Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Sunday, 17th January, 2021

January 17, 2021 Mary

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Sunday, 17th January 2021.

The Federal Government has snubbed a recommendation by the Economic Sustainability Committee led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Naija News reports that the snub was done following the decision of the federal government to re-open orientation camps nationwide next Tuesday amid rising COVID-19 infections.

Recall that the Osinbajo-led committee had in June 2020 recommended that while the NYSC programme could continue, the three-week orientation exercise should be suspended for two years.

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have attacked a military base and raze down public buildings forcing residents to flee their homes in Marte community at the fringes of Lake Chad Basin, Borno State.

The terrorists in their hundreds stormed the recently resettled community in the northern part of the state on Friday evening, shooting from all angles and forcing returnees to flee into the bushes, Daily Trust reports.

An official of the Borno State Government disclosed that there was a gun battle between troops and insurgents for hours at Marte town on Friday evening.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, instructed service chiefs to work together in ensuring the war against insecurity in Nigeria is won totally.

The President instructed them to share ideas, intelligence information, and all that is needed to ensure insurgency is defeated and the sacrifice paid by security operatives who have lost their lives is not in vain.

Buhari in a series of tweets from his Twitter account, also reiterated the commitment of his administration to the welfare of the troops.

The Nigerian Military has boasted that no single territory in the North East remains in the control of Boko Haram terrorists.

This was disclosed on Friday by the Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major-General John Enenche who noted that all territories previously occupied by the insurgents have now been reclaimed by the military.

Speaking on Channel Television’s Politics Today, Enenche said the insurgents have been displaced and seriously weakened as a result of continuous onslaughts against them by the military.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has won a sixth term in office with 58.6 percent of the vote, in an election disputed by his main rival Bobi Wine who trailed with 34.8 percent.

The winner of the election was declared on Saturday by the electoral commission.

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Gambari and Miyetti Allah of imposing Professor George Obiozor as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Naija News reports that Obiozor was elected Ohanaeze President-General after his other opponent pulled out of the race.

In a statement on Saturday, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, declared that the pro-Biafra group won’t recognize and work with Obiozor.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Saturday debunked rumours making the rounds that the commission has commenced recruiting.

Naija News reports that the anti-graft agency made this known in a statement on its Facebook page.

The anti-corruption agency warned Nigerians that the Commission is not currently recruiting, describing the ‘EFCC Recruitment Form 2021’ as fake.

The Lagos State government has announced the closure of the popular Ikorodu-Mile 12 corridor road for repairs.

According to a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, the closure will last for four weeks commencing from Saturday 16th January, 2021 (today).

He explained that in furtherance of the ongoing rehabilitation works on Ikorodu Road, Mile12 to Ketu corridor, the Lagos State Government will close down the service lane inward Lagos for repairs.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered the extension of the work-from-home order to civil servants in the state.

The Governor on Saturday, told civil servants on Grade Level 14 and below who had earlier being instructed to work from home till January 18, to continue working from home till February 1 2021.

The directive was contained in a circular issued by the State Head of Service, Muri Okunola on Saturday.

Okunola explained that the decision was part of efforts by the government to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the State.

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have reportedly shot and killed a livestock guard in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

According to a source, the incident happened on Friday around 6:00pm at Mballah close to NASME barracks in Makurdi.

Speaking to The Punch, the Commander of livestock guards, Linus Zaki, said that the suspected Fulani herdsmen had laid ambush when the livestock guards were on patrol.

“We (livestock guards) were coming on a motorcycle and suddenly we heard gunshots from both sides of the road and they succeeded in killing one of our guards and injured one other,” he added.