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Good morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers Today: President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after two-week ‘private visit’ to France

Published

3 months ago

February 7, 2024

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1. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is back in the country. He returned from Paris last night after a two-week private visit. The Presidential jet conveying him landed at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 8:55 pm.

2. The Federal Government on Tuesday painted a positive economic picture of the days ahead. Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, his Budget and National Planning counterpart, Atiku Bagudu, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor Olayemi Cardoso and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Chairman, Mr Zacch Adedeji promised an imminent drop in the high cost of living and inflation.

3. The Federal Government on Tuesday moved to stem rising food prices in the country by directing the Special Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention to immediately wade in. The government assured Nigerians that there was no food shortage. It alleged that saboteurs were capitalising on Naira’s depreciation to escalate the cost of food items.

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4. President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday urged the Armed Forces and other security agencies to intensify efforts at containing the multi-dimensional security challenges facing the country. He restated his administration’s continued support to the nation’s security forces through the modernisation of their fleets, training and welfare of personnel.

5. The Federal Government on Tuesday arraigned Oladipupo Adebutu at an Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital, on seven-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and other offences. Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Ogun State in last year’s general election, was accused of criminal inducement during the poll.

6. The trial of Ali Bello, a cousin of former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, and Dauda Suleiman for alleged misappropriation and money laundering was suspended yesterday owing to the sudden complaint by a prosecution witness that he was feeling unwell. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Bello and Suleiman on a 10-count charge.

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7. The value of foreign exchange transactions recorded on the official Nigeria Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market has risen to $584m, according to data posted on the FMDQ Exchange on Tuesday. This represents a significant increase from the $440m daily transaction previously recorded on the platform.

8. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State has suspended indefinitely its ongoing academic activities following the protest by students against the increment of school fees in the early hours of Tuesday. It was learnt from a statement by the Vice Chancellor of the school, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, that academic activities of the institution have been suspended indefinitely after the violent protest.

9. Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has been cleared to play in the semi-final clash against South Africa. Nigeria will take on South Africa by 6pm on Wednesday in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.

10. The Police Command in Ogun State says a 400-level female student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, in Ago-Iwoye, Adaeze Jaja, has allegedly committed suicide in a hotel room. The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Tuesday in Abeokuta.

READ New tourism minister, Lola Ade-John kneels before Tinubu after signing oath of service

JUST IN: Tinubu, Shettima to pay toll at airport gates

Published

1 hour ago

May 14, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima will now pay the required toll whenever they use the gates at airports.

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation, announced this to journalists after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting chaired by Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja on Tuesday.

Keyamo said he presented two memos which were approved by the council.

Details later…

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Tinubu suspends 0.5% cybersecurity levy

Published

1 hour ago

May 14, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu has suspended the 0.5 percent cybersecurity levy after criticism and protest trailed the announcement.

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, announced the suspension.

Idris said Tinubu directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the implementation and review the modalities for its implementation.

Details later…

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News

Minister to sue Niger speaker over plans to ‘marry off’ 100 girls, says it’s ‘totally unacceptable’

Published

8 hours ago

May 14, 2024

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Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, has petitioned the inspector-general of police (IGP) and sought a court injunction to halt the marriage of 100 girls in Niger state.

Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, speaker of the Niger state house of assembly, announced last week that he would sponsor the wedding of 100 girls, some of whom were orphaned by insurgency, as part of his Maringa constituency project.

He said he had procured materials for the event scheduled for May 24, and promised to pay dowries for the bridegrooms.

Following the outcry that trailed the announcement, the speaker explained that he was only financing the wedding — not forcing the girls into marriage.

However, Kennedy-Ohanenye said the plan is unacceptable, and that the future of the girls should be a priority.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the minister said a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the issue will be carried out.

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She said the ministry will take responsibility for the girls’ education and vocational training.

“I want to let the honorable speaker of house in Niger state know that this is totally unacceptable by Federal Minister Of Women Affairs and by the government,” Kennedy-Ohanenye said.

“Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the onset, that is no more business as usual.

“These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered.

“So I have gone to court. I have written him a letter and written a petition to the IG of police.

“And I have filed for injunction to stop him from whatever he is planning to do on the 24th, until a thorough investigation is carried out on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out the people marrying them.

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“As the speaker did not think about empowering these women or sending them to school or giving them some kind of training support financially.

“The women affairs have decided to take it up and we are going to educate the children.

“Those that do not want to go to school, we will train them in a skill, empower them with sustainable empowerment machines to enable that child build his or her life and make up her mind who and when to get married.

“If for any reason the speaker tries to do contrary to what I have just mentioned, there will be a serious legal battle between him and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.”

The minister added that based on the Child Rights Act, every child belongs to the state, hence the rights of every child will be protected from harm and violence.