Victor EzejaHere are top 20 headlines in Nigerian newspapers today, 21st September 2024 on business and economy, politics sports and entertainment among others.
1. Edo Election: Ighodalo, Okpebholo, Akpata Battle for Over 2 million Votes Today
As residents of Edo State head to the polls today, the three main political parties have expressed their readiness for the election.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThere are about 2 million voters that candidates of the parties —Senator Monday Okpebholo (All Progressives Congress), Asue Ighodalo (Peoples Democratic Party), and Olumide Akpata (Labour Party)— are hoping to get the highest number of votes. Read more
2. Edo Election: Police Arrest 2 Political Thugs In Pre-Election Raid
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have apprehended two political thugs suspected of planning to cause chaos during the Edo State governorship election on Saturday.
The operation, which was carried out in multiple locations across the state, led to the recovery of dangerous weapons, signaling the seriousness of security agencies in ensuring a violence-free election. Read more
3. Labour Faults FG’s Implementation of Minimum Wage from July
Labour unions have opposed the decision of the Nigerian government to start implementation of the new minimum wage from July 2024.
The Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for civil servants met on Friday as regards the new minimum wage template and agreed that the effective date for implementation of new minimum wage be set at 29 July 2024.
The labour unions stated that the Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, had told workers on May Day that the new minimum wage would take effect in May, adding that it was unfair for the government to renege on the promise.
4. CBN Withdraws Monetary Policy Document
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has temporarily withdrawn the Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade, And Exchange Policy Guidelines For Fiscal Years 2024 – 2025 document published on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
It said the revocation of the document is to minimise the risk of any further misrepresentation or misinterpretation, resulting in confusion among stakeholders.
5. Eko DisCo Warns Against Paying Individuals for Meters
The Eko Electricity Distribution Company has urged its customers to avoid paying individuals and unauthorised agents for meter procurement and other services.
The company further stated that all payments should be made directly through the official and approved channels made available in the public domain.
6. Nigerian Govt Signs MoU With Russian Firm to Complete Ajaokuta Steel
The Nigerian government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the builders of the Ajaokuta steel plant, Messrs Tyazhpromexport, for the rehabilitation, completion, and operation of the plant and the National Iron Ore Mining Company.
The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, signed the agreement on behalf of the government in Moscow, a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Salamotu Jibaniya, stated on Friday.
According to her, the MOU was signed when Audu led a Nigerian delegation to Moscow, Russia, from September 14 to 21.
7. Nigeria’s Defence Minister Under Fire for Alleged Link With Bandits
The Minister of State for Defence and former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, is under fire after being accused of having links with bandits terrorizing the state.
The incumbent Governor, Dauda Lawal, who appeared on TVC, on Wednesday, urged the minister to resign and work towards clearing himself of the allegation.
Matawalle is alleged to have procured vehicles for bandit leaders, including a notorious kingpin, Bello Turji, and others while serving as Zamfara State Governor.
8. Corrupt Leaders Should be Sent to Jail – Obasanjo
Former Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday, expressed concerns about the high level of corruption among politicians in the country.
Obasanjo advised that such corrupt individuals should be tried and sentenced to prison.
Obasanjo, Nigeria’s first democratically elected Head of State, who served for eight years from 1999 to 2007, decried the criminal behaviour among certain political officeholders.
9. Mikel Hails Lookman for Choosing Nigeria over England
Former Nigeria skipper Mikel Obi has commended Ademola Lookman for choosing Nigeria over England for his senior international football.
While praising the Atalanta forward on ESPN for making the decision early in his career, the Chelsea legend once again took a swipe at some players born outside Nigeria for delaying the decision until they have been completely overlooked by their countries of birth in the twilight of their career.
10. Portugal Set To Honour Cristiano Ronaldo With New Currency
Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d Or winner is on the verge of being honoured by Portugal with the launch of Euro Coin which will now be part of the country’s currency.
