BANDITS, who kidnapped Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyar and his six children, have contacted the family, demanding N60 million ransom. The victims were abducted on Tuesday night in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory. His brother, Alhaji Abdulfatai, who led policemen to foil their abduction, was shot dead by the bandits. Also, two among the three injured policemen hit by bullets during the fire exchange had reportedly died. It was also gathered that the bandits later freed the father to go and look for the ransom to secure the release of his children. Following the new development, the family…
Author: Maimuna Bashir Isa
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THE federal government has approved only three airlines for the airlift of intending pilgrims for the 2023 hajj exercise. The approved airlines are Airpeace, MaxAir and FlyNas. A statement by the The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Assistant Director on Public Affairs, Farima Sanda Usara, on Friday said, “the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially granted approval to three distinguished airlines to serve as exclusive carriers for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage, they are Air Peace Ltd., FlyNas and Max Air.” Usara stated that the government also approved three other air cargo…
FOLLOWING the suspension of accreditation and evaluation of degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo, the Federal Government has said the sanction would be extended to more countries like Uganda, Kenya and Niger Republic. “We are not going to stop at just Benin and Togo,” Education Minister Tahir Mamman said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday monitored by News Point Nigeria. “We are going to extend the dragnet to countries like Uganda, Kenya, even Niger Republic where such institutions have been set up.” We will not stop at the suspension of certificates from Togo and Benin Republic alone.…
The National Hajj Commission has extended the deadline for payment of 2024 hajj. In a statement on Tuesday, its Assistant Director on Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara said the new deadline is now January 31, 2024 as against December 31, 2023. This newspaper had reported that the commission was in dilemma over low turnout and might have to extend the deadline. NAHCON, however, insisted that it would go ahead with the number of intending pilgrims who made the payment before the December 31 deadline. But the commission has finally backtracked, admitting that the extension was inevitable. “The extension was in…
MINISTER of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo has charged Nigerians to shelve all form of differences to move the country forward. The Minister made the charge in his New Year Message signed by his Special Assistant on Media Malam Adamu Abdullahi. He said 2023 has passed as every year it comes with challenges and obstacles in life, while wishing all Nigerians courage, hope and believe to overcome all of the hurdles may be faced in the Year 2024. He assured all Nigerians that Ministry of Housing and Urban Development will work assiduously towards realization of …
A COALITION of peace groups under the aegis of Africans Against Conflict For Peace has criticized Senator Ali Ndume’s position calling for an end to the sanctions on Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It would be recalled that ECOWAS under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu had placed economic sanctions and travel bans on Niger following the coup led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, against the democratically elected government of Mohammed Bazoum. The sanctions have been variously condemned by Senator Ali Ndume, a Nigerian…
A FORMER Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, has denied knowing a contractor, James Okwete, who was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly laundering N37bn. News Point Nigeria reports that she also said she served as a minister with every sense of responsibility and would defend her actions whenever called upon to do so. Umar-Farouk made the rebuttal in the early hours of Tuesday in a message posted on her official X handle (formerly Twitter) and Instagram page. A national newspaper had reported that details of an ongoing EFCC probe…
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has deleted an Instagram post quoting a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, as speaking on money laundering charges brought against her. The social media post earlier seen by our correspondent claimed that the former minister spoke in an interview with journalists in the United Kingdom. However, further checks by our correspondent on Saturday revealed that the unsigned post had been pulled down from the anti-graft agency’s official Instagram handle. Meanwhile, when contacted over the development, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, denied the report, while noting that the report didn’t emanate…
THE Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN) is partnering with the Bank Of Industry (BOI) for loans and other empowerment facilities for its members. According to Ige,“we are also partnering with Bank of Industry (BOI) to ensure that every small business owners have access to loans and other empowerment facilities. This was made known by the MATAN National Coordinator of Incentives, Moses Ige during the unveiling of the Federal Inland Revenue Service’s (FIRS) Integrated Market Revenue Management System (IMRMS), a purpose-built digital platform, to capture the informal sector, especially market traders in the federal government’s tax net. Under the arrangement,…
THE Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), marked a significant milestone Thursday with the inauguration of its sixth Governing Board at the Federal Ministry of Works, Conference Room, Abuja. The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. (Engr.) David Umahi, led the inauguration ceremony, extending congratulations to the appointed Board Members on their selection by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Minister emphasized the pivotal role of the Board in advancing FERMA’s mandate and aligning with the Federal Government’s renewed hope agenda for road infrastructure. Highlighting the administration’s commitment to addressing road challenges, Sen. Umahi revealed President Tinubu’s approval of a supplementary budget for…
