Author: Sadiq Muhammad

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially expelled former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, from the party over allegations of anti-party activities. Aregbesola, who governed Osun State for eight years, had formed a faction within the APC known as The Osun Progressives (TOP), now rebranded as the Omoluabi Caucus. The group was accused of contributing to the party’s loss in the 2022 governorship election. On Sunday, the Omoluabi Caucus, in a meeting presided over by Aregbesola, announced its decision to leave the APC, citing the party’s declining popularity in the state. A letter obtained by this newspaper from the APC…

THE Federal Government, through The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has announced the suspension of operations by Max Air following Tuesday’s night incident involving the airline’s aircraft in Kano. A Max Air B734 aircraft with registration marks 5N-MBD, had experienced a tyre burst on landing at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on Tuesday, 28th, January 2025 at about 2251 hours. This would be the third incident in the space of three months involving a Max Air plane. Though the 53 passengers on board were evacuated unhurt, the aircraft was temporarily shut before the runway was reopened by the Federal…

THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has commenced the safety audit of commercial airline Max Air after one of the planes of the local carrier suffered a tyre burst while landing at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on Tuesday night. A source told News Point Nigeria that the audit began immediately after the incident which occurred at 10:57 pm on Tuesday when Flight VM1605, which had earlier departed from Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos, touched down in Kano. The plane suffered a tyre burst, causing panic among passengers but all those onboard were safely evacuated without major…

THE Department of State Services (DSS) has successfully apprehended a suspected fleeing gunrunner tracked from Niger Republic to Zamfara State. The suspect was presented to Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, at the Government House in Gusau on Tuesday evening. Speaking to newsmen after the presentation, Governor Lawal commended the DSS and other security agencies for their diligence and professionalism in tracking and capturing the suspect. He emphasized the importance of public cooperation in combating criminal activities. Governor Lawal disclosed that the suspect had been under surveillance and was meticulously tracked from the Niger Republic into Zamfara State, underscoring the effectiveness…

TROOPS of 1 Brigade of the Joint Task Force Operation Fansan Yamma, in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services, have intercepted a cache of arms in the Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The operation, conducted on 27 January, was based on intelligence regarding suspected arms dealers operating from the Niger Republic. This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by the Coordinator Joint Media Coordinator Centre, Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi. He said the troops launched a covert operation to track the suspects, resulting in a pursuit along the Kaura Namoda-Zurmi Road.…

THE Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Salman Dogo Garba, says the police arrested a suspect and made significant recoveries, including explosives, following an alert about a potential terrorist attack in the state. Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, the CP outlined steps taken by the police to ensure the safety of residents and prevent any attacks. “Recently, there was a security alert about an impending terrorist attack in Kano, particularly during the Tijjaniyya Maulud celebration. We raised the alarm, informed the public, and set up the necessary machinery to address the situation,” CP Garba stated. He revealed that…

MINISTER of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has decried the increasing cases of infrastructure vandalism across the country, stating that the federal government spent over N9 billion to restore vandalized power infrastructure in the Northern part of Nigeria in 2024. The continued cases of vandalism according to Adelabu are undermining the government’s effort towards ensuring adequate power supply to Nigerians. Adelabu, in clarifying a report about the N8 billion in the 2025 budget appropriation of the ministry, said that the amount is specifically meant for advocacy, education, enlightenment, and provision of technology to protect power infrastructure. “It is also to enlighten Nigerians…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refused to clarify the recent internal scandal involving an officer in charge of the Kaduna Zonal Office’s exhibit room who allegedly absconded with over thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00) and other valuable exhibits. Earlier in January, the country’s flagship anti-corruption agency said it had detained 10 officers in Lagos over theft of operational items they could not account for. The officers were arrested in connection with the theft of some operational items that they could not account for. The commission on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, stated that the 10 officers detained were from…

THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved the request of telecommunications companies to raise tariff. According to Reuben Mouka, spokeman of the commission, the approval was granted In pursuant to its power under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA) to regulate and approve tariff rates and charges by telecommunications operators. He said said telcos made the request as a result of prevailing market conditions. “The adjustment, capped at a maximum of 50 per cent of current tariffs, though lower than the over 100 per cent requested by some network operators, was arrived at taking into account ongoing…

IN a saga that has left Nigeria’s energy sector grappling with uncertainty, the long-running legal dispute surrounding the $6 billion Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project continues to threaten the nation’s energy future, keeping millions of Nigerians in the dark. The Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, located in the Taraba State region of Nigeria, is envisioned as a key piece in the country’s energy future. Once completed, it is expected to generate 3,050 megawatts of electricity, making it one of the largest power plants in Africa. For context, it was potentially the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa before Ethiopia’s more recent Grand…

