Author: Amina Ibrahim

Calls for the sack of the embattled Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, may have hit the brick wall as the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), welcomed back the CBN chief who recently returned to the country from his annual leave. “You are welcome back. I am grateful that you are well received,” Buhari told Emefiele during a meeting at the State House on Thursday. This is Emefiele’s first meeting with the President since he resumed duty on January 16. Later on Thursday evening, the CBN chief returned for another meeting with the President but declined to comment on the…

THE Federal Government has announced automatic employment for a family member of each of the seven slain personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). This gesture was announced by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Thursday, during a condolence visit to the families of the late personnel. Personnel of the Corps were ambushed by bandits in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, earlier in January during which seven of them lost their lives. They have since been given a state burial in a ceremony in Kaduna. A statement by the spokesman of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, said…

GOMBE State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has approved the appointment of 2 new Permanent Secretaries. They are Salisu Adamu Sambo from Akko and Jidaya Abba from Billiri local government areas. According to a statement signed and issued by the Director-General of Press Affairs to the governor, Ismaila Uba Misilli, the state’s Head of Civil Service,  Alhaji Bappayo Yahaya conveyed the Governor’s approval and said, the development followed the retirement from service, of Adamu Musa Kumo and Benjamin Wabida from Akko and Billiri LGAs respectively. According to the Head of Service,  “this development is in line with the resolve of Governor…

THE Summon of the Governor of the Central Bank, Mister Godwin Emefiele, by the Federal High Court Abuja over a $53 million judgement debt arising from the Pars Club refund, have been adjourned to March 20. No reason was given for the adjournment by the Court. Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal high court Abuja had Summoned him on October 20, last year following an application for garnishee made by a senior advocate of Nigeria, Joe Agi who is the judgment creditor. The court granted the application and ordered Emefiele to appear in court on Wednesday, January 18. The dispute…

NIGERIA’s current realities are the culmination of over two decades of leadership mistakes and wrong choices, according to the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso. The former Minister of Defence shared his stance while addressing the London-based Chatham House, where he spoke on the topic ‘Nigeria’s 2023 elections: Service delivery and policy alternatives’. “We can point fingers at all sorts of factors allegedly responsible for our situation, from coronavirus to global economic recession, from Western powers to international capital, etc.,” Kwankwaso said. “But for me, we are where we are because of the mistakes and…

RELATIVES of two farmers allegedly kidnapped by gunmen at Ileogbo town in Ayedire local government of Osun State, on Tuesday, said two other persons who went to drop N6 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers have also been abducted. Samuel Oladotun and Fashola Tobiloba were reportedly abducted last Wednesday by suspected kidnappers, at Ileogbo town while returning from their farm, but two others who went to deliver a ransom to the kidnappers to secure their release were also abducted in Kogi State. Samuel Eyitayo, a reverend and Oladotun Abiola, father-in-law and brother to one of the victims, stated this on…

A BILL seeking to amend the National Youth Service Corps Act to, among other proposals, make the compulsory one-year national youth service for under-30 graduates optional suffered a setback at the House of Representatives on Tuesday. The bill, which also seeks to create more allowances for NYSC members and make it optional for someone who graduates at 30 and above to obtain a Certificate of Exemption, failed to pass second reading as it faced stiff opposition, especially from members of the House from the North. Those who criticised the bill include the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase (Plateau); Majority Whip, Mohammed…

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said some people hide under the canopy of religion to advance their economic and political agenda. The President stated this at Nouakchott, Mauritania, Tuesday, while meeting with Rashad Hussain, United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. He, however, stressed that continuous education was needed so that the larger populace would not be hoodwinked. Buhari, who narrated his private meeting at the White House with former President Donald Trump, recalled Trump asking him: “why are you killing Christians in Nigeria,” and how he proceeded to tell him that the issue in the country was not religious, but…

THE National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has notified the public of two “substandard (contaminated)” cough syrups named AMBRONOL and DOK-1 Max containing “toxic” ingredients. In a statement published Sunday on its website, the agency noted that the products were identified in Uzbekistan, a Central Asian nation and reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). It defined substandard medical products as ones that fail to meet quality standards or specifications and are therefore “out of specification”. According to NAFDAC, laboratory analysis of samples of both products, undertaken by national quality control laboratories of the Ministry of…

THE Nasarawa State Government has issued a query to Alhaji Mohammed Wada-Yahaya, the Managing Director of Nasarawa Urban Development Board (NUDB) over destruction of campaign billboards. The query is contained in a letter signed by Malam Muhammed Ubandoma-Aliyu, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) on Tuesday in Lafia. “The attention of the government has been drawn to the fact that, you are destroying billboards of some political parties and other politicians who are vying for offices in the forthcoming election. “As an appointee of government, this is least expected of you because your action at this time is inappropriate, knowing…

