, the ACF scribe said, ā€œNorthern governors should prioritise insecurity by addressing the underlying causes of insecurity which are poverty that comes with unemployment and ignorance as well as pressurising the national government to provide enough trained and equipped security personnel,ā€ Sani said.

Reacting to the Northern governors comment that they wonā€™t adopt South-west approach to tackle insecurity, Sani said, ā€œI have said it over and over again that there can be no cavil with the significance of governors coming together to unleash their synergistic potential against collective challenges for common good within the practice of democracy that thrives on rule of law.ā€

He added, ā€œIf the Northern governors decide to adopt different approaches from those of South-west, there is nothing wrong, since there is no consensus by the governors of the South-west on how best to go about their own model called Amotekun.ā€

Army Kills 106 Bandits, Arrests 10 In Zamfara [LEADERSHIP]

Troops of the Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD), Nigeria Army, operating within Zamfara State general area have killed no fewer than 100 unrepentant bandits, including six commanders. The Army also rescued 10 persons held hostage, recovered 600 rustled cows and 300 sheep within December and January this year.

The operation which was carried out in some local governments of Zamfara and Jibia local government in Katsina State saw to the recovery of 15 AK 47, 4 General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), 23 motorcycles used by the bandits, and other dangerous weapons.

According to a statement by Captain Ayobami Oni-Orisan, actingĀ  Force Information Officer, Operation Hadarin DajI (OPHD), the troops were resolute in their determination to flush out unrepentant bandits from Anka, Maru, Bukkuyum and Jibia local governments areas of Zamfara and Katsina States.

According to Cpt. Ayobami, ā€œThe troops during these operations successfully neutralized about 100 bandits, including 6 key commanders, and rescued no less than 10 kidnapped persons.

Banks Borrow N19.6tn From CBN Amid Rising Liquidity Problems [PUNCH]

ā€¦Central Bank may continue to support weak banks despite Wā€™Bank warning

  • How oil & gas, power sector loans, recession worsened financial sectorā€™s woes
  • Banking industry stable, safe and sound, says CBN

Commercial banks borrowed a total of N19.64tn from the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2019, an increase of 73 per cent from the N11.36tn borrowed in 2018.

This hasĀ  raised concerns among analystsĀ  following theĀ  rising liquidity problems in the financial services sector.

This happened barely one month after the World Bank warned the CBN against supportingĀ  undercapitalised banks indefinitely.

Nigerian Among 176 Victims Of Ukranian Plane Crash [PUNCH]

A Nigerian, identified as Dauda Onoruoiza, was reportedly among the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 crash in Iran on Wednesday.

Reports said Onoruoiza was working with Boeing on three months training in Ukraine and was attached to the Boeing 737-800 to fly with and study the mechanical noise and report back to the company.

The ill-fated plane was said to have been scheduled for maintenance on Monday, January 13, 2020 in Ukraine.

The nationality of passengers and crew aboard the plane were given as 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukranians, 10 people from Sweden, four from Afghanistan and three from the United Kingdom and Germany respectively.

Knocks As Buhariā€™s Daughter Uses Presidential Jet For Personal Engagement [PUNCH]

A debate has been raging on social media following the decision of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to allow his daughter, Hanan Buhari, to use the presidential jet.

This is despite complaints by Nigerians that the budget of N8.5bn for the presidential aircraft fleet in the 2020 budget is too high.

Hanan, according to Daily Nigerian, was flownĀ Ā  toĀ  Bauchi for aĀ  durbar on ThursdayĀ  by the presidential jet.

Buhariā€™s daughter, who recently graduated with a first-class in photography from Ravensbourne University, London, was said to have been invited by the Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Adamu, as a special guest of honour.

Controversy Over Buhariā€™s Daughterā€™s Use Of Presidential Jet [NATION]

  • Presidency: She has right to it ā€¢PDP: Presidential fleet not for Hanan’s photography trip

What right do the children of the president have to use the presidential plane fleet? Some Nigerians think they do not deserve the privilege as controversy rages over the use of a presidential plane by Hanan, a daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari. Hanan was pictured disembarking from a presidential plane in Bauchi on Thursday to attend a Durbar in the city at the invitation of the Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Adamu. She was a special guest of honour at the event. The Presidency disagrees with critics that she has no right to the plane.

Many Nigerians have taken to the social media, questioning Hananā€™s right to the plane to attend a private event. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accusedĀ Ā  President Muhammadu Buhari of directly abusing his office and exhibiting ā€œthe worst form of corruptionā€ by detailing the officially restricted presidential jet to fly his daughter to Bauchi state. The durbar,according to reports, was specially organised to give Hanan the opportunity to take photographs of the eventĀ  and other interesting sites in the state.

 

 

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