Author: Lekan Adeyeye

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has revealed that some of its officers disguised as electorates to apprehend politicians planning to engage in vote buying. News Point Nigeria reports that, the Assistant Commandant of the EFCC, Chiendu Ozugha, who led a team of the commission to the polling unit of Vice President Yemi Osibanjo in Ikenne, Ogun State, said efforts are ongoing to ensure perpetrators of vote buying are apprehended. He revealed that many EFCC operatives are currently undercover in different polling units across Ogun state. He added that the commission will visit major polling units across the state in…

THE presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has cast his vote at a polling unit in Bourdillion, Ikoyi, Lagos State. News Point Nigeria reports that, Tinubu voted alongside his wife, Remi, and other party chieftains. Addressing reporters, he said “democracy is here to stay” in Nigeria and that he is “too confident of victory”. He said the voting process is “going smoothly” and “going well”. On the turnout of voters, the APC candidate said, “This is expected, we need a good turnout and that is the adoption and the commitment to democracy and the democratic process…

THE presidential election has been delayed at the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu’s polling unit, Polling Units 085, Ward 3, Sunday Adigun, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State. News Point Nigeria reports that, observers, police personnel and journalists were spotted at the scene while the INEC officials were yet to arrive as at 9:011am Speaking in an interview with journalists, the Ikeja Local Government Chairman, Mojid Balogun, expressed concern over the late arrival of the INEC officials. He said, “We are waiting for the electoral officials, we have done our part and we don’t know why they are delaying. I…

AT exactly 8:30am voting started across the nation for Nigerians to exercise their electoral right. They are voting to elect a new President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as senators and members of the House of Representatives, who would constitute the 10th National Assembly and pilot the affairs of the country for the next four years. Stay on this page for minute by minute updates of the electioneering across the nation.

THE National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has approved the sale of a NITEL/MTEL property located at No 3-5, Moloney Street, Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, Lagos, to the Lagos State Government. A statement by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on Friday said the property was one of those listed for sale by the liquidator of NITEL/MTEL Non-Core assets at the cost of N2.5 billion. Meanwhile, the property is presently encumbered by the activities of illegal occupants and the Lagos State Government has promised a harmless takeover. The council chaired by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo granted the approval at its…

– Says It Will Ensure Power Shift To South CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress in Delta State and Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayirimi Emami, has urged citizens from the Niger Delta region of the country to seek the victory of his party presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu in next Saturday presidential election. He made the plea on Wednesday while addressing the party chieftains and  faithful at a rally in Warri, Delta State. The prominent businessman who recalled that the historic call for power shift by Governors from Southern part of the country now tagged Asaba Declaration was made…

THE presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s expected hard work for his bid in Saturday’s poll would benefit the country. Tinubu made the declaration during a rally held at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere in Lagos State, serving as the grand finale of the APC presidential campaign. Addressing Buhari, the former Lagos governor said, “Mr President, I have so much to say but I’ve kept you for too long and it’s not today. But I assure, as you work hard for me, I’ll work hard for Nigeria. “As you give Nigerians…

OSUN State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has lamented the unavailability of new naira notes in the state, saying even as the state helmsman, he did not have in his possession, the redesigned naira notes. The governor then urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to sanction commercial banks found to be hoarding money. Adeleke spoke in his office, while receiving officials of the CBN, Osogbo branch in his office on Monday, decried increasing shortage of the new notes. The governor also disclosed that he had been making efforts to douse tension and ensure safety of banks and the CBN state office.…

NORMALCY seems to have been restored in the Sagamu, Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State after a violent protest that rocked the town early on Monday over scarcity of fuel and the new naira notes. Banks and business premises were attacked and set ablaze, cars looted and burnt, as shops were forced to remain under lock and key. According to the state Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, who led his men and soldiers to the scene, 30 suspects have been arrested in connection with the unrest. Residents claim the violence started around 5:30 am while law-abiding citizens were still…

THE Federal High Court in Lagos, has granted an injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from using, engaging or further dealing with the Chairman of the Lagos Parks and Garages, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo or any of his representatives in the distribution of election materials and adhoc staff for the forthcoming polls in the state. Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke granted the injunction following an application filed by the Labour Party and Boot Party in Lagos. News Point Nigeria learnt that INEC was absent at the proceedings even though lawyer to the Labour Party told the court…

