Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 18th August, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 18th August 2021

1. Boko Haram: President Buhari To Meet Service Chiefs

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday, 19th August hold a security meeting with the nation’s service chiefs and heads of security agencies.

This was confirmed in a statement on Tuesday by the President’s spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu which noted that the meeting will hold at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

By Thursday, President Buhari will have emerged from the COVID-19 self-isolation which began after he returned last week Friday from the United Kingdom where he participated in an education summit and also saw his doctors.

According to Shehu, Buhari will receive briefings from the security chiefs on the activities of the military and security agencies in tackling terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and all other criminals in the country.

2. PIB: FG Takes Decision On Increasing Pump Price Of Petrol In Nigeria

The federal government has revealed that the pump price per liter of petrol will remain unchanged until negotiations with the organized labour on the full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector is concluded.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva stated this on Tuesday during a chat with newsmen in Abuja.

Naija News recalls there have been fears and anxieties that the price of petrol in Nigeria may jump from N162-N165 to as high as N300 per liter following the signing of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.

However, Sylva has now disclosed that before any increase can be announced, negotiations would have to be concluded.

3. Take Up Arms To Protect Yourself From Bandit Terrorists – Bello Masari

The governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari has urged residents of towns hit by bandit terrorists to seek weapons to protect themselves from attacks.

Masari made the remarks on Tuesday while paying a condolence visit to the families of 10 people killed by customs officials in the Jibia Local Government Area last week.

Katsina is one of the worst-hit states by the bandits and kidnappers in northwestern Nigeria.

The governor also instructed the people of the area not to accept any favours from the customs as regards the unfortunate incident.

4. Hushpuppi: Police Special Investigation Panel On DCP Abba Kyari Yet To Submit Report

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has said its Special Investigation Panel on DCP Abba Kyari is yet to submit its report.

This was made known in a statement sent to Naija News and signed by police spokesman, Frank Mba.

According to the statement, “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to inform the general public that the probe into the alleged indictment of DCP Abba Kyari by the FBI, being conducted by the NPF Special Investigation Panel (SIP), is still ongoing.

5. Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Drops To 17.38% In July

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that inflation dropped further to 17.38 per cent (year-on-year) in July 2021.

Naija News reports that this was made known by the NBS in its Consumer Price Index report for June which was released on Tuesday

According to NBC, the latest drop is 0.37 points lower than the rate recorded in June 2021 (17.75 per cent).

6. 2023: Why PDP Must Replace Secondus, Other NWC Members – Wike

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has called for the replacement of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party if the party wants to win the 2023 general election.

The PDP chieftain further stated that the internal crisis in the party is due to the failure of the NWC led by Uche Secondus to carry out its responsibility.

Wike while speaking on a national television in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said the main opposition party remains the only credible alternative party that Nigerians are expecting to take over power in 2023, following the poor performance of the All Progressives Congress.

The governor was quoted in a statement titled, ‘PDP needs new, robust, determined NWC to win 2023 general elections’, released by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri.

7. People ‘Oozing Out From Nowhere’ Gives Me Sleepless Nights – Obasanjo

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday disclosed that Africa’s increasing population is assuming a worsening, disclosing that the trend keeps him awake at night.

The former President, who spoke during the public presentation of the maiden edition of the Africa Progress Group (APG) report, said his heart sinks each time he travels across places and sees the huge population of people “oozing out from nowhere”.

Obasanjo, who chairs the APG, pointed out that Africa’s growing population would yield huge dividends for national and regional development if properly managed.

He stated that the youth unemployment rate in Africa could then be converted into human capital that would translate into a boost for the continent’s economy.

8. Buhari Has Disrespected Nigerians By Signing The PIB Into Law – PDP

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has carpeted President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law despite the clamour against it by some section of Nigerians.

The PDP said the President should have held off on signing the bill into law until the areas of concern are addressed.

Naija News recalls President Buhari on Monday signed the 2021 Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law as confirmed by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina.

However, the PDP in a statement in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan said the decision by the President to sign the bill despite the public outcry is a confirmation of his disregard for Nigerians.

Ologbondiyan further advised the President to forward an amendment bill to the National Assembly immediately.

9. What Will Happen To NNPC In Six Months – Sylva

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will become a commercial company within six months.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Monday, while in Self-isolation, signed the Petroleum Industry Bill into law.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the minister said a transitional committee is already in place to incorporate NNPC Limited.

According to him, all shares in NNPC Limited are expected to be vested in the government at incorporation and held by the Ministry of Finance.

10. Suspend Preparations For 2023 Elections Now – Akintoye, Others Tell FG

A leading Yoruba Nation agitator and leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Professor Banji Akintoye has urged the federal government of Nigeria to suspend preparations for the 2023 general elections.

This is as he and others with him vowed to explore and pursue all legal means in ensuring a referendum to determine Nigeria’s continued existence or otherwise as a united country takes place.

According to him, the referendum is the only condition under which preparations for the 2023 general elections should be allowed to continue.

Professor Akintoye said this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Lagos State by Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) in which he was represented by Don Pedro Obaseki.

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