Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Editor roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 2nd January 2024.
1. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday signed the N28.78 trillion 2024 Budget into law at the State House, Abuja. The president, who arrived at his office from the airport at exactly 2pm, headed straight for the brief budget signing ceremony, surrounded by senior government officials.
2. The Home Office of the United Kingdom on Monday announced that it had commenced the implementation of its policy banning Nigerian students and other overseas students from bringing in dependants via the study visa route. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Home Office reiterated that only those on postgraduate research or government-sponsored scholarship students will be exempted from the development.
3. A Mobile Police officer attached to the 43 PMF of the Lagos State Police Command has been murdered on New Year’s Day in Adamawa State. It was gathered that the officer, identified as Inspector Richard Felix, was attacked at Sangamu Hotel, Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa by some men at about 12:10 am on Monday.
4. A suspect identified as Ibrahim Salisu has been taken into custody by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly macheting his brother, Malaimi Yellow, to death over alleged sexual demand. It was learnt that the 54-year-old has been allegedly pestering his little brother for sex. The police alleged that following Yellow’s ceaseless demands, the younger brother was said to have drawn out a machete to end his life.
5. The Cross River Police Command has confirmed the abduction of some passengers around Nde 3 Corners, Akparabong Junction in Ikom Local Government Area of the state. The passengers were said to have been ambushed by gunmen who shot at their vehicles, injuring three while an unspecified number was taken away.
6. The Federal Government has allocated a total sum of N150bn to implement poverty alleviation programmes in 2024. The amount is to be spent under the four pillars of macroeconomic stability, industrialisation, structural policies/institutional reforms and redistributive policies/programmes of government under the National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy.
7. Rivers State Governor, Sir Similanayi Fubara, has said those fighting him want to take away the red biro from him. The red biro signifies his signatory authority as the executive governor of Rivers State. Fubara, who spoke at the crossover church service at St Paul’s Archdeaconry Parish in Opobo, Opobo/Nkoro LGA of the state, said he was not pretentious about his commitment to providing quality leadership.
8. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, on Monday, received the fourth shipment of one million barrels of bonny light crude oil supplied by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited. A statement from the firm stated that the oil company was expecting the fifth crude oil shipment soon.
9. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says he is aware of the frustrations and the discomfort the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of foreign exchange systems brought to individuals, families and businesses across the country. In his New Year broadcast, he said the country would come out of the current challenging situation.
10. Shape up or ship out – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday gave this warning to any of his aides who will be a cog in the wheel of the implementation of this year’s Appropriation Act. After signing the N28.78 trillion 2024 Appropriation Bill, Tinubu warned ministers and heads of agencies that those who would not aid effective implementation of the budget would be eased out.
