Newspapers Today: 10 things to know this Friday morning

Good morning, here are 10 things to know this Thursday morning in today’s newspapers.

1. The Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association (NCDPA) has said that it will henceforth encourage Nigerians to participate in partisan politics. The association, in a communique it issued in Calabar on Friday at the end of its 35th Annual General Meeting (AGM), stated that encouraging Nigerians to take part in politics was one of the agreements the members reached.

2. The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, has said that the Federal Government is set to generate 21 million full time jobs and lift 35 million people out of poverty by 2025. Sambo disclosed this on Friday at the ongoing 2022 Ministerial Retreat at Uyo, Akwa Ibom, adding that the sector is setting the stage for achieving the government’s commitment of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.

3. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has insisted law and due process were followed to carry out the planned redesign of new Naira notes, which it said is 12 years overdue. The apex bank’s reaction follows claims by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmad, that her ministry was not carried along in the proposed change of notes. The CBN spokesperson, Osita Nwanisobi in a chat with journalists, expressed surprise at the minister’s claim, insisting that the CBN remains a very thorough institution that follows due process in its policy actions.

4. Prof Vitalis Ajumbe, an ex-Commissioner for Information and Tourism during the past administration of former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has adduced the reason he dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and quit active partisan politics. Hinting at the rationale behind his decision which was contained in a letter addressed to the incumbent Imo Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma and forwarded to DAILY POST on Friday, Professor Ajumbe who is a founding member of the governing APC in Nigeria, accused the leadership of the APC of poor reward by the national leadership of the APC.

5. Terror Alert: Nigeria’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi has given reason why President Muhammadu Buhari should be worrisome of threat warnings from international US, UK, Canada and the rest, adding that the security threat that has now been made public is increasing every day.

“Don’t forget that intelligence that is available to embassies in Abuja are not collated from just the information gathered within Abuja or Nigeria. This information could have been picked up from any of the listening posts of the US anywhere in the world. We Nigerians don’t have that intelligence capability, therefore, don’t let us demonize the Americans or any of the embassies that are involved in this”.

6. The Joint Drivers Association of Nigeria (JDWAN), Lagos State Chapter, on Friday, said that their proposed seven days warning strike meant to kick off on Monday, October 31, 2022, remains sacrosanct. Those expected to participate in the upcoming strike are drivers of minibuses (Korope), coaster buses federal Mass Assisted Transit, Mazda buses, T4, LT, Ford and cars who will remove their vehicles off Lagos roads for one week. The drivers said they lose more than half of their income to the motor park boys through exorbitant levies in the garages and bus-stops whether or not they pick or drop passengers. He kicked against the formation of the parks and garages committee saying this was not backed up by law.

7. The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday granted the stay of execution on a judgment discharging the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, of terrorism charges. The Federal Government had claimed that Kanu was discharged but not acquitted and approached the court to stay the execution on his release order.

8. President Muhammadu Buhari has said the recent changes in travel advice from the US and UK governments should not be a cause for panic. The President, in a statement issued Friday by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, advised the nation’s security establishment and entire citizens to continue being vigilant and careful with security.

9. Mr Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), says the party will build an egalitarian, free and prosperous Nigeria if elected in 2023. Obi made the promise on Friday in Abakaliki while speaking at an event organised in his honour by the Ebonyi chapter of the Civil Society Action Group (CSAG).

10. The chief spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, yesterday expressed confidence that the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, will not abuse the rule of law, having been a victim of military brutality in his struggle for democracy.