Breaking News Today Sunday 27 Sept 2020

Remain firm against Boko Haram despite attack, Buhari tells Zulum



The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Saturday, condemned the ambush on the entourage of Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, which led to the death of security officials and some operatives of Civilian-JTF.

He advised the state government to remain firm in their determination to restore normalcy to all communities liberated from Boko Haram terrorists despite the attack.

Buhari’s position was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled “President Buhari condemns attack on Governor Zulum’s convoy, mourns security men.”

Shehu quoted the President as describing the attack on the Maiduguri-Baga route as an orchestrated sabotage against the long-planned return of displaced persons to their local communities.

#* Investment tribunal members sacked for embarrassing govt – Minister



The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, says the Federal Government had been terminating the appointments of past panel members of the Investment and Securities Tribunal because they were sources of embarrassment.

She disclosed this at the headquarters of her ministry in Abuja during the inauguration of members of the IST.

Ahmed said, “The problem with the tribunal has been infighting among members, lack of industrial harmony and series of complain bordering maladministration.

“This has been the bane of the tribunal and a source of embarrassment not only for the ministry of finance but for the government in general.”

#* Strike: Govs hold talks with labour, to meet Buhari



The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi on Saturday met with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in a bid to avert a nationwide industrial action over recent increases in the price of petrol as well as electricity tariffs.

Fayemi is also to lead a delegation to meet with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on the same issue.

This was contained in a statement titled “Final Communique,” issued by the Head, Media and Public Affairs of the NGF, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo.

He said in the statement, “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Nigeria Labour Congress are on the path to resolving the impasse occasioned by the threat by workers to embark on industrial action if the Federal Government does not rescind the recent decisions to increase the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit and Electricity Tariff in the country.




#* IPOB denies attack on security agents



The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Saturday denied allegation that it is responsible for the purported attacks on security operatives in South East and South-South.

Reacting in a statement by the IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the organisation described the allegation as false and propaganda.

It said the allegation was an attempt to discredit IPOB before the international community and wondered how unarmed organisation would attack armed security personnel and escaped unhurt.

“We are not armed and have no plans to pick up arms. But should we decide to go into arms struggle which is not an option on the table, it will not be a secret affair. We won’t depend on arms collected from any security agent to defend Biafra. That is childish and an insult to IPOB,” it said.




#* Osinbajo: We’ll focus on auto gas as alternative to petrol



The Federal Government will focus on developing Compressed Natural Gas otherwise known as auto gas, which is priced significantly lower than PMS.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, stated this during a virtual interactive session hosted by the Africa Report magazine on Thursday.

Answering a participant’s questions regarding the removal of petrol subsidy, the Vice President said “we have experienced a severe downturn in our finances over the years, so at 60 percent less revenue, we are in a position where sustaining fuel subsidies is practically impossible simply because we do not have the resources.”

According to him, “what we have decided to do is to focus on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) which is about half the price of petrol today. So, if we use CNG for our cars and for our buses, it will cost between N78 and N80 or so per liter.”