Author: Hamza Rufai

THE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has suspended 10 private jet operations over failure to begin the recertification process. This is contained in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr Michael Achimugu, on Friday, in Abuja. The agency said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 Part 18.3.4 forbids holders of Permit for Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF) from using their aircraft for carriage of passengers, cargo or mail for hire or rewards (commercial operation or charter services). “As a result of flagrant disregard of this rule, the NCAA had earlier directed all holders of PNCF to undergo…

FORMER Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said contrary to public opinion, he earned a total allowance of ₦25m while in office. Dogara who represented the Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal constituency of Bauchi State, served as the 13th Speaker of the House from 2015 to 2019. He, however, did not specify whether the ₦25m total allowance was monthly, yearly, or for the whole of the four years spent in the House. Speaking during an event in Abuja on Wednesday, he wondered where the idea of National Assembly members receiving bogus salaries emanated from. “My allowances, everything as a…

IN 2023 alone Nigerians spent a total of N16.5 trillion to buy diesel, petrol and generators to get electricity, the Federal Government announced on Tuesday. It also announced that the formal power sector, including electricity generation, transmission, and distribution companies, made a total revenue of N1tn last year amid the over N16tn spent by power consumers in the informal sector. The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who announced this at the ongoing 2024 Nigeria Oil and Gas conference in Abuja, however, noted that electricity consumers on Band A category now get up to 24 hours supply of power. He said,…

A TRAGIC incident occurred as an unnamed operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) committed suicide on Monday at his residence in Abuja. According to an online newspaper, PRNigeria, it was gathered that the deceased, a member of Course 5, was a diligent, efficient, and unassuming officer of the anti-graft agency. The Commission is exploring possible factors, including mental health and family challenges, that may have contributed to the operative’s depression and eventual tragic decision. When contacted on the incident, the EFCC spokesperson, Mr. Dele Oyewale, told PRNigeria that an investigation was already underway to determine the circumstances…

THE Federal Government has exempted farmers, small businesses, and manufacturers from withholding tax. This is according to the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele. He said in a post on his X handle that, “As part of the ongoing fiscal policy and tax reforms, a new withholding tax regime has been approved. “The key changes introduced are to address the identified challenges and specifically include the exemption of small businesses from withholding tax compliance; reduced rates for businesses with low margins; exemptions for manufacturers and producers such as farmers; measures to curb evasion…

A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Lagos has held that it is illegal for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to declare Magaret, the wife of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, as a wanted person. Justice Deinde Dipeolu made the declaration while ruling on a fundamental right application filed by Mrs Emefiele. The court also ordered the EFCC to pay her N3 million as damages for the infringement of her rights. Mrs.Emefiele had dragged the anti-graft agency and its chairman before the court for declaring her a wanted person and publishing her photographs on…

TWO female suicide bombers have been arrested in Borno State, in connection with the detonation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Gwoza, authorities said on Sunday. The explosion left at least 18 people dead A local government official who confirmed this to News Point Nigeria said 30 of the female suicide bombers were sent into Gwoza to detonate the Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) at different locations within the area. According to the source, only four suicide bombers exploded so far. She explained that one of the female bombers that came from Pulka Axis was responding to military interrogation at the…

THE federal government has threatened to terminate the contracts of Julius Berger and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) over the handling of the Calabar-Itu Road project. Minister of Works, David Umahi gave the two construction companies one week to remobilise to site or face termination of their contracts. Speaking on Saturday in Uyo during a Stakeholders’ Engagement on the alignment of section 3B and 4 of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi gave the contractors marching orders to mobilise to site, saying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has released enough funds for the projects. “We use this opportunity to warn CCECC, out…

GOVERNORS under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have assured Nigerians that better wages will result from the ongoing negotiations between the government, private sector and organised labour. The governors gave the assurance after a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. “The governors agreed to continue engaging with key stakeholders to reach a mutually agreeable solution,” a communique issued by the Governors Forum read in part. “We remain dedicated to the process and assure that better wages will result from the ongoing negotiations.” Chairman of the NGF and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, signed the communique. The governors also…

SENATE President Godswill Akpabio has denied claims that the 10th Senate was proposing the procurement of new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. Akpabio who addressed journalists in Maiduguri, described the claims as false. According to a Tuesday statement by his media aide, Jackson Udom, the Senate President was in Borno State to pay a condolence visit to Senator Tahir Monguno over the death of his father. “I want to dispel the rumour that you are hearing that the Senate President said he will buy a new plane for the President and his Vice, irrespective of…

