Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Monday, 28th September, 2020

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Monday, 28th September 2020

1. Buhari’s Policies Yielding Fruitful Results – Atiku Bagudu

President Muhammadu Buhari’s policies have started to yield the desired results in Nigeria, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, northern Nigeria, has said.

Naija News reports that Governor Bagudu backed Buhari’s policies during a visit to a private rice mill, owned by a business mogul, Alhaji Sahabi Lolo in Kamba, Dandi Local Government Area(LGA )of the state on Sunday.

This online news platform understands that the Kebbi governor who was accompanied by Governor Muhammed Badaru of Jigawa on the visit, expressed delight that the policies of President Buhari’s administration were putting the country on a more formidable economic footing.

According to the Kebbi governor, the investment derived from the Nigerian president in the rice value chain in the last few years is also bearing fruits on the economy.

2. NLC Insist On Strike Action Despite Meeting Gbajabiamila

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Sunday insisted that it will carry on with its proposed strike action over the increase of electricity tariff and petrol price.

The NLC made this known after a closed-door meeting between organized and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, NLC President Ayuba Wabba said the strike will only be called off if the federal government makes a u-turn before 12 midnight today.

On the court order stopping the strike, the NLC president said the organization has not been served with the order and cannot speak on it.

He, however, noted that there is a judgement of a Federal High court stopping the increase of electricity tariff which the FG has refused to obey.

During Sunday meeting, Gbajabiamila had urged organized labour to shelve its planned strike.

According to the Speaker, the consequences of any strike will be dire on Nigerians who will feel the hardship caused by the industrial action.

3. Gana Denies Embezzling NECO’s N368.8 million

Abubakar Gana, a former Acting Registrar of the National Examinations Council (NECO), has denied allegation levelled against him by an online media platform that he embezzled the sum of N368.875 million.

In a statement he personally authored and released to newsmen, Sunday, in Abuja, Gana claimed that the alleged sum said to have been generated during the June/July 2018 registration of SSCE, was discovered missing before his tenure.

According to the former NECO boss, Gana, the purported incident occurred on December 18, 2017, five months before his appointment.

4. Osinbajo Speaks On When Land Borders Will Reopen

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stated that the federal government is working to reopen Nigeria’s land borders.

Naija News recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had on October 2019 ordered the total closure of land borders to check smuggling goods and arms into the country.

Speaking on Thursday during a webinar organised by The Africa Report, Osinbajo the borders will re-open soon.

Reacting to a question on the continued closure of the land borders despite preparations for the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), he said the government is working with neighbouring countries on the terms of reopening the border.

“We are working with our neighbours to see on what terms we would reopen those borders. At the moment, we are undertaking joint border patrols to control smuggling along the borders and we think it is working and I am sure that soon enough we should have the borders opened,” he said.

5. IPOB Makes Fresh Demand From Buhari Govt, Says ‘We’re Tired Of Bondage’

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Nnamdi Kanu, has demanded a referendum from President Muhammadu Buhari‘s government to determine if its members still want to be a part of Nigeria.

Naija News reports that the IPOB made this demand from the Nigerian government while denying allegations that it attacked security operatives in the South-East and South-South regions.

The pro-Biafra group in a statement issued by Emma Powerful, the group’s spokesperson, said the allegations that IPOB members carry arms and is attacking security agents was a lie merely targeted at giving the Department of State Services an excuse to go after its members.

This online news platform understands that Kanu’s IPOB is leading a movement of people largely of Igbo descent seeking secession from Nigeria over alleged years of marginalization, oppression, and rights violations.

6. Nigerian Military Confirms How Boko Haram Attacked Borno Governor’s Convoy

The Nigerian Military has confirmed a Boko Haram attack on the convoy of the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum.

The military, in a statement on Saturday by the Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche explained that 18 persons were killed in the attack on Friday.

Giving the breakdown of those who lost their lives in the attack, Gen. Enenche disclosed that 10 policemen, four soldiers and four civilians were killed in the attack which occurred at Barwati village in Borno State.

