Headlines from mainstream Nigerian newspapers today, Friday, January 26, are focused on the minister of defense’s reaction to the herdsmen attacks across the country, the final report of the APC committee on true federalism, and continuing controversy generated as a result of the harsh criticism leveled at the Muhammadu Buhari administration by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Punch is reporting that the minister of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has stated that the herdsmen killings in Benue, Taraba and other states, was remotely caused by the blockage of grazing routes across the country.
The minister made his comments on Thursday, January 25, during a chat with State House correspondents at the end of a meeting of the National Security Council presided over by President Muhamamdu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Dan-Ali further stated that the anti-grazing law implemented in some states was directly responsible for the killings.
Front page of Punch, today, Friday, January 26 (Photo credit: NAIJ.com)
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Vanguard is also focused on the statement made by the minister of defense concerning the herdsmen crisis.
The publication affirms that the minister attributed the massacre of innocent individuals by herdsmen in parts of the country, especially Benue, to the promulgation of anti-open grazing laws and blockade of grazing routes.
He also disclosed that the Buhari-led federal government had taken steps to tackle the propagation of hate speech on social media; authorizing security agencies to crack down on offenders.
Mansur Dan-Ali further stated that the federal government had agreed to pay $494 million for the purchase of Super Tucoma aircraft from the United States, and disclosed that the deadline for the payment was February 20.
Front page of Vanguard, today, Friday, January 26 (Photo credit: NAIJ.com)
This Day is however focused on the recommendations of the final report of the All Progressives Congress (APC) committee on true federalism.
The publication reports that the committee submitted its report on Thursday, January 25 to the party’s leadership, and one of its key recommendations was for an amendment of the constitution to allow for power devolution from the federal government to the states.
In this regard, the committee recommended that mining, minerals, oil fields and natural gas be moved from the Exclusive List of the Constitution to the Concurrent List, in order to allow states have control over their mineral resources.
Front page of This Day, today, Friday, January 26 (Photo credit: NAIJ.com)
The Guardian is also reporting about the recommendations of the APC true federalism committee.
According to the publication, the committee, led by Governor Nasir El-Rufai, backed the devolution of powers, resource control and the establishment of state police.
The governor also disclosed that the committee arrived at its findings, following the collation of input from 409 memoranda and 8004 stakeholders and groups spread across 14 cities in 12 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Front page of The Guardian, today, Friday, January 26 (Photo credit: NAIJ.com)
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For its part, The Nation is reporting that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s ‘special statement’ in which he castigated the Muhammadu Buhari administration is still gathering storm.
According to the publication, the former president’s stand has been rejected by the former governor of Abia state, Orji Uzor Kalu, who questioned Obasanjo’s own achievements.
Kalu further stated that given the need to return power to the South after the completion of his two terms, it would be unfair to the southeast, south-south and southwest not to support Buhari’s second term bid.
Front page of The Nation, today, Friday, January 26 (Photo credit: NAIJ.com)
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Source: Naija.ng