THE Federal Ministry of Finance has approved payments to more than 1,240 contractors in a move aimed at providing immediate liquidity support to businesses across the country and reinforcing the Federal Government’s commitment to meeting its financial obligations. News Point Nigeria reports that the approval was granted by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, following what the ministry described as a rigorous verification and reconciliation process designed to ensure that only duly validated obligations qualified for payment. According to the ministry, the payments cover contractors engaged by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)…
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NO fewer than 270 Nigerians are expected to be evacuated from South Africa today as the Federal Government begins the first phase of a planned airlift operation approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in response to rising concerns over the safety of Nigerians in the country. News Point Nigeria reports that the evacuees are part of more than 500 Nigerians who have so far been screened and cleared for repatriation following a series of anti-foreigner protests in South Africa that have reportedly targeted businesses and properties linked to Nigerians. The evacuation operation is expected to be carried out by Air…
MEDIA aide to former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, Muyiwa Adekeye has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission of denying the former governor access to medical care despite repeated complaints about a worsening eye condition while in custody. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Friday, Adekeye alleged that El-Rufai had complained of swollen, reddish and itchy eyes during his detention and requested permission to see a doctor. According to him, family members who visited the former governor also observed his condition and alerted ICPC officials, while seeking urgent medical attention on his behalf.…
THE Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has classified the risk of importation of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) into Nigeria as high, citing ongoing transmission in parts of East Africa, increased international travel, population movement, and porous borders. News Point Nigeria reports that the assessment was disclosed by the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, during a media briefing in Lagos on the country’s level of preparedness following reported Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Dr Idris said the agency’s position is based on a dynamic risk assessment…
THE International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has received another batch of Nigerian migrants evacuated from Libya. News Point Nigeria reports that the evacuation was part of efforts to address irregular migration and support vulnerable returnees, the UN agency said in a statement. The IOM says the evacuation is part of efforts to address irregular migration and support vulnerable returnees. The 180 returnees, comprising mainly women and children, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos aboard a chartered flight from Libya. According to the IOM, many of them had endured difficult conditions, including detention, exploitation and uncertainty while attempting…
THE Federal Government said it has tightened health screening and surveillance at land borders, airports, and seaports nationwide following the outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease. News Point Nigeria reports that the development comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) Tuesday, scaled back the number of suspected Ebola cases in central Africa to 116, down from more than 900 previously, with 330 cases now confirmed. In a statement issued on Tuesday, signed by the Assistant Director of Press and Public Relations, Ado Bako, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare noted that although there was currently…
THE Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria has proposed a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy to co-host the 2026 All-Africa Challenge Trophy in Abuja. Dr. Lami Onayi Ahmed, FNIM, President of LGAN and Chairperson of the AACT 2026 Local Organising Committee, made the proposal on Tuesday, during a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa in Abuja. Under the proposed collaboration, the Ministry will serve as Cultural Night Partner, programme and curate the evening’s showcase of Nigerian arts, music, fashion and cuisine for African teams, diplomats, Ministers and global media. The Ministry…
THE Federal Government is considering possible restrictions on flights from countries affected by the Ebola virus, as part of fresh measures to prevent any outbreak in Nigeria. News Point Nigeria reports that this was disclosed on Thursday by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, following a high-level strategic meeting held in Victoria Island, Lagos State, to review the country’s Ebola preparedness and response framework. Gbajabiamila, who led the meeting, said the proposed travel restrictions would be complemented by the isolation of passengers showing symptoms consistent with Ebola infection at the nation’s points of entry. The meeting brought…
THE Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, has said corps members are not exempt from Nigeria’s cyberbullying and social media laws during their mandatory national service year. News Point Nigeria reports that tNafiu stated this during an interview with journalists on Thursday in Abuja, stressing that corps members remain subject to constitutional provisions and laws regulating online conduct across the country. According to him, corps members remain citizens of Nigeria and are fully bound by the provisions of the Constitution and other extant laws regulating online conduct, cyber activities and public behaviour nationwide. Nafiu…
NIGERIA’s economy recorded a real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 3.89% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026. News Point Nigeria reports that the latest figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) mark an improvement over the 3.13% recorded in the corresponding period of 2025. Agriculture emerged as the most improved performer during the period under review, growing by 3.15% in Q1 2026, a significant rebound from the marginal 0.07% growth recorded in Q1 2025. The growth of the industry sector stood at 3.50% from 3.42% recorded in the first quarter of 2025, while the services sector…
