THE senator representing Katsina Central in the National Assembly, Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, has emerged as the new chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum. Yar’Adua, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker, was appointed as the forum’s new chair two days after the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi. Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central, accused the upper chamber of padding the 2024 budget to the tune of N3.7 trillion. Although the issue of budget padding is not new in Nigeria, it is however the first time a serving senator who actively participated in the passage of the budget will accuse the lawmakers of…
Author: Farouk Abbas
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MEDECIN Sans Frontières (MSF), known as Doctors Without Borders, raised alarms over the dire humanitarian situation unfolding in Nigeria’s Northwest geopolitical zone. The organization highlighted the devastating impact of armed conflict on communities, resulting in catastrophic levels of malnutrition and escalating crisis. According to MSF, over 854 children tragically lost their lives in its facilities across Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina due to malnutrition exacerbated by armed conflict, which also severely limits access to healthcare services. Ahmed Bilal, the head of MSF’s mission, lamented the lack of recognition of the crisis, stressing the urgent need for a coordinated response. “We have…
BARELY 24 hours after a dramatic plenary culminating into the suspension of the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdul Ningi, Southern Senators have revived their forum, electing Senator Adetokunbo Abiru representing Lagos East, as Chairman. The inauguration of Abiru who replaces the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele as well as the Vice Chairman, Senator Victor Umeh representing Anambra, comes nine months after commencement of the 10th Senate. The 51 Senators from 17 southern states, who met on Wednesday to revive the forum, also elected six executives under Abiru’s chairmanship. Bamidele noted that like the northern forum, the southern…
THERE was an uproar on Wednesday after the popular Wuse market, was shut down by its management following a riot and fire outbreak that occurred yesterday at the market. Our correspondent at the scene said the situation was tense, as some persons refused to vacate the market and were seen clutching bottles and sticks. At the time of filing this report, members of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were already at the market to ensure peace and calmness were restored. Channels Television had on Tuesday, reported how angry youths reportedly set parts…
THE Federal Government has invited memoranda from the public as it begins the probe of private universities established in the last 15 years. The Federal Government initiated the probe following an investigative report by Daily Nigerian journalist, Umar Audu, uncovering certificate racketeering in neighbouring Benin Republic and Togo. Checks by this newspaper showed that no fewer than 107 private universities were established in the last 15 years. The Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling set up by the Federal Government would be examining “whether or not private universities established in the last 15 years have in place prescribed facilities,…
PROPERTIES worth hundred of millions feared lost as popular Wuse Market in Abuja’s Central Area, located within the Federal Capital Territory, is currently engulfed in flames. The source of the fire outbreak remained unknown as at the time of filing this report. Meanwhile, all business activities in the market area have been suspended for the day. Chaos and confusion prevail, with traffic jams occurring on all roads leading to the market, and people running in various directions. The police, upon arriving at the market, cordoned off the entrance to stop individuals from entering the market premises. They engaged in sporadic…
THE junta in Niger Republic is in a serious dilemma even as it has agreed to release the ousted president of the country, Mohamed Bazoum, and his wife, Khadija. Multiple sources in Nigeria and the neighbouring Niger, have confirmed plans by the military government to release the ousted president before or within the few days of Ramadan. It was learnt, however, that the biggest dilemma of the top echelon of the military in Niger Republic is the insistence by Bazoum to remain within Niger, on the grounds that he was not interested in relocating to any other country. Bazoum has…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu will launch the Student Loan Scheme on Thursday, March 14, 2024. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, said this on Sunday during TVC’s Politics on Sunday monitored by News Point Nigeria. On the programme titled ‘Counting the Cost of Presidents Tinubu’s Reforms,’ Ngelale highlighted some of the President’s welfare initiatives being implemented at the moment, saying, “Later this week, on Thursday, the President will launch the historic National Student Loan Programme.” “This is a major form of obligation reduction for Nigerians and families and young people at a time when…
THE Presidency has described as false, a claim by Senator Abdul Ningi that the Federal Government is operating two versions of the 2024 budget. According to a statement by a Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the senator’s claim that the National Assembly passed N25 trillion as the 2024 Budget is false, adding that N28.7 trillion was passed and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu. The Presidency also described as “far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his status”, the claim by Senator Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, that the 2024 Budget…
A PRISON inmate at the Oke-Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, Kwara State capital has shot and wounded a roadside vulcaniser. This happened on Friday when some prison inmates were being led out of the facility. But one of the inmates seized a warder’s rifle and fired some shots which hit the unidentified vulcanizer staying close to the area. While the injured vulcanizer who was shot in the stomach was rushed to a medical facility for treatment, the culprit was detained at the ‘C’ Division Police station, Isale-Ojo, in the Ilorin metropolis. The incident which occurred at about 8.00 a.m, caused…
