Author: Hamza Rufai

THE Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has declared all correctional facilities nationwide as “Red Zones,” warning that they are strictly off-limits to the public ahead of Monday’s planned protests calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). In a public notice issued on Sunday by the NCoS spokesperson, Umar Abubakar sent to News Point Nigeria, the Service cautioned that anyone found loitering around or attempting to gain access to any correctional facility without authorization would be treated as a potential security threat. “All correctional centres are declared as Red Zones. Anyone who has…

THE Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim order restraining Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, and several others from holding a protest in key areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including Aso Rock Villa, in connection with the planned #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration. News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling delivered on Friday, granted an ex parte motion filed by the Nigeria Police Force, acting on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN). The motion sought to halt the planned protest, which was scheduled for Monday, October 20, 2025, and led by Sowore…

TROOPS of the Nigerian Army have rescued 21 kidnapped victims, including four Chinese nationals, during coordinated operations across Kwara and Kogi States. In a statement released on Saturday sent to News Point Nigeria, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Polycarp Okoye, said the daring rescue, was carried out on Thursday, October 17, 2025. According to him the rescue operation involved personnel from the 2 Division, 12 Brigade Lokoja, and the 22 Armoured Brigade, Ilorin, under Operation FANSAN YAMA, a military offensive aimed at flushing out bandits and kidnappers in the North Central region. The army said the…

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he will meet with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, following the demolition of illegal duplexes built under a high-tension power line at Apo Dutse District, Abuja, supposedly belonging to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). A statement from Wike’s media aide Lere Olayinka sent to News Point Nigeria, stated that Wike disclosed this during an on-the-spot assessment of the demolished structures on Friday. According to him, the Minister said the buildings were erected despite repeated warnings and the denial of development approval by the FCT Department of…

A VIOLENT clash between some illegal miners and suspected bandits at Kuyello Ward in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State has left at least seven people dead. Residents say the incident occurred around 11am on Thursday at Kuyello, in the eastern part of Birnin Gwari, bordering Zamfara and Katsina states. A community leader, Umar Maishanu, told News Point Nigeria that one of the bandits reportedly came from Zamfara to demand a monetary levy from the illegal miners, and in the process, was killed and buried in a shallow grave by the miners. He said that this led…

THE Federal High Court in Abuja has reaffirmed its earlier order stopping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from proceeding with its planned National Convention slated for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. News Point Nigeria reports that delivering a ruling on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho maintained that the status quo must be strictly observed by all parties until the substantive suit challenging the legality of the convention is fully determined. The judge warned that any attempt by the PDP, its organs, or the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to defy the court’s directive would attract serious sanctions.…

THE Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission. News Point Nigeria reports that the Red Chamber confirmed Amupitan after a voice vote by the lawmakers and after undergoing screening and answering questions posed by members of the Senate. Amupitan had arrived at the National Assembly complex earlier, exchanged pleasantries with Senators. He was accompanied to the chamber by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, and other dignitaries. At about 12:50pm, the nominee was ushered into the Senate chamber by the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abubakar Lado,…

KATSINNA State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has firmly denied claims that his administration is negotiating with bandits, stressing that his government remains focused on achieving genuine and sustainable peace through community-led security initiatives rather than appeasement. News Point Nigeria reports that Governor Radda made the clarification during the passing-out ceremony of 100 newly trained officers of the Community Watch Corps (C-Watch) on Tuesday in Katsina, marking the third phase of the recruitment and training exercise. The latest batch of officers will be deployed to Kankia and Dutsin-Ma local government areas, with 50 personnel assigned to each location to reinforce…

THE Senate will today (Thursday) screen Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission. The announcement was contained in a circular issued on Wednesday by the Director of Information for the Senate, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, and made available to News Point Nigeria. The development comes barely 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu’s letter seeking the speedy confirmation of Amupitan was read on the Senate floor by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio. The circular read in part: “The Office of the Secretary, Research and Information wishes to notify members of the press…

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday mocked his political critics, saying those who once condemned him for working with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have now defected to the same party. Wike, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been serving in the APC-led Federal Government since 2023, a move that drew sharp criticism from within his own party. News Point Nigeria reports that speaking at the flag-off ceremony for the construction of the main carriageways on the Outer Southern Expressway in Abuja, the 57-year-old…

THE House of Representatives has launched a probe into what it described as rampant and unjustified deductions from the accounts of Nigerian bank customers, summoning the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and leading commercial banks to appear before it for explanations. News Point Nigeria reports that the resolution followed the adoption of a motion raised by Hon. Tolani Shagaya (APC, Kwara) during Tuesday’s plenary, where lawmakers unanimously condemned what they termed “incessant, arbitrary, and unexplained charges” being imposed on customers despite clear CBN regulations governing bank fees. Shagaya, in his presentation, said the House had been inundated with complaints from…

