Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 18th January, 2025

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 18th January, 2025.

1. Dangote Refinery Announces New Petrol Price

In response to a sustained increase in the price of Brent crude, the global benchmark, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, has announced a new price list for its customers for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly referred to as petrol or fuel.

In a statement reportedly disseminated via email on Friday, The PUNCH quoted Dangote Refinery to have revealed that the new price for its refined products will be set at ₦955 per litre at the loading gantry, indicating a revision in its pricing framework.

The refinery specified that marketers purchasing between 2 million and 4.99 million litres will be charged ₦955 per litre, while those acquiring 5 million litres or more will benefit from a slightly lower rate of ₦950 per litre.

This adjustment represents an increase of ₦55.5, or 6.17 per cent, from the ₦899.50 per litre price that was offered as a holiday discount to Nigerians in December of the previous year.

The new pricing structure will apply to all stock balances that have not yet been lifted by the specified time, and any pending stock as of the effective time will also be subject to the revised rates.

The statement further indicated that this new pricing regime will come into effect at 5:30 PM today.

2. Tax Reform Bills: President Tinubu Hails Nigerian Governors For Support

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his appreciation for the Nigeria Governors’ Forum following their unanimous endorsement of the four Tax Reform Bills currently under consideration by the National Assembly.

Naija News reports that the President made this known in a statement on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Tinubu lauded the governors for their bold leadership and commitment to fostering unity among leaders nationwide, transcending regional, ethnic, and political barriers to advance Nigeria’s development.

He said Thursday’s productive consultation between the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy is a commendable example of cooperation between the Federal and State governments.

Tinubu extended special commendations to the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, for successfully galvanising support among his peers for these transformative tax bills to rejuvenate the national economy and enhance Nigeria’s investment climate.

He also commended the Progressive Governors Forum, the Northern Governors Forum, and all other groups that made the bipartisan resolution of the controversy stirred by the tax bills possible.

3. Tinubu Reportedly Backs Creation Of New State In S/West After Meeting Traditional Ruler

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has allegedly assured the Awujale of Ijebuland, Sikiru Adetona, of his support for the creation of Ijebu State from Ogun State.

Naija News understands that this is despite concerns about its feasibility amid Nigeria’s economic challenges.

The president met the traditional ruler on January 5 at his Bourdillon residence and pledged to back the proposed state, according to sources privy to the discussion.

At the meeting, Adetona highlighted how Ijebu remains the only colonial-era province yet to become a state, unlike former provinces such as Oyo and Sokoto, which have since been subdivided.

“The president didn’t allow Awujale to overflog the matter before acquiescing,” a source told Peoples Gazette.

This marked the first time Tinubu openly indicated his stance on the Ijebu State proposal. The discussion also referenced other potential states, including Anioma from Delta, currently under legislative consideration as part of a constitutional amendment.

4. Lagos Assembly Appoints New Principal Officers

The Lagos State House of Assembly has announced the appointment of its principal officers, Naija News reports.

The Lagos State Assembly carried out the appointments during the plenary session on Friday.

The members appointed are: Hon Temitope Adedeji (Ifako Ijaiye 1) as Majority Leader, Hon Sanni Babatunde ( Kosofe 1) as Chief Whip, Hon. Richard Kasumu (Ikeja 2) as Deputy Majority Leader while Hon. David Setonji (Badagry 2) as Deputy Chief Whip.

Naija News reports that the Lagos Assembly impeached its former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa on Monday, citing multiple statutory and financial violations.

Obasa was replaced by his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, a former chief whip and representative of Apapa Constituency 1.

Following Obasa’s impeachment, all principal offices and committees were dissolved immediately.

5. Our Duty Is To Protect, Not Harm Innocent Nigerians – CDS Musa Warns Military

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has cautioned the Nigerian Military against harming innocent citizens.

The CDS warned that harming innocent Nigerians under whatever guise should not be done by the military, reminding the men and officers that protecting Nigeria and the sovereignty of the nation is the constitutional duty of the armed forces.

According to him, there will be no soft landing or shielding for any officer found guilty in this regard.

Naija News reports General Musa sounded the note of warning on Friday when he paid an official visit to the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State.

