Author: Sadiq Abdullateef

A SIGNIFICANT number of convicts on death row in Niger and Kogi States remain alive due to ongoing appeals, fear of judicial errors, and ethical considerations, according to top government officials and legal experts. This was revealed during a special survey conducted on Wednesday, which examined the growing backlog of death row cases in the two North-Central states. Speaking on the matter, Malam Nasiru Mua’zu, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Niger State, disclosed that over 85 percent of inmates sentenced to death in the state are currently pursuing appeals at higher courts. “In Niger, 85 per cent…

IN a move that has reignited political speculation, former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Wednesday, attended the public presentation of two political books in Abuja, one of which focused extensively on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its internal workings. News Point Nigeria reports that Obi’s appearance at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, where PDP stalwarts gathered for the literary unveiling, comes on the heels of confirmed efforts by the PDP to woo the former Vice-Presidential candidate back into the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. The event showcased the launch of…

JUST less than 48 hours after News Point Nigeria exclusively reported that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was wooing former President Goodluck Jonathan for a potential return to Aso Rock in 2027, the opposition party has officially confirmed the development. In a BBC Hausa interview monitored by this newspaper on Tuesday, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, validated News Point Nigeria’s earlier story, affirming that discussions were underway to persuade Jonathan to fly the party’s flag in the 2027 presidential election. “We are indeed reaching out to him, just as many Nigerians are calling for his return,”…

KANO State Commissioner for Transportation, Alhaji Ibrahim Ali Namadi, has resigned from office following the submission of an investigative report on his role in the controversial bail of a suspected drug trafficker, Sulaiman Aminu Danwawu. His resignation came just hours after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf received the findings of the high-level panel that examined the circumstances surrounding the commissioner’s decision to act as surety for the accused. In a statement issued on Wednesday night by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Namadi said his decision was made in the overriding public interest, acknowledging the sensitivity of the matter and…

FORMER Governor of Jigawa State and elder statesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sule Lamido, has issued a strong advisory to presidential aspirants in the newly launched African Democratic Congress (ADC), warning them against what he described as a “sprinter’s approach” to the 2027 presidential race. Speaking Tuesday night during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time monitored by News Point Nigeria, Lamido expressed concern over the flurry of declarations and political manoeuvres within the ADC, less than a month after its coalition-backed launch. While reaffirming his commitment to the PDP, Lamido said he attended the ADC unveiling…

NIGERIAN billionaire and philanthropist, Femi Otedola has revealed stunning details of how banks that once lavished him with attention turned against him when his business empire crumbled in 2009, sending intimidating men to his doorstep. In excerpts from his forthcoming memoir, “Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business,” due for release on August 18, 2025, seen by News Point Nigeria, Otedola narrates the rise and fall of his empire and the brutal shift in relationships once the money stopped flowing. “One moment, I was the darling of the banks… they would send bewitching ladies to make their offers more…

IN a moment of national pride and global recognition, 17-year-old Nafisa Abdullah Aminu from Yobe State has emerged as the World Best in English Language Skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London, United Kingdom. News Point Nigeria reports that representing Nigeria through the Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), Nafisa triumphed over more than 20,000 participants from 69 countries, including native English-speaking nations, a historic achievement that has captivated Nigerians at home and abroad. The TeenEagle competition is a prestigious international contest designed to test English proficiency, critical thinking, and communication skills. It attracts secondary school students from…

THE Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has directed the recovery and redistribution of ₦101.17 billion from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), following an audit report that uncovered severe revenue misclassification and delayed remittances. News Point Nigeria reports that the discovery was made by OOM Professional Services, a Lagos-based audit firm contracted by the Forum of Commissioners of Finance to conduct a forensic review of NCS remittances into the Federation Account for the 2022–2023 fiscal year. The findings, presented during FAAC’s plenary on May 16, 2025, and reinforced at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on July 10, revealed two major irregularities:…

IN a stern warning aimed at reinforcing compliance with student visa regulations, the United States Mission in Nigeria has cautioned Nigerian students against violating the terms of their F-1 and M-1 visas, warning that such breaches could lead to visa revocation and future ineligibility for entry into the U.S. News Point Nigeria reports that the advisory, issued via the Mission’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, is the latest in a series of statements reflecting Washington’s tougher immigration stance toward international students, particularly from high-volume nations like Nigeria. “If you drop out, skip classes, or leave your program of…

DESPITE swirling rumours about his possible exit, Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), reaffirmed his leadership and vision during a major appearance at an event hosted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) in Lagos. Ojulari’s participation, notably his delivery of a high-level virtual presentation came just days after a report by News Point Nigeria suggested that his position at the helm of NNPC was under review following alleged concerns at the Presidency. The controversy reportedly revolves around past business ties with Gbolahan Obanikoro, son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku…

