Author: Farouk Abbas

NIGERIA’s global aviation compliance score has seen a significant improvement following the signing of the Administrative Rules governing aircraft repossession by creditors and lessors, known as the Irrevocable De-registration and Export Request Authorization (IDERA). This was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo who spoke during the commissioning of the Juhi-2 Aviation Fuel Depot at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The minister credited the recent progress to steps taken by the government, including the signing of the Cape Town Convention Practice Direction, which propelled Nigeria’s rating from 49% to 70.5% in just a month. The…

THE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, extends condolences to the Government and people of Jigawa State following the tragic tanker explosion that claimed hundreds of lives in Majia town, Taura Local Government Area. In a statement personally signed by Dr. Ganduje and made available to News Point Nigeria, Thursday, he expressed deep sorrow over the devastating incident, stating: “I’m deeply saddened to hear about the devastating tanker explosion in Jigawa State, which claimed over 150 precious lives and left many others with severe injuries.” Dr. Ganduje, as the National Chairman of APC, further…

THE Nigerian Correctional Service has remained silent over the whereabouts of no fewer than 350 inmates who escaped from the Suleja and Maiduguri correctional facilities in 2024, following severe flooding and rainfall. Earlier in the year, on April 24, heavy rains caused the walls of the Suleja Medium Security Prison in Niger State to collapse, leading to the escape of 119 inmates, with only 23 rearrested. Also, on September 9, a ravaging flood triggered the collapse of the perimeter wall at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Maiduguri, Borno State. A total of 281 inmates fled after the incident with…

EFCC Is unconstitutionally Established, Says Agbakoba, Looks Forwards To Supreme Court’s Decision RENOWNED lawyer, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has drawn the attention of the National Assembly to constitutional issues related to law enforcement agencies in Nigeria and factors inhibiting the Government’s objective of abolishing corruption as stated in Section 13 of the Constitution. In two separate letters to the Senate and House of Representatives, dated October 14, 2024, he said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was an unlawful organisation, which he believed was “unconstitutionally established”. “I very strongly believe the EFCC is unconstitutionally established. The powers under which it…

THE President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Andrew Ginther, hailed the “wisdom” of HM King Mohammed VI to focus on the cities of Morocco particularly in the Moroccan Sahara. “The wisdom of His Majesty to focus on the cities of Morocco, the development of the cities throughout Morocco, particularly in the Sahara, is exemplary,” Ginther told the press following his meeting, here Tuesday, with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita. The visit by the delegation of American mayors, which falls within the framework of the twinning agreements between the American cities of Arlington and…

THE House of Representatives has waded into the increase in the pump price of petroleum products. Moved by the Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki and sponsored by 111 members of the house, the house called for the immediate reversal of the price increase in petrol and cooking gas. The lawmakers said they feared that the hike was causing hardship for Nigerians and threatening job security. The Green Chamber also asked that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, to increase local refining capacity, while also calling on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to…

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says the government at all levels needs to make money to provide social services to Nigerians.  Wike spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the maiden edition of the Abuja Business and Investment Summit organised by the Abuja Investment Company Limited. The former Rivers State governor said the theme of the event, ‘Optimising Investment Through Partnerships’, resonates with the Federal Government’s drive to deploy the power of collaboration to foster investment opportunities. The FCT minister said the notion that the government does not need money was incorrect. Citing examples of the…

THE Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, has announced the establishment of the Directorate of State Liaison (DSL), following approval from President Bola Tinubu and appointed Lami Chinade as pioneer Director. This is contained in a statement from the ONSA on Tuesday in Abuja. The newly created directorate is part of the President Tinubu’s efforts to enhance proactive coordination on national security matters with States and Local Government Areas, LGAs. It outlined that the directorate would be responsible for overseeing the implementation and follow-up of joint decisions between State Governors and the ONSA. “Key functions will include maintaining a…

THE Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, has unveiled new regulations to simplify the process of obtaining petrol import licences and other operational regulations in the industry into a single document. It stated that previous regulations, administered by the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources concerning midstream and downstream operations, have been revoked. The proposed 2024 Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Operations Regulations will enable the Authority to reduce the complexities of navigating and implementing numerous regulations in the petroleum industry. The Managing Director of the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, speaking at a stakeholder engagement on the proposed…

FORMER Rivers State Governor and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike continue to hold firm on the leadership of the main opposition Peoples Democratic (PDP) as Governors elected on the platform of the party have nullified the suspension of the acting National Chairman of the party, Iliya Damagum. Wike is alleged to be pulling all the stops  to help  National Chairman of the Party, Umar Damagum, retain his office. The governors have also nullified the suspension of the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN. This was disclosed to journalists by the Bauchi State Governor and Chairman of…

