THE Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a public health advisory warning that several northern states face a heightened risk of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) as dry season conditions intensify across parts of Nigeria. In a notice posted on its X handle sighted by News Point Nigeria, the agency explained that the disease is a serious infection that affects the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord and is commonly caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. NiMet also explained that CSM spreads through respiratory droplets, particularly in crowded or poorly ventilated environments. NiMet identified Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa,…
Author: Amina Ibrahim
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THE naira appreciated further at the official market on Wednesday, trading at N1,376.19 to the United States dollar, according to data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Data on the CBN’s website sighted by News Point Nigeria showed that the naira gained N25.20 against the dollar at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market. The gain represents a 1.8 per cent appreciation compared with Tuesday’s closing rate of N1,401.40 to the dollar at the same market. The Nigerian currency had earlier recorded about two weeks of depreciation before staging a recovery on Tuesday and extending gains on Wednesday. Market analysts…
THE United States Embassy in Nigeria has issued a security alert warning of a possible terrorist threat targeting US facilities and American-affiliated schools in the country. In a notice released by the embassy in Abuja, US citizens were advised to take extra precautions when visiting American diplomatic premises and institutions linked to the United States. The alert specifically mentioned the US Embassy Abuja and the US Consulate General Lagos, urging American nationals to remain vigilant and adopt additional security measures while travelling to these locations. According to the embassy, citizens should vary their travel routes and times, avoid predictable routines,…
THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a total remittance of ₦1,570,671,200 to Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide. The disclosure was contained in the latest bulletin released by the Board obtained by News Point Nigeria, signed by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin. Payments were made to centres that participated in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration exercise. This comes as the 2026 UTME, scheduled to hold nationwide from April 16 to April 25, 2026, draws near. The payment represents the ₦700 registration charge collected on behalf of CBT centres from candidates during the UTME registration…
FIRST Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has emphasised that empowering women should be seen not as an act of charity but as a strategic investment in the country’s future, urging greater commitment to ensuring that women and girls have equal access to opportunities. Mrs. Tinubu made the remark on Sunday in a message sent to News Point Nigeria marking the 2026 edition of International Women’s Day, celebrated globally on March 8. In her statement, the First Lady highlighted the significance of this year’s theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” describing it as a timely reminder of the urgent need…
THE National Youth Service Corps has announced that its online portal will open for prospective corps members to register for mobilisation between March 12 and March 18, 2026. The scheme disclosed this in a flyer released across its social media platforms sighted by News Point Nigeria on Friday. In the notice addressed to prospective corps members, the agency stated that only graduates whose names appear on the approved Senate or Academic Board lists uploaded by their institutions would be eligible to register. “Attention, Prospective Corps Members (PCMs), I am happy to inform you that the NYSC portal will be opened…
MULTICHOICE is shutting down its streaming platform, Showmax, after eleven years of operation. News Point Nigeria reports that the decision taken by the company was communicated to Showmax subscribers on Thursday. “We’re writing to inform you of an important update regarding Showmax,” the streaming platform said in the mail sent to its subscribers. “Following a comprehensive review, the Showmax Board has taken the decision to discontinue the Showmax service in the near future.” MultiChoice said the move is a reflection of its bid to “focus on strengthening our overall digital offering and ensuring long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive streaming…
THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised what it described as selective enforcement of the law in the handling of legal cases involving two of its prominent members, insisting that justice must be applied evenly and without political bias. In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC had been monitoring the ongoing cases involving former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. “The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has been monitoring the ongoing legal cases involving two of our leaders, Mr Abubakar Malami… and Mallam…
THE Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says the Federal Government is working to ensure the safety of Nigerians in the Middle East amid the crisis in the region. News Point Nigeria reports that NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, gave the assurance in a statement on Tuesday. The commission said Nigerian authorities are monitoring the situation and have received calls “from a few Nigerians in Qatar, UAE, and Iran enquiring about preparations for evacuations when it becomes necessary. “The fact of the matter is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working with all relevant agencies…
THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has officially commenced the sale of application documents for the 2026 Direct Entry programme. In an announcement posted on its official X account sighted by News Point Nigeria, JAMB stated that the registration “commenced today, Monday, 2nd March 2026 and will end by Saturday, 25th April 2026.” The board emphasised that the entire process, including the purchase of e-PINs and application document sales, is restricted exclusively to its accredited state and zonal offices across the country. Direct Entry allows candidates with relevant qualifications, such as National Diploma, National Certificate in Education, Interim Joint Matriculation…
