Author: Hamza Rufai

FORMER President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to his Kaduna residence after spending nearly two years in his native Daura, Katsina State, where he retire to since he left office in May 2023. One of his former media aides, Bashir Ahmad, disclosed this on X yesterday, saying after completing his eight-year tenure, Buhari opted for a quiet life in his hometown and largely stayed out of active political discussions, focusing on private engagements. He said Buhari was accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima and other dignitaries, which included Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, and his Kaduna State counterpart, Uba Sani;…

OLUFEMI Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General has approved an increase in the daily Ration Cash Allowance for Nigerian Army personnel from N1,500 to N3,000, effective from the end of March. News Point Nigeria reports that Oluyede made this announcement on Thurdsday while addressing officers and soldiers of the 81 Division at the 9th Brigade Parade Ground in Ikeja, Lagos, during his visit to inspect ongoing projects in the division’s area of responsibility. Expressing concern over the previous N1,500 allowance, he assured troops of his commitment to improving their welfare. Beyond feeding allowances, Oluyede acknowledged the housing challenges faced…

THE Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Ways and Means Advance has accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of frustrating its investigation into the N30 trillion Ways and Means Advance and the Anchor Borrowers’ programme under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The committee made the accusation after receiving an interim report from its consultants at a meeting where they expressed frustration over the bank’s failure to provide crucial documents required for the probe. The committee, which was inaugurated a year ago by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, stated that the delay has significantly stalled progress on the investigation. Chairman of the committee,…

SENATOR Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio for allegedly defaming her. The suit was filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday with Akpabio and his senior legislative aide Mfon Patrick listed as second to third defendants. In the suit, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, referred to Akpabio’s words published by his aide on his Facebook page with the title, “Is local content committee of the senate NATASHA’s BIRTHRIGHT” where he stated that the claimant thought being a lawmaker is all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the…

THE Senate has commenced a two-day public hearing on proposed tax reform bills, bringing together key stakeholders from the nation’s economic and financial sectors. Among those in attendance are the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, the Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, members of the Federal Executive Council, heads of relevant agencies, and the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, among others. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, assured that the process would…

VICE President Kashim Shettima has charged governors of the 36 states of the federation to prioritize human capital development of their citizens over politics. He gave the charge during a meeting of the Steering Committee of the Human Capital Development Programme at the State House Abuja. The Vice President noted that the path chosen by Nigeria in the 21st century can only be determined by the strength of the nation’s workforce, the education of its children, and the well-being of communities across the country. According to him, “We must go beyond plans and policies. Implementation must be swift, targeted, and…

SENATE spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, on Friday, faulted the action of his colleague, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over a seating arrangement dispute in the hallowed chamber. Natasha, who represents Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had on Thursday, refused to use the seat allocated to her, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules, which protects the privileges of members. At the height of the situation, Senate President Godswill Akpabio called on Senate security to walk the female lawmaker out of the chambers, but fellow lawmakers’ intervention saved the situation from degenerating out of hand. Reacting to the incident during an…

A MILD drama erupted in the Senate on Thursday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove Senator Natasha Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, from the chamber. The drama started after a report by Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno, who informed the Senate that Senator Natasha had refused to relocate to a new seat assigned to her. Chief whip added that the reassignment was intended to close gaps left by two defecting opposition senators who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the minority party Citing Order 24, Monguno highlighted his authority as Chief Whip and referenced Order…

THE United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has dismissed allegations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funds Boko Haram or other terrorist organisation. Mills who met with members of the Nigeria Governors Forum in Abuja on Wednesday night, said there that no evidence to back up the allegation. He stated that no country condemns Boko Haram’s violence more strongly than the United States, assuring that if any evidence is found, the US government will work with the Nigerian government to investigate it. “There is absolutely no evidence of such diversion, and if we ever had evidence…

NIGERIA may face a tanker shortage as the Federal Government on Wednesday disclosed plans to ban 60,000- and 45,000-litre capacity trucks. While most tankers hauling petroleum products across the country are around 45,000 litres, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said such capacity would be outlawed. Coming amidst rising tanker accidents that have been fueling deaths and the destruction of properties, NMDPRA issued an immediate ban on petroleum products tankers with a 60,000-litre capacity. In the absence of pipelines, Nigeria relies on tankers to haul petroleum products across the country, a development that has remained a menace…

JUSTICE Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja has rejected the request of the embattled National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from effecting his removal as Secretary of the party. Justice Ekwo ordered Anyanwu to put INEC and other defendants in his new suit, on notice to appear in court to enable him to hear their sides. Senator Anyanwu had approached the Federal High Court with an ex-parte application, praying the judge to restrain INEC or any of its agents from receiving or effecting any correspondences…

