Author: Maryam Garba

THE National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, is scheduled to make a live appearance at Chatham House in London today. The event, which kicks off at 2 pm (WAT), will see Yakubu speak on the topic, ‘Nigeria’s 2023 Elections: Preparations and Priorities for Electoral Integrity and Inclusion’ and respond to questions with regard to the Commission’s plans for the conduct of next month’s general elections. In light of the myriad challenges INEC is faced with, Yakubu is expected to shed light on INEC’s preparations for the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 25th…

AT least 10 people were killed and 39 wounded Sunday in a bomb attack on a church in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo claimed by Islamic State. Congolese military spokesman Antony Mualushayi said the “terrorist act” happened in a Pentecostal church in North Kivu province’s Kasindi, a town on the border with Uganda. The explosion killed at least 10 people and wounded 39, he added, revising up an initial death toll of five. Both tolls were provisional, the spokesman said. But the spokesman for Uganda’s military operation in the DRC, Bilal Katamba, said on Sunday evening that 16 people…

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja for Nouakchott on Monday to receive the “African Award for Strengthening Peace’’ in the Mauritanian capital on Tuesday. According to presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, the award is for the President’s leadership role in promoting peace on the continent. Adesina said the award will be presented to President Buhari by the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum, which is an assembly of leaders established in 2014 to pursue new ways to embrace inclusive citizenship, promote lasting peace, and work towards a safer and more sustainable world for everyone. Before receiving the award, the presidential aide said Buhari…

POLICE authorities in Kwara have arrested three suspected human traffickers in Ilorin, the state capital of Kwara. The suspects – Musa Ayuba, 44, Jeremiah Muda, 35, and Luka Ayuba, 37 – all hail from Bangi village via Kotongura, Niger State. Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Okasanmi Ajayi, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday made available to News Point Nigeria, said the victims – 22 boys and 19 girls – ranged from five to 15 years. According to him, the suspects were arrested along the Okolowo expressway on 14 January with 41 children while waiting to transport…

THE presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabiu Kwankwso, has pledged to make the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) result valid for four years. Kwankwaso made the pledge while presenting party flags to six North East States gubernatorial and 18 Senatorial candidates of the party at the North East presidential rally on Thursday in Bauchi. He noted that many students sit for JAMB examinations, come up with good grades, but for one reason or the other, they end up not being offered admission, and as well it is not their fault. “These students and their…

NO fewer than 26 bidders have been declared winners of different property comprising apartments and plots of land forfeited to the Federal Government by the court. Some of the property located in the nation’s capital was reportedly owned by a former minister of petroleum, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke, before its final forfeiture to the government. It would be recalled that the anti-graft agency had last year commenced the sealed bidding exercise before it began the physical aspect on Monday for those property located in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and other areas in the country. News Point Nigeria had reported that there…

THE Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has unveiled a central enhanced e-Passport Production Centre for Jigawa, Katsina and Kano State. The spokesman of the NIS, Tony Akuneme, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said the Service decided to site the Centre in Kano to bring improved Passport processing services closer to the teeming numbers of Passport applicants in Kano and its environs. According to the statement, the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Isah Jere Idris, MFR, reassured Nigerians that the passport reform process was still in progress, especially the fast track program designed specifically for those who…

BANDITS in Zamfara have released the abducted former army officer, Rabiu Garba Yandoto, and his two children. The victims were abducted by bandits along the Gusau-Tsafe road on Sunday night. Yandoto, who spoke to journalists after his release on Tuesday, said he paid the bandits N10 million to secure his freedom. “We were released about one hour ago by the bandits. They collected N10 million, brought us near Faskari town in Katsina State, and told us to find our way home. “However, I thank God that we all returned home alive.”

A Community leader and member of the Fityanul Islam First Aid Group, Igabi Local chapter has been killed by suspected bandits at his residence in Unguwar Mai Awo village alongside his nephew in Kaduna State. The bandits also abducted four other women including a nursing mother in the same community when they stormed the village located near Mararaban Jos along the Kaduna-Zaria highway. The incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday local sources told our source. A youth leader in the area who identified his name as Adam Unguwar Awo confirmed the incident to our source. He explained that…

ABBA Bichi, son of the Director General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, has narrated his mother, Aisha Bichi’s side of the story on the widely reported altercation between the wife of the DSS Boss and Kano State New Nigerian Peoples Party governorship candidate, Abba Yusuf at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Sunday night. According to Bichi Junior, his mother never ordered the arrest of the Kano Guber candidate like it’s widely reported, and she never insulted the NNPP Guber candidate. On the contrary, it was the NNPP candidate, who insulted his mum when she…

