Newspaper Headlines in Nigeria Today: Wednesday, 2-1-2023

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Good morning, this is Mdundo Newspaper Review 2-1-2023. Here’s a review of what the front pages of the newspapers in Nigeria are saying today. 

• The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has voiced its concerns over the effect of the current fuel scarcity in the upcoming general elections. Speaking at a consultative meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, yesterday in Abuja, INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu said it would meet with the NNPCL to find solutions to better the current fuel scarcity to enable ease of transportation on election day. [Daily Times] 

• CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele has assured Nigerians that they will not lose their money following the phasing out of the old 200, 500 and 1,000 naira notes. Speaking in a meeting with the Ad-Hoc Committee on Tuesday, Emifiele said Nigerians will still be allowed to deposit their old naira notes even when the notes cease from being a legal tender from February 10 2023. [Daily Times] 

• Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has asked university authorities to give Nigerian students a break to enable them to travel back to their place of registration so they can vote in the upcoming general elections. He said this during a meeting with observers from the European Union Election Observation Mission EU-EOM on Monday evening where he also voiced his concerns over the inability of some Nigerians to pick up their PVCs. [The Sun] 

• The absence of Ekweremadu’s daughter in court has stalled the trial of the senator who is in jail for alleged organ harvesting. When the court resumed trial on Monday, Sonia’s defence team told the court that she was unable to attend proceedings because she’s currently in the hospital with an unspecified illness. Her lawyers also submitted a psychological report asserting that she is not fit to stand trial. Sonia is said to be suffering from kidney disease and needs a transplant. [The Nation] 

• The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is set to raid new naira notes racketeers in top commercial cities including, Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Lagos. The EFCC hinted this on Tuesday after arresting a ring of the new notes racketeers at Zone 4, Wuse and Dei-Dei axis of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. [The Punch] 

• At least one person lost their life and several others were injured as a heavily loaded petrol tanker crushed three tricycles in the Ikotun area of Lagos State on Tuesday. An eyewitness told The Punch that the tanker driver lost control when he got to the Synagogue Church end of the road. [The Punch] 

• Suspected herders on Tuesday afternoon at Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State killed the Divisional Police Officer of Naka Division Mamud Abubakar. The state’s commissioner of police Wale Abass confirming the death of the DPO said he was ambushed and killed by unknown gunmen. [Nigerian Tribune] 

• Stakeholders have raised concerns over the possible increase in bird strike and air pollution at the Lagos Airport. This is due to stacks of refuse at various spots at the airport. BusinessDay’s Tuesday visit to both the local and international sections of the airport confirmed its poor condition with passengers complaining of offensive odour coming from the refuse dump areas. [BusinessDay]