Author: Sadiq Muhammad

THE new management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has fired the managing directors of the three refineries under the purview of NNPCL. The refineries include the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company. Some other senior officials of the national oil firm were also asked to leave, among them is Bala Wunti, a former chief of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services, a subsidiary of NNPCL. The new management also asked over 200 officials with one year to their various retirement dates to leave. Although the company’s spokesperson, Olufemi…

AMIDST growing abuse of public procurement process, indications have emerged that President Bola Tinubu is set to bring down the sledge hammer against some Ministers and heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies of federal government for failing to comply with public procurement regulations. This is coming against the backdrop of recent requests by the Ministers for increase in the threshold, ahead of the implementation of the 2025 budget, which the President has also put on hold. Recall that President Tinubu had earlier this year, signed a budget of about N55trn, the highest any Nigerian President has implemented. In a bid…

THE Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested 22 Nigerians allegedly involved in a financially motivated sextortion scheme that has been blamed for more than 20 teen suicides in the United States since 2021, the agency announced in a statement on its website. In the report published on late Friday, April 24, the arrests were part of a first-of-its-kind global operation, codenamed Artemis, conducted in collaboration with law enforcement agencies in Canada, Australia, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom. The FBI launched Operation Artemis nearly two years ago after receiving thousands of reports of teen boys being coerced into sharing sexually explicit…

THE Federal Government has explained its decision to install solar panels at the Aso Rock Villa, the seat of power in the country. The Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdulahi, said it is unsustainable for the Aso Rock Villa to continue to pay about ₦47 billion yearly in power bills. He said that this is why President Bola Tinubu approved ₦10 billion for the solar power grid to power the presidential villa. Mustapha, who gave the explanation while briefing the press on Friday, said the move is in line with the President’s agenda to diversify energy…

MTN Group, Africa’s largest mobile operator, said on Thursday it suffered a cybersecurity breach that exposed personal data of huge number of customers, but its core networks, billing systems, and financial platforms remain secure. News Point Nigeria reports that some unidentified hackers had forcibly accessed parts of MTN’s data systems, the company said in a statement posted on its website. While the scope of the breach is still under investigation, MTN reassured stakeholders and customers that there is no indication that customer financials or digital wallets were directly compromised. “No evidence of compromise to any of our critical infrastructure, core…

THE Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the request of 2025 intending pilgrims to be granted cash transactions for the holy pilgrimage to Mecca. This followed the intervention of Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who appealed to President Bola Tinubu on behalf of the over 40,000 pilgrims through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria on Thursday. NAHCON’s Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Aliu Abdulrazaq, who disclosed while speaking with newsmen after meeting with the vice-president at the State House, Abuja, confirmed that the CBN granted Nigerian pilgrims the opportunity of cash transactions for this year’s Hajj. He said, “The meeting…

THE Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, has announced the release of ₦50 billion by the Federal Government to the academic and non-academic staff unions of federal universities for the settlement of earned allowances, as promised by President Bola Tinubu. This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo. Boriowo described the move “as yet another testament to Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to fundamentally transform Nigeria’s education sector. “It reflects the administration’s bold resolve to transition the nation from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy through strategic investments in…

THE Presidency has defended the controversial N10 billion solar power project proposed for the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, citing global best practices, including the use of solar energy at the White House in Washington D.C., United States. Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, on Tuesday, shared a video clip of solar panels installed at the White House, noting that the Nigerian Presidency was only following the footsteps of developed nations in transitioning to renewable energy. “The White House in Washington D.C. uses solar power,” Onanuga wrote in the caption accompanying the video posted on…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu’s reported approval of ₦10 billion or about €5.58m for a solar mini-grid at the Presidential Villa is more than a technical upgrade. It is a powerful political statement. By taking Aso Rock off the national electricity grid, Nigeria’s number one citizen has done what millions of Nigerians have been forced to do – show a stark vote of no confidence in the country’s struggling national grid. “This move carries profound symbolism. It is at once a vote of no confidence in the national grid and a bold embrace of energy decentralisation,” Collins Nweke, a former green councillor…

THERE is widespread tension in Kaduna as Governor Uba Sani has directed the revocation of institutional houses and land allocations within Alhuda-huda College, Zaria, Queen Amina College, Kaduna and Government Commercial College, Zaria sold by the immediate past administration of Malam Nasir El-Rufai. A document sighted by News Point Nigeria on Tuesday night signed by the Secretary to Kaduna State Government, Dr AbdulKadir Mu’azu Meyere said, the houses and land allocations were revoked for overriding public interest and for the common good. The SSG however said efforts were being made to ensure all payments made to the government coffers in…

