Author: Hamza Rufai

LAGOS State received the highest share of the December 2025 Federation revenue shared in January 2026. News Point Nigeria reports that the state received N55.83 billion which accounts for 7.9 per cent of the N706.47 billion distributed to the 36 states by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). The share of Lagos federation revenue was buoyed by its share of the value added tax (VAT) revenue which amounted to N50.12 billion, a 49.68 per cent higher than the N25.21 billion it received in December 2025 and 25.06 per cent higher than the N40.07 billion it got in November 2025. Lagos…

THE Federal Government of Nigeria and various state governments have granted pardons or reduced sentences for no fewer than 8,300 inmates across the country between January 2022 and March 2026, in a sustained effort to address overcrowding in correctional facilities. News Point Nigeria Weekend reports that the figures, compiled from official records of the Nigerian Correctional Service and state government sources, highlight a growing reliance on clemency measures as part of broader criminal justice reforms. A year-by-year breakdown shows that 707 inmates benefited from pardons or sentence reductions in 2022. The figure rose significantly to 4,678 in 2023, before declining…

THE Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, has called on the Commission’s nationwide workforce and the Nigerian public to translate the discipline of the Holy Month of Ramadan into a renewed commitment to electoral integrity. In a special Eid-el-Fitr message issued from the Commission’s headquarters on Friday, March 20, 2026, Prof. Amupitan described the conclusion of the fast as a victory of the spirit over the self and a foundational moment for the Commission as it prepares for the critical 2026 off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as the 2027…

FOR the first time in recent years, Kano State witnessed an unprecedented development during the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, as three separate prayer gatherings were held across the city, reflecting deepening divisions among the state’s traditional and political leadership. News Point Nigeria reports that the parallel observances, led by the 16th Fulani Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 15th Fulani  Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, and former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, underscored the lingering tensions stemming from the protracted emirship dispute and shifting political alliances in the state. At approximately 8:00am, Muhammadu Sanusi II led the Eid prayer at the…

THE National Vice Chairman (North East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Umar Dauda Duhu, has condemned the recent deadly bomb attack in Maiduguri, describing it as a “heinous and cowardly act” that has plunged the nation into mourning. In a condolence sent to News Point Nigeria and dated March 16, 2026, and addressed to the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, Duhu expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and the injuries sustained by many others in the attack, which has been linked to Boko Haram insurgents. He noted that the tragic incident has left families…

AN officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been killed during the distribution of Ramadan and Sallah palliatives in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano State. News Point Nigeria reports that the tragic incident occurred on Friday during a humanitarian programme organised by the member representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa. According to the lawmaker, the officer lost his life after suspected hoodlums allegedly attempted to disrupt the distribution exercise meant to provide relief materials to residents observing the Ramadan fast and preparing for the upcoming Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.…

THE Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total of N1.894 trillion as Federation Account revenue for February 2026 among the Federal Government, states and local government councils. This was disclosed in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Friday by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa. The revenue was shared during the March 2026 FAAC meeting held in Abuja. The N1.894 trillion distributable revenue comprised N1.274 trillion from distributable statutory revenue and N619.119 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT). The communiqué indicated that a total…

NINE senators on Thursday defected from their respective political parties to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking one of the most significant political realignments in the Nigerian Senate in recent months. The defections were formally announced during plenary by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who read the letters submitted by the lawmakers notifying the Senate of their decision to leave their former parties. The senators who defected are Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa South), Binos Dauda Yaroe (Adamawa South), Austin Akobundu (Abia Central) and Lawal Adamu Usman (Kaduna Central), all from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).…

JUSTICE Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to revoke the bail granted to politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore, in his ongoing trial on charges bordering on cybercrime. Justice Umar, who issued the warning on Thursday, also said he would issue an arrest warrant for Sowore’s forceful production in court if he fails to attend the next hearing. The judge’s position followed observations and applications made by the prosecuting lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), who noted that Sowore chose not to attend court despite evidence that he was served with a hearing notice through his team…

NIGERIA’s electoral legal framework has been strengthened following a decisive move by the House of Representatives of Nigeria to criminalise the practice of holding membership in more than one political party at the same time. News Point Nigeria reports that during plenary on Wednesday, the lawmakers amended Section 77 of the recently assented Electoral Act 2026, prescribing stiff penalties including a two-year jail term, a fine of N10 million, or both, for individuals found guilty of maintaining dual political party membership. The amendment was adopted after intense deliberations during the Committee of the Whole session presided over by the Deputy…

