Nigerian Newspapers on Tuesday, July 25, have focused on six Peoples Democratic Party governors scheduled to visit President Muhammadu Buhari in London and rumours on the President’s health amongst other top stories.
The Punch reports that governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party are among six governors who are scheduled to leave Nigeria today to visit President Muhammadu Buhari in London.
It was gathered that the visit was being organised by the office of the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Munguno (retd.).
It was not clear if the NSA was responsible for the governors who were picked for the trip.
READ ALSO: 6 PDP governors to visit President Buhari in London
The six governors were picked from the six geo-political zones of the country. Listed among the six governors are Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).
The Punch newspaper for Tuesday, July 25, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
Vanguard reports that the convener of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, constitute a team to engage in talks with stakeholders in the Niger Delta before August 1, adding that youths of the region were becoming impatient over the delay in the talks.
This came as Niger Delta activist, Ann-Kio Briggs said that there was no ongoing talks between the Federal Government and any representative of the region.
Speaking to Vanguard yesterday, Chief Clark who expressed fears that youths from the region were fast losing confidence in them (elders), disclosed that he has been receiving series of telephone calls over the delay in talks with the Federal Government, adding that since the November 1, 2016 meeting, PANDEF has not met with the Federal Government.
Vanguard newspaper for Tuesday, July 25, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
The Guardian reports that the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is planning to cap Nigeria’s crude oil production at 1.8 million barrels per day (mbpd) as a way to boost prices in the market.
The Joint OPEC-Non-OPEC Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), which met in St. Petersburg for its fourth meeting yesterday, also called on several members to boost compliance with production cuts to help clear excessive global stocks and support prices.
By the OPEC’s decision, Nigeria, which pegged its crude oil production at 2.2 million barrels per day to finance the 2017 budget, would have to struggle with a shortfall of 400,000bpd.
At the current market price of $47 per barrel, the country would be losing about $188 million (N57.528 billion) daily, which would have been part of the revenue needed to finance the 2017 budget.
The Guardian newspaper for Tuesday, July 25, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
The Nation reports that rumours on the President’s health were debunked again yesterday. He is not confined to a chair, Nasarawa State Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura said.
President Muhammadu Buhari hosted an All Progressives Congress (APC) delegation in London on Sunday. The Presidency released the photograph of the meeting and a short story on the visit. After a brief silence, the critics returned to action yesterday, insisting that the President is gravely ill.
Al-Makura was in the delegation led by APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun. Also on the visit were Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Yahaya Bello (Kogi).
Al-Makura said the President was “agile, mentally alert” and brainstormed on state matters for about an hour with the delegation during the meeting at the Nigerian House in London.
The Nation newspaper for Tuesday, July 25, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
ThisDay reports that the Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the Joint Constitution Amendment Committee of the National Assembly, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has said the effective and comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria could only be done incrementally to ensure gradual acceptance of the thorny issues after adequate enlightenment of Nigerians.
He added that the clamour for restructuring was not just about devolution of powers to allow states the rights to explore and exploit the mineral resources located within their regions, but one that would also entrust states with the responsibilities to provide amenities which are currently the obligations of the federal government.
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The deputy Senate president said some of these responsibilities include the generation and transmission of electricity, provision of an efficient railway system, and the establishment and financing of state police for enhanced security.
ThisDay newspaper for Tuesday, July 25, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
In the video below, NAIJ.com TV asked some Nigerians what they have to say about President Buhari’s absence away from the country for so long.