Author: Hamza Rufai

THE Nigeria government says President Bola Tinubu gave the go-ahead for the US strikes against terrorists in the country’s North-Western region. News Point Nigeria reports that Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, said this on Friday, hours after the US Department of War and President Donald Trump announced the North American nation had conducted strikes against the terrorists. “Now that the US is cooperating, we would do it jointly, and we would ensure, just as the President emphasised yesterday before he gave the go-ahead, that it must be made clear that it is a joint operation, and it is not targeting…

THE Presidency on Thursday dismissed as false claims suggesting that President Bola Tinubu has replaced his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, with his Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria, described the claim as “a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.” “There is absolutely no truth to this story. We advise Nigerians to disregard it entirely,” Onanuga stated. The presidential spokesman emphasised that both officials remain in their respective positions. “The…

THE House of Representatives has commenced a formal investigation into allegations of discrepancies between tax laws passed by the National Assembly and versions subsequently gazetted and circulated by government authorities, pledging to submit its findings to the House without delay. News Point Nigeria reports that the Chairman of the investigative committee, Muktar Betara, gave the assurance on Wednesday following the panel’s inaugural meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday. Betara chairs the seven-member ad hoc committee constituted by the House after lawmakers adopted a matter of privilege raised two weeks ago by Abdussamad Dasuki, a member representing Sokoto State. Dasuki had…

THE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda has appointed Suleiman Bakari as his adviser on Intelligence Coordination. News Point Nigeria reports that Bakari, an award-winning detective and law enforcement agent who served as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Liaison Officer at the National Assembly, was appointed alongside 14 others as Special Advisers, Advisers and Senior Special Assistants (SSAs). A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Suleiman Bakari contested for a seat in the House of Representatives representing Jalingo–Yorro–Zing Federal Constituency in 2019. Born to the family of late Alhaji Bakari Muhammed…

THE Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed federal road contractors to halt the closure of project sites, ordering them back to work.  News Point Nigeria reports that Umahi issued the directive at an emergency meeting with directors and contractors of the Federal Ministry of Works on Tuesday in Abuja, where he accused some contractors of abandoning sites under the guise of holidays despite worsening road conditions across the country. Umahi insisted that strategic highways and bridges must remain operational during the holiday season and afterwards. He also directed directors in the Federal Ministry of Works and Federal Controllers of…

AN FCT High Court has granted interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in a matter involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Bello Kawu granted the bail application on Tuesday in a motion number: M/17220/2025 brought by Malami’s lawyers. According to the court order, the bail was granted on the same terms earlier considered by the EFCC, including the surrender of Malami’s international passport and the execution of bail bonds by two sureties. According to a statement by Malami’s counsel, Bello Doka, the court ordered that the sureties…

THE political landscape in Rivers State is taking a new dimension as two senators and six members of the House of Representatives officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday. News Point Nigeria reports that those in the upper-lawmaking body who defected are Senator Allwell Onyesoh, who represents Rivers East, and Senator Barinada Mpigi, of Rivers South-East. The announcement was made during plenary, with the Senate suspending its rules to allow the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, and other party executives into the chamber to witness the defection. Both senators, who are…

THE Federal Government has declared Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, 2025, as public holidays to mark Christmas and Boxing Day. The government also declared Thursday, January 1, 2026, for the New Year celebration. The declaration was contained in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Monday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. According to the statement, the minister urged Nigerians to reflect on the values of love, peace, humility and sacrifice associated with the birth of Jesus Christ. Tunji-Ojo also called on…

THE Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has approached the Supreme Court over the legal battle arising from the suspension of Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The move was confirmed in some available court documents dated December 1, 2025, obtained by News Point Nigeria on Monday. The development followed a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which struck out the Federal Government’s brief of argument in the appeal linked to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension. The appellate court held that the brief was incompetent, having failed to comply with the mandatory provisions of the Court of Appeal Rules on formatting and procedure.…

THE African Democratic Congress has called for the immediate suspension of Nigeria’s recently introduced tax laws, alleging that critical sections were modified after approval by the National Assembly and assent by President Bola Tinubu, a development the party described as a grave constitutional breach. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party warned that altering legislation after approval by the legislature raises concerns that President Tinubu is allegedly seeking to centralise power. The party’s reaction followed a point of privilege raised on December 17 by Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki (PDP…