THREE members of the House of Representatives have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). They are: Inuwa Garuba (Yamaltu/Deba federal constituency of Gombe), Abdullahi El-Rasheed (Dakku/Nafada federal constituency of Gombe), and Mohammed Audu (Karim Lamido Lau/Ardo-Kola federal constituency). News Point Nigeria reports that their defections were announced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, during plenary on Wednesday, March 11, following the reading of separate letters from the affected lawmakers. In their letters to the House, the lawmakers attributed their decision to what they described as deepening internal crises, leadership disputes…

LAWYER to former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai have accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of spreading unverified allegations linking their client to multi-billion-naira properties in Egypt, describing the claims as part of a politically motivated campaign. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria in Abuja on Monday on behalf of the former Kaduna governor, counsel Ubong Esop Akpan said the allegations were based on anonymous “leaks” and lacked verifiable evidence. The lawyer argued that the claims were being circulated to justify what he described as the unlawful detention of the former governor. The…

THE Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts (SPAC), Aliyu Wadada, says the committee is not satisfied with the explanations provided by the current leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) regarding the alleged ₦210 trillion discrepancies in the company’s financial records. News Point Nigeria reports that Senator Wadada, who represents the Nasarawa West Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly, made this known on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics. He stated that the explanations offered by the current NNPCL management, led by Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari, were not satisfactory. “We are not satisfied after it…

AS part of efforts to combat corruption and recover misappropriated public funds, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over the sum of ₦279 million to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre, Lagos. The handover ceremony took place on Friday at the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ikoyi. A statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the Head, Media and Publicity of the agency, Dele Oyewale, said the Commission had, in 2009, received a petition from Kabir Yusuf, former General Manager/CEO of the National Theatre, against one Prince…

THE House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee on Thursday queried the alleged abandonment of a ₦365 million National Library of Nigeria project in Jalingo, Taraba State, following a petition by the civic organisation, BudgIT Foundation. News Point Nigeria reports that the organisation accused the National Library of Nigeria of abandoning the construction of a prototype national library building in Jalingo after the payment of about ₦292 million to the contractor. The Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Chinwe Veronica, appeared before the committee chaired by Bamidele Salam to respond to the allegations. During the hearing, the agency explained that the…

THE Senate committee on public accounts has summoned a former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, to explain an alleged ₦210 trillion that was not properly accounted for between 2017 and 2023. Kyari was summoned alongside a former chief financial officer, Umar Ajia Isa, and former group general manager of National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Bala Wunti. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Aliyu Wadada, issued the summons on Thursday following a review of audit reports concerning the national oil company. The committee also warned that it could issue warrants of arrest against…

THE National Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Ahmed Ajuji, says the party has written to the United States Congress to defend its 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, following allegations linking him to terrorism. Ajuji disclosed this during an interview on Arise Television monitored by News Point Nigeria on Thursday, stating that the party moved swiftly to counter what it described as politically motivated accusations. The NNPP chair said Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, was unfairly singled out. “In the first place, you understand that he was the only individual who was named by name. All the…

THE House of Representatives has commenced moves to recover over $7bn allegedly owed to the Federation Account by some foreign airlines operating in the country since 2023. The Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Abiodun Faleke, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the flag-off of the review of the 2023–2025 revenue monitoring exercise of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. Faleke, who represents Ikeja Federal Constituency of Lagos State, expressed concern over the scale of indebtedness by both foreign and domestic airlines, following submissions made by FAAN’s Managing Director, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku. Kuku told the committee that out…

THE Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced an increase in the number of train services along the Abuja–Kaduna corridor, citing growing passenger demand on the route. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Tuesday by its Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, the corporation said the revised timetable will take effect from March 6. According to the NRC, the additional trips are aimed at providing commuters with more travel options, enhancing operational flexibility, and improving service delivery on one of the country’s busiest rail corridors. “The corridor had earlier experienced operational disruptions following the March 28, 2022 bomb…

THE Senate Committee on Finance has rescinded its earlier resolution recommending the removal of the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussaini Magaji, by President Bola Tinubu. News Point Nigeria reports that the committee had, during a session with the Federal Government’s economic team last week, called on President Tinubu to remove the CAC chief over his alleged repeated refusal to appear before it. However, at another session today, the committee reversed the decision following what members described as genuine remorse shown by Magaji. A motion for rescission was moved by Senator Jibrin Isa (Kogi East) and seconded by…