Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

THE Federal Government has concluded plans to sell a 50kg bag of rice at N40,000 to public servants with a view to alleviating the food crisis in the nation and its effects on Nigerians. This was disclosed in a letter sighted by News Point Nigeria from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, which was signed by the Director of Human Resources of the Ministry, Jaiyesimi Abimbola. The letter said all interested staff members were to complete a Google form on the OHCSF website and submit it to the director of human resources for endorsement. It noted that…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has postponed this week’s Federal Executive Council to an undisclosed date, and will instead meet with service chiefs. The meeting is expected to have in attendance the vice president, the national security adviser, all service chiefs, the inspector general of police, the comptroller generals of customs, and immigration, and the chief of staff to the president. Sources close to the matter told News Point Nigeria on condition of anonymity, that the urgent meeting with security chiefs may not be unconnected to the ongoing nationwide hunger and hardship protests. Reports indicate that Nigerians, mostly youths, are regrouping across…

THE Federal Government has released N570bn to the 36 states to expand livelihood support to their citizens, President Bola Tinubu announced on Sunday. He also revealed that Nigeria spends N2tn monthly to import Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil, otherwise known as diesel. Tinubu stated this during his nationwide broadcast to Nigerians, as he disclosed that N9.1tn was accumulated as total fiscal revenue to the Federal Government’s coffers during the first half of 2024, marking a significant increase from what was earned by the previous administration. “Also, more than N570bn has been released to the 36…

BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY BOLA AHMED TINUBU, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE NATIONWIDE PROTEST DATE: SUNDAY 4TH AUGUST 2024 My fellow Nigerians,  1. I speak to you today with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility, aware of the turmoil and violent protests unleashed in some of our states. 2. Notably among the protesters were young Nigerians who desired a better and more progressive country where their dreams, hopes, and personal aspirations would be fulfilled. 3. I am especially pained by the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano,…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu will address Nigerians on the nationwide protests, according to presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale. The nationwide broadcast will be on Sunday (tomorrow), August 4th 2024, at 7 am. “Television, radio, and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to plug into the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) for the broadcast.,” Ajuri said in a Saturday statement. See full statement below: PRESIDENT TINUBU TO ADDRESS THE NATION President Bola Tinubu will address the nation in a broadcast on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at 7:00 am. Television, radio, and other…

THE Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu says President Bola Tinubu is monitoring the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country. Nigeria’s recent protests are owing to the high cost of living, worsened by the floating of the naira and the stoppage of fuel subsidy removal by the Tinubu administration. Although there have been calls for Tinubu to address the nation after the demonstrations entered the third day – petering out though – the president is yet to do that. However, Bagudu, said the Nigerian leader is well aware of the situation. “Mr President has been monitoring the situation, as…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said his administration is undertaking bold economic policies to propel Nigeria’s economy out of the downturn occasioned by multiple shocks in the global economy. He also called for global cooperation among African countries to tackle their shared economic challenges and take advantage of opportunities. The President spoke on Friday when he declared open the 2024 African Caucus Meeting at the Transcorp Hotel, Abuja. Tinubu’s remarks are coming on the back of protests against harship which started on Thursday across the country. He noted that although Africa was grappling with “numerous challenges across economic, humanitarian and…

ECONOMIC activities are beginning to gather pace in states like Sokoto, Taraba, Adamawa, Kebbi following the first day of the hunger protest across Nigeria. But in cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt in Rivers State, and Benin City in Edo State among others, the protests have continued as the demonstrators demand for the betterment of the harsh economy. In Lagos State, the protesters gathered in Ojota. Security operatives were on the ground to ensure a hitch-free exercise. The state’s Commissioner for Information Gbenga Omotosho addressed them and assured them that the government would address their demands. It was a similar situation…

THE Senate on Wednesday passed a bill to increase the percentage of Ways and Means loans the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) can give to the Federal Government. The upper chamber of the Nigerian legislature raised the credit facility obtainable by the Federal Government from the apex bank from 5% to 10%. Known as the Ways and Means, the apex bank offers short-term financing to the Federal Government to cover its budget shortfalls. To do this, the Senate amended the CBN Act to increase the total CBN advances (loans) to the Federal Government. The bill for the amendment of the…

AHEAD of the planned nationwide protest billed to start August 1, the Federal Government has declared all its 256 custodial centres across the country as “red zones” whose sanctity must not be violated under any guise. The Controller General of Corrections (CGC) Hailey Nababa gave the warning in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja. “In view of the purported national protest scheduled to be held on the first day of August 2024, the Nigerian Correctional Service wishes to inform the public that the Custodial Centres have been designated as red zones; therefore, any person or group of persons who…

