Nigerian Newspapers: Headlines that will interest you today, Monday

Good day, good citizens of Nigeria, here are headlines from Nigerian Newspapers that may interest you today, Monday, December 20, 2021.

1. Lack of political will drags Nigeria’s energy gains in 2021 [BusinessDay Newspaper]

The year 2021 was predicted to herald a return to normalcy marked by oil price recovery, accelerated push towards energy transition and bold reforms that will transform Nigeria’s floundering oil sector, but the absence of political will rained on planned reforms.

In 2021, the Nigerian government enacted a new oil sector law, restarted bid rounds for marginal oil fields after an 18-year hiatus, bumped up electricity tariffs, ordered a decade of gas and shepherded new, smaller refineries on stream but a large chunk of these feats were not fully implemented.

2. COVID-19: FG issues travel advice, Lagos vows clampdown as infections soar [Punch Newspaper]

The Federal Government on Sunday advised Nigerians against non-essential local and international travels during the festive period as COVID-19 cases continued to rise in the country.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control gave the advice in its latest COVID-19 situation report obtained by The PUNCH on Sunday as the Lagos State Government vowed to get tough with violators of compulsory tests for international inbound passengers.

3. Togo, Benin, Niger paid nothing for Nigeria’s power supply, says NERC [Punch Newspaper]

The Republic of Benin, Niger Republic and Togo made no payment for the electricity supplied to them from Nigeria in the second quarter of 2021, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has said.

In its just released Second Quarter Report 2021, the NERC stated that the power firms of the three nations and some other special customers were issued a total bill of N770m by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading company and the Market Operator of the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

It, however, noted that nothing was paid by the neighbouring countries and other special customers for the power supplied to them from Nigeria during the period.

4. Insecurity: ‘You can end Boko Haram, banditry in 6 months, Gen Magoro tells Buhari [Vanguard Newspaper]

Former Minister of Internal Affairs during the military regime of President Muhammadu Buhari, Major General Mohammed Magoro, retd, said weekend there was no reason the federal government should not end Boko Haram insurgency and banditry in six months.

Magoro spoke as the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, decried the spate of killings going on across the country, due to  the activities of kidnappers, terrorists and bandits, saying the country was in a state of war.

5. 58 killed by bandits, Boko Haram in Kaduna, Borno [Vanguard Newspaper]

No fewer than 58 persons were killed weekend by insurgents and bandits in Kaduna and Borno states.

While 38 were killed by bandits in several villages in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, 20 were killed by Boko Haram at Kilanga village in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

This came as President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the renewed terrorist killings in Kaduna State.