IN a bid to cushion the effects of hardship, the federal government has concluded arrangements to distribute N75,000 in cash to 70 million Nigerians. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Hon. Aliyu Audu, in a statement on Sunday, explained that the gesture aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s determination to address the growing poverty in the country. Audu, who is also the convener of the APC National Stakeholders Forum and APC Rebirth Movement, as well as a past APC Transition Committee member, stated in his 2025 New Year message to the party’s promoters that Tinubu has provided…

THE 16th Fulani Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent comments on President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms. Sanusi II, who spoke earlier in the week during an event held in Lagos to honour the late human rights activist and legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, expressed disappointment over what he described as the sensationalisation and misrepresentation of his words. The monarch’s initial remarks sparked nationwide reactions after he stated that he had chosen “not to help the government” by explaining benefits of the administration’s reforms. “I have decided not to speak about the economy…

POWER supply has been disrupted to some parts of the Presidential Villa, Maitama, Wuse, Jabi, Lifecamp, Asokoro, Utako, and Mabushi, following vandalism of the 132kV transmission line and carting away of underground cable supplying bulk electricity to the Central Area transmission substation in Katampe. The vandals also carted away a 40-meter 1x500mm XLPE conductor. Ndidi Mbah, Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, revealed in a statement on Friday. According to her, the incident impacted eight distribution feeders supplying the Central Area, leading to the disruption of over 60 per cent of Abuja’s power supply. Mbah expressed…

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked the allocation of 568 lands in the nation’s capital Abuja over unpaid Certificates of Occupancy fees. Revoked were land allocations of former president, Muhammadu Buhari foundation’s, Speaker Tajjuddeen Abbas, Bayelsa and Imo States governors, Senator Diri Douye and Senator Hope Uzodimma, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Others on the list of the 568 revoked allottees are former Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Hon Abike…

THE Nigerian Communications Commission has authorised telecommunications companies to disconnect the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes assigned to nine financial institutions due to unpaid debts. This directive was made in a Tuesday public notice signed by NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka. The telecom regulator said affected banks must settle their outstanding obligations by January 27, 2025, or risk losing access to their USSD codes. These codes, essential for enabling mobile banking services, could be reassigned to other applicants if the debts remain unresolved. The commission revealed that, as of Tuesday’s close of business, nine out of 18…

POLICE officers in Kebbi State have rejected a bribe of ₦1 million offered by suspects linked to the notorious Lakurawa bandits. This was disclosed in a statement made available to News Point Nigeria on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kebbi State Police Command, Nafiu Abubakar. Abubakar, a Chief Superintendent of Police, identified the three suspects as Umaru Garba (53) of Dangandu village, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji Mamman (51) of Maimaichi village, both in Arewa Local Government Area, and Usman Muhammadu (50) of Bakaramba village in Argungu Local Government Area. He said the suspects conspired to offer a…

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has defended its proposal to allocate ₦1.1 billion for staff meals in its 2025 budget, describing it as a measure to enhance productivity and protect sensitive ICT infrastructure. The budget defence took place on 13 January 2025 before the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Finance. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s spokesperson, stated that the initiative, which will provide daily meals for all 2,300 staff members nationwide, including cleaners and security personnel, was designed to address longstanding requests from employees in outstation offices. He noted that the programme also reduces staff exposure to public spaces during…

EXCEPT there is any other intervention, indications emerged Monday that the telecoms operators have concluded plans to suspend the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) over the non-compliance of the deposit money banks (DMBs) to the payment of the protracted N250 billion debt. The suspension of the USSD service is expected in two weeks due to the failure of the banks to comply with the December 20, 2024 joint directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which required them to make part payment of the debt by December 31, 2024. This newspaper gathered Monday that…

THE Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has sought the intervention of the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), the Attorney General of the Federation, state Chief Justices, and other stakeholders regarding the fate of over 48,900 inmates in various custodial centres across the country. News Point Nigeria reports that the NCoS stated that the fate of the 48,932 inmates currently awaiting trial remains a top concern for the Service, especially concerning their upkeep, the conditions of the custodial centres where they are held, and their security. The Acting Controller-General of the Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, stated that it…

SENATOR Samuel Anyanwu, on Monday, resumed office as national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the major opposition party. His resumption heightens anxiety over the legal tussle over who the party’s national secretary is, a position being claimed by former national youth leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, based on a court order. The PDP national secretariat resumed official activities on Monday after its closure for the Yuletide holidays in the last week of December, 2024. But Anyanwu arrived the party secretariat around 10:56am and headed straight for his office where he was received by his personal staff. However, Ude-Okoye had two…