THE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has deducted 810 hajj seats allocated to Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, thereby triggering another fresh controversy few days to the commencement of airlift of intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. This is coming at a time the hajj commission is still embroiled in another controversy over its arbitrary deduction of $100 from the BTA of each of the 75,000 pilgrims going through the state pilgrim boards to shore up hajj fares of some of the pilgrims. The hajj commission announced this cuts in a letter dated May 22, 2023, and signed by NAHCON’s…
Author: Hamza Rufai
Read More
THE Presidency, late Wednesday, explained that President Muhammadu Buhari gave the nod for last-minute funds a few days away to handover to the administration of Bola Tinubu because the government needs funds to clear debts. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today monitored by News Point Nigeria, while assessing the performance of Buhari’s eight-year tenure in office. “A wicked man owes and pay not, that is what the good book says. When you owe and you refuse to pay, the Bible says you are a wicked man. If…
GOMBE Athletics Association (GAA) On Wednesday unveiled an 11-man Organising Committee for the maiden edition of the Inter-Primary Schools Athletics Championship. The committee members, which comprises of sportsmen and women, technocrats, coaches and members of the media had Malam Musa Garba as Chairman and Malam Babawuro Muhammad as Vice-Chairman. Other members are: Mallam Mohammed Dawaki, Mallam Ibrahim Abubakar, Malam Sadiq Abubakar Ali, Mallam Ishaku Zanna, Mallam Kawu Mohammed, Mallam Sani Nuhu Abdullahi, Mallam Inuwa Mohammed who will serve as the Media Officer, Prince Simon Ayuba as Technical Director, and Mallam Haryana Isah as Secretary. The committee is…
THE Independent Hajj Reporters has urged governors-elect to sustain the ongoing hajj operation in their various states by avoiding unnecessary political changes that may disrupt the successful completion of the 2023 hajj exercise. The airlift of Nigerian pilgrims will begin on Thursday, 25 May, about four days to the inauguration of the new president and state governors across the country. IHR, a not-for-profit civil society organization that monitors and reports hajj activities in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, disclosed this in a statement signed by its national Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammed on Tuesday. The statement said,” While we congratulate and welcome the…
GOVERNOR Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has approved the appointment of Dr Ibrahim Malami Tambuwal as the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SPHCDA). A statement issued by the Sokoto State Head of Civil Service, Abubakar Muhammad (mni), indicates that the appointment takes effect from May 19, 2023. “The appointment is made in consideration of the track record, experience and dedication of the medical doctor on the service of the State. “The Governor admonishes the appointee to see his appointment as a call for a greater service to the good people of Sokoto State and wish…
DESPITE repeated assurances to the contrary, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has resorted to charging additional $100 each from the 75,000 states pilgrims because of the Sudan’s civil war. The local air carriers had earlier demanded an increase per pilgrim as additional cost occasioned by additional flight time to Saudi Arabia because of the closure of the Sudan air space. Consequently, $250 was agreed between the carriers and commission after the negotiations. The commission said the federal government has waived the remaining 35 percent aviation charges (having waived 65 percent earlier), which translates to $55. “The liability of…
THE Independent Corrupt Practices and other related matters Commission (ICPC) has been urged to prosecute, recover salaries and allowances from a staff of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale, who contested the 2023 governorship election in Oyo State. Mr Akinwale, a NAHCON staff working in its Ilorin Zonal Office, was the Labour Party governorship candidate in Oyo State during the March 2023 elections. This call was made by a coalition of anti-corruption civil society organisations (CSOs), the Movement for Greater Nigeria and Good Governance (MGNGG), in a statement signed by its Advocacy Director Tokunbo Lasisi and…
THE Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government in an effort to end the ongoing strike. NARD commenced a five-day warning strike on May 17 to press home its demands after a 14-day ultimatum to the government lapsed. The doctors are demanding an immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to the tune of 200 per cent of their current gross salaries. They also want massive recruitment of clinical staff in hospitals and an immediate withdrawal of the bill seeking to compel medical and dental graduates to render five-year compulsory services…
GOVERNOR Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has accused the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, of demanding $2 million bribe from him. He made the allegation amid the growing rift between the governor and the anti-graft agency. In a statement on Wednesday, Matawalle called for Bawa’s resignation, saying he had questions to answer on corruption. But the EFCC Chairman responded that he had nothing to hide and asked Matawalle to petition appropriate authorities if he had any evidence against him. In an interview with BBC Hausa, Matawalle insisted that Bawa could not be trusted. “It…
GUESTS at the official unveiling of two books on the President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, splashed over N500m to obtain copies. The President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, unveiled the books at a ceremony held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja. The unveiled books are – State of Repair: How Muhammadu Buhari Tried to Change Nigeria for Good written by Antony Goldman and The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari written by Senator Abu Ibrahim. Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu led bought copies of the books with the sum of N200m, while the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote…
