Author: Maryam Garba

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu is currently presiding over the national caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. Tuesday’s meeting began at 7:22 p.m. when Tinubu arrived at the venue. It is his first meeting of this nature since assuming the presidency 20 months ago. However, journalists were not allowed into the main hall. In 2024, the two crucial sessions, earlier scheduled for September 11 and 12 in Abuja, respectively, were called off. Although the party did not state the reasons for the postponement, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, affirmed that…

AL-ISTIQAMA University, Sumaila, Kano State, has again made history celebrating its first set of 246 graduates who completed their studies from three faculties – Basic Health Sciences, Arts and Social Management and Science and Computing. The university, which was established in 2020 but officially took off on September 2021, is holding its maiden convocation today, having successfully produced 246 graduates from the three faculties. The convocation is being celebrated with a massive upgrade of the university’s facilities, with a view to providing an environment conducive for teaching and learning. One of the hallmarks of Al-Istiqama University is its unwavering commitment…

THE Transmission Company of Nigeria has announced a major milestone in the nation’s power sector, revealing that Nigeria has achieved a new peak power generation of 5,543.20 MW. This landmark event occurred on Friday, February 14, 2025, at precisely 11 pm, surpassing the previous record of 5,478.73MW, which was set just a day earlier, on Thursday, February 13, 2025. This milestone was disclosed in a statement issued by the management of the company late on Wednesday. The statement read, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria is pleased to announce that the Nigerian Power Sector achieved a new peak generation of 5,543.20MW…

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the implementation of a 50% tariff hike by telecommunication companies, demanding immediate reversal to the old tariff. News Point Nigeria reports that the NLC and the Federal Government had earlier constituted a 10-man committee to deliberate on the tariff hike within two weeks and report back before any final decision would be made on the new telecom tariff structure. Despite the agreement, telecom firms have proceeded with the increase, prompting NLC to issue a March 1 deadline for a total shutdown of their operations if the tariffs are not reverted. In a communique…

FEDERAL Governemnt through Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it has initiated maximum enforcement action against Kenya Airways for many consumer protection infractions. News Point Nigeria reports that among the infractions is the airline’s refusal to tender an official apology, refund and compensate a Nigerian traveller, Gloria Omisore, within 48 hours. According to the NCAA, while the airline requested an extension of one hour after 48 hours elapsed, it failed to comply with the agency’s determination. Disclosing this in a post on X on Saturday, the Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection at NCAA, Michael Achimugu, also noted that…

THE Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, has announced that corps members will begin receiving a new monthly allowance of N77,000 starting February 2025. The NYSC DG disclosed this on Thursday while speaking to the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream II corps members in Katsina State. Ahmed confirmed that the increment has been included in the 2025 Federal Government budget and will take effect once the budget is passed. “This month (January) has already ended, but once the budget is passed, by next month (February), you will start receiving N77,000 instead of the usual N33,000,” he…

HOODLUMS suspected to be kidnappers have invaded the Chikakore area of Kubwa in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, kidnapping a man, his wife, son and two others. A resident of the community told our correspondent that the kidnappers, numbering about 30 and armed with AK-47 rifles stormed the community around 12 am on Monday and went straight to the house of one Adefija Micheal Akinropo, who was kidnapped alongside his wife, son and elder brother. The resident, who is close to the victims, said the kidnappers later moved to another building housing a poultry farm, kidnapped a…

STRIKING resident doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have challenged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Senate President Godswill Akpabio to use government hospitals in the nation’s capital to feel the plight of public health workers and patients. “If we are ready to fix the healthcare system in this country, I would think that every government official must use the government hospitals. Let’s start with that,” George Ebong said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday. “I would like to see the minister use Wuse General Hospital. I would like to see the Senate President use Maitama General Hospital.…

THE National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued expectant mothers from an alleged Baby Factory in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The women were rescued during a raid of the baby factory located at an estate in the Ushafa area of Abuja on Monday, NAPTIP said in a statement yesterday. According to the statement signed by the agency’s Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, the victims were locked up in a rented apartment inside the estate by a yet-to-be-identified suspected human trafficking agent. Adekoye alleged that the said agent recruited the women through an online platform,…

THE Presidency has said the recent rhetorics by UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, won’t have any effect on Nigeria. This was stated by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, when he appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday monitored by News Point Nigeria. Bwala spoke a few days after Badenoch said she doesn’t want the UK to become like Nigeria where the government is terrible. When asked about the effect of Badenoch’s words on Nigeria, the presidential spokesman said, “I don’t think it would have effect because she’s not the government in…

