Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Friday, 16th April 2021
1. Buhari Returns After London Medical Trip
President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Nigeria after a two-week medical trip to London, the United Kingdom.
Naija News reports that the Nigerian leader arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on Thursday at about 4.45 p.m.
Those at the airport to welcome him included the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammed Bello and the National Security Adviser to the President retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno.
Others were the Service Chiefs, acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufa’i, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, and other presidential aides.
The President, after a brief welcoming ceremony at the airport, boarded a presidential helicopter that conveyed him to the Presidential Villa.
2. Nobody Can Become President Without Rivers, Lagos, Kano – Wike
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has claimed that nobody can become Nigeria’s president without securing the votes of his state combined with Lagos or Kano.
Wike, in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, spoke at the grand finale of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) local government election campaign at Ulakwo in Etche Local Government area on Thursday.
According to the Rivers governor, such pivotal position established the importance of Rivers in the political scheme of the country and nobody would be allowed to undermine it.
3. Inflation Rate Hits 18.17% On Rising Food Costs – NBS
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday released the report for the consumer price index/inflation for the month of March.
Naija News understands that the consumer price index measures the rate of increase in the price of goods and services in the country.
According to the agency, the consumer price index increased to 18.17 percent in March from 17.33 in February.
It added that the food inflation also increased by 1.16 percent on a year-on-year basis from 21.79 percent in February to 22.95 in March.
4. NIN: Buhari Fixes Date To Lift Ban On New SIMs Registration
The Federal Government has fixed Monday, April 19, 2021, to lift the ban on new Subscribers Identification Module (SIMs) card registration.
Naija News reports that this was contained in a revised National Digital Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, NIN registration still remains mandatory for the registration of the new SIM cards.
A statement by Technical Assistant (Information Technology) to Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Femi Adeluyi, reads in part: “The implementation of the Policy will commence on Monday, 19th of April 2021.
“The issuance of New SIMs and other suspended activities will resume on the same date, as long as verification is done and the guidelines are fully adhered to.
5. Unpatriotic Citizens Made Twitter Choose Ghana Over Nigeria – Lai Mohammed
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has blamed the behaviour of some Nigerians for the decision of Twitter to snub the country and choose Ghana as its African headquarters.
Mohammed on Thursday during a chat with newsmen in Abuja said there is no way you devalue what you have and then expect others to embrace it.
He said while Twitter reserves the full right to choose any destination to cite its business, it remains clear that the decision of the social networking giants is not a commercial or business decision.
The Minister added that he hopes Twitter’s decision will serve as a lesson to Nigerians who have the habit of projecting the negative image of the country on social media.
Mohammed blamed those he described as unpatriotic Nigerians whom he accused of painting the country in a bad light during last year’s #EndSARS protest for demarketing the country.
6. Tell Nigerians The Truth About Printing Of N60bn, Obaseki Replies FG
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has asked the Federal Government to tell Nigerians the truth about his claim that N60 billion was printed in March to support allocation to states.
Obaseki made this known in a statement released via his Twitter handle on Thursday while reacting to Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who said his claim was untrue.
The minister had told State House correspondents on Wednesday that the claim by the governor is untrue, adding that the money shared among the tiers of government was not printed.
Reacting, Obaseki said he won’t join issues with the minister over the issue, asking the federal government to take urgent steps to end the current monetary rascality so as to prevent the prevailing economic challenges.
7. FG May Lift Ban On Cryptocurrency As SEC, CBN Begin Work On Trading Regulation
The Federal Government may lift the ban on cryptocurrency as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is working alongside the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to regulate cryptocurrency.
Naija News reports that this was disclosed at a virtual news conference by the SEC Director-General, Lamido Yuguda, at the 2021 first post-Capital Market Committee (CMC).
According to Lamido Yuguda, Nigerians will be informed of the outcome of the engagements with the CBN
He said SEC suspended the implementation of crypto assets guidelines due to a lack of access to Nigerian bank accounts.
The official assured that SEC remained supportive of Fintechs and was developing a framework to support their operations.
8. Why Many Nigerians Have Not Had Power Supply Recently – Minister
The Minister of Power, Sale Mamman on Thursday noted that many Nigerians have not had power supply due to the breakdown of some National Integrated Power Plants supplying electricity to the national grid.
The Minister in his statement apologized to all those affected and assured that the issue is receiving attention and would soon be rectified.
Mamman said the challenges been experienced by those affected are regrettable and pleaded for their understanding while the repair work is in progress.
According to him, some power plants broke down, others have gas constraints, one is affected by water management issues while the Jebba plant was shut down for annual maintenance.
9. Acting IGP Disbands Special Monitoring Teams In Lagos, Port Harcourt
The acting Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba has disbanded the IGP Monitoring Satellite offices in Lagos and Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to Vanguard, Baba gave the order, following the incessant complaints of harassment and operating beyond their briefs over cases of investigations.
The acting IGP while speaking at his first meeting with Commissioner of Police across the country and Zonal-AIGs, said the IGP Monitoring Unit as a whole will be re-organised.
The IGP Monitoring Teams have been accused of various human rights abuses and gross corruption, just like it was with the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
10. Minister, Others Will Face Prosecution If $1.5billion Refinery Repair Is Mismanaged – Sagay
The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), on Thursday warned that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva and others will be prosecuted if the $1.5 billion spent on the refinery in Port Harcourt, Rivers State is mismanaged.
Sagay further stated that he was surprised when the Minister disclosed that the Federal Government had approved the sum of $1.5 billion to repair the refinery.
The Chairman of PACAC during an interview with Daily Independent, noted that the minister will be prosecuted if the refinery repair turned out to be a scam.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
source https://www.naijanews.com/2021/04/16/top-nigerian-newspaper-headlines-for-today-friday-16th-april-2021/
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