Author: Hamza Rufai

MEMBERS of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have begun gathering at the NLC Secretariat in Abuja for a nationwide protest against the rising insecurity across the country. News Point Nigeria reports that some of those already at the Secretariat include the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, and civil society allies. Notable among them are Omoyele Sowore and his colleagues in the Revolution Now Movement. Notable among those on the ground for the protest on Wednesday were human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and his colleagues in the Revolution Now Movement. There is also a deployment of security personnel on the…

AN All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Alwan Hassan, has claimed that 95 per cent of ministers who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari should be behind bars, alleging that their tenure was a period of unchecked power and alleged corruption. Hassan made the allegation during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme aired on Tuesday monitored by News Point Nigeria. Asked about recent scrutiny of Buhari-era officials, including ex-Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami and a former Labour Minister Chris Ngige, Hassan said: “95 per cent of the ministers under Buhari should be in jail by now. “There has never…

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the Supreme Court’s judgement affirming the president’s powers to declare a state of emergency and suspend elected officials in any part of the country. PDP in a statement sent to News point Nigeria on Monday by its spokesman, Ini Ememobong, described the apex court’s ruling as a “dangerous democratic bend with far-reaching implications” for federalism and constitutional governance. “While we respect the authority of the apex court and recognise its finality within our jurisdiction, we are nevertheless compelled to draw attention to the grave dangers that can emanate from the interpretation of the…

FRESH attacks by suspected bandits across parts of Kogi and Kano states have left communities shattered, with worshippers abducted from a church, residents killed, and families plunged into fear as insecurity continues to spread across Nigeria’s North-Central and North-West regions. News Point Nigeria reports that in Kogi State, gunmen suspected to be bandits stormed an Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) congregation in Aiyetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, during a Sunday service, killing one worshipper and abducting more than 20 others, including women and children. Eyewitnesses said the attackers, numbering over 50, arrived heavily armed and began shooting indiscriminately, sending…

NOTORIOUS bandit leader Bello Turji says since he was born he has “never possessed N5m,” denying receiving money or vehicles during peace talks with the Zamfara State Government. News Point Nigeria reports that in a viral video circulating on social media, the bandit leader said his activities are not for personal gain. His video was in response to allegations by Musa Kamarawa, a former peace mediator appointed by the Sokoto and Zamfara state governments to facilitate dialogue with armed groups in the North-West. Kamarawa had alleged that Turji received N30m during several meetings with the former governor of Zamfara State,…

THE Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Mr Oyetunde Ojo, has sent two busloads of armed police officers to illegally demolish an Abuja property despite a pending court case on the land. The police officers, accompanied by some staff of the FHA, came to the site in two Coaster buses on Friday around noon, and allegedly physically assaulted the lady owner of the property, who is pregnant. dragging her on the ground when she attempted to stop them from demolishing the property. The property is located along 5th Avenue, 52 Road, Gwarinpa Il Estate Abuja, belonging to Tolwu…

A UNITED States–based humanitarian organisation, Equipping The Persecuted, has raised alarm over an alleged plan by armed groups to carry out coordinated attacks on several northern Nigerian communities on Christmas Day, sparking heightened security concerns and a swift pushback from the Presidency. News Point Nigeria reports that the organisation’s founder, Judd Saul, made the claims during a roundtable meeting convened by the International Committee on Nigeria in collaboration with the African Jewish Alliance. The meeting, held on Wednesday in Washington DC, was chaired by former United States Congressman Frank Wolf. Also in attendance were serving US lawmakers, including Congressmen Riley…

THE Department of State Services (DSS) has released three men who were wrongfully arrested and detained for alleged involvement in kidnapping and banditry, following an internal review that cleared them of any wrongdoing. News Point Nigeria reports that the detainees; Umar Ibrahim, Alhaji Bello Rabiu, and Jaja Sarki Bamo — had been in DSS custody since June 2025 after operatives intercepted them at the Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, shortly after their return from the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. They were accused of having links to kidnapping and banditry, allegations that have now been found to be erroneous. A senior DSS…

THE Birnin-Kudu Old Boys Association (BIKOBA), the umbrella body of former students of the prestigious Government Unity College, Birnin-Kudu formerly Government College, Birnin-Kudu in Jigawa State, has concluded all arrangements for its 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for Saturday (tomorrow), December 13, 2025. According to a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the National Publicity Secretary of the association, Mahmud Ibrahim Kwari, the annual gathering will take place at the College Assembly Hall beginning at 9:00am and is expected to attract dignitaries, education stakeholders, community leaders, and accomplished alumni from across the country. A key highlight of the…

SEVERAL ambassadorial nominees, including Reno Omokri, Senator Grace Bent, and former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, on Thursday, arrived at the National Assembly for their screening by the Senate. News Point Nigeria reports that also seen at the complex were former Interior Minister Abdulrahman Dambazau, immediate past INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu and former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Among those present were two former ministers, a former Chief of Army Staff, two serving ambassadors and several lawmakers. Those sighted include Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, Senator Ita Enang, and Senator Nora Daduut, among others. After brief introductions, former ministers, ambassadors and lawmakers…

