A BILL seeking the creation of Tiga State from the current Kano State is ready for presentation at the Senate. It is titled, “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (Creation of Tiga State) Bill, 2024. The bill is sponsored by Senator Kawu Sumaiman AbdulRahman (Kano South). This newspaper reports that Kano State has 44 local government areas and is one of the states with the highest voting population in the country. Our correspondent reports that the bill was to be introduced on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday for first reading, but the Senate had adjourned plenary…
Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani
THE House of Representatives Committee on Women’s Affairs and Social Development, on Tuesday, grilled the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, over the non-payment of N1.5 billion to contractors after the release of funds for the purpose. The committee was investigating the alleged diversion of the N1.5bn meant for the payment of contractors after it received a petition from the contractors over non-payment for contracts they executed for the ministry. The committee had at its last sitting summoned the minister to appear before it to explain the rationale behind the non-payment. The committee also ordered the stoppage of all 2024…
THE House of Representatives has announced the passing of Honourable. (Prince) Olaide Akinremi, also known as Jagaban. A statement signed by House Spokesman Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Akin Rotimi, Jr., on Wednesday, said Akinremi who represented Ibadan North Federal Constituency under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), died after a brief illness. Hon. Akinremi who served as Chairman of the House Committee on Science Research Institutions, passed away on Wednesday morning. He was aged 51. The statement said, “Until his demise, the Oyo legislator was a dedicated public servant known for his unwavering…
THE Federal Government has announced the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on some essential food items imported through land and sea borders. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, made this known during a press briefing at the National Press Centre, Abuja on Monday. Kyari disclosed that the listed food items, which include maize, wheat, husked brown rice, and cowpeas, will enjoy a 150-day Duty-Free Import Window. He added that the move is part of the Presidential Accelerated Stabilization and Advancement Plan, which is aimed at achieving food security and economic stability in the country. The minister…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has condoled with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the death of the Alhaji Surajudeen Tokunbo Ayilara who he described as an outstanding public servant, a trusted and dependable partner. In a tribute he personally wrote in which he also condoled with the deceased’s family, he eulogized Ayilara for living “a life of unwavering dedication, loyalty, and service.” He noted that despite his frailty towards the end, he refused to give up, demonstrating his unyielding spirit and determination to carry on until his very last breath. “Ayilara lived a life of remarkable achievement, one marked by hard work, endurance,…
VICE President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Devakumar Edwin, has reassured of the commencement of production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol by the Dangote Oil Refinery and Petrochemicals company this month. Edwin disclosed during an onsite visit to the Dangote Refinery at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, by S&P Global, headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, as part of its sovereign credit ratings assessment of Nigeria. He reiterated that as earlier promised, the company will start the production of petrol this month (July). According to him, the move will harness Africa’s abundant crude oil resources…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Thursday inaugurated the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) tasked with strategising a way out of the current economic situation in the country. The Council has a mix of government officials, top private sector players, and consultants including President of the Dangote Industries Limited, Mr Aliko Dangote; Chairman of the United Bank of Africa, Mr Tony Elumelu; and Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane. Briefing State House Correspondents after the Inauguration of the Council, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun said the Council is to meet…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of some qualified Nigerians to the Board of the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP). This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, Wednesday. Those appointed are: (1) Otunba Aderemi Abdul – Board Chairman (Independent Non-Executive Director) (2) Engr. Uzoma Nwagba – Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (3) Mrs. Aisha Abdullahi – Executive Director (Credit, Risk & Portfolio)/CRO (4) Ms. Olanike Kolawole – Executive Director (Operations)/COO (5) Dr. Armstrong Ume Takang – Non-Executive Director (MOFI Nominee) (6) Dr. Peter Iwegbu – Non-Executive Director (NIMC Nominee)…
THE Niger State Police Command has refuted reports of an explosion at the Zungeru Dam. Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun on Monday said the reports of such incident were misinformation. He urged the public to disregard the false claims propagated by some online media outlets (not News Point Nigeria). Abiodun emphasised that there has been no incident of explosion at the dam, labeling the reports as entirely baseless. He said the state is not in darkness as falsely alleged. He reassured the public that the situation at Zungeru Dam remained normal and that there was no cause for alarm. The statement…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has commiserated with the former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Aisa. Hajiya Aisha died on Sunday in Abuja after a protracted illness, at the age of 93. She will be buried today, Monday, at the family residence of the late Galadima Modu Sheriff along Damboa Road in Maiduguri, Borno State Capital. A statement by his Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Chief Ajuri Ngelale, on Monday, said that President Tinubu also urged the Modu Sheriff family, to take comfort in the knowledge, that the deceased…
