Victor EzejaHere are the top 10 stories from Nigerian daily newspapers for today, 18th April 2023 on Politics, business, entertainment and economy.
1. INEC Suspends Controversial Adamawa REC
Following the crisis that ensued over the declaration of the APC’s candidate as winner of the Adamawa governorship election when the collation of results was yet to be concluded, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ordered the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, to stay away from the Commission’s office in the State until further notice.
The Commission disclosed this in an April 17, 2023 letter, signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony. Read more
2. Adamawa Poll: Binani Sues INEC, PDP, Fintiri, Seeks To Uphold REC’s Declaration As Governor
Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Adamawa State governorship election, Aisha Dahiru, popularly called Binani, has filed an action at the Federal High Court, Abuja over the declaration of the election results.
Binani joined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate in the election, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively. Read more
3. Flights Grounded, Passengers Trek, As Aviation Workers Protests
Several Domestic flights in Nigeria were disrupted on Monday, as aviation workers in Lagos blocked roads to the country’s busiest local airport to begin a two-day strike in protest over working conditions and wages.
This is just as hundreds of passengers at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos State trekked to various terminals to due to the warning strike by aviation workers.
The workers protested the non-implementation of conditions of service and the planned demolition of agencies’ offices in Lagos. Read more
4. LP Crisis: Abure, Others Remain Suspended, Court Insists
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has refused a request to vacate its interim order restraining the national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, and three others from further parading themselves as the party’s national officers.
Justice Hamza Muazu, in a ruling on Monday, rejected the request by the lawyer to Abure and others, Alex Ejesieme (SAN), for the vacation of the order made on April 5, in which the embattled chairman, the national secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim; the national treasurer, Oluchi Opara; and the national organising secretary, Clement Ojukwu, were suspended.
5. PDP Governors Demand Conclusion Of Adamawa Polls
Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to conclude the collation of results of the Adamawa State governorship election and announce a winner.
The governors, while making the call on Monday in a statement signed by the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, Cyril Maduabum, equally called for an overhaul of the process of the appointment of Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).
6. Nigeria’s External Reserves Drop To $35bn
Nigeria’s external reserves have further drooped by $112.78 million in two weeks to $35.42 billion.
This was confirmed by figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The CBN’s data on the movement of external reserves on Monday showed that the reserves, which stood at $36.99 billion as of the end of January 1, 2023, fell to $36.67 billion as of February 27, 2023, and $35.53 billion as of the end of March 30, 2023.
7. Marginal Oil Fields Sale Generated N203bn – Buhari
President, Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that the Federal Government made over N203 billion from the sale of petroleum prospecting licenses to 161 firms in its last marginal fields bid round.
Buhari made the revelation when he spoke at the opening ceremony of the sixth edition of the Nigeria International Energy Summit at the State House, Abuja.
Marginal fields are smaller oil wells situated onshore or in shallow water bodies and are usually developed by local companies.
8. Fuel Subsidy: FG Begins 40% Pay Rise For Workers April Ending
Ahead of the fuel subsidy removal, the Nigerian government has finalized plans to begin payment of the planned increase in civil servants’ pay by the end of April (this month).
Reports indicated that Buhari is expected to give his final approval for disbursement any moment from now.
The federal government has proposed to remove the subsidy on petrol by June this year to stop its heavy spending on the scheme and increase revenue as a large chunk of it goes into subsidy payments and servicing of debts.
9. FG May Spend More Than $800m Earmarked For Palliative
Nigerian government may be compelled to spend far more than the $800 million loan obtained from the World Bank for post-petrol subsidy removal palliative to vulnerable Nigerian households following an expansion in the range of stakeholders’ negotiations currently ongoing.
Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, made the disclosure while briefing the Nigerian media contingent at the just concluded World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) 2023 Spring Meetings in Washington DC, USA.
10. Nigerian Government Approves Oxford Malaria Vaccine – NAFDAC
Nigerian government has granted provisional approval to Oxford University’s R21 malaria vaccine, say the medicines regulator, National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Monday.
Nigeria becomes the second country to do so after Ghana last week.
Malaria, caused by a mosquito bite, is one of the major tropical diseases in the West African country, which kills more than 600,000 people each year, most of them babies and children in the African continent.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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