Good morning! Here are the main news stories from Nigerian Newspapers today:
1. The Federal Government said food prices will drop in the next 180 days (January 2025). The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said they will cut duties, tariffs, and taxes for some food items coming in through land and sea borders. This should help lower food prices.
2. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) wants the minimum wage to be N250,000. They will talk to President Bola Tinubu about this today at the State House in Abuja. Benson Upah from the NLC said they will push for this amount during the meeting.
3. A former government Accountant, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, asked for more time from a judge in Abuja to return the public money he is accused of stealing. He and another person, Felix Nweke, are charged with laundering N1.6 billion.
4. In Lagos, a court sentenced a businessman named Oluwafemi Asekeji to life in prison for sexually assaulting his 12-year-old daughter. The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency reported this.
5. A woman named Precious Yusuf was caught trying to smuggle drugs to an inmate at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abuja. She pretended to visit an inmate but was caught during a search.
6. At least two people drowned when a boat capsized in the Kalgwai community in Jigawa State on Sunday. The boat was carrying 20 people returning from the Gujungu village market, said the National Emergency Management Agency.
7. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is appealing a court decision that voided the primaries that selected Asue Ighodalo as its candidate for the 2024 governorship election in Edo State. They want the Court of Appeal in Abuja to overturn the lower court’s July 4, 2024 judgment.
8. Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, said President Bola Tinubu might not know what is happening outside his official residence. He told journalists that some people are keeping the President isolated.
9. There is a conflict in Rivers State between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and 27 assembly members led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule. The Governor claims that these members’ seats are empty because they stopped being members since December 13 last year.
10. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) might charge former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, with laundering over N33 billion. Mamman, who served under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, could face 12 charges for actions during his time in office from August 2019 to September 2021.