THE Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, over an alleged N5bn fraud allegedly committed in 2014. News Point Nigeria reports that Oduah, who was aviation minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2011 and 2014 appeared before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama on five counts, including conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences. She was arraigned by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. In one of the counts, Oduah was accused of fraudulently obtaining N2.4bn through Broad Waters Resources from the Federal Ministry of Aviation, falsely…

THE Senate has directed its Committee on Police Affairs to investigate the alleged selective implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s order withdrawing police escorts from VIPs. News Point Nigeria reports that the move followed complaints that lawmakers were being singled out while other influential individuals continued to enjoy full security cover. The resolution was reached after Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) raised a point of order under Order 9 during plenary, expressing outrage that his only police orderly had been withdrawn despite the continued protection of ministers, business executives, political families, and celebrities. Ningi warned that the uneven enforcement of the…

THE Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), under the leadership of its Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has approved the appointment of Mr. Ezekiel Gomos, OFR, as Director-General of the Forum’s Secretariat. News Point Nigeria reports that the appointment is in line with the Forum’s renewed commitment to strengthening its institutional capacity and improving coordination among the 19 northern states in addressing the region’s pressing challenges. According to the Forum, creating the office of Director-General is a strategic step towards repositioning the Secretariat as a more effective hub for policy coordination, collective action and long-term development…

JULIUS Bokoru, Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, has condemned the sealing of his principal’s Maitama residence in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Bokoru expressed his displeasure in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Monday, titled “A grave breach of decency: EFCC’s attempted raid and defacement of Sylva’s family home.” In November, the EFCC declared Sylva wanted over an alleged $14.8m fraud. Earlier, agents of the military intelligence raided his Abuja home, arresting his brother and driver over his alleged link to an alleged failed coup…

JUSTICE James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja, has rejected an application filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Centre, to a custodial facility within the Federal Capital Territory or neighbouring Nasarawa State. News Point Nigeria reports that Kanu, through the Legal Aid Council, had approached the court with an ex-parte application requesting an order directing the Federal Government or the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to immediately move him from Sokoto to either Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja or Keffi Custodial Centre in Nasarawa. In the…

VICE President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, for the inauguration of Cote d’Ivore President, Alassane Ouattara. News Point Nigeria reports that 83-year-old incumbent was declared winner of the presidential election on October 2. He won a fourth term with 89.77 percent of the ballots cast. His swearing in ceremony would hold at Presidential Palace in Abidjan on December 8, and Shettima is representing President Bola Tinubu. “He was received on arrival at the airport by Côte d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister, Mr. Robert Mambe; the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire, Mrs. Item Akpama; and other…

NATIONAL Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu hosted a delegation from the United States Congress in Abuja on Sunday, continuing security discussions between Nigeria and the US. Ribadu, sharing the update on X, noted that the visit follows prior meetings in Washington, D.C., which focused on areas of mutual security interest and cooperation. “This morning, I received a US Congressional delegation on a fact-finding mission to Nigeria, following our earlier engagements in Washington, DC, on shared security priorities,” he said. “The delegation included Rep. @MarioDB Mario Díaz-Balart, Rep. @NormaJTorres Norma Torres, Rep. @RepFranklin Scott Franklin, Rep. @RepCiscomani Juan Ciscomani, and Rep. @RepRileyMoore…

SENATE President Godswill Akpabio says he has filed no fresh charges against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. News Point Nigeria reports that Akpabio, in a statement by his Special Assistant On Media, Jackson Udom, described as misleading and incorrect, that the Senate President had “just filed” a N200bn suit against her. “Her claim that the matter was “just filed” is therefore false, misleading, and intended to distort public understanding of the case,” Udom said in a statement on Saturday. The statement read in part that,” The suit was filed over three months ago. Its progress was temporarily delayed by routine administrative processes…

NIGERIA Will Win because President Bola Tinubu introduced fertility drugs into the Nigerian economy. Governor Hope Uzodimma, Imo Governor and National Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors disclosed in Lagos. News Point Nigeria reports that according to him the economic reforms introduced by President Tinubu have begun to yield results. “ Nigeria was like a  barren woman looking for a child before President Bola Tinubu came. He introduced the fertility drugs needed. Yes they came with pains, but we are seeing results. We are not after excuses. We are interested in results”. He spoke at the South West Zone APC…

THE Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the defection of 17 Rivers State lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress, describing their action as reckless and an act of betrayal carried out at a critical moment for the state’s democracy. News Point Nigeria reports that PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said the lawmakers had portrayed themselves as “enemies of democracy by abandoning the platform through which they were elected.” He accused them of undermining the mandate of Rivers people and destabilising the legislature for partisan gain. Seventeen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly,…