Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu will on Monday, August 21, 2023, swear in his ministers. The event is billed to hold at the State House Conference, Aso villa in Abuja by 10am. A statement on Wednesday by the Director, Information Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey said the ministers are allowed to come with two guests each. It partly read, “The swearing-in ceremony by the President is as follows: Date: Monday, August 21, 2023 Venue: State House Conference Centre, Aso Villa, Abuja. Time: 10:00 AM “Honourable Ministers to be sworn in are expected to come with…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appointed immediate-past governors of Rivers and Ebonyi states, Nyesom Wike and Dave Umahi, as Ministers of FCT and Minister of Works, respectively. The president has also appointed the former Jigawa state governor, Abubakar Badaru as Minister of Defence, and Hannatu Musawa as Minister of Arts and Creative Industry. Others include Lateef Fagbemi, SAN as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, while former Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, will serve as Minister of Transportation. See the full list below: Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani Minister of State, Environment and Ecological…

THE Department of State Services, DSS, on Wednesday issued a security alert stating that there’s a grand plot by bandits to attack the Abuja-Kaduna train link anytime from now. This newspaper recalls that on 28 March 2022, an Abuja–Kaduna train was attacked in Katari, Kaduna State, Nigeria. In response, the Nigeria Railway Corporation briefly halted operations along the route. But in this fresh development, the DSS has issued a security alert cautioning train passengers to be extra careful in a memo sent to MD of NRC. In the leaked letter signed by DSS Director FCT Command, R.N. Adepemu entitled: Security…

THE Federal Government will on Thursday arraign suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and his associates for N6.9 billion procurement fraud at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja. Emefiele will be arraigned alongside a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro and her company, April1616 Investment Limited on 20 charges of procurement fraud, conspiracy and conferring corrupt advantages on his associates. The embattled apex bank chief, who has been in detention since he was suspended from office on June 9, 2023, was accused of conferring corrupt advantages on Yaro, a director in April 1616 Investment Ltd.…

BANDITS have claimed responsibility for the Monday’s surveillance helicopter crash in Badna, Chukuba ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. The Nigeria Air Force had said its MI-171 helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed on Monday near Chukuba village in Niger State and that investigation had commenced to determine the probable cause of the incident. But bandits, in a two-minute-and-seventeen-second video, on Tuesday claimed they brought down the jet using AK47 rifle. This newspaper fact check team used different tools to verify the video which returned with no similar search. This means that the video is new…

THE presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who flew the flag of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the February 25 presidential election, had a secret meeting at Kwankwaso’s residence in Abuja, News Point Nigeria can report. At the centre of the discussion, News Point Nigeria understands is a potential move for a merger and state of affairs in the country as well as Nigeria’s involvement in the Niger Republic political impasse. This newspaper gathered that, the meeting also discussed some judicial matters of the Tinubu/Atiku tribunal case, issues around current…

FORMER governor of Rivers State and a Minister designate, Nyesom Wike, visited the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Gnaduje, in Abuja, on Tuesday. Wike, who worked against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 election, has repeatedly denied plotting to join the ruling party. During a thanksgiving service organised in his honour shortly after he handed over power in Rivers, Governor Simi Fubara asked Wike not to abandon him if he ends up in the ruling party. “While we are seeing sign that it’s like you want to go…

THE Federal Government has applied to withdraw the illegal possession of firearms charge it filed against suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, at the Federal High Court in Lagos. The judge had on July 25, admitted Emefiele to a N20million bail on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions. But the Department of State Services (DSS) rearrested him after a clash with prison officials. On Tuesday, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed…

PETROL yesterday sold for N650 per litre in Borno, Oyo and Delta States against the current official price of N617. Marketers had recently said the product would sell for between N680/litre and N720/litre in the coming weeks should the naira continue to fall at the parallel market. Reports had also said the landing cost of petrol had risen month-on-month, by 37.4 percent to N632.17 per litre in July 2023, from N460 per litre in June 2023. In Maiduguri, Borno State Capital, the product yesterday sold between N625 and N655 at some private stations; and N635 at the NNPC Mega station.…

A NIGERIAN Air Force MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed on Monday near Chukuba Village in Niger State. NAF spokesman, Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the accident in a statement made available to News Point Nigeria, Monday. The accident happened at about 1pm and the number of persons onboard or their state were unknown as of press time. “The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School enroute Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. “Efforts are currently ongoing to rescue the crew and passengers on board the helicopter, while…

