Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 26th January, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 26th January 2022

1. Fuel Subsidy Will Last Another 18 Months – FG

The federal government on Tuesday announced that the subsidy of fuel will last for another 18months, pending when an amendment in the Petroleum Industry Act will be made available to the National Assembly.

The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, Naija News reports.

The Minister while briefing State House Correspondents in Abuja, said President Muhammadu Buhari was informed of the negative implications of total subsidy removal and has graciously approved that the time frame be extended.

The government will within the time frame put necessary palliatives in place, the minister noted.

Sylva explained further that the rehabilitation of refineries are ongoing, while Dangote refinery is almost coming on stream.

2. My Govt Will Use 5G To Fight Boko Haram, Bandits – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says his government will use the Fifth Generation (5G) network to tackle the activities of Boko Haram terrorists, bandits and other criminals in the country.

President Buhari ordered all security agencies to take full advantage of 5G technology and deploy the network to address the various security challenges facing the country.

The Nigerian leader made this known on Tuesday during the launching of the National Policy on 5G for Nigeria’s Digital Economy in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

In a statement on Tuesday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, President Buhari said the government will deploy 5G to boost the economy, enhance connectivity, improve healthcare, support education and boost agriculture.

He, however, allayed fears over the health safety of 5G, affirming that such issues have been ”effectively addressed” in developing a policy that suits the country.

3. NLC Suspends Planned Nationwide Protest Over Subsidy

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday announced the suspension of its nationwide protest over fuel subsidy removal.

Naija News reports that the decision was reached by the Labour union at its National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday morning.

According to NLC, the decision was reached following the suspension of the proposal to stop the subsidy on petrol by the Federal Government.

President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba announced the decision at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

Wabba further stated that members of the NLC who had been mobilized would be demobilized following the decision to suspend the protest.

4. NAF Bombs ISWAP Commander, Mallam Ari To Death With Tucano Jets

The Nigerian Military has eliminated a top commander of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), Mallam Ari at Kirta Wulgo in Borno State.

The ISWAP commander and others with him were eliminated by bomb airstrikes from the Super Tucano jets of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) deployed under Operation Hadin Kai.

A senior military officer quoted by PR Nigeria revealed that the airstrikes killed up to forty terrorists who were gathered along the fringes of Northeast Kirta Wulgo.

The source said Ari until his death was in charge of Kirta Wulgo but was taken out by the airstrike along with foreign mercenaries fabricating Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) for the terrorists.

NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet also confirmed the airstrike at Kirta Wulgo but remained silent on the number as well as identities of those killed.

5. National Assembly Passes Harmonized Electoral Act Amendment Bill

The National Assembly on Tuesday passed the harmonized version of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

Naija News reports that the electoral bill was harmonized after the Senate and House of Representatives agreed to amend clause 84 of the document.

The harmonized version which was passed by the Senate during the plenary on Tuesday includes direct, indirect, and consensus methods of nominating candidates by political parties.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan said both chambers have agreed in the harmonized bill to give a clear and sufficient definition for each mode of primaries and how they are to be conducted.

He added that for the consensus method, the two chambers have produced a very clear definition of how a consensus candidate will emerge.

The Senate President, however, expressed hope that President Muhammadu Buhari would sign the bill when presented to him for assent.

6. CBN Retains Cash Reserve Ratio At 27.5%

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced that it is retaining the Cash Reserve Ration at 27.5 percent.

Naija News reports that this was made known by the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

He disclosed this during a briefing after the first Monetary Policy Committee meeting for the year held in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to the CBN, the Monetary Policy Rate at 11.5 percent will remain unchanged.

Announcing the committee’s decision, Emefiele said the Liquidity Ratio at 30 percent will also be retained.

7. Fresh Report Ranks Nigeria 154 Out Of 180 Countries On Corruption Index List

Nigeria has been ranked 154 out of 180 countries on the 2021 global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) conducted by Transparency International (TI).

The report which was released on Tuesday in Abuja by Transparency International’s representative in Nigeria, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) said the report is based on a methodological study.

Naija News reports that according to the report, Nigeria scored 24 out of a total possible point of 100 in the 2021 CPI.

Speaking on the development, CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani stated that claims by the government to be fighting corruption has not yielded much result as ordinary processes such as passport application, job opportunities, etc are almost impossible to do without bribing officials.

Rafsanjani added that the endemic corruption is part of what is causing underdevelopment in Nigeria including insecurity, high unemployment, and other vices.

8. Gen Abdulsalami Knows About MKO Abiola’s Death – Family

Former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar has been called out by the family of late MKO Abiola over his comment on the death of the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election.

Recall that Abdulsalami in an interview with Daily Trust stated that Abiola was not killed but died after falling ill.

One of the children of Abiola, Jamiu claimed that Abdulsalami denied their father proper medical attention which led to his death.

Jamiu in his reaction to the statement of the former head of state said, “This incident happened over 24 years ago. Gen Abdulsalami is much older. I used to think that age would come with more honesty, but this is not the case here.

9. Lagos Govt Suspends NURTW Operations In Idumota

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led government of Lagos State has suspended the operations of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the Idumota area of the state.

Lagos State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, confirmed the suspension on Tuesday.

Naija News reports that the decision was coming shortly after the deadly clash recorded in the area.

Recall that Lagos State Rapid Response Squad on Monday arrested popular members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state, Kunle Poly and Sego.

Sego whose real name is Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle is the NURTW Lagos Treasurer while Kunle Poly whose real name is Alhaji Abdulazeez Adekunle Lawal is the Chairman Lagos Island ‘B’ of the group

Naija News reports that the duo were arrested by the RSS led by State Commander, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi.

10. “It Has Now Become A Cartel” – Wike Gets Serious Warning About Dealing With Illegal Oil Refinery Operators

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has been urged to tread with caution in dealing with operators of illegal refineries in the state and the region as a whole.

The Governor was admonished to work with the federal government and other relevant stakeholders in resolving the issues as the illegal refinery operators have become a cartel and any wrong move can open up the state to more violence if the militants go back to bearing arms.

Wike was however commended for his determination to get a solution to the challenge of illegal oil bunkering but advised to be strategic in his approach.

A former Bayelsa Commissioner and ex-President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri made the appeal.

It will be recalled in the effort to curb the activities of illegal oil bunkering causing soot in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike recently ordered a major clamp down on the operators and also destroyed some of their discovered sites.

He also declared nineteen illegal oil refinery owners and operators wanted, urging them to hand themselves over to security operatives.

While commending the steps so far taken by the Governor, Eradiri cautioned Wike against worsening the situation in an effort to address the problem.

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