TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY, FRIDAY 

TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY, FRIDAY 

1. Only Ignorant People Are Saying Buhari Has Not Done Well – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has given the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari a pass mark in terms of infrastructural and economic developments.

He submitted on Thursday that those criticizing the Buhari government are ignorant and do not understand how infrastructural investments encourage economic development.

The Minister said the current administration is poised to continue to deliver dividends of democracy with the commissioning of more landmark infrastructural projects.

According to him, the infrastructural projects are opening up the rural areas, creating employment opportunities both directly and indirectly as well as making life easier for Nigerians.

Mohammed made the submission while speaking at the 18th edition of the PMB scorecard series.

2. INEC Extends Deadline For PVC Collection

The Independent National Election Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) by one week

The commission made this known in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesman, Festus Okoye.

Recall that the electoral umpire earlier fixed the collection deadline as Sunday, 22nd January, 2023.

But following a meeting on Thursday, Okoye said the commission has pushed the deadline by eight days to ensure that registered voters have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the forthcoming election.

Okoye disclosed that the commission has now extended the date of collection from January 22nd to January 29th, 2023 between the hours of 9am and 3pm, Monday to Sunday.

He said that the collection at the Registration Area (Ward) level is extended by one a week from Monday, January 16th to Sunday January 22, 2023.

The INEC spokesman added that the collection at the Local Government level will resume on Monday, January 23rd to Sunday 29th, January 2023.

3. FG Gathers N1.8b From Sale Of Forfeited Assets – Malami

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) on Thursday revealed how much the Federal Government has realized from forfeited assets.

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According to Malami, the federal government has gathered the sum of N1, 823,788.146.86 from forfeited assets.

The minister disclosed that $641 million recovered loot from Gen. Sani Abacha has been used for social investment and the development of critical infrastructure.

Malami further stated that $319 million out of the $641 million was spent on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Second Niger Bridge and the Abuja-Kano Highway.

The minister, speaking on terrorism, said 3,000 cases were profiled, 1,500 prosecuted and 397 convicted.

Malami stated this in a presentation at the PMB Administration Scorecard in Abuja.

He added that the federal government has defended international cases to avoid liabilities running into billions of US dollars.

4. CBN Speaks On New Naira Note Bleaching

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has on Thursday assured the Nigerian people that the new naira note is authentic.

The Apex bank insisted that the new note is not bleaching as widely speculated in the public.

The Branch Controller of the CBN in Abeokuta, Wahab Oseni, disclosed this while addressing market men and women and other members of the public, at Kuto Market in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

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Oseni urged the citizenry to disregard reports claiming that the redesigned currency is bleaching, adding that no fear should be entertained concerning the durability of the notes.

The Controller assured that the security features on the redesigned note would make it impossible for the criminal elements to manipulate the mint.

5. EFCC Explains Why DSS Arrested Peter Obi’s Ally, Okupe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that the arrest of the former Director-General of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Doyin Okupe, was a mix up.

The chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Okupe, who was arrested at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, has been released.

Giving reasons for Okupe’s arrest, EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in a terse statement on Thursday, said: “The Department of State Services, DSS, today, January 12, informed the Commission of the interception of Dr. Doyin Okupe, former presidential adviser, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

“The Service acted on a Watch-list request issued on July 18, 2016, over six years before his recent conviction on money laundering charges by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

“The Commission was in the process of formally lifting the watch list before his interception and will expedite action in this regard.”

6. I Was Told Not To Attend The Reception – Monarch Discloses Reason For ‘Disrespecting’ Buhari

The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Ado Ibrahim has replied to a query issued to him for refusing to attend a reception held to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari to Kogi State.

The monarch was absent at a reception of Buhari for project commissioning in Okene local government area of the State about two weeks ago.

Displeased with the absence of the traditional ruler, the Kogi State Government issued a query demanding the reason for his absence.

Replying to the query, the Ohinoyi, while describing the contents of the letter as unfortunate and unfair, said that he was informed barely hours to the President’s visit and was also at the same time instructed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Abdulsalam Deedat, to stay back in his palace for the President’s courtesy visit to him.

In the three-page letter addressed to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the royal father decried the level of injustice that was exhibited by the Government of Kogi State during the visit of President Buhari.

Speaking further, the monarch explained that he had just concluded preparations to receive Buhari when he heard an earth moving bomb blast at the rear entrance to his palace.

The monarch lamented that while he was at the palace attending to the casualties he heard that the president had concluded his programme and departed to Lokoja.

7. ‘Don’t Vote For People Who Can’t Stand For 30 Minutes’… – What Peter Obi Said In Nsukka

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi on Thursday cautioned Nigerians against voting for the wrong leader during the 2023 presidential election.

The former Anambra State Governor noted that Nigeria is sick and does not need a sick president.

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He stated this while addressing students of the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, Enugu State Business School, and officials of the institution.

Obi who was in Enugu for a campaign rally held an interactive session on the sidelines at the UNN, his alma mater.

Speaking during the session, the Labour Party candidate took a dig at some other candidates, saying Nigeria does not deserve a president that can’t stand for thirty minutes.

He added that a candidate whose background can’t be verified, whose age, identity, schools attended or his classmates and other details are shrouded in secrecy is also pushing to become the next president but warned Nigerians not to vote for such a person so as not to push the country into a bigger mess.

8. Buhari Orders Security Operatives To Arrest Killers Of NSCDC Personnel

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed anger over the death of seven personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) killed during heavy crossfire with bandits on Monday.

Seven NSCDC officers, five vigilantes, and six miners were killed by suspected bandits at the Kuriga mining site in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

It was gathered that among the murdered personnel include, an Assistant Superintendent of Corps II (ASCII), two Assistant Superintendents of Corps I (ASCI), three Inspectors of Corps (IC), and one other officer.

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The president, in a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, on Thursday, directed security operatives to ensure that the bandits are arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

Commending the officers for laying down their lives for the country, Buhari prayed that God will grant the bereaved the fortitude to bear the loss.

9. Why I Won’t Campaign For Peter Obi – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed why he won’t join the campaign train of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.

The former president had received commendations and condemnations after backing Peter Obi’s presidential bid in his New Year message to Nigerians, entitled: “My appeal to all Nigerians particularly young Nigerians.”

Speaking on Thursday at a virtual engagement organised by Africa Leadership Group with theme: “Leadership and nation-building,” Obasanjo stated that he has done his part by openly revealing his candidate.

While stating he had no regrets about leading Nigeria, he outlined that character, attributes, attitude, skills, and most importantly, fear of God are needed for leadership.

Obasanjo noted that he has done his best by making his endorsement public, adding that he is not a member of any political party.

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10. Kaduna Assembly Deputy Speaker, Member Dump APC For Labour Party

The Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Isaac Auta Zankai, and the member representing Zaria state constituency, Suleiman Dabo, have joined the Labour Party (LP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Their defection was announced on Thursday by the National Secretary of the Labour Party and Chairman of the governorship Council, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, while inaugurating the party’s 450-member Governorship Campaign Council and the unveiling of its manifesto in Kaduna.

The LP National Secretary stated that half of the members of the Kaduna Assembly were “Obi-Datti” apostles.

He noted that the support received from the calibre of personalities in the state, was an indication that the party was on the march to taking over political power both in the state and the national levels