Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has conferred the national award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. President Tinubu announced the award during the Nigeria/India Bilateral meeting at the State House, Abuja on Sunday. He said that the award was bestowed on the Indian leader to signify the country’s appreciation and commitment to the Nigerian-Indian partnership. “I will confer on you today, the Prime Minister of India, Nigeria’s National Honor, the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger. This is to signify Nigerian appreciation and commitment to India as a partner,”…

FORMER President, Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigeria’s failing status under the reign of President Bola Tinubu is “confirmed and glaringly indicated and manifested for every honest person to see.” He labelled Tinubu as “Baba-go-slow and Emilokan.” A statement on Saturday by his Media Aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Saturday, quoted Obasanjo to have said this while delivering his keynote address at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, Yale University New Haven Connecticut, USA. “That’s the situation mostly in Nigeria in the reign of Baba-go-slow and Emilokan. The failing state status of Nigeria is confirmed and glaringly indicated and manifested for every honest person…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu will on Sunday receive Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for a state visit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. “Both leaders will exchange signed Memoranda of Understanding to enhance collaboration in critical sectors,” Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said on Saturday in a statement titled, ‘President Tinubu to host Indian PM in Abuja.’ Modi is scheduled to arrive on Saturday. Tinubu and Modi will seek to strengthen Nigeria’s and India’s ties further during their bilateral discussions. His visit to Nigeria will be the first by an Indian prime minister since Dr Manmohan…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Daniel Bwala as Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications (State House). Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, announced this in a statement, on Thursday. A former aide of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Bwala worked actively for his former principal who lost to Tinubu. However, after the elections, he worked his way into the camp of Tinubu, sparking controversy. Onanuga also announced the appointments of three directors-general of various agencies. They are: (1) Mr. Olawale Olopade —…

THE Federal Executive Council has approved a proposed national budget of ₦47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year. The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu. This was part of the Medium-Term Expenditures Framework, MTEF, for 2025 to 2027 and in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007. “And equally, the fiscal objectives were conservative, because we want to ensure that we study the course much as we believe the projections will be exceeded. The budget size that was…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after a one-day travel to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia for the just concluded extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit. Tinubu arrived at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Aiport, Abuja, around 8 pm on Tuesday. On ground to receive the President was the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and security heads, among others. Others were Ministers including Nyesom Wike (Federal Capital Territory); Wale Edun (Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy). The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, was also on hand to receive him. The summit, which was…

THE Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has assured Nigeria of support in its economic reform programmes. The assurance came when the Crown Prince and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met on Monday in Riyadh on the sidelines of the joint Arab-Islamic Summit. The two leaders explored potential areas for cooperation, particularly oil and gas, agriculture, infrastructure and the constitution of the Saudi-Nigeria Business Council. Nigeria wants an agreement with the Saudi government over a proposed $5 billion bilateral trade facility between the two countries. The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has honoured activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni eight, saying his government will address the historical grievances. The administration of a former Head of State late Sani Abacha executed Saro-Wiwa, and other activists 29 years ago, in 1995 to be precise after they were accused of murder. Others were Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine But in a Monday statement by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu promised to build a united nation. “The President reaffirmed that his administration will actively address historical grievances and work…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia called for an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, warning that “the conflict in Palestine has persisted for far too long, inflicting immeasurable suffering.”  Addressing the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit, convened to address the current situation in the Middle East, President Tinubu expressed deep concern on the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.  The one-day summit was a follow-up to the Riyadh summit last year, and was attended by Heads of State and Government of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States. Reiterating Nigeria’s call for an immediate ceasefire…

THE Federal Government, through the Office of the Head of Civil Service Commission, has accused ministries of conducting promotion exercises for special civil servants without following due process. A memo signed by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, which was sighted by News Point Nigeria, warned such ministries. It advised that cases of promotion for special deserving civil servants should be forwarded to the Federal Civil Service Commission. The memo was addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ministers, Heads of Departments, agencies such as the Economic…

