TheCable

The Nation leads with the comment of Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, on the rising insecurity in the country. Gbajabiamila bemoaned the state of security. The speaker said political leaders in the country have failed in their responsibility to protect the lives and property of citizens. A report on the court judgment that ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to unfreeze the bank accounts of 20 #EndSARS protesters appeared on the newspaper’s cover page.

The Punch reported the insecurity in the country, especially the argument on state governors negotiating with bandits, as a cover story. Some lawmakers say the dialogue with bandits is fuelling insecurity, while some argue that dialogue can be used to end banditry. The senate asked the presidency to rejig the security architecture of the country. It is on record that this is not the first time the senate will ask the presidency to rejig the security architecture of the country. On the political side, Yahaya Bello said he was approached by Femi Fani-Kayode, former minister of aviation, on his planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Guardian reported that the country’s COVID-19 immunisation plans are under scrutiny. The newspaper said experts asked the federal government to subject COVID-19 vaccines to clinical trials before giving them to Nigeria. It also reported the plan to isolate the COVID-19 strain first discovered in South Africa. The paper raised concerns for a likely increase in petrol price.

Daily Sun says labour  “talks tough” about the likely increase in petrol price. The unions said the federal government is pushing workers to the wall. In the coming days, it will be clearer if the government will review the pump price of petrol or maintain the status quo. Labour unions are said to be mulling a strike, if petrol price goes up.

The Nigerian Tribune reported the resolutions of the senate on security. The newspaper said the senate asked the president to issue an executive order to flush out criminals terrorising citizens and ban open grazing. It is also noted how the eviction notice issued by Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, to herders in the state’s forest reserves divided the senate. 

Daily Trust said there are concerns as the Peace Corps is making fresh push to get legal cover. The security outfit has not been recognised by law since the bill seeking legal backing for it was submitted to the national assembly in 2017.  The newspaper also reported that over 4,000 herders relocated from the southern part of the country to Kaduna state.