Author: Maryam Garba

SENATOR Oluremi Tinubu has called for an early diagnosis and intervention as the world marks Autism Awareness Day. In a statement on Tuesday, the First Lady explained that an early diagnosis and intervention were crucial to ensure individuals with Autism, reach their full potential. Acknowledging the challenges when caring for patients and families with autism, she advised parents and caregivers to pay more attention to autistic patients, and seek help when necessary. She said, “As we mark World Autism Awareness Day, I celebrate the unique strengths and creativity of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). “The journey for families with…

TELECOMMUNICATION company MTN Nigeria has explained that the network outage experienced by its subscribers for the major part of Wednesday was caused by “multiple fibre cuts”. MTN boasts of 87,038,768 subscribers as of December 2023, according to data by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), representing 38.79% of the total market share, the highest in the country by any licensed Mobile Network Operator (MNO). The 87 million subscribers of the MNO experienced difficulty making and receiving calls for hours on Wednesday, fuelling rumours that the NCC had made do its threat that all telcos bar subscribers not linked to the National…

COMIC and actor, Charles Inojie has revealed that the Nigerian TV series, The Johnsons will be rested after airing for 13 seasons on Africa Magic The series focused on an average Nigerian family in Lagos and the challenges they face. Inojie who plays the role of the patriarch, Mr Lucky Johnson revealed this on his Instagram handle on Monday. ”After 13 years of absolute magic,13 years of awesomeness,,13 years of being Africa’s most-watched show on television,,13 years of being every family’s favourite’, he announced. His character, a scientist known as a spendthrift usually confuses his family with his choice of…

NIGERIA’s unemployment rate increased significantly in the third quarter of 2023, rising by 0.8% from Q2 2023, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said. In its ‘Nigeria Labour Force Survey Q3 2023’ report published on Monday, the NBS said the country’s unemployment rate rose sharply from the 4.2% recorded in Q2 2023 to 5.0% in Q3 2023. The NBS said the labour force participation rate among the working-age population declined to 79.5% in Q3 2023 compared to 80.4% in Q2 2023. Giving a breakdown of the statistics, the Bureau said, “The employment-to-population ratio was 75.6% in Q3 2023 with…

AFRICA’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, on Friday, paid a visit to Kano State, amid rising cost of essential commodities. The industrialist and President, Dangote Group, who landed at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) at 11am, was received by Chief of Staff to the Governor, Shehu Sagagi, and other top government functionaries. Dangote, who hails from Kano had closed-door meetings with Governor Abba Yusuf, top government officials and other stakeholders in the state. This came barely four days after the state government lamented worsening hunger and poverty in Kano owing to the prevailing harsh economic realities. According to a statement…

THE Federal Government on Sunday said the relocation of the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will increase operational efficiency and reduce operating costs. In a statement, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed claims that the relocation of some departments in the two agencies are political moves to marginalise a section of the country. Senator Ali Ndume from Borno South as well as chieftains of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Northern Elders Forum ( NEF) and other northern groups had kicked against the…

THE Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Thursday, vacated an earlier order directing the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, to arrest the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, for disobeying a ruling of the court directing EFCC operatives to vacate a property at Number 6, Aso Drive, Abuja. The EFCC had approached the court, urging the judge to vacate the contempt order, while noting that Olukoyede was not aware of an order mandating the commission’s operatives to vacate the property. In a statement on Thursday, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that the judge…

THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) issued a warning to the public on Wednesday about the sale of counterfeit Arla Dano 14g full cream Milk Powder across states in Nigeria. According to a statement released by NAFDAC on the incident, investigations by the TG Arla Dairy Product Enterprise company (Holder of Certificate of Registration) discovered that the counterfeited products were displayed openly in the market. The statement partly reads, “NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to conduct surveillance and mop up the counterfeited Arla Dano 14g full cream Milk Powder across the…

NIGERIA will defend its human rights record before the United Nations Human Rights Council sitting in Geneva, Switzerland today (Tuesday). The UN Human Rights Council is the main intergovernmental body within the United Nations responsible for human rights. Established in 2006 by the General Assembly, the Council is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. The Council, composed of 47 Member States, provides a multilateral forum to address human rights violations and country situations. It responds to human rights emergencies and makes recommendations on how to better implement human rights on the ground. It…

NIGERIA’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has hosted the sixth Nigeria – India Joint Commission Meeting on the 22nd January 2024, the meeting was held during the official visit of the Minister of External Affairs of India, H.E S. Jaishankar to Nigeria from 21st – 23rd January 2024. The Commission reviewed the decisions of the 5th Joint Commission and also the entire scope of bilateral relations between India and Nigeria. They emphasized the significance of the Sixth Session as the continuation of the era of meaningful and expanding economic interaction between the two countries. The bilateral meeting…

