Author: Hamza Rufai

THE All Progressives Congress has disclosed that the unceremonious exit of its former National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore, has nothing to do with alleged financial impropriety. Rising from its 128th National Working Committee meeting, the APC explained that its proposed appointment of external auditors was not to probe any member of the party. A former APC National Vice Chairman for North-West, Salihu Lukman, had accused Adamu and Omisore of squandering N30bn realised from the sale of nomination forms for the 2023 elections. But addressing journalists on Tuesday, the new National Secretary of the party, Senator…

THE Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the leadership of the upper-lawmaking body are meeting the organised labour at the National Assembly complex in Abuja. According to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president Comrade Joe Ajaero, labour visited the lawmakers at the invitation of the Senate over their grievances about the subsidy removal. Asides from the NLC chief, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Festus Osifo and some members of the unions, are also in the meeting. Organised labour is pushing for a reduction in the pump price of petroleum following the removal of subsidy on the product.…

WEST African bloc ECOWAS said its leaders would meet on Thursday on the crisis in Niger, whose military rulers have defied its ultimatum to cede power or face possible military action. “ECOWAS heads of state (will) hold another extraordinary summit on the political situation in the Republic of Niger,” the 15-member bloc said in its first official reaction after Niger ignored Sunday’s deadline to reinstate democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum. The summit is to be held in Abuja, Nigeria, whose president Bola Tinubu is the current ECOWAS chairman. Earlier on Monday, an ECOWAS source said West African nations were not…

AS the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) gears up for a nationwide protest, the union decries the mass exodus of its members “every day” to other African countries over “better” working conditions and infrastructure. This comes barely 24 hours after NARD announced its intention to picket the Federal Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, as well as all federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide from Wednesday. The move is the latest in the resident doctors’ efforts to speed up the implementation of a prior agreement with the Federal Government, including the…

THE Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Nigerian Army (NA) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has declared that ‘the only thing better than democracy for Nigeria in this modern era, is more democracy’. The Army Chief made the declaration today Saturday 5 August 2023, while addressing Officer Cadets at the Passing Out Parade and Commissioning cum Oath Taking Ceremony for Executive Commission Course 1/2023, held at the Major Bulama Biu Parade Ground, Military Cantonment, Jaji, Kaduna. Speaking further, Gen Lagbaja averred that all officers and men of the Nigerian Army must be reminded that subordination of the military to constituted authority remains…

SENATE President, Godswill Akpabio, on Friday, jocularly told ex-Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, that he would be biased if he asked the ministerial nominee any question during ministerial screening. A two-term governor of Plateau, Lalong was the Director General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council during the 2023 general elections. Lalong was one of the nine former governors that made the 48-man ministerial list of President Bola Tinubu which was submitted to the red chamber for screening. Appearing before the upper chamber on Friday, the ex-Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum applauded Akpabio as an “uncommon…

AFTER 51 years of operation in Nigeria, British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced plans to end its prescription medicines and vaccines in the country. In a statement sent to the Nigerian Exchange Limited, the multinational pharmaceutical company said it would transition to a third-party direct distribution model for its pharmaceutical products. At the same time, the company said it is now working with its advisers to agree on the next steps, while it plans to submit a scheme of arrangements to the Securities and Exchange Commission for the possible return of cash to its local shareholders. GlaxoSmithKiline was incorporated…

POWER supply from Nigeria to the Republic of Niger was stopped on Wednesday, as sanctions against the neighbouring country by the Economic Community of West African States increases. On Sunday, ECOWAS, led by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, decided on sanctions against the military personnel in Niger who toppled President-elect Mohamed Bazoum’last week. On July 26, officers of the Presidential Guard arrested Bazoum and declared him deposed. In addition to a one-week ultimatum to restore constitutional order and the suspension of financial transactions with Niger, ECOWAS decreed the freezing of “all service transactions, including energy transactions.” Impeccable sources in Nigeria’s power…

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it is not backing down on a nationwide protest over the hike in the pump price of petrol and other issues, describing reports suggesting otherwise as the handiwork of “fifth columnists”. In a statement late Tuesday, the body said though it held a meeting with the Federal Government, the mass action will hold as earlier planned. “We want to inform all Nigerians that we have just risen from a meeting with the Federal Government where we sought to get them to listen to the demands of the people and workers of Nigeria,” NLC president…

THE Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has expressed deep concern regarding the impending nationwide protests announced by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). While recognizing the constitutional right to peaceful protests, Egbetokun has appealed to the involved parties to ensure the demonstrations remain peaceful and not be hijacked by miscreants. The IGP, acknowledging the labour unions’ grievances, emphasized the importance of constructive dialogue in resolving the issues. In this regard, he has directed the Commissioners of Police across various commands and supervisory Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to engage with the NLC and…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved provision of buses to the students’ bodies of all universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country. Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications & Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. He said the development was in furtherance of the President’s desire to ease the burden of the fuel subsidy removal on students of higher institutions of learning, “The desire of the President is to see that students can access their campuses without much difficulty as a result of higher transportation costs. “The provision of the buses will…

