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Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 22nd January, 2025
1. “We Cannot Heal The Wounds If We Continue To Be Angry” – Details Of Discussion Between President Tinubu And Ogoni People Emerge
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, urged the people of Ogoniland to forget historical grievances and give peace a chance.
President Tinubu made the call during a meeting at the Aso Rock Villa with a delegation of Ogoni people, leaders and top government officials where he promised that his administration would prioritize peace, justice, and sustainable development in the area.
During the meeting, which also had in attendance the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and others, Tinubu made a passionate call for unity and reconciliation, stressing that wounds can not be healed if anger is still present.
President Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to coordinate the negotiations as he called for inclusive consultation and mutual understanding.
According to a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President commended the delegation for embracing the Federal Government-led dialogue and emphasized the need for collaboration, trust, and inclusiveness to resolve lingering issues in the region.
The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, thanked the President for his support for the Ogoni people and for welcoming an all-inclusive representation of the people to the Presidential Villa.
He disclosed that the meeting was a follow-up to an assignment the President gave him through the National Security Adviser.
Emphasizing the importance of resuming oil operations in Ogoniland, the governor pledged the delegation’s commitment to adhering to the President’s instructions and providing the necessary support to achieve the government’s objectives.
2. FG Convicts Over 100 Terrorist Financiers In Two Years
The Federal Government has successfully prosecuted and convicted over 100 individuals for financing terrorism in the last two years, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu revealed on Tuesday.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 National Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Financing of Terrorism, and Proliferation (AML/CFT/CPF) Summit in Abuja, Tinubu, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, highlighted the administration’s focus on disrupting the financial networks of terrorist organizations like Boko Haram and ISWAP.
President Tinubu credited the success to the collaboration between the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Naija News gathered that the government’s anti-crime initiatives extend beyond terrorism financing.
Programs like the National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Strategy, National Anti-Corruption Strategy, and National Drug Control Master Plan are disrupting criminal financial networks that tarnish Nigeria’s global reputation.
3. NNPCL Hikes Petrol Price To ₦990 Per Litre In Abuja
Retail outlets owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) have raised the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, from ₦965 to ₦990 per litre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In Lagos, the price at NNPCL outlets rose from ₦925 to ₦960 per litre, reflecting the latest nationwide price adjustment implemented on Tuesday.
The price increase is part of the ongoing deregulation policy in the petroleum sector, which allows pump prices to fluctuate based on market forces.
According to Punch, industry insiders attribute the hike to rising crude oil costs and the introduction of products from the Dangote Refinery into the market.
Dealers confirmed that PMS prices are likely to continue climbing due to the upward trend in global crude oil prices.
4. Senate Pushes For National Census Before 2027
The Senate has renewed its commitment to ensuring a national population census is conducted before the end of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2027.
Naija News reports that this pledge was made during a budget defence session with the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa Kwarra.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity Management and Population, Senator Abdul Ningi, emphasized the importance of the census, declaring that the Senate would not relent until it is conducted.
He revealed that the Senate is preparing to engage President Bola Tinubu to emphasize the urgency of conducting the census in 2025.
Senator Olalere Oyewunmi also underscored the need to pressure the President to prioritize the census, while Senator Diket Plang decried the country’s reliance on population estimates.
5. TUC Opposes VAT Hike, Warns Of Economic Hardship
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposal to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate, warning that the move could exacerbate economic hardship for Nigerians.
The proposed phased hike, outlined in the Federal Government’s Tax Reform Bills, would see VAT rise from the current 7.5% to 10%, 12.5%, and ultimately 15%.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, TUC President Festus Osifo criticized the plan as ill-timed and harmful to citizens already grappling with inflation, unemployment, and a high cost of living.
Naija News reports that Osifo stressed the importance of maintaining the VAT rate at 7.5%, noting that any increase would impose a heavier burden on struggling households and businesses.
The TUC also urged the Federal Government to review the tax exemption threshold, proposing an increase from ₦800,000 to ₦2.5 million per annum.
