Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 29th April, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Truetells Nigeria roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Thursday, 29th April 2021.

1. Buhari Approves Poverty Reduction Strategy
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the National Poverty Reduction With Growth Strategy.

Truetells Nigeria understands that the approval followed an earlier submission of documents to the Federal Executive Council by the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed that the approval was made on Wednesday, April 28 at the weekly meeting of the council presided over by Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Addressing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Adesina, disclosed that Vice-President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who headed PEAC, is to chair the steering committee to provide overall guidance for implementation.

2. Nigerians Are Tired Of APC – Makinde
The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday said the administration of the ruling All Progressives Congress will not extend beyond 2023.

Makinde in his statement said Nigerians are already tired of APC and would kick it out of power at the general elections.

The Oyo State Governor stated this at the inauguration of the South-West PDP Zonal Executives, held at the Government House in Agodi, Ibadan.

According to Makinde, there is an urgent need to address the challenges of insecurity and economic recession.

He also called on members of his party to show Nigerians that it is prepared to take power back at the centre.

3. 465,820 Nigerians Have Received Cash Support – FG
The federal government on Wednesday, disclosed that 465,820 Nigerians have benefitted from the payroll support scheme across the country.

The spokesman of the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, in a statement said President Muhammadu Buhari’s Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) continues to impact lives and small businesses.

The commencement of payment to beneficiaries of the Payroll Support track and the one-time General MSME Grant was announced on Sunday.

This is coming after the approval of the Steering Committee of the MSME’s Survival Fund for the payment to successful beneficiaries of the Payroll Support and General MSME Grant tracks.

4. Buhari Pushing Nigeria To War And Break-Up – Abaribe
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia Central) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of pushing Nigeria to war and disintegration.

Delivering a keynote address on Wednesday at 2021 law week of the Owerri Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, the Senate Minority leader attributed the spates of insecurity and killings in all parts of the country to “Buhari’s policy of nepotism bad sectionalism”.

According to the lawmaker, President Buhari’s enthronement of sectionalism and nepotism has led the country to be on freefall.

5. Gunmen Set Ablaze Abia Police Station
Unknown gunmen on Wednesday attacked Nkporo police station in Ohafia government area of Abia State, setting the main building on fire.

The gunmen who burnt exhibits, including motorcycles and cars at the station, also released some suspects in detention during the attack.

It was gathered that the situation was said to have left many residents and indigenes of the area apprehensive.

Efforts to get Abia police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna were unsuccessful.

He didn’t pick calls or respond to text messages.

Nkporo is the hometown of Abia Deputy Governor Ude Oko Chukwu.

6. INEC Fixes Date To Release 2023 Elections Timetable
The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Wednesday announced that the timetable for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria would be released in November 2021.

The Chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at a public hearing on the Electoral Offences Commission (Establishment) Bill, sponsored by Senator Abubakar Kyari.

Yakubu, however, said there must be clarity and certainty about the electoral legal framework to govern the conduct of the 2023 general election before the timetable would be released.

He called on the National Assembly to pass the electoral act amendment bill currently before it.

7. Insecurity Will Not Consume Nigeria – Obasanjo
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Wednesday noted that the security challenges in the country won’t consume Nigeria.

The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, also said there would be light at the end of the tunnel.

They spoke separately at the 108th Nigeria Baptist Convention, held at the Baptist International Conference Centre, Lufuwape Town, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

A valedictory and commendation service was conducted for the retiring President of Baptist Convention, Nigeria and the President, Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. (Reverend) Samson Ayokunle.

In his address, Obasanjo said he remained an “incurable optimist” about a better Nigeria, despite the escalating security challenges.

8. Senate Passes AMCON Bill, Approves Seizing Of Debtors’ Assets
The Nigeria Senate on Wednesday passed the amended the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) bill.

Naija News reports that this new bill empowers AMCON to, amongst others, take possession, manage or sell all properties traced to debtors, whether or not such assets or property is used as security/collateral for obtaining the loan in particular.

Empowers the corporation to access the Special Tribunal established by the BOFIA, 2020 for dealing with financial-related matters.

Chairman of the Committee on Banking Insurance and other Financial Institution, Senator Uba Sani (APC, Kaduna Central), said the Committee engaged with stakeholders such as AMCON, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Central Bank of Nigeria; and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation.

According to the lawmaker, the stakeholders in their submissions pushed for AMCON to be empowered to take possession, manage, foreclose or sell, transfer, assign or otherwise of property used as security for eligible bank assets among others, adding that, “this will provide for a quicker, easier and legitimate process of assets disposal.”

9. IPOB Not Responsible For Most Attacks In Ebonyi – Umahi
The chairman of the Southeast governor’s forum and governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has absolved the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of most of the numerous attacks in parts of the state.

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday after the week’s security council meeting, Umahi disclosed that hoodlums hide under the umbrella of IPOB to carry out their evil attacks.

Recall that unknown gunmen had on Tuesday attacked a bank at Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area of the state where

Umahi said the gunmen also stormed the quarry clusters in Umuoghara in Ezza North LGA to steal and cause mayhem to traders in the area.

10. PDP Berates Remi Tinubu For Tackling Senator Smart Adeyemi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos Central) for tackling Senator Smart Adeyemi (APC-Kogi West) who expressed concerns over the worsening security situation in the country.

Truetells Nigeria had reported earlier that Tinubu tackled her colleague from Kogi West, Smart Adeyemi, over his comments on Nigeria’s security challenges.

Reacting in a statement on Wednesday titled, ‘Killings: Buhari Presidency, APC Insensitive… Accuses APC Of Gagging Members’, the PDP lambasted the APC and Tinubu for trying to silence men of conscience from speaking the truth regardless of their political parties.

PDP spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, said, “Our party has already been made aware of how the APC has been gaging its members from speaking out against the failure of the Buhari Presidency and the APC to tackle insecurity in our country.

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