Good morning Nigeria, Welcome to the Editor roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 13th, January 2024.
1. The storm is over for Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal on the threat to their tenure. The Supreme Court on Friday restored their mandate which the Court of Appeal had nullified.
2. The Dangote Refinery on Friday, January 12, commenced production. The largest single-train refinery in the world located in Nigeria’s commercial hub began operations in the early hours of Friday. This followed the delivery of six million barrels of crude supply to the refinery this week.
3. President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointments to fill eleven offices of chief executive officers of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy. According to a statement issued by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday, among those appointed into offices are entertainment guru, Obi Asika, who will head the National Council for Arts and Culture, as Director-General, and veteran Kannywood actor and Director, Ali Nuhu, who will head the Nigerian Film Corporation as Managing-Director.
4. President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, January 12, charged governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to always put the interest of Nigeria ahead of political affiliations.
According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu tasked the governors to design and implement policies that prioritize all Nigerians.
5. President Bola Tinubu has suspended all administered programmes by the National Social Investment Programme Agency, NSIPA. This was contained in a statement signed by Segun Imohiosen, the Director of Information, office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
6. President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, tasked France to work with Nigeria and other stakeholders in strengthening technical cooperation to address the prevailing threat of terrorism and violent extremism. A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said President Tinubu also commended the outgoing French Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann, for her dedication to enhancing relations between France and Nigeria.
7. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has vowed to revisit a case of N70 billion alleged fraud against the Minister of Defense, State, Muhammad Bello Matawalle. The agency had launched an investigation into Matawalle’s time as governor of Zamfara State.
8. Two cult groups, Neo Black Movement, popularly called Aye, and the National Association of Airlords, also known as Eiye Confraternity, Sagamu chapter, have written letters of apologies to the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Adewale Ajayi, asking him and other traditional rulers in Remoland to forgive them of their wrongdoings. The two groups, in a viral letter, pleaded for mercy and promised to abide by the laws of the country.
9. The Peoples Democratic Party has revealed that it will be difficult to dislodge the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 presidential election without a genuine coalition. PDP 2023 Presidential candidate, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had made a merger proposition while hosting the National Executive Committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria.
10. The case of the female employee of a bank in Ikorodu, Amarachi Ugochukwu, who allegedly took her own life after consuming an insecticide has been referred to the State Criminal Investigation Department. The incident happened on Monday within the premises of the bank when the 32-year-old locked herself in the restroom and ingested the insecticide.
