Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 2nd September, 2020

Good morning, Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Wednesday, 2nd September 2020

1. Insecurity: Details Of Osinbajo’s Meeting With Adamawa Gov, NSA Monguno, Others Emerge

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday met with the Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, over humanitarian and security situations in the North-East.

The meeting, which was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, also had Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), among others in attendance.

The Adamawa State Governor while speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, described the discussion as a fruitful one.

“These are strategies we need to keep for ourselves so that we move the country and the North-East forward.”

“I think it is too early to divulge the information at the moment,’’ he said.

2. Nigerian Senate Denies Receiving Billions Of Naira Received From NDDC

The Nigerian Senate has debunked the report that each of its members received N20m as COVID-19 palliative from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Spokesperson for the Senate, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, gave the clarification to the allegation in a statement on Tuesday.

“The Senate views with grave concern a statement credited to Dr Cairo Ojougboh, the Executive Director, Projects of the NDDC who alleged that National Assembly members received varying sums of money as COVID-19 palliative.

“The Senate hereby disclaims the allegation in its entirety.

3. Students Return To School In Kogi As Government Declares Date For Schools Reopening

The Kogi State government has ordered primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state to reopen as from September 14, 2020.

The development was made public on Tuesday by the State’s Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones during a press briefing in Lokoja, the State capital.

Jones explained that the decision to reopen schools was taken after due consultation with all relevant stakeholders in the state and readiness to comply with COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

4. Fani-Kayode Demands Apology, N6bn From Daily Trust

Former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode has asked the management of Media Trust Limited – publisher of Daily Trust – to enter into a negotiation for a possible settlement of N6 billion for defamation of character.

This was made known in a letter by Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Adeola Adesipe, addressed to the Managing Director of the newspaper dated August 31, 2020 and titled, ‘Defamation of the Character of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode by Iliyasu Gadu’.

The letter was in response to an article titled, ‘FFK, the Drug Addled Thug in Designer Wears’ dated August 30, 2020 and published on Daily Trust.

Gadu, the writer of the article, lambasted Fani-Kayode for his conduct during a press conference in which he described a Daily Trust reporter in Calabar, Eyo Charles, as ‘stupid’ after the journalist asked who was “bankrolling” his current tour of southern states.

He claimed Fani-Kayode, who attended Cambridge University, was once “a drug addict” and had sought rehabilitation in Ghana but “till today has not been cured of the habit”.

5. Presidency Speaks On Buhari’s Close Aide ‘Testing Positive’ For COVID-19

Bashir Ahmad, the personal assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on new media, has debunked rumours that a close personal aide of the president has tested positive to the coronavirus infection.

Earlier, some reports had it that Sarki Abba, Senior Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to President Buhari has tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The report added that Abba had not been seen at the Presidential Villa since contracting the virus two weeks ago and those who had come in contact with him had also been asked to self-isolate.

However, Bashir Ahamd in a swift reaction on Tuesday has countered the story, described it as false, and shared a picture with Abba in his office.

6. NLC Rejects Federal Government Plans To Privatise Major Nigerian Airports

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has berated president Muhammadu Buhari led administration over plans to privatise major airports in the country.

President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba made the congress position known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Wabba said it would be a “grand insult” to the collective intelligence of Nigerians if the FG goes ahead with the plan.

7. After Lagos And Osun States, Ogun Also Speaks On Schools Reopening

The Ogun State government has declared that it won’t be following the footsteps of Lagos and Osun states in reopening schools amidst the Coronavirus pandemic.

This was made known by Hon. Remmy Hazzan, special adviser on public communications to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State when he featured on a Splash FM programme on Monday.

He noted that Ogun State is not in a hurry to reopen schools but will continue to monitor developments so as to forestall further spread of the coronavirus disease.

Naija News recalls Lagos State, as well as Osun State governments, had earlier disclosed their intentions to reopen schools and given the proximity of Ogun to Lagos, there had been insinuations that the state will also reopen its schools which had been shut down since March due to the pandemic.

However, Hon. Hazzan has revealed the Ogun State Government won’t be following suit. The federal government had also warned against the hasty reopening of schools amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

8. Finally, Akinwunmi Adesina Sworn In For Second Term As AfDB President

The African Development Bank (AfDB), has sworn in Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina for a second term in office as president.

In an event that was broadcast virtually, Adesina was sworn in on Tuesday at the AfDB headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Adesina was a former minister of agriculture in Nigeria.

After he became the first Nigerian to be elected to the presidential position of the AFDB in May 2015, he was re-elected Thursday, August 27, during the annual meetings of the AfDB.

9. What We Would Do To Buhari’s Appointee Who Insult, Disrespect Us Henceforth – Senate

A warning has been forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointees after a continous face-off that has been happening for about two weeks between the executive cabinet members and the legislature in the last few weeks.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan who addressed the State House reporters on Monday August 31 after Buhari inaugurated the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo-led Executive/Legislative/Party Consultative Committee, disclosed that the President has addressed the issues.

He opened that following the address, that should be the end of appointees knocking heads with legislators, adding that they would henceforth work together.

He stated also that the President made it very clear that he is not going to tolerate any of his appointees doing things that are not respectable, things that have no dignity to the National Assembly.

10. Loans: Atiku Moves To Stop Buhari

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has taken a step to stop President Muhammadu Buhari-led government from collecting more loans from China.

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 general elections has written the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, requesting the National Assembly to reject any new loan request from the Buhari government meant for “projects that are not viable.”

Atiku in the letter forwarded to the Senate President called in the legislature to also halt approval for loans that are not income-generating or production-based.

Atiku noted that the country risked insolvency if it continued to borrow money.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.