Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Tuesday, 1st February, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 1st February 2022

1. National Assembly Forwards Revised Electoral Bill To Buhari For Assent

The National Assembly has transmitted the revised Electoral Act Amendment Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

Naija News learned that the Clerk of the National Assembly, Olatunde Amos Ojo, forwarded the document to the president’s office in Aso Rock on Monday.

It was also gathered that the revised bill, which was passed by the lawmakers last week, is now with the President as Nigerians await the signing of the electoral bill ahead of the 2023 general elections.

In a statement, an aide to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, confirmed at the President has received the electoral bill.

Omoworare added that the transmission of the document is in line with section 58 (3) of the constitution.

2. Nigerian Army Troops Eliminate More Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorists In Borno, Yobe States

Troops of the Nigerian Army have carried out more successful operations against terrorists loyal to Boko Haram and the Islamic States of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The troops of Operation Hadin Kai in two different operations, eliminated scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Borno and Yobe States.

Confirming the development in a statement on Monday, the Army Public Relations Officer, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu said weapons and other items were also recovered from the terrorists.

He confirmed that the operations involved the heavy exchange of gunfire between the terrorists on one side and troops assisted by the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) on the other side.

3. Rochas Okorocha Officially Joins 2023 Presidential Race

Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has officially declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidency in Nigeria.

Naija News reports the Imo West Senator made his declaration on Monday at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

With his declaration, Okorocha joins the growing list of politicians who have openly declared interest in replacing President Muhammadu Buhari after he completes his tenure in 2023.

The 59-year-old former Governor seeks to contest on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on Monday, Okorocha promised to work for the unity and progress of Nigeria, create a conducive economic environment for businesses to grow and thrive as well as run an inclusive government.

He promised that if elected, he would make education free and compulsory, especially from primary to secondary school levels.

4. We Rehabilitated Refineries With N100bn In 2021 – NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has made a shocking revelation at the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting.

In its 2021 performance report submitted to the committee recently, the national oil firm said it spent N100 billion on the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries last year.

NNPC disclosed that N8.3 billion was spent every month in 2021 to revamp the moribund refineries in the country, adding that the refineries have a combined installed capacity of 445,000 barrels of oil per day.

Naija News report that the refineries managed by NNPC include Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), Kaduna Refining Production Company (KRPC) and Warri Refining Production Company (WRPC).

5. 2023 Presidency: Atiku Reportedly Set To Dump Peter Obi, Pick Wike As Running Mate

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar is reportedly considering dropping former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi in favour of another person as his running mate for the 2023 presidency.

According to reports, Atiku wants to choose Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike as his running mate should he clinch the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the 2023 presidency.

Atiku and Obi had contested together in 2019 as the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the PDP, Naija News reports.

But according to sources quoted by Business Day, apart from his charisma and intellectual capacity which made him popular with the people, Obi didn’t make too much financial contributions to the ticket.

The source claimed it is the belief in the Atiku camp that Wike can also attract voters from the southeast and bring meaningful financial contributions to political campaigns as well.

6. EFCC File Fraud Charges Against Okorocha Hours After Declaring Presidential Intention

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Monday, filed a 17-count charge before a federal high court in Abuja against the lawmaker representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha.

The anti-graft agency claimed that the former Governor of Imo State conspired with others, including a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and five companies, to steal N2.9 billion public funds.

Apart from Okorocha, other defendants are Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.

This is coming after Okorocha officially announced his intention to run in the 2023 general elections.

The Imo West Senator made his declaration on Monday at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Naija News reported.

7. Gov. Ganduje’s Critic, Mu’azu Magaji Remanded In Prison

A former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Kano State, Muazu Magaji has been remanded at a correctional centre in the state on the order of a Magistrate’s court sitting at Nomansland area.

A four-count charge has been filed against Magaji bordering on defamation of character, intentional insult, injurious falsehood and inciting disturbance against the state Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Magaji on Monday when brought before the magistrate, pleaded not guilty to all the charges said to be in contravention of Sections 392, 399 and 114 of the Administration of Criminal Justice of Kano State 1999.

The magistrate, Aminu Gabari, then ask the defendant whether he knew the meaning of defamation of character to which he answered no.

Gabari pointed to the part accusing Magaji of posting Ganduje’s picture on Facebook with a lady, which portrayed the governor of having extra-marital affairs but Magaji denied the allegations.

The Magistrate who objected to the bail application of the former commission ordered that he be remanded at a correctional centre until Thursday when the ruling will be delivered on the bail application.

8. Few APC Leaders Believe The Change Agenda – Salihu Lukman

The former Director-General of Progressives Governors Forum, Salihu Lukman, has called for leaders working to obstruct the February 26 convention of the All Progressives Congress to be sanctioned.

The APC chieftain made the call in a statement released on Sunday, as he charges the ruling party to return to the era when internal debates, negotiations, and agreements were respected.

He further stated that the party has derailed because President Muhammadu Buhari does not meddle in affairs.

Lukman accused some leaders in the party of abusing the trust of the president and the majority of party members.

He said, “This has damaged the profile of the APC to the point whereby, based on the conduct of leaders and some elected representatives, it is difficult to associate the APC with its founding vision of change.”

Lukman declared that the current APC is not that of 2013 to 2015 before it assumed power.

The APC chieftain added that apart from the President, there are very few elected leaders that are still committed to the change mandate.

9. 2023: Okorocha Opens Up On #EndSARS Movement, Says Nothing Like Police Brutality

Former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has said that there is no such thing as police brutality in Nigeria.

Naija News understands that the Nigerian lawmaker stated this during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday where he officially announced his 2023 presidential ambition.

According to him, police brutality is a situation of youths brutalizing youths, because the policemen accused of brutality are also young persons and their actions are out of frustration.

It could be recalled that there was an outrage in October 2020 after the youths took to the streets of various cities to protest over police brutality in Nigeria.

The protest tagged EndSARS shut down Nigeria for weeks as youths called for the reform of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF.

10. Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB Are Satanic, Worse Than Terrorists – Asari Dokubo

Former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo has said that the Southeast only observed the Sit-At-Home orders because of fear of being killed and not because they are loyal to the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

The former fighter said the leader of the proscribed group, Nnamdi Kanu and his team are satanic and are worst than terrorists.

Naija News reports that Dokubo bemoaned the continuous sit-at-home order by the outlawed group across the Southeast whenever Kanu is to appear before court proceedings.

Dokubo who spoke on Sunday in his Facebook live broadcast accused Kanu of being responsible for the closure of schools and businesses in the Southeast.

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