Author: Hamza Rufai

THE Senate has confirmed the appointment of Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). News Point Nigeria reports that it also confirmed ​the appointment of Saidu Mohammed as the CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The confirmations followed the consideration of a report by the joint committee chaired by Senator Abdulrahman Kawu. A former managing director of the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, had on Wednesday resigned amid corruption allegations levelled against him by the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote. Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed this…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr. Mulisiu Oseni as the substantive Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), effectively dropping Abdullahi Ramat, whose name was earlier forwarded to the Senate for confirmation. The appointment followed the confirmation of members of the reconstituted NERC Board by the Senate and marks the end of months of uncertainty surrounding the leadership of the electricity sector regulator. The development was confirmed in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga. Oseni’s emergence as chairman signals a clear departure from…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking the confirmation of the National Assembly for the presentation of the 2026 annual budget. News Point Nigeria reports that according to the letter read by the Senate President during plenary, the President proposed to present the budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on Friday at 2pm. The proposed timing sparked concerns among some lawmakers, who noted that the time coincided with the Muslim prayers. They raised objections during plenary, urging that the schedule be reconsidered. The Senate President has agreed to consult with the President on the matter.…

A FEDERAL Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, dismissed a bail application filed by former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Babangida Hassan said he could not grant the bail application because the court of coordinate jurisdiction granted the EFCC a remand order to detain the former AGF for further investigations. This newspaper reports that Malami, a leading figure in the opposition coalition, and aspirant for the governorship election in Kebbi State, had been in the…

FOUR lawmakers from Rivers State in the House of Representatives have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). News Point Nigeria reports that the members are Manuchim Umezuruike, representing Port Harcourt 1 Federal Constituency; Boniface Emerengwa, representing Ikwerre/Emuoha Federal Constituency; Awake-Inombek Abiante, representing Andoni/Opobo Federal Constituency; and Boma Goodhead, representing Asari-Toru Federal Constituency. The federal lawmakers who defected are said to be loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who also moved to the APC last week. Announcing his defection earlier last week, Fubara said he decided to leave the PDP to support President Bola Tinubu…

THE Office of the Senate President has dismissed reports circulating on social media suggesting that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is battling health challenges, describing the claims as false, baseless, and deliberately misleading. Kenny Okolugbo, Consultant on Communications and Strategy to the Senate President, addressed the rumours during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Thursday, monitored by News Point Nigeria. According to Okolugbo, there is no truth to claims that Akpabio collapsed or was flown abroad for medical treatment, stressing that the Senate President remains in good health and is fully engaged in his official responsibilities. “The Senate President…

THE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had been accused by Umza Aviation Services Ltd of threatening the 2026 Hajj operation by arbitrarily slashing its pilgrims quota. The Petition To BPP The airline revealed this in a letter dated 8 December 2025, signed by its Managing Director Anachund Henry Izu, and addressed to the Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). In the letter titled, “Re: Roll-Over of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Airlift 2025 Contract,” the airline said the Hajj commission had breached the 2026 Hajj rollover system approved by BPP, by reducing the number of its allocated…

MEMBERS of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have begun gathering at the NLC Secretariat in Abuja for a nationwide protest against the rising insecurity across the country. News Point Nigeria reports that some of those already at the Secretariat include the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, and civil society allies. Notable among them are Omoyele Sowore and his colleagues in the Revolution Now Movement. Notable among those on the ground for the protest on Wednesday were human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and his colleagues in the Revolution Now Movement. There is also a deployment of security personnel on the…

AN All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Alwan Hassan, has claimed that 95 per cent of ministers who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari should be behind bars, alleging that their tenure was a period of unchecked power and alleged corruption. Hassan made the allegation during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme aired on Tuesday monitored by News Point Nigeria. Asked about recent scrutiny of Buhari-era officials, including ex-Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami and a former Labour Minister Chris Ngige, Hassan said: “95 per cent of the ministers under Buhari should be in jail by now. “There has never…

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the Supreme Court’s judgement affirming the president’s powers to declare a state of emergency and suspend elected officials in any part of the country. PDP in a statement sent to News point Nigeria on Monday by its spokesman, Ini Ememobong, described the apex court’s ruling as a “dangerous democratic bend with far-reaching implications” for federalism and constitutional governance. “While we respect the authority of the apex court and recognise its finality within our jurisdiction, we are nevertheless compelled to draw attention to the grave dangers that can emanate from the interpretation of the…

FRESH attacks by suspected bandits across parts of Kogi and Kano states have left communities shattered, with worshippers abducted from a church, residents killed, and families plunged into fear as insecurity continues to spread across Nigeria’s North-Central and North-West regions. News Point Nigeria reports that in Kogi State, gunmen suspected to be bandits stormed an Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) congregation in Aiyetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, during a Sunday service, killing one worshipper and abducting more than 20 others, including women and children. Eyewitnesses said the attackers, numbering over 50, arrived heavily armed and began shooting indiscriminately, sending…

