THE Federal Government has finally initiated plans to enlist the services of an external auditor to verify the N2.7tn fuel subsidy claim by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited against the government. The yet-to-be-named auditor will assist the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation in determining the real amount owed by the government. This development comes five months after the plan was proposed at the monthly Federation Allocation Accounts Committee meeting in April 2024. NNPC claimed an outstanding of N6tn but was reduced to N2.7tn after an initial audit by an audit firm, KPMG. This newspaper had reported that…
Author: Sadiq Muhammad
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THE Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, on Saturday tendered his resignation to President Bola Tinubu, News Point Nigeria gathered. Abubakar disclosed this to State House reporters on Saturday shortly after meeting with the President, saying he discussed with Tinubu who understood with him. On his visit to the Presidential Villa, Abubakar said he came to visit Tinubu to “brief Mr President on issues and today is no exception.” “After the briefing, I tendered my resignation and Mr President graciously approved and accepted the resignation.” He said he also used the opportunity to thank Tinubu…
COMMUTERS groan as fuel marketers in Kano State have jerked up their prices as a litre is being sold at between N900 and N950 per litre. Following the increase, commercial tricycle operators within the metropolitan local government areas have also increased their fares by about 100 per cent. This is coming just a few days after the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria# nationwide protest. It was observed that most of the filling stations in Kano city have also remained shut while the few that were selling the commodity were besieged by a long queue of vehicles. The few filling stations that were operating, had…
THE Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, and the Minister of Petroleum Oil, Heineken Lokpobiri, are currently being investigated by a Senate Adhoc committee over an alleged economic sabotage in the Nigeria Petroleum industry. The trio appeared before the committee led by the Chairman and leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele on Wednesday. During the session, Bamidele asserted that there would be no room for grandstanding, warning that no one would be exempted from scrutiny in the ongoing investigation, which included determining the level of…
THE Kano State Police Command has arrested a notorious armed robber and has recovered two AK-47 rifles and 47 rounds of live ammunition. The arrest was made early on Monday morning, following a report of a violent robbery in Yandadi Village, Kunchi Local Government Area. According to a statement by the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, the suspect, identified as Hassan Iliya aka Aljan, a 35-year-old resident of Alhazawa Village in Musawa LGA, Katsina State, was apprehended while attempting to escape on a motorcycle. The police said it recovered a total of ₦4.986m in cash believed…
THE Department of State Services (DSS) says it has arrested some tailors suspected to be mass-producing Russian flags in Kano State. In a statement on Monday, the DSS said some of the sponsors have also been apprehended. “The DSS can confirm that Adaramoye Michael (aka Michael Lenin) is not in its custody,” the agency wrote on its X handle. “Meanwhile, the Service has apprehended some tailors in Kano State responsible for making Russian flags being distributed in the area. Some of their sponsors have also been picked. An investigation is ongoing.” The move came in the wake of some #EndBadGovernance…
AMNESTY International calls on the Governor of Kano state Abba Kabir Yusuf to immediately set up an independent judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the reckless killing of at least 10 hunger protesters at Kurna and Kofar Nassarawa Kano. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria the Amnesty International said, “The general conduct of security agencies, the violent disruptions and destructions caused by alleged hired thugs must also be investigated. “The commission must conduct its work publicly and must also be resourceful enough to carry out its functions. These includes adequate financial support, plus expertise in criminal investigation, forensic…
GOVERNOR Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has declared 24-hour curfew in the state following the degeneration of the protest against hunger The governor declared the curfew at a press conference held at the Government House on Thursday. He said, “After careful consideration, we have come to terms that 24 hours curfew should be put in place to further prevent looting and vandalisation of businesses and killing of innocent citizens.” He further direct all security agencies in the state to ensure full compliance with the directives to ensure restoration of peace in the state.
