Author: Amina Ibrahim

THE Federal Government has announced that “no fewer than 231 young Nigerians” trafficked to Ghana are “expected to arrive in Lagos on Friday,” where they will be received by government officials. The development followed the recent rescue of 219 victims by Ghanaian authorities from a human trafficking ring that forced them into cybercrime operations. The victims, mostly young men, were discovered confined in about 25 rooms within a residential estate in Accra. During a visit to the Economic and Organised Crime Office in Accra, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, expressed Nigeria’s appreciation for the rescue effort.…

A PROFESSOR of Public Health at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Gloria Oiyahumen Anetor, has stated that the One Health approach, which emphasises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, cannot succeed unless it is anchored in robust and widespread public health education. She made this known during the 33rd Inaugural Lecture of the NOUN, held on Thursday at the university’s headquarters in Abuja. Anetor, of the university’s Faculty of Health Sciences, asserted that “achieving the One-Health concept is a mirage without public health education.” In the lecture, titled: “Achieving the One Health Concept: A Mirage Without…

A PROLONGED power outage in Kano State, now entering its 10th day, has severely disrupted socio-economic activities in the metropolis, leaving residents and business owners in distress. The blackout, compounded by recurrent failures of the national grid, has plunged communities into darkness, forcing businesses to rely on costly alternatives and pushing many into financial strain. Speaking to this newspaper, several residents lamented the impact of the outage. A supermarket owner and restaurant owner in Sabon Gari, Fagge Local Council, Jude Michael, described the situation as frustrating. “I have been running on a generator for days, which is making me incur…

THE Federal Government has introduced the BisonFly Project, a new nationwide initiative aimed at reducing air travel costs within the Federal Civil Service. A statement from the Ministry of Finance said the programme will be implemented through a centralised, optimised, and technology-driven discount system designed to streamline air travel arrangements for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government. At the project launch in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, described BisonFly as a strategic initiative crafted by the Federal Ministry of Finance. He revealed that the project is…

THE prevailing barrage of tariffs initiated by the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump may well be a blessing in disguise for African countries. News Point Nigeria reports that the Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake made this remark at the Fireside Chat session on Foreign Direct Investment titled: The Alchemy of Foreign Direct Investment – Turning Policies into prosperity for Emerging Global Markets,” during the 14th edition of the AIM Congress held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, during the week. In his contribution to the fireside chat on the impact of the tariffs…

THE Federal Government has announced stricter immigration penalties, warning that expatriates who overstay their visas beyond six months will face a five-year entry ban, while overstaying for one year will attract a 10-year ban. Additionally, the government said overstaying will incur a daily fine of $15, starting from the visa’s stated exit date, effective from August 1. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this during a meeting with the Organised Private Sector and other stakeholders at the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association House in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday. Tunji-Ojo made the announcement while unveiling the Ministry of Interior’s new Expatriate…

A SEASONED and well versed Public Administration scholar at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Ali S. Yusufu Bagaji, has proposed the adoption of a new framework of policy pillars to move the country forward. Bagaji, a senior lecturer in the NOUN’s Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management Science, spoke on Monday in the university’s 32nd Inaugural Lecture held at its headquarters in Abuja. In the lecture, titled, “State-building Experiments in Nigeria’s Multi-ethnic Society: Policy Pillars for Achieving Pre-set Triple National Goals?” he traced the country’s political and administrative evolution, examining the patterns and outcomes of various…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the disbursement of over N700bn to tertiary institutions through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund in 2025, with benefiting universities expected to get N2.8bn The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, announced this during the 2025 Strategic Planning Meeting with heads of tertiary institutions in Abuja on Thursday. Echono outlined the allocation structure, stating that 91.08% of the funds would be distributed directly. This includes 48.90% for annual direct disbursement and 42.18% for special direct disbursement. Additionally, 8.72% is earmarked for designated projects, while 0.20% is allocated to stabilisation funds. “Based on this approval, each university…

THE Muslim Opinion Leaders (MOLs) under the development Research and Projects Centre’s (dRPC), Muslim Opinion Leaders Project for the prevention of gender-based violence in northern Nigeria, supported by the Ford Foundation, have asked the ummah, and governments at all levels to protect women and children as Islam strictly prohibits all forms of violence and harm while promoting the dignity and well-being of women. In a statement signed by Associate Professor Taufiq Abubakar, Director of the Centre for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith, Bayero University, Kano, and Secretary of the Muslim Opinion Leaders (MOLs) for GBV Prevention in Northern Nigeria, on behalf…

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday ordered the demolition of over houses in the right of way of the ongoing road construction in Gishiri, under the Katampe area of the nation’s capital. Wike, who personally supervised the demolition, was seen furiously addressing the community chief saying, “We gave you time.” Some of the residents tried to resist and stop the excavators from demolishing their properties but were dispersed with tear gas by security operatives. Briefing journalists, the minister explained that compensation was offered to the residents, but rather than accepting it, they turned it down…

