Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers, September 23, 2024:

1. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared winner of the Saturday governorship election in Edo State. The APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, was declared winner by the Returning Officer, the Vice-chancellor of the Federal University Of Technology, Minna, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta.

2. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed security and law enforcement agencies to scale up efforts at cracking down on individuals or organisations involved in cybercrime and transnational car theft. A statement on Sunday in Abuja by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the President also sent a strong message to the global community, affirming that Nigeria would not be a haven for illicit wealth from foreign countries.

3. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is expected to keep interest rates unchanged as the apex bank begins a two-day policy meeting today. Analysts believed the MPC will retain the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)- the benchmark interest rate- at 26.25 per cent and also keep all other policy parameters reached in its July meeting unchanged.

4. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Saturday’s Edo State governorship election, on his victory at the polls. The President said the victory testifies to the people’s support for the ruling party, “its progressive ideals and economic reengineering programme”.

5. Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army have neutralized two armed vandals, recovered two AK-47 rifles and arrested 18 suspected oil thieves. The troops also destroyed 13 active illegal refining sites and 7 boats, discovered 8 illegal connection points and confiscated over 60,000 litres of stolen products across the region.

6. At least 17 members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) drowned while attempting to cross a river along the Nigeria-Niger Republic border, according to a counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama. The incident occurred between the Kafetoa and Bulabulin Gaidam communities in Yobe State, Nigeria.

7. The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Chief Emeka Beke, has criticized the 27 lawmakers from the state House of Assembly who have denied their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party. Beke, an ally of former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, asserted that the lawmakers, led by Martin Amaewhule, cannot deny their membership of the APC after openly defecting.

8. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has thrown his weight behind the plot to unseat the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum. It was learnt on Sunday that Atiku reached out to members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) advocating for Damagum’s ouster.

9. Three suspected robbers terrorising the Ejirin community in the Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State have been arrested at their hideout in Lagos State. It was gathered from the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, on Sunday that their arrest followed the apprehension of one member of the syndicate, who had gone to rob the Cele Ejirin community.

10. Three Big Brother Naija ‘No Loose Guard’ housemates, Handi, TJay, and Shaun have been evicted. The trio were evicted during the Sunday Live Eviction show after eight weeks. Following the development, the show is left with six housemates.

SOURCE: DAILY POST