Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Saturday morning

Nigerian NewspapersGood morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. Amid the raging debate on the N5bn presidential yacht to be procured by the Federal Government, as captured in the 2023 supplementary budget submitted to the National Assembly, the Nigerian Navy on Friday affirmed that it had taken delivery of the yacht. The Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, stated that the yacht had been in the country since June 2023.

2. France on Friday said it would be returning $150 million of General Sani Abacha’s loot. The visiting French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, who disclosed this in Abuja, said she has informed President Bola Tinubu about the planned return of the seized fund.

3. Troops of the Nigerian Army, code-named ‘Operation Whirl Punch’ have killed seven terrorists in Kampanin Doka Village, Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. According to the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Lt. Col. Musa Yahaya, in separate attacks, the terrorists neutralised no fewer than seven villagers.

4. The value of dollar to naira fell sharply on Friday, with the local currency exchanging below N1000 in the parallel market. This is the first time in over a month that the local currency would gain remarkable strength since it exchanged above N1000.

5. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says he is deploying back-channel strategies in Niger Republic to avoid bloodshed. Tinubu, who spoke when he hosted the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday, said Nigeria is monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country and exploring diplomatic channels.

6. The Northern community living inside the Umuchieze Cattle Market in Umunneochi Local Government Area has rejected the eviction order by the Abia State Government. The Abia State Government plans to make the market a daily one, which operates from 6am to 6pm like other markets and not a residential area as part of measures to checkmate the insecurity problems associated with the cattle market.

7. The New Nigerian People Party (NNPP) government of Kano State has alleged that the immediate past All Progressives Congress (APC) government of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje left the state with a debt burden of over N500 billion. Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo stated this in Kaduna while chairing the North-West Zonal Meeting of NNPP.

8. A fresh suit demanding the disqualification of Bayelsa State Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Douye Diri, from the forthcoming governorship election in the state has commenced at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The suit also seeks to disqualify Diri’s Deputy and running mate, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

9. The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, against subverting the will of the Imo people ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election. IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, issued the warning yesterday in a statement made available to newsmen in Owerri.

10. The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal on Friday overturned the judgment of the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Umuahia which dismissed the election of the member representing Isuikwuato Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State, Hon Amobi Ogah. The tribunal had nullified Ogah’s election, declaring the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate and current Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, as the winner.