Author: Sadiq Muhammad

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has received former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso and former Cross River Governor, Donald Duke. The political figures met on Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. It is unclear what discussions they had, but it may not be unconnected with the 2027 general elections and the political permutations revolving around it. But Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate during the 2023 election, disclosed this in a post on his X account on Saturday night. Kwankwaso explained that during the courtesy visit there were deliberations on “significant national issues, including the future of…

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has cautioned against the violation of the Supreme Court verdict on local government autonomy, vowing to deal with the erring state governors and council officials. Fagbemi said the Federal Government will not hesitate to initiate contempt proceedings and impeachment against such states while their Attorneys General would be referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for misconduct. He said: “I am aware that some states have embarked on the promulgation of legislations which appear to be antithetical to the tenets or tenor of the judgment of…

FUNDS saved from the stoppage of subsidy payments are being used to execute high-impact projects and schemes by the Tinubu Administration, Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris has said. The projects and schemes, according to Idris, are student loans, physical and digital infrastructure, low-cost consumer credit, agricultural production, and ’targetted’ social investments. He spoke at the 2024 Annual Conference of the International Press Institute with the theme: ‘’Democracy, Media Freedom and the Imperative of Protecting the Nigerian Civic Space” in Abuja. Idris also shed light on the proposed tax reforms, media freedom and protection of Nigeria’s civic space, energy…

FOR the first time in football history, FIFA is set to confirm that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup. Also a joint bid by Morocco, Spain and Portugal which also features matches in South America will be awarded the 2030 tournament. The awarding of hosting rights for both tournaments will go to a vote during a FIFA Congress to be held virtually, but there is no doubt about the outcomes with neither bid having a rival. As for 2034, FIFA invoked its principle of rotating its flagship tournament between continents, only welcoming bids from Asia or Oceania —…

KANO Pillars midfielder, Rabiu Ali, and 29 other home-based players have been invited to the Super Eagles B camp by interim coach Austin Eguavoen ahead of this month’s 2024 CHAN qualifiers double header against Ghana. It’s the third phase of camping for the home-based players following two previous camping organised by the Nigeria Football Federation in November. The 44-year-old, who has scored eight goals in the 2024/25 NPFL season, alongside Remo Stars’ goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, Rivers United defender Steven Mayo, Abia Warriors’ exciting forward Sunday Megwo and leading Nigeria Premier League top scorer Anas Yusuf are among the 30 players…

THE Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has revealed why it officially withdrawn from the high-profile investigation into the alleged diversion and rebagging of rice palliatives in the state. The revealation was made by the Commission’s chairman, Muhuyi Magaji, during a press briefing on Friday. Speaking to reporters, Magaji explained that fresh findings have led the Commission to conclude that the rice in question belongs to a private individual, not the Federal Government or the general public. “The Commission has determined that the rice is owned by an individual. Since the Federal Government has not laid claim to…

THE Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission has uncovered a warehouse allegedly used for rebagging rice palliatives intended for distribution to the less privileged. The operation, which took place at a warehouse located in Hotoro Western Bye-pass, was led by the commission’s chairman, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji. Addressing the press on the discovery, Magaji revealed that about 28 trucks of rice palliatives, provided by the Federal Government, were suspected to have been diverted to repackage and sell them in the open market. “We have uncovered a serious case of mismanagement and diversion of public goods. These palliatives were meant for…

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has begun tracking of constituency and executive projects worth N41 billion. This newspaper reports that 99 are constituency projects while the remaining seven are executive projects across the 44 local government areas of Kano State. The ICPC Kano State Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Barr. Ibrahim Garba Kagara, said, “The objectives of the exercise is to ensure that execution of the projects has been done faithfully and according to specifications for the benefit of the citizens to cutdown wastages and corruption and to ensure proper application of government resources.” Barr Kagara, added…

THE Kano State Government says workers across health facilities in the state are conniving with beneficiaries on its free drugs initiative to steal thereby hindering the success of the programme. The Commissioner of Health, Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, made this known when he attended a stakeholders engagement organised by the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI). He said, “That one is a very serious issue that is hindering the process of the programme (free drugs in Kano). A lot of people both from the workers and the beneficiaries of the programme, they connive to steal the drugs which is a…

THE Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf has denied claims of discord with his political mentor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, insisting that their relationship remains strong and based on mutual respect. News Point Nigeria reports that in a meeting with journalists on Wednesday, Governor Yusuf addressed recent rumours within the Kwankwasiyya movement and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), which suggest that Kwankwaso exerts undue influence over his administration, acting as a “third term by proxy.” Yusuf dismissed these claims as unfounded, stressing the strength and duration of his alliance with Kwankwaso. “There is no truth in the rumours of a misunderstanding…

