It’s been a newsworthy Friday in Nigeria, with developments across politics, security, justice, and more making headlines. Here are some of the top stories from the nation’s newspapers:
National Anthem Set for Reversion In a move to restore a longstanding tradition, the House of Representatives has passed a bill to revert Nigeria’s National Anthem back to the old version – ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’. The accelerated passage of this bill sponsored by the Majority Leader marks a symbolic shift away from the current rendition adopted decades ago.
Sanusi Returns as Kano Emir
There were scenes of jubilation in Kano as the state government announced the re-appointment of the influential Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano. Sanusi’s return follows the signing of a new Emirate Council law by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, setting the stage for a rekindling of the erstwhile emir’s tenure that was abruptly ended in 2020.
Kogi Gov Election Judgment Nears The long-drawn saga over the disputed 2023 Kogi governorship polls is set to reach a pivotal juncture on Monday when the state’s election petition tribunal delivers its judgment. The Social Democratic Party’s candidate Murtala Ajaka had challenged the declaration of Usman Ododo from the APC as the winner.
Federal Character Principle in Focus President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive review of recently announced governing boards for tertiary institutions over concerns that the Federal Character principle ensuring ethnic representations was not adequately reflected in the nominations.
Other Key Headlines:
- Reps urge Army to reopen attacked Banex Plaza, deploy technology
- FG targets local military equipment production after new law
- Teenager’s newborn buried alive by grandmother in Lagos
- Two robbers sentenced to death by hanging in Ekiti
- Naira depreciates against US dollar in parallel, autonomous forex markets
- Sultan tells FG Nigerians increasingly frustrated by poverty
Newsworthy Friday in Nigeria reveals concerns over constitutional principles and electioneering matters to security incidents and monetary policy impacts, this roundup captures the diverse array of issues dominating national discourse. As Nigeria continues navigating its path, addressing inequities, upholding democratic values and enhancing human security will remain paramount priorities.
The coming days and weeks will shed more light on how these unfolding matters ultimately play out across the country’s governance landscape. But for now, these headlines serve as a window into the key themes shaping the Nigerian experience as of late May 2024.