Good day, good citizens of Nigeria, here are headlines from Nigerian Newspapers that may interest you today, Tuesday, December 7, 2021.
1. Red List: UK Under Fire for Travel Apartheid against Nigeria [ThisDay Newspaper]
As global outrage continues to trail recent travel ban placed on Nigeria and some other African countries by the United Kingdom (UK), a development which has been described as racist and discriminatory, Nigeria’s federal government yesterday officially condemned the decision of the UK to put the country on its red list and place a ban on foreign travels following its detection of Omicron variant.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who addressed journalists in Abuja, described the decision of the UK government targeting Nigerian travellers as discriminatory, unfair, punitive, indefensible and unjust.
2. Despite FG’s plea, electricity workers cripple power supply in Abuja, environs [ThisDay Newspaper]
Despite a federal government statement pleading with the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) not to embark on industrial action, the workers yesterday made good their threat, crippling power supply in parts of Abuja and environs.
The affected areas under the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) franchise included Abuja, Nasarawa, Kogi, parts of Edo, Niger and Kaduna states.
Specifically, the protesters attached to the AEDC said they were embarked on the industrial action over the non-payment of their entitlements for over 20 months.
3. Rising food prices fuelling inflation in Nigeria, others – IMF [Punch Newspaper]
The International Monetary Fund says rising food prices is the major factor fuelling inflation in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries.
According to the body, inflation is rising around the world, but because food accounts for about 40 per cent of the SSA’s consumption basket, it plays a major determining role in inflation.
4. Foreign airlines to cut Nigeria flights as sales crash [Punch Newspaper]
The travel bans imposed by Canada and the United Kingdom on Nigeria passengers have hit foreign airlines operating in the country, with many of the carriers now perfecting plans to cut flights into Nigeria in coming days or weeks.
Aside from Canada and the UK, Singapore and Indonesia had also imposed travel ban on travelers from Nigeria, following the outbreak of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. Court to rule on Atiku’s citizenship February 21 [Punch Newspaper]
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed February 21, 2022 for judgment in a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa querying the citizenship of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date on Monday after counsel in the matter filed on February 11, 2019, ahead of the presidential election, adopted their written submissions.
6. 2023: Northern youths, CSOs back Anyim for President [Vanguard Newspaper]
No fewer than 30 youth groups and Civil Society Organisations in the Northern part of the country have likened the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, and Northern Elders Forum, NEF, to armies without combatants, ahead of the race to the Aso Rock Villa come 2023.
The groups which met under the aegis of Arewa Concerned Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria, ACCSON, however, declared support for the 2023 presidential ambition of former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim.
7. Ultimatum: You’ll hear from us in 24 hrs, ASUU tells Nigerians [Vanguard Newspaper]
As ultimatum given by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to the government to implement its demands or face another round of industrial action ended on Sunday, the former has said Nigerians will know its position within 24 hours.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, told Vanguard on the telephone that the union would declare its position shortly after consultations with branches had been made.
