Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Monday, 11th January, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Monday, 11th January 2021

1. SERAP Advises FG Against Borrowing Dormant Account Balances, Unclaimed Dividends

President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability, to stop the plan by the Federal Government to borrow about N895bn of unclaimed dividends and funds in dormant accounts.

According to some reports, the Buhari-led government has plans to borrow unclaimed dividends and funds in dormant account balances of Deposit Money Banks using Part XII of the Companies and Allied Matters Act in the signed Finance Act 2020.

According to the Finance Act, signed into law by Buhari last December, FG is allowed to borrow unclaimed dividends and dormant account balances owned by Nigerians in any bank in the country.

SERAP in a statement released through its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, described the plan by the Federal Government as illegal.

2. COVID-19 Vaccine Does Not Alter DNA – FG

President Muhammadu Buhari-led government on Sunday in a statement released through the National Orientation Agency stated that the COVID-19 vaccine does not alter DNA.

The Agency stated this as the Federal Government awaits COVID-19 vaccines which will help in the fight against the virus which has killed over 1,300 Nigerians.

According to the agency, the vaccine will be subjected to laboratory examinations to ensure it is safe before being administered to humans.

3. We Didn’t Clash With Herdsmen In Oyo – Amotekun

Oyo State Security Network Agency, Operation Amotekun, has denied clashing with Fulani herdsmen in some parts of the state.

Speaking to reporters in Ibadan on Sunday, the Commandant of the agency, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd.), said the report that Amotekun operatives clashed with herdsmen in Ibarapa and Oke Ogun axes is false and inaccurate.

4. Fire Guts Nigerian Immigration Service HQ

The headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Abuja was in the early hours of Sunday gutted by fire.
Naija News reports that the NIS made this known in a statement on its official Twitter handle.

According to the Immigration Service, the fire affected some of the offices in the headquarters.

5. 2023: Rotational Presidency Not Solution To Nigeria’s Problem – Kanu

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has noted that the rotation of presidency is not the solution to Nigerian’s problem.

Kanu stated this in a post on his Twitter account on Saturday.

The IPOB leader wrote, “The @NGRPresident is a microcosm of Nigeria, a mini-Nigeria. It represents what ails Nigeria from the top. If you think rotational presidency is the SOLUTION, think again.”

6. Lagos: COVID-19 Not A Hoax, It’s Real – Sanwo-Olu

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has warned that the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) is not a hoax.
In a post on Twitter on Sunday, Sanwo-Olu lamented that the state was experiencing a rise in COVID-19.

He also disclosed that the Lagos government has activated a new oxygen plant to ensure that more patients recover from the virus.

7. FRSC To Start Vehicle Registration With NIN From April

The Federal Road Safety Corps, on Saturday, noted that there won’t be vehicle registration without the presentation of National Identification Number starting from April.

The Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM), Bisi Kazeem, Corps Public Education Officer, disclosed this in a statement released on Saturday.

The corps further stated that all applicants for the National Driver’s Licence must present their NIN before being captured for any class of licence.

Kazeem said the decision is due to the Federal Government’s directives on harmonisation of citizens’ data.

8. Military Kills 50, Recover Livestock In Katsina And Zamfara State

Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, on Saturday, eliminated no fewer than 50 bandits at Kuriya village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The development was confirmed in a statement on Sunday released by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche.

Enenche while speaking on the mission, noted that the troops with support from Air Component, attacked bandits at Kuriya village leading to their death while 4 soldiers sustained injuries with 272 livestock recovered.

9. $5.3bn Loan Delaying The Construction Of Kano-Ibadan Railway – Amaechi

The federal government has said that once it receives a $5.3bn loan from China, it will start construction of a railway line from Ibadan to Kano.

The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, made this known in Abuja on Saturday.

“We are waiting for the Chinese government and bank to approve the $5.3 billion to construct the Ibadan-Kano. What was approved a year ago was the contract.” Amaechi said.

10. IPPIS: University Workers Threaten Three-Day Nationwide Protests

The Joint Action Committee, on Friday, disclosed that it is set to embark on a three-day nationwide protest over the Federal Government’s handling of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, sharing formula of the N40 billion earned academic allowances and non-payment of arrears of the new minimum wage.
The non-teaching staff in the universities further stated that other issues include inconsistencies in IPPIS payment and the delay in the renegotiation of the FGN/ ASUU/SSANU 2009 Agreement.

The group added that others are the non-payment of retirement benefits to former members, non-constitution of visitation panels to universities, poor funding of universities, teaching staff usurping the headship of non-teaching units, among others.

The JAC which comprised the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities directed all its branches to mobilize the members on Monday for the rallies.

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