Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Thursday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has fired back at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors who rejected coalition or merger with any other political party. He also gave a hint of likely dumping the PDP to realize his bid to contest the election.

2. The House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State oversight, has invited the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.) to appear before it on Thursday for an interactive session. This was contained in a statement issued by the Spokesman of the House, Akin Rotimi (Jnr), on Wednesday.

3. Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has further reviewed its ex-depot (gantry) loading cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol. The new price is set at N835 per litre, down from N865 per litre implemented six days ago, marking a 3.5 per cent decrease.

4. Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over alleged defamatory statements made against him by the suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

5. Following the recent attacks in Plateau State which have led to the loss of lives and destruction of property, the state Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has issued new measures to check the incidents. The governor in a statewide broadcast on Wednesday said the measures included prohibition of night grazing and transportation of cattle after 7pm, as well as restriction of motorcycle movement from 7 pm to 6 am statewide.

6. The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to immediately return home to confront rising insecurity. He said this on his X handle amid the rising spate of violence incidents and banditry in Plateau, Zamfara, Borno and some other parts of the country.

7. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission have vowed to hunt down operators of Ponzi schemes nationwide. The Federal Government agencies declared this on Wednesday following the collapse of the digital assets platform, CBEX.

8. The Nigeria Customs Service has arraigned a Chinese national, Zheng Chao Hong (also known as Zheng Gaopeng), and a Nigerian woman, Amaka Marcus, over illegal possession of 7,200 kilogrammes of pangolin scales. The duo were brought before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, in Lagos on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession, and illegal dealing in pangolin scales, a specimen of endangered wildlife species.

9. Hundreds of suspected Boko Haram members have been arrested in Lagos State, the Commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Lagos, Mr Kumar Sanda, has disclosed. Kumar made the revelation on Wednesday while speaking at an award ceremony in Lagos, where he highlighted the CJTF’s ongoing efforts to prevent the infiltration of Boko Haram insurgents and bandits fleeing the North into Lagos.

10. President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday inaugurated a high-level committee on the forthcoming national population and housing census. The President tasked the committee to submit an interim report within three weeks, Mr Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement.