Happy morning! The summary from Nigerian Newspapers for today is as follows:
1. According to oil marketers on Friday, the Christmas and New Year celebrations may be impacted by the regular emergence of lines of anxious drivers at gas stations searching for Premium Motor Spirit, also known as gasoline. Additionally, it was learned that oil marketers are now unrestricted by the Federal Government and can sell gasoline at any time.
2. Yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission gave its blessing to the publication and release of guidelines for the organisation of political gatherings, processions, and campaigns as well as for the handling of funds and election expenses for political parties, candidates, and aspirants. It consequently exhorted political parties to focus their campaigns on registered voters.
3. As the time set by bandits to pay a tax of N20m approaches, residents of Gidan-Goga village in the Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have started to feel anxious. Bello Turji, a notorious bandit, had informed the locals that the N20m was due by Sunday this week at the latest.
4. On Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari urged African leaders to modify their academic curricula and educational systems to emphasise STEM fields in order to help the continent fully industrialise by 2030.
5. The Niger Delta Development Commission is the subject of a probe by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions into alleged labour exploitation (NDDC). Senator Ayo Akinyelure, the chairman of the committee, stated that a number of petitions had been filed by disgruntled job applicants who claimed that NDDC’s management had prevented them from completing any paperwork despite having given them letters of employment.
6. Sammie Okposo, a well-known gospel performer and Welu Welu crooner, has passed away. At the age of 51, the musician collapsed on Friday morning. Hector Okposo, a sibling of the deceased, said in a statement that the family can find comfort in the fact that Sammie is allegedly singing joyfully with angels in heaven.
7. On February 6, 2023, a Federal High Court will decide on a request by Senator Rochas Okorocha, a former governor of Imo State, to overturn the 17-count criminal complaint that the Federal Government has brought against him. After the attorneys in the case adopted their written addresses and other processes in their closing arguments on Friday, Justice Ekwo set the date.
8. A syndicate that defrauded unwary residents of Delta State of significant sums of money by posing as agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was brought to justice yesterday. In a sting operation, the Delta State Police Decoy Squad captured the suspects at a hotel in Asaba.
9. Residents of Senator Ademola Adeleke’s hometown of Ede are already in a happy mood ahead of his inauguration as governor of Osun State on Sunday. The town’s hotels and suites were all reported to be fully booked on Friday, and most homes had fresh looks as inhabitants congregated in groups to discuss the approaching event.
10. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, has insisted that he will decline Arise News’ invitation to a town hall meeting. This claim was made by Tinubu in a statement released on Friday and signed by Bayo Onanuga, the director of media and publicity for the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
