Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Friday, 15th November, 2024

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Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 15th November, 2024

1. Tinubu Government Proposes ₦47.9 Trillion 2025 Budget

The federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has proposed the sum of ₦47.9 trillion as the budget for the 2025 fiscal year.

The figure, which includes new borrowings of ₦9.22tn, was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) during its meeting on Thursday at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Tinubu.

Bagudu also disclosed that the Council approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2025-2027.

According to the Minister, the federal government pegged the crude oil benchmark at $75 per barrel and oil production at 2.06 million barrels for its budget proposal.

He added that FEC also pegged the exchange rate at N1,400 to a US dollar while 6.4 percent is targeted for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

The Minister added that the framework would be transmitted to the National Assembly on Friday, November 15, or Monday, November 18.

2. We Are Done With Atiku, Tinubu Is Focused On Bringing Succour To Nigerians – Presidency

The presidency has declared that President Bola Tinubu is currently focused on bringing succour to Nigerians and will no longer respond to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, over his continued attack.

The Presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication and Orientation, Sunday Dare, reacted to Atiku’s comments, urging Tinubu to forget about the 2027 permutations and focus on governance.

Speaking with Vanguard, the presidential aide said Tinubu’s government is focused on bringing succour to Nigerians and delivering on the ongoing reforms.

He said, “We have a country to run, we are done with Atiku. Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected by Nigerians to run this country and that is the focus right now to bring succour to our people, to deliver on the reforms that are ongoing, that is what is important for now and that’s the focus.”

3. Northern Power Supply Gets Boost As TCN Completes Transmission Line Repairs

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has boosted bulk power supply to multiple states in the northern region, following the successful activation of the Ugwuaji–Makurdi–Jos 330kV Transmission Line 2.

This update, provided in a statement by TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, on Thursday in Abuja, signifies an improved electricity supply for Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Yola Distribution Companies, which can now receive more power for onward distribution to customers.

The 330kV Ugwuaji–Apir transmission lines had been offline since October 21, 2024, after vandals damaged both circuits of Transmission Lines 1 and 2. While Line 1 was restored on October 30, Line 2 has just been re-energised following extensive repairs.

The damage, which affected two towers along the 330kV Shiroro–Kaduna transmission lines and the Ugwuaji–Apir line, resulted in widespread outages across 17 states, severely impacting areas such as Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, and Katsina.

The General Manager explained that engineers completed repairs and re-stringing of the damaged sections on Thursday morning, allowing the line to be brought back into operation.

4. Inaction Is Not An Option To Humanitarian Crises – Shettima

The federal government has said inaction is not an option for humanitarian crises, as failure to address their roots will be devastating.

Vice President Kashim Shettima made this known on Thursday in Abuja, at the launch of the Humanitarian Supply Chain Management Partnership for Localisation Project to tackle the humanitarian crisis.

Shettima, represented by Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said the initiative, which aligns with the Nigeria Localisation Framework, seeks to empower local actors and leverage local resources to address the country’s growing humanitarian needs.

He said climate change and global economic crises had deepened the nation’s complex humanitarian situation, noting that President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new Disaster Relief Fund.

Shettima said the fund will provide immediate assistance to disaster victims nationwide, complementing the broader localisation framework.

According to him, the new initiative builds on Nigeria’s Localisation Framework, established in 2019 and aims to put national and local institutions at the forefront of humanitarian decision-making.

5. Tinubu Appoints Atiku’s Ex-Campaign Aide, Bwala, Three Others

President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, approved the appointment of three Nigerians as directors-general of various agencies and one special adviser on Public Communications and Media.

Naija News gathered that the three new appointees are:

(1) Mr. Olawale Olopade — Director-General, National Sports Commission

(2) Dr. Abisoye Fagade — Director-General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism

(3) Dr. Adebowale Adedokun — Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement

(4) Daniel Bwala — Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications (State House)

The appointments were confirmed in a statement by Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.

