Author: Amina Ibrahim

POETVOCATE and Pan africanist, Maryam Bukar Hassan, has been listed among the 100 Most Reputable Africans for 2025. She is recognised for her impactful work as a poet, social entrepreneur, and advocate, championing peace, social justice, and maternal health across Africa. Also known as Alhanislam, Maryam Bukar Hassan is a distinguished speaker, advocate for gender equality and a dynamic voice in the global fight against systemic oppression. Alhanislam has made significant strides in amplifying the narratives of marginalized communities, particularly women. The LEADERSHIP Newspapers’ 2021 Artist of the Year was born in Nigeria. Alhanislam’s journey into advocacy was deeply influenced…

GHANA was in a frenzy mood when President John Mahama was sworn in in Accra, the capital of the country, on Tuesday. At the centre of attraction was 73-year-old newly sworn-in Vice-President Professor Jane Opoku-Agyemang. Opoku-Agyemang made history as the first elected female VP in the country’s history. The inauguration was attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye; Burkina Faso’s leader Ibrahim Traore; Kenyan President William Ruto; President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon’s Brice Oligui Nguema and other dignitaries across all walks of life. At the ceremony, Mahama, who served as president…

GERMANY has launched a new online platform to simplify the visa application process for Nigerians seeking to work, study or join family members in the country. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described the online visa application portal as a positive development that will help the country meet its demand for skilled workers. “Every year, Germany is short of at least 400,000 skilled workers. 400,000 clever minds and even more agile hands to keep our country running – in the skilled crafts sector, in the care sector, in tech companies. Our national economy is also in a global competition to attract…

THE Economic of West African States (ECOWAS) has described terrorism allegations against Nigeria and other member states by Niger Republic as “unfounded”, saying it is solidly behind its members. Niger Republic had accused Nigeria and other ECOWAS members of colluding with France to destabilise the country. However, ECOWAS in a statement on Thursday described the allegations as “unfounded”. “The Commission of the Economic and West African Staes (ECOWAS) expresses deep concern over allegations being made against Nigeria and other ECOWAS member states. “The Commission stands firmly by Nigeria and ECOWAS member states against allegations that they are sponsoring terrorism. “For…

THE Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria has revealed that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, is set to submit a memo to the Federal Executive Council regarding their demands to harmonise the retirement age for medical consultants to 70 years. Additionally, Pate and the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, plan to submit a joint memo to the Presidential Committee on Salaries, advocating the universal application of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure for medical lecturers. MDCAN recently embarked on a seven-day warning strike on November 18 to push for these demands. The strike,…

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has revoked lands belonging to former President Muhammed Buhari, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. Also, 759 other prominent figures and organisations in Maitama II, Abuja. were also affected by the revocation which was for non-payment of Certificate of Occupancy. This was contained in a publication by the FCT Administration and made available to News Point Nigeria by the Special Adviser to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka. In a separate publication, the minister also threatened to revoke lands…

THE Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), will likely meet with the Senate today (Thursday) for a review of the Tax Reform Bills sent by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly. Following the widespread controversy that trailed the tax reforms bills, particularly with the North pushing back, Tinubu had urged for calm, saying he had directed the AGF to meet with the National Assembly to iron out the grey areas. In response, the Senate set up a panel to meet with the AGF for the assignment. However, the proposed meeting had been stalled…

THE United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has presented the certificate of inscription for the Kano Durbar Festival to the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa. Dr. Hajo Sani, Nigeria’s permanent delegate to UNESCO, presented a congratulatory message in Abuja on Tuesday, acknowledging the government and people of Nigeria for the inscription of the Durbar festival as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This recognition celebrates the festival’s beauty, dignity, and unity among the people of Kano. She explained that an Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage approved the…

THE National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, on Monday, underscored the need for safe and responsible use of data to build a formidable digital economy ecosystem. Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said this at the 2024 Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge organised by their subsidiary, Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation, ONDI, in Abuja. The Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge, showcased the talent and innovation of Nigerian tech entrepreneurs and reinforced the agency’s commitment to nurturing a vibrant digital community and empowering the next generation of tech leaders. Represented by Mr Oladejo Olawumi, Director, IT Infrastructure Solutions, Inuwa said that data sovereignty was…

THE President of the MAAUN Group of Universities, Prof. Adamu Abubakar, has donated the sum of $100,000 to the Islamic University in Uganda. He announced the donation while speaking as a special guest of honour during the 33rd convocation ceremony of the university held at its main campus at Mbale. The university also presented an award of excellence to Mr Gwarzo for his selfless service towards the development of the university. While presenting the award, the Council Chairman of the University, Prof. Muhammad A.S.E.A Altabtabaei from the State of Kuwait commended Mr Gwarzo for giving his all to the university.…

