BARELY two months after the September completion deadline flop, the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission has explained why it could not deliver the much-awaited Port Harcourt Refinery Company. In an interview with our correspondent on Monday, the NNPC Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, said the company encountered risks and challenges while carrying out the rehabilitation, being a brownfield project. He noted that the NNPC began the commissioning of critical equipment and processing units after the mechanical completion in Nigeria. “You may recall that mechanical completion of the PHRC revamp was successfully achieved several months ago, marking a significant milestone in…
Author: Farouk Abbas
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THE Chadian Government has repatriated no fewer than 600 irregular migrants from Nigeria who were found engaging in begging activities in various parts of the country. News Point Nigeria gathered that thousands of Nigerian refugees have fled Nigeria’s restive Borno state since 2019 at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency to take refuge in neighboring countries of Chad and Cameroon. Muhammed Barkindo, the director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, disclosed this to newsmen while profiling the refugees in Maiduguri on Monday. Mr Barkindo said that the migrants were primarily from Borno, Kano, Sokoto and Kaduna states and…
THE Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has sued two prominent northern journalists, Shu’aibu Mungadi and Tijjani Ramalan, for alleged defamation and malicious reportage. The former governor, in the suit marked K/M2102/2024, dated October 25 and sighted by our correspondent on Monday, is seeking N10bn in general damages in his favour against each of the six defendants in addition to 10 per cent post-judgment interest of the entire judgment sum until fully liquidated. Other defendants in the suit are the employers of the two journalists, Vision Media Services Ltd, Vision FM, Farin Wata Television and Liberty Radio and TV.…
THE Office of Auditor General for the Federation (OauGF) has uncovered financial infractions amounting to N3.403 trillion in several government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for the financial year ending 31st December 2021. The infractions reported in 28 audit issues are contained in the 2021 audit report of non-compliance/internal control weaknesses in Ministries Departments and Agencies of the federation for the 2021 financial year was submitted to the National Assembly via a letter reference number AuGF/AR.2021/02, dated 15th October 2024 signed by the Auditor General for the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira. The report said N2.902 trillion of the amount came…
THE new terror group, Lukarawa, set up camps in 10 local government areas of Sokoto and Bauchi states before its operations became known to the public three weeks ago. According to sources, members of the terror group initially established camps in some villages bordering Nigeria and Niger Republic, including Gwanaguano, Mulawa, Wassinya, and Turigaic communities. They eventually infiltrated Nigeria and set up camps in different communities, especially in Gudu and Tangaza LGAs of Sokoto in 2018. Some leaders of the group, according to credible sources, include Abu Khadijah, Abdulrahaman (Idi), Dadi Gumba, Muhammed Abu, Usman Shehu, Abu Yusuf, Musa Walia,…
THE Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has advised Daniel Bwala to seek forgiveness from Vice President Kashim Shettima. President Bola Tinubu on Thursday appointed Daniel Bwala, a former spokesperson for the Atiku Campaign as his Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications (State House). In the wake of the campaign before the 2023 election, Tinubu had picked Shettima as his running mate. Following this, Bwala resigned his appointment as a member of the All Progressives Congress, stating that he couldn’t support a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Bwala, thereafter, served as the spokesman of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 presidential…
THE Philippine authorities have arrested five Nigerians in Angeles City, Pampanga, for allegedly abducting a fellow Nigerian, Kingsley Ikeagwuana. Local media, PhilStar reported that the suspects, Evans Chinemerem, David Ibegbulamo, Nwokeke Ihechukwu, Nwokeke Chinemmerem, and Okonkwo Kosiso, were arrested last Thursday. They would face criminal charges of kidnapping for ransom and violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. The Central Luzon Police director, Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, said the Nigerian nationals were nabbed when operatives of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group, and Mabalacat City and Angeles City police, raided their hideout in Barangay…
TEARS and tributes flowed freely on Friday as the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja was laid to rest in Abuja, ending an illustrious military career that spanned decades. The burial took place at the National Cemetery in the nation’s capital marking an end to two days of funeral rites that began in Lagos earlier in the week. His body was lowered to Mother Earth at exactly 4:41 pm after the ceremony that lasted four over two hours. Lagbaja’s casket, draped in Nigeria’s green and white colours, arrived at the cemetery around 3 pm in a…
THE Supreme Court, on Friday, dismissed the suit instituted by 16 states of the federation against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), challenging the constitutionality of the acts establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and two others. The other agencies are the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). A seven-member justices, in a unanimous judgment, held that the suit was unmeritorious. In the lead judgment by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, the Supreme Court resolved the six issues raised for determination in the suit against the plaintiffs. The court held that…
THE body of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has arrived in Abuja where he will be buried on Friday. The Nigerian Airforce plane NAF 918 carrying the body of the late COAS landed at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, at around 12:15pm. The remains of the late COAS left the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos around 11am. The military top brass were on ground to receive the remains of the late COAS in Abuja, with military band playing to the loudest. Upon arrival at the Abuja airport, a guard of…
