Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Friday, 7th January, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 7th January 2022

1. Age Is Telling On Me – President Buhari Claims

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday noted that he looks forward to finishing his tenure as age is telling on him.

Buhari made this claim while speaking in an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA on Thursday.

The president when asked about how he feels after celebrating his 79th birthday, said being president is hard work and that he looks forward to when his tenure would end in 2023.

According to Buhari, he has served Nigeria as a minister, governor and now president, adding that he hopes after his administration ends, Nigerians would acknowledge that he tried while in office.

2. US Govt Reacts As FG Plans To Deploy Super Tucano Jets Against Bandits

The government of the United States of America has insisted that human rights must be adhered to in the deployment of Super Tucano jets against bandits.

It stated that so far, it is satisfied in the way the jets have been deployed in the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP but similar respect for the rule of law and human rights must be obeyed now that the attention is shifting to bandits.

The position of the American government was made known on Thursday by the Press Attache, US Embassy, Jeanne Clark in reaction to the disclosure by Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami who stated on Tuesday that the federal government has obtained clearance to deploy the Super Tucano jets purchased last year against bandit terrorists causing unrest in the country.

Reacting to the statement, the US government said all agreements and laws guiding the sales of the fighter jets must be adhered to by the Nigerian government.

3. Nnamdi Kanu: You Lied, You’ve Interfered In Judiciary Process A Lot – SERAP Tells Buhari

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has disagreed with President Muhammadu Buhari over his claim that he does not interfere in judicial matters.

Naija News reports that President Buhari shattered the hope of some Igbo leaders pleading for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

In an interview with Channels Television aired on Wednesday night, Buhari vowed not to interfere in the running of the judiciary or its process.

He asked the pro-Biafra agitator to defend himself in court for spreading false information about Nigeria when he was in the United Kingdom.

But in a statement on Thursday, SERAP accused the President of lying to Nigerians about not interfering in the judicial process during the interview.

SERAP disclosed that Buhari government’s persistent failure to obey several court judgments obtained by SERAP was part of interfering in judiciary matters.

The organization, therefore, listed situations and events where the President had interfered in the judicial system.

4. ‘Rather Unfortunate’: Manufacturers Condemn Plans By FG To Tax Carbonated Drinks

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has disagreed with the federal government on its decision to introduce an excise duty of N10 per litre on all non-alcoholic, carbonated, and sweetened beverages.

The group which described the move as rather unfortunate said the long-term effect of the policy might not achieve the expected aim.

The Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir said the new tax regime might bring along with it job losses and the increased price of goods which will then be counter-productive adding that the masses may not be able to afford the new prices of the items.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has warned that the entire process and eventual effects might not have been well thought out by the government.

The group projected that the government might collect N81bn revenue from excise duty on carbonated drinks between 2022 and 2025, but lose N197bn within the same period from other taxes, such as Value Added Tax and Company Income Tax from the manufacturers of soft drinks.

This is aside from the job losses, salary reduction and effects on supply chain businesses that may surface along the way.

5. Jonathan Leads Representative Of Mali’s Coup Leader To Visit Buhari In Abuja

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, hosted the representative of the Mali transitional government, Col. Abdoulaye Maiga at the State House in Abuja.

Maiga, who is the Malian Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation was led to the State House by former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan who is a special ECOWAS envoy to Mali following the military take over of power in the West African Nation.

Naija News further reports that Maiga represents and bears information from the head of the Mali transitional president, Col. Assimi Goïta who led the coup that removed the democratically elected government in the country from office in May 2021.

Receiving the delegation at the Villa in Abuja, President Buhari charged the transitional government to ensure the speedy return of democratic rule in Mali.

The President further pledged Nigeria’s support to Mali in compliance with the rules set by ECOWAS.

6. ‘I Was Misquoted’ – Ladoja Denies Backing Balogun As Olubadan-Elect

Former Governor of Oyo State and Osi Olubadan, Rasheed Ladoja has denied supporting the nomination of Senator Lekan Balogun as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Ladoja was reacting to reports that he had backed the decision of the Ibadan kingmakers to endorse the nomination of High Chief Balogun as the next Olubadan.

Naija News reports that Ladoja was absent at the meeting of the Olubadan-in-Council to endorse Balogun held on Wednesday at the Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the state capital.

The former governor refuted reports saying that the Otun Olubadan will be the next Olubadan, claiming that he was misquoted.

Ladoja also denied his involvement in the letter written by the former Commissioner for Justice in the state, Michael Lana, opposing Balogun’s imminent ascension to the throne.

7. Is Mr. President Not Aware That Nigerians Are Dying From His Misrule?: Ortom Tackles Buhari Again

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has accused the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari of inflicting untold hardship on Nigerians.

Ortom in a statement on Thursday through his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur claimed Nigerians have suffered hunger and misery since the advent of the Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in 2015.

He added that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is prepared to save Nigerians from the woes of the APC administration in 2023 urging the people to vote for the Umbrella party.

In the same statement, the Benue State Governor also called on President Buhari to declare the Miyetti Allah group as a terrorist organization.

He said both the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) and the Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM) have caused chaos in Benue and many other parts of the country.

Ortom added that as a way to curb their excesses, the anti-open grazing law has been activated in Benue State and will remain in force as part of measures to resolve the farmers/herdsmen clashes in the state.

8. Buhari Govt Denies Plan To Sack Federal Workers

The Muhammdu Buhari Government has denied plans to relieve some federal workers of their jobs.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, made the denial on Thursday in an interview on an NTA programme, Good Morning Nigeria.

Naija News reports that Ahmed was reacting to reports that the government was set to reduce its workforce in order to save funds.

Reports emerged on Wednesday that the minister said the government is working on an “exit package” to be paid to those that will be affected.

Debunking the reports, Ahmed said President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that no civil servant should be dismissed, adding that he has been consistent in those directives.

The minister added that the President has directed salaries and pensions be paid timely and that no worker should be owed.

9. Ohanaeze Reacts As Buhari Vows Not To Release Nnamdi Kanu

Apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s dismissal of the plea to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

In an interview with Channels Television aired on Wednesday night, Buhari asked Kanu to defend himself in court for spreading false information about Nigeria when he was in the United Kingdom.

The president insisted that he would not interfere in any judicial process relating to the pro-Biafra agitator, thereby shattering the hope of some individuals calling for Kanu’s release.

Reacting to the new development, Ohanaeze spokesman, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, said the organization will meet with the President to get a clear understanding of his statement.

He insisted that a political solution remains the only way to Kanu’s issue, asking the president to reconsider his new stance on the IPOB leader.

10. JAMB Warns Public Against Fake UTME 2022 Forms, Fraudsters

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned the public not to fall prey to fraudsters and rumour mongers.

Naija News reports that the board gave the advice on a weekly Bulletin of the Office of the Registrar, where it said that it has yet to begin the sale of the 2022 Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms.

The board also noted that it has specified channels of communicating to the public and has not appointed any persons or group of persons to handle the sale of the forms.

It added that the public would be duly informed on the commencement of the exercise via appropriate media platforms once it was done planning the process.

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