Breaking News in Nigeria This Night, Today being Sunday, 21st of June 2020

1. How we helped Nigeria recover $3bn oil, gas revenue –NEITI

The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has said its reports and assessments of the nation’s oil and gas sector had led to recovery of over $3 billion unremitted funds back to government’s coffers.

It also noted that such reports have assisted the country identify about $20 billion in recoverable revenues.

In a statement at the weekend, the agency reckoned that Nigeria faces a range of developmental challenges, including reducing its dependence on oil, rebuilding social infrastructure and developing strong and effective institutions with robust public financial management.


2. Reps urge Fed Government to return SON, NAFDAC to ports



MEMBERS of the House of Representatives have called on the Federal Government to reconsider its earlier decision barring the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) from operating at the nation’s seaports.

The lower chamber maintained that the two key agencies are needed at the seaports and borders to fight the influx of sub-standard and life-endangering goods into the country, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lawmakers said the call has become important as Federal Government strategies to kick-start the nation’s economy post-COVID-19 pandemic

Adopting a motion under “Matters of urgent public importance”, raised at the plenary session, the House stated that allowing SON and NAFDAC back to the ports will represent part of the strategies to effectively check the influx of sub-standard goods into the country.

The House has mandated its committee on finance to meet and liaise with the Minister of Finance on the urgent need for SON and NAFDAC to return to the ports and borders.

3. Delta: we’ll ensure safety measures across schools before resumption




ACADEMIC activities will not resume until adequate safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are put in place across schools in Delta State.

Commissioner for Information Mr. Charles Aniagwu stated this while briefing reporters in Warri, adding that schools may not open next week.

Reports had indicated that primary and secondary schools were to resume on Monday, June 8.

But, Aniagwu noted that necessary precautions, including fumigation of schools’ environment, have to be done before pupils and students could return to classrooms.

4. Umahi has outperformed predecessors –Orji

Orji Uchenna Orji is the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation and the acting Commissioner, Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Ebonyi State. He speaks on the achievements of the administration of Governor Dave Umahi.

This is the first year into the second tenure of Governor Umahi. What are his achievements so far?

5. Subsidy removal: We won’t be used as bait to impose new price regime —Wabba




The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and International Trade Union Congress (ITUC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in this exclusive interview with SOJI-EZE FAGBEMI, speaks on the perennial problem of fuel crisis magnified by importation, price modulation, refineries, vested interests within the system as well as loss of jobs and deaths occasioned by hunger due to COVID-19 lockdown. Excerpts.

THE Federal Government has just reduced the fuel pump price to N121 per litre but the NLC is not commending the government or reacting to this development.

6. Masari Explains Military's Inability to Stop Banditry




Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, at the weekend attributed the inability of the military and the police to end the wave of banditry in North-west to their low capacity and being overstretched.

Masari, at an interactive session with journalists in Katsina, said the military and police did not have adequate manpower and equipment required to operate in all the troubled spots across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“Even members of the armed forces have limited capacity in terms of the equipment available to them and the money given to them,” Masari added.

6. Civil Society Group Calls For Investigation Into COVID-19 Claims By NDDC Officials




In a statement on Sunday, Head, Directorate of Research, Strategy and Programmes of the organisation, Mr Kolawole Johnson, called on the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to investigate the claim.