Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Tuesday, 18th July, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 18th July 2023

1. President Tinubu Arrives Abuja From Kenya

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Abuja after a successful outing at the 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union (AU) held at the United Nations (UN) complex in Nairobi, Kenya.

Tinubu was received by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma and Former Kano State Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, among others.

The Nigerian leader was also welcomed by the newly confirmed Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other heads of security agencies.

During the summit, President Tinubu said past plundering and exploitation of the African continent would not be allowed to repeat itself.

His speech entitled “Address on Status of Regional Integration in ECOWAS,” Tinubu called for good governance to ensure a prosperous future for Africa, free from the exploitations of the past.

2. Police Deny Withdrawing Aides From Selected Politicians

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has denied withdrawing police aides from some selected politicians.

The force denied the report making rounds in some sections of the media about a viral memo that it has withdrawn police aides from politicians.

Naija News gathered that the memo purportedly originating from MOPOL 45 FHQ ABJ ordered the removal of police aides from certain top politicians and their relatives.

However, reacting to the report, the police force described the memo as fake and that the public should disregard it

The NPF clarified that the signal deviates from its telegraphic message structure and standard, as it bears the irregular signature of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). In contrast, such a signal would typically be signed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) who heads such formations.

The force, via its Twitter account, said the Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered a thorough investigation into the source of the fake memo.

3. APC Crisis: Kyari Becomes APC’s Acting National Chair, Festus Fuanter Replaces Omisore 

The Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abubakar Kyari, has emerged as the new acting national chairman of the party.

Naija News reports that this development follows the sudden resignation of the embattled former national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu.

Recall that Nigerians woke up to reports of Adamu’s resignation, confirmed by Kyari himself.

The new APC acting national chairman told pressmen after National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja on Monday that he was Adamu’s successor and by the law of the party, the Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter, will serve as the acting National Secretary of the APC.

He also confirmed the resignation of the party’s National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore.

4. There Is No Shortcut – Labour Party Knocks Tinubu Over ‘Anarchy Threats’

The Labour Party (LP) has told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stop threatening the judiciary, insisting that his removal from office by the court will not cause anarchy in the country.

Naija News recalls that Tinubu had warned about the potential consequences of nullifying the election that produced him as the president.

He cautioned that such a decision, based on his failure to secure 25% of the lawful votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), could result in absurdity, chaos, anarchy, and the distortion of the legislature’s original intent.

The president stated this while presenting his final written address to the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPEC) on the petitions filed by candidates from the LP, Peter Obi, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar challenging the validity of his victory.

In a statement on Monday by its national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party warned that Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) must be cautious in their approach to the matter, which is still in court.

The party said no amount of pressure on the judges in the tribunal could change the processes and requirements that the law has put in place.

5. ‘I Don’t Know The People Who Are Advising Him’ – Former Presidential Candidate Tackles President Tinubu

A former presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu says President Bola Tinubu has taken some wrong policy steps since assuming power on May 29, 2023.

Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Monday morning, Kachikwu said an analysis of the President’s actions is like taking two steps forward and taking another ten steps backward.

The former Presidential candidate however put a large blame for what is happening on the doorsteps of President Tinubu’s advisers saying they are advising him wrongly.

Speaking further, Kachikwu said Tinubu should have appointed his Ministers to assist him in governance by now but seems rather distracted with receiving friends, family, and well-wishers.

According to him, President Tinubu is in a “‘na me be this’ phase,” where he is thrilled with his becoming the president after a long time.

6. First Anthrax Case Confirmed In Nigeria

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government on Monday confirmed the first case of anthrax in the country.

Naija News understands that Anthrax is a severe bacterial disease that affects humans and animals, including wild animals and livestock such as cows, pigs, camels, sheep, goats.

In a move to prevent the sread, the government outlined preventive measures for Nigerians and livestock owners to reduce the potential risk of infection and the spread of anthrax.

In a statement by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Columba T. Vakuru, the first case of Anthrax occurred on a farm in Suleja, Niger State.

He disclosed that a Rapid Response team comprising federal and state Health Professional Team have visited the farm to conduct preliminary investigations and collected samples from the sick animals.

Vakuru explained that animals showing signs of a possible case of anthrax on a farm in Suleja, Niger State, were reported to the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria on July 14, 2023.

7. PDP: Tinubu’s Legal Team Accused Of Attempt To Change Tribunal’s Judgement

The People Democratic Party (PDP) has voiced concerns over what it perceives as an attempt by President Bola Tinubu’s legal team to influence the judiciary.

The claim was made in response to the legal team’s written address to the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, made the claim in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

He described the contents of the address by the legal team, which represents the All Progressives Congress and the President, as a calculated effort to unsettle the judiciary.

8. Nigeria’s Inflation Hits 22.79% In June

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday disclosed that Nigeria’s inflation rate accelerated for the sixth consecutive time to 22.79 per cent in June 2023.

Naija News reports that the inflation rate rose to a new 17-year high of 22.79 per cent in June 2023 from 22.41 per cent in the previous month.

The NBS report read, “In June 2023, the Headline inflation rate rose to 22.79 per cent relative to May 2023 headline inflation rate, which was 22.41 per cent. Looking at the movement, the June 2023 Headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.38 percentage points when compared to May 2023 headline inflation rate.

On a year-on-year basis, the Headline inflation rate was 4.19 percentage points higher compared to the rate recorded in June 2022, which was 18.60 per cent. This shows that the Headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in June 2023 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., June 2022).”

Food and non-alcoholic beverages (11.81 per cent) led the list of items that contributed to the rising inflation figure.

9. Kyari Speaks On Corruption Allegations Against Adamu, Omisore

The new Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abubakar Kyari has said there is no corruption allegation against the immediate past chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Naija News reports that Kyari also stated that the erstwhile National Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, is not facing any corrupt allegation.

He started these while addressing journalists shortly after the crucial meeting of the National Working Committee held at the party secretariat on Monday.

Kyari also dismissed speculation that the party may send operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after both Adamu and Omisore.

When quizzed on what led to their resignation, the acting chairman declined to give further information, saying the development will be disclosed at a future date.

Kyari promised that the new APC leadership will address the plethora of issues raised by the National Vice Chairman for North-West, Salihu Lukman.

10. House Of Reps Screens Service Chiefs

An Ad-hoc Committee set up by the 10th House of Representatives on Monday screened the recently nominated Service Chiefs by President Bola Tinubu.

Naija News reports that the Screening Committee is led by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (APC- Edo State).

The nominated Service Chiefs are Major General C.G Musa as Chief of Defence Staff; Major General T. A. Lagbaja as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral E. A. Ogalla as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal H.B. Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff.

The House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, had declared the formation of the Ad-hoc Committee, stating that it would consist of the eight principal officers of the House from both the majority and minority parties.

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