Author: Hamza Rufai

SENATOR Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) senatorial district in the National Assembly, has announced her defection from the Labour Party (LP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), setting the stage for her political plans ahead of the 2027 general election. Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Kingibe described the move as “deliberate and strategic,” and confirmed that a formal declaration would soon follow, to be marked by what she described as “noise and fanfare.” “I’m totally and completely committed to ADC,” she said. “But obviously, as the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, don’t expect me to…

FORMER presidential spokesman Garba Shehu has dismissed notions of cabals being in control of his former principal’s government. According to Shehu, such statements are sheer nonsense, and he maintained that final decision-making rested on former President Muhammadu Buhari’s table ”This thing about cabaks is sheer nonsense, let me tell you, Buhari is a military general even when he becomes a converted democrat,” the former presidential aide said on Friday on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme monitored by News Point Nigeria. Rumours about Buhari’s government being infiltrated by a power ring dominated the headlines, with former Sports Minister Solomon Dalung claiming…

THE House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals Development on Friday decried the attitude of some foreign nationals to the solid minerals sector, particularly two Chinese companies who, it said, are owing the Federal Government over ₦15 billion Value Added Tax (VAT). Jonathan Gaza, the committee’s chairman, stated this in Abuja during the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development ministerial retreat for top management and other staff of the ministry. Though he did not disclose their names, Gaza explained that the discovery came to light during an investigation conducted by the green chamber. He stated that when confronted by members of…

FORMER Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has criticised one of President Bola Tinubu’s flagship projects, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road describing it as a “scam” and accusing the administration of failing to work for the people. Lawal stated this during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, aired on Channels Television monitored by News Point Nigeria. “If you ask me, ‘What projects has this government implemented so far that are visible to Nigerians and have impacted their lives?’ I cannot see any. At least in northern Nigeria, where I am a frequent traveller, for example,…

LONGTIME ally of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Farouk Adamu Aliyu, has disagreed with recent claims by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, regarding the role of President Bola Tinubu in Buhari’s 2015 election victory. Mustapha, speaking during a book launch in Abuja on Wednesday, had argued that Tinubu did not make Buhari president. According to him, Buhari already had an established support base of 12 million votes, and the merger of legacy parties that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC) only added around three million more votes. However, Aliyu, who was a guest on Channels…

KASHIFU Inuwa, the director‑general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), urged Nigerians and stakeholders on Thursday to view digital transformation as an ‘infinite game’ rather than a race with a fixed finish line. Addressing the 13th BusinessDay’s CEO Forum on “Nigeria: From Reform to Recovery,” he stressed that every reform milestone must serve as a fresh starting point for deeper, more inclusive economic growth. Recounting NITDA’s evolution since its 2001 inception (then NICA), Inuwa reminded delegates that fewer than 500,000 Nigerians then had access to computers, and ICT contributed under 0.5 percent to GDP. Today, over 130 million citizens are…

THE governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has debunked rumours that he is set to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor insisted that he has no intention of quitting the PDP for either the APC or the African Democratic Party (ADC) which was recently adopted by the opposition coalition. Governor Lawal made this known during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday monitored by News Point Nigeria, maintaining that the story about his defection remains a rumour. “First of all, I’m glad that you said a rumour that APC,…

THE National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has commended the efforts of Nigeria’s military and security forces, stating that the country’s ability to withstand and respond to its longstanding security challenges is a sign of strength and resilience. Speaking at the official commissioning of the Joint Doctrine and Welfare Centre in Abuja on Tuesday, Ribadu asserted that Nigeria has made significant strides in overcoming threats posed by terrorism, insurgency, and violent crimes, particularly since the current administration came into office. “Terrorists and insurgents are being defeated, which signals a significant improvement in the security landscape,” Ribadu said. “The country has…

THE House of Representatives has proposed a constitutional amendment to reserve 10 per cent of seats in the National Assembly for women and five per cent for persons with disabilities (PWDs). Under the proposed framework, 83 additional seats would be created exclusively for women — 55 in the House of Representatives, increasing its membership from 360 to 415, and 28 in the Senate, raising the total number of seats in the National Assembly from 469 to 552. Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, who announced the proposal Tuesday at the official opening of the 2025 National Assembly Open Week and…

THE Senate has rejected allegations by the House of Representatives that it has been stalling legislative progress by delaying concurrence on bills passed by the lower chamber. During the plenary on Tuesday, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, clarified the Senate’s position, underpinning that the upper chamber has been diligent in attending to bills forwarded by the House. Responding to recent claims that the Senate had failed to act on over 140 House-passed bills, including several sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the Senate leader disclosed that the Senate considered no fewer than six…

