Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Truetells Nigeria roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Tuesday, 8th June 2021
1. FG Debunks Plan To Lift Twitter Ban – Ministry
President Muhammadu Buhari-led government on Monday denied listing conditions to lift the suspension of the microblogging site, Twitter in the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement released by the ministry’s spokesperson, Ferdinand Nwonye.
It was titled, ‘Clarification Of Comments By The Honourable Minister Of Foreign Affairs At His Meeting With Envoys’.
Nwonye noted that the minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, was quoted out of context on what he said when he met with the envoys of the United States, United Kingdom, the European Union, the Republic of Ireland and Canada in Abuja over their recent comments on the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria.
2. Biafra/Oduduwa: Those Calling For Secession Within Their Rights – Wole Soyinka
Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has thrown his weight behind those calling for the sovereign nations of Biafra and Oduduwa.
In a statement on Monday, Soyinka stated that they have rights as free citizens to call for secession.
The popular government critic also slammed the federal government for using force against the agitators of self-determination.
3. Three Killed As Nigerian Army Battle Bandits On Kaduna-Zaria Highway
Troops of the Nigerian Army on Monday successfully repelled an attack by bandits along the Kaduna-Zaria highway.
However, two villagers and a traveller were killed by the armed gunmen during the encounter with the troops of 4Demo Battalion in some locations around Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.
The incident was confirmed in a statement on Monday evening by the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan.
Aruwan added that the troops acted based on credible intelligence on the movement of the bandits and moved to ambush the criminals.
4. RCCG Will Not Comply With Twitter Ban – Adeboye
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has reacted to the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria by the federal government.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the Federal Government on Friday suspended the operations of the microblogging and social networking service in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension in a statement signed by his media aide, Segun Adeyemi.
The minister cited the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
Reacting to the Twitter ban via his Twitter handle on Monday, Adeboye said that his church will not be complying the Federal government’s directive that Nigerians should no longer use Twitter.
Adeboye wrote; “The Redeemed Christian Church of God is domiciled in more than 170 Nations & Territories. The tweets here are in accordance to Article 19 of the UN universal declaration of Human Rights.”
5. FG Denies Contacting China To Build Internet Firewall
The federal government of Nigeria has denied reports that it has contacted China on how to develop an internet firewall to control internet usage in the country.
The reports on building an internet firewall follow the decision by the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the operations of Twitter in the country.
Naija News recalls the federal government had suspended Twitter on Friday, two days after the social media site deleted a comment from the president’s account for violating its rules.
However, the government has denied meeting with the Chinese authorities to discuss building a Nigerian internet firewall.
“The story is absolutely fake, It’s a figment of the reporter’s imagination,” Segun Adeyemi was quoted to have said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg on Monday.
6. IGP Suspends Issuance Of Tinted Glass Permits, Spy Number Plates
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, on Monday halted the issuance of police permits to owners of vehicles with tinted glass in the country.
The IGP also ordered that the issuance of spy number plates be put on hold.
Baba gave this directive at the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja.
It is believed that the directives are part of the measure put in place to end insecurity in the country
7. El-Rufai Sacks 16 KASU Lecturers For Participating In NLC protest
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has dismissed 16 lecturers and 2 non-academic staff in Kaduna State University (KASU) for participating in a protest organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) in May.
Recall that the NLC embarked on two days protest in the state over the state government’s plan to sack thousands of workers.
In a letter released by the institution’s management on Monday, it showed the names of the affected lecturers and confirming that salary payment to them has been stopped.
8. Buhari Appoints New Aides For Wife, Aisha
President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed new aides for his wife and First lady, Aisha Buhari.
In a statement released on Monday by his media aide, Femi Adesina, President Buhari approved the appointment of Dr. Rukayyatu Abdulkareem Gurin as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs in the Office of the First Lady.
Buhari also approved the appointment of Dr. Mohammed Kamal Abdulrahman as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Health and Development Partners in the Office of the First Lady.
He will also continue his role as the Personal Physician to the First Lady.
9. NBC Orders TV, Radio Stations To Deactivate Twitter Accounts
The National Broadcasting Commission, on Monday, directed all Tv and radio stations in the country to deactivate their Twitter account.
The regulatory commission noted that the directive was given due to the decision of the Federal Government to suspend the operation of Twitter in the country over the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining the corporate existence of Nigeria.
The Commission directed the broadcast stations to “de-install Twitter handles and desist from using Twitter as a source (UGC) of information gathering for News and programmes presentation especially phone-in.”
The acting Director-General of the NBC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, issued the directive in a statement on Monday titled: “Suspend Twitter handles.”
10. Monguno Orders Dismantling Of Illegal Security Outfits
The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, has directed the immediate dismantling of all illegal security outfits all over the country.
Monguno, who gave the order in a statement by the Head, Strategic Communication of ONSA, Zakari Usman, on Sunday in Abuja, said the security outfits are being used to extort, harass and intimidate Nigerians across the country.
He also cautioned individuals, organisations and foreign partners particularly on the activities of a security outfit known as NATFORCE.
Monguno added that the outfit was illegally formed as a task force to combat illegal importation and smuggling of small arms, ammunition and light weapons into the country.
He noted that the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) domiciled in it, was the national coordination mechanism for the control and monitoring of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.
