Welcome to Naija News on this Friday, September 1st, 2023, where we present a summary of the day’s most important news stories from newspapers across Nigeria.
The Board and Management of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), led by Chairman Olaniyi Yusuf, were welcomed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday.
The Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja played host to the NESG delegation, as reported by Naija News.
President Tinubu has reiterated his backing for a strong public-private partnership to expand the economy, according to a statement released by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelalae.
The President has asserted that his administration’s reforms are long-lasting, bold, and coordinated because of their “strong adherence to accountability and transparency.”
President Tinubu restated his firm commitment to completing the Renewed Hope Agenda’s eight priority reform areas within three years.
He added that the country’s abundant people and natural resources, as well as its deficit possibilities, may be promptly put to use to create a brighter economic future for Nigeria.
Therefore, Tinubu advocated for the immediate formation of agricultural think tanks and a commodities market to capitalize on Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity.
Bola Tinubu, the President
Some of the people who ran for president in the 2023 election have begged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to let them be a part of his “Government of National Competence.”
According to a report from Naija News, on Thursday, the opposition presidential candidates met with Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to ask to be included in President Tinubu’s cabinet.
All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Action Democratic Party (ADP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Action Peoples Party (APP), and other presidential contenders met with Ganduje at the party’s National Secretariat.
Felix Osakwe, the presidential candidate of NRM, spoke on behalf of the Forum of Concerned Presidential Candidates and explained that they will not be challenging Tinubu’s victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) because they are committed to peace and development in Nigeria.
You may remember that before he was sworn in as President, Tinubu advocated for a “Government of National Competence” in addition to a “Government of National Unity.”
On October 1, 2023, the federal government will begin a temporary closure of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) terminal.
On Thursday, Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, made the announcement that all international airlines must vacate terminal one of the airport so that comprehensive maintenance can be performed.
According to Naija News, Keyamo made the comments while touring the international airports in Lagos with Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The Minister, addressing on the sidelines of a tour of the airport, urged the airlines and airport businesses to relocate to the new Chinese-built MMIA Terminal Two.
Keyamo has also put a hold on any new business deals, construction projects, or concessions in the area.
On Thursday, Islamic leaders convened in the Council Chambers of the State House to meet with President Bola Tinubu under the auspices of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
The President, in his address to the Islamic leaders, mentioned that the coup in Gabon on Wednesday verified his worst fears about the situation in Niger Republic.
On Wednesday, military officers in Gabon overthrew the government of President Ali Bongo, as reported by Naija News.
In his speech to religious leaders led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, President Tinubu stressed that diplomatic options with the military junta in Niger Republic would be exhausted before any military action was considered.
To remove a democratic administration by force, he insisted, is still “wholly unacceptable.”
While acknowledging that many Nigerians have suffered financially as a result of the withdrawal of the fuel subsidy, the president assured them that the country’s economy would be liberated and repositioned thanks to the ongoing reforms.
The newly appointed Ministers of Police Affairs have met with the acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, at the Ministry of Police Affairs.
According to Naija News, the Police Chief recently met with Ibrahim Gaidam, the Minister of Police Affairs, and Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, the Minister of State for Police Affairs.
The acting IGP was joined on his courtesy visit to the ministers by members of the Force Management Team.
At the conference, participants examined the current state of internal security and stressed the importance of increased collaboration in responding to new threats.
The current status of national security, continuing police reforms, and methods to improve communication and cooperation between the NPF and the Ministry of Police Affairs were all topics covered by Egbetokun.
Nyesom Wike, minister of the FCT, has explained why he thinks President Bola Tinubu can’t be defeated in the election petition tribunal.
Wike, who voted for Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, said he is confident that God will not punish the APC for its actions in the election.
Moreover, he stated that President Tinubu’s legal team is diligently working at the tribunal and that he is confident in the outcome.
The former governor of Rivers State reportedly made the claim during an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, as reported by Naija News.
Wike further insisted that by refusing to back Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he and others were acting ethically.
He reaffirmed that all that was done was done in the name of fairness and justice.
Wike thinks it’s unfortunate that Atiku didn’t apologize and admit fault before or after the election.
On Thursday, the Court of Appeal allowed Ken Pela, the Labour Party (LP) candidate for governor of Delta State, to file a petition challenging the election of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to Naija News’ sources, the Delta State Election Tribunal had previously ruled in favor of Governor Sheriff and dismissed LP’s suit against him on the grounds that LP had withdrawn his pre-hearing appearance.
The election tribunal’s ruling was challenged by Pela, who moved the matter to Abuja’s Court of Appeal.
The Delta State Governorship Election Tribunal’s ruling was reversed by the Appeal Court in Abuja because its judges had different opinions.
Dominion and EAN hangars at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport 2 (MMIA 2) have been ordered demolished by Festus Keyamo, the country’s minister of aviation and aerospace development.
On Thursday, August 31, while touring the Lagos Airport complex, Naija News learned that Keyamo issued the order.
The minister reportedly said that the demolition will allow for airport development, as reported by the Daily Independent.
At the airport, Keyamo was appalled by the lack of cleanliness and issued an order to fix the problem.
After the military took control of Gabon just days after the country’s 2023 presidential election, the AU suspended the republic.
According to Naija News, the decision was made on Thursday during the 1172nd meeting of the AU Commission on Political Affairs, Peace and Security to discuss recent events in Gabon.
Burundi’s ambassador, Willy Nyamitwe, presided over the meeting.
The Commission decided that until democracy was restored in the country, it would not receive any AU benefits or take part in any AU activities.
Meanwhile, the junta announced on Thursday that General Brice Oligui Nguema would be sworn in as interim president on Monday, defying the African Union.
Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi, the junta’s official spokesman The constitutional court is where Manfoumbi said the general’s inauguration will take place.
There are currently over a hundred Nigerians petitioning for justice and openness in the presidential electoral tribunal hearings.
This comes as the petition against President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been pending for quite some time.
Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election was contested by Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).
The petition, written by the Coalition of Concerned Nigerians (CCN) and sent to many judges, expresses the concerns and anger of a sizable bloc of voters.
The petition was sent to the Honorable Haruna Tsammani, Justice of the Peace.
These are the most important stories from today’s Nigerian newspapers. Check out Naija News for more Nigerian headlines. Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow.