Nigeria’s total external debt of $28 billion and the surrender of 35 bandits in Niger State as wells as the appeal against $200 million conditional deposit on UK case are some of the trending stories in Nigerian press on Thursday.
The Guardian highlighted that the World Bank Group on Wednesday estimated the external debt profile of developing countries at $7.8 trillion with Nigeria owing $28 billion (0.33 percent) of the value.
The newspaper and many others reported that the Federal Government has instructed its lawyers to appeal against the payment of $200 million conditional deposit for the granting of the stay of execution in the $9.6 billion debt judgment against Nigeria in UK.
The Sun said that a week after the Niger State government entered into a peace deal with bandits, the effort has brought some level of peace in the affected areas. No fewer than 35 bandits have voluntary surrendered their arms in a quiet ceremony.
The Punch said that troops of the Nigerian Army attached to Operation Lafiya Dole have rescued at least 51 persons captured by the Boko Haram terrorists in the Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.
The troops also discovered and defused two Improvised Explosive Devices planted by the insurgents in the Buni Gari area in the Gujba Local government Area of Yobe State.
ChannelsTV said that President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in South Africa for a three-day state visit. The state visit follows one in March 2016 by former South African President Jacob Zuma.
The Nation said that the Federal Government on Wednesday reported plans to reintroduce toll plazas on its roads across the country.
To reduce travel delays, cash transactions will be minimised at the toll plazas, which will be built on at least 10 lanes.
The Daily Trust reported Senate President Ahmad Lawan’s declaration that the Senate must know how the security agencies utilise funds received.
ThisDay quoted the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali, on Wednesday telling the National Assembly members that the agency has been raking in between N4.7 billion and N5.8 billion daily since the federal government closed the nation’s borders.
MM/GIK/APA