Nigerian Newspapers, read top Naija News headlines today, November 29, 2022 below.
NAIJA NEWS NG has compiled top Naija News headlines from Nigerian newspapers today, this means the latest Naija news, top newspaper headlines, and happenings in Nigeria can be accessed on this page.
Why Foreign Creditors May Seize Nigeria’s Presidential Jets At Foreign Airports
Foreign creditors are set to impound the aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet, this is according to a report by PUNCH .
According to the newspaper, PAF was indebted to several service providers for various upgrades carried out on the 10 aircraft in the fleet to meet the required airworthiness.
The PAF provides secure airlift to the President, the Vice-President, their immediate families and other top government officials.
However, due to inadequate funding, it was gathered that some installations on the aircraft had again been postponed to 2023.
The PAF Commander, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdullahi, who stated these in his budget defence presentation at the National Assembly, also complained that only N1.5bn was allocated for the maintenance of the aircraft out of the proposed N4.5bn.
READ : Nigerian Newspapers: Read Top Naija News Headlines Today, November 28, 2022
Findings indicate that President Muhammadu Buhari had since 2016 allocated N81.80bn for PAF maintenance and foreign trips.
The amount comprises N62.47bn for the operation and maintenance of the PAF, N17.29bn for foreign and local trips, and N2.04bn earmarked for other related expenses.
The Presidency has maintained 10 aircraft since the inception of the Buhari regime in May 2015.
They are Boeing Business Jet (Boeing 737-800 or NAF 001), one Gulfstream G550, one Gulfstream V (Gulfstream 500), two Falcons 7X, one Hawker Siddeley 4000, two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters and two AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters.
Though Buhari promised to reduce the size of the fleet as part of his pledge to cut the cost of governance, checks revealed that his regime had failed to live up to this promise.
However, the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd), delivered the two AgustaWestland AW101 VIP helicopters in the presidential fleet to the Air Force.
But addressing the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence during the budget defence session, the fleet commander explained that the average age of the PAF aircraft was 11 years and in aviation, the cost of maintenance increases proportionally with the age of the aircraft.
Based on the fleet’s experience, Abdullahi explained that the cost of maintaining each aircraft was between $1.5m and $4.5m, depending on the level of maintenance due.
Additionally, the commander revealed that 2023, being an election year, would translate to more missions and spares’ requests for the aircraft due to increased usage.
He also told the lawmakers that the N250m approved for aviation fuel out of the requested N4bn was grossly inadequate; reminding them that aviation fuel, which sold at an average cost of N390 per litre in January, was now being dispensed at N915 per litre.
The fleet commander argued that the N8.072bn allocated for the fleet in the 2023 budget out of the proposed N15.5bn was inadequate to cater for the needs of the fleet.
He, therefore, pleaded for an upward review of the budget.
In the 2022 budget, the PAF proposed N19.4bn, but only N12.4bn was appropriated out of which N11.13bn (98.07 per cent of the total approval) had been released as of October.
Abdullahi stated, “It is pertinent for this honourable committee to note that for successive years, the fleet has been grossly underfunded, which has made it difficult to operate. From the fleet’s records, debts from preceding years are usually carried over into the following budget year and it is becoming a tradition.
“Permit me to also state that most of these debts are owed to service providers overseas. Considering that over 85 per cent of the fleet’s expenditure is forex transactions, the actual budget figure in dollar terms is further diminished.
“The fleet is currently indebted to some of its service providers due to insufficient funding from budgetary allocations and the situation makes it bad for planning. As stated earlier, we currently have to have some mandatory upgrades done on our aircraft so as to meet airworthiness requirements.”
Highlighting the aircraft upgrades that had been paused due to paucity of funds, the air vice-marshal disclosed that two of the fleet’s Falcon 7X aircraft with registration numbers 5N-FGU and 5N-FGV were due for upholstery refurbishment to give the 11-year-old planes a new look.
Abdullahi added, “They are projected for refurbishment in their next maintenance due in December 2022 and July 2023, respectively, which will cost $2.5m each. Furthermore, the fleet’s personnel and aviation insurance premium for the year 2022 amounting to $5.1m is also due for renewal in February 2023. The fleet may not be able to fund these due to a shortfall in the budget.
“The consequences of underfunding the fleet could have adverse effects on safety operations. It may also lead to our nation being embarrassed in the international community either through seizure of the PAF aircraft at foreign airports or maintenance facilities. Moreover, other states may deny the PAF aircraft necessary over-flight permits for foreign missions.”