THE Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has called for stronger support toward the completion of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) National Secretariat project in Abuja, saying the public relations profession deserves a national edifice Nigerians can identify with and take pride in. CGC Adeniyi made the appeal on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, shortly after inspecting the ongoing construction of the NIPR National Secretariat, known as “Public Relations Place,” located within the premises of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria’s Radio House in Garki, Abuja. The Customs boss expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded at the site, noting that public…
THE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed airlines, airport operators and other aviation stakeholders to intensify public health surveillance measures following the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. In a circular dated May 18, 2026 made available to News Point Nigeria , the NCAA said the directive became necessary due to growing concerns over the spread of the disease and the critical role of the aviation sector in preventing cross-border transmission. The authority noted that although no confirmed case linked to the outbreak has been recorded in Nigeria,…
THE Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has cleared the country of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), saying there are no confirmed cases of the disease in the country. In a public health advisory sent to News Point Nigeria on Sunday, the Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, said, “Nigeria currently has no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease”. The advisory followed the outbreak of the disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a recently confirmed case in Uganda. But it said the agency and other stakeholders are “closely monitoring the situation and working with relevant stakeholders,…
GOVERNOR Dauda Lawal has recorded a major milestone in the history of Zamfara State following the successful departure of the inaugural Hajj flight from the newly constructed Gusau International Airport. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by Governor Dauda Lawal, the inaugural flight departed the airport on Friday with 415 intending pilgrims from Zamfara aboard Max Air flight NGL270 heading to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage. The historic airlift comprised 288 male pilgrims and 127 female pilgrims, marking the first time pilgrims from the state would fly directly from Gusau to Saudi Arabia…
THE Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa Esq., has has been conferred with the status of Fellow by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) in recognition of her leadership and contribution to the advancement of Nigeria’s hospitality, travel, and tourism sector. The conferrment was made by the Director-General Abisoye Fagade on Thursday, at the launch of NIHOTOUR’s nationwide registration, induction, and professional practice certificate presentation exercise for personnel, practitioners, operators, and institutions in Nigeria’s hospitality, tourism, and creative economy ecosystem. On the occasion, the Director General stated that the conferment honors…
THE Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development Initiative (ACI) has condemned the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), describing the situation as an embarrassing development that has exposed Northern Nigeria to public ridicule and political mockery. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by its Director General, Dr Abdullahi Idris, ACI expressed concern over the increasing public disagreements, accusations, and factional disputes within the ACF, saying the organisation had lost the dignity and moral standing expected of a respected northern platform. According to the group, the recent exchange of communiqués and counter-statements, allegations of constitutional…
THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has retained 150 as the cut-off mark for admission into universities for the 2026/27 academic session. News Point Nigeria reports that JAMB announced this during its policy meeting in Abuja on Monday, where it said the decision followed a vote of vice-chancellors available at the meeting. The federal government also set 150 as minimum admission cut off mark for colleges of nursing across the country. The committee placed the cut-off mark for polytechnics at 100, noting that any institution that admits below the agreed benchmark would be sanctioned. It was also stated at…
THE Federal Government has introduced stringent new measures aimed at combating drug and substance abuse in secondary schools, including mandatory drug testing for students and temporary suspension for those who repeatedly test positive after undergoing treatment and rehabilitation procedures. News Point Nigeria reports that the measures are contained in the National Implementation Guidelines Against Drug and Substance Use in Schools in Nigeria for secondary schools, details of which were obtained by our correspondent. According to the guideline, all newly admitted students in secondary schools will now be subjected to compulsory drug integrity tests at the point of entry. The document…
Eulogies Late DG Dr Kabir Kabo THE new Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the International Center for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE), Abuja, Dr Muhammad Jameel Labaran, has formally assumed duty, pledging to strengthen the institution through digital transformation, strategic leadership and adherence to international best practices. News Point Nigeria reports that Muhammad Jameel Labaran, PhD, MCIPS, PMP, was appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Centre in February to succeed the late Dr Kabir Kabo Usman, who died on Saturday, December 20, 2025 (29th of Jumada al-Akhir, 1447 AH), at a hospital in Manchester, England, after an…
FRANK Onyekwelu, president of the Nigerian community in South Africa, has disclosed that more than 130 Nigerians have voluntarily registered for repatriation following renewed xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in the country. News Point Nigeria reports that Onyekwelu made the disclosure during Channels Television’s Morning Brief programme on Thursday. The development comes days after the Federal Government announced plans for the voluntary evacuation of Nigerians willing to return home from South Africa. On Sunday, the Federal Government said it had commenced arrangements for the voluntary repatriation of Nigerians in South Africa following attacks targeting foreign nationals. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign…