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Nigerian Newspapers

Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Friday, 30th October, 2020

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Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Saturday, 12th December 2020
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Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Friday, 30th October 2020

1. Nigeria’s Economy Can’t Take Another Lockdown – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that Nigeria’s economy is too fragile for fresh coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.

Naija News reports that the president stated this in a post on his Twitter handle @MBuhari on Thursday.

Buhari stated that compliance with COVID-19 protocols by all Nigerians is crucial to avert a second wave of the pandemic in the country.

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“Looking at the trends in other countries, we must do all we can to avert a second wave of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

“We must make sure that our cases, which have gone down, do not rise again. Our economy is too fragile to bear another round of lockdown,” Buhari wrote.

2. Soldiers Involved In Lekki Shooting Used Blank Bullets – Ex-Army Spokesman

Brigadier General Sani Usman, a former Director Army Public Relations, has stated that soldiers involved in the Lekki Tollgate shooting should be commended for their professionalism.

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Recall that soldiers of the Nigerian Army had opened fire on peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate.

Following the shooting, the Army denied that its officers were present at the scene of the incident after widespread condemnation.

But in a U-turn on Wednesday, the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army (NA) admitted that the Lagos State Government invited the military to intervene during the End SARS protests after the declaration of a curfew.

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Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, Usman claimed that Military personnel who shot protesters at Lekki toll gate used ‘blank ammunition.

According to the former army spokesperson, the blank ammunition used to disperse protesters has little or no effect on its target.

3. ‘We’re Keeping The Positivity Going’ – Okonjo-Iweala Speaks Amidst US Rejection Of Her Choice As WTO DG

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has reacted to the declaration that she remains the candidate most likely to finally emerge as the new Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Iweala, a former Minister of Finance in Nigeria and ex-Deputy Director of the World Bank is believed to be in pole position to clinch the international job but still faces competition from South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee, her fellow finalist for the keenly contested position.

On Wednesday, 28th October, reports emerged that Iweala has emerged as the new director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), defeating fellow finalist, Myung-hee by a wide margin.

Naija News gathered that Okonjo-Iweala polled 104 votes from 164 member countries to defeat Myung-hee of South Korea in the final stage of the race for the international job.

However, hours after the news broke, the United States of America rejected her emergence, arguing that the WTO must be handled by someone who is experienced in trading, hence their preference for South Korea’s Myung-hee.

Despite the development, Okonjo-Iweala in a post on her Twitter page on Thursday evening has declared that despite all that has happened, she is keeping hope alive and ready to move to the next step on November 9.

She wrote: “Happy for the success & continued progress of our @wto DG bid. Very humbled to be declared the candidate with the largest, broadest support among members & most likely to attract consensus. We move on to the next step on Nov 9, despite hiccups. We’re keeping the positivity going!”

4. #LekkiShootings: Amnesty International Can’t Know More Than Us – Presidency

The presidency has declared that Amnesty International (AI) can’t have more information or details about the Lekki toll gate incident in which soldiers reportedly opened fire on peaceful #EndSARS protesters.

This position was made public on Thursday by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina when he appeared on a Channels TV interview programme.

Adesina who insisted that violence had erupted before the Lekki toll gate incident also said there is no justification for the looting of COVID-19 warehouses experienced in the last few days across many cities in Nigeria.

While justifying his position on reports by AI, Adesina noted that police stations had been attacked and prisoners set free in jailbreak incidents in Edo and Ondo before the Lekki toll gate incident.

5. FG, ASUU Meeting Ends In Another Stalemate

The meeting between the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government has ended in another stalemate.

The meeting which took place on Wednesday at the conference room of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, lasted for five hours.

Newsmen were not allowed into the venue for the meeting.

The National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, led the leadership of the union to the meeting with the Minister.

Ngige while speaking said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government sees the meeting as a top priority and efforts are being made to reopen universities.

ASUU delegation insisted that lecturers will not register on the Government Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), but would prefer the platform of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution when it is established.

After the meeting, both parties refused to speak to journalists with the meeting not producing the expected results.

6. Troops Kill Over 20 Boko Haram Terrorists In Failed Attack

Troops of Operation FIRE BALL under Operation LAFIYA DOLE have killed no fewer than twenty-two Boko Haram terrorists when the insurgents attacked Army Super Camp in Damboa.

