Good Day! Below is a Summary of News Stories Across Nigeria and Abroad:
1. The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja has adjourned the petition filed by Atiku Abubakar for the live coverage of proceedings. Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former vice president, on May 8 filed an application for an order to allow the live coverage of the daily court proceedings on the case they brought against the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, which started on Monday. Through his counsel, Chris Uche, the PDP candidate informed the court that all parties in the suit have met and constituted a team to harmonise and streamline vital areas and components of the pre-hearing session. Uche said he is yet to receive a response from the respondents with respect to the motion for live coverage of proceedings. Responding, counsels to the president-elect and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said they were served on Tuesday, but assured the court that their responses will be ready between Monday and Tuesday next week. CHANNELS
2. The President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has once more pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. Iwuanyanwu said Igbos are not seceding because they are everywhere and would not leave their investments. He made the plea on Thursday while speaking at the flag of dredging of Oguta Lake – Orashi River in Imo State. Buhari was represented during the occasion by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Iwuanyanwu said Buhari should release Nnamdi Kanu before he leaves office on May 29. DAILY POST
3. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has warned the Federal Government against selective implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021. The President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Festus Osifo who gave the warning at the 7th triennial national delegates conference in Abuja, said the government must set up the host communities development funds immediately. Osifo observed that the full implementation of the provisions of the PIA will further deepen the development of the midstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry. He therefore urged the incoming government to aggressively implement the Act for the benefit of the country. VANGUARD
4. A “perfect storm” of overlapping crises forced tens of millions to flee within their own country last year, sending the number of internally displaced people to a record high, monitors said on Thursday. An unprecedented 71.1 million internally displaced people (IDPs) were registered in 2022 — up 20 percent from a year earlier — amid mass displacement for Russia’s war in Ukraine, as well as by the monsoon floods that drenched Pakistan. A full 60.9 million new internal displacements were meanwhile reported in 2022, with some people forced to flee multiple times during the year, according to a joint report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). That marks an all-time high for new internal displacements, and an increase of 60 percent compared to the some 38 million fresh displacements seen in 2021. CHANNELS
5. Eight states, mostly in the Northeast, have subscribed to a World Bank loan advanced to Nigeria for the development of livestock production. All states in Nigeria are entitled to the loan but every state is required to sign and express commitments to the expectations from implementation of the loan. The loan facility is being administered by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, L-PRESS, which said at an engagement session in Yola Thursday that the project is meant to support livestock farmers and processors. DAILY POST
6. The United States of America, USA’s envoy to South Africa, on Thursday, accused the country of having provided military support to Russia despite its professed neutrality in the Ukraine war, local media said. Ambassador Reuben Brigety reportedly said the US was “confident” weapons and ammunition had been loaded onto a Russian freighter in Cape Town in December. He added: “The arming of the Russians is extremely serious, and we do not consider this issue to be resolved.” VANGUARD
7.Well-known singer Oludipe Oluwasanmi David, better known as Spyro, has expressed his belief that without divine guidance, selecting the right partner for marriage is not feasible. According to the now-blown singer, human intelligence cannot assist someone in selecting the ideal partner, particularly in Lagos nowadays. He advised his followers to seek divine help while selecting a spouse, stating that when the devil intends to ruin a life, he sends the wrong companion. PULSE
8. The Golden Eaglets will take on Burkina Faso in a quarter-final game at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Thursday with an eye for a ticket to the World Cup. Coach Nduka Ugbade’s side face their fellow West Africans in a repeat of the WAFU B championship final which the Nigerians won 2-1 last year. Nigeria earned their place in the quarter-final tie after finishing second in Group B of the U-17 AFCON while their foes were second-placed in Group C. While the Golden Eaglets are favourites to win the tie and seal a semi-final spot, Coach Ugbade admits that the game won’t be easy. CHANNELS
9. Muniru Olatunji Balogun, the father of Grammy-award-winning singer, Wizkid, has revealed that he was Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Alaba, Lagos for 14 years. He served as the ward Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and became the chairman of the ruling APC after the merger. In a recent interview Balogun talked about his contribution to the Alaba community. He said he lobbied for electricity to be brought to Alaba in 1972. DAILY POST
10. Israel and Gaza militants traded more heavy fire Thursday, the third day of the worst escalation of violence in months that has killed 25 people in the blockaded Palestinian enclave. Air strikes by the Israeli army since Tuesday have killed fighters as well as civilians, including several children, said officials in the crowded coastal territory. Militants in the Gaza Strip have fired more than 500 rockets at Israel, causing no casualties so far, the military said. Of these, 368 rockets made it over the border and 154 were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system, while 110 fell inside Gaza, it said. CHANNELS
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