Author: Sadiq Abdullateef

AMERICAN billionaire philanthropist, Bill Gates, has issued a stark warning about the devastating child mortality rates in northern Nigeria, where one in six children born in the region reportedly does not survive to age five. News Point Nigeria reports that Gates sounded the alarm in an interview ahead of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s annual Goalkeepers event in New York, describing the statistics as a “wake-up call” for Nigeria’s leaders and development partners. “A kid born in northern Nigeria has a 15 per cent chance of dying before the age of five. You can either be part of improving…

TENSION flared on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, as Justice Hamza Muazu issued a stern warning to the Federal Government over its repeated failure to appear in court for the ongoing N1.2 billion procurement fraud trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele. News Point Nigeria reports that Emefiele, who served as CBN Governor from 2014 to 2023, is standing trial on a 20-count amended charge brought by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF). The charges include criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, forgery, obtaining money by false pretence, and conferring…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday evening held a crucial meeting with Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, at the State House, Abuja, in a move widely seen as part of ongoing efforts to consolidate peace and restore full democratic governance in the oil-rich state. News Point Nigeria reports that Fubara, who arrived at the Presidential Villa at about 6:30 pm, was received by senior aides before being ushered into the President’s office for the closed-door talks. This is the first known face-to-face meeting between Tinubu and Fubara since the Governor resumed office last Thursday following the end of the…

THE United States government has issued a fresh warning that corrupt individuals including some of Nigeria’s most powerful figures could face visa restrictions, in what Washington describes as part of its global anti-corruption strategy. News Point Nigeria reports that the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, through a new awareness campaign tagged #VisaWiseTravelSmart, said the measure is designed to discourage corruption, promote transparency, and hold accountable those who undermine governance and the rule of law. In a statement released on its official channels, the mission made it clear: “Even when high-profile individuals engage in corruption, they can be barred from receiving U.S.…

A CHILLING revelation has exposed Nigeria as a major hub in a sprawling global organ trafficking network, where more than 651 kidneys were illegally harvested and sold between 2015 and 2020, generating an estimated $41 billion on the black market, according to Professor Aliyu Abdu, a top nephrologist at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), and consultant at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH). Professor Abdu made the disclosure during a high-level seminar on National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Standards in Abuja on Tuesday, describing the illicit trade as a “sophisticated underworld enterprise” involving illegal brokers, recruiters, rogue medical professionals, and desperate donors…

NIGERIA’s fiscal health remains under intense pressure as the Federal Government spent a staggering 69 per cent of its total 2024 revenue on debt service, leaving limited resources for infrastructure and development spending. This is according to the 2024 Budget Implementation Report (BIR) released by the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) over the weekend sighted by News Point Nigeria, which revealed that out of the N19.354 trillion revenue earned in 2024, N11.887 trillion went into debt servicing alone. Although the report shows an improvement compared to 2023 when debt service gulped 78 per cent of revenue, analysts warn that…

LOVE and admiration flowed from Aso Rock on Sunday as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu celebrated his wife and Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on her 65th birthday. In a deeply personal and emotional message personally signed by the President himself and sent to received by News Point Nigeria, Tinubu described the First Lady as “the love of my life, my confidant, my counsellor, and the steady flame illuminating my path.” The President’s statement, which read more like a heartfelt love letter than a formal presidential message, highlighted the First Lady’s quiet sacrifices and her enduring influence both within their…

FORMER Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has finally addressed long-running allegations that he sought a controversial third term while in office, dismissing them as baseless speculation and insisting there is no evidence to support such claims. News Point Nigeria reports that Obasanjo made the comments on Wednesday during a Democracy Dialogue hosted by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, where he spoke candidly about governance, leadership succession, and the dangers of clinging to power. “I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it,” the former president told participants. “And there is…

THE Nigerian military has launched a full-scale investigation into the powerful explosion that rocked the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) facility in Kaduna, leaving one person dead and several others injured. The incident, which occurred on the morning of Saturday, September 20, 2025, sent shockwaves through the surrounding communities as residents fled in panic, fearing a major security breach. Witnesses described the blast as “terrifying and disturbing,” with the sound reverberating across parts of Kaduna metropolis. According to a statement by Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information obtained by News Point Nigeria, the explosion occurred during a routine…

FOUR days after a devastating fire broke out at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island, claiming 10 lives and leaving many traumatised, Afriland Properties Plc has issued a detailed statement explaining the cause of the incident, addressing public concerns, and outlining steps to prevent future occurrences. In a comprehensive 20-point communication signed by Chukwunonso Okafor, Head of Brand, Marketing and Corporate Communications made available to News Point Nigeria, the real estate investment and facility management firm expressed grief over the tragedy, extended condolences to the bereaved, and committed to staff and public safety going forward. Afriland confirmed that the…

THE Presidency has strongly defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to invoke emergency powers in Rivers State, insisting that the intervention was constitutional, necessary, and ultimately restored peace and democratic order in the oil-rich state. Reacting to criticisms from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Presidential Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Chief Sunday Dare, dismissed the party’s allegations of autocracy, manipulation, and federal overreach as “laughable” and “a textbook case of nuisance politics.” In a statement posted on his verified X handle, @SundayDareSD sighted by News Point Nigeria, Dare explained that President Tinubu acted under Section 305 of the 1999…

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed that 21 universities across Nigeria have yet to submit the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) screening scores of underage candidates for vetting, sparking fresh concerns over the timely processing of 2025 admissions. In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by its Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, shared with News Point Nigeria, the examination body expressed worry that the delay could disrupt the admission timelines earlier agreed upon during the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions. According to JAMB, the affected institutions include the University of Lagos (UNILAG, 39 candidates), Lagos State…

DANIEL Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, has said there is nothing in law or politics that can prevent Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, from contesting for the governorship of Lagos State. Speaking during an appearance on The Clarity Zone podcast, posted on YouTube on Wednesday monitored by News Point Nigeria, Bwala pushed back against claims that Seyi Tinubu’s rising profile is simply a product of his father’s influence. He argued that the younger Tinubu has independently built a reputation as a unifier and bridge-builder among Nigerian youths. “If Seyi Tinubu’s father is the president,…

THE Federal Government has disbursed a total of ₦330 billion to 8.1 million households nationwide under its National Social Safety Net Programme (NSSNP), in what officials describe as the most extensive social protection effort in Nigeria’s history. News Point Nigeria reports that the announcement was made in Abuja on Wednesday by Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, following a review meeting of the Special Presidential Panel on Social Investment, inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu earlier this year. Edun said the programme, designed to cushion the impact of economic reforms including subsidy removal and exchange rate…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally announced the end of the six-month state of emergency imposed on Rivers State, restoring Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to their offices. News Point Nigeria reports that Tinubu made the announcement on Tuesday, in a national broadcast from the State House, Abuja, declaring that the emergency would cease at midnight. “It gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today. The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the deputy governor, Her…

THREE Nigerian pilgrims who were arrested and detained in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug trafficking have been freed, bringing relief to their families and sparking renewed calls for tighter airport security in Nigeria. News Point Nigeria reports that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced their release at a press conference on Wednesday, confirming that the pilgrims; Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Abdulhamid Saddieq had been cleared after spending four weeks in Saudi detention. NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said their release was the outcome of weeks of high-level engagements between NDLEA,…

AN Upper Area Court sitting in Abuja has issued a perpetual injunction restraining Hadiza Musa Baffa from attributing the paternity of her baby to former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN). News Point Nigeria reports that delivering judgment on September 4, 2025, Judge Adamu Isah ruled that the defendant is barred from using the result of a DNA test or any public statements to claim Turaki fathered the child born out of wedlock. In his judgment, Justice Isah specifically prohibited Hadiza, her agents, or any other person acting on her behalf from publishing or disseminating…

THE United States Embassy in Nigeria has reaffirmed that visa application fees remain strictly non-refundable and non-transferable, regardless of whether an applicant is approved or denied entry. The embassy made the clarification on Tuesday via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, using the hashtag #VisaWiseTravelSmart, in response to growing complaints by Nigerian applicants especially students and visitors, who lamented the financial strain caused by repeated denials and the requirement to pay fresh fees for every new application. “We hear your concerns regarding U.S. visa application fees,” the embassy posted. “Like most countries, U.S. visa fees cover the cost of processing…

THE Department of State Services (DSS) has escalated its face-off with activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore, filing a five-count charge against him, along with social media platforms X Corp (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms Inc. (owners of Facebook), over what it described as “defamatory and destabilizing” posts targeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. News Point Nigeria reports that the case was filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, alongside four legal representatives of the DSS, M.E. Ernest, U.B. Bulla, Dr. C.S. Eze, and E.G. Orubor. This development follows…

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of failing to address the worsening hunger, poverty, and hardship facing Nigerians more than two years after assuming office. In a statement issued on Monday through his spokesman, Paul Ibe made available to News Point Nigeria, the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate said that “there is no sign that Tinubu is capable of tackling the scourge of hunger and poverty ravaging millions of Nigerians.” Atiku, who described the hunger situation as “unacceptable and tragic,” said the poor, underprivileged, and downtrodden…