Author: Binta Kabir

GOVERNOR Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has ordered the immediate “general” renovation of the first residence of former President Shehu Shagari which was razed by fire last weekend. The governor gave the directive Monday in a statement by his press secretary, Abubakar Bawa, shortly after an inspection visit to the resident alongside Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko to assess the level of damage. He described the fire as an unfortunate, catastrophic incident that attempted to deface the historic building. In a related development, Bawa, says the governor has also approved the constitution of a committee to assess the level of damage…

ONE person has been rescued from the partial collapse of a building under construction in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. It was gathered that the incident occurred on Saturday in the Central Business District, beside Taj Bank in the nation’s capital. This was disclosed in a statement by the spokesperson of the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Nkechi Isa, who said the agency was informed about the collapse one hour after the construction workers “unsuccessfully tried to rescue their trapped colleague to no avail”. It is, however, unclear the cause of the partial collapse of the building.…

THE Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned consumers against possible increase in fake online stores to scam them during the ‘Black Friday’ sales. A statement by Mr Babatunde Irukera, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Thursday in Abuja, said the FCCPC received credible intelligence that fake online stores would increase by 135 percent. Irukera advised consumers to be vigilant and discerning this period adding that they should demand and insist on their rights, particularly with respect to full and transparent disclosures. According to him, consumers should only patronise trusted and credible platforms and exercise caution to…

JUSTICE James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja has dismissed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)’s motion seeking an order setting aside its judgement restraining the commission from imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country. Delivering Judgement, Justice Omotosho dismissed all the grounds put forward by the NBC, describing same as an afterthought. Justice Omotosho held that despite being served with the originating process and hearing notices in the case leading to the judgment, the commission failed to file its defence. The judge said contrary to the NBC’s argument that it was not served with court processes that led…

A COALITION of Civil Society Groups in Nasarawa State has  congratulated the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engnr Abdullahi A Sule over his victory at the Court of Appeal. The group in a press statement signed by its Coordinator, Ogbu Francisca Esq and Director of Mobilisation Bulus Musa hailed the Judgement of the Appeal Court describing it as a true reflection of the wishes of the people of Nasarawa State. The group further hailed the judgement of the Appeal Court, which nullified and reversed the judgment of the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Tribunal that ordered for the sack of Gov…

COALITION of Civil Society Groups in Nasarawa State has called on the Appeal Court which will be hearing the Appeal filed by Governor A A Sule of the All Progressives Congress against David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP to dismiss the judgement of the Tribunal which it described as totally flawed. According to a statement signed by Spokerperson of the Coalition, Olatubosin Taiwo, Monday,  it is sad that the tribunal resorted to technicalities rather than reality in making their decision hence the split votes that necessitated a minority interpretation of the judgment. The group which comprises of Women…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the Saudi-Africa Summit scheduled to be held on Friday. At the Middle-East nation, the Nigerian leader was received by ministers, members of the National Assembly as well as other government functionaries at the airport. Tinubu will use the opportunity of the summit to underscore Nigeria’s commitment to attracting more foreign direct investment and expanding business partnerships. According to the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, the visit would strongly reinforce the administration’s ongoing domestic economic reforms. Discussions at the first Saudi-Africa Summit will revolve around supporting joint action, enhancing political coordination, and…

THE Federal Government, on Monday, revealed that more than N4.3tn worth of crude oil was stolen in 7,143 pipeline vandalism cases within a period of five years. It disclosed this at the Nigeria International Pipeline Technology and Security Conference in Abuja, with the theme, ‘Bolstering Regulations, Technology and Security for Growth.’ The conference was organised by the Pipeline Professionals Association of Nigeria. In a presentation at the conference by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a Federal Government agency, the organisation revealed that oil theft and losses in Nigeria had become a national emergency. The Executive Secretary, NEITI, Ogbonnaya Orji,…

THE Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr Ado Ibrahim, is dead. He died at the early hours of Sunday, according to palace sources. He was 94. Palace sources told our correspondent in Lokoja the he died in an Abuja hospital where he had been receiving treatment for age-related ailment. He would be buried later on Sunday according to Islamic rites at Okene, the headquarters of Ebira kingdom. The Kogi State top monarch was born on February 7, 1929 and he ascended the throne on June 2, 1997. Dr Ibrahim was the fourth paramount traditional ruler of Ebiraland. He was a frontline businessman…

THE Senate has said it will summon the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) over the lack of funds to explore and develop new frontier acreages. The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, disclosed this to journalists after a closed-door session with the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe and his team. The Petroleum Industry Act 2021 introduced the Frontier Exploration Fund to support exploration and development in Nigeria’s frontier acreages These areas include regions like Anambra, Dahomey, Bida, Sokoto, Chad, and Benue where hydrocarbon exploration is yet to…

