Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Henzodaily roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 10th January, 2025
President Bola Tinubu has consoled the Nigerian Army over the loss of some soldiers during attacks on its base in Damboa, Borno State.
Henzodaily reported that Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists launched a devastating attack on Saturday, on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigeria Army, in Sabon Gida, Damboa, leading to the death of six soldiers.
In a statement from his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President also consoled the families of the fallen soldiers, whose sacrifice in defending the nation would forever be honoured and remembered.
President Tinubu demanded a thorough investigation to uncover the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident and ensure that it served as a valuable lesson to prevent similar occurrences.
He commended the Armed Forces for their swift and decisive response, particularly the air component, in launching effective retaliatory strikes.
The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has submitted that the policies of President Bola Tinubu are bad and causing hardship for Nigerians.
Governor Mohammed said the bad policies of the President are causing hardships for Nigerians and the various state governors, and that is why there is a disagreement.
According to him, a good instance of the bad policies of the Tinubu government is the recent Tax Reform Bills currently before the National Assembly.
The Governor, however, added that there is still a chance for President Tinubu to correct his mistakes.
Speaking when he received a delegation of Islamic scholars led by Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, Governor Mohammed advised the president to listen to Nigerians and those who are correcting him because the policies are not working and the people are suffering.
Governor Mohammed added that he has the intention to meet with Sheikh Jingir on the matter because he is one of the few people who can talk to President Tinubu about it.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the Government of the People’s Republic of China to increase the $2 billion currency swap between Nigeria and China to enhance trade between the two countries.
In a statement on Thursday, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that the president also called for an upward review of the $50 billion aid package for Africa, which China’s President Xi Jinping announced last year.
Henzodaily reports that China and Nigeria recently renewed their currency swap agreement, valued at 15 billion yuan (approximately $2 billion), to enhance trade and investment.
Receiving the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi, at the State House, the President said increasing the level of currency swaps will speed up the infrastructural development in Nigeria and deepen the strategic bilateral relations.
Regarding the 50 billion dollars pledged by the Chinese Government to support Africa, President Tinubu noted that the continent’s infrastructural needs would require more commitment, urging a review of the amount to reflect the continent’s reality.
President Tinubu called on China to support Nigeria’s bid for a permanent United Nations Security Council seat.
2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has lamented the growing rate of insecurity in Nigeria and called on the government to take urgent action to address the trend.
Obi lamented that it is worrisome that insecurity has affected every aspect of the nation’s life, from the agricultural sector to the health and educational sectors.
He said the insecurity ravaging the country also shows in the constant kidnapping and killing of innocent Nigerians.
Speaking via a post on his X account on Thursday, the former Anambra State Governor said nothing justifies the kidnappings, killings and general sense of insecurity prevalent in the country.
Obi highlighted the recent killing and kidnapping of some individuals known to him and pointed out that many such go unreported on a daily basis.
He, therefore, called on the government and security forces to renew efforts targeted at keeping citizens and the entire country safe and appealed to the criminals to change their evil ways.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, has submitted that ordinarily, there should not be any conversation outside the National Assembly at the moment on the Tax Reform Bills submitted by President Bola Tinubu.
He noted that only second-term Governors are criticizing the bills while the first-term governors are silent.
The presidential media aide, however, submitted that the Governors should not be making public comments or openly expressing grievances against the bills but instead, make their positions known to National Assembly members from their states in both the Senate and House of Representatives, who would then take up such matters at legislative levels.
He added that it is sad that some Governors have chosen to play politics with the bill.
Henzodaily reports that Bwala made the submission during an interview with TVC in which he spoke about the grievances expressed by Governors against the Tax Reform Bills.
He said President Tinubu has made wide consultations regarding the bills, and this is because Tinubu is a collaborative President.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has condemned dichotomy in the country’s tertiary education system.
Alausa said the disregard for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education system was misplaced and wrong.
He condemned society’s wrong perception of graduates of the institutions despite their enormous contributions to national development.
Henzodaily reports that the Minister stated this on Thursday during a meeting with the Chairmen of the Council of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, in Abuja.
He called for a change in the wrong perception and highlighted the need to promote dignity and quality education.
Alausa promised to cooperate with the council and other relevant stakeholders to challenge the misperceptions.
Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has cited corruption and lack of security as why many Nigerians are not proud to identify as citizens.
Henzodaily reports that Igboho, who was spotted at an airport in the United Kingdom, highlighted security lapses in Nigerian airports, noting that travellers’ belongings are often stolen.
He said the security and many other issues in Nigeria are why they are agitating for separation.
Igboho maintained that if Nigeria cannot function as a unified country, the various ethnic nationalities should be allowed to separate.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that it will no longer approve requests from authorized foreign exchange (FX) dealers for extensions on the repatriation of export proceeds.
This directive, which took effect on January 8, was communicated in a circular signed by W.J. Kanya, Acting Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, and addressed to FX dealers.
According to the circular, the repatriation timelines for export proceeds remain unchanged:
– Non-oil exports: 180 days from the bill of lading date.
– Oil and gas exports: 90 days from the bill of lading date.
The CBN emphasized strict compliance with these timelines as outlined in Memorandum 10A (23a) and Memorandum 10B (20a) of the Foreign Exchange Manual (Revised Edition, March 2018).
The apex bank also directed authorized dealer banks to inform their customers of the existing regulations to ensure compliance.
President Bola Tinubu has commended and congratulated his Aide-de-Camp, Col. Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf, for his most recent promotion.
The President, who decorated his ADC with his new rank at the State House in Abuja, noted that Yusuf is a reliable officer who is going places in his military career.
President Tinubu added that Colonel Yusuf is deserving of his elevation and prayed for God’s safety on him as he discharges his duties to the nation.
President Tinubu said these according to a statement made available to Henzodaily by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
On his part, Col. Yusuf thanked the President for the confidence reposed in him to serve as Aide-de-Camp since May 2023, pledging his loyalty to him and the country.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has declared that the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is not a new virus, only that it is not well-kown.
The NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, also assured that there is no serious threat of HMPV in Nigeria for now, adding that there is n cause for alarm.
According to him, Nigeria is on high alert monitoring the situation and no single case of HMPV has been recorded in the country.
Henzodaily reports Idris gave the update on Thursday while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
The NCDC boss disclosed that Nigeria is working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) in monitoring the situation which has become a global concern.
He assured that Nigeria is adequately prepared.