Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 24th May 2022
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his administration will continue to deal with terrorist and non-state actors in the country.
The Nigerian leader disclosed that his government would ensure that peace and stability are restored in the nation before the end of his tenure in 2023.
Speaking on Monday during the 58th anniversary of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) in Kano, Buhari said his administration’s investment in the air force started yielding positive results.
Buhari promised to ensure the NAF receives the necessary support and encouragement to curb the various security challenges facing the country.
He, however, urged men and women of the force to remain steadfast, committed and resolute to deal with terrorists, bandits and non-state actors disturbing the peace of the nation.
The Federal Government has reopened the Kaduna International Airport two months after it was closed over attack by bandits.
Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, made the disclosure on Monday.
Naija News recalls that bandit terrorists attacked the airport and killed a security guard. The gunmen were, however, repelled by the Nigerian military deployed to the airport.
Following the attack, Azman Air and Air Peace halted flight operations at the airport.
In a chat with TheCable on Monday, Hope-Ivbaze said flight operations have begun today, adding that Azman Air has resumed its operations at the airport.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has withdrawn the suit filed against the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the Independent National Electoral Commission over his presidential ambition.
The counsel to the CBN governor, S.T. Maliki, told the presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, that a notice of discontinuance had been filed and served on the defendants in the matter.
Maliki stated this on Monday shortly after the matter was called.
He noted that though the matter was scheduled for the mention, Emefiele instructed them to withdraw the suit.
The first lady, Aisha Buhari, the wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo and the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen on Monday stormed the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress.
This is coming days after Pauline withdrew her senatorial ambition after a group purchased the Senatorial form of the ruling party for her.
The National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu, received them and subsequently ushered them in for a closed-door meeting.
The First Lady while stating the reason for their visit to the National Secretariat of the ruling party, she said they were on a solidarity visit to congratulate the Adamu for the opportunity to lead the party.
She called on the APC chairman not to forget women in all elective positions.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed a new date for the screening of its presidential aspirants ahead of the 2023 general election.
The ruling party had on Sunday shifted the screening scheduled for Monday indefinitely.
APC wrote, “The Screening Exercise for Presidential Aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) earlier scheduled to be held on Monday, May 23rd, 2022 is hereby postponed. A new date for the exercise will be announced shortly.
“Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.”
However, the National Organising Secretary of the party, Suleiman Argungu on Monday disclosed that the screening would be held on Tuesday, 24th of May.
According to Argungu, the ruling party will screen twenty-eight presidential aspirants that purchased the forms of the party.
The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has disclosed that Nigeria’s economy grew by 3.11%, year on year, YoY, in the first quarter of the year (Q1’22) from 0.51% recorded in the corresponding period in 2021 (Q1’21).
Naija News reports that the NBS stated this in the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report (Q1 2022) released on Monday.
The statement reads: “Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.11% (year-on-year) in real terms in the first quarter of 2022, showing a sustained positive growth for six consecutive quarters since the recession witnessed in 2020 when negative growth rates were recorded in quarter two and three of 2020.
“The first quarter 2022 growth rate further represents an improvement in economic performance. The observed trend since Q4 2020 is an indication of gradual economic stability.
At least seven political parties in Nigeria have agreed to work together and possibly present a single presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections in the country.
Naija News understands the parties joined forces to unseat both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the major opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.
The parties involved are the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) Social Democratic Party (SDP) Allied Peoples Movement (APM), People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Labour Party (LP) and National Rescue Movement (NRM).
It is however understood that each of the parties will still hold primary elections to choose its presidential candidates before a screening committee works on the candidates that have emerged to present a common consensus front.
The parties would also present candidates for other elective positions in the country ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The Federal Government through the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) has vowed to weed out some Sports betting companies in the country.
The decision was taken following the discovery of some sports betting companies operating in Lagos State with forged permits, Naija News understands.
NLRC Director-General, Lanre Gbajabiamila, in a statement handed down on Monday through the commission’s spokesperson, Magnus Ekechukwu, said some officials of the defaulting companies have been arrested and would be made a scapegoat to their likes still ghosting around.
Gbajabiamila said that the Commission will deploy every available legal instrument to weed out all criminal elements operating within the Nigerian gaming industry.
He reiterated that the arrested criminals are being prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others who could be nursing similar ideas.
The NLRC DG found it strange and disturbing that in the present dispensation people could want to defraud the federal government believing they would not be arrested.
The Kano State Police Command has disclosed that the explosion which rocked the state last week was actually caused by a bomb.
Naija News had reported earlier that there was commotion last Tuesday at Aba Road in the Sabon Gari area of the state after a loud explosion was heard in the area.
Hours after the explosion, the state Police Commissioner had said the unfortunate incident was a gas explosion and not a bomb blast as reported in various media outlets.
However, in a statement on Monday signed by its spokesman, Haruna Kiyawa, the state police command said the blast was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and not a gas cylinder.
Kiyawa said an investigation carried out by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal-Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense, EOD-CBRN, and Operation Puff Adder of the Nigerian Police indicated that the incident was a bomb explosion.
He added that a preliminary investigation revealed that one of the nine victims of the explosion dealt in illicit storage of toxic chemicals and other hazardous materials.
Suspected political thugs on Monday attacked the campaign team of the Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola.
Naija News reports Governor Oyetola is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State for the 2022 gubernatorial poll in the state.
The Governor’s campaign team were attacked along Arapajo area of Gbongan, the headquarters of Ayedade Local Government Area close to the venue where APC was holding a campaign rally.
It is understood that the team, including journalists, were attacked with axes, clubs and stones by the suspected political thugs shortly after leaving the campaign venue.
Campaign vehicles, including a bus of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) correspondent chapel were damaged during the attack.
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