Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Truetells Nigeria roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Thursday, 22nd April 2021
1. Senate Approves Fresh External Loans For Federal Government
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, approved the request by the federal government to borrow fresh $1.5billion and another €995million external loans.
The loan requests were approved during the plenary following the consideration of the report by the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts on the external borrowing plan of the Federal Government.
The report was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Clifford Ordia.
2. Buhari, FEC Did Not Discuss Pantami’s Issue – Lai Mohammed
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday did not discuss the scandal rocking the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami.
There have been growing calls for President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the minister over comments praising terrorists organization and their leaders.
Pantami attended Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Buhari.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the council meeting, said the issue was not raised at all.
Mohammed was asked whether the council discussed the matter and whether the government was comfortable with its burden on its image.
Mohammed responded: “I’m not going into the issue of whether government is comfortable or not. I will answer your question directly. It was not discussed at the council meeting.”
3. Why I Didn’t Show Up At Meeting With JUSUN, PASAN – Ngige
Minister of Labour, Senator Chris Ngige has given reasons for his failure to attend a scheduled meeting on Tuesday with the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN).
Naija News previously reported that leaders of the union had arrived at the conference hall of the federal ministry of labour and employment for the meeting slated for 3pm.
However, as of 4:35pm, Ngige was yet to arrive for the meeting.
The development infuriated the union representatives who eventually stormed out of the meeting.
According to Nigige, the union representatives were impatient. He also added that the government’s negotiating team was still working to harmonize all issues from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached at separate meetings with stakeholders, hence no need to have a ‘fruitless’ meeting with the union representatives.
4. Biafra/Oduduwa: FG Reveals Those Behind Calls For Disintegration
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has blamed Nigerian elites for fanning the embers of disintegration in the country.
He stated this on Wednesday when he featured on a NAN flagship interview programme, NAN Forum.
According to the minister, Nigeria remaining united is in the best interest of the countries elites.
Lai Mohammed warned that they will bear the greater consequences if Nigeria ends up breaking apart.
5. Kaduna Govt Speaks After Gunmen Attack On Private University In The State
The Kaduna State government has confirmed gunmen’s attack on Greenfield University, a private institution of higher learning located in the state.
The statement by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed that a staff of the school identified as Paul Ude Okafor was killed during the attack but the number of students kidnapped by the gunmen is yet to be established.
Truetells Nigeria earlier reported that armed men invaded the school located along the Kaduna-Abuja highway around 10.30 pm on Tuesday, shot a security guard, and escaped with an unknown number of students.
Mr. Aruwan in a statement on Wednesday about the incident disclosed that troops of Operation Thunder Strike, OPTS, and other security operatives were promptly dispatched to the school after a distress call was received.
6. IGP Baba Orders Withdrawal Of Senior Police Officers From EFCC
The new acting inspector-general of police (IGP), Alkali Usman Baba, has ordered the withdrawal of senior police officers from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Naija News reports that this directive was contained in a letter dated April 15, 2021 and addressed to the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.
In the letter signed by the principal staff officer to the IGP, Idowu Owohunwa, senior officers from the rank of chief superintendent of police (CSP) are to be released from the EFCC and report to the force headquarters on Wednesday by 10am.
The decision is said to be informed by the current operational requirements of the police force.
7. Unknown Gunmen Attack Enugu Police Station, Kill Officers
The Divisional Police Headquarters, Adani in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State has been reportedly attacked by unknown gunmen.
It was gathered that the gunmen invaded the police facility in the early hours of Wednesday.
Two of the police officers on duty were reportedly killed and several others injured, while the police station was burnt.
Sources confirmed that the attack on the police station started at about 2:30am and lasted for about one hour.
8. What Nigerian Army Needs To Defeat Boko Haram, Others – COAS Attahiru
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru has identified what the Nigerian Army needs to fully overcome and defeat all forms of insurgency and terrorist activities in the country.
Attahiru on Wednesday told the Senate Committee on Army, led by its Chairman, Sen. Ali Ndume that to defeat the insurgency, the Army apart from adequate funding, “requires equipment, weapons, armour fighting vehicles, platforms and various combat enablers.”
The COAS said this when he hosted the Senators who were on an oversight visit to the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
He appreciated the opportunity to rub minds with the lawmakers on ways to tackle insecurity in Nigeria and told the Senators he would be looking out for their support.
Attahiru also promised the continued commitment of the troops to their constitutional role of protecting the territorial integrity of the country and eliminate all threats.
9. Senators Consider Bill To Capture Cow, Goat Data In Nigeria
A bill seeking to create a national database for cows, goats, and other animals in the country is currently before the Nigerian Senate.
The bill, Truetells Nigeria understands seeks an act to provide for National Livestock Bureau and scaled second reading at Tuesday’s plenary session.
The bill is sponsored by the Senator representing Niger South in the National Assembly, Muhammad Enagi.
Enagi explained that livestock identification by the agency will include ownership and other details including their origin, birthplace, sex, and breed.
According to the provisions of the bill, the bureau will be in charge of the identification, traceability, and registration of livestock such as cows and goats to among other things curb cattle rustling in Nigeria.
10. Nigerian Comedienne Ada Jesus Is Dead
Popular Nigerian Comedienne, Ada Jesus has died on Wednesday, a few days after she marked her birthday on the hospital bed.
It is understood that the comedienne whose real name is Mercy Cynthia Ginikanwa died of kidney failure at an Abuja hospital where she had been receiving treatment.
She died at the age of 24, having been born on 19th February, 1997.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today.
