Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Friday, 4th September, 2020

Good morning, Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Friday, 4th September 2020

1. Buhari Orders Schools To Reopen Fully Nationwide

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed state governments and school administrators to start making plans for the full reopening of schools nationwide.

This was made known on Thursday by the National Coordinator of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, during a briefing at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

Naija News reports that schools had been shut down since March to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Speaking, Aliyu stated that the task force recommends the phased return of students.

Aliyu said, “For educational institutions which include daycare, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Educational institutions should begin the process of working towards potentially reopening within this phase.

2. COVID-19: FG Changes Time For Nationwide Curfew

The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government on Thursday stated that the nationwide curfew in place in the country to restrict movement amid the coronavirus pandemic is now from 12 am to 4 am.

This was made known by the National Coordinator of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, during a briefing at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

“I will first of all start with general movement. We are modifying the curfew to commence from 12 midnight to 4am nationwide, effective from 12:00 tonight,” Aliyu said.

“This does not apply to people on essential services and international travellers that might be returning from abroad.”

Recall that the federal government had imposed a nationwide curfew from 6 pm to 8 am in order to curb the spread of the virus.

3. Colleges of Education Lecturers Embark On Nationwide Strike

The President of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Nuhu Ogirima, has directed its members to embark on a nationwide strike immediately.

He gave the directive during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.

Ogirima stated that the federal government has failed to provide outstanding N441 billion resulting from the received NEEDS Assessment of the Federal Colleges of Education.

“We have directed our members nationwide to withdraw their services with effect from today (Thursday),” he said.

4. Boko Haram: We Can’t Determine When It Is Safe For IDPs To Return Home – Military

The Nigerian Military has stated that it is not in a position to solely determine when Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by Boko Haram and other insurgents can return to their original habitations.

Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major-General John Enenche, made this known while answering questions from newsmen during the weekly media briefing with Defence Correspondents at the Defence Headquarters.

Enenche established that while the military will continue to provide an enabling environment for displaced persons to return home, the relocation and resettling process is a civil matter.

He, however, gave assurances that the military will continue to work with the civil authority to provide adequate security for the resettlement of the IDPs.

5. Buhari Okays Reopening of NYSC Orientation Camps Nationwide

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the National Youth Service Corps to start making preparations to reopen its orientation camps nationwide.

This was made known on Thursday by the National Coordinator of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, during a briefing at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

Naija News recalls that orientation camps across Nigeria had been shut in March as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Speaking on Thursday, Aliyu said the task force was in the process of developing “strict guidelines” to forestall the outbreak of infections when NYSC camps reopen.

6. Miyetti Allah Wants FG To Create Ministry Of Livestock

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has urged the federal government of Nigeria to create a Ministry of livestock.

The National Secretary of MACBAN, Alhaji Othman Ngelzarma who made the call on Thursday in Abuja, argued that this will help curb some of the challenges affecting the sector.

Ngelzarma who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), noted that just a department under the Ministry of Agriculture may not be able to attend to all the demands and challenges of the livestock sector in Nigeria.

He also argued that many other West African countries have set up a distinct ministry to oversee the affairs of its livestock sub-sector and Nigeria should also do the same.

7. Buhari Bars Air France, Lufthansa, Others

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday barred some international airlines from operating in Nigeria.

Naija News reports that international flights are set to resume on Saturday.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika said the banned airlines include Air France, KLM, Etihad, Rwandair, Lufthansa, TAAG Angola Airlines and others.

He stated that Cape Verde and South African airlines were denied approval because international flights were yet to resume in their countries.

On airlines given licence to operate, the Minister listed: Middle-East, British Airways, Delta airlines, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Egyptair, Air Peace, Virgin Atlantic, Asky, Africa World Airways (AWA), Air Cote-d’Ivoire, Kenya Airways, Emirate, and Turkish airlines.

8. UI Makes Times University Ranking, Beats LASU, UNILAG, Others

The University of Ibadan (UI) has emerged as the number one University in Nigeria according to the recently released 2021 Times Higher Education’s (THE) rankings.

UI overtook Covenant University (CU) who held the number one position in THE’s 2020 report for the world university rankings.

Recall that CI had usurped University of Ibadan in 2018.

However, in the 2021 rankings released on Wednesday, UI rose to the 401- 500 band while CU witnessed a drop from 2018’s 636 position to remain at top 1000.

Second on the list is the Lagos State University (LASU), which was placed between 501 and 600, while the University of Lagos (UNILAG) ranked between 601–800.

Also on the list is the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), both of which ranked on a figure exceeding 1000.

Below are the six Nigerian universities that made the list:

UI (401 – 500)
LASU (501 – 600)
UNILAG (601- 800)
Covenant University (801 – 1000)
UNN (1001+)
OAU (1001+)

9. Buhari Approves The Release Of 30,000 Tons Maize To Farmers, Made New Promises To Nigerians

The federal government of Nigeria on Thursday, September 3, announced the release of 30,000 tons of maize from the national reserves, to animal feed producers to curb the current high cost of poultry production.

This was made known in a thread of tweets on the official Twitter page of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.

President Buhari in the tweet said the government is doing everything possible in its power to bring down the price of food items across the country. He gave his assurance to Nigerians that the challenge of high food prices in the country will soon be a thing of the past.

10. Blasphemy – Kano Singer Appeals Death Sentence

Kano State-based singer who was recently sentenced to death by a Shariah Court in the state has reportedly appealed the judgement.

According to the report monitored by Naija News on Sahara Reporters, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu who was accused of blasphemy against Islam Prophet Muhammad has appealed the judgement passed on him by a Kano Shari’a Court.

It could be recalled that Aminu was sentenced to death on August 10, 2020, with 30 days grace to appeal the judgment. However, just six days to the deadline which was supposed to end on Wednesday, September 9, the accused singer said he is dissatisfied with the judgment passed by the Shari’a Court.

Aminu’s decision was revealed in a suit filed on Thursday, September 3 at the Kano State High Court by his lawyer, Kola Alanipini, Naija News understands.

11. Nigerians Need Stimulus Not Increased Electricity Tariffs – Atiku Tackles Buhari

Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has faulted the increase in electricity tariffs in Nigeria.

Naija News recalls that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had approved an increase in electricity tariff with effect from September 1, 2020.

This is happening three months after the National Assembly tried to stop the implementation increase of the tariff which was scheduled to take place on July 1, after the National Assembly prevailed on the distribution companies.

The distribution companies were asked to shelve the date to the first quarter of 2021 due to the current economic challenges the country is facing since the pandemic.

However, a NERC document showed that electricity customers, except those receiving less than 12 hours of supply, would have to pay more for electricity starting from, September 1, 2020.

Reacting to the new increment in a post on his Twitter page, Atiku urged the federal government to shelve the increase in electricity tariff.

He lamented that many Nigerians have not earned income for months, adding that they deserve stimulus packages and not various increases.

12. Oyo Govt. Cancels 10pm To 4am COVID-19 Curfew

The Oyo State government has cancelled the 10 to 4 night curfew initially imposed on state residents in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The review and subsequent cancellation of the curfew was announced in a statement by Mr. Taiwo Adisa, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde.

According to the statement, the decision to lift the curfew follows the presentations made by relevant stakeholders and health experts at the task force meeting held on August 31, 2020, and presided over by the governor.

The statement noted that the decision to abolish the curfew was premised on the need to reduce the burden on business owners in the state, whom, it said, has been affected by the curfew, especially since the COVID-19 situation has begun to improve in the state.

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