SUPER Falcons sealed a spot in the round of 16 of the 2023 Women’s World Cup after a goalless draw with their European contingents, Ireland Randy Waldrum’s team needed a draw to be sure of the next round passage and made history by avoiding defeat in three consecutive World Cup matches for the first time. The Falcons had to endure an early minute of pressure from the Irish captain, Katie McCabe almost gave her side the lead when she attempted a low driving show which fizzled past the post. However, in the 14th minute, Asisat Oshoala had the chance to…

MAX Air will resume its domestic flight operations on Sunday, July 30, two weeks after its operations were suspended. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority suspended the airline’s operations on July 13 over safety concerns. Announcing the resumption in a statement made available to News Point Nigeria, Sunday morning, Max Air assured its passengers that the safety issues raised had been addressed. The statement reads: “Max Air Limited is pleased to announce the resumption of domestic flight operations from Sunday, July 30, 2023, following a temporary suspension due to safety concerns. “We want to express our gratitude to our valued customers…

BANDITS have killed no fewer than six farmers, including the Vice-Chairman of the Jama’atul Izalatul Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus-Sunnah (JIBWIS), Mallam Yakubu Muhammad Bugai in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Also, the hoodlums were reported to have abducted over 40 farmers. Chairman, Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives’ Union, Ishaq Usman Kasai, stated this in a statement issued on Saturday. According to him, the incident took place on Wednesday. Kasai explained that the Islamic cleric was shot on Wednesday at his farmland located around the Rema area and was later evacuated and taken to Jibril Mai-Gwari General Hospital sustaining gunshots on his…

FORMER Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Thursday, said he will reform the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in line with the current realities Ganduje stated this in Abuja while playing host to members of the National Integrated Movement and the APC Support Group ahead of the official announcement of his appointment as the party’s National Chairman. He also expressed his disappointment with the resignation of Salihu Lukman as the National Vice Chairman (North West) of the party. “When I heard it, I said it is very unfortunate. He shouldn’t have resigned because he was only informing members of the…

THE Federal Government has told the Nigeria Labour Congress that it is legally restrained from embarking on planned nationwide strike against the hike in the price of petrol and the high cost of living in the country. News Point Nigeria reported on Wednesday that the NLC had given the government a seven-day ultimatum to reverse all what it called anti-poor and insensitive policies or face a nationwide industrial action. However, reacting to the ultimatum, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, B.E Jedy-Agba, in a statement on Wednesday, said the union was restrained by the order of the national…

A SIX-MONTH-OLD baby, Chinedu Chukwueke, who was abducted from his mother’s shop at Kure Ultra Modern Market, Minna, Niger State capital, has been found. Father of the child, Chikezie Stanley Chuks, disclosed this on Wednesday. He said the baby was dumped at a refuse dump close to Gauraka police station in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State. This newspaper reports that the baby was taken from his mother’s shop by someone who tricked the mother that she wanted to learn hair dressing. “Baby have been found. He was dumped at a refuse dump close to Gauraka police station. Baby…

THE Senate Tuesday urged the federal government to halt the proposed increase in electricity tariff by the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos). It also called on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to look into the rate review applications filed by the Discos, taking into consideration the interest of citizens, affordability and the need for improved service delivery. It equally urged the Discos to discontinue estimated billing and make available to all electricity consumers prepaid meters at affordable prices. The resolutions followed a motion by Senator Yunus Abiodun Akintunde (Oyo Central) who said the Discos had no justification for the hike…

THE Court of Appeal on Tuesday delivered judgement on an appeal of no case submission by former governor of Jigawa State Sule Lamido, discharging him and his son Mustapha Sule Lamido on all count charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). News Point Nigeria reports that, the case had lingered for about nine years. According to the lead judgment of Justice Adamu Waziri, the appeal is resolved against the respondent and in favour of the appellant. “Having resolved them, he said, the ruling of the Federal High Court is thereby set aside, strucked out, apparently discharged,” the judge…

A six-month-old baby, Chinedu Chukwueke, has reportedly been abducted at his mother’s salon shop in Kure Ultra Modern Market, Minna, Niger State capital. The father of the boy Chikezie Stanley Chuks broke the sad news on his Facebook page. He wrote, “Good afternoon, pls my baby boy by name Chinedu Chukwueke of 6 months old was taken from my wife’s shop today Sunday 23 July, 2023 at Kure market Minna. Pls any useful information about this little baby should be reported to the nearest Police station or contact 07033186837.” He also made similar post on Twitter saying, “My baby boy…