THE two convicts of the kidnap and murder of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar, Abdulmalik Muhammad Tanko and Hashimu Isyaku have filed a notice of appeal, challenging their death sentences at the Court of Appeal, Kano Division. It would be recalled that on the 28th of July, 2022, a Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Usman Mallam Na’abba sentenced the duo to death by hanging after the trial. They were additionally convicted to five and four years each for conspiracy, as they both allegedly conspired and kidnapped the deceased from Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi Islamic Foundation, killed and buried her in…

THE Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Legislative Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, CON has reaffirmed the importance of close and constructive collaboration between Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies, and the National Assembly, particularly its Senate committees, as a cornerstone of good governance and accountability. Lado stated this in a press released personally signed by him and made available to News Point Nigeria, Monday. According to statement, “this cooperation is not only a constitutional imperative but also essential to achieving the bold vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in delivering rapid and transformative benefits to all Nigerians. “Under the leadership…

ANGER has trailed the recent comments of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on free food. Akpabio had advised Nigerians to help themselves wherever they see free food. Nigerians have been complaining about petrol price hike and its effect on commodities. Recently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) increased petrol prices by over 15%, marking the second hike in less than a month, effectively exiting a subsidy program that the government said has strained its finances. The product is sold above N1,000 per litre in various places across the country. Speaking in a viral video of him presiding over a plenary…

THE Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria is poised for talks with Dangote Petroleum Refinery between Tuesday and Wednesday to finalise agreements on the cost and lifting of petrol from the plant. It was learnt on Sunday that the Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria had been asked by the $20bn Lekki-based refinery to resend its request for petrol lifting. This came as PETROAN expressed optimism that the cost of petrol might reduce in the coming days once the competition in the downstream oil sector sets in fully, as marketers load the commodity from the refinery. Meanwhile, IPMAN described…

THE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed shock over the passing of Surayya Aminu, popularly known as Sai Mama, the Senior Special Assistant on Political Mobilization. In a condolence message, Dr. Ganduje described the demise of Sai Mama as a great loss not only to the party but to the good people of Kano state. He commended her for her hard work and unyielding commitment to women’s empowerment and her dedicated service in advancing the ideals of the APC. “Her passion, loyalty, and relentless efforts in mobilizing and empowering women within the…

ARMED bandits on Saturday blocked the ever-busy Gusau-Funtua highway and abducted an unspecified number of travellers. The bandits blocked the highway between Kucheri and Magazu communities in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state, shooting at moving vehicles. The spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the incident to News Point Nigeria via a telephone conversation. He said an unspecified number of travellers were abducted during the attack, adding that the police and other security agencies are currently on joint rescue operations in order to rescue the abducted victims. “The incident happened this afternoon. The bandits…

THE North-West Zone National Vice Chairman of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Hayyatu Gwarzo said the party will triumph in the general election come 2027. Hayyatu stated this on Saturday in Kano during the party’s delegate congress where about five thousand delegates casted their votes to vote party leaders for various positions. Gwarzo stated that the congress was conducted according to the  laws enshrined in the party’s constitution and as approved by the National Executive Board. The former senator who spoke in high spirit expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP will make a good outing across the…

THE Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed November 1, 2024 to rule on the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the final forfeiture of the $2.045million, seven choice landed properties and shares involving former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. On the same date, the court will also rule on the formal application filed by the former banker for a stay of proceedings. On August 15, 2024, the court had authorised the EFCC to temporarily take custody of the assets. In granting the application, the court had directed the EFCC to publish…

EFCC’s Silence On Ganduje Despite Monumental Corruption Allegations No Longer Golden A COALITION of 30 Anti-corruption Civil Society Organizations have called for the resignation of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, over his alleged failure to prosecute a former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, despite multiple petitions against him on multi-billion naira fraud and bribery allegations. The CSOs, under the umbrella, “Global Initiative for Corruption Eradication”, also called for the immediate arrest of Ganduje, who they said had no immunity, but was allegedly enjoying the cover of the Federal Government through the EFCC. The…

MALAM Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has  lost his daughter. Fatima, at the age of 25. Fatima passed away on Friday. However, Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed his heartfelt condolences to Kyari and his family, offering prayers for the peaceful repose of Fatima’s soul. Shettima also prayed for strength for the family to endure this profound loss, noting the tragedy of losing a daughter in the prime of her life. The Vice President joined other mourners at the funeral prayers, which were held at the Annur Mosque in Abuja.