THE 17 Brigade Commander of the Nigerian Army, Katsina State, Brigadier General Babatunde Omopariola, on Saturday, announced that doors are still open for bandits and violent extremists to surrender. He, however, advised anyone involved in the business of kidnapping to desist or else face the consequences. Brigadier General Omopariola was speaking when he handed over nine rescued victims of kidnapping to officials of the Katsina State Government in a brief ceremony held at the 17 Brigade Headquarters, Katsina. Omopariola, represented by the Brigade’s Chief of Staff, Colonel Yakubu Nwandiscas, explained that the Nigerian Army applied a nonkenetic approach in rescuing…

THE ruling All Progressives Congress has warned opposition parties in the country not to get too excited over the defeat of Kamala Harris, an incumbent vice president in the United States presidential election, saying President Bola Tinubu will sweep the poll again in 2027. Former President Donald Trump was announced as the winner of the US poll on Wednesday, defeating Harris in a stunning political comeback that sent shockwaves across the world. The 78-year-old business mogul became the 47th president and the oldest person ever to win the White House. Reacting, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu will leave Nigeria on Sunday to attend the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Saudi Arabia.  The event will begin in Riyadh on Monday with a focus on the situation in the Middle East. Tinubu’s attendance is at the invitation of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Sunday for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit, which will focus on the current situation in the Middle East,” presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said in a statement on Saturday. “The Summit will commence on Monday, November 11, 2024. It…

THE National Human Rights Commission has stated that, based on its investigation and the evidence before it, the Nigerian military did not orchestrate or carry out the termination of approximately 10,000 pregnancies in the North-East, as alleged in a Reuters report. Recall that Reuters, in a report published on December 7, 2022, titled “The Abortion Assault” with the subheading “Nigerian Military Ran Secret Mass Abortion Programme in War Against Boko Haram,” alleged that since 2013, the Nigerian military had been conducting a secret, systematic, and illegal abortion programme in the North-East, terminating at least 10,000 pregnancies of women and girls,…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has rescheduled the Federal Executive Council meeting till another date to be announced. Initially scheduled for today, the council meeting was postponed in honour of Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, who passed away on Tuesday night. This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday. General Lagbaja, whose death was earlier announced by the Presidency, served as the 27th Chief of Army Staff from June 19, 2023, till his death on November 5, 2024. President Tinubu also ordered flags to be…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has extended his heartfelt congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States of America.  A statement by Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday, said President Tinubu looks forward to strengthening the relations between Nigeria and the United States amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world. Donald Trump claimed victory on Wednesday and pledged to “heal” the country Wednesday as results put him on the verge of beating Kamala Harris in a stunning White House comeback. President Tinubu says, “Together, we…

CHIEF of Army Staf, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja is dead, News Point Nigeria can authoritatively report. Confirming  his death in a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Wednesday, said, Lagbaja passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness. According to the statement, throughout his service, Lt. General Lagbaja demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment, serving as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion. See full statement below: STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE Announcement of the Passing of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed…

VICE President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday advised the now-released minors earlier detained for their role in last August’s protest to turn a new leaf and build responsible futures. Addressing the minors at the State House Auditorium, Abuja, Shettima argued that President Bola Tinubu’s decision, made on humanitarian grounds despite evidence of wrongdoing, was an opportunity for personal reform. He encouraged them not to let themselves be drawn into violence or actions that could harm public and private property, noting that the protests had resulted in a N300bn economic loss. Shettima said, “The President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has sworn in seven newly-appointed ministers at the Council Chambers, Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.  Those sworn in include Nentawe Yilwatda as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as the Minister of Labour & Employment; Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the Minister of State Foreign Affairs. Others are Jumoke Oduwole (Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (Trade and Investment), Idi Mukhtar Maiha (Minister of Livestock Development), Yusuf Abdullahi Ata (Minister of State, Housing, and Urban Development), and Suwaiba Said Ahmad as the Minister of State Education. Monday’s swearing-in came days after their appointments…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu will swear in seven newly-appointed ministers on Monday. This is according to a Sunday statement from the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will swear in the new seven ministers tomorrow Monday. The Ministers are Dr Nentawe Yilwatda – Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi – Minister of Labour & Employment; Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu – Minister of State Foreign Affairs,” he said. “Others are Dr Jumoke Oduwole – Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (Trade and Investment), Idi Mukhtar Maiha – Minister of Livestock Development; Yusuf…