Author: Peter Noah KC

ABOUT 103 top officers, including generals, brigadiers-general, air vice marshals, and admirals in the Nigerian Army, Air Force, and Nigerian Navy may proceed on compulsory retirement following the appointment of new service chiefs on Monday by President Bola Tinubu. Aside from the imminent gale of retirement, many officers would be promoted to their next rank to fill the vacancies that would be created by the retiring generals as part of the reorganisation of the services by the new service chiefs. This is happening six months after 24 major generals and 38 brigadier generals retired last December after serving the nation…

HE suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele on Tuesday approached the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, challenging his detention by the Department of State Services (DSS). In his originating motion on notice, Emefiele is praying for the court to enforce his right to liberty and freedom of movement, as there is no basis for his continuous detention. However, the Attorney General of the Federation as well as the DSS have insisted that the detention of the suspended CBN Governor is lawful. In a preliminary objection filed against the fundamental rights enforcement suit instituted…

THE Federal Government, on Monday, said six new companies have received approval to import petroleum products into Nigeria. The Managing Director of Nigeria Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDRA), Farouk Ahmed made this disclosure to state correspondents at the Presidential Villa. Farouk stated that apart from the approved six, several companies applied for permit to import petroleum in due course. Ahmed also debunked insinuation that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had given approval to Dangote Group to import petroleum, saying that the company has no powers to give such approval. The managing director further noted that there…

THE convoy of former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha was attacked on Friday by gunmen leaving a police officer dead. The convoy of the former governor was attacked at the Ihube community on the Okigwe- Enugu expressway. The Ihube axis of the expressway had been under siege by terrorists who had been killing and kidnapping people and travelers for ransom. The houses of several politicians in the community had been raided in the past. These had made many locals abandon their homes and run to the state capital, Owerri, and other places for safety. Confirming the killing of the police…

SIX police officers are due to go on trial in Switzerland later on charges of manslaughter in connection with the death of a Nigerian man five years ago. Mike Ben Peter died after being arrested in the city of Lausanne. Police say they used standard techniques to apprehend the alleged drug dealer. The officers pinned him to the ground after he refused to be searched. The defence is to argue that Mike Ben Peter’s death was likely to have been a result of underlying health problems. According to the indictment, the officers first noticed Peter during a drug patrol after…

THE Federal Ministry of Agriculture has advised the public to desist from consuming hides popularly called ponmo, as well as smoked and bush Meat. This follows the outbreak of anthrax disease in some neighbouring countries within the West African sub-region; specifically, Northern Ghana bordering Burkina Faso and Togo. The ministry in a press statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe says the bacterial disease that has claimed some lives affects both animals and man. The zoonotic disease’ anthrax spores are naturally found in the soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals. Anthrax can be easily transmitted to…

ARMED men in the early hours of Saturday invaded the Mashafa area of Mpape in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The gunmen, our correspondent gathered, abducted no fewer than four residents during the operation that lasted about an hour. A resident who simply identified himself as Zack told our correspondent that the armed men came for specific residents. He added that the gunmen separately broke into the houses of the victims and whisked them away. Zack said, “They came early in the morning around 1:am with sophisticated weapons. The sound of their guns was very loud, and it lasted about…

FOLLOWING the adjustment of petrol price at retail outlets by the Nigerian National Petrol Company (NNPC) Limited, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says the new pump price of a litre of Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol can’t be less than N500. IPMAN Deputy President, Zarama Mustapha, stated this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Thursday. He explained that the NNPC being the sole importer of petrol fixes the price for oil marketers across the country. According to him, oil marketers will now lift petrol at over N460/litre at fuel depots, add transportation cost and…

THE Federal Government has commissioned enforcement and security facilities for the nation’s maritime industry, including five new patrol and security boats. The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, who commissioned the project in Lagos State on Monday, said the project was part of the government’s commitment to good governance and institutionalised policies for improved maritime safety and security. “The commissioning reaffirms our commitment as the project to be commissioned is directly tied to the mission of NIMASA which is to achieve and sustain safe, secure shipping, cleaner oceans and enhanced maritime capacity in line with best global practices towards Nigeria’s economy…

AT least two staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation at Agbor train station in Delta have been kidnapped by gunmen throwing the community into panic and apprehension, News Point Nigeria gathered. The victims were identified as Peter Osazuwa, STCI Level 10 officer in Operations and Commercial Department and Level Nine Officer from Kwara State, Giwa Mohammed in the Stores and Procurement Department. A source in NRC who does not want to be named informed that the victims were staffers of the Warri-Itakpe train service in Agbor, while the incident took place some few minutes distance from the Owa-Alero ancestral residence…

THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said he regretted leading a forum that championed the emergence of Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker of the House in the 7th National Assembly. Tambuwal is now an outgoing two-term Governor of Sokoto State. “I regret it,” Gbajabiamila stated while recalling the previous attempts by speakership aspirants to oppose chosen candidates of their respective parties. The Speaker spoke in Abuja on Wednesday night at a meeting of the Joint Task – 10th Assembly, a coalition of members-elect of the All Progressives Congress and opposition parties in the coming 10th National Assembly.…

THREE natives of Ezza South Local Government Area have been confirmed dead after the convoy of Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, crashed into their motorcycle. It has been reported that the casualties were struck by an advance team while they were on the route leading to Muhammadu Buhari’s international airport. News Point Nigeria gathered that, they had dropped the state governor at the airport located at Onueke, and while returning to town, the tragic incident occurred. According to reports, the incident happened soon after the opening of a flyover named after Prince Arthur Eze at Abaomege in the local government…

GUNMEN, suspected to be bandits, have killed nine persons in separate attacks on communities in Apa and Gwer West local government areas of Benue State. Six people were reportedly killed in Uchen community in Gwer West LGA while three people were said to have died in Apa LGA. The National Chairman of the Apa Development Association, Mr Eche Akpoko, said three villages were attacked on Sunday and Monday by suspected bandits who invaded Akpanta, Ochumeko and Ijaha villages. He said, “Akpanta and Ogwuji villages were burnt down and the attackers killed three people at Ijaha village. Speaking of the attack…

THE Nigerian Bureau of Statistics has revealed that the country’s inflation rate for the month of April has hit 22.22% surpassing last month’s rate of 22.04% This is according to the Commodity Price Index report published on Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics. According to the report, in April 2023, the headline inflation rate rose to 22.22% relative to March 2023 headline inflation rate which was 22.04%. Looking at the movement, the April 2023 inflation rate showed an increase of 0.18% points when compared to March 2023 headline inflation rate “On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was…

SOUTHAMPTON’s 11-year stay in the Premier League ended in tame fashion as their relegation was confirmed with defeat at home by Fulham. Aleksandar Mitrovic, making his return from an eight-game ban for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh, sealed Saints’ fate with a stooping header after Carlos Vinicius’ opener. The hosts could have few complaints about the outcome after producing a muted performance despite knowing they had to win to have any chance of pulling off an unlikely survival mission. They did have a Carlos Alcaraz strike disallowed for a marginal offside just before Vinicius broke the deadlock but the confident Cottagers…

THE Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria has ordered the immediate relocation of all aircraft stationed at the General Aviation Terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja ahead of the inauguration of the new government scheduled for May 29, 2023. FAAN said the removal of aircraft parked at the Abuja airport was necessary to enhance the safety of the airport during the forthcoming presidential inauguration. Many of the aircraft parked at GAT terminal in Abuja are private jets belonging to wealthy Nigerians, firms and airlines. The relocation directive was contained in a circular dated May 8, 2023, addressed to aircraft…

VICTOR Osimhen’s second-half equaliser against Udinese sealed Napoli’s first Scudetto title in 33 years. The Nigerian, leading the race for the Italian Serie A golden boot, netted in the 52nd minute to cancel Sandi Lovric’s first-half strike, a goal that sent fans into raptures in Naples. Needing just a draw to scoop their first domestic crown since 1990, Napoli’s dreams of landing it seem to be fading away when Lovric scored early on. But Victor Osimhen’s leveller was enough to bring the Scudetto back to southern Italy’s biggest city for the third time. Luciano Spalletti and his team will receive…

THE Senate has joined the House of Representatives and the ECOWAS Parliament to appeal to the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London, for leniency in the sentencing of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice. The Senate’s decision to appeal for clemency followed a motion raised by Senator Chukwuka Utazi during Wednesday’s plenary session. This is coming after both the House of Representatives and the ECOWAS Parliament on Tuesday appealed to the UK government to temper justice with mercy. In the motion, Senator Utazi recalled that Ekweremadu was a former Deputy Senate President for 12 years and the former Speaker of…

THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said that importation of Indomie noodles to Nigeria has been banned following allegations of a cancer-causing chemical found in the noodles and non-registration of the agency. News Point Nigeria recalls health officials in Malaysia and Taiwan recently detected ethylene oxide, a compound in Indomie’s “special chicken” flavour noodles. Ethylene oxide is a colourless, odourless gas that is used to sterilise medical devices and spices and is said to be a cancer-causing chemical. The ministry of health in Malaysia noted that it examined 36 samples of instant noodles from…

THE Federal Government has declared Monday, May 1, as a public holiday to mark this year’s Workers Day celebration. The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government. Aregbesola, in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Shuaib Belgore, on Friday, commended workers for their hard work, diligence and sacrifice, noting that their efforts are largely responsible for the greatness of the country and the respect Nigeria now commands in the comity of nations. The minister said, “There is dignity in labour, we have to have dedication and commitment to the…