THE United States has condemned the activities of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, saying it will continue to work with Nigeria and the region in all ways possible for the security of its people. This was contained in an ‘X’ post by the US mission to Nigeria on Tuesday, which also gave reasons why the mission designated the group as a terrorist organisation in 2013. The US promises comprehensive monitoring and that evaluation systems are in place to ensure US assistance reaches those in need, while strongly condemning the violence perpetrated by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups. “Comprehensive monitoring…

THE federal government has inaugurated the first-ever barracks for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Yola, Adamawa State. NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), said the facility would bolster the agency’s operational efficiency in combating drug abuse and trafficking across Nigeria. Marwa noted that the absence of dedicated accommodation for NDLEA officers had previously exposed them and their families to various risks. The newly commissioned facility, located on an 18-hectare site in Kwanan Waya, includes office complexes, residential units, and auxiliary amenities to support NDLEA operations. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,…

THE Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of the Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Garba Ahmed; CP Border Patrol, and CP Kwara State Command, Salman Dogo, to the next rank of Assistant Inspectors General of Police. Also, 16 Deputy Commissioners were promoted to substantive Commissioners of Police. They include Audu Baba Umaru who was promoted and retired. Others were Cyriacus Enechukwu; Gombit Kopshella Bangs; Eloho Edwin Okpoziakpo; Mamman Bitrus Giwa; Rosemary Okpoho Akpan; Umar Hassan Kabir and Usman Kanfani Jibrin. Naziru Abdulmajid; Osadolor Olaye; Modi Jonthan Filiya; Sani Omolori; Hassan Gwani Saleh; Hammed Sule; Ayodele Rowland Adeyemi; and Justine…

THE House of Representatives has called on the relevant Federal Government agencies to implement tougher measures against homicidal and femicidal acts in Nigeria. The House also asked law enforcement agencies to prioritize homicide investigations and ensure the thorough prosecution of offenders to serve as a deterrent. The lawmakers also resolved to investigate the causes of recent killings of women and girls across the country. This resolution followed a motion sponsored by Awaji-Inombek D. Abiante (PDP, Rivers), Faleke James Abiodun (APC, Lagos), Ogah Amobi Godwin (LP, Abia), and Manu Soro Mansur (PDP, Bauchi), highlighting the urgent need to curb rising incidents…

THE Federal Government may spend N2.36tn on electricity subsidies for low-income consumers in 2025, a figure that comes amid plans to implement a cost-reflective tariff for electricity consumers. This came as the Multi-Year Tariff Order released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on Sunday showed that the government incurred N178.03bn electricity subsidy in January despite minimal cash backing. This subsidy payment comes despite low allocations in the budget to cover the mounting electricity costs. The N178.03bn is a decrease of 10.1 per cent or N19.88bn when compared to the N197.91bn that was shouldered by the government on behalf of electricity…

THE Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee has slammed a cost of N200,000 on a legal practitioner, Mr A. O. Amagwula, for stalling the hearing of a petition against his client, Stella Oyiogu. The Incorporated Trustees of Barewa Old Boys Association BOBA petitioned the Disciplinary Committee  in 2021 alleging that Oyiogu fraudulently represented the alumni body at FCT High Court in a land dispute, without authorisation. She reportedly joined the association in the case, filed a defense on its behalf but abandoned the case leading to a judgment against the association. In her response, Oyiogu claimed that she was engaged by one…

THE Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has stepped down the merger of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) as recommended by the Steve Oronsaye report. He also revealed that the aviation industry was exempted from the foreign travel ban placed on federal government officials last year. The President announced the ban which took effect from April last year. Keyamo disclosed that the aviation sector was exempted from the ban because President Tinubu is desirous of change and growth in the sector. The ban was…

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has registered over 700,000 candidates ahead of its upcoming examinations. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, revealed this on Friday while speaking with journalists after inspecting some registered Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in Lagos. Oloyede stated that over 700,000 candidates had been registered, including more than 11,000 underage applicants. “As of today, we have registered 779,714 candidates. This is the second week and the tenth day of registration,” he said. He added, “At this moment, the figure stands at 780,202, with 11,512 underage applicants. Today alone, 443 underage candidates were registered.” According to him,…

DEPUTY spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has strongly denied bribery allegations made against him by Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan. Agbese has given Gambaryan a seven-day ultimatum to provide evidence of his claims or retract them, warning that failure to do so will result in legal action. Gambaryan alleged that Agbese, along with two other lawmakers, demanded a $150 million bribe for his release while he was detained in Nigeria in 2024 over money laundering accusations. The other lawmakers named were Peter Akpanke and Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption. However, Agbese dismissed…