Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naijaonpoint roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 5th October, 2024.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, has predicted that the red cap, which is a symbol of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, loyalists of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, will soon be a thing of the past in Kano State.
Jibrin also predicted that President Bola Tinubu and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win the presidential, governorship, national and state House of Assembly elections in 2027 in Kano.
The Senate Deputy President stated this while receiving some politicians who dumped the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said the rate at which the NNPP members, including their leaders, are trooping to the APC is a testament to the growing popularity and support the APC is getting in Kano despite being an opposition party.
The House of Representatives has approved a request by President Bola Tinubu to refund approximately ₦24 billion to the Kebbi and Nasarawa state governments for the construction of two airports that the Federal Government has taken over.
Naijaonpoint reports that in a letter dated May 16, 2024, and addressed to House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Tinubu urged the House to approve refunds of ₦15 billion to Kebbi State and ₦9 billion to Nasarawa State for the construction of Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi and Lafia Cargo Airport, respectively.
The letter pointed out that the Federal Executive Council, during its meeting on May 23, 2023, approved the reimbursement through promissory notes.
The approved refund for Nasarawa State amounts to ₦9.54 billion, while Kebbi State will receive ₦15.14 billion.
On Thursday, the House Committee of Supply considered and approved the report submitted by the Chairman of the Committee on Aids, Loans, and Debts Management, Abubakar Nalaraba.
The approval formalized the reimbursement of funds based on the claims made by both state governments.
President Bola Tinubu is poised to implement significant changes in the revenue collection framework of the Federal Government, potentially barring revenue-generating agencies from collecting funds on behalf of the government.
The proposed reform includes the establishment of a single entity, the Nigeria Revenue Service, tasked with handling all revenue collection activities.
This development aligns with the Federal Government’s initiative to introduce comprehensive tax reforms aimed at significantly boosting revenue collection efficiency.
Under the new proposal, agencies such as the Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, and approximately 60 other revenue collection bodies will be prohibited from participating in revenue collection efforts. Instead, the newly created Nigeria Revenue Service will take on this critical responsibility.
By streamlining the tax collection process, the government aims to ensure that all taxable entities contribute their fair share, maximizing the revenue generated to support public services and infrastructure development.
This policy shift was officially initiated on Thursday when President Tinubu submitted four executive bills to the National Assembly for consideration.
Nigeria currently grapples with a revenue challenge affecting all levels of government, with a goal to achieve a minimum tax-to-GDP ratio of 18 percent.
Nigeria’s former ambassador to The Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, has said the Bola Tinubu that he knew when he was Governor of Lagos and as a believer in a restructured Nigeria, is no longer the man who is President.
Dr. Yemi Farounbi said President Tinubu is ideologically somersaulting.
He advised the President to look back at the letter he wrote to former president, Goodluck Jonathan, in 2012 and compare it with his current policies that are responsible for the economic hardship in the country.
The former Nigeria’s ambassador to The Philippines stated this on Friday while speaking in an interview with Channels TV.
The Russian government has refuted claims of involvement in the October 1st hunger protests in Nigeria, alleging that Western countries are attempting to strain its relationship with Nigeria by associating it with the unrest.
In a letter addressed to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made available by the Press Secretary of the Russian embassy in Nigeria, Yury Paramonov, the Russian government distanced itself from the protests.
The statement emphasized that Russia has no connection to the demonstrations despite images of protesters waving Russian flags and chanting during the event.
Russia has been accused of political interference in several West African nations, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, prompting concerns about its influence in the region.
However, Moscow insists that the United States, the UK, and Ukraine are falsely linking Russia to the Nigerian protests in a bid to damage the strong diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Russia further accused Western countries and Ukraine of engaging in a coordinated media campaign to interfere in Nigeria’s domestic matters while attempting to shift blame to Russia for any unrest.
The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed his disappointment over the action of the Nigerian police in the upcoming local government election in the state, scheduled for October 5, 2024.
The governor shared his reservation while speaking on his encounter with the police at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) premises.
Speaking at a World Press Conference at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday, Fubara claimed that the interests of a single individual were driving efforts to halt the election.
He emphasized that all legal, security, and logistical preparations for the election had been completed, and voters had been adequately informed and sensitized, reflecting a high confidence level in the process.
He lamented that police had acted as hired agents, attempting unsuccessfully to raid the RSIEC and seize sensitive materials.
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has admitted he made a mistake in his previous pronouncement about tithes and tithing.
Pastor Adeboye apologized for saying any believer who does not pay tithes will not make heaven.
According to him, that statement is wrong and is not what the bible says.
He tendered the apology during a sermon at the church’s annual national youth convention at the RCCG Redemption Camp.
Adeboye also emphasized the importance of giving to the Lord and the blessings attached to such actions.
He cited the example of a man who promised to give more than what all the combined participants at one of the conventions of the ministry of Kenneth E Hagin in Tulsa, United States, give towards a project.
He said all the participants had given about 3.5 million dollars towards the building of the Rhema Bible College, but the man promised he was going to give more than what everybody gave towards the project.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has said the wanted terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji, will be the next to die for his atrocities.
Christopher Musa stated this in an address at an Annual International Lecture on Friday, in Abuja.
He said the latest video from the bandits was a testament to the fact that he knew his days were numbered.
“You can see from the action that he is taking, you will know that he is in a state of panic. He used to be emboldened to go and talk and talk as if he is the only one in charge.
“Now he knows he is not in charge. He knows it is a matter of time because Halilu Buzu who was killed was his master.
“So now that he knows his commander is gone, he (Turji) knows he is next and so all that he is doing now is mere noise-making,” General Musa said.
House of Representatives member, Alhassan Doguwa, has slammed the former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, for criticizing the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Naijaonpoint reported that Kwankwaso, while speaking at a political gathering in Kano state, said Nigerians, especially Northerners, are tired of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and would change it in the 2027 election.
However, Doguwa, in a statement on Friday, dismissed Kwankwaso’s assertion that Nigerians will reject the APC in 2027, calling it a “mere hallucination.”
The lawmaker stated that it is no secret that the Tinubu-led government is working hard to transform Nigeria for everyone’s progress and prosperity.
He further criticized the NNPP for its “non-performance” in Kano, declaring that the APC is ready to reclaim the state in the next elections.
Doguwa also highlighted Tinubu’s achievements, including attracting over $30 billion in foreign direct investments, reducing the country’s debt service ratio, and combating insecurity in the North West.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has maintained that embattled Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu remains impeached despite the court’s decision on the matter.
This statement was made in response to comments from Shaibu, where he warned Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to prevent looting of government properties by political appointees.
Obaseki, through his Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, dismissed Shaibu’s warnings as “infantile ramblings.”
He emphasized that Shaibu’s impeachment stands until the court’s final determination and, as a result, Shaibu lacks the authority to issue directives to government employees.
It should be recalled that in July, the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the impeachment of Shaibu, citing procedural irregularities by the Edo State House of Assembly.
Justice James Omotosho ordered Shaibu’s reinstatement, stating that due process was not followed during the impeachment.
Further, on September 24, Justice Omotosho dismissed motions from the Edo State Government and the State House of Assembly seeking to overturn Shaibu’s reinstatement.
The court awarded ₦400,000 in costs against both the Edo Government and the Assembly.
However, Governor Obaseki, in his latest statement, reiterated that Shaibu’s impeachment stands until a final ruling is made.