Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 17th September, 2020

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Thursday, 17th September 2020

1. No Govt Has Done So Much With Less Income Like Buhari – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, noted that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has been working across all sectors of the economy with 60 percent less national income.

Mohammed in a statement released through his spokesman, Segun Adeyemi, said Buhari is setting Nigeria on the path of sustainable development.

According to Mohammed: “No government in the history of the country has done so much with so little, as the Buhari administration is doing presently.”

“With 60% less national income, the Administration is making progress on all fronts and setting the country on the path of sustainable growth and development.”

2. Fuel Hike: NLC Issues FG Two-week Ultimatum

The Nigeria Labour Congress on Wednesday issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to reverse the hikes in electricity tariff and the fuel pump price.

Naija News reports that this was made known after the meeting of the Central Working Committee of the NLC.

According to the NLC, if the federal government refuses to reverse the hike labour would embark on civil unrest nationwide.

In a communiqué read by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, the union said the ultimatum takes immediate effect, warning that it would mobilize its members nationwide for protest after September 28.

3. Military Bombs Bandits’ Logistics Warehouse, Kills Scores Of Fighters In Zamfara

The Nigerian Army troops of the Air component of operation HADARIN DAJI, on Wednesday, disclosed that it has bombarded a bandits’ logistics warehouse in massive airstrikes conducted in the Kwiambana Forest area of Zamfara State.

The development was disclosed by Major General John Enenche, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, in a statement released on Wednesday.

Enenche in the statement noted that the airstrikes were executed on Tuesday as part of air interdiction missions being executed under the subsidiary of Operation WUTAN DAJI 2 to rid the North West of the country of armed bandits and other criminal elements.

According to him, several bandits were also executed as a result of the attack.

4. More ‘Troubles’ For El-Rufai As Nigerians Sign Petition For UK, EU To Ban Him

An online petition has been launched against the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai calling for the United Kingdom and the European Union to place a visa restriction on him.

The petition was initiated on Tuesday, 15th September, 2020 by Reno Omokri, a former presidential media aide.

Omokri in his petition on change.org where he asked the Government of the United Kingdom and the European Union to place a travel ban on El-Rufai accused the Governor of promoting genocide and religious and political intolerance.

He further accused him of being a threat to the peace and security of Nigeria.

A quick check Naija News showed that the petition had hit 7,750 as of 12.43 pm am on Wednesday, 16th September.

The fresh petition comes amidst reports that El-Rufai’s name is among the list of Nigerian politicians the United States Government has placed a visa restriction on for electoral violence and malpractices.

5. Buhari Unveils Logo, Theme For Nigeria’s 60th Independence Day Celebration

The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has disclosed the theme and logo for the country’s 60th Independence anniversary celebration as #TOGETHER.

This was revealed on Wednesday, September 16 shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting and also in a tweet by the President’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad.

Stating why #TOGETHER was considered for the 60th Independence, President Buhari revealed that ‘Our founding fathers, In spite of differences in faith, tribe and tongue came TOGETHER to fight for Nigeria’s independence”.

6. FG Will Get Justice For Nigerians In Ghana – Osinbajo

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday promised Nigerians traders in Ghana that the Federal Government of Nigeria will get Justice for them.

Recall that the Ghana Government in August sealed their shops over a $1million equity stipulated by the Ghana Investment Promotions Council.

Osinbajo at a meeting with representatives of the Nigerian community in Ghana, noted that the government is looking into the situation.

“I will certainly convey the depth of your grievances to the President. I am sure that he will be deeply disturbed to hear that despite the assurances that he had received, (from the Ghanaian government) there are still problems and complications.”

He explained that the delay in resolving these issues was due to bureaucratic bottlenecks synonymous with governments.

7. What I Did After Losing 2019 Election – Saraki

Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has broken his silence and narrated what transpired after he lost in the 2019 general elections.

Dr. Saraki who spoke on Tuesday during a virtual conference to mark the 2020 International Day of Democracy, said the experience was another lesson for him in politics.

The former strongman of Kwara politics narrated that though he and his party (Peoples Democratic Party) had good evidence that the results were manipulated by the All Progressives Congress (APC), he accepted the results in good faith and further instructed his followers to shun violence.

Saraki noted that his 2019 experience and actions have put him in a position to tell politicians to promote the strengthening of institutions rather than focus on personal ambitions.

8. Akpabio Denies Accusing NASS of NDDC Contract Fraud

Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Niger Delta Affairs Ministers, has denied accusing some members of the National Assembly of benefiting from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) contracts.

Recall that while appearing before a House of Representatives committee probing an alleged mismanagement of N81.5 billion by the commission in July, Akpabio had said lawmakers were the biggest beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the NDDC.

This resulted in the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, asking him to publish names of the lawmakers of or face the “wrath of the house”.

The former Akwa Ibom governor thereafter named Peter Nwaoboshi, chairman of the Senate committee on NDDC, Matthew Urhoghide, senate committee chairman on public accounts, and James Manager, senator representing Delta south, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, as some of the beneficiaries.

The names lawmakers all denied any wrongdoing.

Speaking to newsmen after a meeting with Olatunde Ojo, acting clerk of the national assembly on Tuesday, Akpabio said the speaker only wanted to known if there was “undue influence” from the federal lawmakers.

9. Ondo 2020: PDP, APC Supporters Clash, Vehicles Destroyed

A clash ensued today between supporters of the incumbent governor of Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu and his opponent Eyitayo Jegede, at Oba-Akoko in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The clash between supporters of the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party occurred ahead of the October governorship election, as supporters engaged in a gun battle.

Many Youth and supporters sustained serious injuries as motorists tried to escape due to angry youths destroying vehicles.

After the clashes, both parties have accused each other of being responsible for the fracas.

10. Appeal Court Says Pastor Must Go To Jail For Raping 14-Year-Old Girl

A Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, the Nations capital has upheld the prison sentence slammed on a pastor, Basil Princewill, for raping a 14-year-old girl.

The three-man panel of the Court of Appeal in a unanimous judgment read by Justice Stephen Adah, upheld the June 25, 2019 judgment of Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, which convicted the pastor.

The Appellate Court which dismissed the pastor’s objection to the prison sentence handed to him by the High Court, said his case lacked merit.

Naija News gathered that after the teenager got pregnant, the pastor also attempted to abort the pregnancy by giving the girl an abortion drug and alcohol.

In his judgment, Justice Adah ruled that: “Having looked at the arguments in the appeal and the records, as well as the evidence adduced in the case, I hold that the lower court did not do anything wrong by sentencing the appellant to seven years imprisonment.

“The appeal failed and the judgment of the lower court is hereby upheld.”

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