Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 5th January, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 5th January 2023

1. DSS Arrests Mastermind Of Kogi Explosion

at Egbeda Community while kicking off the construction of Akpabu-Egbeda-Omoku Link Road in Emohua Local Government AreaThe Department of State Service (DSS) has confirmed the arrest of the mastermind of the car bomb explosion in Kogi State last week.

Recall that there was commotion in Kogi on December 29, 2022, when an explosion occurred near the palace of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.

The event stirred tension in the state as it happened minutes before President Muhammadu Buhari’s arrival in the state. The Nigerian leader was scheduled to commission a project by Governor Yahaya Bello in the state the same day.

Naija News reports that at least four people died in the attack.

A statement, however, released on Wednesday by the Public Relations Officer, DSS National Headquarters, Peter Afunanya, said the service had arrested one Abdulmumin Otaru, aka Abu Mikdad, and one of his associates, Saidu Suleiman, who are masterminds of the explosion.

2. 2023: Last Consignment Of BVAS Arrives – INEC Reveals

Fresh information has emerged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received the last consignment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) ahead of the 2023 general election.

Naija News reports that the commission in a statement signed by the INEC National Commissioner and chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Wednesday in Abuja, made the revelation.

INEC in the statement disclosed that it’s chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, other national commissioners, and senior officials of the commission were at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to receive the BVAS.

Okoye revealed that part of the agencies present at the airport to receive the consignment were the INEC team, officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), and airport security officials.

3. Military Kills Top Boko Haram Commander Abou Hurairah, Others

A notorious Boko Haram commander, Abou Hurairah has been eliminated by troops of the Nigerian Military.

Naija News understands Abou Hurairah was killed along with some other Boko Harm commanders during a recent onslaught by the military in the Monguno Axis of Borno State

It was gathered that the wanted terrorist had escaped several attempts by the military to kill him but was eventually eliminated during an aggressive bombardment operation by the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Hadin Kai, using two alpha jets of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

A defence intelligence source quoted by PRNigeria said Abou Hurairah, and other terrorist commanders have been the ones coordinating and directing their foot soldiers to attack various communities within Monguno and other parts of the Northeast in Borno State.

“He also coordinated a series of attacks in Marte Ngala, Kukawa, and Abadam axis,” said the intelligence source.

4. I’ve Made Up My Mind – Wike Gives Update On Preferred Presidential Candidate

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike says no amount of abuse can make him change his mind about the presidential candidate he intends to support for the 2023 election.

Wike said his mind is already made up and detractors can continue doing whatever they want but he won’t be bothered.

Naija News reports the Rivers State Governor spoke on Wednesday at Egbeda Community during the kick-off of the construction of Akpabu-Egbeda-Omoku Link Road in Emohua Local Government Area of the state.

He pointed out that even some people who can’t command twenty-five votes are among those criticizing him for his stand but added that such would have dire political consequences because they would end up in bitter tears when the reality of their political loss would stare them in the face eventually.

5. 2023: Tinubu, Peter Obi, Atiku? Ngige Speaks On Preferred Presidential Candidate

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has said the four frontline presidential candidates in the 2023 election are his friends.

Naija News reports that the former governor of Anambra State made this known on Wednesday, while speaking with journalists in his country home, Alor.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain said he will not campaign for the emergence or against any of the presidential candidates, in the February election.

Speaking further, Chris Ngige gave details of his personal relationship with the major Presidential candidates, APC, Bola Tinubu, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Rabiu Kwankwaso.

He urged Nigerians to rather look at the programmes of the candidates and determine which of them was better than the other, and vote right.

6. New COVID-19 Variants Not In Nigeria – NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday announced that COVID-19 Omicron sub-lineages partly responsible for the current increase in COVID-19 cases in China, the United States, and the United Kingdom are not in the country.

The Director General of NCDC, Ifedayo Adetifa disclosed this in an update on COVID-19 genomic surveillance.

According to the update, the Omicron sub-lineage responsible for the rise in cases in the US and UK is XBB.1.5 while BF.7 is responsible for the increase in China.

Adetifa, however, said B.5.2.1 has been seen in Nigeria since July 2022.

7. PDP Crisis: ‘Wike Was Right’ – Tinubu Attacks Atiku In Kano

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu has taken a swipe at his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar.

Speaking in Kano state during his party’s presidential campaign rally, Tinubu lashed at Atiku, describing him as lacking integrity.

Speaking against the backdrop of the crisis rocking the PDP, Tinubu submitted that Governor Nyesom Wike was right in his assessment of Atiku.

The APC candidate submitted that both Atiku and the PDP are guilty of making fake promises to Nigerians and urged citizens of the country to ignore them at the polls.

He said the country does not deserve to go back to the wasted years of PDP rule but by voting for him in the February presidential election, Nigerians would continue to enjoy what President Muhammadu Buhari has started as he would do more.

8. It Is Hopeless – Ezekwesili Expresses Worry Over 2023 Budget, Begs Nigerians To Get Their PVC

A former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has expressed concern over the 2023 National budget.

Naija News recalls that on Tuesday morning, President Muhmadu Buhari signed the 2023 Budget of N21.83tn along with the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Bill into law at the

The budget was signed in the presence of Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other members of the Federal Executive Council.

Speaking at the event, the President said his government would speed up critical infrastructure projects nationwide as it raced toward the finish line on May 29, 2023.

He noted that the budget is N21.83 trillion aggregate expenditure, an increase N1.32 trillion over the initial executive proposal of N20.51 trillion. It is the eighth and final budget of Buhari’s regime.

However, reacting to the Budget on Wednesday on her Twitter page, Ezekwesili decried the budget deficit, describing it as hopeless.

She urged Nigerians to get their Permanent Voter Cards.

9. IBB Speaks On Endorsing Peter Obi For President

Former Military President of Nigeria, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida has debunked reports claiming he endorsed the presidential ambition of the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Peter Obi.

Some people had fallen for a tweet from a parody account which claimed Babangida had also declared support for Obi by agreeing with the earlier endorsement of the LP candidate by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

The Twitter account had written: “Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo will forever be a true elder statesman and a boss in the military. No serving General in the Nigerian Army today joined the military earlier than 1982. By then, Obasanjo had already finished his military career. I respect him a lot, with his endorsement”.

However, the spokesperson of Babangida, Prince Kassim Afegbua in a reaction to the reported endorsement denied any such from the former military leader.

He added that IBB doesn’t have a Twitter account and those behind the account claiming an endorsement are liars.

Afegbua pointed out that his principal will only make his opinions known through signed statements.

10. Biafra: ‘Peter Obi Struck Deal With Buhari Govt For Nnamdi Kanu’s Continued Detention’

The intelligence network of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi of being allegedly behind the continued detention of the leader of IPoB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the Directorate of State Services (DSS) facilities.

According to Vanguard Newspaper, an intelligence source revealed that Obi may have allgedly had a pact with the DSS and the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF to ensure that Kanu remained in prison custody until after the election.

The source stated that this is because if Kanu regains his freedom before the election, he could declare sit-at-home in the Southeast zone on the election day and truncate Obi’s anticipated massive votes from the zone which is his stronghold.

The intelligent source, who is an insider within IPOB, stated that unfortunately, the freedom of Kanu has been allegedly sacrificed on the altar of Obi’s ambition to the extent that Obi is secretly behind his continued illegal detention.

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