VICE President Kashim Shettima has described the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, as an institution that must be jealously guarded and protected. Shettima stated this following an alarm raised by the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Council (MURIC), Prof. Isiaq Akintola, that the Sokoto government is allegedly plotting to depose the Sultan. In a statement on Monday, Akintola said Nigerian Muslims would reject any thought of deposing the Sultan after the state Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, deposed 15 traditional rulers for various offences. Speaking at the ongoing North West Peace & Security Summit in Katsina State, Shettima told…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu says the efforts of security forces in the fight against insecurity in the North-West are yielding results, and have disrupted and dismantled criminal networks. The President said this at the North-West Peace and Security Summit organised by the North-West Governors’ Forum in Katsina, the capital of Katsina State on Monday. Represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Tinubu assured Nigerians that the progress made so far is just the beginning as the government is making more effort to provide a better secure environment for all citizens. “Our military forces, through various operations such as Operation Hadin Kai…

GOVERNOR Umaru Bago of Niger State criticized the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for the alleged poor treatment of Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. Bago in a series of posts via X, accused the commission of failing to provide adequate food for the pilgrims, leading to illness among some of them. “NAHCON has no business in chartering flights; it is not their business to feed the pilgrims because of the food,” Bago stated. “For example, I am from Niger State. If you allow me to feed pilgrims, I will be able to trans-ship foods that people are locally used…

THE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has announced the approval of N21 billion for 11 electricity Distribution Companies, DisCos, to provide meters for customers. This announcement was made in NERC’s ORDER NO: NERC/2024/072 on The Operationalisation of “Tranche A” of the Presidential Metering Initiative Under the Framework of Meter Acquisition Fund. “The order signed by NERC Chairman, Mr Sanusi Garba and Commissioner Legal, Dafe Akpeneye, shall become effective From June 2024 and may be amended or revoked by subsequent orders issued by the commission. “The commission hereby approves the sum of N21 billion apportioned pro rata to contribution by the…

THE Kano State Police Commissioner, AIG Usaini Gumel, has given reasons why the police ignored Governor Abba Yusuf’s directive on the eviction of the deposed Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero. Recall that Yusuf had on Thursday night, through the State Attorney General And Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, directed the CP to remove the deposed 15 Emir of Kano from the Nasarawa mini palace where he is staying. Speaking in a telephone interview with this newspaper on Friday, the police commissioner said obeying the governor’s eviction order would be tantamount to “jumping the gun”. According to him, the…

THE Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has directed the continuation of the police barricade on local government secretariats in Rivers State to prevent a breakdown of law and order. IGP Egbetokun gave the directive while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja on the sideline of a Conference with Commissioners of Police and other Senior Officers. He said the police will continue to occupy the secretariats until a court of competent jurisdiction delivers judgment on the local government crisis in Rivers State. The IGP who also spoke on the controversy over the recruitment of constables and the allegations by…

THE Federal Government has borrowed a total of $4.95bn in loans from the World Bank in the past 12 months, pushing the total public debt to N101tn amidst worries about the increasing costs of servicing external debt. The nation’s public debt was put at approximately N97tn as of December 2023, according to the Debt Management Office data. This came as the government still expects fresh loan approval worth $4.4bn from the international lender and the Africa Development Bank over the next one year. An analysis by our correspondent showed that the bank approved funding for six projects including $750m for power…

PRESIDENTIAL Candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has accused the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of heeding to ill advice from enemies of Kano State. He said this in reaction to the emirate tussle in which Federal security agencies with constitutionally assigned responsibility of ensuring peace, law and order, have been backing the deposed Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony for the construction of 82 kilometres rural road networks at his hometown, Madobi, Kwankwaso said people of Kano would resist any attempt to…

KANO State Government has expressed concern over how the Police command in the State has been disobeying the “legitimate instructions” of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Chief Security Officer of the State. Speaking at a press conference in Government House, Kano, on Saturday, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Isah Dederi, said, “I am compelled to ask the question: who is usurping the authority of the Commander-in-Chief. Because some people are dishing out directives to security chiefs in the State so much so that the State Police Commissioner without any consultation with the Chief Security Officer of the State…

ALHAJI Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 16th Emir of Kano, says he is not worried about the possibility of another governor removing him. Former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje had dethroned Sanusi in 2020, following a personal rift. While Sanusi was reinstated by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the 15th Emir, is contesting his dethronement in the court. Speaking with Saturday Sun, Sanusi said only God knows how long he will stay on the throne. He said: “For me, even now that I am here, only God knows how long I will be here. I can die tomorrow. Another governor…