TheCable

The Punch leads with a report that petrol subsidy may gulp N102.96 billion in March owing to the recent pricing template for the commodity. The newspaper reports that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said the pump price of petrol was not reflective of the true market price, while the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said a halt in petrol subsidy was inevitable if the economy must make progress. In another report, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened fresh strike over unremitted deductions of its members’ salaries.

The Nation reports on insecurity in the country. The newspaper says gunmen killed one policeman and eight others in Bauchi, Osun and Ekiti states at the weekend. The newspaper says the killings include the murder of six family members in Osun. On its cover page, the newspaper reports that Burna Boy and Wizkid won awards at the 2021 Grammys.

Daily Sun reports that the pump price of petrol is now N212 per litre, a development the newspaper says has generated confusion. The newspaper also reports that Asari Dokubo, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Force, announced the formation of Biafra Customary Government (BCG) and declared himself as the leader.

The Guardian says transparency concerns have trailed the proposed sale of the three national refineries and other national assets. The newspaper says the commitment of the federal government in implementing the process amid issues of transparency and accountability remain a part of hurdles yet to be surmounted in the proposed sale of the assets. The newspaper also reports that telecommunications companies are awaiting the directive of Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, before switching off banks Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) service platforms.

The Nigerian Tribune reports on how south-west states are planning to tackle food insecurity in the region. Experts told the newspaper that the region is not engaging its agriculture institutes well enough. On insecurity, the newspaper reports that troops of the Nigerian Army thwarted an attack by bandits on another Kaduna school and staff quarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Daily Independent says banks are still struggling for growth despite the positive results released in 2020. The newspaper also says the reconciliatory moves of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have suffered a setback ahead of the 2023 elections.