Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Friday, 20th August, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 20th August 2021

1. What President Buhari Discussed With Security Chiefs In Aso Rock

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met with the various heads of Nigeria’s security agencies over rising cases of banditry and kidnappings.

Naija News reports that the meeting was held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) stated that Buhari vowed not to exit the government as a failure in 2023.

He disclosed that security chiefs briefed the president on the success recorded so far against insecurity.

2. 2023: ‘PDP Regime Was A Curse’ – Senate President Lawan

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said the All Progressive Congress, APC, will remain in power for as long as God wants the party to be there.

According to Lawan, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governed the country for many years and it became a curse in the end.

The Senate President, however, listed some conditions that would enable the All Progressives Congress, APC, to retain power in 2023.

Naija News understands that Lawan made the assertions while receiving a delegation of the APC Youth National Lobby Committee on Thursday in Abuja.

In a statement by his spokesman, Ezrel Tabiowo, Lawan said delivering key promises made to Nigerians ahead of 2023 elections, particularly on the provision of critical infrastructure needed for development, remains a way to further boost the confidence of Nigerians in the party.

3. Nigerian Military Has No Human Rights Case To Answer Under Buhari – Defence Minister Tells US Govt

The Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) has submitted that the Nigerian Military is not guilty of any cases of human rights abuse in the discharge of its duties.

Speaking on Thursday when he played host to the United States Acting Ambassador to Nigeria, Kathleen Fitz Gibbon, Magashi declared that the Nigerian Military under President Muhammadu Buhari upholds the highest standard of professionalism in the discharge of its duties.

He said this while debunking some reported cases of human rights abuses against the military in fighting insurgency and terrorism in the country, particularly in the North-East.

Asking rhetorically, the Minister according to his media aide Mohammad Abdulkadri, in a statement made available to Naija News about the meeting queried; what else should Nigeria do to protect human rights and Child Protection Act that the country is not doing presently?

He observed that the military sticks to all relevant domestic and international laws in the discharge of its duties just as President Buhari ordered.

4. More Trouble For Abba Kyari As PSC Sets Up Fresh Panel

The crisis involving the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, seems not to be ending anytime soon as the Police Service Commission has set up an in-house panel to investigate documents presented by the FBI against the decorated cop.

Recall that the super cop who was suspended by the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, was indicted by a United States District Court, which issued an arrest warrant.

The IGP after removing Kyari as the head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force, set up a panel headed by Joseph Egbunike, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police to investigate Kyari.

However, a fresh panel has been put in place by the Police Service Commission.

The panel will be headed by Barr. Tijani Mohammed, Director, Department of Police Discipline in the commission.

The panel was inaugurated by the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the commission, Alhaji Abubakar Ismaila.

5. Anambra 2021: INEC Finally Recognises Soludo As APGA Candidate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally recognised the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chukwuma Soludo, as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the forthcoming Anambra election.

Naija News had reported that a Federal High Court sitting in Awka had reinstated Soludo as the APGA candidate in the November 6 election.

However, a High Court sitting in Owerri threw out Soludo’s suit and ruled in favour of Michael Chukwuma Umeoji as the governorship candidate of the party.

But in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, the spokesman of the commission, Festus Okoye, said the commission has now replaced Umeoji’s name with Soludo in the new released governorship candidates list.

6. Atiku Gives Restructuring Another Name, Says More Nigerians Becoming ‘Biafrans’ Under Buhari

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on Thursday regretted that the calls for the restructuring of Nigeria have not been heeded by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, neither have they respected constitutional provisions on federal character.

He pointed out that even symbolic gestures that make ethnic groups feel a sense of belonging have been scorned by those at the helm of affairs, and the result is that “agitations that turned more groups into “Biafrans” have become even more strident and, in some cases, violent”.

Naija News reports that Atiku, who spoke in Abuja during the public presentation of a book titled: “Remaking Nigeria: Sixty Years, Sixty Voices”, used “fixing” of Nigeria as another name for restructuring.

“The fixing or restructuring will help in our nation-building project because it will help to foster a sense of nationhood out of our disparate groups, cultures, religions, and regions,” he said.

7. Taliban: Nigeria Winning The War Against Boko Haram – Lai Mohammed

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has proudly declared that Nigeria is winning the war against Boko Haram and other terrorists.

Citing the example of the Taliban in Afghanistan, Mohammed noted that ideological wars are not easy to fight and win but Nigeria is definitely having the upper hand and progress is being made.

He debunked claims that Nigeria is becoming a failed state due to the activities of bandits, kidnappers, and other criminals, submitting that some of the terrorists have been submitting to government troops.

According to him, the government is fully in charge and it would be totally wrong to tag Nigeria as a failed state.

8. Details Of Secondus Meeting With Obasanjo Emerge

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, has disclosed the details of his meeting with former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

The embattled chairman of the PDP noted that he met with the elder statesman to discuss the situation of the country.

Naija News had earlier reported that the PDP Chairman had a meeting with Obasanjo at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Secondus while addressing newsmen after the closed-door meeting said he visited Obasanjo to advise the present government and to tap from the former president’s wealth of experience.

9. Mohammed Fawehinmi Died Of COVID-19 – Family

The family of the late Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, has disclosed that its eldest son died of COVID-19 related complications.

Naija News had reported that Mohammed Fawehinmi, the eldest son of the late human rights lawyer, died at age 52 last week Wednesday after complaining of breathing difficulties.

At a press conference on Thursday, Mohammed’s younger brother, Saheed Fawehinmi, said his elder brother died of COVID-19 complications.

He noted that the family refused to reveal the cause of Mohammed’s death until the release of the autopsy result.

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