IN a bid to restructure the state ministries for effective and better service delivery in the public service of Sokoto state, the state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has approved the creation of six new ministries, and; accordingly reassigns some of the Commissioners in his cabinet. The new ministries are those of: Technology and Digital Economy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Welfare, Internal Security, Transport, and; Industry, Trade and Investment. In a statement signed and issued by the Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Governor, Muhammad Bello, Tambuwal said, to man these ministries are Dr Kulu Haruna…

THE National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) says it has initiated process for the review of the National Minimum Wage. NSIWC’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Njoku, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. Njoku said as part of the process to review the minimum wage, which would be due in 2024, the commission had held series of meetings and trainings towards a nationwide monitoring of the Minimum Wage Act 2019. He said the monitoring billed to begin on Jan. 23, would help ascertain the compliance level of public and private employers and organisations. According to…

KOGI State Government has on Monday replied the answered query by the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr Ado Ibrahim, stating that the monarch’s reply to the previous query is unacceptable for using the wrong title of Atta Ebira not the Ohinoyi of Ebira land. In a letter dated 16th January, issued by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Abdulsalam Deedat obtained by News Point Nigeria, the government stated that, the monarch’s communication is at variance with sections 19a, 27(2b), 33 and schedules II and V of Kogi State Chiefs (Appointment, Deposition and Establishment of Traditional Councils in Kogi State)…

MANAGEMENT of Max Air Limited has approved the appointment of Alhaji Abubakar Dahiru Mangal as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company. The announcement was contained in a statement by the management on Monday. Alhaji Abubakar was appointed as the CEO to fill in the vacuum the death of his Uncle Alhaji Bashir Barau Mangal had created. Until his new appointment as CEO Abubakar has been the Deputy Director of Finance of the Airline. He holds BA. Economics from the American University of Nigeria Yola, MSc International Business Salford University, Manchester UK, MBA Finance and Investment Bayero University…

HUMAN rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana has called on the President Muhammdu Buhari to force the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, back to Nigeria or sack him. “I am completely flabbergasted that the President of the country has not intervened; either to call the state security to order or to call Mr Emefiele to return to the country or be fired,” the senior lawyer said. Acccording to Falana, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics and monitored by News Point Nigeria, the government should consider the enormous implication of the effect…

BANDITS armed with sophisticated guns on Sunday attacked the New Life For All Church in the Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, kidnapping at least 25 worshippers. Eyewitnesses told Channels Television that the terrorists riding on motorcycles invaded the church at Dan-Tsauni Gidan Haruna Community in the early hours of Sunday when faithfuls were in church. The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Aminu Masari on Christian Affairs, Ishaya Jurau also confirmed the attack to Channels Television. According to Jurau, security personnel are currently on top of the situation and are working tirelessly to rescue all the victims unhurt. He…

PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has assured that the nightmare of Ajaokuta Steel Company will be addressed if he emerges President in the forthcoming February 25 election. He also assured that the Inland Port in the State will be developed to help the inland water transportation system in the North and Nigeria as a whole. Atiku, who stated these during the PDP presidential campaign rally in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, on Saturday, said, “I am very happy with the people of Kogi state for this show of support, show of love, most of the challenges…

CHINA on Saturday reported almost 60,000 Covid-related deaths in just 20 days, the first major toll released by authorities since Beijing loosened virus restrictions in early December. The government has been widely accused of underreporting the number of coronavirus fatalities since the abandonment of its zero-Covid policy. Only a few dozen deaths had been recorded officially in December before Saturday’s announcement, despite evidence of crematoriums and hospitals being overrun. But a National Health Commission (NHC) official said Saturday that China had recorded 59,938 Covid-related deaths between December 8 and January 12. The figure refers only to deaths at medical facilities,…

GOVERNOR Bello Matawalle says the Zamfara State Government has identified no fewer than 199 ghost doctors who were in the state payroll that are yet to be found. Matawalle made this known while speaking to journalists in Maradun town, the headquarters of Maradun Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. According to the governor, though the state government was paying salaries to 280 doctors every month, it discovered only 81 doctors are active in the entire state. He further disclosed that he already met with the state chapter of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) on how to trace those 199…

THE Niger State Police Command says it has neutralised four gunmen in separate operations against suspected bandits and kidnappers in the state. A statement by the Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Wasiu Abiodun on Friday said seven others were also arrested on vandalism and armed robbery claims. Abiodun stated that a distress call was received on January 12th around 11:55 pm from Maje village via Nasko Magama Local Government Area (LGA) where several suspected armed bandits were making efforts to invade a residence in the village. When the suspects’ sighted police tactical teams deployed from Nasko Division,…