6. Fubara, Uzodinma, S/East Governors Allegedly Plotting Against Tinubu, Wike – Ohanaeze Ndigbo
A faction of the apex Igbo Sociocultural Organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has claimed that there is a political conspiracy aimed at thwarting the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Naija News reports that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo faction made this known in a statement on Tuesday by its Deputy President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro.
He stated that the plot against Tinubu spans across Nigeria’s multifaceted political, religious, and ethnic divides, driven by the collective intent to capitalize on current economic hardships, pervasive insecurity, and the perceived insensitivity of the Federal Government.
The factional Deputy President General asserted that these governors harbor ulterior motives to draft disillusioned Nigerians—especially the Igbo populace—into their planned political revolutionary movements as we approach the 2025 and 2026 political build-ups leading to the 2027 presidential election.
He said their schemes are evidently designed to cultivate a narrative of dissent that vilifies President Tinubu while positioning themselves as agents of change, cloaked in the guise of concern for the nation’s welfare.
7. FG To Transition All Visa Applications To Online System By March 1
The Federal Government has announced that all visa applications will be transitioned to an online platform by March 1 at the latest.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, shared this update on Monday during an appearance on ‘X Spaces’, hosted by influencer Dr. Segun Awosanya.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the government has also established a centralized visa approval centre, aimed at streamlining the visa process, ensuring uniformity, enhancing national security, and combating corruption.
The Minister also highlighted the establishment of a harmonized data centre located at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Sauka, Abuja.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that safeguarding Nigeria’s security documents is crucial and that the government has taken steps to address the issue, surpassing initial expectations by delivering a state-of-the-art data centre well beyond its planned capacity.
8. ‘Nigeria’s Economy Fast Improving Under Tinubu’ – Gov Sani
The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has stated that Nigeria’s economy is growing fast following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms.
According to him, the incumbent administration is committed to revitalizing Nigeria and ensuring it embarks on a sustainable path toward growth and development.
Naija News reports that the governor recognized that while implementing the President’s ambitious policies has faced challenges and caused some difficulties for Nigerians, these hardships are only temporary.
Governor Sani expressed this during a welcome address at a one-day lecture organized by the Arewa Think Tank on Tuesday, urging that with a bit more patience and perseverance, “we will soon begin to enjoy the benefits of the reforms.”
The Kaduna State Governor highlighted that the transformation of Nigeria and the enhancement of citizens’ lives must prioritize agriculture.
9. You Will Reap The Benefit Of Tinubu’s Administration If You Are Patient – Wike To Nigerians
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has once again stated that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to infrastructure development and community enhancement.
He stated this at the official inauguration of the newly constructed 11km Yangogi-Sukuku-Ebo Road on Tuesday in Kwali Area Council.
The Minister asserted that the recent fulfillment of vital promises made to the residents of Kwali Area Council shows Tinubu’s commitment to meeting the nation’s needs.
He stated that if Nigerians are patient enough they would eventually reap the benefits of Tinubu’s administration.
He recalled a stakeholders’ meeting held last year in Kwali, where residents outlined their pressing needs, including the road that was inaugurated.
The minister further said that the Tinubu administration is focused on community development, urging residents to be patient as more initiatives are launched.
10. SERAP Gives Tinubu 48 Hours To Reverse Telecom Tariff Hike
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu, demanding the reversal of the recent 50% hike in telecom tariffs.
In a statement released on Tuesday, SERAP described the increase as “unlawful” and warned of impending legal action if the government and telecom operators fail to reverse the decision.
Naija News recalls that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) announced the tariff adjustment on Monday, January 20, in a bid to address rising operational costs in the telecom sector.
In a statement, NCC Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka noted that the adjustment, capped at a maximum of 50%, was made following extensive industry consultations.
The NCC emphasized that the new tariffs remain within the bands stipulated in its 2013 Cost Study and align with the recently issued NCC Guidance on Tariff Simplification, 2024.
SERAP’s ultimatum reflects growing public dissatisfaction over the hike, with many Nigerians expressing concerns about its impact on the cost of living.
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