Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Monday morning

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

1. Fifteen persons, including children, sustained various injuries following a gas explosion in Ijora-Badia, Lagos State, on Sunday.

The incident occurred at approximately 4:20 p.m. on Amosu Street, Ijora-Badia, within the Apapa Iganmu LCDA.

2. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has reported the spread of the cerebrospinal meningitis outbreak to Kebbi, Sokoto, and Yobe States, with a total of 315 suspected cases as of March 23, 2025.

Of these, 38 cases tested positive for cerebrospinal meningitis, with 23 confirmed as Neisseria meningitis serogroup C and 14 as Neisseria meningitis serogroup W.

3. Senator Neda Imasuen, who represents Edo South Senatorial District on the platform of the Labour Party, has praised President Bola Tinubu for his courageous leadership, saying the South deserves to retain the presidency in 2027.

Speaking at the weekend, Imasuen said the president has shown “unbelievable strong courage”; in navigating the affairs of the nation and should be allowed a second term.

4. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has withdrawn the invitation extended to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi.

The police chief, however, directed the Kano State Command of the force to obtain the monarch’s statement in the state regarding the incident.

5. Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has said the continuous and sustained attacks in communities in the state should not be described as conflicts between herders and farmers but as genocide against the Plateau natives.

Governor Mutfwang expressed the state’s commitment to the fight against insecurity, saying the Plateau spirit of peace, unity, and hospitality remains unbroken.

6. A financial expert, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, says the current size of Net Foreign Exchange Reserves (NFER) at 23.11 billion dollars will positively impact the value of the naira. According to him, accretion to external reserves puts the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in a stronger position to defend the value of the naira.

7. The Federal Government says it is set to receive the first batch of 3.205 million meters in April, procured to bridge the metering gap in the country.

The Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, said this in a statement by his Special Adviser, Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, in Abuja on Sunday.

8. Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division have apprehended 43 suspected oil thieves during a coordinated raid on illegal artisanal refineries across Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states.

Spokesman for the division, Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, disclosed this to journalists in Port Harcourt on Sunday, noting that 14 artisanal refineries were also dismantled during the operations.

9. The Police Command in Benue has confirmed the detention of three notorious kidnap suspects in Ogoli-Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s Spokesperson, SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed this in Makurdi on Sunday. Anene said security agencies were carrying out operations in the area when the suspects were arrested.

10. The founder of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, Ebuka Obi, has denied claims of being behind the continued detention of controversial blogger, Chizorom Ofoegbu, popularly known as “Ijele Speaks.”; The Zion founder had sued Ofoegbu before a Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations of threats to life.

However, he claimed that Ofoegbu was initially granted bail on June 14, 2024, but failed to meet the bail conditions.