NO fewer than 250 police, military retirees, and other senior citizens across the country will be supported with a N950m by the wife of the President, Mrs Remi Tinubu. According to her, each of the beneficiaries will receive N100,000. Tinubu disclosed this at the maiden edition of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme on Thursday in Abuja. She noted that the scheme is to cushion the effect of the economic situation on senior citizens. Tinubu said, “This economic empowerment programme is borne out of a steadfast commitment to the well-being of our elderly citizens and it marks a significant…
THE FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has directed the Director, Department of Development Control to ensure that Nuwalege community, along the Airport Road gives way for the presidential fleet plot. The directive follows the request from the Nigerian Air Force. Speaking through the Director, Mukhtar Galadima during a community and citizen engagement on Tuesday in Abuja, the minister hinted that, it becomes imperative that the community give way for development According to him, “About a month ago, the authority of the Nigerian Air Force wrote to the honourable minister on their needs and desire to remove this village, because it is…
THE Managing Director/CEO of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi, FNSE, Tuesday, flagged off the Yuletide easy passage programme tagged “Operation Connect Your Destination” on the Abuja-Keffi dual carriage way. According to a statement by the Director, Information, Maryam M Sanusi made available to News Point Nigeria, Tuesday, the Abuja-Keffi road is the major route connecting the entire North-Central to the Federal Capital Territory and other parts of the country. Speaking at the event, Engr. Agbasi said FERMA is strategically positioned to improve the economy of the country and the intention of the Agency is to improve on…
THE Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, has lamented the growing number of out-of-school children (OOSC) in Northern Nigeria, deeming it “unacceptable” and “disheartening.” Speaking on Monday at the Bauchi State 2023 Education Summit at Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar Hajj Camp in Bauchi, Sununu stated that there is an urgent need for concerted efforts to address and reverse the troubling trend. “The rising figure of out-of-school children in Nigeria and most particularly in the northern part of Nigeria is not only unacceptable but disheartening. “There must be concerted efforts to address and reverse the trend of this time-bomb phenomenon. At…
FIRST Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, on Sunday, said that learning and education are veritable weapons in the fight against terrorism and criminality by individuals and communities. Also First Lady Tinubu, through her pet-project, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), gave N4 million scholarship grants and four brand new laptops to four of the five rescued Federal University Dutsin-Ma students, who visited her at the State House, Abuja. She said: “I join a cheerful nation to welcome our beloved daughters home as you re-unite with your families. We grieved over the sad fate that had befallen you and we join your family to…
THE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar would be leading a high level delegation from the country to the forthcoming 10th High-Level Seminar (HLS) on Peace and Security in Africa, scheduled to hold from 17th – l8th December 2023, in Oran, Algeria. According to a statement signed by the Minister’s Special Assistant, Media and Communication Strategy, Alkassim Abdulkadir , Saturday, in Iine with the established practice, this year’s High-level seminar on Peace and Security in Africa (the Oran Ministerial Process) will be chaired by H.E. Dr. Mamadou TANGARA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the…
THE First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has with wives of state governors in Abuja. Addressing the governors’ wives on Thursday in a statement signed by her SA Media, Busola Kukoyi, Senator Tinubu noted that it has become imperative for the forum to be held so that she can update them on issues especially as they affect the Nation. “In recent times, I have been sharing experiences from the First Ladies of other nations to help me position myself appropriately for the task ahead. Some of the things I discovered were that HIV/AIDS is still very prevalent in Nigeria”. “Estimates from…
THE immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday paid a courtesy visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in his hometown in Daura, Katsina State. The Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Ex-governor, Muyiwa Adekeye, shared photos from the visit on his X account on Monday. According to Adekeye, El- rufai’s visit to Buhari is the first since both of them left office on May, 29th, 2023, the former Governor was accompanied to Daura by some of his former aides including his former Honorary Adviser, Jimi Lawal, and Hafiz Bayero, former administrator Kaduna Capital Development Authority.…
THE FCT Administration on Monday raised the alarm over safety concerns and poor sanitation in Utako Market, threatening to shut it down to avert the epidemic. Utako Market is said to be one of the largest markets located in Utako district, within Abuja’s city centre, and is being managed by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). The Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, who is also the leader of the taskforce, said the discovery about the deteriorated sanitation situation in Utako Market was disturbing. Galadima said the market had become a “time bomb and disaster waiting to happen”. He…
A YOUTH Group, Arewa Youth Vanguard has called on the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to be cautious of interference by Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello into the leadership of the ACF. According to a statement signed by the National Leader and General Secretary, Alh. Abdulsamad Babayo and Kazayat Aminu respectively, Monday, Gov Bello is mortally trying to injure the ACF through the unwarranted attempt to remove Chief Arc. Gabriel Aduku, its Chairman who assumed the office only recently. See full statement below: Press Statement Our attention has been drawn to overt and covert measures orchestrated by Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the…