THE Economic Community Of West Africa States (ECOWAS) under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu has imposed fresh sanctions over the coup in Niger Republic. The regional bloc had earlier given Niger junta seven days to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum or risk sanctions, including possible military action. But the coupists called the bluff of ECOWAS and vowed to resist any foreign intervention on its soil. It also severed ties with Nigeria, Togo, France and US, and shut down Nigerien airspace indefinitely. At the end of the ultimatum, the bloc scheduled a meeting for Thursday to review the situation in the…
Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani
THE Senate has transmitted the names of 45 confirmed ministerial nominees to the Presidency. The Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abdullahi Gumel, disclosed this in an interview with journalists at the National Assembly on Tuesday. Explaining why the number of ministerial nominees was increased to 48 as against 42 in the previous administration, Gumel said some of the ministries which were merged will now stand alone namely the Ministry of Works and Housing. He also thanked the Senators for suspending their recess to screen and confirm the nominees. The Senate on Monday confirmed 45 out of…
SENATE Spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, says the red chamber may re-invite the three ministerial nominees yet to be confirmed for re-screening. Adaramodu representing Ekiti South Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly (NASS) made this known on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday monitored by News Point Nigeria. Asked whether the Senate was still going to confirm those yet to be confirmed, the lawmaker said, “The question raised about them is an ongoing issue. So, once the Senate is satisfied, definitely, if we may likely invite them to the chamber for the re-confirmation and re-screening. We’ll do that.” The three…
THE Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Monday, announced new chairmen of some standing committees in the red chamber. News Point Nigeria reports that, the Senate President named the chairmen of the committees after confirming 45 of the 48 ministerial nominees during the day’s plenary session. President of the Ninth Senate Ahmad Lawan (Defence), former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal (Housing), and former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole (Interior) were some of the senators appointed to chair committees. Also appointed were Sen Godiya Akwashiki (Airforce), Buhari Abdul-Fata (Aviation), Osita Izunaso (Capital Market), Cyril Fasuyi (Establishment), Seriake Dickson (Ecology/Climate Change),…
THE management of Azman Air has sent all staff of the company on a mandatory leave without payment nationwide – News Point Nigeria gathered. The management in a memo sighted by News Point Nigeria, signed by the HR Manager, Magaji Mohammed Misau, dated 3rd August, 2023 and titled: ‘PLACEMENT OF LEAVE WITHOUT PAY,” requested all of the staff to leave with an exception of an under listed eight staff. “The letter reads in part: “As you are aware, our domestic operations has been put on hold for a while due to the conveyance of our aircraft for C-Checks and the …
AS diplomatic efforts continue with pressure mounting on the putschists who hijacked power in neighbouring Niger Republic, President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday night, met with five northern governors who share borders with the coup-torn country. The meeting was part of consultations by the President on the situation in Niger Republic. The governors, who met the President at Aso Rock are Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Idris Nasir (Kebbi) and Dr Dikko Radda (Katsina). Though details of the meeting held at the State House in Abuja were not made public, the meeting is coming as Economic…
THE family of a former chairman of the defunct National Party of Nigeria in Plateau State, Alhaji Yahaya Sabo, has accused the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu of illegally taking over of their House for over 25 years without making any payment to the family. The property which is presently being occupied by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, was said to have been donated to the agency by the Nasarawa State government. The first son of the family, Mohammed Sabo, made the disclosure while speaking with…
CONCERN Citizens Project (CCP), an organisation for good governance in Nigeria, said the recent happenings resulting from the move made by the Department of State Services (DSS) to rearrest and continue to interrogate the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, and continued detention of the suspended EFCC Chairman, Abdurrashid Baba, are commendable jobs. CPP made this public in a press statement signed by its National Coordinator, Amb. Salisu Jaji, yesterday, August 4, 2023, in Abuja. The statement reads as; “it is known that the DSS are accusing the CBN governor over accusations of economic and financial crimes…
THE Senate has asked the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS and other leaders of the region to tread softly in addressing the political quagmire in Niger Republic. Rising from a closed-door session that lasted close to two hours to discuss the letter written to the Senate on Friday by President Bola Tinubu on the decisions taken by the regional body, the Senate asked ECOWAS to strengthen political and diplomatic options and other means to resolve the political impasse in Niger Republic. The Senate while condemning the Niger coup in totality, commended the chairman, President Bola…
MEMBERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Governors’ Forum; the party’s National Working Committee (NWC); and its flag bearer for the 2023 poll, Atiku Abubakar; on Saturday, met at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja for a stakeholders’ meeting. PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, as well as other party stakeholders were present at the meeting. The agenda of the meeting was not made known to journalists. However, this is the first time since after the general elections that Atiku would be meeting with the PDP governors and other…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu says a comprehensive forensic audit of the Central Bank is underway, while a thorough overhaul of the Civil Service payroll is imminent. According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu disclosed this during an audience with the President of the World Bank, Mr. Ajay Banga on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. ”A comprehensive forensic audit is on-going at the Central Bank. We are going to do very serious structural review of the Civil Service payroll. I can’t believe in the numbers I’m seeing and I’ve had…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has informed the National Assembly about ECOWAS proposed military action and other sanctions against coupists in Niger Republic. He stated this in an official communication addressed to the Senate and read at plenary by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio. Part of the letter read, “Following the unfortunate political situation in Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of its President, ECOWAS under my leadership condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved to seek the return of the democratically elected govt. In a bid to restore peace, ECOWAS convened a meeting and came out with a communique.…
THE military junta in Niger Republic has cut off ties with Nigeria after the efforts of Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) to resolve the ongoing impasse failed. ECOWAS had issued a seven-day ultimatum for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum to avoid possible clash with the junta. But President Bola Tinubu sent a high-powered delegation to the country to meet with the coup leaders, on Thursday. The delegation led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) only met with representatives of the junta. Subsequently, Niger severed ties with Nigeria, Togo, France, its coloniser, and the United States. “The functions of…
THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government to withdraw a lawsuit filed against the organised labour. It is threatening a nationwide strike on August 14, 2023, if the government fails to do so. The NLC reached the decision during its National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, according to a statement signed by the National President, Joe Ajaero and the National Secretary Emanuel Ugboaja. They accused the Ministry of Justice and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) of allowing themselves to be used as “anti-democracy” agents. While confirming the union’s suspension…
THE new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, says he will hit the ground running to ensure the victory of the ruling party in the November 11, 2023 governorship polls in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa. Ganduje spoke on Thursday during his acceptance speech as the party’s chair after his emergence at the 12th APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. The party’s NEC also elected former Senate spokesman, Ajibola Basiru, from Osun State as its National Secretary. Addressing party leaders after his emergence, Ganduje thanked President Bola…
THE National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, elected former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, as the National Chairman of the party. News Point Nigeria reports that, the party’s NEC also elected former Senate spokesman, Ajibola Basiru, as National Secretary. The two party officials were elected today at the 12th NEC meeting of the party held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, chieftains of the party in the National Assembly, amongst others were present at the NEC meeting. Addressing…
NATIONAL Legal Adviser of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Ahmed El-Marzuk, has resigned from the party’s National Working Committee, NWC. This newspaper gathered that he resigned his appointment on Wednesday, following insistence by some of his colleagues that he could not longer be in office due to some allegations against him. The 12th National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the party, which is currently underway in Abuja, is expected to name a replacement. The erstwhile national legal adviser was in the news three months ago when he recommended the expulsion of former National Vice Chairman for Northwest, Mallam Salihu…
ONE week after the military coup in Niger, the new military government has reopened the country’s land borders and airspace with five neighbouring countries, a spokesman for the junta announced on television on Tuesday evening. The border crossings to Mali, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Libya, and Chad were reopened, he said. The junta also appointed new governors for the country’s eight regions. Tensions with the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) remained. The junta said Niger’s borders with Benin and Nigeria, both ECOWAS members, remained closed for the time being. On Sunday ECOWAS issued an ultimatum to the coup…
MILITARY Chiefs from some West African countries have arrived the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, for a high-powered delegation meeting over current activities of military juntas in the Republic of Niger. Our correspondent, who is covering the meeting, reports that the seats allocated to Mali, Guinea Bissau, Niger and Burkina Faso military chiefs are currently vacant. The military chiefs who are currently on the ground include Togo, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Guinea, Gambia, Cote’Divoire, Cabo Verde and Republic of Benin. The meeting is being chaired by the chairman of ECOWAS military chief, Gen. Christopher Musa. Economic Community of West…
AMID heavy security presence, the Organised Labour has kicked off its protest against the “anti-people” policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and other states of the Federation including Lagos, Abia, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Zamfara, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kwara, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, and Edo. In Abuja, members of the Organised Labour with different paraphernalia of the unions, on Wednesday morning, gathered at the iconic Unity Fountain for the protest. Some officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) from the FCT were spotted at the Unity…