Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Tuesday, 23rd February, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Tuesday, 23rd February 2021

1. President Buhari Signs Order Approving Slash Of Import Duty On Cars

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed a new directive which empowers the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to implement the price slash on duty for imported vehicles into the country.

The President by his order seeks immediate compliance of the service with the directive targeted at curbing the rising cost of transport and provide a boost for the mass transit industry.

The price reduction would see import duties drop from 35% to 10% and even 5% in some cases depending on the category of the vehicle.

2. Bauchi Governor Part Of Fulani Terrorists Terrorising Nigeria – Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has said Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi is a member of the Fulani terrorists terrorizing Nigeria.

Recall that Mohammed had slammed the Benue governor accusing him of creating bad media campaign against the Fulani ethnic stock.

He also said Ortom has criminalized the entire Fulani ethnic stock across the country.

Reacting in a press conference in Makurdi on Monday, Ortom said, “Since he (Mohammed) has chosen to vilify and intimidate me. I am compelled to think that he is one of the Fulani terrorists terrorizing this country.

3. Insecurity: Details Of Meeting Between President Buhari And Senate President Lawan Emerges

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday held a closed-door meeting with Senate President Ahmad Lawan at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting between the two leaders, Lawan disclosed that the meeting focused majorly on the security challenges facing the nation and how to overcome them.

He added that between now and the next two months, Nigerians will notice some activities targeted at improving the current security situation in the country.

The Senate President also noted that it part of plans by the government to make the roads and farms safe before the rains come so farmers can plant and have a good harvest.

4. 2023: Intrigue As APC Woos Three PDP Governors

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly wooed three governors of the People Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 general elections.

According to the PUNCH, the ruling party has initiated moves to lure Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle; Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed and his Cross River State counterpart, Governor Ben Ayade, into the APC.

It was gathered the APC also reached out to Governor Ifeanyi Uguwanyi of Enugu State, but rejected their advances due to his loyalty to the PDP.

According to the source, the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State led the negotiations with the three PDP governors.

5. PDP Mocks APC Over Arrest Of Okorocha In Imo State

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has described as bizarre, the recent clash between former Governor Rochas Okorocha and incumbent Hope Uzodinma and their supporters.

The party also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of turning the state into a war zone.

It will be recalled as earlier recalled by Naija News that former Imo State Governor and current Imo West Senator, Rochas Okorocha was arrested by operatives of the Nigerian Police.

The ex-Governor was arrested on Sunday for forcefully unsealing the Royal Palm Estate sealed by the Imo State government under the leadership of current Governor Hope Uzodinma.

Reacting to the developments in a statement on Monday, the Imo PDP spokesperson, Ogubundu Nwadike said what is happening between the two leaders who are both from APC is disgusting.

Nwadike added that the incident has heightened tension in the state which was brought about by the recent military invasion of Orlu based on the orders of Governor Uzodinma.

He, therefore, called on the APC to call its people to order and stop disturbing the peace of the people of Imo State.

6. Sheikh Gumi Met With Bandits Near Military Post – Ex-DSS Director

A former Assistant Director with the Department of State Services, Dennis Amachree, disclosed that the compound where Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, met with bandits in Niger State to discuss the release of abducted students and teachers of Government Science College, Kangara, is very close to a military post.

He further stated that during the discussion the security officials were asked to drop their weapons at a nearby military outpost before they could access the compound where about 700 bandits were camped.

The former DSS official said this on Channels TV on Monday.

7. Court Grants Okorocha’s Aides N70m Bail As Ex-Imo Governor’s Loyalist Slumps

A Magistrate Court in Owerri, Imo State on Monday granted 14 aides of the former governor of the state, Senator Rochas Okrocha, N5 million each totaling N70 million.

This was after a mild drama played out inside the court, as one of the 14 suspects, Darlington Ibekwe, slumped.

Ibekwe and 13 other loyalists of Senator Okorocha were arraigned for breaking into the sealed Royal Spring Palm Hotel and Apartments owned by Okorocha’s wife

The suspects were accused of conspiring among themselves to disobey a lawful order issued by the state by removing the seal of the state government and entering into the sealed property.

8. Boko Haram Beheads 5 Persons In Borno IDP Camp, Others Missing

The Boko Haram Terrorist group has killed not less than five residents of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

According to sources quoted in the report, eight persons had left the IDP camp on Sunday in search of firewood but were believed to have been attacked when they didn’t return in good time.

This prompted officials to declare them missing and Vigilantes embarked on a search and rescue mission to bring them back.

One of the Vigilantes identified as Abu Damboa told Daily Trust that he and his colleagues embarked on the search mission only to discover the lifeless bodies of five of those who left the IDP camp.

The whereabouts of three others are still unknown.

He added that the heads had been cut off from the bodies when they found them.

9. Presidency Reveals Reason Nigeria Exited Recession

The Presidency has said that Nigeria exited recession due to the success of the Federal Government’s ongoing Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP).
Recall that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had in a report said Nigeria’s economy grew by 0.11 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020 after two consecutive quarters of negative growth which resulted in a recession.

But in a statement on Sunday, Laolu Akande, spokesman of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the implementation of the plan was responsible for the good news.

He asked Nigerians to expect more good development as the implementation of the plan continues to impact Nigerians positively. Akande said the Q4 report shows that the recovery of Nigeria’s economy is on a steady path.

10. Alleged Fraud: Senate Panel Orders Arrest Of NDDC Sole Administrator

The Senate has ordered the arrest of the sole administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Effiong Akwa.

Naija News reports that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions ordered the Akwa’s arrest over the failure of the immediate past Interim Management Committee (IMC) to appear before it.

The panel is probing the alleged diversion of N6.25 billion meant for the purchase of COVID-19 relief items for the Niger Delta.

The lawmakers began probing the IMC led by the former Acting Managing Director of NDDC, Kemebradikumo Pondei, after the chairman of the agency’s COVID-19 palliative distribution committee, Sobomabo Jackrich, petitioned the senate.

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