Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 26th August, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 26th August 2023.

Chaotic Distribution, Meagre Palliatives Require Reinstating Fuel Subsidy

Things have never remained the same for Nigeria since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu got possessed by the spirit of courage to announce shortly after being sworn in on May 29, 2023, that fuel subsidy is gone! Inauguration ceremonies at the Eagle Square Abuja were yet to be concluded when the ripple effect of that off-the-cuff statement started being felt in fuel stations across the country. Oil marketers hiked the pump price of petrol. Days later, there was a knock-on effect on the prices of basic goods and services in the country including foodstuffs, transportation, housing and school fees. It is therefore not surprising that when the consumer price index which measures the rate of change in prices of goods and services, was released, it showed that for the first time in over 10 years, CPI rose to 24.08 percent in July 2023!

As a temporary solution to the high cost of living occasioned by the subsidy removal, the federal government announced an upward review of the minimum wage, grants for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the release of 200,000 metric tonnes of grains and more. On Thursday, the Tinubu administration announced a N5 billion relief package for each state, including the federal capital territory (FCT). The government at the center further released five trucks of rice to each state as part of the palliatives which from all indications is a far cry from what the impoverished people of Nigeria actually need to get by at a time when the inflation rate is between 20 and 25 percent.

Coup Leaders Give French Ambassador 48 Hours To Leave Niger

The military leaders who took over power in Niamey on July 26 have ordered the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, to leave Niger Republic within 48 hours, according to a statement from Niger’s foreign ministry.

The decision comes after the ambassador “refused to respond to an invitation” for a Friday meeting and following actions by the French government “contrary to the interests of Niger.”

The expulsion follows a rise in anti-France sentiment after the Nigerien army ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, who is now detained along with his family.

The military rulers accuse France of wanting to use military force to reinstate Bazoum and claim that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is under French influence.

‘No Plea Bargain’ – FG Reveals Death Threat Against CBN’s Emefiele

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, has revealed why the embattled suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, and his co-defendant were absent from court Wednesday.

Naija News recalls the federal government filed a N6.9 billion 20-count charge bordering on alleged breach of procurement laws and contract inflation on the suspects.

However, the arraignment scheduled for Wednesday by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory was not stated on the court’s cause list.

Similarly, Emefiele and his co-defendant, Saadat Yaro, were not in court, nor was any unusual security presence observed around the court premises.

The lawyers of the parties involved were also not present in court.

Labour Party Crisis: ‘It Is Fake News’ – Abure Rejects Appeal Court Judgment

The embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has rejected his alleged ouster by an Appeal Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Naija News reports that the Court of Appeal, which sat in Abuja owing to security concerns, invalidated all the off-season governorship primary elections conducted by the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure.

The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately recognise and publish the names of all the governorship candidates in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states produced by the Lamidi Apapa-led National Working Committee.

Speaking to journalists, Apapa insisted that the court ruling had reaffirmed that Abure was not the authentic party chairman of the party when the primaries were conducted.

He said, “The Edo State matter more or less has to do with civil matters. The Excos in Edo suspended him, and they went to court because of that, and they don’t have the right to suspend him. I’m talking about the ward level.

“But the FCT (court) restraining order has to do with criminal matters and is between the state and Abure, and nobody is above the law. That’s the difference between a civil matter and a criminal matter.”

President Tinubu Makes Fresh Appointments

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mrs. Mojoyinoluwa Dekalu-Thomas as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO).

The appointment is for a term of four years, Naija News reports.

Mrs. Mojoyinoluwa Dekalu-Thomas has served as the Acting MD/CEO of NELMCO since the tenure of pioneer NELMCO MD/CEO, Mr. Adebayo Fagbemi, ended on May 8th, 2023.

Based on her fresh appointment by the President, there is a need to fill the vacancy in her previous position: Executive Director, Liability Management.

Niger Coup: US Deputy Secretary Of State Visits Nigeria, Chad, Ghana

The United States Deputy Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee, will visit Nigeria, Chad and Ghana from August 25-29, 2023.

The Spokesman for the US Department of State, Matthew Miller, made this known in a statement on Friday.

On her trip, Phee will speak with regional Heads of State to discuss US support for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and regional leaders in the Niger crisis response.

In Chad, the U.S. official will review ongoing developments with its neighbours Niger and Sudan.

We’ll Avenge Killing Of Our Troops In Niger State – Defence Chief

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa has said the death of soldiers killed by bandits in Niger State will not be for nothing.

Musa stated this on Friday after laying wreaths on the graves of 20 deceased soldiers and presenting the national flags to their next of kin at the Military Cemetery, Abuja.

The Defence Chief said the Nigerian Military will avenge the killing of its soldiers, stating that none of those involved in the massacre will go scot-free.

Musa also joined the family members in their grief, adding that the deaths of their loved ones would not be in vain.

Niger: Military Invasion Is Still An Option – ECOWAS Gives Fresh Update

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared that the use of force is still one of the available options that may be adopted in restoring democracy in Niger Republic.

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, said this on Friday during a press briefing on the Niger political situation and the refusal of the military junta to hand over power to ousted President Mohammed Bazoum.

Speaking at the ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Touray explained that they are looking at all available options including military invasion in ensuring the return of constitutional order in Niger Republic.

He however clarified that ECOWAS never stated that it would deploy the military at the end of the initial seven-day deadline issued to the junta in Niger.

Six Highlights From Chicago State University’s Response To Atiku’s Request For Tinubu’s Academic Records

The Chicago State University (CSU) has responded to the request of the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, to release the academic records of President Bola Tinubu.

Naija News reports that the former Vice President approached a US court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago for an order compelling the institution to release the academic records of Tinubu.

The United States counsel to the PDP candidate, Angela M. Liu, told the court that she made efforts, including a subpoena, to get the university to confirm or deny the issuance of two diploma certificates with different dates to no avail.

Atiku, through his counsel, prayed that the court should subpoena Tinubu’s files domiciled with CSU, adding that the files would settle the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s academic background and aid the election petition tribunal.

Lagos: LP Lawmaker, Sowunmi Reacts As Tribunal Sacks Him

Labour Party (LP) House of Representatives member, representing Ojo Federal Constituency, Seyi Sowunmi, has expressed his determination to continue to serve his people following his sack by the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Lagos,

Sowunmi’s return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the Ojo Federal Constituency, Lagos State, was nullified on Thursday.

A three-man panel led by Justice Abdullahi Ozegya, in its judgment on the petition filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olanrewaju Ogunyemi agreed with the petitioner that Sowunmi was not qualified to contest the election.

The tribunal, therefore, declared Ogunyemi, a two-term state lawmaker and former secretary of the APC in the state, as the duly elected candidate of the election conducted on February 25, 2023.

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