Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 21st July, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 21st July 2022

1. Blackout Looms As National Grid Collapses Again

The National Electricity power grid collapsed for the seventh time in 2022 on Wednesday.

Reports obtained by Naija News confirmed that the grid crashed after a fault, throwing the entire country into a blackout.

It was reported by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company that the grid went down at about 11:27 am earlier today (Wednesday).

“Dear customers, we regret to inform you of a system collapse on the national grid at precisely 11:27 am today, Wednesday, July 20. We are in talks with the Transmission Company of Nigeria to ascertain the cause of the collapse and a possible restoration timeline.

“We will keep you updated on the situation,” the Disco company announced this on its social media page.

2. ASUU: NLC Planned Protest Unlawful – Buhari Govt

The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has condemned the planned two-day nationwide protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in support of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other university-based unions.

Naija News had earlier reported that the NLC had fixed July 26 and 27 to embark on a nationwide protest to force the federal government and ASUU to resolve their issues and suspend the lingering strike.

In a statement to newsmen, ASUU had said the protest would take place in all 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

Speaking to State House Correspondents on Wednesday at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed described the planned protest as unlawful.

He said the planned solidarity strike becomes unlawful because the NLC has no dispute with the Federal Government, adding that taking such a step would be an attempt to instigate anarchy.

Mohammed claimed that what the Congress is doing is about interest, noting that it should insulate itself completely from politics.

3. 2023: Tinubu Officially Unveils Shettima As Running Mate

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu has officially unveiled a former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate.

This is coming two weeks after the former Governor of Lagos State announced the lawmaker as his running mate.

Tinubu announced Shettima as the vice-presidential candidate of the APC during his visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Kastina State.

The APC presidential candidate announced Shettima as his running mate despite outcries over the Muslim/Muslim ticket of the ruling party ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Tinubu on Wednesday alongside other APC stalwarts, including the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, officially unveiled Shettima at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

4. I’m Still Part Of Tinubu’s Family – Senator Abe Says As He Confirms Exit From Rivers APC

Former lawmaker representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe has confirmed his exit from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

In a statement to Naija News by his spokesperson, Parry Benson, Abe said that he is still part of the family of the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The former governorship aspirant maintained that he left in order to seek fortune somewhere else.

On the issue of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency, Senator Abe opined that most Nigerians are looking for assurances as to what the future portends.

5. NNPC: Buhari Bought Into My Proposal – Atiku Commends FG

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has praised President Muhammadu Buhari for turning the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into a limited liability company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The former vice president revealed that the move was part of his 2018 proposal to overhaul the petroleum industry in order to gain more profit and be cost-effective.

Recall that Naija News earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday unveiled the new NNPC logo with the motto: “Energy Today, Energy Tomorrow.”

The new company will no longer be government-owned but state bodies will remain share holders and be checked every year.

Reacting to the new status of NNPC, Atiku stated via a post on social media that he was happy with the development.

He said: “I had in 2018 made public my plans to reform the NNPC to make it more profitable, transparent, and efficient. The APC-led government denigrated me for my patriotic vision. But today, I am happy to note that the same government has taken a tentative step along the lines of the suggestions that I had made.”

6. CAN Reacts To Presence Of ‘Bishops’ At Unveiling Of APC Vice Presidential Candidate

The Christian Association of Nigeria has reacted to the presence of some clerics at the unveiling of Kashim Shettima as the running mate of the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

Reacting to the event on Wednesday, the Vice President of CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja) and its chairman in Kaduna State, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, likened the Bishops to desperados who went there for themselves.

John Hayab further said the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was free to “hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them”, that effort would only add to their many ropes but would not change the need for fairness and justice.

7. PDP’s Adeleke Receives Certificate Of Return

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday presented the certificate of return to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke, who won the 16th July gubernatorial election in Osun State.

The National Commissioner for INEC, supervising Osun, Ogun and Oyo states, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, presented the certificate to Adeleke and the deputy governor-elect, Kola Adewusi.

The electoral body presented the certificate 72 hours after Adeleke defeated the incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress.

Adeleke polled 403, 371 votes to defeat Oyetola who gathered 375, 027 votes.

The governor-elect while accepting the certificate at a brief ceremony held at Osun INEC head office in Osogbo, dedicated his victory in the governorship election to the memory of his late elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke and the people of the state.

8. COEASU Extends Lingering Strike By Three Weeks

Lecturers under the aegis of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) have extended their lingering strike by 21 more days.

Lecturers expressed concern that the government was yet to address their pressing demands.

It noted that the Federal Government is playing dumb to issues peculiar to state-owned colleges of education, especially in Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Abia, Kogi, Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Edo, and Ebonyi states.

COEASU said that the strike has further deteriorated in some of these states with the enforcement of the draconian rule of “no work, no pay” and victimisation of union leaders.

9. Matawalle Bans Zamfara Traditional Rulers From Awarding Chieftaincy Titles

Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara State has banned traditional rulers from awarding chieftaincy titles without seeking approval.

This was made known on Wednesday in a statement by Special Adviser Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications. Zailani Bappa.

Recall that Yandoto Emirate had conferred a title on a notorious bandit Adamu Alero, a development that received widespread condemnation from within and outside the state.

The Zamfara State would later suspend the Emir of the Emirates for giving the wanted killer a traditional title.

10. 2023: Choosing Shettima As My Running Mate Was A Hard Choice – Tinubu

The All Progressive Congress, APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu has opened up on the reason he made the hard choice of picking former governor of Borno state Kashim Shettima as his running mate.

Sharing his thoughts via Twitter, Tinubu stated that Nigeria was at a point where it needed a bold and pragmatic approach.

The former Lagos governor explained that albeit choosing Shettima is a hard choice, it is the best for the nation.

“This chapter in our nation’s history demands a bold yet pragmatic approach. In selecting Senator Shettima, I have committed myself to this path. I have made the hard choice because I believe it is the best choice,” he tweeted.

Tinubu had picked Shettima as his running mate amidst backlash from Nigerians for fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

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