Author: Maimuna Bashir Isa

THE Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy has inaugurated four drafting committees—Policy & Strategy; Programmes & Implementation; Stakeholder Engagement; and Monitoring & Evaluation—to design policy and financing frameworks for Nigeria’s arts, culture, tourism and creative economy. According to a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Monday by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Nneka Ikem Anibeze, at Tuesday’s inauguration in Abuja, Musawa said the creative sector commands global attention yet accounts for only about 2.3% of national output, constrained by fragmented governance, weakly enforced intellectual-property rules, and scarce financing. Under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda,…

THE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned prospective corps members against night travels even as it announced the timetable for the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream II orientation exercise for them, scheduled to hold nationwide. This was disclosed in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja by the scheme’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, who outlined key dates and guidelines. According to the statement, the three-week orientation programme will be conducted simultaneously across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for all eligible participants. The NYSC said registration…

NIGERIA has been ranked as the highest food-wasting nation in Africa, with an estimated 38 million tonnes of food lost annually, according to the European Union. News Point Nigeria reports that the alarming figure was disclosed during the commemoration of the International Zero Waste Day in Abuja, where stakeholders called for urgent and coordinated action to address food waste and promote sustainable consumption and production. The event, themed “Food Waste Reduction – Minimisation and Valorisation,” brought together representatives of the Federal Government, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and development partners to highlight the scale of the crisis and propose…

CHANNELS Television anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, has said he is not afraid and will not be intimidated following controversy surrounding remarks by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while also thanking Nigerians and organisations for their support. News Point Nigeria reports that Okinbaloye made this known during a broadcast on Sunday, where he acknowledged the outpouring of solidarity from civil society groups, viewers, and both local and international organisations. “I sincerely want to thank civil society organisations, our viewers, for your love and your comments and your solidarity… Your support is deeply appreciated and reinforces our collective commitment…

NO fewer than six persons were injured following the collapse of a three-storey building under construction in Jikwoyi within the Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory. According to the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD), 17 workers were on the upper floor of the structure when the building caved in. Nine persons reportedly came out unhurt. The head of the Department of Public Affairs of the FEMD, Nkechi Isa, explained in a statement that rescue operations were done with immediate effect to ensure that no one was left trapped in the rubble. “The FEMD search and…

THE National Community Food Bank Programme received pledges totalling over N66bn on Thursday at its launch and Board of Trustees inauguration at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. News Point Nigeria reports that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, made the announcement during his keynote address at the event hosted by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The Aliko Dangote Foundation led private sector contributions with a N20bn in-kind commitment over five years, followed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s pledge of N10bn over the same period. The Emeka Offor Foundation pledged N500m upfront,…

THE Government of Canada has announced an increase in application fees for permanent residence and citizenship for Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking residency in the country. News Point Nigeria reports that the new fees will take effect on April 30, 2026, according to an official notice published on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website, sighted by The PUNCH on Monday. IRCC said the hike was aimed at maintaining timely and reliable services and keeping pace with inflation. “Starting April 30, 2026, fees for permanent resident applications will increase as part of a routine update. Applications received on or…

THE West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results for the 2026 First Series of the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for private candidates. News Point Nigeria reports that the examination was conducted across Nigeria between January 28 and February 14, 2026. The coordination of examiners and marking of scripts took place at three centres in Lagos, Enugu, and Kaduna from February 26 to March 13, involving a total of 608 examiners. A total of 10,523 candidates registered for the examination, representing an 11.49 per cent increase compared to 9,438 candidates in 2025. Of this number,…

THE Federal Government has directed civil servants working within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja to work from home on Friday, March 27, 2026, ahead of the national convention of the All Progressives Congress. The directive was contained in a circular sighted by News Point Nigeria and signed by Abdul Garba, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. According to the circular, all access roads leading to and around the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phases I, II and III, will be closed from Friday, March 27, to Saturday, March 28, 2026. “All Ministries, Extra-Ministerial…

TWO nurses have been arrested in connection with the death of two young sisters following an alleged drug misapplication at the General Hospital in Zuru, Kebbi State. News Point Nigeria reports that the victims, aged six and three, reportedly died on March 18, under circumstances linked to suspected negligence during treatment at the facility. The suspects are currently in police custody in Birnin Kebbi, as authorities continue investigations to determine the exact cause of the deaths. In response to the incident, the Kebbi State Government has constituted a nine-member investigative panel headed by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji…