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Thursday, sought for adjournment in the fresh case it instituted against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, saying the 30 days window was still running for the summons earlier issued. The EFCC, however, admitted his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, to administrative bail and prayed the court for extension of time for the 1st Defendant to appear. At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Counsel for EFCC, Jamiu Agoro, said the order of the court, given on 3rd October had not…
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has withheld the international passport of the former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa. Okowa was arrested by the anti-graft agency on November 4, 2024, over an alleged diversion of N1.3tn derivation fund. The N1.3trn amounted to a 13 per cent derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023. He was also accused of failing to render accounts of the funds as well as another N40bn he allegedly claimed he used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas. Okowa also allegedly bought shares of N40bn in one of the major…
THE National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said the administration of President Bola Tinubu will prove to the so-called new terrorist group ‘Lukarawa’ in the North-western part of the country that things have changed, and that the group will be flushed out of Nigeria. News Point Nigeria reports that Ribadu made the statement while representing President Tinubu at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Comptroller-General of Customs Conference, on Wednesday, in Abuja. The NSA said that, without deferring to politics which would always be played, progress has been made in many sectors in Nigeria since President Tinubu was…
THE Defence Headquarters has said the new terrorist group, Lukarawa, has begun a recruitment process to bolster its fighting capabilities. News Point Nigeria reports that DHQ, however, said the military was aware of the group’s recruitment activities and working closely with other security agencies and the state government to halt the recruitment efforts. The DHQ had, last Thursday, confirmed the emergence of a new terrorist group known as ‘Lukarawa’ in the northern region, with operations in Sokoto and Kebbi states. The Director of Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, said the terrorists began incursion into the northern parts of Sokoto…
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed as mere fallacy the servicing on the purported foreign and domestic debts by the embattled New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) government in Kano State it claimed were incurred by the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Former commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs in Kano state and Chief of Staff to the National Chairman of the APC, Muhammad Garba, said in a statement that the debt claim is misleading and a calculated attempt to shift attention from the myriads of political and financial scandals rocking the administration in the state. He stated that…
Urge EFCC To Halt Politically Motivated Witch-Hunt YOUTH Leaders of the All Progressives Congress have accused unnamed stalwarts of the party of being behind the persecution of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged politically motivated reasons. The youth leaders from across the 36 states of the country and the FCT, under the aegis of APC Youth Leaders Forum (AYLF), wondered why those who had contributed immensely towards the development of the party as well as helped in securing the presidency which President Bola Tinubu enjoys today, have been singled…
THE Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd, Mele Kyari, has reiterated the company’s commitment to resolving the country’s energy trilemma by ensuring energy security, sustainable growth and energy affordability. Kyari made the assertion at the opening ceremony of the 42nd Nigeria Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Annual International Conference and Exhibition themed “Resolving the Nigeria Energy Trilemma: Energy Security, Sustainable Growth and Affordability” in Lagos, yesterday. Reacting to claims that NNPC Ltd is sabotaging the efforts of domestic refineries, Kyari said the NNPC Ltd is part-owners of the Dangote Refinery and stressed further that…
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned Nigerien national and bridegroom Ibrahim Mohammad, his family, and other guests mostly members of the Kano business community over alleged naira abuse at his wedding of Amina Babagana Zannah in Kano. News Point Nigeria reports that the invitation follows a viral video depicting individuals spraying naira notes at the event, drawing public attention and backlash as part of the agency’s ongoing campaign against currency abuse. A statement issued by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, confirmed the commission’s response to the incident. Initial reports mistakenly attributed the…
THE Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has secured an agreement with Dangote Refinery to lift products directly. News Point Nigeria reports that IPMAN National President, Abubakar Garima, announced this in Abuja on Monday after a meeting of the National Working Committee of the Association. He said the partnership will ensure steady, and affordable supply of PMS products nationwide. Girima said After meeting with Aliko Dangote and his management team in Lagos, “we’re pleased to announce that Dangote Refinery has agreed to supply IPMAN with PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for distribution to our depots and retail outlets.” Garima…
THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its members in states that are yet to commence the implementation of the new minimum wage to commence an indefinite strike, beginning from December 1, 2024. The directive is part of the resolutions of the NLC after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the weekend. “The NEC notes with deep frustration the persistent delay and outright refusal by some state governments to implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act. This betrayal by certain governors and government officials across the country flies in the face of both legality and morality, as workers continue…