NOTORIOUS bandit leader Bello Turji says since he was born he has “never possessed N5m,” denying receiving money or vehicles during peace talks with the Zamfara State Government. News Point Nigeria reports that in a viral video circulating on social media, the bandit leader said his activities are not for personal gain. His video was in response to allegations by Musa Kamarawa, a former peace mediator appointed by the Sokoto and Zamfara state governments to facilitate dialogue with armed groups in the North-West. Kamarawa had alleged that Turji received N30m during several meetings with the former governor of Zamfara State,…

THE Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Mr Oyetunde Ojo, has sent two busloads of armed police officers to illegally demolish an Abuja property despite a pending court case on the land. The police officers, accompanied by some staff of the FHA, came to the site in two Coaster buses on Friday around noon, and allegedly physically assaulted the lady owner of the property, who is pregnant. dragging her on the ground when she attempted to stop them from demolishing the property. The property is located along 5th Avenue, 52 Road, Gwarinpa Il Estate Abuja, belonging to Tolwu…

A UNITED States–based humanitarian organisation, Equipping The Persecuted, has raised alarm over an alleged plan by armed groups to carry out coordinated attacks on several northern Nigerian communities on Christmas Day, sparking heightened security concerns and a swift pushback from the Presidency. News Point Nigeria reports that the organisation’s founder, Judd Saul, made the claims during a roundtable meeting convened by the International Committee on Nigeria in collaboration with the African Jewish Alliance. The meeting, held on Wednesday in Washington DC, was chaired by former United States Congressman Frank Wolf. Also in attendance were serving US lawmakers, including Congressmen Riley…

THE Department of State Services (DSS) has released three men who were wrongfully arrested and detained for alleged involvement in kidnapping and banditry, following an internal review that cleared them of any wrongdoing. News Point Nigeria reports that the detainees; Umar Ibrahim, Alhaji Bello Rabiu, and Jaja Sarki Bamo — had been in DSS custody since June 2025 after operatives intercepted them at the Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, shortly after their return from the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. They were accused of having links to kidnapping and banditry, allegations that have now been found to be erroneous. A senior DSS…

THE Birnin-Kudu Old Boys Association (BIKOBA), the umbrella body of former students of the prestigious Government Unity College, Birnin-Kudu formerly Government College, Birnin-Kudu in Jigawa State, has concluded all arrangements for its 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for Saturday (tomorrow), December 13, 2025. According to a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the National Publicity Secretary of the association, Mahmud Ibrahim Kwari, the annual gathering will take place at the College Assembly Hall beginning at 9:00am and is expected to attract dignitaries, education stakeholders, community leaders, and accomplished alumni from across the country. A key highlight of the…

SEVERAL ambassadorial nominees, including Reno Omokri, Senator Grace Bent, and former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, on Thursday, arrived at the National Assembly for their screening by the Senate. News Point Nigeria reports that also seen at the complex were former Interior Minister Abdulrahman Dambazau, immediate past INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu and former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Among those present were two former ministers, a former Chief of Army Staff, two serving ambassadors and several lawmakers. Those sighted include Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, Senator Ita Enang, and Senator Nora Daduut, among others. After brief introductions, former ministers, ambassadors and lawmakers…

THE Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, over an alleged N5bn fraud allegedly committed in 2014. News Point Nigeria reports that Oduah, who was aviation minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2011 and 2014 appeared before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama on five counts, including conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences. She was arraigned by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. In one of the counts, Oduah was accused of fraudulently obtaining N2.4bn through Broad Waters Resources from the Federal Ministry of Aviation, falsely…

THE Senate has directed its Committee on Police Affairs to investigate the alleged selective implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s order withdrawing police escorts from VIPs. News Point Nigeria reports that the move followed complaints that lawmakers were being singled out while other influential individuals continued to enjoy full security cover. The resolution was reached after Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) raised a point of order under Order 9 during plenary, expressing outrage that his only police orderly had been withdrawn despite the continued protection of ministers, business executives, political families, and celebrities. Ningi warned that the uneven enforcement of the…

THE Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), under the leadership of its Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has approved the appointment of Mr. Ezekiel Gomos, OFR, as Director-General of the Forum’s Secretariat. News Point Nigeria reports that the appointment is in line with the Forum’s renewed commitment to strengthening its institutional capacity and improving coordination among the 19 northern states in addressing the region’s pressing challenges. According to the Forum, creating the office of Director-General is a strategic step towards repositioning the Secretariat as a more effective hub for policy coordination, collective action and long-term development…