Victor EzejaHere are top 20 headlines in Nigerian newspapers today, 12th September 2024, in business and economy, politics, sports, and entertainment among others.
1. Maiduguri Flood Claims 30 Lives, Displaces Over 400,000
Flood disaster that hit Maiduguri the capital city of Borno State earlier this week has claimed not less than 30 lives and displaced over 400,000 persons.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe flood that started during the weekend got worse on Monday as it submerged many homes, farmlands, business centres, institutions like University of Maiduguri, and other parts of the town in the north-east state. The flooding was caused by the overflow of the Alau Dam following heavy rains. Read more
2. Nigeria Records N6.95trn Trade Surplus In Q2 Despite Decline In Imports
Nigeria’s trade surplus for the second quarter of 2024 reached N6.95 trillion, according to the latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
This represents a 6.60% increase from the N6.52 trillion recorded in the previous quarter. However, while the trade surplus grew, Nigeria’s total merchandise trade declined, dropping to N31.89 trillion—a 3.76% reduction compared to the first quarter of 2024. Read more
3. N70,000 Minimum Wage: Civil Servants Struggle As State Governors Delay Payments
The approval of Nigeria’s N70,000 minimum wage was celebrated as a hard-fought victory for the country’s workers. However, the joy was short-lived as state governors have delayed the implementation of this new wage, leaving many civil servants frustrated. Read more
4. We are Sliding Into Fascism – Afenifere
Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has allegedly accused President Tinubu government of sliding into fascism. This was made known in a statement on Wednesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Justice Faloye.
5. Court Grants N10m Bail to Detained Protesters Charged with Treason
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted N10 million bail to each of the detained #EndBadGovernance protesters who were charged with treason.
According to the court ruling by the judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, there are other conditions to be met aside from the N10 million which includes: producing one surety each who must be a resident of Abuja and must be a property owner in Abuja and that must deposit the documents of his properties with the court, besides swearing to an affidavit of means.
6. Maiduguri Floods: One Million Residents Affected – Zulum
Babagana Zulum, the Borno State governor, has said one million residents of Maiduguri, the State Capital, were so far affected by floods which ravaged the City and its environs on Tuesday.
Governor Zulum disclosed this while speaking on the incidents in Maiduguri shortly after distribution of food items to the internally displaced persons at the new camps set up to accommodate the affected people. Read more
7. Alaba Rago Residents Laments Amidst Increase in Petrol Price
Alaba Rago is a lepers community located in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State where people people with disabilities, primarily leprosy live.
The residents of this community has recounted their experiences since the increase in fuel price and the scarcity of fuel. They lament that they have resorted to drinking contaminated well water and eating food from refuse dumps since they can’t afford money to buy petrol to use the borehole used to pump water.
8. Gani Adams to Tinubu: You’ve Disappointed Nigerians
Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Adams, has voiced out his frustration over President Bola Tinubu administration, saying the President has failed many Nigerians who put him in power.
In an open letter to the President, he criticised Tinubu’s handling of the petroleum sector, saying that this shows the government’s insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.
9. Soberekon To Tinubu: Don’t Yield To Call For Return Of Petrol Subsidy
An elder statesman and prominent Niger Delta activist, Rev Sokari Soberekon, urged president Bola Tinubu not bow to pressure for return of petrol subsidy.
Tinubu has been under immense pressure in recent times to return subsidies on petroleum which he removed last year.
However, Soberekon in an interview said subsidy is an avenue to loot public funds, adding that the funds should be diverted to other useful ventures.
10. GTCO’s HabariPay Profit Rises by 30% in H1
HabariPay, the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), has reported a 30.7 percent rise in profit in the first half of 2024.
This was gleaned from the banks financial statement for first half of 2024.
According to the financial statement, the fintech recorded a profit after tax of N1.7 billion in H1, compared to N1.3 billion in the same period of 2023.
11. Ogun State Government Expresses Readiness to Implement Minimum Wage
The Ogun State Government yesterday has expressed readiness to implement the new minimum wage.
