Reactions trailing the 50 percent hike in telecommunication services, and the leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dominate the headlines.
The Punch reports that the house of representatives has directed Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to suspend the tariff increase of telecommunications services. The newspaper says the senate public accounts committee has quizzed Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, over concerns regarding 178,459 missing firearms and allegations of N1.1 billion contract splitting within the Nigeria Police Force.Daily Trust reports that abductors of Adekunle Raif Adeniji, the director of administration at the All Progressives Congress (APC) national secretariat in Abuja, have demanded a ransom of N350 million for his release. The newspaper says the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has suspended the implementation of a 4 percent charge on the free-on-board (FOB) value of imports.
Vanguard reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a review of the transaction fees for automated teller machines (ATMs), which will be implemented by banks from March 1. The newspaper says George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), has announced that the national identification number (NIN) is now a prerequisite for accessing social services.Nigerian Tribune reports that the federal government has allocated N100 billion for solar mini-grids in select government institutions, federal universities and their teaching hospitals. The newspaper said the national working committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed the suspension of Adolphus Wabara, chairman of the party’s board of trustees (BoT), by the Abia state chapter.