THE National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has offered an insight into why the party is trying to institutionalise its relationship with the Ghana ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). Ganduje who made this assertion today at the headquarters of the NPP in Accra while playing host to his Ghanaian counterpart the National Chairman of the NPP Mr Stephen Ayesu Ntim said both countries shared similar historical experiences and as such the need for the two powerful West African countries to work together. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu,…
THERE was pandemonium in Kuriga town of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State when bandits invaded LEA Primary School, Kuriga (1), and abducted dozens of pupils. The number of persons abducted couldn’t be ascertained as of press time, but residents said they were about 100. Head teacher of the school and some other staff are reportedly among the victims. This newspaper gathered that the incident happened at 8:20am immediately after the assembly on Thursday. The junior and secondary school relocated to the school building inside the Kuriga town a few years ago due to insecurity concerns, abandoning their former…
THE inauguration of the 11th Executive Assembly of the Artisan Congress in Offa was joyfully held on March 3rd, 2024, it was a momentous occasion attended by notable and distinguished personalities. The event took place at Artisan Street in the Rondo Area of Offa, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with excitement and anticipation. The inauguration ceremony served as a platform to officially introduce and swear in the newly elected members of the 11th Executive Assembly. These individuals were entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Artisan Congress and advocating for the interests and welfare of artisans members in Offa for…
THE Federal Government, on Wednesday, declared that it would withdraw the operating licences of power distribution companies that were intentionally not supplying electricity to consumers across the country, leading to widespread blackouts in Nigeria. It stated that despite efforts by the Federal Ministry of Power and electricity generating companies, some Discos were not distributing the power supplied to them by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, which had resulted in abysmal supply since this year. Power supply across the country has been terrible since January 2024, as many towns and cities nationwide have been thrown into darkness for weeks due to…
IN a significant move to bolster bilateral ties, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced the resumption of visa services for Nigerians, marking a pivotal moment in diplomatic relations between the two nations, News Point Nigeria can authoritatively report. This development, effective from March 4, 2024, follows fruitful discussions between Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayad Al Nahyan, aiming to strengthen connections, cultural exchanges, and collaborative opportunities. The announcement, which was contained in a document sighted by this newspaper underscores a mutual commitment to reinforcing diplomatic relations. “The government of Nigeria and the…
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Monday, indicted banks as being linked to about 70 per cent of the financial crimes in Nigeria. EFCC’s Chairman, Ola Olukayode, disclosed this while speaking in Abuja at the 2023 Annual Retreat and General Meeting of the Association of Chief Audit Executives of Banks in Nigeria. He pointed out that the banking sector was increasingly becoming a cesspool of fraudulent activities and this had been raising considerable challenges and concerns to the commission. Olukayode who was represented by the Director, Internal Audit, EFCC, Idowu Apejoye, said there was a need for concerted effort…
THE Nigeria Police Force has reiterated its ban on the use of Point-of-Sale terminal machines, and other mobile money transaction devices within police stations and other police facilities across the country. The NPF said the ban followed public outcry on alleged “illegal and illicit transactions through ‘point-of-sale’ (POS) machine operators and connivance with certain police operatives.” This was contained in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Monday. Adejobi said it had come to the attention of the police that some commands and formations of the NPF continued to flout the regulation, and that…
NO fewer than 40 million telephone lines were barred by MTN, Airtel, Glo over the weekend following the expiration of the February 28, 2024 deadline issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission mandating telecom consumers to link the Subscriber Identity Module to their National Identity Numbers. This represents a 28 million increase from the 12 million telephone lines initially planned to be deactivated by telcos, following the NCC directive. In a December 2023 notice, the NCC had asked telcos to bar SIMs that had not been linked to their owners’ NINs by February 28, 2024. On Thursday, the NCC Director of…
THE Federal Government through the Nigerian Bar Association has commenced the prosecution of some staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission and political party members indicted for various electoral offences during the 2023 general elections. Electoral offences remain a major threat to credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria, as they often heighten political tension and trigger violence. Following the February 25, 2023, presidential and National Assembly elections, the immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, said over 700 offenders were arrested by men of the Nigeria Police Force for violating electoral laws. INEC had on May 2, 2023,…
COMPREHENSIVE data on the pattern and quantity of energy mineral Lithium are available at the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency for businesses interested in establishing lithium companies in Nigeria. Solid Minerals Development Minister Dr. Oladele Alake made this disclosure in Doha, Qatar on Saturday at a meeting with Qatari businessmen on the sidelines of the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Arab country. Responding to enquires on the quality of Nigerian lithium by Qatari business mogul Sheikh Shahid Jawad at the meeting held at the prestigious Sheraton Doha, Alake said mineral exploration initiated by the Federal Government has identified…