Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Sunday, 20th August, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Sunday, 20th August 2023.

Niger Junta Shuns Meeting With Abdulsalami’s Delegation

Niger Republic military Junta on Saturday failed to meet with the delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) led by former Nigerian military head of state, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd).

Naija News reports the delegation, which also includes the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III went to Niger to engage in fresh round of negotiations with the military junta in the country under the leadership of General Abdourahmane Tchiani

But the delegation which was scheduled to meet with Niger Republic Coup Leader, General Tchiani, was received by the Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine.

According to BBC Hausa, the meeting with representative of the troubled West African Country reportedly lasted about 90 minutes.

Wike, Other Ministers-designate Document Ahead Of Inauguration (Photos)

Ministers-designate for the administration of President Bola Tinubu have continued their documentation exercise ahead of the swearing-in scheduled for Monday, 21st August 2023.

Naija News earlier reported the commencement of the exercise on Saturday.

Some other Minister-designates including former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike have also gone through the documentation process after the earlier report by this platform.

The documentation took place at the Office Of The Secretary To The Government Of The Federation in Abuja.

ECOWAS Delegation Arrives In Niger Republic For Another Round Of Dialogue (Photos)

A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has arrived inNiger Republic for talks with the military officers who have seized power.

According to AFP, a plane carrying the delegation landed in the capital Niamey at around 1200 pm on Saturday ahead of talks to return the country to democratic rule.

A source close to the latest delegation told the news agency that the ECOWAS representatives would send “a message of firmness” to the army officers and meet Bazoum.

Naija News reports the delegation, which also includes the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III went to Niger to engage in fresh round of negotiations with the military junta in the country under the leadership of General Abdourahmane Tchiani.

Abuja-Kaduna Train: FG Orders Deployment Of Airforce Jet As DSS Arrest NRC Officials

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government has approved the deployment of an Air Force jet to assist the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in beefing up security along the Abuja-Kaduna rail line.

This followed an alert by the Department of State Service (DSS) of a possible attack by terrorists.

Recall that terrorists had on Monday, March 28, 2022, attacked an Abuja–Kaduna bound train in Katari village, Kaduna State, kidnapping many people. This incident forced the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) to briefly halted operations along the route.

Buhari Reacts To Killing Of Soldiers, Jet Crash In Niger State

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness following the killing of soldiers in an ambush and a subsequent helicopter crash in Niger State.

Naija News reported that bandits, earlier in the week, killed some troops of the Nigerian Army in an ambush and crashed a helicopter in Chukuba Village near Shiroro in the area of the state.

In a statement on Saturday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, the former president said his thoughts are with those injured and prayed for their recovery at the earliest.

NBA Investigates UNICAL Law Dean Over Alleged Sexual Assault

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has set up an ad-hoc committee to probe allegations of sexual assault against the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Prof. Cyril Ndifon.

Naija News reports that the association made this known in a statement released on Saturday after the end of its recent National Executive Committee (NEC) presided over by its President, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN).

The statement said members of the committee include the 1st NBA Vice President, Linda Rose Bala; the Assistant General Secretary of the NBA, Daniel Kip; the Chairperson of the NBA Women’s Forum and the Chairman of the NBA Calabar Branch.

‘How Will They Perform In Office’ – President Tinubu Ministerial Portfolio Causes Upset, Shock

Political pundits and other critical stakeholders have been left in shock following the assigning of portfolios for ministers-designate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Naija News gathered that many people were left in shock after Tinubu assigned portfolios to individuals who many believe are not experts in that field.

The appointment of former Rivers State Nyesom Wike, for instance, altered the earlier permutation that Abubakar Kyari from Borno State would be named Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

‘Shambolic’ – ACF Rejects N5 Billion Palliative Fund Granted To States

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has slammed the Bola Tinubu-led federal government for giving N5 billion as a palliative fund for states to cushion the impact of the petrol subsidy removal.

Naija News reported that President Tinubu, on Thursday, directed the disbursement of N5 billion palliative for each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Reacting in an interview with Daily Trust, ACF Spokesman, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, described the palliatives fund to the state government as shambolic and unscientific.

Muhammad-Baba said the government was wrong for giving the same amount to Lagos, Oyo, Kano and Bayelsa states, as their populations and statistics of eligible people differ.

ISWAP Terrorists Invite Boko Haram Fighters To Gunfight In Sambisa Forest

The Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist group has invited its rival, Boko Haram fighters, to a gunfight in Sambisa Forest in Borno State.

Naija News reports that counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama, made this known in a Twitter post on Friday.

Makama said he received an exclusive letter written by ISWAP challenging Boko Haram to a battle for misleading people, spreading falsehood, withholding the truth, engaging in corruption and raping women in the name of worshipping God.

Obaseki Moves Against Deputy, Redeploys Shaibu’s In-law To Govt House

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has reportedly directed the redeployment of the Permanent Secretary of the State Sports Commission, Mrs. Sabina Chikere, to the Central Admin Department, Government House in Benin City.

Chikere, who is an in-law to the state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, until her recent redeployment, was the General Coordinator of Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin.

The former Insurance general coordinator is the elder sister to Maryann Philip-Shaibu, wife of the deputy governor.

Naija News reports that Obaseki and Shaibu have been at loggerheads over the latter’s governorship ambition.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.