THE Katsina State Government says the winner of the Qur’anic recitation competition, Abdulsalam Rabiu-Faskari, his father and brother are still alive, but in the custody of their abductors. This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Dr Bala Salisu-Zango, on Saturday in Katsina. It could be recalled that the victims were abducted two days ago on their way to Faskari from Katsina, after they were honoured by Governor Dikko Radda, for his outstanding performance during the National Qur’anic recitation competition held in Kebbi. Salisu-Zango said he would represent Nigeria in the recitation of the…
Author: Sadiq Muhammad
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THE House of Representatives on Thursday considered and adopted the reports of its committee on finance regarding the four tax reform bills transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu transmitted in October, 2024. The reports were considered clause-by-clause and were subsequently approved ahead of the third reading. The bills include: The Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024, the Nigeria Revenue Service Bill 2024, and the Joint Revenue Board Tax Bill, 2024. Here are 10 amendments adopted by the Green Chamber on Thursday: Revenue Derivation Formula This was one of the most contentious sections in…
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf M. Tuggar, has refuted claims of targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria, describing them as misleading and aimed at influencing foreign governments, particularly the United States, to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). In a press statement on Friday signed by the acting spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the ministry stated that while the Federal Government acknowledges the security challenges in the country, these incidents are not religiously motivated or targeted at any particular faith group. It emphasized that insurgency and banditry in the predominantly Muslim northern region of Nigeria are…
IN a fresh twist to the Kano Emirate leadership dispute, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has restrained the enforcement of its January 10 judgment that upheld the Kano State Government’s repeal of the 2019 Emirate Council Law, pending the determination of an appeal at the Supreme Court. The Court of Appeal in Kano set aside the June 20 order by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano, nullifying the steps/actions taken by the Kano State Government pursuant to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, including the appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir…
A WITNESS for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Chinedu Eneanya, on Thursday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, disregarded the naira redesign approved by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and implemented his own version. Eneanya, an EFCC investigator who testified as Principal Witness 7, stated that Buhari had approved a design featuring advanced security features, including colour changes and a QR code. However, Emefiele allegedly ignored these specifications and opted for a hastily executed plan. Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the witness said four deputy…
FORMER President Muhammadu Buhari has reaffirmed his commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that he remains a loyal member of the party that granted him two terms in office. His statement comes amid the recent defection of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, a close ally, from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Speculation has also arisen about other political figures leaving the ruling party. However, in a statement issued on Thursday by his media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari dismissed any doubts about his political allegiance, emphasizing his dedication to the APC. “Without referring to…
NIGERIA’s power sector is facing an escalating financial crisis, with generation companies (GenCos) warning of potential shutdowns for a long time. This comes as GenCos, in a new letter to the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN), disclosed the possibility of tariff increase following the imposition of new taxes on power companies. With promises made to address the financial crisis in the power sector, documents yesterday from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) showed that the Federal Government only paid N371 billion or 19.5 per cent of N1.9 trillion subsidy coming from last year’s tariff shortfalls. The development indicates a…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu is finally moving to fill diplomatic leadership positions after operating without ambassadors for a year and a half, News Point Nigeria gathered. According to a credible source in the Villa, the government has concluded screening of potential candidates to head its more than 100 diplomatic missions around the world. Recall that President Tinubu recalled all ambassadors in September 2023, shortly after taking office. Now, appointments are expected “very soon,” another Foreign Affairs source told this newspaper. “The issue is being resolved,” the source said, indicating that the long diplomatic vacuum may be coming to an end very…
IT appears the controversy over the allegations by Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill and her suspension from the Red Chamber may not be getting off the news anytime soon. This is because the suspended Kogi Senator on Tuesday took her case to a global stage. At the Women in Parliament session held at the Inter-Parliamentary Union Meeting (IPU) at the United Nations in New York, Senator Natasha is seeking justice and the intervention of global democratic institutions. The lawmaker is asking for justice over what she described as injustice meted out to her. Senator Natasha described her…
THE deportation process for the 85 Nigerians held in United States camps has yet to begin, despite deportation orders being issued, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has told this newspaper. She also clarified that their planned deportation from the US is not a direct result of President Donald Trump’s renewed crackdown on undocumented immigrants. She stated that while the individuals are currently in U.S. deportation camps awaiting repatriation, their cases are part of routine immigration enforcement rather than politically motivated action. Her remarks come amid growing concerns over the treatment of Nigerian deportees and the bureaucratic delays…
