Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

IN a quiet but significant reshuffle of federal university leadership, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the removal of Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), replacing him with retired senior military officer Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Sadiq Ismaila Kaita. According to a press release issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy made available to News Point Nigeria on Friday, the change is intended to allow Dr. Gawuna to focus fully on his duties as Chairman of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), a…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Thursday called on state governors to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians by investing more in rural electrification, agricultural mechanisation, poverty eradication, and infrastructure. Tinubu’s call followed a presentation on the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP) by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, at the 150th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held at the State House Council Chambers, Abuja. “I want to appeal to you; let us change the story of our people in the rural areas,” the President was quoted as saying in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant…

THE Presidency has announced that the tenure of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, has been extended by President Bola Tinubu. Adeniyi’s tenure, which is due to expire on August 31, 2025, has been extended by one year, according to a statement released by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday. He said that the extension will enable Adeniyi to consolidate ongoing reforms and complete critical initiatives of this administration. The reforms according to Onanuga includes the modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service; the implementation of the National Single Window Project; and the execution of Nigeria’s obligations under…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appointed the governing council and principal officers of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology, Koroma/Saakpenwa, Ogoni, Rivers State. The appointments were announced in a statement on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Prof. Don Mon Baridam, a management expert and former lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, was named Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council. Also from the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Chinedu Mmom, a professor of geography and former Rivers State Commissioner for Education, will serve as Vice-Chancellor. Baridam and Mmom are both…

THE Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has announced the appointment of Olumode Adeyemi as the new substantive Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, effective August 14, 2025. This appointment wasannounced in a statement by the board made avaialble to News Point Nigeria on Wednesday. Adeyemi’s appointment follows the retirement of Abdulganiyu Jaji Olola, the current Controller-General, who will be retiring on August 1, 2025, upon attaining the age of sixty. Read also: Tinubu appoints Babangida’s son as chairman of Bank of Agriculture, names other agency heads The Board extends its appreciation to Olola for his contributions to…

THE political elite and civic leadership of Northern Nigeria gathered in Kaduna on Tuesday to review President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s performance but the highly anticipated forum quickly revealed sharp internal divisions over allegations of marginalisation and uneven federal attention. News Point Nigeria reports that held at the historic Arewa House and convened by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, the two-day summit themed “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity” featured governors, ministers, traditional rulers, civil society leaders, and policy experts from across the 19 northern states. Some leaders applauded President Tinubu for initiating infrastructure projects and appointing…

THE House of Representatives is proposing a landmark change to Nigeria’s electoral process by recommending that all five categories of elections presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and State Houses of Assembly be conducted on the same day starting from the 2027 general elections. News Point Nigeria reports that the proposal forms part of a new legislation titled Electoral Act 2025, which aims to repeal the existing 2022 version and introduce significant reforms to the electoral system. 1. One-Day Voting for All Elections The bill seeks to consolidate all major elections into a single day, eliminating staggered polls. According to Clause 27,…

VICE President Kashim Shettima would attend the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. The summit would hold from July 27 to July 29, his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, said on Sunday. The high-level summit, convened in collaboration with the governments of Ethiopia, Italy, and the United Nations, will bring together world leaders to assess progress since the inaugural 2021 edition and to chart pathways for building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable global food systems. Shettima is expected to join other heads of state and senior officials in discussions focused on transforming critical value chains, including an…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Friday appealed to power generation companies (GenCos) to give the Federal Government more time to complete the verification and validation of longstanding debts owed to them. During a meeting with members of the Association of Power Generation Companies, led by Col. Sani Bello (rtd), at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the President assured them of his administration’s commitment to resolving the liquidity challenges in the power sector. The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, disclosed that a ₦4 trillion bond programme has received anticipatory approval from Tinubu to address the liquidity shortfall in…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday convened a high-level strategic briefing with key figures from Nigeria’s economic, fiscal, and energy sectors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Though officially described as a routine engagement, sources within the State House told The Nation the session was both timely and tactical, given the nation’s ongoing efforts to stabilize the economy, strengthen revenue, and deepen energy reforms under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Among those in attendance were: Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of…