THE Federal Government has enlisted 154 health facilities across Nigeria for free treatment of women who have obstetric complications. According to the Minister who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday monitored by News Point Nigeria, the health and wellbeing of Nigerians are fundamental to President Bola Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria. Pate added the facilities have quality manpower, rich standard and equipment. He also announced 18 centres across the nation for free treatment of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF). “These are women who have health problems or difficulties that arise during pregnancy, labour, delivery, or the postpartum period, potentially…

THE Federal Government through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) will, on May 28, arraign Karl Toriola, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc. Toriola, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, and others will be arraigned over the alleged failure to produce documents and information required by the commission in compliance with a lawful summons, contrary to the FCCPC Act. The company and its CEO will be arraigned alongside Tobechukwu Okigbo, MTN’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, and Ikenna Ikeme, General Manager, Regulatory Affairs of MTN, before Justice H.J. Yilwa of the Federal…

A NATIONAL Youth Service Corps member, Rofiat Lawal, who was abducted along the Benin-Ore Expressway last Tuesday, has disclosed that her abductors threatened to force her into marriage and take her to Sokoto if her family refused to pay a ransom. This is just as she narrated that one of the abductors, who are bandits, took her NYSC uniform and wore it. This newspaper reports that Rofiat was abducted on her way to her place of primary assignment in Oyo State while coming from Edo State. The abductors initially demanded a ransom of N20m but after several negotiations, they reduced…

FEDERAL Government through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has commenced a probe of the high cost of Blood Pressure (BP) and Diabetic drugs in the country. The Executive Vice Chairman(EVC) of the commission Tunji Bello said the inquiry was to ensure better medication and healthcare delivery. He spoke at a stakeholders engagement in Abuja on Wednesday. The EVC, represented by Boladale Adeyinka, director of Surveillance and Investigations, that the high costs of medicines not only make it increasingly difficult for consumers to afford treatment but place a strain on the nation’s health care system. He said: “We…

THE Federal Government through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned MultiChoice Nigeria over its move to hike subscription rates for DStv and GoTV. Customers under the pay-TV company recently woke up to a notification of a hike in the subscription fees. The firm in a notice sent to them increased the DStv premium bouquet to N44,500 from the N37,000 price. It also said subscribers on the Compact+ would start paying N30,000 as against the current fee of N25,000 among others. According to MultiChoice, the new rates take effect from March 1, 2025. But in the wake…

EXPERTS in the Nigerian higher education sector have called on the federal government to promulgate law that will back a comprehensive national Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the country. They said such a policy must have clear goals, priorities, and implementation plans. This was part of the communique issued at the end of the inaugural 2025 AI Awareness Day in the Higher Education in Nigeria. The event was held virtually on Monday, February 17, 2025 as a national event to raise awareness about the significance of AI in transforming the landscape of higher education in Nigeria. It was co-hosted by the…

NIGERIA’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has given a grant of ₦50 million to support 1,000 women petty traders in Kaduna State. Senator Tinubu made the presentation through the wife of Kaduna State Governor Hasfat Uba Sani who is also the state coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative(RHI). A symbolic cheque of the grant which was given under the auspices of the Renewed Hope Initiative(RHI), was presented by the First Lady at the Umaru Yarádua Conference Centre on Monday. Senator Tinubu also flagged off the distribution of 10,000 professional kits to midwives in the North-West states of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina,…

DANGOTE Industries Limited has reinforced its position as Africa’s leading conglomerate by implementing advanced digital technologies to enhance efficiency across its subsidiaries. Speaking at the 46th Kaduna International Trade Fair, Senior Advisor to the President of Dangote Group, Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, highlighted the company’s commitment to digital transformation, emphasizing its role in accelerating manufacturing and sales processes. In a statement issued by the Dangote Group, Abdurrahman noted, “As some of you may be aware, we have since digitized our manufacturing and sales processes through the deployment of automated and smart systems, particularly in our cement plants.” Her remarks came during…

SADIQ Abacha, son of General Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s former military ruler has expressed admiration for his late father, stating that his leadership remains significant despite persistent scrutiny. Sadiq, in a Facebook post on Saturday, suggested that his father was a victim of jealousy and subtle betrayal but insisted that history would ultimately be kind to him. “The man Abacha—you have always been the one they envied with silent deceit. History shall remember you for being a better leader, no matter how much they try to put you down. As a son, I am most proud of you today. You indeed…

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has instructed all banks and financial institutions to publicly disclose details of dormant accounts, unclaimed balances, and other financial assets on their official websites. According to CBN, a dormant account refers to a bank account that has remained inactive for at least one year. The directive was outlined in a circular issued on Monday, titled “Guidelines on Management of Dormant Account, Accounts, Unclaimed Balances and Other Financial Assets in Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria.” The circular was signed by Michael Akuka on behalf of the director of CBN’s financial policy and regulation…