GOVERNOR Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has finally debunked rumors suggesting he plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a post shared on his verified Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) handles, the Governor reaffirmed his commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing himself as a “bona fide member” of the party. The post reads: “I am Dauda Lawal, a bona fide member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Disregard the fake news from detractors determined to distract us from the RESCUE MISSION we have embarked on.” Governor Lawal emphasized that his focus remains on delivering the…

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission has started investigating some universities and banks for allegedly engaging in fraudulent activities that prevented students from receiving payments allocated to them under the Federal Government’s student loan scheme. This is just as the House of Representatives declared its intention to investigate allegations against some banks and tertiary institutions withholding disbursed funds from students. This development follows an investigation by the National Orientation Agency, which uncovered widespread unethical practices in the administration of the initiative. According to findings from the NOA’s Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers, some universities, in collusion with…

IN the wake of conflicting reports surrounding a heated exchange between Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar and Bauchi Governor, Bala Mohammed, fresh accounts are emerging that cast doubt on the narrative being pushed by loyalists of the Bauchi State governor. According to a credible source present at the meeting, who spoke to News Point Nigeria  under condition of anonymity, claims that the Minister was physically assaulted are “entirely fabricated and implausible.” The source stated, “You know that’s not true. The Minister is an athlete and is more physically fit. If it came to a fight, it’s impossible for him to be…

THE Presidency has described as false and mischievous reports alleging that Vice President Kashim Shettima was denied access to the Presidential Villa in Abuja. In a statement issued on Saturday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha made available to News Point Nigeria, the Presidency said the claims were “totally fabricated” and aimed at misleading the public into believing there was a rift between President Bola Tinubu and his deputy. The statement was titled ‘Re: Mischievous Report On Access To The Presidential Villa By Vice President Kashim Shettima,…

Soneye Dedicates Award To Teamwork, Pledges Transparent Communication THE Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Olufemi Soneye, has been honoured as the 2025 Spokesperson of the Year by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). The award was presented during a prestigious ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday night, following a rigorous evaluation of Nigeria’s most accomplished communicators. Soneye emerged as the top choice among an elite group of finalists, including Igo Weli of Shell Petroleum, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Akande of Sifax Group, and Osagie Edward from the…

THE Federal Government and the World Bank have entered a fresh partnership towards tackling poverty and boosting the living standards of Nigeria’s vulnerable populations. This was as the Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) described the stance of former Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Ndume, on World Bank loans secured by the President Bola Tinubu administration as a deliberate misrepresentation of facts. Through the various social investment programmes, the global bank is releasing $17 billion for poverty reduction programmes in Nigeria. World Bank Regional Vice President, Western and Central Africa, Ousmane Diagana, made this known at a meeting with the Minister…

ADEBAYO Adelabu, the minister of power, is blaming poor development and rot of power sector on past administrations, stating that past efforts to transform the sector did not amount to anything. News Point Nigeria reports that the minister stated this while hosting the World Bank delegation in his office in Abuja on Wednesday. According to him, there has been a long neglect of power infrastructure from 1999 to date, which has contributed to the present rot in the sector. Recalll Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari were presidents in the period mentioned. Adelabu added, “We actually have…

THE United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) is to shut down its operations in Nigeria. News Point Nigeria report that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe, disclosed this on Wednesday during a Validation Workshop on the Anticipatory Action Framework for Nigeria, held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser, Abuja. According to him, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohamed Fall, had informed him about the decision. Professor Nantawe, who decried the impact of flood disasters and insecurity on livelihoods in Nigeria, commended UNOCHA for its…

FOOD inflation rate in Nigeria rose to 21.79 percent on a year-on-year basis in March 2025, this is as nation’s headline inflation rose to 24.23 percent, relative to the February 2025 headline inflation rate of 23.18 percent. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the increase can be attributed to the rate of increase in the average prices of Ginger (fresh), Garri (Yellow), Broken Rice (Ofada), Honey. News Point Nigeria’s analysis of the report which was released on Tuesday showed that food inflation on a Year-on-Year basis was highest in Oyo (34.41 percent), Kaduna (31.14 percent), Kebbi (30.85 percent), while…

THE Army has restored security along the Sheme-Kankara road, a 34-kilometre stretch once feared for its insecurity and regarded as one of the most dangerous roads in the state, also known as a key exit route between Katsina and Zamfara States. A team of journalists conducted an on-the-ground tour of the route and confirmed the deployment of army personnel, police and allied security agencies along strategic points of the road after almost 30 months. Our correspondent, who was part of the tour, observed that military outposts were visibly mounted at strategic locations on the road, signalling renewed government presence and…