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has appointed Mr Olufemi Oladapo Soneye as its Chief Corporate Communications Officer. In a statement on Wednesday, the oil giant described Soneye as a seasoned journalist with full-time and freelance experience at some of the world’s most respected publications in Nigeria, Australia, and the United States of America. It stated that he “will lead our Corporate Communications team and drive our brand penetration, strategic communications initiatives, and stakeholder management.” “He is a member of reputable bodies, including the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Society of Professional Journalists,…

THE Federal Government has pleaded with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) not to sell food items distributed to them. The plea was made in Kwara State during the distribution of food items to some affected IDPs in the state. It was gathered that no fewer than 100 households at the weekend benefitted from the exercise. Items distributed include; rice, garri, semo, spaghetti, vegetable oil and salt among others. The ceremony was held at the Federal Secretariat Ilorin; Federal Commissioner National Commission for Refugees; Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons. Federal Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally…

IN the quest to finding solutions to challenges in the Power Sector, Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu on Wednesday met with the management teams of power Generating companies (GENCOs) and the Distribution companies (DISCOs), urging them to improve on their performance. A statement by Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser,  Strategic Communication and Media Relations quoted the Minister as saying the meeting was a fact finding meeting towards finding lasting solutions to the challenges in the power sector that have affected the growth and development of the country’s economy. The Minister said meeting with all the stakeholders in generating, transmitting and…

THE Federal Government has approved the appointment of doctors, nurses, and other clinical healthcare workers as contract staff after attaining their compulsory retirement age or years. The government, however, said the appointed contract staff would be on the same salary scale level that they retired on if they desire and deserve it. A circular obtained by News Point Nigeria, dated October 5, 2023, by the Federal Ministry of Health, directed the Chief Executive Agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools to ensure compliance with the circular earlier issued by the Office of the Head…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission on Saturday denied claims of either withdrawing from or abandoning the appeal process of the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal judgment. On September 20, the court sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who was the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate in the March 18 election, declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, as the winner. But Yusuf vowed to appeal the judgment, which he described as a “misapplication of the law”. However, in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, INEC stressed its position…

THE Senate has confirmed three ministerial nominees, Jamila Ibrahim (Kwara State); Balarabe Lawal (Kaduna State); and Ayodele Olawande (Ondo State), in addition to the 45 approved by the Red Chamber in August. This comes a day after President Bola Tinubu wrote to the Senate, seeking its confirmation of the nominees. This newspaper had reported that Mr Balarabe from Kaduna collapsed at the Senate chamber when he appeared before the senators. Balarabe, who was the second nominee to be screened after Dr Jamila, collapsed more than 15 minutes into his screening exercise. Standing on the podium, he collapsed when Kaduna South…

ORGANISED labour and the Federal Government finally came to an agreement on Monday evening after an hours-long meeting, leading to a 30-day suspension of the nationwide indefinite strike action scheduled for the next month. Read the full memorandum of understanding below: MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REACHED BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) AND TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA (TUC) AS A RESULT OF DISPUTE ARISING FROM WITHDRAWAL OF SUBSIDY ON THE PRICE OF PREMIUM MOTOR SPIRIT (PMS) ON MONDAY, THE 2ND DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023 Arising from the withdrawal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit…

TO avert a nationwide strike on October 3, the Federal Government is meeting with organised labour at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The meeting at the instance of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, is being attended by some ministers. Last Tuesday, the organised labour comprising the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) announced their decision to commence an indefinite strike on October 3. The unions also asked their state chapters to mobilize for protests across the country after resolving their differences that…

SENATOR Abdullahi Adamu, former National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has spoken about a conversation he had with President Bola Tinubu after he resigned earlier in the year. Adamu, who emerged as the national chairman at the party’s convention in March 2022, had voluntarily stepped down during a crisis which rocked the party after Tinubu’s emergence. This newspaper had reported how Adamu distanced himself from the choice of the principal officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, describing the news of their appointment as a rumour. Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the…

THE Kaduna Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has declared the governorship election in the state held on March, 18 as inconclusive. In a split decision of a ratio of 2:1, the three-man tribunal panel led by Justice Victor Oviawe declared the election inconclusive and directed that a supplementary election should be held by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within 90 days. INEC is to conduct election in seven wards, four local govts, 24 polling units consisting of 16,300 registered voters. News Point Nigeria reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is challenging the election of Uba Sani as the Governor…