Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Tuesday, 7th December, 2021

1. Omicron: Your Decision To Slam Travel Ban On Nigeria Unjust, Unfair, Discriminatory, Not Based On Science – FG Knocks UK Govt

The federal government has accused the United Kingdom of unjust, unfair, punitive, indefensible, and discriminatory behaviour over its decision to slam a travel ban on Nigeria due to discovered cases of COVID-19 Omicron cases.

The federal government through the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the step taken by the UK government is not based on science as Nigeria does not belong on the red list of any country.

The Minister who made the position known while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday gave a hint that the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) will also take a retaliatory decision on the matter soon.

Mohammed however argued that the cases didn’t originate from Nigeria, hence it was wrong of the UK government and other countries to slam any form of restriction or travel ban on Nigeria.

He further expressed optimism that the UK and other governments that have taken similar steps will rescind their decisions.

2. Troops Discover Locally Made Bombs Allegedly Planted In The Middle Of Orlu-Owerri Road By IPOB/ESN Members

Troops of the Nigerian Army have discovered and disarmed four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on the Orlu-Owerri road in Imo State.

The IEDs were allegedly planted by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its security arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

A statement on Monday signed and made available to Naija News by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu said that the bombs were designed to harm unsuspecting motorists and other road users.

He however added that the troops who were on a reinforcement mission to Mgbidi/Awo Mmama detected the IEDs and successfully disabled them without any casualties.

3. ‘We Have Enough’ – FG Denies Shortage Of COVID-19 Vaccines

Amidst the detection of the new Omicron variant of Coronavirus in Nigeria, the Federal Government has denied claims that the country has a shortage of the COVID-19 vaccines for its citizens.

Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, made this disclosure at the National COVID-19 summit in Abuja on Monday.

Mustapha stated that Nigeria has invested in enough vaccines which can help protect the citizens against the dreaded virus.

The SGF submitted that there are enough vaccines that can be administered to 70% of the country’s population before the end of 2022, adding that the vaccines are effective and safe to use.

4. FG Faults Report Of ISWAP Moving N18bn Through Nigerian Banks

The Federal Government has faulted a report that the Islamic State in West African Province (ISWAP) fighters moved N18 billion through some banks and financial institutions in the country.

Naija News reports that the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) spokesman, Ahmed Dikko, gave the denial in a statement on Monday.

Dikko was reacting to the 2021 mutual evaluation report released on Sunday by the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa.

In the report, the body had alleged that ISWAP fighters generated about N18 billion from trading and taxing communities yearly in the Lake Chad region, tagging such funds as illicit.

The body established by ECOWAS to check the flow of illicit funds, added that the Nigerian government failed to seize the assets of convicted terrorists as demanded in the global anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regulations.

Reacting to the report, NFIU spokesman described the report released by the body as stale and irrelevant, adding that the report does not reflect current reality.

Dikko asserted that all funding of terrorism from all sections of the country is being evidently analyzed and reported to all relevant authorities according to law.

5. Nigeria’s Foreign Trade Increased To N13.3 Trillion In Q3 – NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics has disclosed that Nigeria’s total foreign trade rose to N13.3 trillion in the third quarter of the year.

Naija News reports that this was disclosed on Monday by the Statistician-General of the Federation, Simon Harry, during a press briefing on the Q3 Foreign Trade Report held in Abuja.

According to Harry, the N13.3 trillion trade comprises N8.2 trillion imports and N5.1 trillion exports, resulting in a trade deficit of N3.03 trillion.

The NBS boss stated that total imports expenditure rose by N1.3 trillion from N6.95 trillion recorded in the second quarter of 2021.

He stated that the rise in imports was driven majorly by an increase in the importation of commodities such as motor spirits (N1.1 trillion), Gas Oil (N225.6 billion), imported motorcycles and cycles, and CKD valued at N116.3 billion from N94.7 billion, respectively.

6. Strike: ASUU To Decide Fate Of Nigerian Students Within 24 Hours

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it will make its decision known in the next 24 hours over the failure of the Federal Government to meet its demand.

Speaking with Vanguard on Monday, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, berated the government for failing to meet its demands before the expiration of its ultimatum on Sunday.

The ASUU chairman asserted that the principal officers of the union met on Sunday and decided to meet with various branches across the federation.

Onosodoke stated that the union will make its position known whether to embark on strike after meeting with state union leaders within the next 24 to 48 hours.

He revealed that the consultation with various branches across the federation is part of the union’s laid-down rules.

7. We’re Satisfied With Electoral Amendment Bill – INEC Tells Buhari

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed satisfaction with the electoral amendment bill transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari recently by the National Assembly.

Recall that the President had on November 29 sought the advice of INEC and other critical stakeholders regarding the electoral amendment act.

In the letter sent through his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, President Buhari asked the Chairman of the electoral body, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, to give his expert opinion on the contentious bill.

Two major amendments in the bill are the compulsory use of direct primaries by political parties to choose candidates for election as well as the provision to allow INEC to transmit election results electronically or decide otherwise.

However, a source in the Presidency told TheCable that INEC has asked the President to sign the electoral bill as amended by the National Assembly.

The source said that the electoral body said it is satisfied with the bill, adding that the provisions in the bill would strengthen the electoral process and make future elections more credible.

8. Boko Haram, ISWAP Activities Have Been Seriously Curtailed – Defence Minister

The Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd), has disclosed that the Nigerian military has seriously curtailed the activities of Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) in the North-East.

Magashi stated that the success recorded was in adherence to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to the nation’s service chiefs during a recent meeting.

Naija News reports that the minister made this disclosure at the 2021 Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference in Abuja on Monday.

He said that the activities of the insurgents have been reduced to the barest minimum, adding that peace is gradually being restored to all the troubled areas in the country.

Magashi expressed confidence in the ability of the military to wipe out the terrorists, urging the troops to continue to step their game in the fight against insurgency.

9. Mai Mala Buni Caretaker Committee To Take Decision On Kano APC Crisis

The National Leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is yet to receive the certified true copy of the court judgement relating to the leadership crisis in the Kano State chapter of the party.

This was made known on Monday by the National Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) Senator John James Akpanudoedehe.

He added however that they have applied for a copy of the judgment which will then enable them to take appropriate and informed actions.

Naija News reports that the APC in Kano State has been embroiled in a leadership tussle which has factionalized the party, eventually resulting in the conduct of parallel primaries.

The leadership crisis took a new turn last Tuesday when the congresses of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje‘s faction of the All Progressives Congress in Kano State was nullified by an Abuja High Court.

Reacting to the development during a chat with newsmen on Monday, Akpanudoedehe said the national leadership will not rush into a decision on the matter yet but will study the judgment and then take necessary action thereafter.

10. Omicron: Nigeria Should Also Place UK, Others On Travel Ban – Moghalu

Former presidential candidate, Kingsley Moghalu has asked the Nigerian government to place the United Kingdom and other western countries on a travel ban.

Naija News had reported that the British government had on Saturday banned all flights from Nigeria following the three cases of the Omicron Variant detected in the country.

The UK also suspended all pending visa applications in Nigeria due to the ban on flights from the West African country.

Reacting to the decision of the British government, the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration described the move as disappointing and ‘ill-advised’.

But in a post on his social media page on Monday, Moghalu urged Nigeria and other African countries to ban flights from the UK and other foreign nations that have blacklisted them due to the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

The former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria admonished African leaders to protect the dignity of their countries and stop begging for foreign assistance in order to fight the pandemic.

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