It will be recalled Naija News earlier reported that policemen, soldiers and some members of a government-backed local vigilante group were killed in the attack on the Borno Governor’s convoy on Friday which happened near the town of Baga on the shores of Lake Chad.

Confirming the unfortunate incident, the Nigerian military disclosed that 18 persons died in the attack when the Boko Haram insurgents deployed Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on the road.

The statement noted that those who died were as a result of the multiple explosions from the terrorists.

7. Strike: Police Warns NLC, TUC Against Protesting

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has warned the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over their planned nationwide protest.

NLC and TUC had scheduled Monday, September 28, 2020, to protest the recent increase in electricity tariff and petrol price.

Recall that the National Industrial Court in Abuja had on Thursday granted an order of interim injunction restraining the unions from disrupting, restraining, picketing or preventing the workers or ordinary Nigerians from accessing their offices to carry out their legitimate duties on September 28, 2020, or any other date.

Justice Ibrahim Galadima, who also issued an interim order restraining the labour unions from embarking on the strike action, gave the ruling following an ex parte application filed by a group, Peace and Unity Ambassadors Association, through their counsel, Sunusi Musa.

Barely 24 hours after the ruling, the judge on Friday issued another order restraining the unions from going ahead with the strike, following an ex parte application by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

But despite two court injunctions restraining the unions and their affiliates from proceeding with the strike, the labour unions insisted they would go ahead with the strike.

Speaking to The Punch on Saturday, Force spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba, said the police would be guided by the position of the law on the matter.

“What does the law say in this circumstance? We would enforce the law. That is the only thing I can say,” he said.

8. Ondo 2020: Wike Believes In Intimidation, Violence, Rigging – APC

The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State as someone who believes in intimidation, violence, and rigging.

The Ondo APC Publicity Secretary, Alex Kalejaiye, was reacting to a statement credited to Wike, which alleged that the APC in Ondo State had perfected plans to rig the governorship election.

According to the APC spokesperson, the party will continue to appeal to the people to renew the mandate given its candidate four years ago, considering the efforts of the APC-led government to reposition the state.

9. Laycon Wins Big Brother Naija Lockdown Edition

Laycon has been announced as the winner of the 6th Edition of the Television Show, Big Brother Naija(Lockdown) Edition.

The second runner-up in the show is Dorathy

The 2020 edition of the Big Brother Naija reality TV show was brought to an end today, Sunday, 27th September 2020, after 70 days of entertainment.

The show which started on July 19 with twenty housemates, saw an eviction of housemates till there were five finalists.

The final five contestants were Laycon, Nengi, Dorathy, Vee, and Neo.

However, Vee, Neo and Nengi were evicted leaving Laycon and Dorathy to battle for the grand prize.

Announcing the winner this night in the grand finale, the Host Ebuka announced Laycon as the winner.

10. Israel Adesanya Defeats Paulo Costa Via TKO In UFC253

Nigeria’s Israel Adesanya has defeated Brazilian Paulo Costa via TKO to retain the Middleweight Championship in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC 253).

Naija News win is the 20th career MMA victory for the Nigerian-New Zealand UFC middleweight champion.

When Adesanya vs Costa kicked off, there was less action in the first round as both MMA fighters traded few kicks and punches with the Brazilian professional mixed martial artist, Costa pressing Adesanya but throwing few shots.

Adesanya also known as Izzy or Stylebender, came out with more purpose in the second round, outboxing his opponent and landing deadly shots.

Before the match against Costa, Adesanya defeated Yoel Romero by decision at the UFC 248 pay-per-view event from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In October 2019, Adesanya became the new UFC middleweight champion when he finished Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 by TKO. Before that, Adesanya picked up a decision win over Kelvin Gastelum in the co-headliner of the UFC 236 pay-per-view event.

Adesanya fought six times in less than a year-and-a-half total in the UFC and won all six bouts before heading into the fight against Costa on Saturday night.

On the other hand, Costa was coming off a big win over Yoel Romero at the UFC 241 pay-per-view event. The Brazilian previously beat Uriah Hall on the preliminary portion of the UFC 226 pay-per-view event in Las Vegas, Nevada. Costa entered this fight on a 12-fight winning streak.

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