Author: Khadija Abubakar

THE naira has strengthened sharply in recent weeks, reaching one of its strongest levels in nearly two years, even as rising foreign portfolio inflows increase the risk of investor profit-taking later in the year, according to a macro update by CardinalStone. News Point Nigeria reports that according to the report, the naira has witnessed a steep appreciation in the official market (+6.9 per cent year to date), reaching one of the strongest levels of the past two years (1,347.78/$ on Monday), which indicates improved liquidity conditions in the official foreign-exchange window. However, the spread between the official and parallel markets…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission has reported a surge in voter registrations during the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise, with over 1.2 million Nigerians completing the process in the second phase as of February 13, 2026. According to an official update released by INEC via its X handle on Thursday sighted by News Point Nigeria, a total of 1,228,648 eligible citizens have fully completed registration under Phase II, Week Six. This marks an increase from the 884,737 recorded at the end of Week Five. The breakdown shows that 673,124 individuals began with online pre-registration, while 555,524 completed the process physically…

THREE South Africans have been charged in court for allegedly killing a 22-year-old Nigerian Bolt driver, Isaac Satlat, in Pretoria West. The suspects, Dikeledi Tears Mphela (24), Goitsione Machidi (25), and McClaren Mushwana (30) appeared before the Pretoria magistrates’ court on Monday. Disclosing this in a statement sighted by News Point Nigeria on Tuesday, the South African National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the suspects were facing charges of premeditated murder and robbery. The agency said the suspects abandoned their bail application, adding that the case has been adjourned to February 23 for further investigations. Advertisement “It is alleged that on…

THIRTY-ONE people have died from Lassa fever in five weeks, according to the latest data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). News Point Nigeria in its situation report on Monday, the agency said there were over 754 suspected cases reported, out of which 165 were confirmed. Among those affected were nine health workers. “Cumulatively, as at week five 2026, 31 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.8 per cent, which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2025 (19.6 per cent). “In total for 2026, nine states have recorded at…

FORMER Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that he could be arrested by the Federal Government following the detention of some of his close associates, even as he confirmed plans to return to Nigeria within 48 hours and appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Speaking during an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday monitored by News Point Nigeria, El-Rufai claimed that recent developments suggest he may be the next target in what he described as growing political intimidation against opposition figures. “Four people we worked together with in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only…

MARYAM Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN) has commended one of its academic staff members, Maimuna Umar Zarewa, for achieving a major scientific breakthrough with the development of a smart robotic corrosion detection system during her advanced research programme in Saudi Arabia. The innovation was developed at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia, where Zarewa is currently engaged in high-level research focused on cutting-edge applications of chemistry, robotics and artificial intelligence. President of the MAAUN Group of Universities, Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, lauded the achievement, describing it as a landmark contribution to applied chemistry, sustainable…

FATIMA Radda, the wife of Katsina State Governor, on Wednesday donated N10 million to cancer patients at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, as part of World Cancer Day celebrations. News Point Nigeria reports that the event, themed “United By Unique: Placing People at The Heart of Cancer Care”, brought together patients and medical professionals. The Katsina State Health Commissioner, Musa Adamu, praised Fatima Radda’s efforts, highlighting the state’s 70% budget implementation for healthcare infrastructure and workers’ training. He explained that, in Katsina, there is full access to health through the Katsina State Health Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KATCHIMA) and National…

THE National Examinations Council has announced the release of the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External results, with over 80 per cent of candidates scoring five credits and above. News Point Nigeria reports that the results were announced on Tuesday by NECO Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, during a press conference held at the council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State. Declaring the results in a video posted on NECO’s X handle, Prof. Wushishi said, “It is my pleasure to declare the 2025 SSCE External Results released. “Candidates can access their results on the NECO official website, www.neco.gov.ng,…

A TOTAL sum of ₦1.969 trillion, being the December 2025 Federation Account Revenue, has been shared to the Federal Government, States, and the local government councils. The revenue was shared at the January 2026 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held in Abuja. This was disclosed in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), Bawa Mokwa, on Monday. Mokwa said the December allocation comprised statutory revenue of ₦1.084 trillion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of ₦846.507 billion, and Electronic Money Transfer…

EIGHTY worshippers who escaped abduction during a bandit attack at Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have returned to their homes. News Point Nigeria reports that however, dozens of others remain in captivity, as security operatives intensify efforts to rescue the victims. This is according to the village head, Ishaku Danazumi, who said the eighty returnees fled when armed men stormed the community during a church service on January 18th, 2026, abducting several people and forcing others to escape for safety. He said that the returnees were hale and hearty upon their return, nearly two…

