Good Morning, Welcome to Daily News24 Roundup of Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines for Monday, Jan. 10th, 2022
- Enforce compulsory vaccination for LG, state workers, FG tells govs
The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency has urged state governments to step up mass vaccination against COVID-19 as part of moves to combat the virus.
The agency, in its latest advisory obtained by one of our correspondents in Abuja, also urged state governors to enact and enforce vaccination mandate for local and state government workers.
This came to fore as the percentage for fully vaccinated Nigerians stalled at 4.2 per cent while those that had taken their first dose remained grounded at 9.8 per cent as of Sunday, January 9, 2021.
2. MD’s Suspension: NPA Panel Mum 8 Months After
Eight months after, the panel set up by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to investigate alleged infractions by the suspended Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, is yet to submit its report, Daily Trust reports.
Hadiza was suspended in May 2021 by the federal government as part of moves to “Allow an independent audit of the accounts and remittances of the agency.”
Some sources told the Daily Trust that they had doubts if the panel of enquiry had done something serious on the matter since it was inaugurated.
3. FG issues Lassa fever alert, death toll hits 102, cases now 4,632
The Nigeria Centre for Disease on Sunday gave a fresh warning over Lassa fever cases, which it said had risen to 4,632 and recorded 102 deaths.
The centre, in its latest advisory made available to one of our correspondents in Abuja warned Nigerians of the possibilities of Lassa fever presenting malaria-like symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, general body weakness, cough among others.
On its part, the NCDC disclosed that it had sent letters to states on the dangers of Lassa fever and the symptoms to look out for.
4. ECOWAS, Int’l Community Against Coup D’etat – Osinbajo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says there is a strong resolve by the ECOWAS and the international community not to accept coups d’etat or any other form of unconstitutional change of government.
Osinbajo spoke with newsmen on Sunday in Accra after participating in an Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
The extraordinary meeting, in which Osinbajo represented President Muhammadu Buhari, was to discuss the political situation in the Republic of Mali.
5. Capital importation falls by N1.68tn – CBN
Foreign investors appear to have boycotted the Nigerian market as capital importation has dropped by $4.08bn (N1.68tn) in one year, latest statistics have shown
Between January and September 2020, total capital importation amounted to $8.55bn, data from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed.
However, according to the latest capital importation report by the NBS, during the same period in 2021, foreign capital inflows into the country fell by $4.08bn (N1.68tn) to $4.47bn.
6. 38 Fresh Cases Recorded As Polio Hits Bauchi
The Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA) has recorded 38 confirmed cases of circulating Mutant Polio Virus Type 2 (Cmpv2) in 12 local government areas.
The Executive Chairman of BASPHCDA, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, stated this in Bauchi over the weekend when he flagged off the vaccination exercise against the virus at Bayan Fada.
He said the affected LGAs included Toro, Warji, Darazo, Misau, Dambam, Zaki, Jamaare, Alkaleri, Ganjuwa, Bauchi, Katagum and Shira.
7. IPOB urges Buhari to reconsider stand on Kanu
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asked President Mohammadu Buhari to reconsider his stance on the release of its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The group said Buhari was about making a mistake capable of adversely affecting Nigeria, if he failed to free Kanu.
The President had promised a delegation of Igbo elders of consideration of the IPOB leader’s release which he later rescinded during an interview with Channels TV last week.
8. Don’t hike VAT, stop excise duty comeback, OPS tells FG
THE Organised Private Sector of Nigeria, OPSN, through the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, weekend, urged the Federal Government, in the interest of Nigerians and the economy to suspend the reintroduction of excise duty of 10/litre on carbonated drinks and further hike in Value Added Tax, VAT.
It also called for urgent initiatives by government to deepen engagement with critical stakeholders, including employers and organised labour with the view to arriving at a more realistic strategy to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal on workers, employers and generality of Nigerians.
