Victor EzejaHere are top 20 headlines in Nigerian newspapers today, 20th September 2024 on business and economy, politics sports and entertainment among others
1. Defence Minister Matawalle Involved In Banditry, Zamfara Gov Alleges
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has accused his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, of being involved in the issues surrounding the banditry currently ravaging the state.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelGovernor Lawal, who made the allegation while speaking on a TVC politics programme on Wednesday night, claimed that, based on information at his disposal, his predecessor, Matawalle led an administration that collaborated with bandits.
He equally accused the ex-governor of looting from the state’s treasury far above N70 billion that EFCC charged him for.
2. How Kogi Gov Ododo Aided Yahaya Bello To Escape EFCC Arrest
Latest attempt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has failed.
The incumbent governor, Usman Ododo, reportedly aided his predecessor to escape arrest.
The anti-graft agency had laid siege to the Kogi State Government Lodge in Abuja in an attempt to apprehend Bello, who is wanted over an alleged N80.2bn fraud case.
However, Ododo, was said to have leveraged his immunity as a sitting governor to assist Bello in evading arrest.
3. Dangote Refinery Officials, Refiners Kick Against Marketers’ Moves To Begin Petrol Import
Officials of the Dangote Refinery and domestic crude oil refiners have kicked against moves by marketers to begin importation of petrol.
They claimed that fuels imported into the country are substandard adding that allowing such would increase demand for US Dollars, thereby putting more pressure on naira at the foreign exchange market.
READ ALSO: NNPCL VS Dangote Refinery: Price War Or Fraud?
The oil marketers had reportedly said that the recent hike in petrol prices and alleged monopoly by Dangote Refinery justify embarking on importation of petroleum products.
4. Yiaga Africa Urges INEC to Deliver Transparent, Credible Edo Election
Yiaga Africa, an election observer, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a transparent and credible election in Edo State on Saturday.
The election observer made the call in a statement released on Thursday where it highlighted key issues that need to be addressed for a free, fair and credible elections to take place such as security, lack of trust in state institutions, and the electoral process.
Yiaga Africa also identified three critical tests that will shape the election which include impartiality of security agencies, resilience of citizens to participate in the election and integrity test for INEC.
5. NECO Releases Results, Abia Leads, Katsina Ranks Last in 2024 SSCE
The National Examination Council (NECO), has released the results of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examinations, (internals) with 828,284 candidates, representing 60.55 per cent, scoring five credits, including Mathematics and English Language.
NECO Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Prof Dantana Wushishi, announced the release of the results at a press conference at the Council’s Headquarters in Minna, Niger State on Thursday. Read more
6. PZ Cussons Reveals Plans to Sell Nigeria Subsidiaries, others
Multinational consumer goods company, PZ Cussons, has plans to sell its African subsidiaries as challenges in the macroeconomic environment persist.
The parent company of PZ Cussons Nigeria said it is looking at a partial or full sale to mitigate the company’s exposure to fluctuations in the naira, which has devalued by 70 per cent.
The company stated this in its preliminary results for the year ended May 31, 2024.
7. Bauchi Gov Accuses APC Of Causing Crisis in PDP
Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is responsible for the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mohammed, also Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, made the allegation when received PDP’s Board of Trustees, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, who were on a courtesy visit to the Government House in Bauchi on Thursday.
The Bauchi governor claimed that the APC plants moles within the PDP to keep them informed made the allegation.
8. Nigerian Economy to Reach $400bn by 2026 – Rewane
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, has projected that the Nigerian economy would grow by 3.5 per cent by 2026, pushing the country’s gross domestic product to approximately $400bn.
He stated this at the Access Bank Customer Forum held in Lagos on Thursday, 19 September.
9. Expert Projects That CBN Will Generate N50bn from Cybersecurity Levy in 2024
An Economic expert has projected that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would generate approximately N50 billion by the end of 2024 from the newly introduced 0.005 per cent cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions.
This projection was made by Head of Research, FMDQ Group Plc, Vincent Nwani, who stated there is a surge in electronic transactions in recent years.
10. FG, ex-CJN Onnoghen to Settle out of Court
The Court of Appeal, Abuja division, has approved the request of the federal government and the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, to settle out of court
Justice Onnoghen had filed an appeal challenging his removal as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
11. N70,000 Minimum Wage: FG Betrayed US – NLC Insists
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has restated that they were deceived by the federal government into accepting the N70,000 minimum wage.
President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, who stated this at the opening ceremony of a two day workshop on Minimum Wage Implementation Workshop, Southern Zone, lamented that the recent hike in petrol price has eroded whatever gain that may come with the N70,000 minimum wage that is yet to be implemented.
12. Maiduguri Flood: Displaced Persons Return Home as Water Recedes
People displaced by flood disaster in Maiduguri recently, have started returning to their respective homes as the water receded in many areas of the city.
The state government is said to have provided relief materials such as some food items and cash to the victims that will last for at least two weeks.
Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, made this known during a maiden briefing at the Flood Disaster Situation Room.
He said over 30,000 households with a population of over 600,000 were registered in the internally displaced Persons camps.
The flood disaster reportedly affected an estimated 2 million people with about 400,000 displaced in the northeast state.
13. Ganduje Denies Plot to Dethrone Emir Sanusi
National Chairman of the APC and former governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has denied being involved in any fresh plot to dethrone the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II.
Ganduje’s denial followed a viral report on social media that he’s leading a fresh plot to dethrone Sanusi. Read more
14. Tinubu Delegates Shettima To Attend UNGA79
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has delegated his Vice, Kashim Shettima to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly session holding in New York this year.
This was made known in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.
Mr Onanuga said the President Tinubu wouldfocus on addressing some domestic issues such as the recent devastating flooding in Maiduguri Borno State.
Tinubu returned last Sunday after his trip to China and the United Kingdom.
15. Court Orders Belemaoil To Pay $21.858m, N10.8bn Contract Debt To BGP/CNPC
Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered Belemaoil to pay the sum of $21.858million and another N10.81 billion to BGP/CNPC International Nigeria Limited being an unpaid balance of services rendered for an executed contract.
16. Maiduguri Flood: Residents Lament High Boat Fares
Residents of Maiduguri, Borno State, have raised the alarm over the high cost of canoe rides, lamenting that operators were now ripping them off.
Last week’s flooding of the ancient city of Maiduguri affected many areas making it inevitable for the residents to use canoes for movement.
17. Court Orders Bank To Refund N143m Over Illegal Sale of Firm’s Assets
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has declared the sale of assets and stock of a limited liability company, Kay Nath Nigeria Limited as null and void.
Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Lagos Federal High Court who delivered judgment in a suit filed by Kay Nath Nigeria Limited against the bank, ruled that the bank should refund the company the sum of N143,297, 700.
18. Rail Transport Generated N1.69bn in Q2 – NBS
The Nigerian rail system generated N1.69 billion in revenue from passengers in the second quarter of 2024, reflecting a 53.14 per cent increase compared to the N1.10bn recorded in the same period of 2023.
This data was disclosed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its report released on Thursday.
19. Coca Cola Pledges to Invest $1bn in Nigeria in Over 5 Years
Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company has disclosed plans to invest $1 billion in Nigeria in expansion of its business in over five years.
The Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of the company, Mr Zoran Bogdanovic disclosed this during his visit to President Tinubu where it noted the company’s long-term commitment to Nigeria.
20. FIFA Ranking: Nigeria Remain 39th in World, 6th in Africa
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have maintained their 39th spot in the latest FIFA world ranking.
This comes after the 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifiers where Nigeria defeated Benin Republic 3-0 and played a stalemate with Rwanda in Kigali.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
