Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Monday, 9th August, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 9th August 2021

1. Senate Denies Plans To Create New States

The Nigerian Senate has denied viral reports that it plans to create additional states for the country.

The spokesman of the Senate and Chairman, Senate Committee of Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru made the denial in a statement made available to Naija News.

Some earlier reports stated that the Committee of the Nigerian Senate on Constitution Review has recommended the creation of 22 new states.

It added that the committee also wants the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a referendum for the 22 new states.

However, Senator Basiru in his reaction said the Senate Committee did not propose the creation of 20 new states.

He clarified that the earlier reports were a gross misrepresentation of the decision of the committee on the request for the creation of more states.

2. Nnamdi Kanu: Confusion As IPOB Denies Suspending Sit-At-Home Order

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied suspending its Southeast sit-at-home order.

Recall that IPOB had ordered for a sit-at-home to be observed every Monday throughout the southeast region, starting from August 9, until IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is released from prison.

But in a statement on Sunday Nnamdi Manu’s brother, Kanunta, said the sit-at-home order has been suspended due to the National Examination Council (NECO) examination for junior secondary schools.

He said a new date for the commencement of the sit-at-home order would be announced later.

According to him, the order was suspended after IPOB listened to pleas from well-meaning individuals and groups.

Reacting in a separate statement, IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, said that the alleged Kanu’s brother who issued the statement is not IPOB’s spokesman and therefore should be ignored.

3. APC Govs’ Forum DG Slams Ngige, Ehanire Over Doctors’ Strike

The Director-General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Salihu Lukman, on Sunday, gave the Ministers of Health, Osagie Ehanire; and Labour, Chris Ngige, a dressing down for allowing an industrial strike to fester in the country’s healthcare system.

The National Association of Resident Doctors had last week embarked on an indefinite strike action over the Federal Government’s failure to keep its agreement with them concerning their emoluments and other issues.

Lukman, who blamed the ministers for the industrial action by the doctors, which has crippled health facilities nationwide, condemned their alleged failure to pre-empt the strike action and move to nip it in the bud.

Naija News reports that a statement issued to journalists in Abuja, the APC Governors’ Forum boss decried the decline in conciliation and mediation functions of labour ministry, and blamed it largely on the perceived indecisiveness of Minister Ngige.

4. Insecurity: Tell Buhari The Truth – PDP Slams Katsina Governor, Masari

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has failed in the area of security.

The party also accused the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari of failing to hit the nail on the head that the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have failed.

Speaking on Sunday through a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said the insecurity plaguing the country is a result of the incompetence of President Buhari.

The statement noted that the fact that the challenges of killing, kidnapping, and other issues of insecurity could be happening in the President’s own state is further testament to the inability of his government to secure Nigerians.

The major opposition party noted that not only on security has the Buhari government failed, but also on the economy and fight against corruption.

5. Sunday Igboho: Yoruba Nation Leader, Banji Akintoye Reveals His Location

The leader of Yoruba self-determination group, Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof Banji Akintoye, has reacted to reports that he has left Nigeria to escape arrest by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Akintoye in a statement released on Sunday disclosed that he is in the Republic of Benin, but not on the run.

The Professor of History in a statement released through his spokesman, Maxwell Adeleye, said he is in the Benin Republic to coordinate and supervise how to legally rescue Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Ighoho, from detention.

He further stated that he has committed no offence against the Nigerian Laws to warrant being arrested, intimidated, or harassed.

6. Doctors’ Strike: Archbishop Kaigama Sends Powerful Message To Buhari Govt

Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Reverend Ignatius Kaigama, has flayed the President Muhammadu Buhari administration over the delay in resolving the industrial strike by resident doctors in the country.

He said it was embarrassing that the government could still be dragging its feet even when people were dying and suffering irreversible damage owing to the indefinite strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors over their emoluments and other sundry issues.

Naija News reports that Kaigama stated this while delivering his sermon at St. Dominic Parish, Kwali Abuja on Sunday.

7. Falana To Malami: Provide Information On Trial Of 800 Boko Haram Suspects

Human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), has asked the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, to provide information on the charges brought against 800 Boko Haram suspects.

Recall that in April the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) arrested dozens of persons during a nationwide crackdown on the suspected Boko Haram financiers and collaborations.

In a Freedom of Information (FoI) request signed by Samuel Ogala, Falana asked Malami to provide the information of their prosecution within seven days in accordance with the act.

8. Publish Names Of Bandits’ Sponsors, NUJ Tells Buhari Govt

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, on Sunday, urged the Federal Government to publish the names of those sponsoring criminality in the country, as earlier promised by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

It also said the Federal Government should allow governors to establish State police to complement the existing security architecture.

Naija News reports that this was contained in a communique signed and issued by the Union’s National Secretary, Mr. Shuaibu Usman Leman, at the end of the NUJ National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja on Sunday.

9. Igboho’s Asylum: Why Obasanjo, Ooni, Olubadan, Others Intervened -Afenifere

Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, have revealed why former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and Olubadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, intervened in Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho’s matter.

Igboho’s lawyers have applied for asylum for the activist but the Benin Republic government is yet to make a decision.

Recall that the Ooni of Ife set up a committee and sent a delegation to the Benin Republic alongside Olubadan to observe one of the court proceedings on Igboho’s case.

The Special Assistant on Media to Obasanjo, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Saturday confirmed that Obasanjo, met with the President of the Republic of Benin, Patrice Talon, in the first week of August.

10. Lionel Messi Says Goodbye To Barcelona

Argentina captain, Lionel Messi on Sunday was in tears at the start of the Barcelona press conference over his future on Sunday.

This is coming after La Liga side, Barcelona announced that they are unable to seal a deal with their long time captain, who is reportedly close to a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

He said, “These recent days I’ve been thinking, giving a lot of thought to what I can say. And the truth is that I can’t think of anything, this is difficult for me after so many years.

“I’ve been here my entire life, I’m not ready for this. And last year with all the nonsense, I was convinced of what I wanted to say, but this year it is not the same.

“This year my family and I were convinced we were going to stay here, that is what we all wanted more than anything. We were at home, and we thought we’d be staying here in Barcelona, the time we’ve hard here and with the city and [in terms of the] football has been amazing.

“But today, I have to say goodbye to all of this.”

Those are the top Nigerian newspapers headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.