THE National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has indicated that TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) are yet to comply with tax filing requirements in accordance with Nigeria’s regulatory framework. The social media platforms were identified in a report titled “Analysis of Compliance with Laws and Misinformation Management by Social Media Platforms in Nigeria.” However, Google, LinkedIn, and Meta have met their tax compliance obligations as outlined in Part III, Sections 3–1, and Part II, Section 10 of the “Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms and Internet Intermediaries (CoP for ICSP/II).” “The report underscores the importance of the Code…

THE Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos has set aside a bench warrant issued against the Former Managing Director of Assets Management Cooperation of Nigeria (AMCON) Ahmed Kuru, for his absence at his arraignment on an alleged ₦76bn fraud. Justice Mojisola Dada set aside the bench warrant against Kuru after listening to the submissions and apology from his counsel, Olasupo Shasore (SAN). In a short ruling, the judge said, “In view of the attendance of the second defendant in court and the undertaken signed by the learned silk to ensure his attendance in court at any given time and…

THE United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced a new visa application process for immigrant visa applicants, effective from January 1, 2025. The revised procedure requires applicants with scheduled interviews to visit the US Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during their application process. The embassy announced this update via its official X (formerly Twitter) page on Tuesday. “For applicants with interviews scheduled after January 1, 2025, you are required to visit the Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during the immigrant visa process,” the statement read. “This new process is designed to help you prepare for your…

THE Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) has said that the reappointment of Fatima Shinkafi as Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund followed due processes. Last week, President Bola Tinubu reappointed Shinkafi as the Executive Secretary of the SMDF. Her reappointment was confirmed in a statement by the Asst. Director of Information & Public Relations, Ekwugha Chinwe in a statement. Her reappointment, however, met with criticisms with pundits arguing that she was meant to serve just one term. She has been serving as the Executive Secretary of SMDF since May 24, 2017, and her second term was renewed…

THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced Deputy Superintendent of Customs (Pilot) Olanike Nafisat Balogun as its first female pilot, marking a historic milestone and breaking barriers in aviation within the service. Customs’ National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement, said Balogun, a native of Odo-Otin Local Government Area, Osun State, was born in Kaduna and joined the service in 2002 as a customs assistant. Maiwada said Balogun earlier served as a cabin crew member in the air wing unit but her ambition and determination paved the way for her to transition into a licensed pilot. Balogun recounted…

THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged the public to disregard a fake list of ambassadorial nominees circulating on social media. In a press release issued on Sunday, and signed by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the ministry clarified that no such appointments have been made, as it emphasised that the appointment of ambassadors is solely the prerogative of the President. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the general public to kindly disregard the fake list of ambassadorial nominees which is currently in circulation on some social media platforms. “The ministry wishes to state unequivocally that the appointment of…

THE Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Yemi Cardoso has acknowledged that Nigeria remains in a financial and economic crisis, a situation inherited by the current CBN administration. Speaking at the 14th Annual Bankers’ Committee Retreat in Abuja, Cardoso explained that the role of the bankers’ committee remains critical towards addressing the challenge as well as reflating the economy. The CBN boss said that the nation faces challenges in how to address poverty, rising inflation, infrastructure deficits, insecurity, and unemployment, among others. He called on members of the bankers’ committee to reflect on the past year’s challenges and…

THE All Progressives Congress, on Thursday, distanced itself again from an alleged splinter group, Team New Nigeria, after the group flooded Kano metropolis with the campaign posters of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The ruling party insisted the group did not emanate from its fold and were not known members at any level of the APC. The rebuttal comes five days after the TNN announced that its loyalists were leaving the ruling party to form a new political party that would rescue Nigeria from the threshold of poverty, hunger, insecurity and devastation. The group’s National President, Modibbo Farakwai, boasted at the…

THE Kano State Government has begun the demolition of illegal structures erected on government land across the state. The operation, led by the Kano State Task Force on Development Control, targets buildings constructed without the necessary permits on government-owned properties. Speaking on Wednesday at Kwankwasiya city, the secretary of the task force, Hameed Sidi, said the exercise was part of the state’s efforts to reclaim and safeguard public spaces for developmental purposes. Sidi explained that the committee identified over 10 illegal structures at Kwankwasiya city. He said that the task force would focus on areas identified as hotspots for unauthorised…

KANO State Fire Service under the leadership of Hassan Muhammad has said that in November properties estimated at over N132,450,000 was destroyed by different fire outbreaks in the state. Also, the service successfully rescued not less than three persons, as well as recorded 43 fire calls in the same month. The spokesman for the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, who confirmed the operations of the service for the month under review, also disclosed that three lives were lost, while four others were saved. According to the statement, the fire service ‘personnel also saved property worth N310,600,000, just as it…