A FIRE outbreak occurred on Thursday at a multi-storey building housing a Polaris Bank branch on Broad Street in Lagos, triggering concern among residents, business owners, and passersby in the area. News Point Nigeria reports that videos shared on social media showed thick smoke billowing from the building as residents and business owners gathered around the scene to observe developments. Emergency responders, including firefighters, were immediately deployed to the location to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to adjoining buildings. As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire had yet to be determined.…
Author: Abimbola Daniels
Read More
LAGOS State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed an immediate escalation of waste-evacuation operations across the state following the recent build-up of refuse in several communities. News Point Nigeria reports that the directive has triggered the mobilisation of key environmental agencies, including the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), and the Ministry of Environment, to intensify sanitation activities in affected areas. As part of the emergency response, additional waste collection trucks and personnel have been deployed, while sanitation workers have commenced round-the-clock operations aimed at clearing accumulated refuse, restoring cleanliness, and normalising environmental conditions across…
THE Lagos State Police Command has apprehended a medical doctor, a traditional birth attendant and the parents of a newborn baby over the alleged sale of the child for N2.5 million. News Point Nigeria reports that the 28-year-old mother and her boyfriend allegedly decided not to keep the baby and subsequently sought individuals who could facilitate the sale of the child after birth. Investigators were told that the couple was linked to a prospective buyer in Ikorodu through intermediaries. According to findings, the pregnant woman was initially taken to a traditional birth attendant for delivery. However, complications during labour reportedly…
A 43-YEAR-OLD commercial bus driver, Joseph Okpe, has died after he was allegedly beaten by officers of the Nigerian Air Force following a dispute over a minor traffic incident involving their vehicle along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway in Lagos. News Point Nigeria learnt that the incident occurred on May 9, 2026, and details of the case were contained in an Affidavit of Facts filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in the Maitama Judicial Division. The document, which was made available to PUNCH Metro on Monday, alleged that the deceased was assaulted after a disagreement over damage to…
POLITICAL communications strategist, Laide James, has unveiled an ambitious civic media initiative aimed at creating what is projected to become Africa’s largest platform for direct dialogue between voters and political office seekers ahead of Nigeria’s next general elections. The initiative, which comes amid growing concerns over declining public trust in politics, is designed to provide Nigerians with long form conversations featuring presidential aspirants, governorship hopefuls, senatorial candidates, political party leaders, policy experts and other key public figures. Analysts note that the scale, structure and projected reach position the platform as the largest voter to candidate dialogue initiative in Africa, with…
NIGERIANS banks generated a combined N209.18 billion from account maintenance charges in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 14.07 per cent increase compared to the N183.37 billion recorded during the corresponding period of 2025, an analysis of the unaudited financial statements of 11 listed lenders has shown. The review also revealed that total fee and commission income rose significantly to N984.47 billion in Q1 2026 from N866.30 billion recorded in the same period of 2025, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 13.64 per cent. The figures were compiled from the first-quarter financial results of 11 of the 13 banks listed…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has accused beneficiaries of the former fuel subsidy regime and multiple foreign exchange system of being behind the growing insecurity and attempts to destabilise Nigeria following his administration’s economic reforms. Tinubu also revealed that powerful cabals benefiting from forex round-tripping and oil subsidy corruption now “wish him dead” because of the policies he introduced after assuming office in 2023. News Point Nigeria reports that the president spoke through former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, on Wednesday during the launch of the book The NADECO Story, written by Chief Ayo Opadokun, at the Muson Centre in Onikan, Lagos.…
AFRICA’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening diaspora engagement, advancing healthcare development in Nigeria through the introduction of its healthcare investment proposition to the Nigerian-American medical community at the 2026 ANPA Carolinas Symposium held in Charlotte, North Carolina. The ANPA Carolinas Symposium, hosted annually by the South Carolina and North Carolina Chapters of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), convenes over 170 physicians and healthcare professionals for medical and scientific dialogue on issues impacting communities across North America, the Caribbean, and Africa, particularly among people of Nigerian descent. Speaking…
FEMI Otedola, chairman of First HoldCo, has revealed plans to invest $100 million in the Dangote Refinery. News Point Nigeria reprots that Otedola made the announcement on Wednesday after leading top executives of First HoldCo on a visit to the refinery. The development comes barely a week after the billionaire businessman denied reports claiming he funded the Dangote Petroleum Refinery project. At the time, Otedola clarified in a post on X that he had not invested any money in the refinery, insisting that he had not contributed “a single kobo, dollar, or naira” to the project. The Dangote Group had…
TRIBEST Corporate Service Group has announced the appointment of seasoned human resources and corporate administration expert, as Group Executive Director, in a strategic move aimed at strengthening the Group’s leadership capacity and accelerating its growth across its manpower, outsourcing, and energy support businesses. The appointment comes as Tribest Corporate Support Group continues to deepen its position as a leading provider of recruitment, outsourcing, workforce management, and energy support solutions for organizations across Nigeria. With over 35 years of professional experience spanning banking, manufacturing, oil servicing, and public sector operations, Abel Fadebi brings to the Board a wealth of leadership expertise…
UNITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Africa’s economic transformation through entrepreneurship, innovation, trade facilitation, and strategic global partnerships at the Africa Forward Summit 2026 held in Nairobi, Kenya. The Summit, themed “Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,” convened Heads of State, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from across Africa and Europe to explore sustainable pathways for economic growth, industrialisation, and stronger cross-border collaboration. Speaking at the Summit, Emmanuel Macron emphasised the need for a renewed partnership between Africa and France anchored on innovation, investment, and shared prosperity. “Africa and France are equal partners…
THE Nigeria Customs Service has handed over several stolen luxury vehicles traced to Canada after intercepting them at the Tin Can Island Port, in what officials described as a major breakthrough against transnational vehicle theft syndicates. News Point Nigeria reports that the recovered vehicles, which included exotic brands such as Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz, were formally handed over to Canadian authorities during a ceremony held at the Tin Can Island Port on Monday, May 4, 2026. The Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Nasser Salihou, received the vehicles from the Customs Area Controller of the Tin Can Island Command,…
UNITED Bank for Africa (UBA), Redtech, and MoMo PSB have launched a payment interoperability partnership that expands cardless payment access for consumers and merchants across Nigeria. Redtech is backed by Heirs Holdings; MoMo PSB is MTN Nigeria’s fintech subsidiary. With this development, MoMo PSB customers can now make payments directly from their MoMo wallets at participating UBA merchant locations using the “Pay with MoMo” feature on RedPay POS terminals; they can also visit any UBA branch to make withdrawals and deposits from and into their MoMo accounts. For online shoppers, e-commerce merchants can now receive payments directly from MoMo PSB…
THE coroner sitting at the JIC Taylor Courthouse, Lagos Island, has suspended the hearing into the cause of death of 21-month-old Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of renowned author Chimamanda Adichie and Ivara Esege. News Point Nigeria reports that the coroner, Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji, said she’s suspending the proceedings pending further directives from the chief coroner, Justice Mojisola Dada. Before suspending the proceedings, however, Magistrate Adetunji queried the Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lawal Pedro, for stalling the proceedings of the day in her courtroom. When the matter was called for hearing, Magistrate Adetunji was informed…
ZENITH Bank Plc has announced the retirement of its Founder and Group Chairman, Jim Ovia, following the expiration of his tenure in line with regulatory requirements. The bank disclosed this in a corporate notice made available to News Point Nigeria in Lagos on Tuesday. Ovia completed the mandatory 12-year tenure permitted under corporate governance guidelines for financial holding companies, non-interest banks, and payment service banks in Nigeria. As the founder of Zenith Bank, he has been a central figure in its growth trajectory and was credited by the Board for providing strong leadership, strategic direction, and effective oversight throughout his…
UNITED Bank for Africa has dismissed as false, malicious and defamatory reports circulating on social media alleging that its Group Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu, divorced his wife. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the Group Head, Brand, Marketing & Corporate Communication, Alero Ladipo, UBA described the reports and related online publications as entirely fabricated, reckless and deliberately designed to mislead the public while causing reputational damage to the prominent businessman and the financial institution. According to the statement, the bank’s attention had been drawn to what it called a coordinated campaign of falsehood currently being circulated across…
GOVERNOR Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved a N50,000 wage award for public sector workers in Lagos State. The governor announced the award on Friday during the International Workers’ Day celebration held at Mobolaji Johnson Arena. Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, said the award would apply for the month of May as part of efforts to cushion the impact of rising cost of living. “For the month of May, Lagos State Government has approved an additional N50,000 for all workers. “We are aware of prevailing economic challenges, including increasing fuel prices and global pressure. This decision is to…
THE pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) are nearing N1,400 per litre in many parts of the country as the United States and Iran continue to disagree over a ceasefire expected to lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. News Point Nigeria reports that the lingering crisis in the Middle East, combined with the reported exit of the United Arab Emirates from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Tuesday, has continued to push global oil prices upward, with direct consequences for fuel prices in Nigeria. Brent crude, which traded at $105 per barrel on…
THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Wednesday said its operatives seized a total of 2,360,000 pills of tramadol 225mg and 1,909,400 bottles of codeine syrup worth a combined street value of over N16.9 million from an illegal warehouse in Lagos. A statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the Agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, noted that the feat was achieved during an operation on Friday, 17th April 2026, at 98 Olukayode Awofisayo Street, Park View Estate, Ago Palace, Okota, where a large warehouse was uncovered, and two others at 5 Charles Ndumetu Street, Park View Estate, Ago…
DESPITE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of a 30 per cent debt relief for domestic carriers, Nigeria’s aviation sector is facing a looming shutdown, as airline operators warn they may halt operations from Thursday, April 30, 2026, over soaring aviation fuel prices. News Point Nigeria gathered that the dual developments, government intervention and industry resistance underscore a deepening crisis, with airlines insisting that the relief measures fall short of addressing the fundamental challenge of skyrocketing Jet A1 fuel costs. There are strong indications that domestic airlines may suspend operations nationwide, a move that could trigger widespread travel disruption and uncertainty…