Author: Maimuna Bashir Isa

THE Federal Government has announced that another batch of Nigerians will be evacuated from South Africa on Tuesday as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard citizens ahead of planned anti-immigrant protests in the country. News Point Nigeria reports that according to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, an Air Peace aircraft departed Nigeria on Monday and is expected to return to Lagos on Tuesday morning with another group of Nigerians who opted for voluntary evacuation. The latest operation comes as anti-immigration groups prepare to stage demonstrations from June 30. The government has continued its evacuation programme…

THE Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared an industrial dispute with the Federal Government, extending by four weeks the deadline for the implementation of its outstanding demands and warning that it may embark on nationwide industrial action if the issues remain unresolved. News Point Nigeria reports that the decision was reached during the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting, held virtually on Saturday to assess developments following the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum earlier issued to the Federal Government. In a communiqué released on Sunday and jointly signed by its President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, Secretary-General, Dr.…

AT least 6,704 Nigerians applied for international protection in Cyprus between 2021 and 2025, according to the latest country report by the Asylum Information Database, a project of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles, compiled using data from Cyprus’s Asylum Service and the European Union Agency for Asylum. News Point Nigeria reports that the figure, which represents the aggregate number of yearly Nigerian applications recorded in AIDA’s Cyprus Country Reports for 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, places Nigeria among the most consistent sources of asylum seekers into the Mediterranean island nation during the period under review. However, the…

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has said her acquittal by a United Kingdom court has brought an end to years of what she described as “unjust vilification, condemnation and scrutiny” that followed bribery allegations against her. News Point Nigeria reports that Alison-Madueke was acquitted by the Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday after a jury cleared her of all six bribery charges following several hours of deliberation, bringing to a close a legal battle that spanned nearly 11 years. The former minister’s troubles began in October 2015 when she was arrested in London, just months after leaving…

THE Federal Government said it has directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intensify engagement with gas producers, marketers, and other stakeholders to boost importation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas, to sustain supply and enhance market stability nationwide. News Point Nigeria reports that the development was revealed in a statement by the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, made available to Channels Television on Monday. According to the statement signed by the Minister’s Spokesman, Louis Ibah, the Minister said he had noted concerns expressed by Nigerians over the recent…

THE National Industrial Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by a former Deputy Director of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Yisa Usman, challenging his dismissal from the examination body. News Point Nigeria reports that in a judgment delivered on June 2, the presiding judge, Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, held that Usman’s dismissal was lawful and carried out in accordance with the provisions of JAMB’s staff manual. Usman was dismissed from JAMB in July 2023 following ministerial approval of the report of a disciplinary committee established to investigate allegations concerning his conduct while serving as a Deputy Director…

A 23-YEAR-OLD female Libya returnee, Endurance Daniel, has recounted the harrowing ordeal she endured during her migration journey, revealing that she and other migrants were forced to drink their urine to survive due to a lack of water while crossing the desert. Daniel spoke to journalists yesterday after returning to Nigeria as part of a group of 182 migrants recently assisted home by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). She said she travelled to Libya with 52 other migrants in a single vehicle, but seven people died during the journey as a result of the harsh conditions they encountered. Recounting…

THE Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., has commended the organizers of Creative Corner 2.0 for building a platform that nurtures talent and empowers enterprise. News Point Nigeria reports that she gave the commendation at the Creative Corner Summit 2026 held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu State. The Minister praised Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for his vision and leadership, and described the convener, Judith Okechukwu, as the personification of what every young Nigerian woman should be. She said Creative Corner is a strategic partner for networking, mentorship, capacity building, market access,…

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)…

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,…