6. NNPC Announces 1.8mbpd Production, Eyes 2mbpd By Year End

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCl) has disclosed that crude oil and gas productions have risen to 1.8 million barrels per day (mbpd) and 7.4 standard cubic feet per day (scfd), respectively.

The company announced this at a press briefing on Thursday. It said the feat was achieved in compliance with the mandate of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mele Kyari, congratulated the Production War Room Team that anchored the production recovery process.

Giving details of the efforts of the Production War Room, the Chief War Room Coordinator and Senior Business Adviser to the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lawal Musa, explained that the feat was achieved through the collaborative efforts of Joint Venture and Production Sharing Contract partners, the Office of the National Security Adviser, as well as government and private security agencies.

He stated that the interventions that led to the recovery of production cut across every segment of the production chain with security agencies closely monitoring the pipelines.

He disclosed that when the Production War Room team was inaugurated on the 25th of June 2024.

7. Go Home And Rest; Forget PDP Presidential Ticket – Wike Fires Back At Atiku Abubakar

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to abandon any hopes of securing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket for the 2027 election.

Wike emphasized that the party’s ticket will not be “wasted” on individuals he described as “serial betrayers” facing the fallout from their past actions within the PDP.

During a live media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike firmly stated that Atiku, the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, would not be granted another chance in 2027.

Recall that Atiku, in response to the interview by Wike, had mocked the Minister over his failure to defeat him in the PDP’s 2022 primary election.

Atiku, responding through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, pointed to his prior successes over Wike in securing the PDP’s presidential candidacy in 2023 and former Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s defeat in 2019

Reacting, Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister, reinforced Wike’s position.

In a statement released on Thursday, Olayinka urged Atiku and his supporters to refrain from pushing for his candidacy in 2027.

8. Gov Okpebholo Orders Immediate Freezing Of Edo Bank Accounts, Renames Ministry

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has issued an immediate directive to freeze all state-owned bank accounts, effective Thursday, until further notice.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor cautioned all commercial banks, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to comply without delay.

The directive warned that any MDAs or civil servants disregarding this order would face severe consequences.

The governor noted that after investigations and account reconciliations, further decisions on the matter will be made.

Additionally, Governor Okpebholo has ordered the reversal of the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to its original title, the Ministry of Works.

He criticized the previous administration’s decision under Godwin Obaseki to adopt the former name, noting the lack of new bridges or substantial road infrastructure under that administration.

9. Reps Orders Police To Arrest Tricycle Association National Chairman

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest the National Chairman of the Tricycle Association of Nigeria, Shamsudeen Adebayo Apelegun, for failing to appear before the committee to answer charges of financial misappropriation and abuse of office.

Naija News reports that the immediate arrest followed the consistent failure of Apelegun to appear before the committee after being summoned more than five times.

In a unanimous motion on Thursday, the committee members directed Egbetokun to apprehend and present Apelegun at the next meeting scheduled for December 3.

The summons followed a petition filed by the law firm I.M. Iliyasu and Co. on behalf of aggrieved association members, accusing Apelegun of financial misconduct.

10. Super Eagles Qualify For 2025 AFCON

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Naija News reports that the spot at the next AFCON was confirmed after Libya defeated Rwanda 1-0 on Thursday at the Amahoro stadium in Kigali.

The men’s Nigeria senior team, which had 10 points in their group, was assured a top-two finish following the shock-lone goal victory recorded by Libya in the Group D match away to Rwanda in Kigali.

The Super Eagles, in a few minutes, will clash with face Benin Republic’s Cheetahs today in Abidjan before returning home to round off their qualifying campaign against Rwanda on Monday.

Neither Rwanda, on five points, nor Libya, who are now on four points, can do enough to overtake the Super Eagles with only one matchday left to play for the two teams.

The Super Eagles are three-time African champions and made it to the final of the last edition, which was staged in Cote d’Ivoire.

The 35th Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for Morocco will take place from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.