Author: Maryam Garba

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has received in audience the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Rabiu Kwankwaso at the State House in Abuja.  A former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jubrin, accompanied him to the Presidential Villa. The former Kano State governor had met Tinubu whom he contested against in the February 25 election but lost in France last month, making today’s meeting the second time the two leaders will be meeting after the elections. It is, however, their first meeting since Tinubu was sworn in as Nigeria’s President on May 29. The…

Read More

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed another bill into law, which will become the second bill Tinubu will sign into law as president. News Point Nigeria reports that President Tinubu signed the Electricity Act 2023 into law on Friday. The Electricity Act 2023 allows the de-monopolization of Nigeria’s electricity generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity at the national level. It also empowers states, companies and individuals to generate, transmit and distribute electricity. More details shortly…

Read More

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Thursday met with a group of aggrieved politicians within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) known as the G5 or the Integrity Group. In attendance at the meeting at the Aso Rock are one serving governor and four former governors within the party. They are Governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo) as well as former Govenors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu). The current governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah was also present. The G5, who were all two-term governors before four of them handed over on May 29, 2023, formed an…

Read More

THE Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has reserved ruling in the appeal by a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, challenging the decision of the Federal High Court dismissing his no case submission. The former governor, his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, Aminu Wada Abubakar, and their companies, Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd are standing trial before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a 37-count amended charge of money laundering to the tune of N1.35 billion fraud. Lamido allegedly abused his position as governor between 2007 and 2015 and laundered several…

Read More

WITH the suspension of its planned strike, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Wednesday shed light on the rationale for its insistence on reducing the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (or petrol). Failed talks with the Federal Government had led to plans by organised labour to embark on industrial action, in light of President Bola Tinubu’s inaugural speech last Monday declaring “fuel subsidy is gone”. The President’s remarks followed former President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to halt payment of fuel subsidy beyond June 2023. TUC President Festus Osifo, in a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily monitored…

Read More

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has debunked claims suggesting that lopsided promotions are taking place within the agency. NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, noted in a statement on Wednesday that no such thing exists as an elevation of officers based on bias within the agency. He added that promotions remain an ongoing exercise based on a number of factors including vacancy. “Indeed, the issues raised by the category of personnel mentioned in the reports arose in 2011, which was 10 clear years before the current leadership of Brig. Gen. MB Marwa (Retd). “However, in a determined bid to motivate…

Read More

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has met with service chiefs for the first time since assumption into office, demanding security agencies to strengthen coordination and not to work at cross purposes. At the end of the meeting on Thursday, the President disclosed his own philosophy towards dealing with security issues, which is adoption of contemporary security measures to advance the country’s security fortunes. Addressing State House correspondents, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno, who conveyed the President’s message, disclosed that the President demands frequent consultations in tandem with the demands of the nation and will embark on a lot of reforms. The…

Read More

THE senator representing Kano Central, Ibrahim Shekarau, on Wednesday, decried Nigeria’s high cost of governance, advising President Bola Tinubu on the need to cut down the number of federal lawmakers. “Left to me, we don’t need to have the two chambers, the two houses,” he said during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today monitored by News Point Nigeria. “It’s costing the country. I agree, a democracy means getting as many involved as possible, but the way it is going on now, it’s almost 500 legislators nationwide; I don’t think we really need this much at the moment.” The National…

Read More

YOBE State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has introduced his Imo State counterpart, Hope Uzodimma as the new Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum. Governor Buni made the introduction on Wednesday when he led a team of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors during a visit to the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The governors were in Abuja for a National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party chaired by the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu. Besides Buni and Uzodimma, those present at the meeting include Governors Mohammed Bago (Niger), Senator Uba Sani (Kaduna), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe),…

Read More

GOVERNOR Uba Sani of Kaduna State has reappointed the Secretary to the State Government under the Nasir El-Rufai administration, Balarabe Lawal, to his cabinet. This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mohammed Shehu, who said Lawal was retained in view of his “vast” experience in governance to assist in the smooth take-off of the new administration. Sani also approved the appointment of Shuaibu Gimi as Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communication and Nasir Abdulkadir as Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, while Dahiru Ahmed will serve as Senior Special Assistant on Electronic Media.…

Read More

THE UK Government has congratulated President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima on their inauguration. According to a statement on Monday, King Charles III expressed his “warmest congratulations” and wish to send Tinubu every possible good wish as you assume the many responsibilities of your office. Helen Grant, the UK Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Trade to Nigeria and Girls’ Education, also said, “My priority is to strengthen our bilateral trade and investment partnership, to the mutual benefit of our two great nations, and I look forward to working alongside the new administration to further that goal.” See the full…