THE Federal Government has begun evacuating willing Nigerians in Iran, escorting them across the Armenian border to ensure their safety amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. News Point Nigeria reports that the evacuation follows the growing crisis that began on February 28 after coordinated military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel. The attacks triggered retaliatory missile and drone strikes across parts of the region, raising fears of a wider conflict. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this in a post on her X handle on Tuesday. She…

THE Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) said it has disbursed a total of ₦206.29 billion in student loans to 1,164,222 beneficiaries since the launch of the scheme. The fund’s Daily Status Report as of March 9, 2026 sighted by News Point Nigeria, noted that since the portal opened on May 24, 2024, a total of 1,734,985 students have applied for the loan scheme, with more than 1.16 million already benefiting from disbursements. Data from the report indicates that 270 institutions have benefited from the programme so far. The loan, which covers tuition fees and student upkeep allowances, was introduced to…

THE Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has released emergency hotline numbers for Nigerians living in or travelling through parts of the Middle East as tensions continue to rise over the Iran-related conflict in the region. In a public notice shared on its official X handle sighted by News Point Nigeria, NiDCOM urged Nigerians in affected countries to save the hotline numbers and immediately contact the nearest Nigerian mission in cases of distress or emergency. The move follows mounting fears over the wider implications of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has raised concerns about the safety of foreign…

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the implementation of a new Exit Benefit Scheme that will grant retiring federal civil servants a gratuity equivalent to 100 per cent of their total annual salary. The scheme, which will take effect from January 1, 2026, is expected to significantly enhance retirement benefits for officers who have served the country for at least 10 years in the federal civil service. The approval represents one of the most significant welfare reforms for federal workers in recent years and underscores the government’s effort to ensure civil servants retire with improved financial security. The development…

THE Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned the alleged terrorism trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, till March 10, 2026. News Point Nigeria reports that the adjournment followed an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, who sought more time to enable the prosecution to adequately study the case file. Oyedepo informed the court that the file was recently transferred from the State Security Services to the Department of Public Prosecutions. “We ask your lordship for a very short date. If we have four days,…

THE hearing of a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Nasir El-Rufai against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and four other respondents was stalled on Tuesday due to the inability of the claimant’s counsel to serve the respondents with court processes. News Point Nigeria reports that El-Rufai is seeking ₦1 billion in damages from ICPC and the other defendants. The additional respondents include the Magistrate’s Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Federal Ministry of Justice (Attorney-General of the Federation), listed as the second to fourth respondents. When the matter…

THE Federal Government has advised Nigerians living in the Middle East, particularly in the Islamic Republic of Iran and surrounding Gulf nations, to take extra security precautions following rising military tensions in the region. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Saturday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government said it is closely watching developments involving military operations reportedly carried out by Israel and the United States against targets in Iran, as well as subsequent retaliatory actions affecting parts of the Gulf. Authorities urged Nigerian citizens in the affected areas to remain alert and avoid locations considered…

AN Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has affirmed the validity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held in the Oyo State capital in November 2025, which produced Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as the party’s substantive national chairman. News Point Nigeria reports that delivering judgement on Friday, Justice Ladiran Akintola upheld the amended originating summons filed by Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN) on behalf of the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi. The court granted all 13 reliefs sought, holding that the convention complied with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), and other relevant electoral laws.…

THE Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has criticised the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over its interim report, which alleges an airfare hike by domestic airlines. News Point Nigeria reports that the AON described the FCCPC’s claim as harmful to the survival of airlines and based on a flawed understanding of the industry’s economics. The reaction followed the FCCPC’s disclosure on February 26 that it uncovered evidence suggesting local airlines manipulated ticket prices during the 2025 yuletide period. Reacting in a statement, the spokesperson of Airline Operators of Nigeria and Chairman of United Nigeria Airline, Obiorah Okonkwo, stated…

NIGERIA has formally declared its bid for membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2027–2029 term. In a video statement sighted by News Point Nigeria, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar announced the country’s candidature, describing the council as an important platform for dialogue, conflict prevention, and international cooperation on human rights. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with the council’s mechanisms, stressing that these instruments are vital for the global promotion and protection of human rights. Tuggar highlighted plans to finance safe schools and strengthen secure learning environments as part of government efforts to protect…