Author: Amina Ibrahim

THE total number of active customers nationwide increased from 11.89 million in July to 11.96 million in August 2025, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Released via its official X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram handles on Monday sighted by News point Nigeria, the Commission’s latest Metering Factsheet for July and August 2025, noted that the updated active consumers data spreads across all 11 electricity distribution companies in the country. “Out of these, 6.58 million customers were metered, resulting in a metering rate of 55.01%, up slightly from 54.71% in July. A total of 70,888 customers were newly metered…

THE Federal Government has condemned what it described as deliberate acts of sabotage targeting the ongoing Abuja–Kaduna–Kano road reconstruction project, warning communities and residents along the corridor to desist from destroying critical infrastructure. News Point Nigeria reports that Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, sounded the warning on Saturday during a site inspection tour of the major highway, one of Nigeria’s busiest roads and a key link between the North and the Federal Capital Territory. Despite the progress recorded on the project, Goronyo expressed concern that vandalism and improper use of completed sections could undermine years of investment and…

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has been named among the winners of The Street Journal’s prestigious “Super Ministers of the Year” award, in recognition of his sweeping reforms and high-impact diplomatic engagements since assuming office. In a statement released by the organisers sent to News Point Nigeria, Tuggar was praised for leaving “indelible imprints” on Nigeria’s foreign relations and for translating President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy philosophy into measurable global achievements. Tuggar has championed the country’s 4D foreign policy doctrine, Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography, which the organisers said has repositioned Nigeria on the global stage with:…

THE United States has arrested five fugitives including a Nigerian allegedly linked to a sprawling fraud network accused of defrauding thousands of victims of more than €300 million in Germany. News Point Nigeria reports that the arrests were carried out in the Central District of California at the request of the German government, which is now seeking their extradition. The suspects were detained by the U.S. Marshals Service and appeared in federal court on Wednesday. They were identified as Medhat Mourid of Woodland Hills; Andrew Garroni of Los Angeles; Guy Mizrachi of Agoura Hills; Ardeshir Akhavan of Irvine; and Tunde…

THE Federal Government has launched the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), with the presentation of cheques to beneficiaries at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). News point Nigeria reports that the Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa disclosed that the move would boost the welfare and productivity of the country’s tertiary education workforce. According to him, the TISSF is a direct response to President Bola Tinubu’s directive to enhance the living conditions of academic and non-academic staff in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. However, the minister revealed that over 33,000 applications were received nationwide for the maiden…

NIGERIA has once again strongly rejected its re-designation by the United States as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for alleged religious persecution, insisting the claim is based on misinformation and an inaccurate interpretation of its security challenges. News Point Nigeria reports that Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Ahmed, conveyed Nigeria’s position on Wednesday while addressing members of the diplomatic corps in Abuja. Ahmed, who represented the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, maintained that Nigeria remains a secular state under the Constitution, and protects the rights of all citizens regardless of their religious beliefs.…

THE National Assembly has taken a major step in strengthening the fight against sexual misconduct in schools, as lawmakers approved a minimum jail term of five years and a maximum of 14 years for lecturers and other staff found guilty of sexually harassing students in educational institutions nationwide. News Point Nigeria reports that the landmark legislation, the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025 (HB.1597) was passed by the Senate on Wednesday after concurrence with the House of Representatives, marking the end of its legislative journey and sending it to President Bola Tinubu for assent. The bill criminalizes…

THE Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says applications for the country’s landmark student loan scheme have exceeded one million, less than a year after its rollout marking one of the fastest uptakes of a government-backed social intervention programme under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The announcement was made on Sunday in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, who described the development as “a clear demonstration of strong national traction and rising public trust” in the initiative introduced to remove financial barriers to tertiary education. President Tinubu signed the Student Loan Act into…

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has uncovered 2,658 illegal admissions processed by 17 tertiary institutions across the country during the recently concluded 2024/2025 academic session, News Point Nigeria can report. According to an internal institutional compliance analysis obtained by News Point Nigeria in Abuja on Friday, the infractions cut across federal, state, and private tertiary institutions, a development sparking renewed concerns over admission racketeering despite stricter regulatory measures. Public universities officially rounded off the 2025/2026 admissions cycle on Friday even as the regulatory body continues to track violations from the previous session. From the breakdown, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa…

MORE than 10 staff members of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) are currently facing prosecution over allegations of corruption. News Point Nigeria reports that the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this at the ongoing National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) in Abuja. Oloyede said the board has made workers’ welfare a central pillar of its operations, noting that a motivated and disciplined workforce is the most valuable asset of any organisation. “Though we strive to promote and enhance the welfare of our staff, we maintain strict…