THE ongoing nationwide hardship protest in Kano has turned violent as thugs take over the exercise to loot shops and offices. This newspaper reports that the hoodlums have started attacking shops and offices engaging in all sorts of mob action across streets. The looters were seen moving valuables, including chairs, computers and other valuables. Below are photos from the scene:
THE Federal Government has ordered tightened security at the country’s border owing to the planned nationwide protest over the prevalent economic hardship in Nigeria. In a statement, the spokesman of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) KT Udo said the Comptroller General of the agency gave the directive. “The Comptroller General of Immigration Service, KN Nandap pcc, mmis, fsm, has directed Zonal Heads, State Command Comptrollers and Divisional Immigration Officers (DIOS) of the Service across the country to be extra vigilant and step up surveillance in view of the planned nationwide protest by some groups,” the Saturday statement read. “The Comptroller…
IN anticipation of a nationwide protest scheduled for August, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced a temporary suspension of leave applications for its personnel. The Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mrs. Kemi Nandap, who gave the directive to Zonal Heads, State Command Comptrollers, and Divisional Immigration Officers, noted the need to intensify border surveillance and ensure the country’s security during the protest period. According to the statement released on Saturday by the NIS public relations officer, Mr. Kenneth Udo, the agency is mobilizing its resources to prevent potential foreign threats from exploiting the situation. The CG’s directives reads, “In keeping…
ELDER Statesman and renowned Transporter, Alhaji Umar Adamkolo Umar, Kauran Saminaka, has urged the Federal Government, Elder statemen, Community, Religious and Labour Leaders, and Professional bodies to give total support to the $20bn Dangote Refinery. He opined that the edifice is a masterstroke and a monumental enterprise that will make amazing significant contributions to the socioeconomic development of Nigeria. Kauran Saminaka during an interview with a select journalists on Wednesday then expressed concern and was surprised over the allegations of poor quality diesel against Dangote refinery by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). NMDPRA and Dangote refinery…
NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, says he does not own a blending plant in Malta, adding that he does not know of any employee of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited who owns such a facility in the island country in Europe. Kyari, in a Tuesday post on X (formerly Twitter), asked the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, to publicly declare NNPC personnel who operate a blending plant in Malta. Over the weekend, Dangote, Africa’s richest man and the owner of a $20bn refinery in Lagos, said some NNPC personnel and oil traders operate a blending plant…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Tuesday forwarded the Police Act Amendment Bill to the House of Representatives. The bill seeks to amend the tenure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP). Earlier in July, the police denied claims that IGP Kayode Egbetokun tried to lobby the National Assembly on a bill seeking to raise the retirement age of officers. The President appointed Egbetokun as the IGP in June 2023 for four years. He was appointed alongside four new service chiefs. According to Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun, who was born on September 4, 1964, is expected to retire…
THE Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on Friday imposed a $220 million fine on Meta platforms for violating data privacy laws. Meta is the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. In a statement issued on Friday, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), said the penalty is in accordance with the FCCPA 2018, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (administrative penalties) Regulations 2020 (APR). According to FCCPC’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Adamu Abdullahi, the commission found Meta culpable of denying Nigerian data subjects the right to self-determine, unauthorised transfer and sharing of Nigerian data, including cross-border…
AFRICA’s richest man Aliko Dangote says the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited now owns a 7.2% stake in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, and not a 20% stake as initially announced before the inauguration of the facility at the Lekki Free Trade Zone. Dangote, who made this known at a press briefing on Sunday, said NNPC’s stake dropped to 7.2% over the company’s failure to pay the balance of their share, which was due in June. The NNPC had acquired a 20 per cent interest in the $20bn Dangote refinery for $2.76 billion. “NNPC no longer owns a 20 per…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appointed Bashir Lado Mohammed as Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters (Office of the President). This was disclosed in a statement released by the President’s media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, on Saturday. According to the statement, the President expects that the new Special Adviser on Senate Matters will deploy his immense experience for enhanced synergy between the Executive and the Legislature and for improved government performance. See full statement below: STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS SPECIAL ADVISER ON SENATE MATTERS President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Senator Bashir Lado Mohammed as…
THE Federal Government has confirmed several measures including a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities in a new move to address the increasing cost of food prices. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, who made the announcement in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, said the measures introduced will be implemented over the next 180 days. According to the Minister, this will involve the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes for the importation of certain food commodities through land and sea borders. These commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas. Noting that…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu will meet with the Organised Labour in Abuja on Thursday to further discussions on a new minimum wage for workers in Nigeria. A top labour source told News Point Nigeria that the President invited the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to the meeting expected to be held at the Aso Villa in the nation’s capital city. The President is expected to make a decision on the ₦62,000 proposal of the government and private sector side; as well as the ₦250,000 demand of the Organised Labour. The Thursday meeting is coming…
JUSTICE Simon Amobeda of the Federal High court has given Justice Faruk Adamu and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf, judges of Kano State High court 48 hours to resign as chairmen of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets as well as Political Violence and Missing Persons respectively. The National Judicial Council (NJC), Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Attorney General of Kano State, Justices Faruk Adamu and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf are defendants in the case. Delivering a judgement on Thursday in a suit filed by former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Justice Amobeda held that…