FOUR people have allegedly been killed in Rimin Auzinawa, Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State, following a violent clash with security operatives over demolition of properties. The victims were reportedly shot dead by security personnel after residents retaliated against the destruction of their buildings. Sources revealed that the demolished structures—mostly residential buildings under construction estimated at 40 – had been previously marked by the Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA). The land in question reportedly belongs to Bayero University, Kano (BUK). A resident affected by the demolition, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that KNUPDA had earlier…
Author: Sadiq Muhammad
Read More
THE naira appreciated to an eighth-month high of 1474.78/$ at the official foreign exchange (FX) market on Friday as dollar demand eases on a raft of fiscal and monetary policies of the government. The naira traded at 1,485.99/$ on June 3, 2024 at Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM). However, the currency is now stronger eight months after due to a slew of factors, including a rising local petrol refining capacity, higher dollar inflows and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s swift policy actions in the last 17 months. The 650,000-barrels-per-day Dangote Petroleum Refinery began refining petrol in September 2024, providing…
DANGOTE Petroleum Refinery has reduced the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, from N950 to N890, effective from Saturday. In a statement, the company said the price adjustment is in response to favourable developments in the global energy sector and a significant decline in international crude oil prices. “Dangote Refinery’s decision reflects its commitment to aligning with market realities and ensuring that consumers benefit from changes in international crude oil prices.” In the statement issued by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the company explained that this latest move follows a similar…
THE Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has warned the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over his recent comment that Nigerian politicians are in power to steal, kill, and retain power. Amaechi made the remark at a two-day National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria held earlier this week, aimed at discussing pathways to good governance and political integrity in Nigeria. The former Governor of Rivers State further said President Bola Tinubu and other members of the political class would not cede power to the younger generation without a fight. According to Amaechi, Nigerian voters are easily swayed…
THE Nigerian Immigration Service has intercepted 21 minors suspected to be victims of human trafficking at Geidam town near the Nigeria-Niger Republic Border in Yobe state. The Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service in the state, Sani Sule-Jega, while handing over the suspected victims to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), said the children are between the ages of seven to 15 years. According to him, the minors were being transported from Magama local government area in Niger state to the Niger Republic for studies and do not have any travel documents. “These are minors…
TRACKA, the service delivery platform of BudgIT, has revealed that 17 contractors received N2.4 billion for 15 projects across nine states, yet none of the projects have been initiated on the sites monitored. The platform, which allows citizens to track and provide feedback on public projects, highlighted several payments, including: The payment of N401 million to Mainstream Contractors in December 2023 under the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing for the rehabilitation of Welcome-Nasarawa-Farewell from Nasarawa, linking the North and Southern parts of Nigeria in Nasarawa LGA, Nasarawa State. N153 million to Icent Light Ltd between August and November 2023…
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…