Victor EzejaHere are the top 10 stories from Nigerian daily newspapers for today, 21st April 2023 on Politics, business, entertainment and economy.
1. $2.4bn Oil Revenue Probe: Malami Writes Reps, Panel Threatens Finance Minister
Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has written to the House of Representatives assuring his readiness to provide relevant information on the alleged illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil to global destinations from 2014 to date, amounting to over $2.4 billion.
Malami made this known to the House’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating the alleged Loss of Over $2.4 Billion in Revenue from the Illegal Sale of 48 Million Barrels of Crude Oil Export in 2015 Including All Crude Oil Exports and Sales by Nigeria from 2014 till Date. Read more
2. Iwuanyanwu Takes Over As Ohanaeze President-General After Obiozor Demise
Elder statesman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has emerged as the new president-general of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
This was made known in a statement by the spokesperson of the group, Chiedozie Ogbonnia on Wednesday night. Read more
3. May 29 Inauguration: Military Pledges To Step Up Vigilance To Ensure Seamless Transition
Ahead of the May 29 slated for the inauguration of a new president, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has promised to step up vigilance around the country to ensure a seamless transition.
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, stated this on Thursday while answering questions from journalists in Abuja during the fortnightly briefing on troops’ activities and operational successes in the various operational theaters within the 6 geo-political zones of the country from April 6 to April 20.
The military command also assured that it will work with the Nigerian police and intelligence community to prevent any attempt to disrupt the inauguration.
4. Buhari Orders Suspension of Adamawa REC, Probe Of Police, Others
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate suspension of the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Hudu Yunusa-Ari, pending the completion of an investigation by the Inspector General of Police, Baba Alkali, on his actions during the supplementary election in the state.
This was revealed in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr Willie Bassey.
The president has also ordered the immediate investigation and prosecution of Hudu Yunusa Ari by the IGP, if found culpable.
The president also directed the IGP, Director-General of the State Security Service, Yusuf Magaji Garba Bichi; and Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to investigate the role of their officials involved in the Adamawa election.
5. Union Bank Risk Losing Assets Over N1.495trn Lawsuit
Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) is at risk of losing more than half of its total company assets following a N1.497 trillion lawsuit.
From the bank’s financial records for 2022 which were released recently, out of the total legal claims filed against Union Bank is N1.495 trillion from a single case, which is 53.2 percent of the company’s N2.79 trillion total assets.
6. IOCs Moved $21bn Investments To Other Countries – FG
Nigerian government on Thursday announced that most international oil companies that operate in the country’s upstream sector redirected their capital investments worth about $21 billion to other countries between 2014 and 2022.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) disclosed this during the just concluded Nigeria International Energy Summit held in Abuja.
The agency attributed it to regulatory uncertainty in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector prior to the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, and the de-funding of fossil fuel development occasioned by the energy transition and COVID-19.
7. Sultan Declares Friday As Eid-el-Fitr
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared Friday, 21st April 2023, as the day of the Eid-el-Fitri celebration across the country.
The Sultan stated this during a nationwide live broadcast in his palace in Sokoto on Thursday night.
8. Currency In Circulation Rises To N1.68trn – CBN
Following the Supreme Court order which forced the Central Bank of Nigeria to release old higher currency notes back to circulation, the apex bank has disclosed that it has increased to N1.68 trillion at the end of March 2023.
The currency in circulation in the country had reduced by 235.03 per cent to N982.09 billion at the end of February from N3.29 trillion at the end of October 2022, following the implementation of the naira redesign policy by the CBN.
However, it has increased by 71 per cent within the last one month following the reversal of the naira policy.
9. Falana Seeks Investigation Of Alleged N2bn Bribe By APC’s Binani
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the authorities to investigate the N2 billion naira bribery allegation hanging on the neck of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Aisha Dahiru, popularly known as Binani.
10. No Specific Date Yet To Remove Fuel Subsidy – FG
Nigerian government has said it has no specific date yet for the removal of subsidy on petrol, but it is fully committed to doing so.
Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, who stated this on Thursday, said it is until all indices are considered to ensure the move would not be too hard on the average Nigerian, that the government can fix a specific date.
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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