Good Morning, Welcome to Daily News 24 Roundup of Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines for today Friday, 19th November 2021.
1. Buhari Okays N656.11bn Fresh Bailout For 36 States
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a fresh N656.112billion Bridge Financing Facility to the 36 States.
This was announced Thursday at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
The vice president’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement issued after the meeting, said each state would receive N18.225billion with a 30-year tenor, and a 2-year moratorium at an interest rate of 9%.
He said the facility was to help the states afford the repayment of previous bailout facilities guaranteed for them by the Federal Government.
2. ‘Walkie-Talkies are now a means of communication among bandits’ – Katsina Govt
Bandits have devised new ways of communication thereby, the effort of the government and security agencies to contain the ongoing security unrest bedeviling in the state.
According to the Katsina state government Walkie-Talkies are now a means of communication among bandits evens a telecommunication services have been shut down in parts of the state.
The Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS), Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, revealed this on Thursday at a press briefing where he gave an update on the Executive Order imposed to address problems of insecurity.
Speaking, the state Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba, said the walkie takies were short range communication gadgets that the criminals usually acquire through online shopping platforms.
Following the leaked report of the Lagos State judicial panel of enquiry that validated the massacre of many youths at Lekki during the ENDSARS protest last year, the minority caucus in the House of Representatives has asked the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai to resign or be sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Recall that Mohammed had said that no one was killed describing the development as a “massacre without bodies”.
But relying on the report, the caucus said Mohammed lied, stressing that other officials of the government also have many questions to answer.
The call was made in a statement signed by the minority leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu on Thursday.
4. Why Federal Govt Should Declare Bandits As Terrorists – Cleric
The President and General Overseer of the United Apostolic Church of Christ, Dr James Bayo Owoyemi, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits terrorising the northern part of the country as terrorists.
Owoyemi said any organisation responsible for the killing of innocent people and displacing millions of Nigerians is terrorist group, even if the Federal Government has not declared them as such.
Speaking in Akure, the Ondo State capital at the annual convention of the church, the cleric said the duty of the government at all levels is to protect its citizens.
According to him, if some people are making that job difficult, the government should not fail to invoke the law to punish the offenders.
5. Energy/Economic Growth: US, Nigeria seal $2.17bn agreement
The United States (US) and Nigeria, have on Thursday, signed a $2.17 billion Development Objective Agreement, aimed at expanding energy access, economic growth and revitalise democracy in Nigeria.
The Development Objective Agreement is believed to play key role in improving sectoral growth towards revitalising the economy as well as enhancing human capacity.
The agreement was entered into following an official visit by Secretary of State for the United State of America, Anthony Blinken, to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa on Thursday in Abuja.
To the US Government, it is believed the agreement will also promote and expand energy access, economic growth and revitalise democracy.
6. GDP: Nigeria’s financial sector expands by 23% in Q3 2021
The Nigerian financial sector, which comprises of finance and insurance sectors recorded a growth rate of 23.23% in the third quarter of 2021.
This is according to GDP report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday.
The Financial sector, which is classified as financial institutions and insurance, comprises of finance and insurance sector with respective 90.53% and 9.47% contribution to the overall sector in the period under review.
7. WAEC, Lagos celebrate 2020 best students in WASSCE
The West African Examinations Council on Thursday at its 59th annual council meeting celebrated the best students in the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination with the presentation of prizes.
A student of Princeton College, Surulere, Lagos, Morenike Yinka-Banjo, with No 4252067/039 came first. She scored A1 in her subjects and her total score is 606.3196.
Ayooluwa Adebowale of Emerald Laurel Comprehensive College, Ibadan came second. She also had A1 in all her subjects with a total score of 601.2198. Nwaozuzu Chinaza of Total Education Development Academy, Eke-Owerri, Abia State came third. She also scored distinctions in all her subjects with a total score of 599.605.
The mother of the first prize winner, Dr Chika Yinka-Banjo, said in an interview with journalists that her daughter was unable to attend the event because she is presently studying Computational Biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States of America.
Seyi Tinubu, son of National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has reacted after singer Davido raked over N150m million in less than 24 hours after sharing his account details on social media.
Seeing the massive success of the pop star’s crowd-funding, Tinubu urged Davido to host a free concert for his fans.
The young CEO/Chairman via an insta story post said the 30BG boss had begun a new wave which he has also decided to jump on as he indulged him to organise a free concert for his fans.
9. Internet connection restored in Sudan
In the wake of the deadliest day of anti-coup mobilization since the October 25 coup, the new military government has taken a step towards conciliation.
For more than three weeks, the repression had been escalating, and the generals had reaffirmed their authority by cutting off the Sudanese telephone on Wednesday.
But after the bloody day of mobilization during which 15 demonstrators lost their lives, through gunshots by the military, général Abdel Fattah al-Burhane chose to calm the tensions.
Telephone communications were restored on Wednesday night and the Internet was reconnected in the afternoon.
10. South African Airways Resumes Lagos-Johannesburg Flight
South African Airways (SAA) has concluded plans to resume the Johannesburg-Lagos route on December 12, 2021.
The airline had been out of service for 18 months due to operational turbulence before it resumed operation on September 23rd, 2021.
After resuming operations, it would be restarting the lucrative Lagos flight which it described as an important continental route, commencing with a three-times a week flight to Lagos.
The interim CEO of South African Airways, Thomas Kgolo, in a statement said, “This specific destination takes SAA into one of the biggest travel markets in Africa and we’re delighted that we are again able to resume operations, providing a link between Africa’s two biggest economies.”
