Good morning Nigeria, welcome to GoldenNewsNg roundup of Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today Sunday 20th December 2020.
Gunmen on Saturday abducted the Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, along Oza Road, in Orhiomwon Local Government Area of the state.
GoldenNewsNg reports that the gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, also reportedly killed Okungbowa’s driver.
It was gathered that the Edo State Head of Service was heading to Benin, the Edo State capital after attending a social event organized by a politician in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
Kankara Boys Reunite With Family
Rescued students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, have been reunited with their families.
The reunion commenced after the boys were certified medically fit by the Katsina State Government on Friday.
The parents thronged the Hajj Camp in the state capital to take their children home.
They thanked the State Government for the efforts put in place to rescue their children.
The boys were kidnapped by gunmen on December 11 and were in captivity for almost a week.
They were rescued on Thursday and received by the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari on Friday, after which they were addressed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Boko Haram Attack Travelers On Damaturu-Maiduguri Road, Abduct 35
Boko Haram insurgents on Friday attacked travelers along the Damaturu-Maiduguri road, abducting at least 35 commuters.
The insurgents, who reportedly appeared in military uniforms, attacked a large convoy of commuters near Garin Kuturu in Jakana at about 5 pm on Friday.
Professor Akinwumi Appointed Vice-Chancellor Of Federal University, Lokoja
The Governing Council of the Federal University of Lokoja has appointed Professor Olayemi Akinwumi as the third Vice-Chancellor of the tertiary institution.
Chairman of the Council, Senator Chris Adighije, announced this on Friday on the premises of the university in the Kogi State capital.
He explained that the process of the appointment of a new vice-chancellor started in September when the institution declared the position vacant through publication in a national newspaper.
Senator Adighije noted that following the publication, the Council received 81 applications from various parts of the country.
He added that the applications were subjected to due process and a search party was constituted to look for people that were qualified but did not apply, leading to the shortlisting of 20 out of 81 applicants.
Edo Govt Urges Residents To Take COVID-19 Precautions
The Edo State Government has charged residents to be cautious and observe precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) amid rise in the number of cases in the second wave of the pandemic.
Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., in a statement, reiterated the need for Edo people to, during the yuletide season, observe all precautionary measures against spread of the pandemic in order to remain safe and healthy.
According to him, “It is a known fact that we have not seen the end of the COVID-19 pandemic as the entire country is already seeing an uprise in the numbers of confirmed cases of the infection. On Friday, the country recorded the first 1000 cases in a day, with 1,145 new confirmed cases and 1 death reported in 24 states. Edo state recorded 8 new cases.
“Today, Saturday, December 19, 2020, Nigeria recorded another 806 new confirmed cases and 11 deaths, which now leaves the country with a total of 77,013 confirmed cases and 1,212 deaths. This calls for serious concern and caution by all residents to remain safe and healthy.
COVID-19: Sanwo-Olu Bans Parties, Carnivals In Lagos, Night Clubs To Remain Shut
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has placed a ban on all forms of parties and carnivals as the state experience a second-wave of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The governor, who has tested positive for COVID-19, also imposed a curfew from midnight to 4am daily.
Sanwo-Olu ordered night clubs to remain closed till further notice, stressing that there was a need for residents of the Lagos State to wear their facemask.
Border closure: FG seized guns, 5,676 cartridges, 1,957 vehicles, others, says FG
Pump-action guns, cartridges/ammunition, bags of rice, drums of Premium Motor Spirit (popularly called petrol), etc., were among items seized by the Federal Government during the 16-month period that Nigeria’s land borders were closed.
It was gathered that 5,766 pump-action guns, cartridges/ammunition were seized by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Customs Service during the period under review.
The Federal Government closed the borders in August 2019. But on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), approved their immediate reopening.
During the border closure, several items were seized by the joint border patrol team of the Nigerian government, as different patrol teams were also established in the republics of Benin and Niger.
It was learnt in Abuja on Friday that the teams were created after a tripartite agreement was reached among the governments of Nigeria and the republics of Benin and Niger.
Insecurity: PDP’s Secondus calls for Buhari’s resignation, gives reason
Uche Seconds, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Saturday, called for President Muhammadu Buhari’s resignation.
Secondus said Buhari should resign for admitting that his administration has failed to protect Nigerians.
Recall that Buhari had yesterday lamented over his inability to achieve his responsibility of ensuring the protection of Nigerians.
The president had spoken in Daura, Katsina State, following the release of the abducted students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara.
However, Secondus said Buhari should give way for fresh ideas because he can’t live up to his responsibilities.
The PDP National Chairman, in a statement by his spokesman, Ike Abonyi said the president should stop giving excuses for his failure.
Enugu Court orders demolition of University Chancellor’s residence
A magistrate court sitting in Enugu State has okayed the demolition of a building belonging to the Chancellor of Coal City University, Mr. Chidenu Ani.
The order was sequel to an action filed by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA.
In the ruling issued on December 16 by Chief Magistrate grade 1, Alex Amalu, it ordered the respondent, Chinedu Ani, to open the access road linking Onoh crescent and Oshimili street.
The Court said: “The respondent is ordered to open the waterway illegally acquired and annexed to his property.”
It also ordered Ani to provide the ECTDA all approved building plan and title documents within 21 days, adding that if he has no approval, he should pay the contravention fees and violation charges to the state government within seven days.
“And the commissioner of police and Commander of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are directed to provide security during the execution by the applicant if the respondent fails to comply with the directives of the applicant to maintain law and order at all times,” it ordered.
Ani was alleged to have blocked a thoroughfare linking Onoh quarters in Ekulu GRA to Oshimili up to Enugu-Ontisha expressway.
Sources hinted that there used to be a road that crossed Ekulu River with a hanging bridge from GRA to the Express road, but a visit to the area on Saturday, showed that the road terminated into Ani’s residence.
That’s the Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Read more Nigerian news on GoldenNewsNg See you again tomorrow.