SENATE President Godswill Akpabio has warned against the nationwide protest over hardship, claiming some people who lost elections may take advantage of it. He spoke at the State House in Abuja on Monday after President Bola Tinubu signed the new minimum wage bill into law. “People who probably do not have their fortunes in the 2023 election are thinking they can come through the back door, and that will amount to anarchy,” he said. “It’s very clear that people who are behind this are very amorphous, very faceless. So what it means is that people are preparing to loot and…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to sell crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other local refineries in naira and not in United States greenback. Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) boss Zack Adedeji disclosed after a FEC meeting chaired by President inubu in Abuja on Monday. He said the measure would reduce the strain on the country’s foreign spendings and stabilise the pump price of petrol, diesel and other products in Nigeria. Adedeji said FEC ordered that the state-owned NNPCL immediately begin the full implementation of the directive to boost local production of…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has signed the minimum wage bill into law, ending months of deliberations between government authorities, labour unions, and the private sector.  News Point Nigeria reports that the President signed it at the State House in Abuja on Monday days after the National Assembly had passed the bill. A National Assembly delegation led by the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio and some members of the House of Representatives were around to witness the ground-breaking event. Following the signing, the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters Basheer Lado said the move is a promise kept. “The…

THE Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has called for an emergency meeting of the Senate. A circular seen by News Point Nigeria and signed by the Clerk, Chinedu Akubueze on Monday, said the meeting was of “National Importance”. The internal circular did not give further details on the emergency meeting. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, just one day before the commencement of the nationwide planned protest against hunger and hardship. The memo wrote, “Dear Distinguished Senators, the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, has directed that an emergency plenary sitting of…

AHEAD of the planned nationwide protest, the Minister of Education Tahir Mamman has directed vice-chancellors of universities to take proactive steps to ensure the security and safety of the university community, including staff and students. A Monday statement by the acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Chris Maiyaki asked vice-chancellors to issue specific statements to assure staff and students of their safety. “Consequently, the Honourable Minister has directed that Vice-Chancellors of all Nigerian Universities should take proactive steps to ensure the security and safety of the university community, including staff and students,” the statement read. “In addition,…

AHEAD of the planned #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest in August, human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has asked the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to probe telecommunication operators’ alleged disconnection of subscribers. In a statement on Sunday, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria warned that telcos should not attempt to sabotage the forthcoming protest against economic hardship in Nigeria by restricting internet access among displeased citizens. “For the past few days, some telecom companies have been disconnecting their subscribers for flimsy and untenable reasons. Some allege lack of NIN registration or linking while some didn’t give any reason at all,” Adegboruwa said. “This action…

THE House of Representatives has vowed to call for the sack of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, if he continues to work against the smooth operation of the Dangote Refinery. Deputy spokesman of the House, Philip Agbese, disclosed this on Saturday while briefing journalists in Abuja, the nation’s capital. This is just as the Benue lawmaker stated that the legislative body had already expressed support for the call for the sack of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Mr Farouk Ahmed. According to the…

IFEANYI Ubah, Senator representing Anambra South district in the National Assembly, is dead. Senator Ubah was said to have departed Nigeria for the UK, two days ago. The politician and businessman died in the United Kingdom. A close family source said he died in a UK hospital where he went for an operation. He would have been 53 on September 3. Ubah had defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) last year. He was later re-elected into the 10th Senate under the YPP. The late Senator was billed to seek APC’s ticket ahead…

FILLING stations in Abuja and neighbouring states of Niger, Nasarawa, and Kogi, were shut on Friday as oil marketers expressed worry over the planned nationwide protest. Retail outlets, including those operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited in Kubwa, Salbas Oil, Eterna, and Gegu Oil, among others located on the Kubwa-Zuba expressway, stopped dispensing fuel. The same scene was also witnessed inside Abuja and parts of Niger and Nasarawa states. Oil marketers told our correspondent that filling stations in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, were also shut. The development led to fuel queues resurfacing in outlets dispensing fuel like…

THE Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Friday said it is a time to solve problems and not protest as the Federal Government announced its participation in the Grand Challenges Nigeria project, a global health initiative aimed at combating malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria. He stated this during a high-level meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Shettima emphasised the need for constructive action over protest even as he acknowledged the hardship being faced by Nigerians due to recent economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies. This was disclosed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President…