Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Sunday, 19th November, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Sunday, 19th, November 2023.

President Bola Tinubu departs Abuja for Berlin, Germany, to attend the G20 Compact with Africa Conference.

Naija News reports that the G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) Conference on November 20, 2023, will be hosted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The G20 CwA Conference will be taking place alongside the Fourth G20 Investment Summit, co-hosted by the German government and German business associations.

During the conference, President Tinubu will join other Heads of State and Governments of CwA member countries, bilateral partners, as well as Heads of International Organizations to deliberate on the immediate enhancement of economic and business cooperation with a view to outlining concrete measures to boost investments in critical areas such as energy, trade, infrastructure, and new technologies, among others.

A former military Governor of old Ondo State, Major General Ekundayo Babakayode Opaleye (rtd), is dead.

According to Leadership, General Opaleye died of a heart attack in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in the early hours of Saturday, November 18.

He was military governor old Ondo State (before the creation of present-day Ekiti State) from August, 1986 to December, 1987, during the regime of Military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

He took over from Admiral Mike Akhigbe of blessed memory before handing over to Commodore Olabode George.

A former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof Bola Akinterinwa, has advised President Bola Tinubu not to appoint his cronies as ambassadors.

Akinterinwa was reacting to a report that some Governors, the President’s associates, unsuccessful governorship aspirants, and retired military officers have submitted loyalist names for ambassadorial appointments.

Speaking with The Punch on Friday, Akinterinwa said the President should not use such important positions to reward or compensate his political cronies who helped him win the 2023 election.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reacted to the clash between its personnel and operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Kaduna State.

Naija News recalls that some Air Force officers invaded the Kaduna command of EFCC on Friday to secure the release of some of its personnel who were arrested by the anti-graft agency.

The suspects were, however, released hours after some NAF personnel stormed the EFCC facility in about three Hilux patrol vans, and surrounded the main gate, thereby preventing the EFCC officials from going in or out of the office.

The suspects were earlier arrested by the Kaduna State zonal office of the EFCC on Monday and remanded in the custody of the commission for further investigation and possible prosecution.

At least sixty fighters from Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) groups have been reportedly killed during a renewed infighting in Borno State.

A counter-insurgency expert and and Security Analyst focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, made this known in a post via his X (formerly Twitter) page on Saturday, November 18.

Makama said some field commanders from both groups were killed during the a heavy fight at Tumbum Ali Island in Marte Local Government Area of hr state around 2 p.m.

He said the attack was in retaliation of the massive killing of ISWAP fighters by the Buduma factions that had seized most of their hideouts.

Former ministers, ex-governors, and other officials, who served in the administration of former President, Muhammadu Buhari, and political associates of President Bola Tinubu are lobbying for ambassadorial appointments.

According to Punch, chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), National Assembly members, and retired military officers are among those jostling for ambassadorial nominations.

Nigeria has a total of 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates abroad.

Naija News understands that the lobbying for ambassadorial appointments commenced after President Tinubu recalled all the envoys from their posts on September 2, 2023.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the government and people of Liberia on the successful conduct of the Liberian Presidential Election.

Naija News reports that Tinubu made this known in a statement on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

The President also congratulated President-elect Joseph Boakai, who won the mandate of the people, enjoining him to unite the country and build on the popular support expressed through the ballot box to deliver good governance to the people of Liberia.

President Tinubu commends President George Weah for demonstrating uncommon leadership by conceding the election and averting any form of socio-political crisis.

Liberian President and African football legend George Weah has conceded defeat to opposition leader Joseph Boakai.

Naija News had earlier reported that Boakai was in the lead in the keenly contested presidential election.

Results announced indicated that the opposition leader was leading the polls with nearly 51 per cent of the votes in Liberia.

However, speaking as the country’s election umpire continued the result announcements, Weah said that there was no way he could overturn Boakai’s lead.

“The result announced tonight, though not final, indicates that…Boakai is in a lead that we cannot surpass,” Weah said.

“This is the time for graciousness in defeat,” he added.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said terrorist commanders, bandit leaders, and other criminals undermining the security of the country have been neutralised.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen. Edward Buba made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Buba said the Nigerian military has continued to target the leadership and chains of command of the terrorists, insurgents and extremist groups across the country.

The DHQ spokesman added that the ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations nationwide have yielded encouraging results.

He said the operations of the last week had resulted in the elimination of no fewer than 50 terrorists and the arrest of 122 of them in different operations across the country.

A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Olumide Akpata, said Nigerian political elites have turned judges into beggars.

Akpata, a governorship aspirant of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo State, said some state Chief Judges kneel before their governors to beg for funds, official vehicles and accommodations.

The former NBA president said these while speaking recently at the International Bar Association (IBA) Conference in Paris, France, Naija News reports.

According to Akpata, the absence of financial autonomy and the impoverishment of Nigerian judges have turned them into tools in the hands of politicians.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.

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