The main headlines of mainstream Nigerian newspapers of Tuesday, October 15, are focused on the federal government’s resolve to keep borders shut and what Benin, Niger must do to get them reopened, Aisha Buhari’s battle with Daura family among others.
The Nation reports that the federal government said Nigeria’s borders with neighbouring countries will not be reopened for now.
This was disclosed on Monday, October 14, by the comptroller general of customs, Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd). Ali, who spoke in Abuja during a news conference on the joint border patrol codenamed Ex-Swift response, said that the borders closure has stopped the illegal arms and illicit drugs importation. He said: “We want to make sure that our people are protected. You must be alive and well for you to begin to ask for your rights. Your rights come when you are well and alive. “Go and ask the people in Maiduguri where Boko Haram was harassing their lives.
The only question was survival; there is no question of right. This time, Nigeria must survive first before we begin to ask for our rights.” The Nation Newspaper of Tuesday, October 15 Source:
The Punch reports that the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari battled the family of Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew. A video, which has since gone viral, showed Mrs Buhari asking questions and making comments about being locked out of a room and demanding that some people should pack their belongings and leave the apartment.
The first lady shed light on the video: “I was the one in the video, those behind me were the security personnel given to protect me, but Mamman Daura’s daughter, Fatima, shot the video in the presence of security officials and everybody. She was laughing at me because my husband said they should vacate the place for my son to occupy.” The Punch Newspaper of Tuesday, October 15 Source:
This Day reports that the federal government has adopted a lower oil benchmark price of $57 per barrel for the 2020 budget as against the $60 per barrel in the 2019 budget because of the expected oil glut in 2020.
The disclosure was made at a budget breakdown in Abuja by the minister of finance, budget and national planning, According to the minister, there are strong indications of an oversupplied oil market in 2020. She said that all three of the major forecasters – including the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), International Energy Association (IEA) and the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) had predicted non-OPEC production growing by about two million barrels per day (mbpd) in 2019 and by more next year. This Day Newspaper of Tuesday, October 15 Source:
Vanguard on its part reports that the federal government has commenced negotiations with Nigeria’s neighbours with a view to reopening the nation’s borders with them. The minister of finance, budget and national planning, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this in Abuja at the 2020 budget briefing on Monday, October 14. According to Ahmed, once the neighbours demonstrate enough commitment to past deals, the borders will be reopened. Vanguard Newspaper of Tuesday, October 15 Source:
According to The Guardian, the federal government has been warned by stakeholders that the complete closure of the nation’s land borders portends danger to the economy. The national president of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero, said by the provisions of Section 15 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), the customs boss, Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd), does not have the power to issue a declaration on the restriction of the border. He said:
“Nigeria, as a big brother, is supposed to have interfaced with other countries – with Benin Republic, Niger and others because they are all signatories. They are expected to go into negotiation.
But if there is any disagreement in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), then the border could be closed. But rushing to close the border this way is dangerous to the economy.” The Guardian Newspaper of Tuesday, October 15 Source:
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