THE Presidency has sharply criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its recent remarks on the state burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the party’s statement as “obnoxious,” “dishonest,” and a desperate ploy for political relevance. In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Mr. Sunday Dare, accused the ADC of exploiting a solemn national moment for cheap political attention. The ADC had earlier alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was using Buhari’s death for political gain. Reacting, the Presidency called the allegation “an opportunistic exercise in manufactured…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Muhammad Babangida, the son of former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), as Chairman of the newly restructured Bank of Agriculture (BOA). The announcement was made in a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga and made available to News Point Nigeria. According to the statement, the President also approved the appointment of seven other distinguished individuals to serve as chairmen and directors-general of various federal government agencies. Muhammad Babangida, 53, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has renamed the University of Maiduguri in Borno State after ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. News Point Nigeria report that Tinubu announced this on Thursday during an expanded FEC meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja in honour of the former Nigerian leader. “Before we take the prayers in honour of his [Buhari’s] memory, with this special session of the Federal Executive Council (expanded) can we adopt the naming of the University of Maiduguri with a new name Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri,” the president said at the end of the FEC meeting. Earlier, the President paid a glowing tribute…

THE Federal Executive Council will on Thursday hold a special session to honour the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement via his official X handle on Wednesday. The presidential spokesman stated that the session will be presided over by President Tinubu. “A special session of the Federal Executive Council in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari will be held on Thursday, 17 July, from 1 pm. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lead the session of tributes for the departed leader,” Onanuga said. The…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government to ensure full compliance with Nigeria’s international obligations, particularly in matters related to the authentication of citizens’ identities for consular and visa-related services abroad. The directive comes amid diplomatic tension over newly introduced visa policies by the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which have impacted Nigerian travelers and residents. According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu has mandated that all relevant MDAs work in close coordination to address concerns raised by the U.S. and…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the passing of his predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari. The immediate-past Nigerian president died on Sunday in London at about 4:30 pm, following a prolonged illness. According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, Tinubu has spoken with the former First Lady, Mrs Aishat Buhari, and offered his deep condolences. Tinubu has also ordered Vice President Kashim Shettima to proceed to the United Kingdom to accompany the body of the former president back to Nigeria. Buhari was twice elected Nigeria’s President in 2015 and 2019. He also served as military Head of…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has called for a reevaluation of the current global governance structure and the financial and healthcare systems, urging greater equity and inclusion for low-income and emerging economies, particularly in Africa. At the 17th meeting of the Global South and the emerging economies bloc, BRICS, on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the President stated that environmental degradation, the climate crisis, and healthcare inequalities should receive more attention, as they contribute to slowing growth and development. President Tinubu, invited to the summit by Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, stated that Nigeria supports the BRICS position on…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has issued a marching order to the military to confront Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, separatists, and other criminal gangs threatening the peace and sovereignty of the nation, stating that the time to crush the criminals is now. President Tinubu, who gave the charge at the grand finale of the 2025 Nigerian Army Day celebration held in Kaduna State, reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of officers and soldiers of the armed forces. He also promised to continue to invest in modern equipment, intelligence, and human capital that would improve the effectiveness of the military. Represented…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has assured that all bottlenecks hindering the realisation of the agricultural sector’s potential, including livestock production, will be removed to enable food sovereignty and export. In a bilateral meeting held at the Copacabana Forte with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva and some members of both countries’ cabinets, President Tinubu noted that bureaucracy contributes to delays in realising the agricultural sector’s potential. The President informed the Brazilian leader and delegation that Nigeria was already undergoing reforms to reposition the economy for global competitiveness, particularly in agriculture, where it already has a competitive advantage. President Tinubu stated…

THE Government of Saint Lucia has awarded one of its highest national honours to Nigerian President Tinubu in a symbolic move that signals deepening ties between Africa and the Caribbean. The government announced Monday that Tinubu has been named a Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCOSL), recognising his leadership on the African continent and his efforts to promote South-South cooperation. Acting on the advice of Philip J. Pierre, who is the Prime Minister, the Governor General approved the title, typically reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to Saint Lucia or the global community. Upon formal…