Here’s a roundup of Nigerian newspaper headlines, highlighting the biggest stories making waves across the country.
1. ‘Federal government plans electricity tariff hike’ – Daily Trust
The federal government says plans are ongoing to increase electricity tariffs ‘over the next few months’.
Our Take: Nigerians have lost count of how many times electricity tariffs have gone up, yet power supply remains unpredictable. With the cost of living already sky-high, another increase isn’t just unfair, it is unbearable. We call on the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to, Instead of overloading struggling Nigerians with more bills, flip the switch on real reforms.
2. ‘NCDC tightens airport surveillance as Uganda battles Ebola’ – Punch
Following the confirmation of an Ebola virus disease outbreak in Uganda, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has intensified surveillance at the country’s points of entry, including airports.
Our Take: Stepping up airport surveillance is a good start, but the NCDC needs to go further, intensify public awareness, ensure rapid response preparedness, and tighten coordination with health authorities at all entry points. Nigerians need more than just caution, we need assurance that every possible measure is in place to keep Ebola at bay.
3. ‘Investigate missing N26 billion in petroleum ministry, SERAP tells Tinubu’ – The Guardian
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly probe allegations that over N26 billion of public funds were missing, diverted or stolen from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources in 2021.
Our Take: Mr President, while we celebrate the era of ‘renewed hope’, Nigerians would love to renew their faith in accountability too, starting with this missing N26 billion. Direct the AGF and anti-corruption agencies to fish out the culprits and recover every kobo because, surely, in these hard times, we can’t afford to misplace billions like forgotten change under the sofa.