Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 9th December, 2024

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the President-elect of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, on his victory in the December 7 election in the country.

According to a statement on Sunday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Nigerian leader congratulated Mahama in a telephone interview.

He commended the people of Ghana for their commitment to democracy and hoped Mahama’s ascension to power for the second time would further bring stability to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The statement added that President Tinubu commended the candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Vice President of Ghana, Mahamudu Bawumia, for conceding defeat before the official announcement by Ghana’s Electoral Commission.

The Federal Government has stated that the proposed tax reform bills will not scrap any government agency.

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, gave the assurance at the flag-off of the National Sensitisation Campaign on the World HIV Day, Security Awareness, Discouraging Get Rich Quick Syndrome, World Human Rights Day and the Tax Reform Bills held in Jalingo, Taraba State capital.

Issa-Onilu, who was represented by the Director of Special Duties and State Operations, David Akoji, said that the agencies would be made to produce budgetary provisions of their activities.

He explained that the tax reform bills comprise of four different components: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.

He said that the four bills, when passed, would eradicate double taxation, provide support for low-income earners as businesses and earnings below ₦1 million would be tax free.

Issa-Onilu noted that the new reforms would put in place visible impact, pointing out that tax proceeds would be used to improve services like schools, hospitals and infrastructure across the country, urging Nigerians to understand details of the policy.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has berated the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over its recent statement about the activities of Air Peace.

According to Keyamo, the statement by FCCPC which questioned Air Peace’s pricing, was very careless.

The Minister added that the FCCPC should have contacted the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) instead of going public.

Naija News reports that Keyamo made the submission on Sunday during an interview with Arise TV, where he spoke about FCCPC’s invitation to the airline over its pricing issues and alleged poor services.

He stated that it was wrong for the FCCPC to single out some airlines for questioning without referring to the regulatory agency.

Keyamo added that the challenges facing the aviation industry include capacity limitations, especially regarding aircraft acquisition, servicing routes forex fluctuation, and not exploitation.

Troops of Joint Task Force South-East, “Operation UDO KA”, have apprehended two suspected terrorists during clearance operations in camps of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Naija News reports that the latest development was made known in a statement issued by the spokesman of the task force, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu on Sunday in Enugu.

Unuakhalu said the troops, on December 5, 2024, cleared the IPOB/ESN Camp at Uhuala- Aku in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo in continuation of its clearance operations.

He also said that the troops of sector 2 arrested two suspects terrorising the general area of the Okposi community of Ebonyi and recovered two locally fabricated pistols, nine live cartridges and one motorcycle.

Ad hoc personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo State, who participated in the governorship election held on November 16, have expressed their intention to organize a protest due to the non-payment of their allowances.

Naija News understands that no fewer than 17,000 ad hoc staff, who completed technical training before the governorship election, were assigned by the electoral commission for the recently concluded event.

The dissatisfied ad hoc staff, who voiced their concerns on Sunday in Akure, the state capital, expressed frustration that they have not received their allowances more than two weeks after the election.

Several individuals, who chose to remain unnamed, claimed that INEC had assured them of payment on the day of the election.

They indicated that the electoral commission had promised to compensate them with an amount less than N20,000 for their services on election day.

One ad hoc staff member, who served as a Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO), told Daily Trust during the weekend that they did not anticipate that the electoral body would still owe them at this time.

The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has denied calling for the sack of the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Senator George Akume.

He noted that it was necessary to address the allegation against him, because mischief makers sponsored by the proxies of the SGF were trying to blackmail and distract him from the unprecedented developmental strides he is making in the state.

The governor disclosed this via a statement on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula.

He insisted that the group that called for the sack of the AGF does not represent his political stance.

The Federal Government has issued a warning to Air Peace, urging the airline not to hinder its investigation into alleged violations of consumer rights.

A spokesperson for the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Ondaje Ijagwu, conveyed this warning in a statement released on Sunday.

Naija News reports that this development follows Air Peace’s assertion on Friday that the allegations made by the commission regarding exploitative fares have adversely affected the company.

Air Peace contended that the FCCPC did not adhere to proper procedures when making its allegations of violations.

The airline has stated that domestic airfare should range between ₦500,000 and ₦700,000 per route.

In response, the FCCPC indicated that Air Peace’s recent comments appear to be an effort to divert attention from the ongoing investigation into claims of exploitative ticket pricing.

The Commission noted that consumer complaints indicated that the fare prices set by Air Peace are indeed exploitative.

The FCCPC has questioned Air Peace’s pricing structure, particularly as its competitors offer lower fares.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has stated that the Department of State Services (DSS) are not responsible for searching passengers’ bags at airports.

Naija News reports that Keyamo made this known during an interview on ‘This Morning’ programme on Arise News on Sunday.

Using Lagos International Airport as an example, Keyamo said passengers enter through the arrival door and immediately encounter a screening machine for their bags.

Keyamo said the bags are inspected at a joint inspection table after the screening, which causes congestion due to the lack of space.

He said the congestion often leads to blockages that extend to the entrance gates, but the ministry has dismantled the joint inspection table at airports.

According to the minister, DSS officials are meant to profile those travelling in and out of the country for security checks and not check passengers’ bags.

He explained that the agencies now work with aviation security at the screening machine to eliminate repetitive searches.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) have intensified discussions aimed at finalizing agreements for the distribution of petroleum products.

On Monday, PETROAN’s National President, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, led the association in negotiating and signing a strategic agreement with the Dangote Refinery in Lagos, signaling growing interest in the refinery’s products.

Notably, the $20 billion refinery, which boasts a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd), has also drawn commitments from the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

However, in a phone interview with Sunday Vanguard, Dr. Gillis-Harry clarified that lifting operations would not begin immediately, as key details such as pricing, volumes, and logistics are still under negotiation.

“We are working out the details,” he said. “Pricing, volume, frequency, and logistics are still being discussed.”

Echoing this, Ehimen Joseph, Chairman of PETROAN’s Lagos State Chapter, emphasized that financing and operational logistics remain critical to ensuring seamless distribution.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged the public to disregard a fake list of ambassadorial nominees circulating on social media.

Speaking via a press release issued on Sunday, and signed by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Ministry noted that the appointment of ambassadors is solely the prerogative of the President.

The spokesperson emphasized that no such appointments has been made.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the general public to kindly disregard the fake list of ambassadorial nominees which is currently in circulation on some social media platforms.

“The ministry wishes to state unequivocally that the appointment of ambassadors is the prerogative of Mr President, and no such appointments have been made in that regard.

“The purported list should, therefore, be discountenanced,” the statement read.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.