Author: Sadiq Abdullateef

TWELVE states, including Lagos, Kaduna, and Benue, spent over N117 billion servicing debts in the first quarter of 2025 despite falling far short of their revenue projections, according to official Budget Implementation Reports (BIRs) analysed by News Point Nigeria. The reports, published on the states’ official websites and the Open Nigerian States portal, a public data transparency platform supported by BudgIT reveal a widening gap between debt obligations and actual revenue generation at the subnational level. The affected states are; Abia, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Kaduna, Lagos, Taraba, Borno, Ekiti, Katsina, Ondo, and Kebbi. Together, these 12 states collectively spent N117…

THE Federal High Court in Abuja has reaffirmed that the Senate holds exclusive authority over the recall and reinstatement of its suspended members, in a ruling that undermines claims by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that she would resume legislative duties unconditionally. Justice Binta Nyako, who presided over the matter, ruled on Friday, July 4, that while Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has the legal right to seek redress, the Senate is under no obligation to reinstate her without adherence to its internal procedures as provided under its Standing Orders. The court’s decision came in response to the senator’s lawsuit against the Clerk of…

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) is currently reviewing the future of its loss-making, state-owned refineries and may consider selling some of them, according to Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari. Ojulari disclosed this during an exclusive interview with Bloomberg on the sidelines of the 9th OPEC International Seminar held in Vienna, Austria, where top energy leaders gathered to discuss the future of oil markets, global demand, and sustainable energy practices. “We’re reviewing all our refinery strategies now,” Ojulari said. “We hope before the end of the year, we’ll be able to conclude that review. That review may lead…

AMID mounting political speculation and strategic alignments ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musawa, has said that power should remain in Southern Nigeria beyond 2027 in order to preserve national balance, equity, and unity. Musawa, one of the youngest appointees in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet and a lawyer from Katsina State, made this assertion on Friday while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily monitored by News Point Nigeria. She weighed in on the ongoing debate over zoning and the unwritten North-South power-sharing agreement that has helped guide Nigeria’s democratic transitions since…

A MEMBER of House of Representatives, Hon. Mansur Manu-Soro, has dismissed the increasing political clamour surrounding the 2027 general elections, describing it as premature and unnecessary at this point in the nation’s democratic journey. Speaking during a media interaction with journalists in Bauchi on Thursday, the lawmaker, who represents Darazo-Ganjuwa Federal Constituency in Bauchi State, emphasised that his focus remains on delivering quality governance and legislative results, rather than getting distracted by speculative electoral talk. “For now, I am more concerned with completing my current tenure and ensuring the successful passage of my sponsored legislative bills,” he said. “Also, operationalising…

FORMER President, Muhammadu Buhari is currently receiving medical care at a hospital in London, multiple sources confirmed to News Point Nigeria on Friday, amid growing concerns over his health. And in a show of solidarity, President Bola Tinubu reportedly instructed Vice-President Kashim Shettima to fly to the UK to personally deliver a message of goodwill and assess Buhari’s condition. According to sources, Shettima’s visit was not originally planned but came as a result of Tinubu’s direct request following reports that the 81-year-old former president had been battling an undisclosed illness. Buhari’s current health concerns have reignited public attention, though sources…

THE Federal Government has rejected claims that it has retaliated against the United States by suspending five-year multiple-entry visas for American citizens, calling such reports “false and misleading.” The clarification comes amid diplomatic tension after the U.S. Department of State announced a sweeping revision of its non-immigrant visa policy for several countries, including Nigeria. Under the new directive, most Nigerians applying for U.S. visas particularly in the B1/B2 category (business and tourism) will now receive single-entry visas valid for only 90 days, replacing the long-standing two to five-year multiple-entry arrangements. While the U.S. describes the changes as part of a…

THE ongoing tension between the National Assembly and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) escalated further on Thursday as the Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, once again failed to honour a summon by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts. This marks the second time in recent weeks that Ojulari has refused to appear in person to address pressing questions surrounding over ₦200 trillion in unaccounted-for funds highlighted in the company’s audited financial statements. Instead of presenting himself before the lawmakers, Ojulari sent a team of company representatives, which the Senate committee swiftly rejected, stating that only the GCEO…

FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan has described the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, as a man who was relentlessly hunted across the world in the aftermath of the controversial OPL 245 oil deal. Jonathan made this declaration in Abuja on Thursday at the public presentation of Adoke’s memoir titled “OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Nigerian Oil Block.” The book provides Adoke’s personal account of the legal, political, and international dimensions of the controversial transaction that dominated headlines for over a decade. Delivering his remarks through a representative, former Senate President…