AN FCT High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded a senior official of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed, alongside his associate, Prince Chibuike Echem, in connection with an alleged multi-billion naira contract fraud. News Point Nigeria reports that the defendants were ordered into custody by Justice Keziah Ogbonna on Tuesday after they were arraigned on a 55-count criminal charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bordering on advance fee fraud, forgery, conspiracy and the award of fictitious contracts. Mohammed, who serves as a project coordinator at the NEDC, and Echem were subsequently remanded…

WORKERS of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority Monday, commenced an industrial action, shutting down activities across Abuja, over what they described as “unmet demands” by the Federal Government. News Point Nigeria correspondents visited the FCTA Secretariat at 9:00 a.m. and observed a heavy security presence at the entrance, with personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police Force stationed at the gate. Workers were barred from entering the premises. The strike is expected to affect all FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils, and parastatals, effectively grounding official activities within…

NIGERIA’s headline inflation rate eased to 15.15 per cent in December 2025, capping a year marked by slowing price pressures and early signs of stabilisation across key sectors of the economy. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) attributed the December figures in part to a review of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) methodology, aimed at better reflecting current economic realities. Data released by the NBS obtained by News Point Nigeria on Thursday, showed the CPI rose to 131.2 in December from 130.5 in November, indicating a moderation in the pace of price increases across the economy. On a month-on-month basis,…

NIGERIA has been ranked 72nd out of 188 countries in the 2025 Government AI Readiness Index, placing it among the top-performing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The annual index sighted by News Point Nigeria published by Oxford Insights assessed 195 governments using 69 indicators across six pillars, including policy capacity, governance, AI infrastructure, public sector adoption, development and diffusion, and resilience. Oxford Insights AI Readiness Index evaluates how prepared governments are to implement artificial intelligence in public service delivery, using indicators across policy capacity, infrastructure, governance, development, diffusion, and resilience. Nigeria was ranked fourth within Sub-Saharan Africa, behind only Kenya (65th),…

NIGERIANS and other travellers applying for the United States’ B1/B2 visas may be required to post bonds of up to $15,000, according to a new travel restriction by the US State Department. News Point Nigeria reports that visa bonds are financial guarantees required by the Department for certain foreign nationals from countries classified as high-risk, who are applying for B1/B2 visas for business or tourism purposes. The development further tightens entry conditions for travellers, following the introduction of partial US travel restrictions on Nigeria a week earlier. According to information published on the US Department of State’s website, Travel.State.Gov, the…

FIRST Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has kicked off the New Year with visits to new mothers at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, where she welcomed the first baby of the year. News Point Nigeria reports that she described 2026 as a year of “peace in abundance” and “prosperity in abundance” for the nation, according to a statement signed by her SSA Media, Busola Kukoyi, on Thursday. Accompanied by the wife of Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima and Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Hajiya Mariya Mahmoud, among other dignitaries, she welcomed the “First Baby of…

SENATOR Godiya Akwashiki, representing Nasarawa North, has passed away at 52 in an Indian hospital. News Point Nigeria reports that he had been ill for some time and was receiving treatment India. Akwashiki, born August 3, 1973, in Angba Iggah, Nasarawa Eggon, served as Majority Leader and Deputy Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly before becoming Senator in 2019 under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and was re-elected in 2023 under Social Democratic Party (SDP). A senior legislative aide to the late Senator, Ajegena Likita Ibrahim, confirmed the news to Daily Trust, describing Akwashiki’s passing as a “great…

NIGERIANS shattered records in November 2025 by consuming 1.236 million terabytes (1.24 petabytes) of mobile data, the highest monthly figure ever recorded, according to data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). News Point Nigeria reports that this marks a slight but significant increase from October’s estimated 1.235 million TB, capping a year of relentless growth in digital demand despite economic pressures and earlier subscription dips. Read also: Airtel, MTN drive 2.1m new telecom connections in November gain The November milestone extends a steady upward trajectory observed throughout 2025. Data usage climbed progressively from lower levels earlier in the year,…

THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has made four telephone numbers available to residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to report uncleared refuse in their areas. This was aimed at addressing the growing waste problem in the FCT by ensuring that waste management contractors do their jobs as at when due. In a terse statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Tuesday, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, urged members of the public to send pictures and videos of uncleared refuse to the phone numbers through WhatsApp. He said the…

THE Federal Government has announced the reopening of the 47 unity schools earlier shut down due to security concerns. This was disclosed in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the Federal Ministry of Education on Thursday. It said that the decision to reopen the affected colleges across the country reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding students and ensuring the continuity of education. “After the strengthening of security architecture within and around the affected schools, academic activities have fully resumed. Students have returned safely to their campuses, with many currently concluding their December academic programmes, while others have successfully…