THE Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has begun verification of political office holders and top government officials’ assets as part of a renewed anti-corruption crusade in the country. The acting Chairman of the Bureau, Mr Murtala Aliyu-Kankia, stated this while monitoring the ongoing verification exercise on Monday in Katsina. He said the exercise would cover senior public officers and civil servants including permanent secretaries, director-generals, directors and other top officials of government’s establishments. “I briefed the governor on why we are in Katsina. He is also keen on fighting corruption,” he said. According to him, the exercise is aimed at…

THE Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has commended the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) for their commitment to collaborate with the Federal Government in the second phase rollout of Human papillomavirus (HPV) in 21 states. During a meeting with Dr Esther Nwadiinibi, the International President of MWAN, and Nigerian chapter executives, Professor Pate emphasized the government’s objective of transitioning from a focus on medical treatment to prevention. He lauded the planned partnership with MWAN, stating that it would be instrumental in dispelling widespread misconceptions about HPV vaccines. The Minister further outlined the government’s…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates for the February 3, 2024 by-election in Nigeria. In a statement on Wednesday, INEC National Commissioner, Sam Olumekun, said the by-elections become necessary because of death or resignation of members of the National and State Houses of Assembly. “These elections will be held on Saturday 3rd February 2024 across nine States of the Federation covering two Senatorial Districts (Ebonyi South and Yobe East); four Federal Constituencies (Shanga/Ngaski/Yauri Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of…

THE Central Bank of Nigeria is set to transfer some of its departments to Lagos State. This was stated in an Internal memo made available to this newspaper. The move, according to an official of the CBN who spoke on condition of anonymity, is to decongest the apex bank’s head office. Although some staff members of the bank have reportedly resisted the transfer and claimed that it is motivated by tribal sentiment, the source said it is for their safety and increased productivity. “What is happening now at the CBN is likened to a company with over 500 staff and…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has started the implementation of the report of the Special Investigator on Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Related entities, Jim Obazee with the dissolution of the board and management of Titan Trust Bank and three others. News Point Nigeria gathered that the others are Union Bank, Polaris Bank, and Keystone Bank. The boards of directors and chief executives of the banks were invited to a meeting on Wednesday, January 10 where they were addressed for 30 minutes each by the apex bank’s Deputy Governor in charge of Financial System Stability, Phillip Ikeazor. Three other governors formed…

THE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has ratified the agreement between the government of Nigeria and Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj operations; the signing took place Sunday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Tuggar, in a bilateral meeting with the Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Taofiq bin Fawzan AlRabiah, also affirmed that the 2024 Hajj Operations will be guided by a new culture of precision that will ensure that pre-Hajj, Hajj and Umrah activities are carried out on time. The bilateral meeting also touched on the areas of airlifting pilgrims, Nigerian government-endorsed airlines, Hajj accommodations,…

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has denied that it had a dispute with independent petrol marketers over an alleged subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). There were reports that fuel marketers under the aegis of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria clashed with the NNPC over whether the government was still paying subsidy. However, in a terse statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Wednesday, NNPC spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, said subsidy has been entirely removed on petrol. “NNPC Ltd emphasises it has not clashed with any party,” Soneye said, adding that the publication’s headline (not News Point…

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it has intercepted a Qatar-based businessman, Agu Amobi, and one other, Uchegbu Obi, with consignments of psychoactive substances at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos. This was contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, December 31. Babafemi revealed that while Amobi was arrested on Saturday, December 39, at the departure point of terminal 2 of the MMIA on his way to Doha, Qatar, on a Qatar Airways flight, Obi was taken into custody the same day following the seizure of a consignment of 72,000…

THE Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has announced changes in the cover prices of newspapers of its members, with effect from January 2, 2024. In a statement issued at the weekend and signed by the Executive Secretary, Mr. Feyi Smith, the Association said members had retained current cover prices for over four years, while inflation had more than doubled within the same time. Smith, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said, “Our association took this difficult decision after a careful review of the current economic situation and our members’ production costs.” He further highlighted the adverse impacts of…

THE Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has announced the appointment of 46 new directors across the agencies. This was disclosed in a press release signed by the head of press, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Odutayo Oluseyi, on Thursday. Below are the appointed directors with their names and offices: NIGERIAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY (NIMET) 1 PROF VINCENT EZIKORNWOR WELI DIRECTOR, WEATHER SERVICES 2 PROF ODJUGO PETER AKPODIOGAGA OVUYOVWIROYE DIRECTOR, RESEARCH AND TRAINING 3 ONYEGBULE GLORY AMARACHI DIRECTOR, APPLIED METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES 4 ABDULKAREEM HAMID OLAYINKA DIRECTOR, ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES 5 FUNKE ADEBAYO AROWOJOBE DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 6 SHOLA GABRIEL…