Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 19th July, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 19th July 2023

1. President Tinubu Govt Increases Petrol Price

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has further increased pump prices of Petrol, known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from 537 to 617 naira Per Litre.

Naija News gathered that NNPC filling stations increased their prices on Tuesday morning.

NNPC filling stations in Abuja witnessed brief queues, particularly the one located along Murtala Mohammed Express road, Kado remained shut for some few hours as the Petrol attendants adjusted their fuel pumps to reflect the new price of 617 naira.

Also NNPCL filling stations in Ushafa and one of its mega stations at Durumi, in the Federal Capital Territory, increased pump price as other filling stations later followed suit.

2. President Tinubu Sends Ministerial List To National Assembly

President Bola Tinubu has reportedly sent his list of ministerial nominees to the National Assembly for screening and confirmation.

Naija News understands the lawmakers are set to officially receive the list of ministerial nominees tomorrow 19th of July 2023.

This was contained in a letter received by the National Assembly clerk according to sources who spoke to our correspondent.

By the provision of law, President Tinubu is expected to forward the list of ministerial nominees to the National Assembly not later than 60 days from the date he takes the oath of office.

3. ECOWAS: What President Tinubu Discussed With Colleagues From Benin, Niger And Guinea-Bissau

The Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Tuesday said the security challenges in the West Coast had been thoroughly reviewed and a properly-funded strategy would be instituted to tackle terrorism.

Naija News reports that this was made known in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy, Dele Alake.

President Tinubu made the disclosure about a new approach by ECOWAS leaders to tackle security, with more measurable results, after a meeting with Presidents of the Republic of Benin, Patrice Talon, Guinea-Bissau, Umaru Sissoco Embalo, and Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum, at the State House.

He told State House correspondents ‘‘We have no problems raising funds. We believe we have the instruments to do that. We believe we are capable of raising necessary funds to combat terrorism in the sub-region.”

Tinubu noted that the West African leaders had extensive deliberations on sustaining democracy on the West Coast and fashioning out the framework for confronting security.

4. President Tinubu Orders Review Of ₦8,000 Palliative After Outrage By Nigerians

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a review of the ₦8,000 planned to be given to vulnerable Nigerians for six months to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.

This development was made known in a statement on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy, Dele Alake.

The President, according to Mr Alake took the decision based on the feedback gotten after the announcement of the planned palliative and the way some people are trying to twist the government’s intentions.

Apart from a review of the ₦8,000, the presidential media aide added that the cash programme is not the only item in the whole gamut of relief package and President Tinubu has ordered that the entire package be revealed to Nigerians.

5. Jonathan Meets President Tinubu In Aso Villa

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Naija News reports that the former Nigerian leader revealed that his visit to the President is to discuss issues pertaining to Africa and the West Africa subregion.

Jonathan, who is also Head of the ECOWAS Mediation Team to Mali, told pressmen after the meeting that “I came to brief the president about some continental and subcontinental bodies.

“I am the ECOWAS mediator for Mali and I’m the chair of the West African Elders Forum. So, there are certain issues bordering on the continent and the subregion that I discuss with various presidents.”

6. NNPC MD, Kyari Meets Shettima, Speaks On Petrol Price Increase

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari has attributed the recent rise in petrol pump price from N540 to N617 per litre to market forces.

Kyari offered this explanation on Tuesday following a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Aso Villa.

He assured state house correspondents that the price increase is not a consequence of a petrol shortage.

Naija News had earlier reported that the price of petrol in the NNPC fueling station has been increased to N617.

7. NCDC Says Anthrax Has Spread To South, North

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Tuesday disclosed that Anthrax disease may have spread to the south and other parts of the north.

This is barely 24 hours after the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, confirmed the first case of the disease in Niger State.

The first case of the disease outbreak was confirmed on a multi-specie animal farm comprising cattle, sheep, and goats in Suleja.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television, the NCDC’s Executive Director, Ifedayo Adetifa, said that the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture was notified of animals manifesting symptoms of a suspected case of anthrax in a farm in Suleja, Niger State.

He lamented that Anthrax may have spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“It is also possible that the disease is currently across the country, and likely other cases that are yet to be notified. But we can only react to what we know,” NCDC DG said.

He warned that animals around the reported farm and beyond that are sick should be reported to the human and animal health authority while the slaughtered and dead ones with clotted blood after being killed should be disposed of or notified immediately.

8. DSS Mocks ‘Biafra’ Lawyer, Claims Emefiele May Be IPOB Member

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday mocked a legal practitioner, Maxwell Okpara for dragging the agency to court.

Naija News reports that Okpara and other lawyers had filed a contempt of court charge against the DSS and its Director-General, Yusuf Bichi, over the continued detention of suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

According to the lawyers, the criminal charge against the DSS boss was a result of a violation of multiple judgements and orders of the court directing the release of the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, from the custody of the agency.

Led by Maxwell Opara and Ahmed Tijani, the lawyers are praying that the court commits Bichi to prison until he purges himself of the contempt.

In their motion filed before the court for the issuing of Form 48 and Form 49, the lawyers said by the judgements and orders of Justice M. A. Hassan, Justice Hamza Muazu and Justice Bello Kawu, the DSS DG ought to have released Emefiele from detention.

Reacting in a series of posts on its Twitter handle, the DSS questioned the rationale behind the court case, wondering whether Emefiele is part of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.

Describing Okpara as a Biafra agitator and charge and bail lawyer, the DSS slammed him for defending the suspended CBN Governor.

9. EFCC Denies Authorization Of Charges Against Former Aviation Minister, Oduah

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, has distanced itself from the actions of police lawyer, Ibrahim Mohammed, who filed a criminal charge against former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah.

The agency told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday that Mohammed, a Superintendent of Police, was neither mandated nor authorised to press any criminal charges against Mrs. Oduah, currently a senator representing Anambra North.

Speaking in court, EFCC’s counsel, Helen Okonofua, stated that Mohammed, who alleged to be acting from the Legal Department of the Force Headquarters, was not authorised to represent the EFCC in prosecuting Mrs. Oduah on any criminal matter.

Okonofua clarified that Mohammed had worked with the EFCC previously but was re-assigned back to the police force on November 4, 2022. “He had since had nothing to do with the EFCC,” she said.

The EFCC’s legal representative also noted that the criminal charge filed on June 22, 2023, by the police lawyer did not have the authority or approval of the agency.

She informed Justice James Omotoso that the EFCC has been investigating Mohammed, as per the judge’s orders.

The findings from this investigation will be filed at the court registry and made available to the court at a later date.

10. Details Of Shettima’s Meeting With NESG Delegation Emerge

Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Nigerians of the determination of the Bola Tinubu administration to continue to develop economic policies and programmes that will drive investments and create more jobs, especially in agriculture and the digital sector.

Shettima gave the assurance on Tuesday when the Board and Management of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) led by the Chairman, Olaniyi Yusuf, paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa.

Shettima explained that the Federal Government will among other measures, enhance engagements and partnerships with the private sector, including the NESG, to achieve its objectives.

Speaking about harnessing Nigeria’s population for economic development, Shettima noted that “the trajectory of global growth is facing Africa and Nigeria will make or mar that transition. The anticipated demographic bulge by 2050 where we are expected to be the 3rd most populous nation on earth is a major factor.”

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