Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 2nd February, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 2nd February 2022

1. 2023: House Of Reps To Increase Minimum Qualification For President

The House of Representatives has begun moves to raise the minimum educational qualification for election into the office of the President.

Naija News reports that the Green Chamber made the moves on Monday after a bill seeking to increase the minimum education qualification for elective positions passed first reading.

The bill sponsored by Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga (APC-Ogun) also seeks to raise the minimum qualification for election as a governor, member of the State and National Assembly to at least a University degree level or its equivalent.

It was learned that the bill will address Section 131 (d) of the 1999 constitution which states that “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent”.

However, it is understood that for that section of the constitution to be amended, it must be supported by 24 States Houses of Assembly.

2. Obasanjo Reveals Next Step After Attack On Farm

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has condemned the burning of his 2,420 hectares of farmland at Howe in Aliade area of Gwer East Local Government of Benue State, over the weekend.

Recall that Naija News earlier reported that the farm might have been set on fire by youths to express their grievances for not paying compensation for the land.

Reacting to the incident, the 84-year-old leader stated that it was a bad development and he would make sure the arsonists were fished out by security agents.

His Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi made this known in a statement titled, ‘Obasanjo condemns burning of farm in Benue’ on Tuesday

The statement revealed that the local and state government were working hand-in-hand with security agencies with the aim of bringing the perpetrators to book.

3. 2023: Wike Breaks Silence On Running Alongside Atiku

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has distanced himself from the report that he has been chosen as the running mate of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.

Wike on Tuesday while charging Nigerians not to believe the report, noted that the South is yet to release a statement on the zoning of the presidential ticket of the PDP.

There had been reports that the Rivers State Governor has been selected to run alongside Atiku.

He further stated that the region can’t be seen as a liability, adding that when the South decides, the whole world will know that “we are not joking”.

Wike stated this during an interactive session with some stakeholders at the Government House Port Harcourt.

4. 1,192 People Killed, 3,348 Kidnapped In 2021 – Kaduna Govt

The Kaduna State government has disclosed the number of residents killed and those kidnapped in the year 2021.

In a security situation report released on Tuesday, the state government said a total number of 1,192 people were killed by bandits and 3,348 abducted across the state last year.

Naija News reports that the figures were made known after the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, presented the report from January to December 2021 to Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Aruwan disclosed that 1,038 men, 104 women, and 50 minors were killed by bandits and terrorists in the state in the year under review.

The commissioner said Kaduna Central Senatorial District recorded 720 deaths from banditry, communal clashes, violent attacks and reprisal attack while Southern Kaduna Senatorial District accounted for 406 deaths due to communal clashes alongside banditry.

In his remarks, Governor El-Rufai called on the Federal Government to create a Theatre Command similar to the situation in the North East to confront the insurgency that affected five states in North West.

5. 2023: Atiku Visits IBB In Minna, Reveals When He’ll Declare Presidential Ambition

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday visited former military president, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) at his Uphill residence in Minna, Niger State.

Naija News reports the two leaders held a closed-door meeting which lasted for about one hour.

Atiku later visited the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting with Governor Bello, Atiku said he would declare his 2023 presidential ambition at the appropriate time but was only in the state on a courtesy call.

He added that he was in Niger to commiserate with the Governor over the recent killings in various communities in the state.

6. Buhari Meets Lawan Behind Closed-Door In Aso Rock

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed-door with Senate President Ahmad Lawan inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Naija News reports that the meeting is the first between the leaders after the National Assembly sent the revised Electoral Act Amendment Bill to the President for assent on Monday.

Recall that the Senate and House of Representatives passed the revised electoral bill which includes the direct, indirect and consensus mode of elections.

Following the passage, the National Assembly Clerk, Olatunde Amos Ojo, forwarded the document to the president’s office in Aso Rock.

7. Nigeria Will Borrow From Europe Since China No Longer Assists – Amaechi

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has said he is surprised to see how Nigerians do complain about money borrowed from China for capital projects.

According to the minister, Nigeria has borrowed only a little money from China when compared with other countries.

Naija News reports that the minister said this during an interview with Guardian.

Amaechi blamed the delays in major projects, including railways, on the inability of the Chinese government to fund them.

He said the government has commenced a search for loan offers in Europe since the Chinese have refused to continue funding Nigerian projects.

Amaechi expressed hope that Nigeria could get loans from Europe to complete existing projects in the country.

8. Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu Is Smart, IPOB Disrespected Me During My Tenure – Okorocha Declares

Imo West Senator, Rochas Okorocha says the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) disrespected him during his tenure as the Imo State Governor.

Okorocha added that the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu is a smart man who took advantage of the frustration and anger of Igbos against the government to push his agenda for Biafra by convincing them that others hate them.

He added that IPOB is a controversial group and many of those who are part of the group are disgruntled persons looking for relevance and justice.

Naija News reports the presidential aspirant made the submission during an interview with Arise TV in which he stated that most members of IPOB have already been frustrated by the system and therefore became easy targets for IPOB.

He made the submission while speaking on his position on IPOB’s secessionist agitation and demand for an independent Biafra.

9. Senate Approves Upgrade Of Offa Poly To University

The Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State has been approved to be upgraded to a university.

Naija News understands that the development came to be after the Senate on Tuesday passed the Federal Universities of Technology Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

The passage of the FUTA (Amendment) bill automatically gives consent for the upgrade of the 1992 established institutions which offers mainly the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma respectively.

The new bill approval has now launched the Offa Poly to a full-fledged Degree awarding the Federal University of Technology.

The Senate also on Tuesday gave approval for the establishment of the School of Mines and Geological Studies, Guyuk.

10. 2023: Abandon Your Presidential Ambition, Clark Tells Atiku, Saraki, Others

Elder statesman, Edwin Clark has advised presidential aspirants from the North to jettison their ambition and support a Southern presidency.

Naija News reports that the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) made this known in a statement issued on Monday.

Clark particularly advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, and other PDP aspirants from the North to reconsider their bid to become President in 2023 in the interest of peace and unity.

He added that the zoning of the 2023 presidency to the North will invite chaos and further lead to the disintegration of the country, stressing that it is time the South produces Buhari’s successor.

Clark argued that the concept of zoning is not written in the constitution, but the process is in the interest of the country’s unity.

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