Victor EzejaHere are top 20 headlines in Nigerian newspapers today, 3rd October 2024, in business and economy, politics, sports and entertainment among others.
1.Tinubu Travels To UK for 2-week Leave
Join our WhatsApp ChannelNigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday departed Abuja for the United Kingdom to begin a two-week vacation as part of his annual leave.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.
Mr Onanuga said the president would use the two weeks as a working vacation and a retreat to reflect on his administration’s economic reforms.
2. Naira Crashes To N1,700/$ After October 1 Public Holiday
The Nigerian naira crashed to almost N1,700 at the official segment of the foreign exchange market after the 64th Independence Day anniversary holiday.
According to the Nigeria Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) data published on the FMDQ Securities and Exchange platform, the naira exchanged N1,669.15 per dollar at the close of trading on Wednesday, 02 October. Read more
3. Nigerian Govt Stops VAT on Diesel, Gas, Electric Vehicle
The Nigerian government has introduced a new tax incentive aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
This involves providing exemption of Value added tax (VAT on key energy products including Diesel, Feed Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Electric Vehicles, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure, and Clean Cooking Equipment. These measures are designed to lower the cost of living, bolster energy security, and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy sources. Read more
4. NNPC Portal Shutdown Delays Petrol Supply – Marketers
Oil marketers have raised concerns that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) portal used to purchase petrol has been shut against dealers, making it impossible for them to apply for the commodity purchase.
They said marketers are still awaiting over 90 million litres of petrol from the state-owned company.
5. Kebbi Gov Buys SUVs For Emirs
Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris on Wednesday handed over Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles to four first-class Emirs in the state.
Governor Idris said the donation was in recognition of the role of emirs as facilitators of peace, security and development.
6. NANS Kicks Against NECO’s N50,000 Certificate Reprint Fee
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected the National Examination Council’s (NECO) N50,000 fee for reprinting of certificates.
The Registrar of NECO in Minna, Niger State, Dantani Wushishi, on Monday, 30 September, announced the new policy.
However, NANS clerk of the Senate, Abdulyekinn Odunayo, while reacting to the announcement, said in a statement that it is an additional burden on students and is therefore unacceptable.
7. Rivers October 5 LG Elections Must hold, Fubara Insists
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has maintained that the Local Government Election scheduled for 5th October will be held.
Fubara said he was informed by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) that there is an order mandating them to conduct the election on the 5th of October 2024, and the security agencies to support them.
8. NiDCOM Urges Nigerians to Leave Lebanon Amid Israel Attacks
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has issued an advisory urging Nigerians residing in Lebanon to consider leaving the country due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Commission warned that it was high time Nigerians began to leave Lebanon now that commercial flights were still available.
9. We’ve have Secured Code Sharing Agreements for Local Airlines – Keyamo
Minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo has disclosed that Emirates airline is in talks with many Nigerian carriers on establishing code share agreements.
Keyamo, who made this known shortly after a joint meeting with Emirates officials on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos on Wednesday, said the ministry of aviation has secured some code sharing agreements for local operators and agreed with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that domestic airlines must have the right of first refusal during the code share agreement.
10. Nigerian Govt Disburses N122bn to 6 Firms under gas Infrastructure Fund
The Nigerian government through the Ministry of Petroleum (gas) has disbursed N122 billion to six companies in a bid to boost the development of Compressed Natural Gas infrastructure across Nigeria.
The fund was disbursed under the Midstream, Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF). The beneficiaries include Asiko Energy Holdings Limited, FAMADEC Energy Limited, Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation, Nsik Oil and Gas Limited, Rolling Energy Limited, Topline Limited.
11. Dollar share of global FX reserves drops by 1.46% in Q2
The dollar’s share of global foreign exchange (FX) reserves decreased by 1.46 percent in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of the year.
12. Elon Musk’s Starlink Hikes Internet Subscription fee By 97% Over Naira Fall
Starlink, an Internet service providing firm owned by billionaire investor, Elon Musk, has increased the monthly subscription for its internet service in Nigeria to N75,000 for Residential plan.
This reflects an increase of 97 per cent when compare to the previous rate of N38,000.
The company also raised monthly subscription for its regional roam service to N167,000. Read more
13. PenCom Approves ARM, Access Pensions Merger
The National Pension Commission has approved the merger of ARM Pension Managers Limited and Access Pensions Limited.
The commission noted that the consolidation had led to the formation of a new entity named Access ARM Pensions Limited, increasing the total number of pension fund administrators in Nigeria to 18.
14. LG Poll: Abia LP Rejects Abure’s LG Election Committee List
Abia State chapter of the Labour Party has called on the public to disregard an announcement by the party’s former chairman, Mr Ceekay Igara, regarding the sale of nomination forms for the local government elections scheduled for November 2.
15. Edo Guber Poll: PDP leaders protest at INEC Office in Benin
Members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State on Wednesday besieged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin and protested the outcome of the September 21st governorship election.
They accused the INEC of compromise, saying that it did not announce the results of the actual votes cast which the party claimed it won.
16. Crypto transactions hit $59bn despite FX crisis
The value of cryptocurrency transactions in Nigeria reached approximately $59bn bbetween July 2023 and June 2024.
This was revealed in a report released on Wednesday by New York-based blockchain research firm Chainalysis.
This trend of crypto adoption in Nigeria continues to grow as the country struggles with a depreciating currency and surging inflation.
17. Constitutional Amendment: Atiku Proposes Rotational Presidency, 5-yr Single Tenure
Following the commencement of another round of review of the 1999 Constitution, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has recommended that the office of the president should rotate among the six geopolitical zones of the federation on a single term of six years.
18. Customs Intercept N682m Cannabis Indica at Tincan Port
The Nigeria Customs Service, Tincan Island Command, has seized three containers loaded with 684 packets of Cannabis Indica weighing 341.025kg valued at N682m.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Dera Nnadi, disclosed this at the command on Wednesday, while handing over the contrabands to officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
19. AFCON Qualifiers: Super Eagles To Reopen Camp Sunday In Uyo
Ahead of the next phase of 2025 AFCON qualifiers, the Super Eagles camp reopens on Sunday in Uyo.
With two impressive outings against Benin Republic and Rwanda under Coach Austin Eguavoen and his consortium of assistants, the team now faces another double header this time against Mediterranean Knights of Libya who are due in the country on Monday. Read more
20. C/League: Lookman Shows Class As Atalanta Downs Shaktar Donetsk
Ballon d Or nominee, Ademola Lookman, left no one in doubt that he is still in his killer form on Wednesday night after scoring his first UEFA Champions League goal and providing an assist as Atalanta earned a 3-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in Germany.
After a goalless draw against Arsenal in their first game and with only one UCL victory since September 2021, Atalanta proved too hot on the neutral ground of Gelsenkirchen in search of the game’s opening goal. Read more
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.
