Good morning! Here’s a detailed summary of today’s significant news from Nigerian newspapers:
1. FCT Minister vs. Senator: Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has strongly declared that Senator Ireti Kingibe, who currently represents the FCT, will not return to the Senate in 2027. This statement was a direct response to Senator Kingibe’s earlier claims that residents of the FCT were not impressed with Wike’s performance since he took office.
2. Tragic Road Accidents in Kano State: On Monday, two separate road accidents in Kano State led to the tragic loss of 25 lives and left 127 others injured. Among the injured, 25 people are reported to be unconscious, with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff working tirelessly to revive them and provide necessary medical care.
3. Senate Leader Criticizes Nigeria Police: Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Leader of the Senate, expressed his concerns on Monday regarding the current state of the Nigeria Police. He pointed out that the police force, as it is currently structured, is not set up to succeed. He emphasized the need for reforms to create a more efficient and responsive police system to meet the growing demands of the populace.
4. NAF UAV Crash in Kaduna: The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that one of its Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) crashed in Kaduna on Monday. The authorities have started an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Fortunately, since the UAV was unmanned, there were no casualties reported.
5. Customs Intercept Arms and Drugs: The Nigerian Customs Services made a significant seizure at Onne Port in Rivers State, intercepting a 40ft container filled with various categories of arms and nine containers loaded with codeine. The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, revealed that the intercepted shipment originated from Turkey and displayed the weapons and drugs to journalists on Monday.
6. Concerns Over Petrol Prices: As the Dangote Petrochemical Refinery prepares to release its Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) into the local market within the next two to three weeks, petroleum marketers have expressed fears that the price of the product may be higher than expected. This concern arises from the refinery’s difficulties in securing feedstock locally from international oil companies, despite its 650,000-barrel capacity.
7. INEC’s Limited Authority on Elections: The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, clarified on Monday that the commission does not have the constitutional power to conduct local government elections except in the Federal Capital Territory. He made this statement during a two-day induction retreat for INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners in Lagos.
8. Kidnapping Incident in Guto Village: The Federal Capital Territory Police Command announced on Sunday that its personnel had successfully rescued two individuals who were kidnapped by gunmen in Guto village, located in the Bwari Area Council. The abduction took place on Sunday morning, and the police acted swiftly to secure the victims’ release.
9. Arrest of Fake EFCC Officers in Akwa Ibom: The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested four individuals suspected of impersonating officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). These suspects were allegedly planning to abduct a victim and demand a ransom of N150 million. The suspects were paraded alongside other criminal elements at the command headquarters in Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, on Monday.
10. Naira Exchange Rates: On Monday, the Naira experienced an appreciation in the parallel market, rising to N1,510 per dollar from N1,515 per dollar the previous Friday. However, in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), the Naira slightly depreciated to N1,508.99 per dollar.
