THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified Nigeria and nine other countries as accounting for the majority of global hepatitis-related deaths in 2024, raising fresh concerns over the burden of the disease and the slow pace of progress toward elimination targets. The WHO disclosed this in its 2026 Global Hepatitis Report released at the World Hepatitis Summit obtained by News Point Nigeria, where it revealed that hepatitis B and C responsible for 95 percent of hepatitis-related deaths claimed about 1.34 million lives globally in 2024, while new infections stood at approximately 1.8 million annually. According to the report, 10 countries,…
Author: Maimuna Bashir Isa
Read More
A SERVING member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Abdulsamad Jamiu, has died after being caught in the crossfire during a gun battle between soldiers and suspected robbers in Abuja. News Point Nigeria reports that the tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at Shagari Estate, located in the Dei-Dei area of the Federal Capital Territory, throwing the community into shock. The Nigerian Army confirmed the development in a statement sent to this newspaper on Sunday by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters Guards Brigade, Olawuyi Odunola. According to Odunola, troops of the Guards Brigade…
FACTIONAL National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Tanimu Turaki, was on Wednesday arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama over allegations bordering on false information. News Point Nigeria reports that Turaki was brought before the court on a one-count charge filed against him by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), accusing him, among other things, of providing false information to the police. According to the charge, the PDP chieftain allegedly submitted a petition on his letterhead dated October 5, 2022, addressed to the IGP, in which he accused Saidi Mohammed…
THE Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has stirred widespread online debate after appearing at a public event wearing luxury sunglasses. Musawa represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 2026 edition of the Nwonyo Fishing Festival in Taraba State over the weekend. News Point Nigeria had earlier reported that the event, held at Lake Nwonyo in Ibi Local Government Area, attracted tourists and dignitaries from within and outside Nigeria. Reflecting on the festival via her X handle, the minister described it as a celebration of life. “From the thrilling fishing competition to the dazzling displays…
THE political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 general elections continues to gather momentum as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, can deliver Rivers State to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the upcoming polls. News Point Nigeria reports that Wike made the remarks during an interview with journalists, where he reflected on past electoral contests in Rivers State and used historical election outcomes to question Amaechi’s political influence in the state. According to him, despite Amaechi’s previous influence and high-ranking positions within the ruling All Progressives…
THE Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has placed 10 states on high alert following forecasts of heavy rainfall and possible flooding, warning that the affected regions face an increased risk of disease outbreaks, particularly cholera. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Wednesday, the agency’s Director-General, Jide Idris, said projections from the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency indicate that parts of Adamawa State, Enugu State, Kaduna State, Kogi State, Niger State, Osun State, Oyo State, Plateau State, Taraba State, and Kwara State are expected to experience intense rainfall between April 13 and…
THE Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has announced Her Excellency, Ambassador Dr. Brylyne Chitsunge, Pan-African Parliament Ambassador for Food Security and Chief Executive Officer of Elpasso Farms, South Africa, as the Keynote Speaker for the Nigeria Public Relations Week (NPRW) Croc City 2026. News Point Nigeria reports that scheduled to hold in Kaduna from 19th – 25th April, 2026, the conference will convene leading voices from across Africa and the global community under the theme: “Food Security: From Policy Paper to Public Plate – The Imperatives of Public Relations.” Ambassador Chitsunge is widely recognised as one of Africa’s foremost…
FORMER Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has denied allegations of bribery, telling a United Kingdom court that she neither solicited nor received illicit payments, insisting that expenses incurred during her time in office were official and reimbursed by the Nigerian government. News Point Nigeria reports that testifying on Monday at Southwark Crown Court in London, Alison-Madueke maintained that payments made on her behalf in the United Kingdom were tied strictly to her official responsibilities and not for personal benefit. “I can state categorically that at no point did I ask for, take or receive a bribe of any sort…
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed as false and malicious claims circulating on social media alleging that its Chairman, Joash Amupitan, operates an account on X (formerly Twitter) and had endorsed a partisan post. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by by Adedayo Oketola, the Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, the Commission described the allegation as a coordinated campaign of calumny aimed at misleading the public and damaging the credibility of its leadership. INEC stated categorically that the claim is entirely baseless and a complete fabrication, stressing that the Chairman does not own…
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…