VICE President Kashim Shettima on Friday said only someone hell-bent on a suicidal path or an outright imposter can dare to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election. News Point Nigeria reports that Shettima stated this during the 15th meeting of the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. According to him, elections are not won on social media platforms like Twitter, now X. “Only a fool hell-bent on a suicidal path or an outright imposter can dare to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election. But…

SENATE President Godswill Akpabio has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review the directive ordering the withdrawal of police operatives attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs), citing growing security concerns for federal lawmakers. News Point Nigeria reports that President Tinubu had, on November 23, ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to VIPs across the country, directing that the affected personnel be redeployed to frontline duties to address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges. Under the directive, VIPs and public officials requiring armed protection are expected to seek security coverage from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), rather…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has presented a budget proposal of ₦58.47 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year to a joint session of the National Assembly, with capital recurrent (non‑debt) expenditure standing at ₦15.25 trillion. News Point Nigeria reports that Tinubu presented it on Friday, pegging the capital expenditure at ₦26.08 trillion and putting the crude oil benchmark at US$64.85 per barrel. He said the expected total revenue is ₦34.33 trillion, projected total expenditure: ₦58.18 trillion, including ₦15.52 trillion for debt servicing. The budget is ₦23.85 trillion, representing 4.28% of GDP. The proposal was anchored on a crude oil production of 1.84…

THE Senate has confirmed the appointment of Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). News Point Nigeria reports that it also confirmed ​the appointment of Saidu Mohammed as the CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The confirmations followed the consideration of a report by the joint committee chaired by Senator Abdulrahman Kawu. A former managing director of the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, had on Wednesday resigned amid corruption allegations levelled against him by the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote. Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed this…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr. Mulisiu Oseni as the substantive Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), effectively dropping Abdullahi Ramat, whose name was earlier forwarded to the Senate for confirmation. The appointment followed the confirmation of members of the reconstituted NERC Board by the Senate and marks the end of months of uncertainty surrounding the leadership of the electricity sector regulator. The development was confirmed in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga. Oseni’s emergence as chairman signals a clear departure from…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking the confirmation of the National Assembly for the presentation of the 2026 annual budget. News Point Nigeria reports that according to the letter read by the Senate President during plenary, the President proposed to present the budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on Friday at 2pm. The proposed timing sparked concerns among some lawmakers, who noted that the time coincided with the Muslim prayers. They raised objections during plenary, urging that the schedule be reconsidered. The Senate President has agreed to consult with the President on the matter.…

A FEDERAL Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, dismissed a bail application filed by former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Babangida Hassan said he could not grant the bail application because the court of coordinate jurisdiction granted the EFCC a remand order to detain the former AGF for further investigations. This newspaper reports that Malami, a leading figure in the opposition coalition, and aspirant for the governorship election in Kebbi State, had been in the…

FOUR lawmakers from Rivers State in the House of Representatives have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). News Point Nigeria reports that the members are Manuchim Umezuruike, representing Port Harcourt 1 Federal Constituency; Boniface Emerengwa, representing Ikwerre/Emuoha Federal Constituency; Awake-Inombek Abiante, representing Andoni/Opobo Federal Constituency; and Boma Goodhead, representing Asari-Toru Federal Constituency. The federal lawmakers who defected are said to be loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who also moved to the APC last week. Announcing his defection earlier last week, Fubara said he decided to leave the PDP to support President Bola Tinubu…

THE Office of the Senate President has dismissed reports circulating on social media suggesting that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is battling health challenges, describing the claims as false, baseless, and deliberately misleading. Kenny Okolugbo, Consultant on Communications and Strategy to the Senate President, addressed the rumours during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Thursday, monitored by News Point Nigeria. According to Okolugbo, there is no truth to claims that Akpabio collapsed or was flown abroad for medical treatment, stressing that the Senate President remains in good health and is fully engaged in his official responsibilities. “The Senate President…

THE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had been accused by Umza Aviation Services Ltd of threatening the 2026 Hajj operation by arbitrarily slashing its pilgrims quota. The Petition To BPP The airline revealed this in a letter dated 8 December 2025, signed by its Managing Director Anachund Henry Izu, and addressed to the Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). In the letter titled, “Re: Roll-Over of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Airlift 2025 Contract,” the airline said the Hajj commission had breached the 2026 Hajj rollover system approved by BPP, by reducing the number of its allocated…