The State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, during a meeting with the labour leaders, has assured its workers that his government is working towards the implementation of the new minimum wage and would ensure that the state doesn’t come second in its implementation.
12. Student Loan Beneficiaries Lament over Delay in Payment
Beneficiaries of the Federal Government student loan have lamented over the delayed payment of the August monthly stipend.
In an interview with some of the students from different institutions, they expressed their disappointment in the payment delay while also asking that the money be increased as it was not sufficient for their upkeep.
13. Killer of Gokada Founder Sentenced to 40 Years Jail
Tyrese Haspil, who killed and dismembered his former boss, Fahim Saleh, has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison on Tuesday.
Haspil, the personal assistant of the tech boss was charged with murder, grand larceny and other charges in the 2020 death of his former boss, Saleh.
14. IGP Arrests Man in SPY Police Uniform Over Comments
Nigeria’s Inspector–General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has arrested a man wearing a SPY police uniform over political comments.
Egbetokun condemned political comments attributed to the man in a video showing dressed in a Spy Police uniform regarding the upcoming Edo State gubernatorial elections. The video which has been circulating on social media platforms has drawn many reactions.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, clarified that the individual is not a regular officer of the Nigeria Police Force, but a Supernumerary (Spy) Police Officer employed by a private company.
15. Woman Slumps, Dies While Sharing Testimony in Church
A 55-year-old woman, identified as Ifeoma, reportedly slumped and died after sharing a testimony in her church in Lagos. The Lagos State Police Command spokesperson SP. Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed it to newsmen on Wednesday. According to Hundeyin, the incident happened on Sunday at a church service in Ejigbo area of Lagos State.
16. FCCPC Seeks Stakeholders Support To Curbing Price Fixing other Unethical Practices
The Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Commission (FCCPC) has called on stakeholders in the production and distribution value chain of the economy to support it in curbing price fixing and other unethical practices.
The Executive Vice Chairman, FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, made the call at a town hall meeting in Lagos tagged: ‘Stakeholders Engagement on Exploitative Pricing.’
17. Nigerian Govt Unveils Plan To Raise $100bn From Creative Economy Yearly
The Nigerian government has unveiled plans to generate at least $100 billion and create over two million jobs from Nigeria’s creative economy annually.
This was revealed Wednesday by Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, at a roundtable for local and international investors in Lagos. The minister presented her ministry’s eight-point plan and roadmap.
18. Colombia 2024: Falconets In Make Or Break Clash As Cameroon Crash Out
Falconets of Nigeria are set for a make or break encounter this Friday, against Japan, in the last 16 clash stage of the ongoing FIFA U-20 women World Cup in Colombia.
The Falconets handed Venezuela a 4-0 thrashing in their last group match to zoom into the last 16. Falconets who are perennial qualifiers of the championship, will need to dig deep to overcome rampant Japan in the encounter billed for 2am September 13 at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota. Read more
19. NCF Puts Women’s Cricket Devt to U19 Series Test
The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has put together the maiden age-grade international tournament for the Women’s Under-19 national team, the Nigeria-Ghana Under-19 Women Series.
The event is a four-team invitational Serie that kicked off on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at the University of Lagos Cricket Oval. It parades Ghana’s Under-19 National Team, the South-West female team, a selected national Women’s team, and Nigeria’s Under-19 Women’s Team.
20. LP Automatic ticket Withdrawal From Obi, Otti: Only Abure Can’t Decide Who Will Be Candidate – Osuntokun
The Director General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Akin Osuntokun, has criticised the action of the National Chairman, Julius Abure, who announced withdrawal of the automatic tickets of its former presidential candidate, Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State for 2027 election.
In an interview with Arise News on Wednesday, Osuntokun said it is not for Abure to single-handedly decide who should be candidate of the party for any of the elective positions.
The LP campaign DG also raised concerns that the party cannot afford to have a southern national chairman when the presidential flag candidate is also from the South. He stressed the need to strike a balance between the north and south to avoid giving the impression that it is a regional party.
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.
