Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Thursday morning

‎Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. The Presidency has cleared Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, of the bribery allegations levelled against him by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, an acclaimed Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council. Adeyemi had accused Gbajabiamila of demanding N27,395,510,136 take-off grant of the agency, an allegation the former Speaker denied.

2. Bandits, who invaded Dansarai, a farming community in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, got more than they bargained for, on Tuesday, as the villagers put up resistance. Residents said on Wednesday that the attackers stormed the community on motorcycles, wielding sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles.

3. No fewer than five people working closely with a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, have been arraigned by the Department of State Service, DSS. They were arraigned for allegedly concealing information regarding the whereabouts of their principal who has been in hiding since when he was linked to an alleged coup plot.

4. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has detailed its case against former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, saying it is investigating allegations that he submitted a forged degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, and a false National Youth Service Corps, NYSC discharge certificate during his ministerial screening in 2023.

5. The Naira on Wednesday appreciated to N1,385 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,390 per dollar on Tuesday. Similarly, the naira appreciated to N1,369 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market,  NFEM.

6. The Federal Government’s reduction in vehicle import levies has officially taken effect, offering hope of lower vehicle prices while prompting auto dealers to seek clarity on the newly introduced Green Tax before assessing the full impact of the policy. The implementation, which commenced under the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures, reduces the import levy on new vehicles from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, while the levy on used vehicles has been cut from 15 per cent to five per cent. 

7. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has formally taken custody of 6,778.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, intercepted at the Apapa Seaport in Lagos. The illicit consignment was officially handed over to the NDLEA during a ceremony at the Apapa Port on Wednesday, following its interception during a joint examination of two containers by operatives of the NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.

8. Gunmen have abducted a pastor, Rev. Dr Samuel Gbinde, and two members of his congregation from his residence in Benue State. The incident was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Executive Committee of the Nongo u Kristu u i Ser u sha Tar Church.

9. The Defence Headquarters says troops of Operation Delta Safe neutralised six criminal elements, arrested 84 suspects, dismantled 12 illegal refining sites and recovered over 464,268 litres of stolen petroleum products during the second quarter. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the Armed Forces’ operational activities for the second quarter on Wednesday in Abuja.

10. Scores of people were reportedly killed in an early morning attack on Sai Community in Mbajir Council Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. According to sources from the affected community, the assailants invaded the community at about 2 a.m. on Wednesday and killed several residents.