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…
Author: Amina Ibrahim
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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…
THE National Examination Council (NECO) has announced the release of the 2024 Senior Secondary School Certificate External Examination results. According to the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Council, Professor Dantani Wushishi, 57,114 candidates secured credits in English and Mathematics, representing a 67.53% pass rate. A total of 86,067 candidates sat for the examination, which saw a significant reduction in malpractice cases. The number of candidates booked for various forms of malpractice decreased by 27.7% compared to 2023, with 6,160 cases recorded. The results were released just 62 days after the final examination, marking a notable improvement in the council’s…
AS part of the ongoing tariff hike and restructuring, telecommunications firm, MTN has pegged call rate on its pulse bundle at N13.8 per minute from N7.8 per minute, which represents a 76.92 per cent increase. Checks showed that the rate prior to yesterday, used to be 13k/seconds and N4/SMS, but message that came after calls via the pulse bundle showed new rate of 23k/seconds and N6/SMS. This means by 23k by 60 seconds amounted to N13.8 per minute. Recall that by the January 20, 2025 Federal Government approved 50 per cent tariff hike, the floor price (minimum acceptable price) of…
THE President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has debunked reports associating him with the race for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027. Adesina was reported to have given a hint that he would be contesting for the presidency in 2027 following a recent interview. However, the AfDB president has denied the media reports, stating that he never said that he wanted to contest for president. In a post clarifying his statement on his X handle on Friday, Adesina said his interview was misinterpreted and misrepresented in several Nigerian media reports. “A segment of my recent interview on @ARISEtv has…
NIGERIA’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar OON, has congratulated Ambassador Bankole Adeoye on his re-election as the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security. Ambassador Bankole’s re-election is a testament to his outstanding leadership, diplomatic expertise, and unwavering commitment to promoting peace, security, and stability across the African continent. His tenure has been marked by significant strides in conflict resolution, governance, and strengthening Africa’s security architecture, Tuggar said. In his congratulatory message made available to News Point Nigeria by the Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to the Minister, Alkasim Abdulkadir, Ambassador Tuggar…
THE Central Bank of Nigeria has eliminated the three free monthly withdrawals previously allowed for customers using other banks’ ATMs. In a circular dated February 10, 2025, the apex bank directed all banks and financial institutions to implement new ATM withdrawal charges from March 1, 2025. This means customers will now pay for every withdrawal made from another bank’s ATM. The review affects the charges prescribed in Section 10.7 of the CBN Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Non-Bank Financial Institutions (2020). The circular, signed by John Onojah, Acting Director of the Financial Policy and Regulation Department at…
VICE President Kashim Shettima has assured Nigerians, particularly the Muslim community, that no intending pilgrim will miss the 2025 Hajj due to visa-related challenges. He emphasised that all necessary measures will be taken to ensure a smooth and hitch-free pilgrimage. He directed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to take all necessary measures to ensure a smooth and unhindered pilgrimage for all the nation’s intending pilgrims. This was the outcome of a meeting the Vice President had with the management and board of the Commission in his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday. Shettima summoned the meeting…
FORMER Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday, dismissed claims that he failed to support President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, stating that he has moved on from such allegations. Tinubu, backed by the All Progressives Congress, won the election against the main opposition candidates — Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. El-Rufai, a key APC chieftain, has been at the centre of political discussions, recently asserting that his views on governance would remain unchanged regardless of his role in the Tinubu-led administration. On Sunday, an X user, Yusuf Tukur,…
THE National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has proposed the death penalty for drug peddlers. According to the Director-General of the agency Mojisola Adeyeye, only stiff penalties will deter peddlers especially when it leads to the death of children. “Somebody bought children’s medicine for N13,000 or something like that, another person was selling about N3,000 in the same mall,” the NAFDAC chief said on Friday’s edition of Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. “That raised an alarm. Guess what? There was nothing inside that medicine when we tested it in our Kaduna lab. So, I want the…
NIGERIAN Red Cross Society has said Nigeria is grappling with one of the highest road traffic accident rates in the world, stating that 10 per cent of the two million people, who die yearly from road accidents, which is 200,000 people, are Nigerians. The President of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, stated this, yesterday, at the launch of the Safe Steps Road Safety Campaign, aimed at ensuring road safety across Nigeria. Adeaga noted that road traffic injuries were the ninth leading cause of death globally, claiming the lives of more than two million people each year on…
THE Police commenced full enforcement of the Third-Party Motor Vehicle Insurance policy from February 1, 2025. This move is in compliance with directives from the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and aligns with the Insurance Act and the Motor Vehicle (Third-Party Insurance) Act, which require all vehicle owners to have at least third-party insurance coverage. Some of the benefits of third-party insurance include providing compensation to victims of road accidents and covering injuries and damages sustained during travel. Driving is an unpredictable activity. One minute you are cruising, enjoying the luxury of your car, and the next, a little…
DESPITE court judgment and awareness of the significance of adorning hijab, it is disheartening to know that Muslim girls and women still face discrimination in public sphere. On this note, a coalition of Muslim Women in Nigeria, under the aegis of the Hijab Right Advocacy Initiative, has called on policymakers, law enforcement agencies, educators and service providers to urgently adopt policies and provide training to officers on respecting religious expressions, including the right of Muslim women to adorn their hijabs in public places. The Criterion Lagos District; International Muslim Women Union (IMWU); Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN); Lagos Secretariat…
THE Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary), Sen. Lawal Adamu Usman, disclosed that presently, Nigeria has about 7.6 million out-of-school children. Sen. Usman, who represents Kaduna Central Senatorial District, charged religious and traditional leaders in the country to champion the adequate education and empowerment of the girl child in their respective communities. He also appealed to the World Bank to expand its Adolescents Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project to cover 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the interest of the girl-child all over Nigeria. Sen. Usman stated this on Tuesday…
MINISTER of Humanitarian Affairs Minister and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, says some politicians are trying to influence poor Nigerians who make the social register to enjoy the government’s conditional cash transfer. The minister, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday monitored by News Point Nigeria, said some persons want his ministry to bend for political reasons but “unfortunately it’s a partnership between us and the international community – the World Bank is involved, CSOs (civil society organisations) are involved and it’s not just a ministry activity”. He said, “Some people want us to bend and…