THE special investigative panel set up by the Federal Government to look into allegations of corruption, abuse of power, torture, and cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment against the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), yesterday began its probe into senior personnel of the service accused of corrupt practices. Secretary of the panel, Dr. Uju Agomoh, who led the session, said that a good number of cases brought before the panel involved very senior correctional officers and in-charges of custodial centres across Nigeria, where the alleged corrupt practices took place. She said that the panel, in its terms of reference, is charged with…
LESS than six hours after News Point Nigeria had reported the suspension of the naira-for-crude oil swap deal with domestic refiners, including Dangote Refinery and other private operators, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has clarified that the six-month agreement will end in March but discussion are ongoing for renewal. Recall earlier on Monday (today), News Point Nigeria reported that there is growing unease after the NNPC suspended the naira-for-crude oil swap deal with domestic refiners, including Dangote Refinery and other private operators. This newspaper reported that the decision, which took immediate effect, had sparked discussions about its implications…
NASIR Ahmad El-Rufai, a former Kaduna State Governor, has officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP). El-Rufai, in a resignation letter submitted on Monday, March 10, 2025, to his ward in Kaduna State, cited irreconcilable differences with the ruling party’s leadership, after which, expressed disappointment with the party’s trajectory in recent years “I have diligently served the APC and made my contributions to its viability as a political platform,” he stated. “However, developments in the last two years have confirmed a troubling disregard for democratic principles and progressive values that I hold…
THERE is growing tension among 72 appointees of the Executive Management of 12 River Basin Development Authorities over the inexplicable delay by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to issue them their appointments letters in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The development comes three months after the President officially announced their appointments and gave an order for the release of their appointment letters. This newspaper gathered that the prolong delay has made the caretaker officials overseeing the 12 River Basin Development Authorities to remain sit-tight in their respective positions. One of the appointees, who…
THE family of the late General Sani Abacha has rebuffed claims made by former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, that the late Abacha was responsible for the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. In his recently launched autobiography, A Journey in Service, Babangida expressed regret over the annulment, acknowledging that the Social Democratic Party’s candidate, MKO Abiola, won the election. Describing the annulment as an “accident of history,” IBB blamed military officers led by Abacha, who was then his Chief of Defence Staff, for the controversial decision, alleging that it was done “without his permission.” Reacting in…
THE Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa has emphasized that the construction of Renewed Hope Projects must be based on contractual terms to ensure durability, warning that he will not hesitate to revoke the contract of any substandard work. Dangiwa stated this when inspecting the ongoing construction of 1,500 and 500 houses in Kano, built via Public Private Partnership and Budgetary provision, respectively, urging the developers to maintain high standards and deliver quality work. He said, “We will not tolerate any substandard work found on any Renewed Hope Project Site anywhere in the country. We are very committed…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has congratulated former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on his 68th birthday. Tinubu described Osinbajo as a close ally, friend, and brother. The President’s congratulatory message was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, March 8. The statement reads: “President Bola Tinubu congratulates his longtime ally and friend, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on his 68th birthday. “Professor Osinbajo was vice president of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. “President Tinubu notes that Osinbajo, a professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, worked harmoniously with President Muhammadu Buhari to…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has turned down a N942bn proposal by the National Population Commission for the conduct of the national housing and population census, this newspaper gathered. Impeccable sources privy to the discussions between Tinubu and the commission’s top officials on Monday, February 24, 2025, at the State House, revealed that the President insisted on cost-cutting measures. According to the sources, the President proposed the deployment of members of the National Youth Service Corps for the exercise, a proposal that will most likely be implemented. After being briefed by officials of the NPC led by its Chairman, Nasir Kwarra, Tinubu…
NIGERIANS were plunged into darkness on Friday, March 7, 2025, following a major disturbance in the national electricity grid, marking the second collapse of the year. Two major electricity distribution companies, Ikeja Electric and Eko Electricity Distribution Company, confirmed the outage, which occurred at approximately 4:00pm In a statement on X, Ikeja Electric informed customers: “Please be informed that we experienced a system outage today, 07/03/2025, at 14:00 hrs, affecting supply within our network. Restoration of supply is ongoing in collaboration with our critical stakeholders.” Similarly, Eko DisCo attributed the outage to reduced power allocation from the Transmission Company of…
THE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has complained about the treatment meted out to Nigerian passengers by some international airlines, insisting that Nigerians can not be paying the highest fee across Africa and still get maltreated. The aviation regulator said Nigerians pay a humongous amount to fly more than any other country in Africa. The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, disclosed this at a meeting with the management team of RwandAir over prolonged/delayed refund allegations levelled against the airline by many Nigerian passengers. He complained of the airline staff’s unprofessionalism, which, according to him,…