The senior air force officer noted that aircraft maintenance accounted for 46 per cent of the overall budget proposal and was integral to the overhead cost, adding that the shortfall in the overhead greatly affected aircraft maintenance activities in the fleet.
From the releases made so far, 14 capital projects out of 22 line items were said to have been completed 100 per cent, while the remaining eight are ongoing.
Hoodlums Set INEC Office In Ebonyi Ablaze, Large Amount Of PVCs Destroyed
Festus Okoye,INEC’s National Commissioner & Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, has said the entire INEC office building was set ablaize .
Naija News NG reports that he said the building was set ablaize around 10 am by unidentified persons . Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and other items were destroyed after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was gutted by fire yesterday November 27 .
“Although no casualties resulted from the attack, the main building and all the movable and immovable items inside it were destroyed. These include 340 ballot boxes, 130 voting cubicles, 14 electric power generators, large water storage tanks, assorted office furniture and fixtures, and yet-to-be-determined quantities of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).”he said
READ : Why I Attended Tinubu’s Rally In Ebonyi As An Obidient – Bright Chimezie
Okoye added that security agencies have taken over the case and started investigation .
“Sadly, this is the third attack on our local government office in less than three weeks following similar attacks on our offices in Ogun and Osun states on 10th November 2022,” Okoye said
Nigerians Knock Omojuwa , See Why
A Twitter user, Chude called out Japhet Omojuwa over two tweets . One he made years ago against Goodluck Jonathan for borrowing and another a shade on Peter Obi for saving .
NAIJA NEWS NG reports that Chude wrote : “Good evening my well-respected elder brother @Omojuwa, how is ur family ? In 2014, in an attempt to defame Jonathan, u praised Obasanjo for clearing Nigeria’s debt, today you are telling us that a government that doesn’t leave debts should be questioned.
What changed in 8 years?
Responding, Omojuwa wrote :
Omojuwa : “Why pretend to ask a question if it’d start with a lie? Defame who? A: Apples and oranges, the white tweet spoke of NATIONAL borrowing at a time of unprecedented oil boom. The 2nd tweet speaks to the exigency of debt for building infrastructure at the SUBNATIONAL level. Not hard!”
READ : Reno Omokri, Daddy Freeze , Omojuwa Slam Nathaniel Bassey’s Jesus Challenge Hashtag
Nigerians came after Omojuwa . Read their reactions below :
IKHAZUANGBE BENSON.
@IK__Benson
Omojuwa, Dipo, Tolu, Zebbook, and other APC online warriors of 2012-2015, became famous for insults and lies not because they were intelligent or otherwise
Ayekooto @thebardogbamola
Omojuwa is a paid hack. Stop giving him the spotlight.
DISTINGUISHED Everest @novieverest
When you see Ose that hailed Ngozi Okonjo Iweala that championed savings, and then you see him later align with Omojuwa that used to champion savings before too, but is now PRO-DEBT, then you know that these guys are only after their interest.
99% OPPRESSED @Truthfully83
Japheth Omojuwa, Tolu Ogunlesi, Lauretta Onochie, & Bashir Ahmaad were all in Nigeria, tweeting and posting Rubbish against President Goodluck Jonathan and his family. They called him all sorts of names, even wished him death, but DSS never arrested any of them.
GEJ is a saint.
Chudé @chude__ Good evening my well-respected elder brother
@Omojuwa
, how is ur family ? In 2014, in an attempt to defame Jonathan, u praised Obasanjo for clearing Nigeria’s debt, today you are telling us that a government that doesn’t leave debts should be questioned.
what changed in 8 years?
Chydovsky || 2023 is a fight for your life @Chydovsky
Hello @Omojuwa, sincere Nigerians aren’t looking for political “heavy weights” like y’all supported in 2015 and later became sport and music commentators while blood flowed on our streets, farms and villages, as your “new sheriff in town” flew around the world.
Keep quiet still .
Deji-Tobi🇳🇬 @DejiOluwatobi
Omojuwa, Omokri & Ogbeni Dipo should come back to NIGERIA & hit the streets for whoever they are supporting. Online ranting & media hypocrisy can’t do anything for their candidates. If they have any political usefulness, they should come back home & do the job for BATIKU.