THE Organised Labour has vowed to proceed with a total, comprehensive and indefinite nationwide shutdown of the country, should there be another increase in Petrol Pump price from the existing 617 naira, which it describes as “illegal”. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, gave the notification on Monday, at the African Trade Union alliance meeting in Abuja, where organised labour also warned against undermining the demands of the union. News Point Nigeria had earlier reported that oil marketers on Sunday indicated that the cost of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, would rise to between N680/lite and N720/litre in the coming weeks…

DESPITE giving ECOWAS an invitation for dialogue, the coup leaders in Niger Republic have vowed late Sunday to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason” and further slammed West African leaders for imposing sanctions on the country. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the coup and has not ruled out using force against the army officers who toppled the democratically elected Bazoum on July 26. The West African bloc has approved the deployment of a “standby force to restore constitutional order” in Niger as soon as possible but remains committed…

OIL marketers, on Sunday, indicated that the cost of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, would rise to between N680/litre and N720/litre in the coming weeks should the dollar continue to trade from N910 to N950 at the parallel market. They also hinted that dealers seeking to import PMS were being forced to put the plans on hold due to the scarcity of foreign exchange to import the commodity. The warning came barely one week after the local currency crossed the N900/dollar ceiling, with the naira selling at over 945/dollar at the parallel market on Friday. Oil dealers said the…

GENERAL Abdourahmane Tchiani, leader of the Niger junta, has said the military is ready for dialogue. Since his gang overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, Tchiani’s regime has shunned several peaceful overtures. But speaking during a meeting with Islamic scholars from Nigeria, Tichani was quoted to have said doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter. This newspaper had reported how Islamic scholars led by Bala Lau, Chairman of Jam’atul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, met with the junta in Niger’s capital on Saturday. In a statement Lau issued after the meeting, he said his delegation…

FOLLOWING the dissolution of boards of agencies by the President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has set up an ad hoc committee to review the resumes of individuals who will fill board appointments, this newspaper gathered. The ad hoc committee is currently being co-chaired by a former governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, and a former governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru. Our correspondent gathered that the two ex-governors were working hand in hand to achieve a timely submission of names so as to ensure an early resumption of new…

THE Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed calls from certain quarters that the military interfere in the democratic process in Nigeria. The military high command under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa again pledged loyalty to the “constitutional authority” of President Bola Tinubu, saying that it will not be distracted from its roles that are well defined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended). This reaction came on the heels of calls by some Nigerians that the military should step into the country’s leadership position owing to the perceived failure of democratic governments. But in a statement…

SENATOR Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central says the Senate told President Bola Tinubu to rule out war as part of moves to restore democracy in the Niger Republic. Senator Ningi, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday monitored by News Point Nigeria, said there must be a joint sitting of the National Assembly before the Nigerian Armed Forces could be deployed for war anywhere. “He has the right to ask (for permission) but the Constitution has stipulated some conditions. For him to ask the Nigerian Armed Forces to go into a war there needs to be…

FORMER governor of Kaduna State, Nasiru El-Rufa’i, has jetted out of the country after withdrawing his interest in ministerial appointment, this newspaper can confirm. A credible source told this newspaper that El-Rufai was off to Europe, but will be in Egypt first. The senate had last week approved the appointment of 45 out of the 48 ministerial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu. El-Rufai, and two other nominees; Stella Okotete (Delta) and Danladi Abubakar (Taraba) were not confirmed as the senate said they were awaiting security clearance about them. This newspaper had reported how Sunday Karimi, senator representing Kogi west,…

NIGER’s Coup Leaders have threatened to kill ousted President Mohamed Bazoum if neighbouring countries attempt any military intervention to reinstate him by ECOWAS. According to a report by The Associated Press on Friday, two “Western officials” said the putschists issued the threat while speaking to a top U.S. diplomat. This came shortly before the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it had directed the deployment of a “standby force” to restore democracy in Niger, after its deadline of Sunday to restore Bazoum’s government expired. The threat to the deposed president raises the stakes both for ECOWAS and for…

THE Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has ordered its standby force to restore constitutional order in NIger Republic. News Point Nigeria reports that, the President of ECOWAS, Omar Alieu Touray made the declaration while reading the resolution of ECOWAS on the Niger coup at the ECOWAS Extraordinary meeting in Abuja on Thursday. It also called on the African Union, AU, partner countries and institutions to support the resolution taken by the sub-regional body. ECOWAS said all efforts made to dialogue with Niger Republic military junta have been defiantly rejected by coup leaders as they condemn continuous detention of…