THE 774 local governments are to open dedicated accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the direct disbursement of allocations to them from the Federation Account, the Association of Local Governments (ALGON) said yesterday. The National President, Bello Lawal Yandaki, said the opening of the account is critical to the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling on direct allocations to the councils. Also, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) is to monitor the utilisation of the funds by the chairmen in conformity with the principles of transparency, accountability and good governance, a source told News Point Nigeria. According…

THE Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has reiterated that the Federal Government would not allow telecoms companies to increase tariffs by 100 per cent. For some years now, the telecoms companies have been asking for an increase in tariff, citing rising operational costs, inflation and naira devaluation among others. Tijani, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday monitored by News Point Nigeria, said the government acknowledged that a tariff increase in the telecom sector is due, but said that the government cannot grant the 100 per cent the companies are demanding. Asked…

THE National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Gabam, has opened up on his discussion with a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasir El-Rufai. Gabam, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday monitored by News Point Nigeria, said his party has done nothing wrong in holding talks with ex-Kaduna governor El-Rufai. “Why the dust about Malam Nasir El-Rufai? They say he is not significant, he’s nothing. Why the worry about El-Rufai? Why the worry about Segun Sowunmi? If they are important, why won’t the government give them the relevant roles they…

VICE-CHANCELLOR of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi Peters, has stated that the model of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) remains the future of education globally. This is just as the university matriculated 23,344 new students who enrolled for various undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD programmes. Peters was speaking at the 27th Matriculation Ceremony on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, where he welcomed the teeming fresh students to the university. The ceremony, held virtually and at various NOUN study centres nationwide, also witnessed oath-taking by the students. The Vice-Chancellor explained the transformative power ODL and highlighted its exceptional feature…

THE West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced a new initiative, which will allow students to resit their WASSCE papers as early as January and February 2025. This marks a significant shift from the previous system, where candidates had to wait for the next private exam cycle. The Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, disclosed this while speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show in Ghana on Tuesday, December 31st. He explained that the new programme, referred to as WASSCE PC1, provides a faster route for students to improve their grades. “Students who access their results now and realise they…

TELECOMMUNICATIONS operators in Nigeria have threatened to shut down their services in some parts of the country in 2025 if the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) does not consider their demand for tariff increase. The operators disclosed this through a statement signed by the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, on Monday. According to Adebayo, the survival of the telecom sector demands immediate and bold reform for its sustainability, adding that tariffs must be increased to reflect the economic realities of delivering telecom services at a minimum for industry sustainability. “If nothing is done, we…

FORMER Minister of Women Affairs, Uju-Ken Ohanenye, on Wednesday said she has no regrets over some actions she took as minister. Since her appointment in August 2023, Ohanenye has been marred by controversy in office, including her threat to sue the United Nations (UN) for allegedly mismanaging funds meant for Nigeria. She was fired by President Bola Tinubu on October 23, alongside four other ministers at the time – Lola Ade-John (Tourism), Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth Development), Tahir Mamman (Education) and Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo (Housing and Urban
Development). Two months later, she weighed in on some issues regarding her stay in…

FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on his 82nd birthday, wishing him good health and peace of mind. Jonathan, in a goodwill message, he signed and made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja commended Buhari’s considerable contributions to the nation’s unity and development. “I also seize this opportunity to acknowledge your commitment to the development and progress of our country,” he said. Jonathan also prayed that God grants Buhari good health, more wisdom, and joy.

THE Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, Musikilu Mojeed and the CEO of the Media Trust Group, Ahmed I. Shekarau, have been re-elected President and Secretary of the Nigerian chapter of International Press Institute (IPI)  respectively. Mojeed, Shekarau and four other officials, elected unopposed and sworn in on Thursday, will direct the affairs of the Nigerian affiliate of the global media body for the next three years. A statement issued by a member of the global executive board of the IPI, Raheem Adedoyin, disclosed that other members elected into the executive committee of IPI Nigeria include Fidelis Mbah of Al Jazeera Television…

MEDIA mogul, Mo Abudu, has expressed her gratitude for being ranked among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World. This marks her third consecutive year on the prestigious list. Mo Abudu expressed her humility and pride in representing the media and entertainment sector, as well as being a symbol of black excellence and Nigerian/African achievement. Abudu congratulated her fellow powerful women on the list, including Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She emphasised the importance of representation, stating that seeing women of colour and women from developing nations recognised on a global stage inspires and motivates others to break barriers. Mo Abudu…