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…
Author: Amina Ibrahim
Read More
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,…
A SERVING Deputy Director of the Niger State Ministry of Land Transportation, Umar Shehu Farouk, has been sentenced to 7 years imprisonment. Farouk was sentenced by the State High Court in Minna for demanding and receiving gratification of N11 million from a contractor. He was charged with a seven-count offence bordering on gratification and conferment of corrupt advantage upon himself. A statement issued by ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, revealed the development on Friday. Our soourcr reports that the ICPC Prosecutor, Osuobeni Ekoi Akpos, told the court how Farouk committed the offence. He said while serving as the Deputy Director of…
GOVERNOR Babagana Zulum of Borno has approved an 8-day addendum to the 2022/2023 schools academic calendar in the state. The state Commissioner for Education, Mr Lawan Wakilbe, who confirmed this on Friday in Maiduguri, said the approval was to enable staff and eligible students exercise their civic rights. He said that government declared eight days holidays for the upcoming general elections in February, to also enable the usage of schools as Collation Centres. NAN reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections for February 25, while governorship and state assembly elections will…
KADUNA State Fire Service said an inferno which occurred in the early hours of Friday has killed one Mohammadu Sani, his wife, Raulatu Sani, his son, Hashim Sani (8) and an infant, Fatima Sani. Mohammad Umar, Commander of the service in charge of Zaria Zone made this known in an interview with newsmen in Zaria on Friday. Umar said the outbreak occurred at around 1.00am on Hajiya Maituwo St., Low Cost Area Zaria, Zaria Local Government. He added that the fire service was called after the fire had already destroyed substantial part of the house. However, Umar added that the…
FIVE United Nations agencies have called for urgent action to protect the vulnerable children in Nigeria and 14 other countries worst hit by the food and nutrition crisis. A press statement issued by the World Health Organisation on Thursday noted that conflict, climate shocks, ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and rising costs of living are leaving an increasing number of children acutely malnourished while key health, nutrition and other life-saving services are becoming less accessible. The statement read in part, “Currently, more than 30 million children in the 15 worst-affected countries suffer from wasting – or acute malnutrition – and eight…
WITH just over a month to February presidential election, three of the main protagonists will next week mount the podium at the Royal Institute of International Affairs- Chatham House – to talk about their prospects and readiness. Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, kick starts the Africa Programme event series tagged “Nigeria’s 2023 elections” on Monday afternoon, when he will talk about “a vision for policy change and institutional reforms.” News Point Nigeria gathered that, Tuesday will be the turn of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). His brief is to discuss the electoral…