Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Editor roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 20th October 2023.
1. There was a disagreement between oil marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on Thursday over the supply of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, as queues by motorists for the commodity in filling stations grew worse. Dealers stated that the queues in various parts of the country for petrol might continue to linger because many independent oil marketers had not been able to access the PMS for over one month.
2. The legal battle to unseat President Bola Tinubu will continue at the Supreme Court on Monday as the apex court has listed for hearing the election petition appeal filed by former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party standard bearer in the February presidential poll.
3. A former chairman of the Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Garba Hassan, has been kidnapped by bandits along with 12 other people in Niger State. Hassan and the others were passengers in a commercial vehicle along Tegina-Kontagora road in Niger State at noon on Thursday when they were abducted.
4. The Federal Government on Thursday emphasized the need for non-state actors to complement its efforts in national and economic development, saying it cannot bear the burden alone. The government specifically admitted that it was facing enormous challenges and revenue deficit which has compelled it to manage to pay salaries.
5. President Bola Tinubu on Thursday directed the withdrawal of the nomination of Engr Imam Kashim Imam as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA). A statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Media Aide to the President, announced the withdrawal of Imam with immediate effect.
6. President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr Olasupo Olusi as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Industry (BOI). The appointment is for a term of four years in the first instance. Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
7. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has given conditions to re-allocate land to the Nigerian Customs Service. The minister had ordered FCTA to revoke unused plots of land, leading to top politicians, organisations and government agencies losing lands.
8. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday accused Labour and Employment Minister, Simon Lalong of impeding the implementation of the agreement between workers and the Federal Government on subsidy removal. The congress, therefore, warned that it might be forced to halt further interaction with the government if Lalong failed to stop siding with a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
9. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited yesterday advised motorists to avoid panic buying of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), petrol, assuring that it has stock that can cater for at least 30 days. The appeal came on the heels of the reappearance of queues at some filling stations in Lagos State, a development which the oil firm blamed on “reduced Depot loadout in Apapa, Lagos” over a few days.
10. Three unidentified persons have been burnt alive in communities of Nnewi South Local Government of Anambra State. Two were reportedly roasted at Utuh junction, while one was burnt alive at Amannal junction, Ebenator. Residents were said to have woken up on Wednesday morning to behold the three bodies in flames.
