Author: Hamza Rufai

A PROMINENT Islamic cleric, Sheikh Muhammad Kabir Haruna Gombe, has appealed to the youth to prioritise peace and avoid participating in the planned protest over hunger and insecurity. Sheikh Gombe emphasised the significance of dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution, urging young people to refrain from actions that could incite violence or chaos. “Some individuals are using social media to mobilise Nigerians, especially the youth, for protests against hunger, fuel subsidy removal, electricity tariff hikes and insecurity,” Sheikh Kabiru Gombe said. Highlighting religious teachings, Sheikh Gombe underscored the qur’anic and biblical principles advocating for peaceful responses to challenges. “The Holy Qur’an…

NIGERIA’s inflation figure has reached a new high, hitting 34.19 % for June 2024, according to the latest data from the National Bureau of State Statistics (NBS).  This is an increase of 0.24% points when compared to the inflation figure for May 2024 released by the NBS. “In June 2024, the headline inflation rate increased to 34.19% relative to the May 2024 headline inflation rate which was 33.95%. Looking at the movement, the June 2024 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.24% points when compared to the May 2024 headline inflation rate,” the NBS said in its Consumer Price…

THE Federal Executive Council has approved a $21 million project to install metres at all 187 crude oil flow stations in the Niger Delta. The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, announced this at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, saying that the initiative aims to ensure accurate accounting of the country’s crude oil production using digital platforms. Lokpobiri also mentioned that part of this digital strategy includes implementing a system to track all crude oil vessels from their point of origin in the Niger Delta to their final destinations worldwide. “One of the key approvals of the Federal…

THE Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Governor of Kwara State Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq says the Supreme Court verdict on local government financial autonomy is relieving to governors. He spoke at the State House in Abuja on Friday in the company of his Bauchi and Imo State counterparts Bala Mohammed and Hope Uzodimma respectively. “We welcome the ruling of the Supreme Court. Compliance is a given and our attorney generals have applied for the enrollment order which we’ll study carefully. But by and large, governors are happy with the devolution of power with respect to local government autonomy,” the…

A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has ordered that a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, be remanded in Kuje prison in Abuja pending the consideration of his bail application. Justice James Omotosho issued the order on Thursday after the court resumed Mamman’s arraignment on money laundering charge which was earlier stepped down by the judge. The former minister pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The EFCC had filed a 12-count money laundering charge against Mamman. He was alleged to have committed money laundering offences to the tune of N33…

TWELVE more state government-owned tertiary institutions have been onboarded to the student loan application pool, increasing the number from 36 to 48. This was revealed by the management of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund in a statement signed by its Head, Media and Public Relations, Nasir Ayitogo, on Wednesday. According to him, the onboarding followed the successful submission and verification of data completeness. “With this latest addition, the total number of participating state government-owned tertiary institutions has now increased from the initial 36 announced earlier to 48. Students’ data from 121 institutions is outstanding,” the statement read. The Fund urged…

AS part of efforts to address the food crisis in the country, the Federal Government is sending 60 trucks of fertiliser to each of the states of the federation. Each of the 109 senators will also receive two trucks of fertiliser for distribution to farmers in their constituents, while the 360 members of the House of Representatives will get one truck each to distribute in their constituencies. The Senate, which disclosed the plan on Tuesday while debating on the food crisis at plenary, called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the fertiliser distribution. The call followed a motion…

THE Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on Monday sought to take over the trial of Karl Toriola, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd; and others. Counsel to the AGF, Aderonke Imana, told Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja, upon resumed hearing in the matter. Mrs Imana informed the court that the prosecuting agency, the Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC, and the police had been notified through a letter to furnish the AGF’s office with a report. “The matter is slated for plea. “However, I have the instruction…

THE Nigerian Nigerian Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has blamed resurfacing of fuel queues in some parts of the country on the disruption of ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels resulting from recent thunderstorm. A statement by the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, on Monday, said the adverse weather condition has also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, disrupting station supply logistics. The clarification came following reports of long fuel queues in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country.…

A MAN who gave his name as Shaibu Alhaji Yusuf on Monday caused a stir in Abuja when he climbed a 120-metre-long broadcast mast at the premises of the Abuja Broadcasting Service, owners of Aso Radio and Television. The broadcast station which is owned by the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA is located on Katampe Hill, at a point dubbed the geographic centre of Nigeria, along the Kubwa Expressway. The man who for several minutes refused to come down despite entreaties by emergency responders, said he is an indigene of Borno state. He said he was not happy with the…

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, extends his congratulations to Muslims across the nation and worldwide as they mark the commencement of the New Islamic Year. This auspicious occasion, which signifies the beginning of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is a time for reflection, renewal, and a renewed commitment to the values of faith, peace, and unity. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr Ganduje urged Muslims to use this period to pray for the continued peace, prosperity, and development of Nigeria and to support the administration…

VICE President Kashim Shettima has called for a significant shift from dependence on oil to other critical sectors with attractive investment returns in Nigeria. He identified agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy and digital innovation, among other sectors as potential investment ground to explore, saying they align with the nation’s development priorities outlined in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). During the Existing Foreign Direct Investors Roundtable at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the media aide to Shettima, Stanley Nkwocha, stated that the VP mentioned that the eight-point agenda of the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola…

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…