AT least three banks were torched on Monday as protest over scarcity of new naira notes rocked the Sagamu area of Ogun State, News Point Nigeria gathered. The police spokesperson in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the development in a telephone chat with journalists. According to him, Union Bank, First Bank and Keystone Bank branches were attacked by protesters and burnt on Monday. He, however, said policemen have been deployed to the area to quell the situation. “We are in Sagamu now. The place is seriously burning,” Oyeyemi said. “They attacked Union Bank and First Bank as well as Keystone…

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in Addis Ababa met with Girma Wake, Ethiopian Airlines Board Chairman, during which they exchanged views on the operationalization of Nigeria Air. Wake had requested a resolution of the legal obstacle halting Nigeria Air, which Ethiopian Airlines has 49% stake, from commencing operations. He also requested the repatriation of the airline funds trapped in the country over foreign exchange challenges. On Nigeria Air, President Buhari told the Board Chairman   that it was a ‘weighty decision’ by the Nigerian government to re-launch a national carrier, expressing confidence that ‘‘things will be alright.’’ Wake, who met with President Buhari on the margins of…

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) will hold its final presidential campaign rally on Tuesday in Lagos, the nation’s commercial hub. This was announced in a statement by the Publicity Secretary, APC Lagos State Chapter Hon. Seye Oladejo. Expected at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere venue of the planned rally is President Muhammadu Buhari who is expected to lead the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC). Others expected include the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; the Director General of the PCC and Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, all APC State Governors, members of the National Assembly and other prominent leaders of…

OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted consignments of illicit drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine and its precursor chemical, ephedrine going to the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and Cyprus. The interceptions were made at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and at the offices of some courier companies. At least three traders at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo area of Lagos: Nwudele Basil Christopher; Chiedu Ezenwani Francis and Donatus Nwojiji were arrested in connection with attempts to export the 52.10 kilograms of ephedrine, a precursor chemical and active…

THE Central Bank of Nigeria has ordered banks to start collecting the old N500 and N1,000 notes from the public with immediate effect. It, however, pegged the maximum amount the banks can collect at N500,000. The CBN maintained that the old currencies were no more legal tender. A source from the bank said the CBN ordered the banks to collect the monies instead of going to the CBN office following difficulties encountered in getting access to the bank. A CBN official said, “Go to your bank but fill out the form before you go. Go with the reference code you…

THERE is currently a large angry crowd at the office of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Marina, Lagos. The crowd consists of persons trying to swap old currencies in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari. In his national broadcast on Wednesday, Buhari declared that old N500 and N1000 notes had ceased being legal tender, directing Nigerians to take the notes to the CBN and designated places. He also ordered the CBN to recirculate old N200 notes until April 10. Criticisms followed Buhari’s comment, especially from some governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Governor Nasir…

RIOTS on Friday spread to Ogun communities as youths protested the lingering new naira policy and fuel scarcity. News Point Nigeria gathered that the protesters barricaded the Mowe end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and turned back motorists and travellers. News Point Nigeria also learnt that, the protesters resisted police intervention and threatened to set the police station in the area ablaze. The rioters also set bonfire on the highway, a development that forced motorists and travellers to hurriedly turned back. Aside from travellers, commercial activities were disrupted in Mowe, in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state, as…

VIOLENT protest erupted in some areas on the popular Lagos-Ikorodu expressway in Lagos State over the scarcity of the new naira notes and the hardship the policy has thrown Nigerians. On Friday morning, News Point Nigeria gathered that protesters in Mile 12, Ketu and Ojota areas on the expressway, took to the road attacking commuters and creating chaos. A driver, attached to one of the cab-hailing firms operating in the state who does not want his name in print over fears of harassment, said he had to turn into one of the streets due to the chaos. A sources told…

THE presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has said it will be difficult to replicate his transformative agenda in Lagos across Nigeria owing to the complexity of the country. The former governor of Lagos State also stated that he would allow for power devolution to ensure the smooth operation of government. Tinubu made this known in an opinion piece that he published in The Economist on Wednesday. “We cannot simply replicate Lagos’ transformation nationwide. Nigeria is complex and variegated. Recognising the strengths of each section of the country and providing the foundations on which they can all…

OYO State Governor Seyi Makinde says the G5 will work for Nigeria’s unity as the country heads for the polls. Makinde, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the comment on Thursday when the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu and some chieftains of the party visited him in Ibadan on the sidelines of a rally in the state. The Oyo leader, who is part of G5 of the PDP – aggrieved governors of the main opposition party – said the Integrity Group is after the country’s unity. “The Integrity Group, we have said if we…