Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 20th April, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 20th April 2022

1. 2023: Osinbajo Meets Buhari Days After Declaration For Presidency

The Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday met with his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock.

The meeting is coming 10 days after the Vice President officially declared his intention to take over from Buhari at the end of his tenure.

According to presidential media aide, Bashor Ahmad who shared photos from the meeting, the Vice President provided briefings to President Buhari.

2. Two Officers Feared Dead As NAF Aircraft Crashes In Kaduna

No fewer than two pilots have died after aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force crashed in Kaduna on Tuesday evening.

It was gathered that the pilots died after the aircraft, which was a trainer aircraft, crashed.

The pilots, our correspondent learnt, were on a training session when the incident happened at the NAF base in Kaduna.

3. Even Buhari’s Wife Disagrees With His Policies – Kukah Replies Presidency

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah, on Tuesday claimed that the first lady of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari also agrees with what he said about her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kukah while speaking on Arise Tv said even Aisha disagrees with President Buhari on his policies.

He noted that he has nothing personal against President Buhari but he does not agree with his policies.

He further stated that he has great respect for the president, however, he had performed woefully in the delivery of his assignment as president.

4. FG Renames National Theatre After 46 Years Of Construction

The Federal Government has renamed the iconic National Theatre, Iganmu as the Lagos Creative and Entertainment Center.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known on Tuesday in Madrid, Spain.

Naija News reports that the iconic edifice was constructed in 1976 in preparation for the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) hosted in 1977.

Mohammed is in Spain to sign a bilateral agreement with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) on Nigeria’s hosting of the first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry.

The minister disclosed that the National Theatre which is under renovation at a cost of 100 million dollars, will host the event which would hold from November 14 to 17, 2022.

Mohammed stated that the renovation of the edifice is done under a partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee/Central Bank of Nigeria.

5. Top ISIS Leader, Ammar Bin-Umar Killed In Lake Chad

A top leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Ammar Bin-Umar, has been killed in the Lake Chad region during massive airstrikes.

Naija News understands that Bin-Umar was killed by troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in an attempt to run away from Lake Chad following the airstrikes.

According to Counter-Insurgency Expert, Zagazola Makama, the slain terrorist was among the top ISIS delegation sent to intervene in the prolonged fight for supremacy between Boko Haram and the ISWAP.

The expert asserted that Bin-Umar was also part of the ISIS envoys who came to oversee the establishment of Darul Quran in February 2022 in West Africa.

Makama said the coordinated airstrikes were carried out by the Nigerian Air Force in coordination with the MNJTF and the Nigerien Air Task Force on April 14, 2022, in Arinna, Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.

6. “Wait For The 10th National Assembly” – Senate Replies Afe Babalola On Call For 2023 Elections To Be Postponed

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday told legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) that his recommendations about postponing the 2023 general elections are not in line with modern realities.

The Senate through its spokesperson, Bashir Ajibola said Chief Babalola as a senior legal practitioner should understand that what he is asking for involves constitutional amendments and such takes time.

He added that Babalola should have made his views known when the ninth national assembly called for inputs from Nigerians on the ongoing constitutional review.

The Senate spokesperson stated that it is too late for the current lawmakers to take on such recommendations and therefore urged Babalola to wait till the 10th National Assembly come on board and present his views to them.

7. Details Of President Buhari’s Meeting With Uzodinma Emerge

The details of the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State have emerged.

Naija News reports that the President had on Tuesday met with Governor Uzodinma behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the governor said he was at the villa to invite the president to the commissioning of the Owerri-Orlu road and the Owerri– Okigwe road.

Uzodinma disclosed that President Buhari has graciously accepted to come to the South East state next month to commission the roads and other projects.

The governor added that he briefed the president on the security situation in his state and the efforts his government has made to contain the insecurity.

8. Kwankwaso Pays N30m For NNPP Presidential Form

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has officially joined the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Naija News reports that the former Minister of Defence on Tuesday paid the required N30m and obtained the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

NNPP’s National Chairman, Prof. Rufai Alkali and the National Organising Secretary, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi alongside other members of the National Working Committee received Kwankwaso at the party’s national secretariat.

Speaking after receiving his form, Kwankwaso slammed the ruling APC and PDP for failing Nigerians despite giving them the opportunity to change the country for good.

9. 2023: Ohanaeze Slams Oluwo After He Claimed Igbos Can’t Be Trusted With Nigeria’s Presidency

The Igbo socio-political organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has carpeted the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi over his claims that Nigerians would not vote for an Igbo president in 2023.

The group said as a traditional ruler, the Oluwo should be a father to all and not be the one stroking the fires of ethnicity in Nigeria through partisan politics.

Ohanaeze in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Alex Ogbonnia on Tuesday cautioned the monarch against sowing seeds of discord against the Igbo people in the race for the 2023 presidency and other general issues.

Naija News reports the group was responding to an earlier claim by the Oluwo who said he can’t trust any South easterner as his President.

He added in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Alli Ibraheem that no Nigerian from other zones will vote a south easterner as their President because no easterner can be trusted to be fair as the President of Nigeria as such a person may likely put regional interests above national interest.

But Ohanaeze has now cautioned the first-class traditional ruler against sponsoring hatred against the Igbos.

10. FCTA Locks Up Federal Ministry Of Works Building, Others In Abuja

Some buildings housing the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Character Commission, and other government agencies in Abuja have been sealed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Tuesday.

Naija News reports the buildings were sealed over the failure of the occupants to pay for waste management and other environmental services to the tune of about N10billion.

The services were provided by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) but the beneficiaries refused to pay for the services, forcing the FCTA into action.

The Director of AEPB, Mr Osilama Briamah made this known to newsmen during the sealing exercise conducted on Tuesday.

He explained that the board had tried to negotiate and discuss with the defaulters but did not get any positive response hence the need to take a drastic step.

Briamah added that they obtained the necessary court papers to carry out the exercise.

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