This is just as “Celebrate Me”, a Hit song by Nigerian Afrobeat and Reggae singer, Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, popularly called Patoranking, is resonating in faraway Portugal and in the life of multiple award winning soccer star, Cristiano Ronaldo. Read more
11. Naira Appreciates At Official Market As Dollar Supply Rises On Friday
The Nigerian naira strengthened against the Dollar, recording a marginal gain at the official market on Friday, 20 September.
This means the naira ended the week on a positive note in the foreign exchange market. Read more
12. Access Holdings Reports N348.9bn pre-tax Profit, Assets hit N37trn
Access Holdings recorded a pre-tax profit of N348.9 billion for the half-year (H1) ending June 30, 2024, as banks continue to enjoy bumper profits from Nigeria’s high interest rates.
The group’s pre-tax profit of H1 marks a 108 percent year-on-year growth from the N167.6 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2023. Also, the group posted a 107.7 percent year-on-year growth in its profit after tax, which hit N281.3 billion from N135.4 billion in H1 2023.
13. Past Leaders failed to Invest In Infrastructure, Education Community Devt – Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu on Friday, lamented how past Nigerian leaders failed to invest in infrastructure, education and community developments, when the country enjoyed the oil boom.
The President who stated this when he hosted Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, led by Ken Nnamani, former Senate President, however, assured Nigerians that his administration is focused on delivering tangible results and making a positive difference in the nation’s infrastructure, food and energy security, education and long-term economic stability.
14. NNPC Woos Investors to Revive Brass, Olokola LNG Projects
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has begun discussions with investors towards bringing back Brass and Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects, Umar Ajiya, chief financial officer (CFO) of the state-owned oil company revealed.
The CFO disclosed this on the sidelines of the ongoing 2024 Gas Technology Conference and Exhibition (Gastech), in Houston, United States, on Thursday, according to a release made available by Olufemi Soneye, chief corporate communications officer of the NNPC Ltd. Read more
15. Counterfeit Drugs Take Heavy Toll On Nigeria’s Health System
Nigeria’s healthcare sector is grappling with a number of issues including poor funding, attitude of personnel, frequent outbreak of diseases. However, more worrisome is the proliferation of counterfeit drugs.
16. Nigeria Govt Acquires 12 Aircraft fr NAF in 1 Year – CAS
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, says the Federal Government has procured 12 aircraft for Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the last one year.
Abubakar stated this at the Air War Course 10/2024 graduation ceremony of the Air Force War College Nigeria, on Friday in Makurdi.
He said the federal government deployed the newly acquired platforms to the Service between September 2023 and September 2024.
17.Court Declines to Order by-election to Replace 27 Rivers Lawmakers
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, declined to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct by-election to fill seats of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly that allegedly defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
18. Nigerian Govt’s Economic Reforms Yielding Good Results —Edun
Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said on Friday that the economic reforms embarked upon by the present administration are yielding positive results as the country recorded a net inflow of $16.45 billion into its foreign reserve in the first seven months of the year.
The Minister disclosed this at the 2024 edition of the Access Bank Annual Corporate Forum themed: “Nigeria’s Economic Rebirth: Hopes and Implications”, in Lagos, saying that the federal government plans to fund 360,000 farmers as part of efforts to curtail the ravaging food inflation while giving the economy a rebirth.
19. Nigeria’s intra-Africa Trade Rises By 195% to N2.9trn
Nigeria’s intra-Africa trade recorded a 195 percent increase Year-on-Year (YoY) increase in the second quarter of 2024 (Q2’24) at the backdrop of increased market access under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
This was revealed in the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report on the Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics for Q2’24. According to the report, the value of Nigeria’s intra-African trade rose to N2.911 trillion in Q2’24 from N985.17 billion in Q2’23.
20. Israel Adesanya Stakes $10,000, Expects Anthony Joshua to Defeat Dubois
UFC star, Israel Adesanya is hoping that two-time former unified world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua will defeat Daniel Dubois in their IBF heavyweight title fight and has staked $10,000 to that effect.
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.