THE Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, has extended warm birthday wishes to the Iya Sunnah of Egbaland and Amirah General of Ogun State, Dr. Lateefat ’Yemi Kolapo, in a heartfelt tribute celebrating her life, professionalism, and leadership. In a personally signed message titled “A Bouquet of Special Felicitations to a Most Special Sister”, Senator Salisu, who represents Ogun Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, praised Dr. Kolapo’s character, strength, and accomplishments, describing her as “a thoroughbred professional and a symbol of proud heritage.” “You are an admirable combination of calm mien,…

THERE are strong indications that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is making a determined push to bring back former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, amid growing uncertainty about Peter Obi’s political trajectory and loyalty to the opposition party. Multiple party sources confirmed to this newspaper that high-level consultations are ongoing within the PDP to offer Jonathan an automatic presidential ticket, citing his constitutional eligibility to serve only one term, a factor party insiders believe could be a unifying compromise among various regional power blocs. “Serious efforts are being made to pull Jonathan into…

SALIHU Tanko Yakasai, an ex-aide to Former APC National Chairman and Ex-Kano Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has accused President Bola Tinubu of prioritising Lagos State in the distribution of federal projects, appointments, and resources to the detriment of other regions, including the North. News Point Nigeria reports that in a strongly worded Facebook post titled “Emi Lokan or Lagos Lokan?”, Yakasai questioned President Bola Tinubu’s national leadership credentials, alleging that the administration has shown disproportionate favour to Lagos State within just two years in office. “While it’s understandable that states that voted for a president might get some preference, once…

A CONFIDENTIAL report by the State Security Service (SSS) has accused Ibrahim Namadi, the embattled Kano State Commissioner for Transport, of accepting a $30,000 bribe from Sulaiman Danwawu, a notorious drug kingpin, in exchange for acting as his surety in court. According to multiple security sources in Abuja, the SSS conducted a discreet investigation into the matter and has reportedly advised Governor Abba Yusuf to dismiss the commissioner for his alleged misconduct. Namadi, who has a past marred by criminal charges, including being declared wanted for fraud in 2013 is a controversial figure whose recent appointment was allegedly pushed by…

CONFUSION has gripped Nigeria’s oil and gas sector following reports that Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), was allegedly forced to sign a resignation letter late Friday night under pressure from operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), News Point Nigeria gathered. According to multiple unconfirmed sources, the purported resignation was orchestrated without presidential approval and was overseen by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi. However, the Presidency swiftly denied the reports, with Special Adviser on Information and Strategy,…

FOR generations, tribal marks have stood as a bold imprint of Nigerian identity, ancestry, and aesthetic ideals, carved into the skin and woven into the nation’s cultural fabric, News Point Nigeria examines the complexities of this fading traditional practice. From the intricate “pele” and “abaja” of the Yoruba to the subtle cheek lines of the Hausa, tribal marks once served as a proud symbol of origin, status, and spirituality. Today, they often invite stares, shame, or stigma. In 2025, as Nigeria continues to modernise socially and culturally, the conversation around tribal marks is growing louder and more complex. Once widespread…

THE National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions Sector, has denied reports circulating in the media that its ongoing nationwide warning strike has been suspended. The union clarified on Friday that the strike action, which began on Wednesday, is still in full force and that any decision on a possible suspension can only be made by the association’s National Executive Council (NEC), scheduled to meet on Saturday. In an exclusive chat with News Point Nigeria, the National Public Relations Officer of NANNM-FHI, Omomo Tibiebi, dismissed comments made earlier in the day by the Coordinating Minister of…

THE industrial action embarked upon by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has been called off, the Minister of Health, Ali Pate, has said. Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting on Friday, Pate said the decision followed agreements reached with the leadership of the nursing association. However, the leaders of the union declined to speak on the matter after the closed-door meeting on Friday afternoon. Nurses and midwives under the association had commenced a warning strike on July 29, 2025, following what the union described as the government’s failure to respond meaningfully to its 15-day ultimatum…

ONE year after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed the nation in response to the widespread #EndBadGovernance protests of August 2024, experts say most of the key promises made in the impassioned broadcast have yet to materialize, with citizens, especially young people, still grappling with economic hardship, insecurity, and disillusionment. News Point Nigeria reports that on August 4, 2024, the President, in a national address, acknowledged the frustration of Nigerian youth, promised sweeping reforms, unveiled plans for massive investment in infrastructure, job creation, agriculture, education, and housing, and committed to convening a National Youth Conference to foster dialogue and restore trust.…

MORE than nine million Nigerian pupils are at risk of continuing without access to nutritious meals, as the Federal Government’s National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) remains suspended, nearly 18 months after it was halted amid misappropriation allegations. News Point Nigeria reports that the programme, which once supported over 250,000 jobs across food production, logistics, and service chains, is yet to resume despite a ₦160 billion allocation in the 2025 national budget. Suspended in January 2024 following allegations involving the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, the initiative has since languished in…