This was made known in a statement by the Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche.

He stated that troops who subdued the terrorists with superior firepower will continue to decimate members of the Boko Haram/ Islamic State of West Province in order clear the remnants of the terrorists from the theatre.

“Consequently, on 25 October 2020 in what could appear to be a suicide journey the BokoHaram/Islamic State of West African Province attacked the well-fortified Army Super Camp Damboa under 25 Bde in Sector 2,” the statement reads.

“The terrorists met their waterloo as they were pounded with superior firepower and additional fire support from the Air Task Force. The criminals withdrew in rout as they could not withstand the well organised and determined soldiers during the encounter”.

The statement added that, “the Boko Haram terrorists suffered severe casualties as 22 terrorists were neutralized others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds, 2 Gun trucks destroyed, One NSV Anti Aircraft Gun, 2 Rockect Propelled Grenade Tubes, 4 PKT Machine guns, One General Purpose Machine Gun, One Browning Machine Gun, 12Ak 47 Rifles, One AK 74 Rifle were recovered.

7. Ganduje Reappoints Commissioner Sacked For Jubilating Over Abba Kyari’s Death

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has reappointed his sacked commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Mu’azu Magaji.

Naija News reports that Mu’azu Magaji was sacked for allegedly mocking the death of late Abba Kyari, former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Recall that the Kano State Commissioner while reacting in a Facebook post to the death of Abba Kyari noted that Nigeria is now free.

But in a letter in a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary, Bilikisu Shehu Maimota on behalf of the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Magaji was appointed Chairman, Kano State Committee on Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation/ Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (NNPC/AKK) Gas Pipeline Project Delivery and Gas Industrialization.

Engr. Magaji is to Chair the 15-man Committee which is expected to coordinate in close partnership with NNPC on the timely implementation of the NNPC-AKK Gas Pipeline Project in Kano State.

8. Those Looting Are Not Hungry Or Angry Nigerians – Femi Adesina Alleges

Femi Adesina, special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity has alleged that some Nigerians involved in recent cases of looting experienced in some cities across the country didn’t do it because they were angry or hungry.

He alleged that they were simply taking advantage of the collapse of law and order caused by the #EndSARS protests.

This, he stated on Thursday, 29th October when he appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme where he declared that poverty has nothing to do with the invasion of COVID-19 palliatives warehouses.

The presidential spokesperson further stated that those who believe the shooting on peaceful #EndSARS protesters by security operatives at the Lekki toll gate plaza prompted the cases of vandalism and looting experienced are falling for the narrative by Amnesty International who he alleged shouldn’t know more than the government on such matters.

He said; “Criminality is criminality. Would it justify armed robbery because the man was poor? Would it justify armed robbery because the man didn’t have money? Just as you cannot justify armed robbery because a man was poor and took a gun to rob another person, you can’t also justify the looting.

9. I Thought We Will Have 300 To 1000 Dead Bodies – Deputy Speaker, Sanni

The deputy speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Wasiu Sanni, has shared his opinion on the fallout of the #EndSARS protest in Lagos.

Recall Naija News reported that the toll gates were last week bombarded by officers of the Nigerian Army, who shot at unarmed protesters.

Since then there has been an uproar of angry protesters, who stormed various facilities especially those owned by the Federal Government and the Lagos state government to set ablaze.

Speaking at a plenary in the house, Wasiu alleged that influencers aggravated and catalyzed the destruction of Lagos. He also averred that the way and manner the Lekki shooting was placed on social media, he thought there will be not less than 300 or 1000 dead bodies.

Going further in his submission, Sanni expressed happiness that some other social media users were able to question the claims of death in the Lekki shooting.

Further, he called for a constitution of a panel of inquiry to ensure an investigation is carried out and healing is brought to the state.

10. #EndSARS: Lagos Govt Orders Reopening Of Schools

The Lagos State Government on Thursday directed all public and private schools in the state to reopen all classes for academic activities.

The government directed students and pupils in boarding houses to report to school on Sunday, 1st of November in preparation for the general resumption by Monday, 2nd November, 2020.

The directive was contained in a statement by the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo which was signed by Kayode Abayomi, Head, Public Affairs, Ministry of Education.

The Commissioner advised pupils/students to take their studies more seriously in a bid to recover the lost period and thereby excel.

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