THE Federal Government Tuesday assured that the general elections slated to hold this year (February and March) will go on as planned. Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed made the declaration at the 17th edition of the PMB Administration Scorecard series in Abuja. INEC had, Monday said elections may not hold in sufficient polling units if the current security situation didn’t abate. INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu said this in a message to the validation of election security training resources in Abuja . He spoke through the Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute (BEI), Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru. “Moreover, if…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that this year’s general election, which is months away faces serious threat of cancellation if the waves of insecurity in parts of the country fails to improve. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, represented by the Chairman Board of Electoral Institute (BEI), Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, gave the warning on Monday in Abuja at the Validation of Election Security Training Resources. “We all appreciate the fact that Election Security is vital to democratic consolidation through provision of enabling environment for the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections and thus strengthening…

THE Yobe State Government has declared Monday and Tuesday as holidays to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari to the state. The Head of Service in the state, Garba Bilal disclosed this in a statement to journalists in Damaturu on Sunday. President Buhari will be visiting the state to inaugurate projects, including Cargo Airport, Ultra-Modern Market and Maternal and Child Health Care Complex. According to Bilal, Governor Mai Mala Buni declared the public holiday to enable both the civil servants and the general public opportunity to receive the president who will be in the state on a one-day work visit. “I write…

THE People Democratic Party (PDP), in Zamfara has concluded arrangements to flag off its 2023 gubernatorial campaign rally next week Sunday, being January 15, 2023. The Acting State Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Muktar Muhammad Luggah revealed this at a press briefing tn Gusau the state capital today. Lugga said they campaign rally will endear the PDP candidate the opportunity to interface with the loyal supporters across the 14 local governments. He also added that their campaigns will be easier as the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state had already finished campaigning for PDP because they have nothing…

THE Zamfara police command says its operatives have killed two suspected arms suppliers to bandits along Gummi- Anka road in the state. Mohammed Shehu, the Zamfara police spokesperson, announced the development in a statement on Sunday. Shehu said the arms suppliers were killed in a gun duel with the police that lasted for hours. He said the arms suppliers were conveying the weapons from Taraba state when they were intercepted by the police after receiving intelligence information on their movement. The police spokesperson added that a Toyota Corolla vehicle containing three live shells for rockets RGP, three explosive shells, 151…

THE sack of former minister Alhaji Muhammadu Bello Kirfi as Wazirin Bauchi and Senior Councilor by the Bauchi Emirate Council has nothing to do with his relationship or association with the PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the state government has said. In an interview with BBC Hausa, monitored by News Point Nigeria, Saturday, speaking for the first time on the matter, the govt through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Hon AbdulRazak Nuhu Zaki made the clarification. According to the commissioner, the former Waziri has several times in the past dragged the good name of the Bauchi…

AFTER going round more than 100 wards in 10 local government areas of Gombe State, the APC Campaign rallies have culminated into a grand road show in Gombe metropolis. Governor Inuwa’s campaign train took off at APC Square along Bauchi Road and pulled through mammoth crowd of supporters and well-wishers in their thousands, cheerfully hailing and expressing their unflinching support to the governor and other APC candidates. The rally went through Jekadafari, Sabon Layi, Union Bank Round About; Main Market, Idi to Gombe Emir’s Palace through Shehu Abubakar Road traversing 8 of the 11 wards of Gombe LGA. Governor Inuwa…

THE management of Azman Air, under the leadership of Alhaji Faisal Abdulmunaf has revealed that it will launch additional aircraft to its fleet for 2023 Umrah and Hajj operations. The Hajj/ Umrah Coordinator of the airline company, Engr. Nuraddeen Aliyu, disclosed this in a  statement on Saturday. According to Engr Aliyu, the development was part of issues discussed at the company’s review meeting, held recently. He stated that arrangements has reached advanced stage to procure an additional wide-bodied aircraft in preparation to the company’s Umrah and Hajj operations, set to commence mid February and May respectively. Engr Aliyu explained that…

THE Acting Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Christy Uba has called for a review of the allowance paid to corps members. The Acting Director-General made the request during a courtesy visit by the Chairman of, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu. Uba said corps members were eager to participate in the 2023 general election. She described the meeting as timely, stressing that the NYSC was committed to the partnership. In her words: “A lot has been achieved. The corps members are ready. The youths are very interested and it is expected that everyone that…

A SENIOR Special Assistant , Political Affairs to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, Alhaji Sani Mohammed has resigned his appointment. The resignation letter sighted by News Point Nigeria on Saturday, said the action takes effects from 6th January, 2023. The letter said the resignation is personal and for him to pursue his aspiration. He appreciated governor Abdullahi Ganduje for according him the opportunity to serve in the administration. However, a source close the former aide told News Point Nigeria that, Alhaji Sani Mohammed , a grassroot politician from Taruani local government area , resigned his appointment with a…