IF you leave your job, it would seem logical that your salary would stop being paid, but not so for a number of former Nigerian civil servants. They have managed to be employed elsewhere – sometimes in another country entirely – and yet continue to receive a wage from their former workplace. News of this has reached the top and last week President Bola Tinubu ordered a crackdown. “The culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected,” he said. Sabitu Adams, whose name we have changed to protect his identity, has not resigned from his position…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu strongly condemns the bomb attacks, which resulted in the loss of precious lives and the maiming of other citizens in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. According to a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, Sunday, President Tinubu describes the attacks as desperate acts of terror and a clear manifestation of the pressure mounted against terrorists and the success achieved in degrading their capacity to launch offensives. The President declares that the purveyors of wanton violence shall have a certain encounter with justice, and that these cowardly attacks…
THE Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, under the dynamic leadership of the Honourable Minister, @GboyegaOyetola, has achieved an exceptional milestone by emerging as the overall best performing ministry in the Ease of Doing Business ranking. This was revealed on Friday, at the town hall meeting, by the Special Adviser to the President on Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole. According to her, the town hall meeting, chaired by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, was organised to receive an update of the report on Regulatory Reform Accelerator (RRA) in line with President Bola Ahmed…
VICE President Kashim Shettima has dismissed insinuations about President Bola Tinubu’s health, saying his principal is a man full of ideas. President Tinubu had during the Democracy Day celebration last month missed his steps, an incident that elicited conversations about the former Lagos State governor’s health status to lead the country. But at a town hall meeting by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja on Friday, Shettima faulted comments about Tinubu’s health status. “We are not asking you not to question the eligibility of your president’s condition. But…
THOUSANDS of Nigerian students have expressed delight as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has approved the disbursement of federal government-backed student loan. In a press statement published on its X platform on Thursday, the directive was given following its inaugural board meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. Signed by its Head, Media and Public Relations, Nasir Ayitogo, the statement said the meeting marked a significant milestone in the organisation’s commitment to empowering students through financial support. It said, “Under the leadership of the Board Chairman, Mr. Jim Ovia, top in agenda was the approval for disbursement of student loan to…
THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has stepped down consideration and deliberation on the memo on the new minimum wage to allow President Bola Tinubu engage in more consultation with stakeholders. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing State House correspondents on the decisions taken at the council meeting. He said the President has studied the report submitted by the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage and would consult further before a final submission on a new national minimum wage to the National Assembly. Talks for a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers have been…
A SENIOR officer of the Nigerian Customs Services (name withheld) has passed on at the National Assembly clinic, Abuja. The deceased was a guest of the Public Account Committee of the House of Representatives where he appeared for questioning in the ongoing probe of revenue-generating agencies and parastatals of government. He was said to be fielding questions from members of the committee when he collapsed. He was subsequently rushed to the National Assembly clinic where he gave up the ghost. A statement signed by the spokesman of the House, Akin Rotimi read in part, “It is with deep sadness and…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu says Nigeria remains committed to a balanced approach to energy transition and still requires substantial investments in the oil and gas sector to meet the energy demands and economic needs of its population. Speaking at a meeting on Monday in Abuja with the Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Bank, Mr. Bill Winters, the President called for a just energy transition that supports vulnerable communities across the nation. Highlighting the importance of balancing the mutually beneficial shift to green industrial growth and energy with the immediate energy needs of Nigerians, the President said: ”We value your cooperation,…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Olatunji Bello as the new Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice-Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement disclosed that the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate. Bello is a lawyer, administrator, and renowned journalist. He is the former secretary to the Lagos State Government and holds a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos. He also studied Law at the same university and was called to the Nigerian Bar…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed that all civil servants who are drawing salaries from the government after relocating abroad should be made to refund the money. The President also directed that the supervisors and department heads of the culprits must also be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud under their watch. Tinubu’ gave the directive on Saturday at the award night organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), to commemorate the 2024 Civil Service Week. The event was also to honour some outstanding civil servants in core ministries. Represented by Sen.…