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,…
Author: Maimuna Bashir Isa
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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…
THE Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has said that employees of the agency who were responsible for shortfalls recorded in Kuje and Kabusa during the Federal Capital Territory elections will be investigated. News Point Nigeria reports that Amupitan said the workers would be punished if found guilty. According to him, the transporters who were responsible for the delay in the movement of logistics to the Kwali area council will also be blacklisted. Amupitan stated this while reviewing the FCT polls at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners at the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.…
THE United States House Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs on Monday officially submitted to the White House a report detailing their findings and recommendations on addressing the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Recall that President Donald Trump, after redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, mandated Congressman Riley Moore and Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole to lead a comprehensive investigation into the alleged persecution of Christian communities by terrorists and the security challenges plaguing Nigeria. Moore confirmed the submission of the report on his X handle, @RepRileyMoore, on Monday evening. Moore had earlier led a delegation on…
THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved the cancellation of 485 land documents in Abuja after they failed to meet verification standards set by the authorities. The affected documents were nullified following an extensive review conducted by the Department of Land Administration in collaboration with the Abuja Geographic Information Systems. Officials said that the documents did not pass authenticity checks, with many confirmed to be fake. In a public notice sighted by News Point Nigeria, by the Federal Capital Territory Administration on Monday and marked as Batch I, authorities confirmed that the invalid applications had been…
THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended the controversial restriction of movement imposed ahead of Saturday’s area council elections in Abuja, insisting that the decision was taken with the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. News Point Nigeria reports that Wike made the clarification on Saturday while monitoring the polls in several parts of the FCT, including Garki, Karu, Karshi, Wasa, Apo and Ketti. “It is unfortunate, I thought as a Senator she should be able to read. I never imposed a curfew on my own. I said with the approval of Mr. President,” Wike…
THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has clarified that candidates are not required to remove their hijabs during registration, following a video that raised concerns about alleged discrimination against Muslim candidates at Afe Babalola University. In a video shared by social media user AsakyGRN, a man lamented that his sister had been told to remove her hijab before being photographed, saying, “I followed my sister to the JAMB centre to collect her form. She was told to remove her hijab before she could be captured. “After the capturing, they asked her to sign an undertaking for wearing a hijab. Are…