Welcome to today’s roundup of Nigerian newspaper headlines, accompanied by our advocacy-focused calls for government action on pressing issues that impact citizens.
1. The Guardian: Wike, Military Officers Feud over Disputed FCT Property
A confrontation ensued yesterday in Abuja’s Gaduwa District, as armed military officers, allegedly acting on instructions of a retired naval chief, resisted efforts by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to halt work on a disputed parcel of land.
The incident occurred when officials of the FCT Administration (FCTA) arrived at Plot 1946 in Gaduwa to enforce a demolition order on what authorities described as an illegal structure.
Our Take: When uniformed officers start fencing ministers out of government land, it is clear Nigeria’s chain of command has too many loose links. The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abas, must urgently investigate this embarrassing standoff to remind his officers that their duty is to defend the nation, not private estates. As for Minister Nyesom Wike, perhaps it is time to channel his trademark ‘Wike thunder’ toward reforming FCT land administration, because if every disputed plot now comes with a platoon, Abuja might soon need a peacekeeping mission of its own.
2. Daily Trust: Two Killed as Katsina Communities Protest over Bandits’ Attacks
Daily Trust reports that at least two persons died following a protest in the Danjanku, Dantashi, and Dayi communities of Malumfashi local government area in Katsina State.
The protest followed a fresh bandit attack on Monday that left one person dead and 17 others abducted, despite an existing peace deal between the criminals and the government.
Our Take: The recurring attacks in Katsina’s Malumfashi area are a grim reminder that peace deals with bandits are only as good as the will to enforce them. The state government, led by Governor Dikko Radda, and the security agencies under the watch of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, must rise beyond press statements and photo ops to deliver real protection to citizens who can no longer sleep without fear.
3. Punch: Only 44 Percent of Social Benefits Reach Poor Nigerians – World Bank
Despite billions of naira spent yearly to cushion hardship, a new World Bank report says Nigeria’s social safety-net programmes are failing to reach those who need them the most.
In the new report titled ‘The State of Social Safety Nets in Nigeria’, obtained on Tuesday, the bank revealed that only 44 percent of total benefits from government-funded safety-net schemes actually reach poor Nigerians.
Our Take: If only poverty could be tackled with press releases, Nigeria would have eradicated it by now. The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the National Social Safety Nets Office must urgently review their targeting mechanisms to ensure that cash grants actually reach the hungry, not just those with better internet connections or political proximity. The World Bank’s revelation should jolt the government into fixing the broken pipes of its welfare system, because at this rate, it seems the safety net is catching everyone except those falling.
