Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the The Herald roundup of top Nigerian newspaper headlines today, Monday, 22nd January 2024.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said assured citizens that investigations into Mandilas building fire outbreak have commenced, The Herald reports.
The fire engulfed a 10-storey building warehouse in Mandilas Building, on Broad Street, in Lagos Island on Sunday but was curtailed by the state fire service.
The fire, started from the first floor of the building and spread to the fourth floor.
Giving an update on the situation on his X handle, Sanwo-Olu stated that the fire has been brought under control and there was no casualty, although the cause is yet to be ascertained.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday, January 19, arrested the suspected owner of a consignment of tramadol concealed in a bottle of dietary supplements, which caused a furore at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on Tuesday.
Director, Media & Advocacy of NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a Sunday statement.
The Herald had sighted a viral video in which it was claimed that a suspect being tortured on his knees while being slapped by another on Tuesday was an employee of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that had smuggled drugs into a passenger’s luggage.
One day later, FAAN clarified that the suspect was not its staff but an employee of an aviation services company operating within the airport premises.
Babafemi said, “Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday 19th January arrested one Okosun Paul Punitt, the consignee of a consignment of tramadol concealed in a bottle of dietary supplements, which a staff of Pathfinder International Ltd, Ajuzieogu Mac-Elvis Ugochukwu attempted sending through an intending passenger on Ibom Air to Accra, Ghana at the Lagos airport on Tuesday 16th January.
Opposition political heavyweights, including political economist Prof Pat Utomi, 2023 PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and NNPP’s Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso are engaging in talks with stakeholders for a potential merger.
The Herald The merger is aimed at clinching power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
The Coalition of United Political Parties’ National Secretary, Peter Ameh, along with Utomi and Atiku’s media aide Paul Ibe, made the latest revelation.
Recall that Atiku, after the Supreme Court upheld President Bola Tinubu’s win in the 2023 election, proposed the merger to challenge APC’s reign. The former VP said he is committed to remaining active in politics and called for a united front against the ruling party.
Leading opposition figure, Peter Obi has extended heartfelt wishes to popular Nigerian entertainment blogger and global internet influencer, Tunde Olaoluwa Adekunle, widely known as ‘Tunde Ednut’, on the occasion of his 38th birthday.
Obi spoke in a statement he shared via Facebook on Sunday.
He said, “Despite his relatively young age, he has leveraged his internet expertise and influence to propel numerous emerging Nigerian comedians, musicians, and other creative artists into the spotlight.
“This has significantly expanded Nigeria’s creative output, which serves as a crucial source of foreign exchange for our country.
“Your impact, contributions, and popularity are widely recognized and cherished by Nigerians worldwide, transcending ethnic, religious, and geographical boundaries.
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, on Wednesday, said it had arrested a man in the Mushin area whose pregnant wife fainted after being allegedly assaulted by the man.
According to the agency, neighbours rescued a pregnant woman from her husband in an alleged domestic violence case.
The agency, in a statement, said the neighbours rushed the survivor, who lost consciousness in the process of the assault, to the General Hospital for medical attention.
DSVA said it received a distress call on the matter from “a mandated reporter” in the early hours of Wednesday and swiftly contacted the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command to intervene in the situation.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, has launched a special intervention squad for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to curb the menace of insecurity in the Nigerian capital.
The Herald recalls that Abuja has, in recent weeks, witnessed an upsurge in abductions and attacks by bandits infiltrating the FCT from neighbouring states.
In response to the incidents, IGP Egbetokun launched the special squad, urging the officers to root out criminal elements in Abuja.
He also stated that the squad has the full support of the Nigerian government and some foreign governments.
The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, revealed on Wednesday night that foreigners were behind the illegal mining activities that led to the explosion that rocked the state on Tuesday night.
According to the Governor who made the revelation on ChannelsTV’s Politics Today, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) certificate of the mining company which is linked with the Tuesday night’s explosion that happened in the Bodija area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, showed some foreign names as owners.
Makinde further revealed that another of the victims of the tragic incident has died in the hospital increasing the death toll from two to three persons.
He further revealed that about 60 persons from the 77 people who were rushed to the hospital had been discharged after proper medical attention.
The Appeal Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has affirmed the election petition tribunal’s decision to annul the victory of Honourable Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, the representative for Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom State.
Justice Abba Mohammed, in delivering the verdict, asserted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) violated the clear provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, Regulations, Guidelines for the conduct of the 2022 Election, and Manual for Election Officials 2023 in declaring and returning Ukpong-Udo.
The tribunal, in its ruling, not only nullified the election but also mandated a supplementary election in the polling units where the initial election was not held within the Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency. A total of 33 polling units are slated for the supplementary election to determine the rightful winner.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, widely known as Tems, has shared her childhood struggles with bullying and isolation due to the unique tone of her voice.
The talented artist, who graces the cover of The Cut Magazine for January 2024, unveiled the emotional challenges she faced growing up and how it shaped her journey.
In an interview with The Cut, Tems disclosed that she refrained from speaking until the age of three, as her voice didn’t conform to societal expectations for girls. The consequences were severe, with the artist revealing that she became a target of bullying and ridicule, leading to self-consciousness and a belief that her voice was considered unattractive.
It has been ten years since Nigeria’s last African Cup of Nations triumph, but there is good reason to believe that the Super Eagles are ready to add a fourth title. Following a confident qualification campaign, which saw Nigeria top Group A ahead of Guinea-Bissau, the Super Eagles will be hoping to take that momentum into the upcoming tournament.
Portuguese manager, José Peseiro, has selected a squad with a strong blend of firepower up front, mixed with players plying their trade at some of Europe’s top clubs. Despite the injuries sustained by Wilfred Ndidi, Taiwo Awoniyi and most recently and perhaps significantly, Victor Boniface, there is enough ability in the squad to reign supreme in Africa again. The player to watch out for is undoubtedly Victor Osimhen. Even in a disappointing campaign so far for Napoli, Osimhen still has nine goal contributions in thirteen appearances.