THE Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command, CP Ali Kaigama, has commended officers of the command for exhibiting high sense of professionalism as they reportedly rejected an N800,000 bribe from some copper wires thieves in the state. The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Sanusi Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. “On 17/05/2023, policemen on patrol attached to DOPS Sokoto along Birnin Kebbi Road intercepted a Sharon vehicle, dark blue in colour with Reg. No. KSF356 Lagos, loaded with twelve roles of copper wires suspected to be from an electric poles. “The suspects, including Rufa’i Sani Yusha’u Abubakar and…
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it is currently probing Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, for alleged N70bn fraud. The anti-graft agency, also confirmed that a former Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, who was recently arrested by the operatives of the commission over alleged N22bn fraud is still in detention. Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Abdulrasheed Bawa, made the disclosure at a press briefing on Thursday, urging Nigerians not to be swayed by Matawalle’s recent outburst. The governor had levelled allegations against Bawa and dared the commission to go after members of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet. But Bawa,…
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has shed light on Tuesday’s attack on US Mission employees in Anambra State. Confirming the incident in a statement on Wednesday, Blinken noted that unknown assailants attacked a convoy of two US government vehicles in the Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. The convoy was said to have been carrying nine Nigerian nationals, including five employees of the US Mission to Nigeria and four members of the Nigeria Police Force. The American government official noted that the Nigerians were travelling in advance of a planned visit by US Mission personnel to a…
GOVERNOR of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum says he endorsed Tajudeen Abbas for speakership of House of Representatives against Muktar Aliyu Betara, an aspirant from Borno, to align with the APC’s position. The party picked Abbas from Kaduna and Benjamin Kalu from Abia as preferred candidates for speaker and deputy. Betara represents the Biu/Bayo/Shani federal constituency of Borno State in the Green Chamber. He belongs to the camp of G-7, aggrieved speakership aspirants protesting the zoning arrangement of the party. Speaking during a courtesy visit by Abbas and Kalu in Abuja, the Borno governor said, “As people from Borno, we…
NO fewer than 15 persons including a staff member of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, were abducted by gunmen at the 1,000 Housing Estate along Pegi community in the Kuje Area Council of the FCT on Sunday. Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen stormed the estate at about 11:30 pm on Sunday, shot sporadically, and abducted persons returning home from work. The chairman, of the Pegi Residents Association, Taiwo Aderibigbe, disclosed the development to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, adding that among the persons abducted is a staff of the FCT Department of Development Control under the Abuja Metropolitan Management…
PRESIDENT-ELECT Bola Tinubu has met with Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, one of his opponents in the February 25, 2023 elections. Kwankwaso, who ran on the platform of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), placed fourth in the election, winning only Kano State, a stronghold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). According to sources, the duo met for hours in Paris, capital of France, on Monday. Tinubu reportedly told Kwankwaso to reach out to his political associates on the need to work together. The incoming president and his guest were said to have agreed to hold subsequent meetings. While Kwankwaso’s wife…
THE Federal Government says over N13trn was spent on subsidy payment in 16 years between 2005 and 2021. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, stated this on Monday in Abuja during the launch of the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). He said, “I have carefully studied the NEITI’s policy advisory on fuel subsidy forwarded to my office. I will like to commend NEITI for the in-depth research and outline of options to assist government in making a decision on the subsidy removal debate. “From that Policy Advisory, over N13trillion…
GOVERNOR Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to approve any study leave or whatever kind of leave for any officer critical to the take-off of the incoming administration of Bola Tinubu. News Point Nigeria reports that, the governor specifically mentioned the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, who he said has been speculated to have requested leave and urged the President to deny the CBN governor such a request. Matawalle hailed the President and his wife for making efforts to ensure a seamless transition and handover to the president-elect Bola Tinubu but…
THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba has insisted that the May 29 inauguration remains important and can’t be interfered with. News Point Nigeria reports that, he warned political actors trying to foment trouble or frustrate the inauguration of newly elected leaders to desist. The IGP, who said this while briefing reporters in Abuja on Monday, vowed to do everything possible alongside other security operatives to defend democracy. He said: “Following the successful conclusion of the 2023 General elections, it has been observed that some major political actors that the outcome did not favour, have been issuing public threats…
AN explosive device suspected to be a bomb has exploded in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital. News Point Nigeria reports that, the bomb blast, which occurred at the Doruwa drinking joint opposite a bank, affected some buildings within the vicinity. Eyewitnesses at the scene of the incident said a lady, a couple and a teenager were badly hit by the explosion and rushed to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention while several others sustained various degrees of injuries. Though no life was lost, the police have condoned off the area to avert another blast just in case another one was…