Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Editor roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 28th July 2023.
1. The Senate will, on Monday, commence the screening of the ministerial nominees submitted to it by President Bola Tinubu on Thursday. Speaking shortly after he read the names of the 28 nominees, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said the Upper Chamber has suspended all its activities to commence the screening immediately.
2. President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, urged Nigerians to persevere with his administration some more, saying he understands the pains they must be experiencing since the discontinuance of the petrol subsidy on May 29. The President gave the assurance that the hardships of the moment would eventually give way to a more prosperous, equitable and inclusive economy.
3. Russian President, Vladimir Putin has said Russia would supply 50,000 tonnes of grains to some African countries in the next three months as part of support to ensure food security within the continent. Putin said this while declaring the Second Russia–Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum 2023 open in St. Petersburg, Russia.
4. After being trapped for about five hours, a Max Air aircraft conveying some Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi Arabia departed Niamey, Niger Republic. Tension rose in the West African country on Wednesday after soldiers announced the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum from office.
5. President Bola Tinubu’s administration may create new ministries from the existing ones, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, disclosed on Thursday in Abuja. Gbajabiamila said that the nominees were chosen after undergoing strict personal screening by the President.
6. The Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal, Wednesday, admitted in evidence 150,656 ballot papers used for the conduct of the March 18 governorship election in the State. The tribunal also admitted video evidence tendered by a star witness of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sunkanmi Oyejide.
7. The Federal Government has said the planned strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the removal of fuel subsidy and its attendant hardship is in contempt of an order of the National Industrial Court (NIC) barring it from proceeding with the action. Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Agba warned the NLC leadership to desist from treating court orders with disdain.
8. The naira on Thursday depreciated to N768.6 per dollar in the Investors and Exporters, I&E window. Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window rose to N768.6 per dollar from N740.08 per dollar from Tuesday, indicating N28.52 depreciation for the naira.
9. The Rivers State Police Command, on Thursday, said its men raided the den of notorious kidnappers in Emohua Local Government Area of the State. It said one suspect was killed, while another was arrested during the operation. The State Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi disclosed this at a press conference in Port Harcourt, the State capital.
10. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the coup d’etat in Niger. A statement posted on the website of the ECOWAS Commission said the bloc received the news of the military incursion with “shock and consternation”.
