Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 22nd January, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Saturday, 22nd January 2022.

Showboating With Paddy Rice Pyramids In Abuja

By pleading patience from Nigerians over the sky-high price of rice during the launch of the “sky-high” rice pyramids in Abuja on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari and his speechwriters must have sensed that they were putting the cart before the horse with the photo-up and that Nigerians were not moved. Naija News expects that before this showboating, the commodity should have been made widely available and affordable. Indeed, the logistics incurred as a result of the unveiling ceremony would have been more useful if spent on processing the paddy and ensuring seamless distribution to Nigerians.

AMCON Takes Over IBEDC

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC Ltd has been taken over by The Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON.

Naija News reports that the development is coming a day after Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), apprehended AMCON Managing Director, Ahmed Kuru.

Kuru was reportedly invited to the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja on Thursday over alleged assets diversion and selling of seized assets to cronies at below value prices.

2023: Kalu Reveals Why He Decided To Contest Against Tinubu

Former Governor of Abia State and the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, has revealed why he decided to contest in the 2023 presidential election.

Kalu on Friday disclosed that he decided to contest in the general elections after leaders from the six geopolitical zones approached him to run.

The lawmaker stated this after he had earlier told other presidential aspirants like the former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, former Senate President, Pius Anyim and Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, that he won’t contest.

IGP Baba Appoints Abiodun Alabi As New Lagos Police Commissioner

The Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Usman Baba, has appointed Abiodun Alabi as the new Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

Naija News reports Alabi will take over the leadership of the state Police Command from the immediate past commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, on January 24, 2022. Alabi was the former Bauchi State Commissioner of Police.

In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, the new police commissioner is due for retirement on December 31, 2024.

Bayelsa Commissioner Abducted By Unknown Gunmen

The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Otokito Federal Oparmiola, has been reportedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

Naija News learned that Oparmiola was abducted from his room around 11 pm on Thursday during an invasion of his residence at Otuokpoti community, Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

The commissioner was, however, whisked away to an unknown destination.

Kano Govt Shut Down School Where Hanifa Was Buried

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje-led government has ordered the closure of a private school, Noble Kids Academy, where the body of the abducted five-year-old girl, Hanifa Abubakar, was buried by the suspects.

The affected school is located in Kwanar Dakata, in the Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The development was announced by the Commissioner for Education, Muhammad Kiru, in a statement released on Friday.

Ortom To Buhari: Everything Is In Bad Shape Under Your Government

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has berated the achievements of the All Progressive Congress, APC, since it took over the government from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2015.

According to him, the security architecture of the country, the economy and everything are in bad shape under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

Naija News understands that Ortom made the assertion against the president in his remark shortly after signing the state’s amended grazing bill into law at the government house in Makurdi.

‘Why Nigerians Want Goodluck Jonathan Back’

A former Commissioner for Education in Akwa Ibom State, Moses Essien, has claimed Nigerians want Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to return as president in 2023.

Essien, who is the national coordinator of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, said the former president was fair to all region in the country.

Naija News reports that he made this known in a statement to newsmen on Thursday.

Biafra: ‘Nigerian Army Had Plan To Terminate Nnamdi Kanu’s Life’ – Abia Court

The Nigerian Army has been accused by the Abia State High Court of attempting to terminate the life of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Justice Benson Anya in his ruling stated that the Nigerian Army set out as “pythons” to terminate Kanu’s life.

Recall that operatives of the Nigerian Army in 2017 stormed the residence of the IPOB leader in Afaraukwu, Abia State.

2023: Gbajabiamila Introduced Direct Primary To Help Someone’s Ambition – Na’Allah

A popular Nigerian Senator, Bala Ibn Na’Allah has claimed that the compulsory direct primary mode of election in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill was inserted “to favour someone”.

The lawmaker representing Kebbi South Senatorial District in the National Assembly made the claim during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday.

Na’Allah insinuated that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, introduced the direct primary into the electoral bill to favour the presidential ambition of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.