Newspaper Headlines: Criticism trails 4.1% unemployment data | Livestock shortage looms over Nigeria-Niger border closure
General
August 25, 2023
0
Reports on the unemployment rate released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), dominate the cover pages of Nigerian newspapers.
The Punch reports that oil marketers are pushing for a hike in the price of petrol following a further plunge in the value of the naira against the United States dollar. The newspaper says Google, Netflix, Facebook and other foreign companies operating in Nigeria have paid over N1.98tn in taxes to the federal government in 15 months.
The Guardian’s cover story highlights how holders of Nigerian passports are subject to arbitrary airport screenings and lengthy security questioning during travels. The newspaper says the death toll from the diphtheria infection in Kano state has risen to 100, as Bauchi state confirmed the death of 26 residents linked to the disease.
Daily Trust says importation of cattle, camel, sheep, dates and other food items from Niger Republic has been grounded following the closure of Nigeria-Niger borders by the federal government. The newspaper reports that Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has ordered the arrest of the owner of the building that collapsed in Abuja.
THISDAY reports that the NBS’ revised methodology which put the country’s present unemployment rate at 4.1 percent in the first quarter of 2023, has attracted criticisms. The newspaper reports that the federal government has asked Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, to shun politics in governance over his criticism of the handling of the petrol subsidy removal.
Source: Top Stories