THE Honourable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., was recently  honoured with the “Supportive Member Award” by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Sokoto Branch during its Annual Bar Dinner and Award Night. The award, which was presented by the National President of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, recognises the Minister’s exceptional contributions to national development, unwavering commitment to the growth of infrastructure, and dedication to good governance and the rule of law. The “Supportive Member Award” specifically celebrates his long-time dedication, commitment, and outstanding efforts towards the growth and sustainability of the…

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has reportedly cut its selling price of petrol in Abuja. Our correspondent observes that NNPC retail outlets sold the product for as low as N910 per litre in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano. This means petrol is now N35 cheaper than the previous price of N945 per litre. At other fueling stations in Abuja, petrol now costs N935 per litre, as seen at Lugbe and Airport Road. This change coincides with the drop in global oil prices, with Brent crude dropping to $68.30 per barrel as of 4th June. Because of this global trend, Dangote…

NATASHA Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended Kogi senator, has vowed to resume plenary activities on Tuesday. She made this known in a short viral clip, which gained traction on various social media platforms. In the video where she was seen with her supporters, she said, “Thank you for your support. I’m glad we are victorious today I Am Reinstated by court. “And we shall resume at the Senate on Tuesday.” Though she did not provide further details, her statement is believed to be in reaction to a court ruling that nullified her suspension. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court on…

THE House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has disclosed that it received 46 formal requests for the creation of new states, alongside 117 demands for new local government areas across Nigeria. The proposals, submitted by various interest groups, span all six geopolitical zones. Below is the complete list of proposed states as released by the committee: North East 1. Savannah State – from Borno 2. Kwararafa State – from Taraba 3. Katagum State – from Bauchi 4. Amana State – from Adamawa 5. South Sardauna State – from Taraba 6. Muri State – from Taraba…

THE Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadiri, has urged the Federal Government to fully privatise the country’s state-owned refineries, describing them as a “pure drain on the Nigerian economy.” Ajayi-Kadiri, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today monitored by News Point Nigeria, argued that the government should hand over the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries to the private sector for efficient management and productivity. “If you ask me, the government should just sell these refineries. Give them to private sector people who will run them efficiently and be able to deliver. When…

THE acting National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Ali Bukar Dalori, has taunted Atiku Abubakar-led coalition, saying that nobody outside Abuja is talking about their move. Dalori who stated this while speaking to BBC Hausa on Tuesday, also revealed moves he is making to reconcile aggrieved party members across the country. He said, “We are not in any way threatened by the so called coalition. We want to show not only Nigeria but the whole world that our politics is people-oriented. “They have nothing marketable to sell to people. We [APC] that came through merger of political parties…

THE ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed July 24, 2025, for its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to nominate a new substantive National Chairman for the party. After an emergency meeting at the party’s national secretariat on Monday, the National Working Committee (NWC) led by the Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter, said the meeting would afford the party the opportunity to nominate a new chairman for the party. He added that a notice for the NEC meeting has been forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Meanwhile, Ali Bukar Dalori assumed duty as the party’s Acting National Chairman…

ARMED policemen on Monday morning took over the Wadata Plaza, the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, amid tension over the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting expected to hold today. The police disallowed members of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) including Maina Chiroma from entrance into the premises of the secretariat. The police denied the BoT members from holding their meeting at the Wadata Plaza. The meeting was to precede the expanded caucus meeting. A former National Secretary of the PDP, Umar Tsauri, told News Point Nigeria that the police stopped the BoT members, saying…

SOME staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) are currently staging a protest in front of the FCTA headquarters in Area 11, Abuja. The group under the aegis of Joint Union Action Committee can be seen holding placards with inscriptions such as “non- payment of AEPB enforcement squad”, inaccessibility if the salary portal to salary desk officers”, “withheld salaries and allowances of workers for over 6 months” amongst others. Speaking to Channels Television, the President of the union, Mrs Rifkatu Iortyer, explained that they have taken several actions such as writing letters since 2023 to the FCT Minister, Nyesom…

THE controversy surrounding the status of today’s National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting, has torn the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, apart as two factions within the party have resolved to proceed with two parallel NEC meetings. The decision comes amid growing tensions over party leadership and procedural disagreements with INEC. This came as Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, rising from a closed-door meeting with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara; and the South East Zonal Chairman of the party, Chief Ali Odefa, among others, at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday, said he…