Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 18th January, 2024

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the CityNews roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 18th January 2024.

1. President Bola Tinubu, at the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting on Wednesday, January 17, approved three resolutions aimed at strengthening the health and social welfare sector. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, said the steps are targeted at relieving the escalating cost of pharmaceuticals, funding of health sector regulatory bodies and mitigating the human resource flight in the sector.

2. President Bola Tinubu has directed the deployment of the officials of the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) to provide support and assistance to the victims of the explosion that rocked Bodija area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital city.
This is as he declared support for the state government in providing assistance for the victims to help in the recovery process.

3. The executive chairman of Geregu Power PLC and business mogul, Femi Otedola, on Wednesday, visited the Dangote refinery as production started in the new refinery. He also congratulated his ‘bestie’ Aliko Dangote on his achievement in building the world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery.

4. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has confirmed that the company responsible for storing the explosive devices that caused the Ibadan explosion has been identified. He said in an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, January 17, that foreign names appeared on the documents registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC.

5. The federal government, on Wednesday, January 17, reaffirmed that the January target for the take off of the Students Loan Scheme is still very much intact. Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, gave the affirmation while addressing journalists after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.

6. The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, on Wednesday, deployed the Special Intervention Squad in the Federal Capital Territory to curb the murderous activities of kidnappers and bandits in border towns within the territory. This came as the Federal Government warned against raising ransom for abducted victims, stressing that this might worsen the security problem in the country.

7. The Central Bank of Nigeria has uncovered infractions, gross abuses, and non-compliance with foreign exchange market regulations. Consequently, the apex bank vowed it would punish those responsible for the abuses in collaboration with relevant agencies.

8. The Kwara State Garment Factory has shut the application portal recently opened to hire 300 production workers after it received 8,373 applications in less than 48 hours. A Government House statement attributed to the management of the new government company said the job application portal was closed seeing that more people applied for the job than it expected.

9. No fewer than 36 suspects have been arrested by the Ondo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun, for their involvement in alleged criminal activities in some parts of the state. Parading the suspects in Akure, on Wednesday, the state Commander of the corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said 19 of the suspects were specifically arrested over alleged kidnapping activities, while others allegedly committed other offences such as stealing, burglary and murder.

10. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, commenced confidence-building visits to area councils in the territory, declaring that security agencies would, henceforth, make it hot for bandits. His visit came against the backdrop of incessant kidnap and killing of victims by bandits in the area.