During the visit, the military chief commissioned several projects at the academy targeted at improving the welfare and training of cadets.

6. Julius Abure Remains LP National Chairman – Appeal Court Declares

The Appeal Court has affirmed Julius Abure as the authentic National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).

Naija News reports that the verdict was passed on Friday, January 17, as confirmed by the party via its official X account.

In an official statement released shortly by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, Labour Party said the Court of Appeal presided by Honourable Justice Hamma Akawu Barka relied on its judgement earlier delivered on the 13th of November, 2024 in Appeal Number CA/Abj/CV/1172/2024 between Labour Party (Appellant) against Chief Olusola Nehemiah Ebiseni and INEC (Respondents) to make the declaration.

“The Court decided that the two appeals heard today (1) Senator Esther Nenadi Usman & others V Labour Party & others (CA/ABJ/CA/1217//2024 (2) INEC V Labour Party (CA/Abj/CV/1232/2024) could not determine the leadership of the Labour Party having emanated from an incompetent suit as the trial Court lacked jurisdiction to have determined the leadership of the Labour Party and therefore a mere academic exercise.

“The Court therefore directed parties to the appeals and the general public to respect the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on the 13th of November, 2024 which affirmed Barrister Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party,” the statement noted.

7. Obasanjo Stopped Me From Giving Akwa Ibom State Electricity – Ex-Governor, Attah

A former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, has accused ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo of halting his administration’s efforts to distribute electricity directly to residents of the state.

Naija News reports that Attah disclosed that from 1999 to 2007, he built a 191-megawatt power station to address Akwa Ibom’s electricity challenges.

However, Obasanjo allegedly instructed that the electricity generated by the plant be transferred to the national grid, thereby denying the state the ability to manage its own power supply.

Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme on Channels Television, Attah expressed frustration over the move, which he described as a setback to the state’s development.

The former governor emphasized the importance of empowering federating units to manage their developmental initiatives, including energy generation and distribution.

Attah criticized Nigeria’s current constitutional arrangement, describing it as authoritarian and incapable of addressing the country’s challenges.

The octogenarian called for restructuring the country to grant federating units more autonomy, allowing them to operate as equals rather than subordinates to the central government.

8. ‘We Can Not Trust Them’ – Edo APC Warns Against Asue Ighodalo, PDP’s Plot

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on its members and supporters to remain vigilant over desperate moves by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate in the last election, Asue Ighodalo.

The ruling APC made this known in a statement to Naija News on Friday signed by the State Chairman, Jarret Tenebe.

He warned of attempts by the PDP and Ighodalo to manipulate the ongoing Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

Tenebe said the APC will continue to monitor the Tribunal case closely and will take all necessary steps to ensure that the rights and interests of the party and its candidate, Governor Monday Okpebholo, are protected.

9. Nigerians In Diaspora Spent ₦60 Billion To Come To Nigeria In Dec 2024 – Abike Dabiri-Erewa

The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has disclosed that Nigerians in diaspora spent about ₦60 billion when they visited the country in December 2024.

She stated this at the 2025 budget defence session before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Diapora in Abuja.

According to her, remittances alone by Nigerians in the diaspora in the last five years have exceeded $90 billion.

10. Yahoo Boys Open Fire On EFCC Operatives, Kill One, Injure Another

Armed internet fraudsters fatally shot an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and critically injured another during an encounter with anti-graft operatives in Anambra State.

The operatives had embarked on a mission to apprehend a group of suspected cybercriminals, commonly referred to as Yahoo Boys on Friday, when the suspects opened fire, resulting in the tragic incident, sources confirmed to The Gazette.

One officer was killed instantly, while another sustained severe injuries and was hospitalised in critical condition as of Friday night. The team had traveled to Anambra from their zonal headquarters in Enugu for the operation.

When contacted, an EFCC spokesperson stated they would look into the incident, while the Anambra police spokesperson was unavailable for immediate comment.

The attack occurred amidst ongoing efforts by EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede to revise protocols for tackling white-collar crimes. Yahoo Boys were previously considered non-violent and were typically apprehended without resistance.

The deceased officer, identified as an assistant superintendent, had recently completed a promotional examination.

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