Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Monday, 25th April, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 25th April 2022

1. Buhari Reacts To Imo Fire Which Killed Over 100 Persons, Issues Directive

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed security agencies to clamp down more on owners and operators of illegal refineries in the country.

The President issued the directive in a statement on Sunday through his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu titled “Imo ‘Refinery’ deaths, a national disaster” in which he reacted to the Imo refinery fire.

Naija News recalls about 100 persons lost their lives in an illegal crude oil refining site at Abaezi forest, in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State while another one hundred and fifty others reportedly suffered grave injuries.

Updates on the development has it that the death toll has increased to 109 with many others still unaccounted for.

Reacting to the sad incident, Buhari described it as a national disaster and a catastrophe.

2. Buhari Govt’s Opponents, Including Bishop Kukah Reason For Delayed Delivery Of Tucano Jets – Presidency

Opponents of the Muhammadu Buhari led-administration, including the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, have been accused of lobbying the United States Congress, resulting in the delayed arrival of 12 Super Tucano jet fighters.

In a statement on Sunday by Buhari’s Special Assistant of Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the jets are needed to boost the Nigerian Military in the fight against insecurity.

The Presidency, in its statement titled ‘Predicting Nigeria’s collapse is a perennial pursuit of US think tanks and policy experts,’ accused the present administration’s enemies of heightening the division between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria.

While slamming the US policy experts and think tanks for predicting Nigeria’s collapse, the Presidency also accused the US of being inconsistent with its support to Nigeria in fighting insecurity.

3. ISWAP Claims Responsibility For Killing Of Police Officers In Kogi

The Islamic State in West African Province, ISWAP has claimed responsibility for the gruesome killing of officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Kogi State on Saturday, April 23, 2022.

Naija News had reported earlier that unknown gunmen numbering about six attacked a police station in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State yesterday.

The attack according to reports, happened around 2 a.m in the morning.

The terrorists are said to have attacked the police station from different angles, shooting at officers on duty.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP William Aya, has since confirmed the incident.

An emerging report, however, on Sunday from the Voice of America said ISWAP released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack.

4. 2023: Saraki Reacts To Northern Elders’ Decision On PDP Consensus Presidential Aspirants

Former president of the Nigerian Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has lauded the decision of the Northern Elders’ Forum to endorse him and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consensus presidential aspirants in the north.

Naija News reports that the NEF ahead of the 2023 general election on Friday, confirmed Saraki and Governor Mohammed as the consensus aspirants for PDP.

The NEF is said to have followed some processes before concluding on the duo ahead of the 2023 presidential primaries of the party.

Though Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and some other stakeholders have since rejected NEF’s decision claiming it was not based on the principle of equity and transparency, Naija News reports.

Reacting, however, to his name on the consensus list, Saraki in a short message on Sunday through his media adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the process of arriving at the Northern PDP consensus aspirants was pain-staking, thorough and transparent.

5. NIN-SIM Linkage: Buhari Dragged To Court Over Blocked Lines

President Muhammadu Buhari has been dragged to court over his failure to order the unblocking of millions of unregistered lines.

Naija News recalls that the Federal Government had directed telecommunications companies to block outgoing calls on all lines not linked to the National Identification Number (NIN) as of March 31.

Following the directive, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government to unblock millions of unregistered lines.

In the suit number FHC/L/CS/711/2022 filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP sought an order to set aside the directive by Buhari to telecommunications companies to block outgoing calls on all unlinked lines without due process of law.

SERAP joined the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his Communications and Digital Economy counterpart, Isa Pantami as respondents in the suit.

6. Makinde Visits Alaafin’s Palace Over Oba Adeyemi’s Death

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Sunday visited the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, to condole with the family of the late monarch.

Naija News reports that the governor arrived at the palace following the death of the prominent traditional ruler on Friday at the Afe Babalola Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti.

Makinde was welcomed to the palace by the Bashorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Ayoola, eldest son of the late monarch, Prince Babatunde Adeyemo.

During the governor’s visit, special prayers were offered for the repose of the soul of the deceased in Christian, Muslim and traditional ways.

7. PDP To APC: Dogara Appeals Court Judgment, Vows To Reclaim Seat

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has reacted to his sack by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday.

Naija News had reported that the court sacked the former speaker over his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a ruling, Justice D.U. Okoronkwo declared the seat occupied by the lawmaker representing Tafawa Balewa/ Bogoro/Dass federal constituency in the Green Chamber vacant following his defection.

Reacting to the judgment, Dogara rejected the court judgment that sacked him from office and vowed to reclaim his seat by appealing the ruling.

Speaking through his counsel, J.J. Usman (SAN), the former speaker said that the decision of the court that there is evidence of defection to APC is not substantiated by any shred of evidence.

8. Alaafin: Gbajabiamila’s Installation As Aare Baasofin Suspended

A planned chieftaincy title installation ceremony for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has been put on hold till further notice.

Naija News understands that the lawmaker was to be installed as the Aare Baasofin of Yorubaland (the Supreme Lawmaker of Yorubaland) in May 2022.

However, the installation event has been suspended following the demise of a top Yoruba monarch, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III.

Alaafin of Oyo had died on Friday night at the age of 83, Naija News reports.

Oba Adeyemi died after serving as Alaafin of Oyo for 52 years. The respected monarch has been mourned by top political and traditional rulers across the country, including the entire Yoruba race.

In this regard, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Gbajabiamila revealed in a statement on Sunday that the chieftaincy title conferment ceremony earlier scheduled for Friday, May 27, 2022, would no longer hold as planned.

9. Presidency: Moghalu Decides On Dumping ADC For Either APC, PDP

Nigerian political economist, Kingsley Moghalu has stated categorically that he remains a member and 2023 presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress, Naija News reports.

Moghalu in a Twitter thread on Sunday morning, April 24, 2023, revealed that he has been consulted by both the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to pick their tickets for the 2023 presidential election.

The economist has, however, turned down the offers, pledging his allegiance to the ADC.

Moghalu revealed in the opening of his thread that he has also been wooed by a Coalition of 57 Northern Youth Support Groups under the leadership of the Arewa Youth Assembly to contest the 2023 presidential under the umbrella of the APC.

10. 2023: Details Of Aisha Buhari’s Meeting With Presidential Aspirants Emerge

The details of the meeting between the First Lady, Aisha Buhari and some presidential aspirants at the State House have emerged.

Naija News learned that Mrs Buhari had asked the presidential aspirants to choose women as their running mates ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The First Lady said the purpose of inviting the presidential hopefuls to dinner at the Presidential Villa was to solicit their cooperation and support for more women’s involvement in governance.

She spoke on Saturday night when she hosted presidential aspirants from various political parties to a Ramadan (Iftar) breaking of fast at the State House, Abuja.

The wife of the President urged political parties to give women the chance to contest elections for various elective positions across the country, adding that fair play for women in politics is important.

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