PRESIDENTIAL Aide, Temitope Ajayi has sharply countered claims made by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, dismissing the suggestion that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu played no role in the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s president in 2015. Ajayi, who serves as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, responded via a detailed post on his official social media account following Mustapha’s comments at a recent public event. The former SGF had claimed that Tinubu did not “make Buhari president,” sparking reactions from members of the current administration. Ajayi, in his rebuttal,…

NEARLY a year after the Federal Government pledged to subsidise electricity for hospitals and educational institutions, the promise remains largely unfulfilled. Instead, public universities and hospitals continue to battle soaring electricity bills, some reportedly paying as much as ₦300 million monthly, with no visible relief in sight. The promise was made in August 2024 by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during a radio programme in Ibadan. Adelabu had assured that the government would cushion the effects of increased tariffs for health and academic institutions, even those placed under the Band A category, a group that receives longer hours of…

THE Federal Government of Nigeria has officially commenced Phase 7 of the Kainji Mass Trials, a judicial exercise focused on prosecuting hundreds of individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities across the country. In a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the trials are described as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s multi-pronged effort to combat terrorism through the rule of law and institutional accountability. “These trials represent Nigeria’s unwavering pursuit of justice and reaffirm our national resolve to confront terrorism through lawful and transparent means,” said…

CHAIRMAN of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has described the scale of corruption uncovered at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as “mind-boggling,” revealing that a sweeping investigation into Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has already exposed significant financial misconduct despite being in its early stages. Speaking on the third day of the National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance, organized by the Senate and House of Representatives Public Accounts Committees, Olukoyede said the EFCC’s recent deep-dive into the extractive industries has only scratched the surface, yet already reveals a troubling picture. “In the…

FORMER Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has rejected the widely circulated belief that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu singlehandedly made Muhammadu Buhari president in 2015, asserting instead that Buhari already had a massive voter base long before the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Mustapha made this remark during the public unveiling of “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience,” a memoir written by Garba Shehu, the former presidential spokesperson to Buhari. The event, which gathered an array of past and present top government functionaries, sparked renewed debate over political history and…

THE Federal Government of Nigeria has formally expressed its dissatisfaction with the recent changes to the United States’ visa policy affecting Nigerian citizens, urging Washington to reconsider a directive that reduces the duration and flexibility of U.S. non-immigrant visas for Nigerians. In a statement issued on Wednesday by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian government described the U.S. action as “misaligned with the principles of reciprocity, equity, and mutual respect” that have historically defined diplomatic relations between the two nations. The policy, which took effect immediately on Tuesday, July 8, restricts most U.S. non-diplomatic,…

FORMER Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has firmly denied allegations suggesting he had ties with the regime of General Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s late military Head of State. In a detailed statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, Obi addressed mounting criticism regarding his alleged collaboration with the Abacha-led regime, which governed Nigeria from 1993 to 1998. To support his position and dispel speculation, Obi released a federal appointment letter from 1996, showing that he was co-opted into a government Task Force on Port Decongestion, an initiative intended to…

THE United Arab Emirates has announced a sweeping change to its immigration policy concerning Nigerian travellers, including the outright suspension of transit visa applications and the imposition of tougher eligibility requirements for tourist visas. News Point Nigeria gathered that the updated rules, confirmed by multiple travel agents on Tuesday, are expected to drastically cut down the number of Nigerian nationals travelling to Dubai, a city that has long served as a major hub for Nigerian tourists, shoppers, and small business operators. According to a directive issued by Dubai immigration authorities, Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 45 are no…

DESPITE a court ruling in her favor, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, was conspicuously absent from Tuesday’s Senate plenary, contrary to her public declaration that she would return to her legislative duties that day. The senator had, over the weekend, celebrated a Federal High Court judgment that voided her six-month suspension by the Senate, calling it unconstitutional and excessive. She had vowed to resume plenary on Tuesday, July 8, insisting that the ruling reinstated her rights as a legislator. However, multiple sources have confirmed to News Point Nigeria that an alleged discreet but serious plan was…

IN a major change that will affect thousands of Nigerian travelers, the United States Department of State has announced a new non-immigrant visa policy that drastically reduces the validity and flexibility of most US visas issued to Nigerian citizens. News Point Nigeria gathered that effective July 8, 2025, nearly all non-diplomatic, non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians will now be valid for only three months and permit only a single entry into the United States, according to a statement released by the US Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday. While the changes are already in effect, the embassy clarified that Nigerian citizens…

IN what appears to be a major escalation in the political manoeuvrings ahead of the 2027 general elections, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced that it has mobilised a legal team comprising 97 lawyers to defend its interim leadership, including prominent political figures Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Bolaji Abdullahi, in an ongoing legal battle. The party made the announcement through a statement released by its media unit on Tuesday, amid rising tensions surrounding its newly reconstituted interim leadership, a group central to a growing opposition coalition expected to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the…