Naija News: Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 30th December, 2023

Top Headlines from Naija News, Saturday, 30th December, 2023

1. The Ondo State House of Assembly officially approved the 2024 appropriation bill, amounting to N395.257 billion, during a plenary session held on Friday, just two days after the passing of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

   Lawmakers endorsed the budget into law following the acceptance of the report from the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, as presented by its Chairman, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi.

2. Governors from the southwest states of Nigeria, including Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, and Ekiti, united as the Southwest Governors Forum, are collaborating with their Ondo state counterpart to organize a fitting burial for the late Ondo state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. The forum has communicated this intention to the late governor’s family and plans to establish a joint committee to oversee the arrangements.

   Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state, representing the governors, made the announcement on Friday, December 29, during a condolence visit to the Akeredolu family at their Jericho residence in Ibadan. The governors present during the visit included Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Oyo state deputy governor, Bayo Lawal, representing Governor Seyi Makinde. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was unable to join due to a flight delay, while Governor Makinde is currently out of the country on holiday.

3. The convoy of a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chris Uba was Thursday night in Uga, Aguata local government area of Anambra state attacked by gunmen.

   Though he escaped in his bullet proof vehicle, two policemen were gunned down by the hoodlums.

4. Eight individuals heading home in a Sienna car for New Year celebrations tragically lost their lives in a car crash at the Amanwozuzu junction in Imo State’s Ikeduru local government area.

   The incident occurred around 3 pm on Friday, December 29, and brought sorrow to the community, as the victims were reportedly members of the same family.

5. Amnesty International (AI), has slammed the President Bola Tinubu led government over the recent attacks that led to the death of over 190 residents of Bokkos and Barikin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau.

   In a tweet on Friday, the right group disclosed that it has received disturbing reports of increasing tension and fear of fresh attack across communities in Bokkos local government.

6. A former Nigerian Ambassador to Namibia, Onoh Lilian, has lodged a libel suit at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas against Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama.

   In the court documents, Onoh accused Onyeama of using a New York-based online newspaper to defame her character.

7. Ondo South Senator, Jimoh Ibrahim has declared that the death of Rotimi Akeredolu is not painful because he is sure the former Ondo State Governor is in heaven.

   According to Ibrahim, it is normal to cry when one loses a loved one, but the assurance that Akeredolu lived a good life and made an impact during his lifetime should be a consolation.

8. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the relocation of AIG Zone 4 to Plateau State with immediate effect.

   The IGP gave the directive on Friday after arriving in Jos, the Plateau State capital, to meet with Governor Caleb Mutfwang and other stakeholders over the recent attack on some communities in the state.

9. A former Governor of Zamfara, Ahmed Yerima, on Friday, revealed how he was asked to drop his presidential ambition for Muhammadu Buhari before the 2007 elections.

   Yerima claimed that ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo begged a former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, to persuade him against running for the election.

10. President Bola Tinubu says the federal government is determined to use its available resources to establish peace in the South-East geopolitical zone of the country.

    Tinubu stated this on Friday, during the unveiling of the Peace in South-East Project (PISE-P) and the Thanksgiving Service/Homecoming ceremony organised in honour of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Benjamin Kalu.