Good morning Nigeria, welcome to The Editor roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 14th July 2023
1. Tinubu Declares State Of Emergency On Food Security
President Bola Tinubu has announced a state of emergency on food security within Nigeria.
This information was conveyed by the Presidential spokesman, Dele Alake during a press briefing at the State House on Thursday.
The President has called for all matters related to the availability and affordability of food and water, which are critical for daily living, to be handled by the National Security Council.
This directive aligns with the Tinubu administration’s commitment to support the most vulnerable citizens.
Alake noted that the President recognizes the impact of the rising cost of food on the financial well-being of the Nigerian people.
To alleviate the effects of the subsidy removal, President Tinubu ordered the prompt release of fertilizers and grains to farmers and households.
2. Senate Confirms Service Chiefs Appointed By Tinubu
The Senate on Thursday confirmed the appointment of the nation’s service chiefs and the Chief of Defence Staff appointed by President Bola Tinubu.
This follows the conclusion of their screening before the lawmakers at the Senate Chamber.
During the screening which was held behind closed doors, the security chiefs briefed the Senate on their career progression and pledged to meet national expectations of ensuring security and defending the nations’s territorial integrity.
The Service Chiefs Are:
Maj. Gen. C.G Musa, Chief of Defence Staff
Maj. Gen. T. A Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff
Rear Admiral E. A Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff
AVM H.B Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff
It would be recalled that President Tinubu had in a letter on Tuesday to the legislators, urged the Senate to screen and confirm the CDS and Service Chiefs nominees for substantive appointments.
3. Labour Party Demands Immediate Sack Of INEC Chairman, Prof Yakubu, Festus Okoye
The Labour Party (LP) has demanded the immediate sack of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party also called for the sack of the INEC Federal Commissioner in charge of voter education. Festus Okoye.
A statement released on Thursday by the Labour Party Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation accused the two individuals of leading the commission in the desecration of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria.
It added that INEC wasted the funds given to it by the government as well as international bodies for the execution of the 2023 general elections in the country.
Furthermore, the Labour Party campaign organization said INEC spent billions of tax payer’s money on the pretext of deploying the BVAS and other technological innovations for the 2023 polls but ended up manually manipulating the results to force their own preferred presidential candidate on Nigerians.
It, therefore, called for the immediate sack and prosecution of Yakubu and Okoye for the ‘crimes’ committed.
4. Army Chief Orders Troops To Raid IPOB Enclaves
The Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen Taoreed Lagbaja has ordered troops to raid areas where the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) enforce sit-at-home order throughout the South-East states.
The order came after a Finland-based pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, announced that there would be a two-week sit-at-home in the South-East region from July 31.
Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu declared that the troops of the 82 Division had been given the order to work with other security agencies to ensure citizens go about their businesses freely.
The army spokesman asserted that such an announcement was unlawful and would not be condoned.
The army spokesman called on Nigerians in the South-East region to disregard the sit-at-home order, urging them to support the security forces to defeat IPOB.
5. House Of Reps Approves President Tinubu’s Request For 500 Billion Naira Palliative Fund
The House of Representatives has made adjustments to the 2022 supplementary appropriation act to accommodate President Bola Tinubu’s request.
They have approved sourcing 500 billion naira from the approved budget to help Nigerians in the wake of the petrol subsidy removal.
This change happened swiftly, only a day after the president’s request, passing the 2nd and 3rd readings rapidly.
Lawmakers explained the urgency was due to the immediate need to alleviate the impacts of the subsidy removal.
The legislators also urged President Tinubu to use the funds as conscientiously as possible.
In a related development, President Tinubu has plans for the money: 12 million families are set to receive N8,000 over the course of six months. This measure is designed to lessen the hardships caused by subsidy removal.
In a letter to the House of Representatives, read out by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, President Tinubu described the financial assistance as a means for poor and vulnerable Nigerians to meet basic needs.
6. Suspended CBN Gov, Emefiele Charged To Court – DSS
The Department of State Services (DSS) said on Thursday that it had charged the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to court.
Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Emefiele a few days after assuming office.
He ordered a probe of the apex bank under Emefiele’s watch.
Naija News learnt that the DSS trailed the suspended CBN governor to Lagos, where he was arrested and flown to Abuja.
However, on Thursday morning, the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, ordered the secret police to release or charge Emefiele to court.
In a swift reaction, however, the DSS through its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, said: “Sequel to an Abuja High Court Order of today, 13th July, 2023, the Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele has been charged to court in compliance with the Order.
7. Senate Approves Tinubu’s $800 Million World Bank Loan
The Senate has approved the $800 million loan request put forth by President Bola Tinubu.
This decisive action occurred on Thursday, initiated by a motion from Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.
In his loan request, which was shared in the Senate earlier, President Tinubu explained the loan’s purpose.
The funds will be used to expand the national social safety net program and to lessen the harsh effects felt by the recent removal of the petrol subsidy.
According to Tinubu, the government plans to provide N8,000 monthly to 12 million households that are categorized as poor or low-income. This financial support is slated to continue for a period of six months.
8. Peter Obi Reacts To Sit-at-home Orders In South East, Plateau Killings
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has condemned the continued disruption of business and social activities in the South East over the Sit-at-Home directives.
In a statement issued via his Twitter handle on Thursday, Obi said the development in the South East is essentially a criminal activity that must be nipped in the bud, with the collaboration between the security agencies, and the people in the region.
The former Governor of Anambra State also commended the South East Governors for their renewed efforts at curbing the insecurity in the state, adding that there is a need to be more strategic and intelligence-driven in the approach to reducing the suffering of innocent people.
He added that the rising insecurity in the North Central zone of the country, especially in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, and the criminal activities in the South East are all becoming very worrisome.
9. Details Of APC Women Leaders Meeting With Tinubu Emerge
President Bola Tinubu has expressed his government’s commitment to liberating Nigeria from influential forces that have hindered the country’s progress.
This assurance was given during a meeting with women leaders from the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House.
The president conveyed his determination, stating, “Enough is enough, we are taking our country back.”
The meeting, which saw APC women leaders from the 36 states and Abuja led by APC National Woman Leader, Betta Edu, offered Tinubu an opportunity to assure them of his administration’s emphasis on industrialization, healthcare, and security.
In conclusion, President Tinubu acknowledged the women’s support during the 2023 elections, stating that they all deserve awards for their efforts.
10. ‘Continuation Of Scam’ – Atiku Camp Slams Tinubu Over Fuel Subsidy Palliatives
The camp of the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has described the planned fuel subsidy removal palliative by the Bola Tinubu government as just another avenue to steal public funds.
The Special Assistant to Atiku on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu in a statement on Thursday said the move is too vague and just a continuation of the scam on Nigerians by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He described President Tinubu’s plan to hand out N8,000 to 12 million households for six months through $800m on palliatives as a brazen attempt to divert public funds just like the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari did with the conditional cash transfer and COVID-19 intervention initiative during his tenure.
Atiku’s aide argued that the intervention only made Nigerians poorer while the politicians became richer.
Not done, Shaibu stated that the fuel subsidy removal palliative planned by the Tinubu government is another form of vote buying just like the Trader Moni during the past administration.
According to him, the palliative is just another means by the APC to divert public funds into private pockets.
