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Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 25th October, 2024
1. Tinubu Asks Senate To Confirm Seven New Ministers
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has requested the Nigerian Senate to confirm the appointment of seven new ministerial nominees.
Naija News reports that this was made known on Thursday by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
He disclosed this when he read a letter from President Tinubu that contained the request.
President Tinubu, who requested expeditious consideration of the requests, urged the Senate to consider and confirm the seven nominees for appointment as ministers.
Akpabio referred the nominees to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative action as soon as possible.
Recall that the president fired five ministers and appointed seven new ones in a cabinet shakeup on Wednesday.
2. President Tinubu Issues Directives To Ministers, Others Over Cost Of Governance
President Bola Tinubu has announced a cut in governance expenses following the appointment and re-assigning of new ministers to his cabinet.
Naija News reports that the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this development in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The President, in his new directives, restricted ministers and heads of Agencies of the Federal Government to a maximum of three vehicles in their official convoys.
President Tinubu instructed the National Security Adviser to engage with the Military, Paramilitary and Security Agencies to determine a suitable reduction in their vehicle and security personnel deployment.
3. Military Denies Personnel Involvement In Arms Supply To Bandits, Terrorists
The Nigerian military has officially refuted allegations that its personnel are involved in facilitating the movement of arms and ammunition to terrorists, bandits, and other criminals across the country.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, addressed these concerns during a press briefing at Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
The clarification came in response to claims made by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who last week, during an event to destroy decommissioned and recovered illicit arms, accused some security personnel of aiding criminals by supplying them with guns.
Ribadu also expressed his disdain for the actions of some soldiers and policemen, accusing them of contributing to the national security crisis.
However, Buba emphasized that the weapons in possession of non-state actors are predominantly acquired through attacks on security formations where they cart away arms.
He strongly denied any facilitation of arms transfer by military personnel to unauthorized entities.
Furthermore, Buba highlighted the Libyan and Sahel crises as significant factors contributing to the proliferation of arms in the region.
He explained that the instability in these areas has led to a free flow of weapons into Nigeria, exacerbating the challenges of insurgency and terrorism within the country.
4. After 20 Years, Tinubu Govt Orders Review Of Nigeria’s Laws
The federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has taken steps to review Nigeria’s laws.
To this end, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on Thursday, inaugurated a committee to carry out the review and updates.
Naija News reports the laws of the Federation of Nigeria were last reviewed in 2004.
Speaking on the step taken, Fagbemi explained that the review is part of ongoing efforts of the administration of President Bola Tinubu to promote the rule of law and access to justice in line with the policy objectives of enabling socio-economic growth and advancing legal reforms.
He voiced concerns about the seeming inability of the Federal Government to update the Laws of the Federation since 2004, to enable clarity, predictability, consistency and uniformity in our body of laws.
The Committee, which is chaired by Olawale Fapohunda, (SAN), is co-chaired by the Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Prof. Jummai Audi, and has six months to submit its report.
5. President Tinubu Optimistic About New Livestock Development Ministry
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed confidence in the potential of the newly established Livestock Development Ministry, stating it can achieve “grace from grass.”
His remarks came on Thursday during a two-day Stakeholders’ Consultative Workshop on Livestock Reforms in Nigeria, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Addressing over 350 stakeholders from the livestock industry, President Tinubu highlighted the growing interest from foreign investors eager to explore the abundant opportunities within the sector.
“Foreign investors are already asking questions on how they can tap from the opportunities that abound in the sector,” said President Tinubu, emphasizing the global potential of Nigeria’s livestock industry.
The President assured attendees that both the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee and he are committed to attracting foreign investment to the sector.
6. Get Me Bello Turji – Defence Minister Orders Troops
The Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru, has ordered troops of Operation Fansar Yamma to apprehend notorious bandits’ leader, Bello Turji.
The Minister said that President Bola Tinubu has been monitoring the activities of the troops in the past few months and has seen some levels of improvement in the operation against terrorists in the region.
He, however, stated that challenges were still present.
Badaru stated this while addressing the troops at the One Brigade Headquarters in Gusau, Zamfara State.
Badaru visited the Operation Fansar Yamma in Gusau to take briefings on military operations.
7. CBN Speaks On Deadline For Old ₦200, ₦500, And ₦1,000 Naira Notes
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has officially refuted rumours suggesting that old Naira notes will cease to be legal tender by December 31, 2024.
In a decisive statement issued on Thursday by the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, the CBN declared these claims baseless and misleading, designed to disrupt the nation’s payment systems.
Amidst circulating rumours about the discontinuation of old denominations of ₦200, ₦500, and ₦1,000 banknotes, the CBN has clarified that there is no deadline set for phasing out these notes.
The announcement comes as a relief to many who had been concerned about the potential invalidity of their cash holdings.
This directive ensures that both old and redesigned versions of the Naira will continue to coexist as legal tender across Nigeria.
Mrs. Ali also instructed all CBN branches to keep issuing and accepting both the old and the newly designed Naira notes, reassuring the public of the banknotes’ validity.
She encouraged Nigerians to dismiss any rumours about deadlines for old notes and to remain informed through official CBN communications.
CBN’s stand comes after the House of Representatives asked the apex bank to withdraw old currency notes and increase the issuance of new naira notes.
8. Military Arrests Suspected IPOB Founding Father, Others In South-East
Troops of Operation Udoka have made significant arrests in the South-East, including a suspected founding member of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), as announced by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major Gen Edward Buba.
The arrests occurred in strategic operations across Orsu in Imo State and Amaruku and Arochukwu in Abia State.
During a bi-weekly briefing in Abuja, Major Gen Buba provided details of the military’s recent successes.
He highlighted a sting operation in Orsu, where troops apprehended Mr. Pius Iguh, described as a terrorist leader and a founding father of IPOB responsible for activities in the Orsu area.
In a separate raid in Amaruku, Abia State, security forces successfully detained another key figure, Emmanuel Onwugu, an IPOB commander operating in the Mbano Local Government Area.
This operation further demonstrates the military’s ongoing efforts to dismantle the operational capabilities of IPOB and its affiliated Eastern Security Network (ESN).
9. Humphrey Nwosu Was A True Democrat, May God Grant Nigeria People Like Him In Future Elections – Peter Obi
The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reacted to the death of the former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Obi, in his reaction, described the late Nwosu as a true democrat who truly loved Nigeria, adding that he is saddened by the death of the former INEC chairman.
On the 1993 presidential election, Peter Obi said Nwosu stood for the truth in defence of democracy and his country even when it was delicate and dangerous to do so.
The former Governor of Anambra State, who prayed for the repose of Nwosu’s soul, also asked God to grant the family left behind and all those who mourn, the fortitude to bear the loss.
10. FG Drags Nine To Court Over Akpabio’s Impeachment Rumour
The Federal Government has filed a six-count charge against nine individuals for allegedly publishing false information on October 16, 2024, that the Department of State Services (DSS) laid siege to the National Assembly with a view to effecting the impeachment of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The defendants are the Incorporated Trustee of Order Paper (on whose online platform the false information was allegedly published), Oke Epia (founder/publisher and Executive Director of Order Paper), Tony Okeke Ofodile (Head of Operations), Edna Bill Ulaeto (Admin/Finance Executive) and Elizabeth Atime (National Assembly lead reporter, author of report).
Others are Regina Udo (Coordinator of Programmes), Leah Twaki (Social Media Executive), Idongesit Joseph Ekoh (Admin Support) and Edoesomi Sharon Omonegho (National Assembly correspondent).
The charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/555/2024 was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 21, by the Deputy Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation, A. A. Yusuf.
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