Welcome to the compilation of the most important newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, August 18, 2023.
Each federal federation state, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), received N5 billion as a palliative to lessen the impact of the elimination of the gasoline subsidy.
Babagana Zulum, the governor of Borno State, said this at a Thursday interactive session with State House reporters in Abuja.
As previously reported, Vice-President Kashim Shettima presided over the National Economic Council’s (NEC) regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday.
The deployment of palliatives intended to soften the unpleasant impacts of the termination of gasoline subsidies was specifically discussed during the conference, along with other concerns such as the Federation’s financial situation and general issues.
On Thursday, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) reported that 36 military officers had died in Niger State.
Days after bandits ambushed military soldiers in Niger State, this information was made public.
Some valiant Nigerian Army soldiers paid the ultimate price after insurgents ambushed them in the state’s Zungeru region.
When Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, released a breakdown of the casualties in the troop ambush in Niger State and the evacuation helicopter crash on August 14, 2023, he made this revelation.
The breakdown was presented at the Defense Media Operations’ biweekly briefing.
He continued by saying that two pilots, two crew members, and 14 already deceased soldiers were among those on the Air Force aircraft that crashed while it was on an evacuation mission.
Buba reiterated that an investigation is still ongoing to identify the cause of the helicopter accident when questioned about it.
He also urged civilians to be aware of terrorist propaganda and to continue to be patriotic.
Following a coup against President Mohamed Bazoum, troops from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have stated their willingness to join a standby force to intervene in Niger.
Following the overthrow of the presidential guard, ECOWAS issued a seven-day deadline for the president’s restoration while threatening sanctions and even military intervention.
The junta responded by pledging to oppose international interference and threatening to assassinate President Bazoum.
Defense chiefs from the 15-nation regional group met in Accra, Ghana, and resolved to mobilize their standby force.
Except for Cape Verde and countries that are now governed by the military, all members have vowed to serve in this army.
Abdel-Fatau Musah, the commissioner for ECOWAS, reaffirmed this position to Al Jazeera.
Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was charged by the federal government of Nigeria on Thursday before a high court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Emefiele was brought before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT high court in Maitama on a 20-count charge of unlawful procurement.
However, the first and second defendants’ absence, who are reportedly ill, caused the arraignment for the alleged N6.9 billion procurement scam to be postponed.
The second defendant is Sa’adatu Yaro, a woman who works for CBN.
Along with Emefiele, Yaro and her business April1616 Investment Limited will face 20 accusations of procurement fraud, conspiracy, and giving his friends the benefit of the doubt.
The Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000’s Section 19 is violated by the crime.
Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, met with the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on Thursday in Abuja to discuss the nation’s escalating insecurity issues.
How to ensure the efficient distribution of painkillers to Nigerians to lessen the impact of the recently passed electricity act and the withdrawal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) is one of the items on the meeting’s agenda.
The meeting was presided over, according to a statement made on Twitter by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, according to Bologi Ibrahim, the top press secretary to Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago.
On Thursday, Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani, a former speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, expressed his belief that the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the direction of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the party’s national chairman, had the capacity to rule for more than 60 years.
This bold proclamation brings to mind a similar remark made by Vincent Ogbulafor, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman at the time, around 15 years ago.
Ogbulafor claimed that the PDP’s admirable policies will ensure its dominance for at least 60 years.
Contrary to what he predicted, the party lost seats in the 2015 elections.
Zailani is nevertheless upbeat about the APC’s future under Ganduje despite the historical backdrop.
Goodluck Jonathan, a former president of Nigeria, has denounced the rising murders and violence in his native Bayelsa ahead of the state’s governorship elections in November.
Jonathan condemned the recent uptick in violence, which he claimed was motivated by politics, in a statement that was personally signed on Thursday.
He urged the state’s lawmakers and other key players to abstain from electoral violence, be ready to consider opposing viewpoints, work for peace, and conduct themselves in a professional manner.
Following the unrest in Bayelsa, according to Naija News, the police detained eight people for reportedly intimidating the Nembe Bassambiri village while brandishing hazardous weapons.
The previous president responded by saying that the development warrants worry.
The Federal Government’s oral request to have a firearm charge against suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, dismissed before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos has been granted.
As previously reported by Naija News, the Nigerian government had charged the suspended CBN governor for illegally possessing guns.
However, the government said in its most recent application that the decision to drop the charges against Emefiele was influenced by newly discovered information and circumstances in the case, which calls for further examination.
In his decision on Thursday morning, Justice Oweibo ruled that there was no requirement for the application to be in writing and that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had the authority to withdraw the charge under Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The judge questioned what benefit there would be to the defense if the court refused to permit the withdrawal of the charge.
The National Economic Council (NEC) established an Ad-hoc Committee to interact with labor union leaders in an effort to establish a venue for discussion toward resolving issues regarding the withdrawal of gasoline subsidies across the States.
The choice was made at the NEC’s 135th meeting, which was held on Thursday in Abuja and presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra State, Hope Uzodinma, the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed, the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, and Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, make up the committee.
The committee will work with the country’s labor union leaders to find a solution to the new concerns in the interest of the whole country, the vice president said during the meeting.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were praised for their interventions.
The Council also received updates on the ongoing distribution of rice, grains, fertilizer, and other items to States and N5 billion in financial support from the Federal Government.
NEC took notice of the numerous state government initiatives and advised them to scale up the delivery of palliatives in order to lessen suffering among the populace, particularly among the most vulnerable sections.
The council also expressed its sorrow at the passing of certain military personnel in Niger State and observed a minute of silence in their memory.
It also expressed its sympathies to their families.
Sprinter Tobi Amusan has been given the go-ahead to compete in the forthcoming global championship in Budapest, Hungary, by global Athletics.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on X, the service that replaced Twitter, that Amusan “did not commit an anti-doping rule violation.”
In his statement, he stated, “A panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal has today determined that Tobi Amusan has not engaged in an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within 12 months.”
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is disappointed by this decision, according to AIU Head Brett Clothier.
The AIU will carefully examine the reasoning before considering whether to exercise its right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by the due date.
Although the decision is currently private, it will eventually be made public.
The AIU temporarily suspended Amusan after failing three drug tests, but the Nigerian decided to fight the accusation.
World News