尼日利亚报纸:周五早间十大必读资讯

Good morning. Please find below the summary of today’s news from Nigerian newspapers.

1. In light of the reported suspected insurgent plot aimed at targeting the airport and correctional facilities in Abuja and the adjacent Niger State, security agencies have taken measures to enhance security at these locations. The Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Nigeria Correctional Service announced on Thursday that they have proactively bolstered security measures around the airports and correctional centers.

2. The Islamic State West Africa Province has taken responsibility for a series of assaults on Nigerian security forces as well as those of neighboring countries. The statement, originally composed in Arabic and subsequently translated into English, was issued on Thursday, a copy of which was reviewed by our correspondent on X (formerly Twitter).

3.The Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Command, has apprehended 125 foreign nationals on allegations of immigration-related offenses, with 82 of these individuals scheduled for repatriation. Assistant Comptroller-General of Zone A, Mohamed Adamu, discussed this development during a statement in Lagos on Thursday. The operation, executed in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, took place on March 30 across various regions of the state.

4. At least six individuals have been apprehended by the Ondo State Police Command in connection with an alleged conspiracy to bomb government facilities in Akure. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adebowale Lawal, made this announcement during a press briefing on Thursday. He also mentioned that an additional ten suspected criminals were arrested throughout the state, increasing the total number of arrests to sixteen.

5. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, addressed the media on Thursday, responding to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s criticisms of the current administration. Wike characterized Atiku as a recurrent failure, rejecting his recent remarks on national television regarding the government’s handling of the hardships faced by Nigerians. This statement was made during a scheduled inspection of infrastructure projects in Kuje and other areas within the FCT.

6. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed confidence regarding the individuals strategizing to supplant his administration in 2027. He made this declaration during a meeting with the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, led by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.

7. A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja issued an arrest warrant on Thursday for Sadiya Umar Faruoq, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. The court has also instructed that Bashir Nura Alkali, the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, be apprehended alongside Sadiya due to their nonappearance in court for arraignment.

8. Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has designated Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada as his preferred successor. He characterized Wadada as a representation of the “Muje Maha” spirit, which has been a defining element of his administration’s commitment to governance and political inclusivity.

9. On Wednesday evening, it has been reported that armed individuals abducted a minimum of 14 passengers along the Makurdi-Otukpo road in Benue State. Many of the victims are believed to be candidates preparing for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination. They were en route from Makurdi to the Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) when the incident transpired.

10. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has stated that an alleged incident of hijab discrimination reported at the Esther Oshikoya Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre in Ibadan was not in accordance with its official examination protocols. This clarification was provided in a statement released in Abuja on Thursday by its Public Communication Adviser, Fabian Benjamin.