Read More

THE outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the renaming of 15 airports after some prominent Nigerians. This was contained in a by the Head of Press and Public Affairs of the Ministry of Aviation, Odutayo Oluseyi made available to the media on Sunday. According to the statement, the airports include Akure International Airport named after Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu; Benin International Airport now known as Oba Akinzua ii; Dutse International Airport renamed Muhammed Nuhu Sanusi; Ebonyi International Airport Okadigbo now known as Chuba Wilberforce; and Gombe International Airport renamed Brigadier Zakari Maimalari. Also, Ibadan International Airport (Samuel Ladoke Akintola); Ilorin International…

Read More

THE House of Representatives has amended the Central Bank of Nigeria Act to raise the lending limit of the apex bank to the federal government from five (5) to fifteen (15) per cent. The amendment was done at an emergency session held by the lawmakers on Sunday. It comes amid concerns from the public regarding why the National Assembly would approve the ways and means advances request of President Muhammadu Buhari, considering that the 23.1 trillion naira request was many times over the 5 percent lending limit of the CBN. The Lawmakers believe the amendment will enable the government to…

Read More

THE President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina has decried the fuel subsidy regime by the Federal Government, saying it only benefits the rich. Speaking during the presidential inauguration lecture in Abuja on Saturday, Adesina said the continued payment to subsidise petroleum products is killing the Nigerian economy. According to him, fuel subsidy cost the economy of Africa’s most populous nation $10 billion alone in 2022. He explained that Nigeria keeps borrowing for what shouldn’t be borrowed for, advising that such money should be channelled to national development. “The place to start therefore is to remove the inefficient…

Read More

WITH just three days to the end of President Muhammadu’s administration, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, says the government has made things better than it met it. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Channels Television monitored by News Point Nigeria, Fashola maintained that Buhari’s government has effected changes that have impacted the economy positively, thus fulfilling the change mantra of the All Progressives Congress (APC). “I think it a very difficult place to self-assess, but I think from the feedback that we get from those we serve. Clearly, the feedback is encouraging and it indicates that things…

Read More

No THE Joint Health Sector Unions/Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have declared an indefinite strike. According to the aggrieved workers, the strike is as a result of the failure of the federal government to adjust the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and other demands. JOHESU/AHPA is a conglomerate of four registered trade Unions which include Medical and Health workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institution(NASU). Declaring the…

Read More

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has again hinted at his retirement plans after exiting office on May 29. Speaking during the inauguration of the new Customs Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, the Nigerian leader said he would be far away from the nation’s capital after handing over power to his successor next Monday. “I try to plan to be as far away from Abuja as possible. I came from an area that is far away from Abuja,” Buhari stated. The President also underscored his cordial relationship with the Niger Republic, saying the neighbouring nation would defend him when he leaves office. According…

Read More

A COASTER bus has caught fire in front of Eagle Square in Abuja. The incident which happened on Tuesday night sent passers-by scampering for safety as the vehicle went into flames. There were speculations that it was a case of a car explosion. However, in a telephone conversation, the Police Public Relations Officer in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Josephine Adeh debunked the claim. She confirmed the incident but said it was a case of fire outbreak and not an explosion. According to her, the bus was coming from the Maitama axis of the FCT when it caught fire. “No…

Read More

WITH few days to the end of his tenure, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has approved the deposition of the traditional rulers of Piriga and Arak Chiefdoms, His Highness Jonathan Paragua Zamuna; and His Highness General Aliyu Iliyah Yammah, respectively. In a statement, the Commissioner of Local Government, Umma Ahmad stated that the two monarchs cease to hold their respective offices from Monday, 22nd May 2023. The commissioner stated that the depositions followed recommendations from the Ministry of Local Government in line with the provisions of Section 11 of the Traditional Institutions Law No. 21 of 2021. “The District…

Read More

SOME elected members of the House of Representatives for the 10th National Assembly (NASS) across the different political party platforms say they will field Speaker and Deputy Speaker candidates. The elected lawmakers agreed to present a consensus candidate which will challenge the candidates put forward by the ruling APC. This decision was reached on Saturday after their meeting at the Transcorp hotel in Abuja with some speakership aspirants like Aliyu Betara, Yusuf Gagdi, Mariam Onuoha and others in attendance. This move appears to be in a direct defiance of the zoning arrangement as announced by the National Working Committee of…

Read More