MINISTER of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the Federal Government has released ₦2.3 billion, representing Batch 8 salary and promotion arrears to universities across the country. The fund is expected to be used to clear the salary backlogs as well as promotion arrears of teaching and non-academic staff in public universities. The Minister explained that the disbursements, processed through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), reflected President Bola Tinubu Administration’s resolve to clear inherited backlogs and enhance the welfare of academic and non-academic staff in the tertiary education sector. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria…

THE Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and his two brothers, Mohammed and Ali, must enter their defence in the 23-count criminal charge brought against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). News Point Nigeria reports that the ruling, delivered on Tuesday by Justice James Omotosho, dismissed the no-case submissions filed by the defendants who had argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case linking them to the alleged offences. Kyari, a former Commander of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), is currently facing allegations of…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent removal and reconstitution of Nigeria’s Service Chiefs has continued to generate nationwide attention, with analysts describing the move as a bold and strategic reset aimed at reviving the country’s stalled security operations. News Point Nigeria reports that the President, who approved a sweeping overhaul of the military command structure, is said to be responding to long-standing calls for fresh leadership, renewed morale, and a redefined approach to tackling insurgency, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes plaguing different regions of the country. Nigeria has for years grappled with multi-dimensional security challenges from Boko Haram and…

NIGERIA’s expenditure on foreign medical services has dropped sharply by 52 per cent under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to the latest data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). A review of the CBN’s Quarterly Statistical Bulletin, obtained by News Point Nigeria, revealed that Nigerians spent a total of $4.74 million on foreign healthcare-related services between May 2023 and March 2025, President Tinubu’s first 22 months in office. The figure marks a steep decline compared to the $9.83 million recorded during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s first 22 months (May 2015–February 2017), signalling a significant slowdown in…

THE Senate Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) on Wednesday screened the newly nominated Board Chairman, Dr. Musa Babayo, expressing confidence that his appointment will reposition the agency to deliver on Nigeria’s urgent road infrastructure needs. News Point Nigeria reports that during the screening session held at the National Assembly, the Committee commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as a “strategic and deserving nomination,” citing Dr. Babayo’s sterling credentials and vast experience in administration, finance, and infrastructure development. Chairman of the Senate Committee on FERMA, Senator Sahabi Ya’u, underscored the importance of strong and visionary…

SENIOR Adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump on Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, has dismissed widespread allegations of a targeted genocide against Christians in Nigeria. News Point Nigeria reports that Boulos made the remarks during a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Friday. His comments come amid growing pressure from U.S. lawmakers, some of whom have called on the White House to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged religious persecution, particularly of Christians. The Trump administration, however, has not yet responded publicly to those calls. Responding to…

THE Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Olufemi Peters, on Thursday implored new students of the institution to explore their interests and passions beyond their degree programmes. News Point Nigeria reports that speaking at the 29th Matriculation Ceremony for the students of the university held virtually, Peters said: “Your journey at NOUN is not just about earning a degree, it is about transforming yourself into a well-rounded, innovative and resourceful individual.” The VC urged them to “take full advantage of the flexible learning opportunities to pursue your academic and personal goals,” adding, “Remember, the discipline and…

THE Federal Government has concluded discussions with power generation companies (GenCos) on the framework for implementing the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Plan, a N4 trillion intervention aimed at restoring financial stability and investor confidence in Nigeria’s electricity market. The initiative, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and endorsed by the Federal Executive Council in August 2025, seeks to address long-standing liquidity challenges that have crippled the country’s power sector for over a decade. According to a statement by the Media and Communications Unit in the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy sent to News Point…

THE First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has met with the Founder of the Quatar Foundation, Sheika Moza Bint Nasser Al-Misssned. News Point Nigeria reports that the visit according to the First Lady is to get the Foundations support and interventions over the more than 15 million out of school children in Nigeria, the largest number globally. Senator Oluremi Tinubu said the Nigerian Government, through the Ministry of Education, is now ready to embark on a transformative model of Almajiri Education Schools’ System, one that integrates both Islamic and formal education. “These schools will host and care for the…

GOMBE State has once again earned national recognition for excellence in governance and digital innovation, clinching two top awards at the Nigeria GovTech Public Service Awards 2025, held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The high-profile event, organized by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) under the Presidency, celebrated public institutions that have demonstrated outstanding innovation, efficiency and measurable impact in digital governance across the country. Gombe State, through its Due Process Bureau, emerged as a clear standout, winning the awards for “Best State MDA in Innovative Use of Technology” and the “Distinguished GovTech Trailblazers…