Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Monday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. President Bola Tinubu is set to make a nationwide broadcast on October 1, 2024, at 7 a.m. to commemorate Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria. A statement issued on Monday, September 30, by the special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the broadcast is part of the activities lined up to celebrate the significant milestone in the country’s history.

2. Bilikisu Bala, a prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday, told a joint committee of the House of Representatives investigating allegations of corruption against some officers of the commission and the Nigeria Correctional Service that charges of money laundering dropped in the trial of the crossdresser were lawful and in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

3. Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara said Saturday’s proposed Local Government election will produce a new political structure owned by the Rivers people. The Governor spoke when he received on solidarity visit leaders and members of the Simplicity Movement led by High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.

4. The Abia State government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, has arraigned one Lawrence Uzor who reportedly attempted to use his wife, Amarachi Lawrence, for ritual. Mrs. Lawrence was admitted in a hospital after her husband reportedly attacked and inflicted injuries on her while he attempted to pluck out her eyes at their residence at Adiele Estate, Umueze-Ibeku, Umuahia North local government area of the state.

5. The Peoples Democratic Party has asked the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to immediately reduce the pump price of fuel and stem the slide in the value of the Naira. The opposition party also charged Nigerians to use the 2024 Independence Day Anniversary to reawaken the spirit of Nationalism in defence of democracy against the “emerging totalitarianism being foisted on our nation by the APC”.

6. The Nigerian Air Force says it will launch a thorough investigation into the raining of airstrikes on the enclave of terrorists in Kaduna State, on Friday. There are reports that some innocent villagers were killed in the incident. But NAF’s Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information, Kabiru Ali, explained that the location has been notorious to be a terrorists’ enclave for over 2 years.

7. The Defence Headquarters on Monday said troops had been placed on alert to support the police during the nationwide protest scheduled for Tuesday (today). This was as senior lawyers and civil society organisations cautioned against military deployment during the rally, noting that it could aggravate the situation and trigger violence.

8. The landing cost of petrol has dropped from the N981/litre recorded on September 25, 2024, to N945.63/litre as of September 27. This is according to data released by the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria on Monday.

9. A former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has written to the National Assembly, requesting an amendment to the Constitution to allow for a six-year single term for the President and state governors. In a memorandum to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review, Atiku also proposed that the presidency be rotated between the North and South.

10. At least, six people have been confirmed dead and nine others injured when a commercial vehicle knocked them down while celebrating Maulud at the Gagarawa village in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State. The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Lawan Shiitu Adamu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday.