Author: Farouk Abbas

A PRISON inmate at the Oke-Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, Kwara State capital has shot and wounded a roadside vulcaniser. This happened on Friday when some prison inmates were being led out of the facility. But one of the inmates seized a warder’s rifle and fired some shots which hit the unidentified vulcanizer staying close to the area. While the injured vulcanizer who was shot in the stomach was rushed to a medical facility for treatment, the culprit was detained at the ‘C’ Division Police station, Isale-Ojo, in the Ilorin metropolis. The incident which occurred at about 8.00 a.m, caused…

THE National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has offered an insight into why the party is trying to institutionalise its relationship with the Ghana ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). Ganduje who made this assertion today at the headquarters of the NPP in Accra while playing host to his Ghanaian counterpart the National Chairman of the NPP Mr Stephen Ayesu Ntim said both countries shared similar historical experiences and as such the need for the two powerful West African countries to work together. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu,…

THERE was pandemonium in Kuriga town of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State when bandits invaded LEA Primary School, Kuriga (1), and abducted dozens of pupils. The number of persons abducted couldn’t be ascertained as of press time, but residents said they were about 100. Head teacher of the school and some other staff are reportedly among the victims. This newspaper gathered that the incident happened at 8:20am immediately after the assembly on Thursday. The junior and secondary school relocated to the school building inside the Kuriga town a few years ago due to insecurity concerns, abandoning their former…

THE inauguration of the 11th Executive Assembly of the Artisan Congress in Offa was joyfully held on March 3rd, 2024, it was a momentous occasion attended by notable and distinguished personalities. The event took place at Artisan Street in the Rondo Area of Offa, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with excitement and anticipation. The inauguration ceremony served as a platform to officially introduce and swear in the newly elected members of the 11th Executive Assembly. These individuals were entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Artisan Congress and advocating for the interests and welfare of artisans members in Offa for…

THE Federal Government, on Wednesday, declared that it would withdraw the operating licences of power distribution companies that were intentionally not supplying electricity to consumers across the country, leading to widespread blackouts in Nigeria. It stated that despite efforts by the Federal Ministry of Power and electricity generating companies, some Discos were not distributing the power supplied to them by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, which had resulted in abysmal supply since this year. Power supply across the country has been terrible since January 2024, as many towns and cities nationwide have been thrown into darkness for weeks due to…

IN a significant move to bolster bilateral ties, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced the resumption of visa services for Nigerians, marking a pivotal moment in diplomatic relations between the two nations, News Point Nigeria can authoritatively report. This development, effective from March 4, 2024, follows fruitful discussions between Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayad Al Nahyan, aiming to strengthen connections, cultural exchanges, and collaborative opportunities. The announcement, which was contained in a document sighted by this newspaper underscores a mutual commitment to reinforcing diplomatic relations. “The government of Nigeria and the…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Monday, indicted banks as being linked to about 70 per cent of the financial crimes in Nigeria. EFCC’s Chairman, Ola Olukayode, disclosed this while speaking in Abuja at the 2023 Annual Retreat and General Meeting of the Association of Chief Audit Executives of Banks in Nigeria. He pointed out that the banking sector was increasingly becoming a cesspool of fraudulent activities and this had been raising considerable challenges and concerns to the commission. Olukayode who was represented by the Director, Internal Audit, EFCC, Idowu Apejoye, said there was a need for concerted effort…

THE Nigeria Police Force has reiterated its ban on the use of Point-of-Sale terminal machines, and other mobile money transaction devices within police stations and other police facilities across the country. The NPF said the ban followed public outcry on alleged “illegal and illicit transactions through ‘point-of-sale’ (POS) machine operators and connivance with certain police operatives.” This was contained in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Monday. Adejobi said it had come to the attention of the police that some commands and formations of the NPF continued to flout the regulation, and that…

NO fewer than 40 million telephone lines were barred by MTN, Airtel, Glo over the weekend following the expiration of the February 28, 2024 deadline issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission mandating telecom consumers to link the Subscriber Identity Module to their National Identity Numbers. This represents a 28 million increase from the 12 million telephone lines initially planned to be deactivated by telcos, following the NCC directive. In a December 2023 notice, the NCC had asked telcos to bar SIMs that had not been linked to their owners’ NINs by February 28, 2024. On Thursday, the NCC Director of…

THE Federal Government through the Nigerian Bar Association has commenced the prosecution of some staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission and political party members indicted for various electoral offences during the 2023 general elections. Electoral offences remain a major threat to credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria, as they often heighten political tension and trigger violence. Following the February 25, 2023, presidential and National Assembly elections, the immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, said over 700 offenders were arrested by men of the Nigeria Police Force for violating electoral laws. INEC had on May 2, 2023,…

COMPREHENSIVE data on the pattern and quantity of energy mineral Lithium are available at the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency for businesses interested in  establishing lithium companies in Nigeria. Solid Minerals Development Minister Dr. Oladele Alake made this disclosure in Doha, Qatar on Saturday at a meeting with Qatari businessmen on the sidelines of the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Arab country. Responding to enquires on the quality of Nigerian lithium by Qatari business mogul Sheikh Shahid Jawad at the meeting held at the prestigious Sheraton Doha, Alake said mineral exploration initiated by the Federal Government has identified…

THE Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has summoned the Chief Executives of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) over the worsening power supply in their regions. The Minister in a statement by his media aide, Bolaji Tunji, Saturday, also summoned the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Ahmed Abdulazeez over the deteriorating power situation. “Wilful non- performance by any DISCO could suffice as a reason for severe punishment or outright license revocation,” Adelabu was quoted as saying by the media aide. He said Adelabu is to meet with the discos next…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of four Nigerian professionals to serve as Executive Directors of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), for a renewable term of four years. This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, Friday. According to the statement, the President expects that these Nigerians who have been appointed on the strength of their experience, competence level, qualifications, character, and dedication will commit themselves wholly to realizing the innovative and expansive energy vision of his administration, in addition to delivering consistently excellent service to the Nigerian…

A BUA truck conveying cartons of spaghetti has been attacked by a group of protesters at Dogarawa axis of Zaria-Kano expressway. Dogarawa is a settlement located on the outskirt of Zaria along the expressway. This is coming barely one week after protesters hijacked trailers loaded with foodstuffs in the Suleja area of Niger State, stealing bags of rice and other food items amidst widespread hardship in the country. The trailers were said to be heading for Abuja from Kaduna when the thugs blocked the road and made burnfires on the highway. An eyewitness disclosed that the Friday incident occurred around…

A FORMER Ward Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Alhassan Sidi Kawu, was among the 23 persons abducted by gunmen numbering about 40 who stormed Kawu Community in the Bwari Area Council of the FCT in the early hours of Thursday. The Kawu community shares boundaries with Kaduna and Niger states. The councillor representing the community, who is also the Deputy Speaker in the council, Abdulmumini Zakari, told newsmen that the gunmen arrived the community on Wednesday, from the Kuyeri Forest in Kaduna State. He added that among the gunmen’s victims were the wife…

IN its latest move to resolve challenges around power supply in the country, the Federal Government said it has bought over a total of 10 mobile power stations. Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu revealed this on Wednesday, February 28, when he met with the Forum of Commissioners of Energy in Nigeria, in a bid to strengthen collaboration between the Federal and State governments towards achieving regular power supply. A press statement signed by the Special Adviser, Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Ministry of Power, Bolaji Tunji on Thursday, said while addressing the forum which had 23 States in attendance, Adelabu…

HUNDREDS of travellers are reportedly stranded in Kaduna as residents of Gonin Gora community in Chikun Local Government Area of the State have blocked the Abuja-Kaduna highway following an attack on the community by bandits. Following the attack on the night of Wednesday, February 28th, 2024, several members of the community were said to have been kidnapped and several injured. Our correspondent at the scene of the attack reported how angry residents took to the streets on Thursday morning, blocking the busy Abuja-Kaduna highway. The development has caused heavy traffic on the road, with hundreds of travellers left stranded. News…

A NIGERIAN lawyer has been charged by the FBI with multiple felonies arising from an alleged $2.1 million bribe, which he received while serving as an officer at Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC) in connection with negotiating favourable drilling rights for a subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned oil company. The man identified as Paulinus Okoronkwo, of Valencia, who practices immigration and personal injury law out of an office in Koreatown, was charged in a five-count indictment. Okoronkwo is also been charged with three counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, one count of tax…

LABOUR Minister Nkiruka Onyejeocha says the Federal Government has achieved about 90% of the agreement it had with the Organised Labour last October. “We’ve done virtually everything in agreement. 90% of everything,” Onyejeocha said on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday monitored by News Point Nigeria. According to her, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (TUC), Joe Ajaero, told government representatives at a meeting on Sunday that the protest was not about the government’s commitment to the October agreement but food inflation. The minister said food security and economic prosperity were part of the priorities of the President Bola…

THE President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has handed over their letter of demands to the National Assembly. The demands included full implementation of the welfare provisions, employment generation, immediate subsidy to farmers, immediate subsidy to farmers to boost agricultural production, and fixing the four refineries among others. Ajaero handed over the letter to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity, Senator Diket Plang on Tuesday. Ajaero in his remarks at the National Assembly, said Nigerians embarked on the peaceful protests because there was hunger in the land, adding that “Nigeria is becoming like Zimbabwe.” Ajaero…