Hottest Newspaper Headlines for Friday, Sept 25

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Friday, 25th September 2020

1. CAMA Act Will Boost Fight Against Corruption – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the recent signing of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (CAMA) will help the fight against corruption.

He made this known while speaking in a video message presented at the Open Government Partnership (OGP) 2020 Virtual Leaders’ Summit on the sidelines of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA75) in New York.

Buhari explained that the CAMA Act will enhance transparency and corporate accountability in the fight against corruption.

According to the president, his administration was committed to changing international and domestic perceptions regarding Nigeria’s commitment to fight corruption.

2. Many Injured As Gas Explodes In Part Of Lagos

Scores of people have been reportedly injured in a recent gas explosion that rocked part of Iju Ishaga in Lagos State.

According to the report reaching Naija News, the incident happened around 3:30 pm on Thursday, September 24, 2020.

Reports revealed that the explosion, due to its intense has recked structures around the scene of the explosion.

A resident, Ikechukwu, who spoke with newsmen upon witnessing the explosion said, “We just heard a loud sound around 03.30 pm and we suddenly began to see smoke. The explosion is massive and we are not sure of the casualties but many people are injured.”

3. Court Halts NLC, TUC Strike Over Electricity, Fuel Hike

The National Industrial Court has restrained the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), their officers, affiliates and privies from embarking on any strike.

Naija News reports that labour unions had planned to commence an industrial action to from Monday, September 28 2020. to protest the increase in electricity and fuel.

But in a ruling on Thursday, Justice Ibrahim Galadima said the interim order stopping labour from embarking on the strike was pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

Justice Galadima made the order sequel to an ex-parte application filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Peace and Unity Ambassadors Association through their counsel, Sunusi Musa.

4. Ekiti: APC Suspends Ojo, Tinubu’s Son-In-Law, Babafemi Ojudu, 9 Others

The Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has suspended President Muhammadu Buhari’s adviser, Babafemi Ojudu.

The spokesperson of the party in Ekiti State, Ade Ajayi, on Thursday, disclosed that Senator Babafemi Ojudu; son-in-law to Senator Bola Tinubu, Oyetunde Ojo; former governorship aspirant, Dr Wole Oluyede; Ayo Ajibade, Femi Adeleye, Chief Akin Akomolafe; Bamigboye Adegoroye; Olusoga Owoeye; Dele Afolabi; Toyin Oluwasola and Bunmi Ogunleye has been suspended.

Naija News had earlier reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State set up a panel to look into cases of party members who have refused to withdraw cases filed against the party in court.

Ade while giving the reason for the decision wrote a, “The suspension is based on the recommendation of the investigative/disciplinary committee inaugurated by the SEC to investigate the disobedience of certain party members to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of 25th of June 2020, which directed members of the party not to institute any court action and to withdraw existing cases in court.”

5. Top Boko Haram Commander Surrenders To Nigerian Army Troops

The Defence Headquarters has confirmed that a top Boko Haram commander has surrendered to the Nigerian Army troops in Borno State.

Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this while giving a weekly update on the operation of Armed Forces of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.

The period under review by the Military covered operations that took place between Sept. 17 and Sept. 23, 2020.

Enenche during the media briefing, disclosed that the unnamed top Boko Haram commander surrendered himself along with his four wives.

He said the success was as a result of a sustained offensive by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole through air and ground operations on terrorists’ enclaves at different locations in Borno, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa.

He added that caches of arms and ammunition, as well as equipment and motorcycles, were also recovered during different operations within the period while the army also rescued many victims from the insurgents.

6. ‘Misplaced Priority’ – PDP Reacts To FG’s Plan To Spend $1.9b On Kano-Niger Republic Rail

Nigeria’s major opposition political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned plans by the federal government to construct a rail line linking Kano State to the Niger Republic.

It will be recalled Naija News earlier reported that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting on Wednesday, 23rd September, approved the sum of $1.96 billion to construct the 248-kilometre railway line from Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic.

Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi disclosed this to State House Correspondents after this week’s FEC meeting which held at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.

The rail line, which will start from Kano, is to pass through Dambatta, Kazaure, Daura, Mashi, Katsina, Jibia and terminate in Maradi, Niger Republic.

However, the PDP in a reaction to the development, said the President Muhammadu Buhari regime has never got its priorities right.

The party noted that the decision to construct a railway line linking Kano to Niger Republic is another proof of the misplacement of priorities by the administration.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a telephone interview with The PUNCH, in Abuja, stated, “The problem of this regime is that it has never got its priorities right and at the end of the day, Nigerians are the ones who suffer from these poor choices by these people.

7. Presidency Puts Up Presidential Jet For Sale

The federal government has put up an aircraft in the Presidential Fleet, Hawker 4000 with the registration number 5N-FGX/: RC 066 for sale.

The aircraft is one of the 10 aircrafts in the presidential fleet, and was purchased in 2011 for $22.91 million.

In a newspaper advertorial on Wednesday September 23, the FG said it will be sold to ready buyers.

Interested buyers have been directed to submit their closed bids to the Chairman, Committee for Sale of Aircraft, Office of the National Security Adviser, care of Special Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for the aircraft which will be the third to be sold since President Buhari took over.

8. Edo 2020: Oshiomhole Breaks Silence On Obaseki’s Victory At The Polls

Immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has finally spoken about Governor Godwin Obaseki’s victory at the just-concluded governorship election.

Naija News recalls that Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had defeated Osagie Ize-Iyamu, his APC rival, in the election.

Oshiomhole had campaigned vigorously for Ize-Iyamu whose loss some people attributed to his influence in the campaign of the APC candidate.

Reacting, Oshiomhole in a viral video released on Wednesday, expressed gratitude to the people of Edo State.

Oshiomhole, who stated that in life you win some and lose some, added that contrary to claims that he is unhappy about the outcome of the election, he remains strong and healthy.

9. IPOB’s Nnamdi Kanu Says If Anyone Can Answer These 4 Questions, He’ll Abandon Biafra

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) has given fresh conditions for him to abandon his agitation for a sovereign Biafra.

Kanu in a statement released through IPOB spokesman, Comrade Emma Powerful, challenged anyone who feels capable to answer his questions about Nigeria’s true age to a live debate on Friday, 25th September 2020.

According to the statement, Kanu promised to abandon his Biafra agitation if anyone lasts beyond two minutes with him in the debate.

The IPOB leader posed the following questions:

“What was the name of Nigeria before the amalgamation of 1914? If you debate me on this issue and you last more than 2 mins, I will abandon Biafra.

“What was the nationality of our progenitors Frederick Luggard amalgamated in 1914?

“If Nigeria is 60 years old on October 1, 2020 and your father or mother is 61 years, what nationality was she or he before he or she became a one Nigerian in 1960?

“What was Obasanjo’s nationality before independence in 1960?

10. AC Milan Striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic Tests Positive To Coronavirus

Swedish international, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has tested positive to coronavirus.

This development was confirmed in a statement on Thursday by his club, AC Milan where it further added that the 38-year-old striker has been quarantined.

A statement from the Serie A club on their official website read: “Zlatan Ibrahimovic has tested positive for Covid-19 following a second round of swab tests ahead of tonight’s game against Bodø/Glimt.

The club has informed the relevant authorities and the player has been promptly placed in quarantine at home.

“All other team members and staff have tested negative.”