THE National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued fresh guidelines regulating the award and use of honorary doctorates in Nigeria. In a public notice released on its official X page sighted by News Point Nigeria, the Commission said the guidelines were approved pursuant to its powers under the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, CAP E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The NUC expressed displeasure over what it described as the increasing incidence of indiscriminate conferment and misuse of such honours within the Nigerian university system. “The National Universities Commission (NUC), by virtue of the provisions…
A SENIOR lecturer at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Obhajajie Juliet Inegbedion, has said that open universities in the country must consider diverse learner profiles and adapt pedagogical approaches accordingly. According to a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the Director, Media and Publicity, NOUN, Dr. Ibrahim Sheme on Thursday, Inegbedion argued that addressing barriers in open education requires comprehensive planning and consideration of diverse learner needs. Inegbedion made this known at the NOUN’s 38th inaugural lecture titled, “Breaking Barriers: Planning and Expanding the Frontiers of the Open University”, which she delivered on Thursday, 26th February,…
NATIONAL President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria Dr Farouk Rabiu Mudi has charged Deputy Speaker Rt Honorable Benjamin Kalu not to be distracted by sponsored columnists and false analysts in the discharge of his duties to Nigerians. In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Garba to newsmen, Dr Mudi emphasize the need for members of the National Assembly to position agriculture and agribusiness at the heart of their legislation especially now that Deputy Speaker was honored as Legislative Farmers Father recently at it’s just concluded General Assembly of Farmers Congress meeting held recently in Abuja. He…
THE Executive Board of the African Council for Distance Education (ACDE) has approved the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Uduma Oji Uduma, as its 1st Vice-President and the also appointed the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Olufemi A. Peters, as its Goodwill Ambassador. According to a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the Director, Media and Publicity, NOUN, Dr. Ibrahim Sheme on Wednesday, the ACDE President, Professor Solomon Shibairo, conveyed the news in separate letters to Uduma and Peters dated February 17, 2026. In his letter to Uduma, the…
THE Federal Government has faulted the stance of the US Congress on “the persecution” of Christians. News Point Nigeria reports that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said this in a statement issued on Tuesday. “It is important to state clearly that Nigeria does not have, and has never had, a state policy of religious persecution,” the minister said. “The violence being confronted by our security agencies is not driven by government policy or religious bias, but by complex security threats, including terrorism, organised criminality, and longstanding communal tensions.” On Monday, the United States House Committees on…
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied claims that voters were migrated to new polling units during Saturday’s Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by its Acting Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, the Commission stated categorically that no voter was moved from their original polling unit. INEC explained that what it implemented ahead of Saturday’s election was the creation of split polling units in locations with more than 1,250 registered voters in order to reduce congestion on election day. According to the Commission, the split…
THE Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 318 cases of Lassa fever and 70 deaths across the country since the beginning of 2026. News Point Nigeria reports that the NCDC Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this in a press briefing on Friday. He said a total of 1,469 suspected cases have been recorded, giving a case fatality rate of 22 per cent. According to Idris, five states – Edo, Ondo, Taraba, Bauchi, and Ebonyi – account for 91 per cent of all confirmed cases. Ten local government areas make up 68…
THE West African Examinations Council has announced the release of results for the 2025 Second Series of the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination for private candidates, with performance declining by 11.47 percentage points compared to 2024. The release was contained in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Monday night by WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina. According to the council, 42.17 per cent of candidates obtained credit passes in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. This represents a drop from the 53.64 per cent recorded in 2024. In 2023, 44.29 per cent…
THE new Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, has identified six priority areas for his administration as he assumed office on Wednesday. These include strengthening of study centres, enhancing learner support systems, improving ICT and digital infrastructure, ensuring the integrity of e-examinations, promoting staff welfare, and sustaining quality assurance and accreditation standards. According to a statement by the Director, Media and Publicity, NOUN, Dr. Ibrahim Sheme, Uduma made the statement at a ceremony when his predecessor in office, Prof. Olufemi Ayinde Peters, handed over the baton of leadership to him as Vice-Chancellor for…
A GLOBAL analysis released this week by the World Health Organisation (WHO) says that up to four in every ten new cancer cases could be prevented through changes in behaviour, stronger policies, and public health action. The findings, published to coincide with World Cancer Day on February 4, 2026, draw on a Nature Medicine study that analysed data from 185 countries and 36 cancer types. According to the report, about 37% of the 18.7 million new cancer cases in 2022 were linked to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, infections, and lifestyle exposures. “The science is clear,” said Dr…