Read today's newspaper headlines [Friday, March 24, 2017]

THE GUARDIAN

Arik Air shuts as workers, unionists clash

True to their threat, aviation unions, comprising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), yesterday grounded operations of Arik Air in Lagos.

Sheriff, Markarfi agree to work for peace in PDP

The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may be over soon. This followed the agreement reached by the two factions after a meeting yesterday to halt all forms of hostilities against each other.

Investors in equities lose N2.3trn to bonds, others

The rise in the issuance of bonds and other debts instruments by governments and corporate organisations has taken a heavy toll on the fortunes of the equities sector. Market investors may have lost about N2.3trillion in recent years.

THE NATION NEWSPAPER

SGF to explain how fake firms got N1.3bn contracts

Many companies awarded contracts by the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE) cannot be located, a senator alleged yesterday.

Cynthia Osokogu’s killers to die by hanging

Two of the four men tried for the 2012 murder of a general’s daughter, Cynthia Osokogu, are to pay the supreme price for the offence

CBN gets bids for $100m

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has received bids for $100 million from dealers in the interbank market to meet customers’ requests. The sale will be settled today

VANGUARD NEWSPAPER

Contract Probe: SGF, Babachir reverses self, seeks new date to appear before Senate

STRONG indications emerged, yesterday, that following the intervention of powerful Nigerians in the ongoing face-off between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, David Babachir Lawal, and the Senate over the controversial grass-cutting contract scandal, Lawal may have reversed his earlier position not to appear before the Senate because he was in court.

Ortom berates Wike over call for emergency rule

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, yesterday, berated his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, over the latter’s call for the declaration of a state of emergency in Benue, describing the call as laughable and unfortunate

N5bn libel suit: I will tender my certificate in evidence, Dino Melaye tells court

Determined to prove that he was awarded a Bachelors Degree by the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Senator Dino Melaye, on Thursday, pledged to tender his certificate before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Maitama

__________________________________________________

THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER

Kaduna Airport, disaster waiting to happen, say Reps

Members of the House of Representatives on Thursday condemned aviation operations at the Kaduna International Airport, thereby making a dramatic U-turn from their earlier position.

Grass-cutting probe: Contracts awarded to 20 ‘ghost firms’ — Senate Panel

The Senate, on Thursday, said it had not been able to trace the addresses of about 20 contractors engaged for the execution of various projects in the rehabilitation of the North-East.

Wike, Ortom clash over killings in Rivers, Benue

A war of words ensued between the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom, on Thursday, when both helmsmen accused each other of being culpable in the way they handled security in their respective states.