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday said it would intervene in the dispute between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). News Point Nigeria reports that this followed a motion by lawmaker representing Badagry Federal Constituency, Sesi Winghan under the All Progressives Congress (APC). The intervention of the leadership of the green chamber is to provide lasting solution to the dispute. On Monday, ASUU commenced a two-week warning strike, following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Federal government to address the union’s lingering demands. This is the first nationwide strike in nearly three…

NIGERIA’s political calendar may be on the verge of a historic shift as the National Assembly has proposed November 2026 as the new date for the 2027 general elections, six months before the end of President Bola Tinubu’s tenure. News Point Nigeria reports that the move, part of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, seeks to ensure that all election petitions and court cases are concluded before May 29, 2027, the date new administrations are expected to be sworn in a reform long demanded by legal experts and civil society groups to protect the sanctity of the electoral process. The…

THE Academy of Management Nigeria (TAMN) has expressed deep concern over the ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the recent directive from the Federal Government enforcing the “No Work, No Pay” policy across federal universities. In a statement issued on Monday, October 13, 2025, and signed by Professor Samaila Mande, FAMN, President of TAMN made available to News Point Niigeria, the Academy called for urgent, fair, and empathetic dialogue between the government and the university lecturers to avert further disruption of academic activities in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. The Academy, an institution committed to promoting…

THE Birnin-Kudu Old Boys Association (BIKOBA) has joined the government and people of Jigawa State, particularly the state judiciary in mourning the passing of former Kadi of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal, Kadi Bashir Birnin-Kudu, describing him as a trailblazer in Islamic legal education and a symbol of integrity in the dispensation of justice. The late jurist, who was also the pioneer Provost of the Jigawa State School of Islamic and Legal Studies, Ringim, passed away on Friday, October 10, 2025, after a prolonged illness while receiving treatment at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. In a condolence message…

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted no fewer than 300,000 pills of Exol-5 in Ogun and Kaduna raids, respectively. The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement released on Sunday sent to News Point Nigeria. Babafemi said that operatives of the agency on Wednesday arrested a 29-year-old suspect with 150,000 pills of Exol-5, 800 ampoules of pentazocine injection, and 22,000 capsules of tramadol at New Bussa, in Niger. Similarly, in Kaduna, a suspect, 27, known simply as Farin Malam, was nabbed at the Abuja/Kaduna toll gate while conveying 150,000 pills of Exol-5…

THE Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE), custodians of the Al-Noor Mosque, Wuse 2, Abuja, Dr. Kabir Kabo Usman, has congratulated the Director of Medical Services at Prime University, Abuja, Dr. Mohammed Dada Ibrahim, on his appointment and turbanning as the Galadiman Magani of Katagum Emirate by His Highness, the Emir of Katagum, Bauchi State, Alhaji Umar Farouk II, CON. In a congratulatory message issued on Saturday sent to News Point Nigeria, Dr. Kabir Kabo described the appointment as “a well-deserved recognition of Dr. Mohammed Dada’s exceptional leadership qualities, selfless…

THE Federal Government has instructed tertiary institutions in the country to submit reports of intervention funds from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETfund) that have not been utilised within the next thirty days. News Point Nigeria reports that addressing heads of tertiary institutions at a meeting in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the ministry has been faced with a dilemma over the issue of allocations that are not being put to good use. He explained that resources that could have been used to develop infrastructure in institutions have remained idle due to avoidable bottlenecks. The minister also…

THE Senate has called on the Federal Government to urgently establish a permanent military base in Kwara South Senatorial District as part of renewed efforts to curb the escalating wave of insecurity ravaging the region. News Point Nigeria reports that the resolution followed a motion moved by Senator Lola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South) during Tuesday’s plenary, titled “Urgent Need to Address the Rising Insecurity in Kwara South Senatorial District.” The lawmakers expressed deep concern over what they described as the alarming level of kidnappings, killings, and violent attacks being carried out by armed bandits, particularly in Ifelodun Local Government Area,…

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of institutionalizing forgery and deceit in public service, following the resignation of Uche Nnaji, former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, over controversies surrounding his academic credentials. In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday sent to News Point Nigeria, Atiku described Nnaji’s resignation as “a national embarrassment” and a symptom of what he called the “moral collapse” within the Tinubu-led government. The former Vice President, who served from 1999 to 2007, alleged that forgery and falsification of documents had become entrenched in the administration’s leadership culture, claiming…