Stanley Ezinna, MBA. @Stazingar
A key performance indicator for governors is the ability to generate debt. According to J.J Omojuwa
Emeodi Mba
@EmodiMba
This current twitter verification that’s everywhere now reminds me that year Omojuwa published a book and included his twitter verification on the front.
This app ehnn, plenty cruise and vibes .
Iruefi XXL @IruefiNG
JJ Omojuwa just downplayed the importance of saving for the future and is now propagating debt as a measure of good governance because according to him, debt must be incurred in the course of development’. To say I’m disgusted is putting it too lightly, damn!
Tinubu can not be arrested or killed – Femi Fani-Kayode (Video)
Femi Fani-Kayode spokesman of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council has come after Bola Tinubu’s critics who feel he might die soon .
NAIJA NEWS NG reports that the former Aviation Minister said Bola Tinubu can not be detained or killed, he added that those who feel his principal might die anytime soon are nothing but human beings .
Femi Fani-Kayode Berates Dino Melaye For Attacking Peter Obi, Calls Him Atiku’s Boyfriend
He made this statement in a video shared on his Twitter handle .
He said, “There is one fear that I will touch up now. And that is the fear that something may happen to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu during or after the elections.
“Like he said in the rally, his enemies and detractors cannot kill him, we stand on that word and we pronounce it day and night. Asiwaju cannot be detained, he cannot be locked up, his election cannot be annulled, nor can he be killed.
“Those harbouring this evil thought of death upon our candidate, you are a man and nothing more than that. You are nothing and can do nothing. Only God gives and takes life”.
Watch the video below :
You can't stop, you can't kill him: EKUN, OMO ASABI! 💪🇳🇬🙏✊👍💣💥👏👊
WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾https://t.co/dduu6SwjE8 pic.twitter.com/exmoaALCYa
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) November 27, 2022
Sammie Okposo Didnot Slump And Died – Singer’s Project Manager Reveals
Sammie Okposo’s project manager has said his boss did not slump and died . He said Sammie Okposo didnt just wake up.
Naija News NG reports that the Welu Welu crooner was reported to have sumped and died on Friday, November 25 .
READ : How Welu Welu Master Sammie Okposo Died At 51
Setting the records straight, Vincent in an interview with Punch, said late Okposo died in his sleep.
“It is not true that Sammie slumped and died. That report is false. At the right time, the family will set the records straight. But, I can tell you authoritatively that he did not slump. Rather, he just did not wake up from his sleep.
As regards the funeral arrangements, the details will be made known by the family. But right now, they are still in grief and mourning the departed singer.” he said
ALSO READ : We Wept When Sammie Okposo Told Me What Pastors Did To Him- Apostle Suleman
The 51-year-old singer left behind his wife, Ozzy, and children.
First Day In Office : Governor Adeleke Dethrones Traditional Rulers, Reverses Oyetola’s Appointments
The new Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke , hits the ground running on first day in office as the governor .
A statement released by his Spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke issued six six executive orders reversing appointments made by former governor Gboyega Oyetola, including the appointment of workers and installation of traditional rulers.
The governor signed the executive orders on Monday, including an order freezing all the State Government accounts in all banks and other financial institutions.
READ : Davido’s Uncle, Senator Adeleke , Declared Winner Of Osun State Gubernatorial Election
“The six executive orders take immediate effect. “The orders cover chieftaincy matters, appointments issues, setting up of a review panel, staff audit and employment matters,” he said.
Others he said are for the immediate freezing of all the state government accounts in all banks and other financial institutions, order on Staff Audit – All Heads of Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals of Osun State Government are directed to carry out immediate staff audit of the actual number of workers in their establishments as at July 17, 2022.
The governor said all heads of agencies and parastatals are to file a report to the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor stating the full details and position/designation of each of the staff on the forwarded list, within seven working days from the date of the Executive order, using the Oath of Fidelity Template.
Also nullified is all employment in the service of the Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals after July 17.
The governor also said all appointments in the service of the Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals after July 17, 2022, will be reversed.
He further said all appointments of traditional rulers made by the Osun State Government after July 17, 2022, is to be reviewed to ensure there was strict compliance with due process of chieftaincy declarations and native law, custom and tradition relating to such chieftaincies.
The governor said in line with executive orders two, three, four and five, the state government has ordered the setting up of review committees on Staff audit/appointments/promotions, State assets inventory and recovery, contractors/MoUs/agreements and d. Chieftaincy matters/appointments of traditional rulers .