A KANO State High Court, presided over by Justice Sanusi Ado Maaji, has ordered the remand of Chinese national, Zhang Qunfang, over a two-count allegation of forgery and destruction of property belonging to Huafei International Nigeria Ltd, located at No. 52 Hadejia Road, Gezawa District Area, Kano State. When the case came up before Justice Sanusi Ado, Ma’aji for arraignment, Prosecution Counsel Barrister Eristio Asaph from legal Department, Force Headquarters said the charge was dated 2nd October and filed 3rd October, 2024, applying for the court to grant leave allowing charge to be read to the defendant. Barrister  Ibrahim Abdullahi…

THE Israeli military launched strikes on military bases in Iran, hitting about 20 sites over several hours in Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran. The Iranian army confirmed two soldiers were killed after it said the attacks on Saturday targeted military bases but resulted in only “limited damage”, the barrage marking an escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two countries. The Israeli army announced that the operation was complete, and military spokesman Daniel Hagari said that if Iran carries out retaliatory strikes, Israel will be “obligated to respond”. Iran’s air defence headquarters said the “aggressive action was successfully intercepted and countered…

THERE is growing tension In Kano as the State Police Command has stated that it would follow court order disallowing it from participating in the upcoming Local Government election scheduled for Saturday, 26, October 2024. In a video message made available to News Point Nigeria by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police, Abdullahi Haruna, on Friday, the police said it would, however, ensure the protection of lives in the state. “We will comply with the court order restricting us from participation in the coming Kano State Local Government Election. However, we will remain steadfast in fulfilling our constitutional…

THE 16th Fulani Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has concluded arrangements for turbaning his first son as the Ciroman of Kano, a title considered to be for the crown prince or heir apparent. Ciroman is a title of significant cultural and political importance in the Kano Emirate as it traditionally represents an individual’s direct lineage rights, coupled with oversight to manage certain districts. he Emir’s father, Ambassador Aminu Sanusi, held the title until his death in the 1990s. The last holder of the title was Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, who was made Emir of Bichi in 2020 but…

THE Presidential Medical Centre says its medical records department is struggling to operate at optimal capacity due to a shortage of trained health information officers. According to the centre, the few available personnel are stretched thin across various wards and clinics. This has led to longer waiting times for patients and an increasing trend of misfiling of patient records. These issues are among the challenges highlighted in the last annual report of the State House obtained by our correspondent. The report states, “The department is not able to function to its full capacity due to lack of trained personnel. Because…

THERE is no resolution in sight to the crisis rocking the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as calls to replace its acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, have deepened divisions within the PDP Governors’ Forum. A senior member of the PDP National Working Committee, speaking anonymously to this newspaper, revealed that, in addition to the backing of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Damagum has the support of at least four governors from the party. He identified the four governors as Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State; Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State; and Agbu…

NIGERIA’s fuel price hike has sparked widespread concerns, with many pointing fingers at oil producers, particularly local operators like Dangote Refinery. However, OPEC Secretary General, Haitham Al Ghais, has set the record straight, revealing that the real reasons behind high fuel prices lie elsewhere—primarily in taxes imposed by governments, including those of major oil-consuming nations. In an article published on Tuesday, Al Ghais explained that crude oil and its derivatives form the backbone of global industries, powering everything from transportation to pharmaceuticals. While many assume that rising oil prices directly benefit oil producers at the expense of consumers, the OPEC…

THE ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed its National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings indefinitely. The APC had fixed September 11 and 12 for the two meetings respectively following approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The party also published advertorials, asking members of the two organs to attend. But the APC National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka, announced the postponement of the two meetings in a statement on Monday night. Morka said new dates for the meetings would be communicated in due course. The statement reads in part, “Members of the National Caucus and National Executive Committee…

THE 16th Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II has expressed his readiness to intervene in the Fulanis crises in the country with a view to providing a permanent solution to the problems. Speaking while receiving the leadership of a Fulani group, Tapital Pulaku Njode Jam Nigeria, on Tuesday, in his palace, Sanusi said it was high time the government found a permanent solution to the Fulani crises in the country. He said, “But this can be done only if the Federal Government will give me full support to achieve my mission because they have the might and what it takes…

A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Abuja has approved the request of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to detain an Assistant Superintendent of Police and 19 others for 30 days over their alleged involvement in banditry, kidnapping and terrorism. Justice Peter Lifu granted the request of the defence agency to detain ASP A. A Babangida alongside other suspects for 30 days to enable DIA operatives to carry out a thorough investigation into their alleged involvement in the heinous crimes. The serving Police Officer, who was arrested in June 2024 and had since been in DIA custody, was alleged to have…