Nigerian Newspapers September 14: Tinubu Seeks BRICS Cooperation On Fintech, AI, Others

The Newspapers on Monday September 14 reported on a variety of topics ranging from Nigeria’s participation in the BRICS summit in New Delhi in India and the issue of of Fuel subsidy removal and the buzz generated by the statement credited to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar that he will return subsidy if he is voted into office in 2027.

1 The Nation reported on Nigeria’s participation in the BRICS summit in New Delhi in India with a call by President Bola Tinubu represented by Vice President, Kashim Shettima for cooperation on Fintech, AI and Others.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday warned that developing countries risk surrendering control of their future unless they move from merely consuming technology to producing it, creating knowledge and owning intellectual property.

Tinubu, who declared that “a nation that owns no technology risks renting its future”, challenged BRICS countries to deepen cooperation with developing economies in artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, fintech, telecommunications, cybersecurity, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.

The President spoke at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India, in an address delivered on his behalf by Vice President Kashim Shettima. Read More in The Nation

2. The Guardian leads with the issues surrounding the Safe Schools initiative which is still experiencing teething problems despite the resources government continues to commit to it.

More than 45 million pupils in basic and secondary schools across Nigeria will resume academic activities today as school owners and administrators ramp up security measures amid growing concerns about learners’ safety.

The resumption comes after two of the deadliest academic years for schools in recent memory, marked by mass abductions, attacks on school facilities, and the killing of students and teachers in several states.

Despite billions spent on the federal government’s Safe Schools Initiative (SSI), a Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) audit revealed that 78 per cent of public schools lack perimeter fencing and 65 per cent operate without security guards, leaving the majority of the country’s classrooms exposed as soft targets for mass abductions. Read more in The Guardian.

3. The Daily Trust Newspapers leads with the politics of the 2027 election with the story on the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu by lecturers from the the northern part of Nigeria.

More than 600 senior academics drawn from all the public universities in Northern Nigeria have endorsed the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The endorsement formed the key highlight of a meeting convened by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari, for the academics to deliberate on the political future of Nigeria.

The engagement was held behind closed doors, at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Kaduna. Read more in The Daily Trust

4. The Nigerian News Direct led with a stark warning on the proposed return of fuel subsidy by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, warning that it could cost Nigeria a lot and lead to Economic collapse.

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has warned that restoring a universal petrol subsidy could expose Nigeria to an estimated ₦19.16 trillion in annual fiscal costs, urging the Federal Government to maintain downstream petroleum sector reforms and focus instead on targeted relief for households and businesses.

The CPPE, in a policy brief signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Muda Yusuf, said the estimated cost was based on petrol consumption of 50 million litres per day and an indicative subsidy requirement of ₦1,050 per litre.

5. The Blueprint Newspapers in one of its lead story reported on the reaction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to calls for the removal of Engineer Dave Umahi as Minister of Works.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has rejected the call by an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Ayiri Emami, for the removal of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, describing the demand as reckless and unsupported by credible evidence.

Ohanaeze also dismissed allegations that Umahi was hostile to the people of the Niger Delta, saying the minister’s mandate covered the entire country and should not be assessed on ethnic or regional considerations.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and acting Secretary-General, Prof. Chibuikeya Achokawa, the group said there was no evidence that Umahi had deliberately discriminated against the Niger Delta or denied the region federal infrastructure projects. Read More in The Blueprint Newspapers