Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Truetells Nigeria roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Wednesday, 16th June 2021
1. Nigerians Now Proud To Use Made-In-Nigeria Products – FG
The Secretary to the Government of the Federal, Boss Mustapha, on Tuesday, claimed that the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari-led government in developing local industries has resulted in the growth of local businesses.
He further stated that Nigerians now proudly use products branded made-in-Nigeria.
Mustapha added that this would impact the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, generation of employment opportunities, and reduction in the cost of production.
The SGF said this while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the exhibition of made-in-Nigeria products in Abuja.
The exhibition is part of activities to mark Nigeria’s Diamond Jubilee.
2. Twitter Refused FG’s Request To Delete Nnamdi Kanu’s Account – Lai Mohammed
The Minister of information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on Tuesday disclosed that Twitter rejected its demand to delete the account of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
The minister disclosed this on “Politics Nationwide,’’ a Radio Nigeria call-in programme.
Mohammed further stated that it wrong to believe that the social media platform was suspended in the country because President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement was deleted.
He accused Twitter of offering its platform to promote agendas that are capable of damaging the unity of Nigeria.
3. IkoyiGate: ‘$44m Recovered From NIA Office Not With Us’ – NSA
The office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) says it does not know the whereabouts of the 44 million dollars recovered from the office of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) in 2017.
The ONSA Director of Finance and Admin, Brig. General Ja’afaru Mohammed, said this on Tuesday while briefing the House Adhoc committee investigating the management of recovered funds between 2002 and 2020.
Mohammed noted that the ONSA was not in the custody of the money recovered by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
He added that the ONSA has nothing to do with recovered funds, assets and the management of such.
He explained that the only money recovered from the NIA was about 41 million dollars which were the funds of the NIA which have been returned to the office on the directive of the President.
4. President Buhari Reveals Cause Of Boko Haram Attacks In Nigeria
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday blamed the instability in Libya for the increase in Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria and the Sahel region.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the president said this while receiving the new Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mahamat Saleh Annadif, a Chadian, at the State House.
According to a statement released to newsmen, Nigeria’s president urged countries in the West African sub-region and the Sahel to team up against insecurity.
Buhari noted that Boko Haram has exerted a heavy toll in terms of lives and resources on Nigeria and some neighbouring countries, while Mali equally has a large swathe of the country occupied by militants.
5. Why COAS Yahaya Claimed He Has Spent 36 Years In Service – Army
The Nigerian Army has explained why the Chief of Army Staff Major General Farouk Yahaya claimed on Tuesday that he has spent 36 years in service.
It will be recalled that Yahaya made the claim when he appeared for screening before the House of Representatives Committees on Defence and Army.
According to him, he has put in 36 years of service having joined the military in 1985.
The 36 years is already one year more than the normal 35 years constitutionally allowed in the public service before retirement, Naija News reports.
However, reacting to the controversies surrounding the disclosure by the Army Chief, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, in a statement explained that Gen. Yahaya captured his military experience to include the five years he spent in training as Officer Cadet in the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Yerima however explained further that the record of service of an officer counts from the day he is commissioned which in the case of the COAS is September 22nd, 1990 which he also stated during his appearance before the lawmakers.
6. FG Reveals When Nigeria Will Get Second Batch of COVID-19 Vaccine
The Federal Government has disclosed that the country is expecting the second batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine between the end of July and early in August.
Truetells Nigeria reports that this was made known on Tuesday by the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, during a joint press briefing on vaccination updates, with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
According to Shuaib, the vaccines which will be gotten through the COVAX facility will be from non-Indian sources like South Korea, due to the pandemic situation in India.
He stated that the administration of the second dose of the covid-19 vaccine will end by June 25, 2021, while it resumes the administration of the first dose of the vaccine in the second phase of vaccination.
7. Biafra/Oduduwa: Dialogue With Agitators, Restructure Nigeria – Lagos Assembly To Buhari
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday called on the federal government to engage agitators across the country rather than employ the use of force.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the Speaker of the House, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, made the call during the debate on a motion about the 22 years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria raised by Hon. Setonji David.
Obasa argued that the use of the military in an attempt to quell agitations for secession would not yield the desired result since it is part of democracy for a people to speak out concerning how they are governed.
The Speaker, who noted that the 22 years of unbroken democracy being enjoyed by Nigeria is worthy of celebration, however, said there are many things yet to be done after so long adding that these had led to the tension in the country.
8. Air Force Denies Killing 1,000 Cows In Nasarawa
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has denied killing over 1,000 cows in Keana and Doma Local Government Areas of the state.
Truetells Nigeria earlier reported that Fulani herders in the state had accused the Nigerian military of killing over 1,000 cows in multiple attacks on Fulani settlements in the state.
According to the herders, the cows were killed during multiple attacks launched by the Nigerian Air Force between Thursday, June 10 and Sunday, June 13.
Reacting to the allegation, the spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, described the allegation that anybody or any animal was killed as false.
Gabkwet noted that the military operation was targeted at bandits wielding AK-47 and spiralling in the Benue State capital, Makurdi.
He added that the operation in Makurdi is a Defence Headquarters’ operation not an Air Force operation.
9. Boko Haram: Abubakar Shekau’s Faction Confirms Death Of Leader, Issues Fresh Threats
The Jama’atu Ahlussunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad (JAS) faction of Boko Haram, led by Abubakar Shekau has confirmed the death of it leader.
Recall that the Islamic State West African Province disclosed that the Boko Haram leader blew himself up after refusing to surrender following his hideout’s invasion on Wednesday, May 19.
ISWAP disclosed that it broke away from the faction Shekau in 2016 because it disagreed with the excessive use of force, especially on Muslims in areas under his influence.
The leader of ISWAP, Abu Musab Albarnawi, disclosed that its fighters took their arms, travelled through the Sahara, went into Shekau’s enclave, and engaged in a gun battle with his followers.
According to SaharaReporters, members of JAS led by one Bakura Sahalaba in a video admitted to the death of Shekau.
Sahalaba further stated that the faction of the terrorist group is still very much active.
He further denounced ISWAP and insisted that ‘it’s not all over for us’.
10. I Receive Death Threats every Day – EFCC Boss Bawa
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has revealed that he receives death threats often from criminals.
In an interview on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Bawa said that corrupt individuals and criminals are fighting back and thwarting the fight against corruption.
The EFCC boss said he was in New York, USA, last week when someone called to threaten him.
Bawa noted that the scope of corruption in the country is overwhelming and challenging, but the agency will continue to do its best in fighting corruption.
