Author: Farouk Abbas

FOLLOWING a successful inaugural session, the Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris fnipr, today moderated the second edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing Series (MPBS)  featuring  the Minister of industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, at the National Press Center in Abuja. The forum  aims to create a platform for direct engagement between government officials and the media, promoting transparency and accurate reporting to the Nigerian public. “We are gathered here to build trust and ensure the people of Nigeria are informed,” declared Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, at the event. “This platform allows…

THERE seem to be a looming fuel hike over strike actions threatened by petrol tanker drivers over rising operational costs. The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners had on Thursday, threatened to embark on a nationwide strike over what they described as high operational costs engineered by rising inflation rates in the country. NARTO is the umbrella body of all commercial transport owners and operators in Nigeria that are engaged in the business of moving goods, passengers and petroleum products from one place to another throughout the country and in the West African sub-region. While speaking with newsmen on Friday,…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has ordered the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) Yusuf Bichi to work with governors and go after those hoarding foodstuff. Nigeria has been battling a rise in the cost of food items occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and insecurity among other factors. But as part of moves to combat the development, the Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said Tinubu has mandated the heads of these security agencies and the NSA to liaise…

THE Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission is currently considering relocating some of its units to Lagos, according to a document obtained by News Point Nigeria. The memo dated February 14, 2024, said the decision was to enhance its service delivery, reduce operational costs, and make adequate utilisation of its assets in Lagos. “In line with our objectives of improving organizational efficiency, driving industry growth, and managing office accommodation in Abuja, we are exploring the possibility of relocating certain units to Lagos. “This initiative is driven by the need to enhance our service delivery, reduce operational costs, and make adequate utilization of…

THE Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, says Nigeria cannot continue to subsidise electricity, adding that the nation must begin to move towards a cost-effective tariff model, as the country is currently indebted to the tune of 1.3 trillion naira to generating companies (GenCos) and 1.3 billion dollars owed gas companies. Adelabu, addressed a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said only 450 billion naira was budgeted for subsidy this year but the ministry needs over 2 trillion naira for subsidy. He said state governments will now be allowed to generate power independently to supply power to their states. On the…

THE Organisation Of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has revealed that the oil exports in Nigeria grew significantly by 60.8% in the third quarter of 2023. “Throughout 3Q23, exports witnessed a remarkable 60.8% increase, and imports soared by 47.7%, culminating in a trade surplus of NGN1,888.92 billion in that period,” its Monthly Oil Report released Tuesday for February 2024 said. It also revealed that exports rose by 115%, y-o-y, reaching an unprecedented high of NGN3,867 billion, while imports surged by 34.5% to NGN2,429 billion. According to the report, ”Nigeria boasted a significant trade surplus of 1,438.4 billion naira (NGN), a strong…

A FEDERAL High Court in Kano has barred the state government from demolition of residential buildings at Salanta quarters. The government had marked some buildings for demolition, but residents approached the court. Justice Simon Amobeda, while delivering judgement in fundamental rights enforcement suit, held that the landed property in question were legitimately acquired and therefore could not be demolished without the consent of the owners. The plaintiffs had approached the court in July 2023, seeking protection of their rights to the property, The court then granted a temporary order restraining the state government from further action pending final determination of…

POWER distribution companies overbilled about 7.1 million unmetered electricity consumers between January and September 2023, an analysis of the latest monthly number of overbilled customers showed. In the various Regulatory Interventions for Non-Compliance with the Order on Capping of Estimated Billing to Unmetered Customers, issued to the 11 Discos by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, an agency of the Federal Government, it was established that the power distributors raked over N105bn as a result of over-billing. Figures computed by our correspondent indicated that Yola Disco overbilled about 42,902 customers to the tune of N541.9m during the review period, while Abuja…

OPERATIVES of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command attached to the Rapid Response Squad 74, have arrested a pastor, Simon Kado; his relative, Jesse Simon-Kado, and their driver, Muhammad Isah, for child trafficking. They were busted on Friday while trafficking 12 underaged children – eight girls and four boys aged between five to 16 years, from Nasarawa State to Ogun State. The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, made the development known in a statement on Saturday. Adeh said, “Operatives of the FCT Police Command attached to the Rapid Response Squad 74, on Friday, February 9, at about…

THE Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its president-general and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has enjoined the Muslims in Nigeria to look out for the crescent of Sha’aban 1445AH after sunset on Saturday, 29th Rajab, 1445AH (February 10, 2024) ahead of this year’s Ramadan fasting. The deputy secretary-general of the NSCIA, Prof Salisu Shehu, noted this on Friday in a statement. This newspaper Saturday reports that Sha’aban, being the eighth lunar calendar month, indicates that this year’s Ramadan (9th lunar month) is about a month away. “Scientifically, the expected time for…

FOLLLOWING his electoral victory at Saturday’s by-election in the state, the sacked Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, has been re-elected as Speaker of the state assembly. This newspaper reports that at Saturday’s re-run election, Liman of the All Progressives Congress scored 18,068 votes to defeat Solomon Katuka of the Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 17,404 votes. The Independent National Electoral Commission in Kaduna went ahead on Wednesday to present Certificates of Return to the former Speaker and those who emerged winners at Saturday’s re-run polls and by-election in the state. Other lawmakers who received their…

THE World Bank has said seven states across the North-west and North-east regions of the country may suffer food crises due to high levels of insecurity and armed conflicts that has reduced the standards of living across the region. The bank in its latest Food Security report also stated that most areas in West and Central Africa would remain Minimally food insecure until May 2024. This is coming amidst plans by the government to cultivate 323,000 hectares of farmland producing wheat, rice, maize and cassava for the 2024 dry season farming. The states highlighted by the bank are Borno, Adamawa,…

THE Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has met with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu to address the security situation in the country as well as the rising cost of food items. During the meeting that had a representative of the Department of State Services (DSS), the governors agreed to support the NSA office in the states to enhance the nature and quality of intelligence. They also called for the reduction of Foreign Exchange demand by use of moral suasion to reduce dependence on foreign exchange, imported goods and services as a way of nipping in the bud, the current security…

THE Bauchi State Police Command has issued a declaration for the arrest of Islamic cleric, Imam Idris Abdulaziz, who is 63 years old. Imam Abdulaziz is wanted by the police for contempt of court. The Bauchi Police has issued a Special Police Gazette Bulletin stating that a handsome reward will be given to anyone with information leading to his arrest. The gazette provides details of his description, and the police are urging members of the public to report to the nearest police station if he is seen or to hand him over to the office of the deputy commissioner of…

THERE was palpable fear in the Katapka community of Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State following the alleged killing of three soldiers and two vigilante group members by bandits who invaded the local government on Tuesday. Unidentified gunmen had on February 1, 2024, murdered three persons and destroyed properties worth millions of naira in the Katapka and Okudu communities in the area which prompted the Nigerian Army to deploy its personnel to the location for the maintenance of law and order. Our correspondent, however, gathered that while the military personnel were making efforts towards restoring normalcy in the area,…

THE wife of the slain Olukoro of Koro Ekiti in Kwara State, General Segun Aremu-Cole (retd), and two others who were kidnapped have reportedly regained their freedom. They were said to have been released late on Monday. “The news just received from home confirms that Olori and the girl have been released and have returned to Koro about 30 minutes ago,” the Asiwaju of Koro, Chief Samuel Ayobola told National Pilot The monarch was killed by the kidnappers as he prepared to have his dinner on February 1, 2024. The gunmen were said to have stormed the palace at about…

GUNMEN, who killed Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, Olukoro of Koro-Ekiti in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State and kidnapped his wife and another person last Thursday night have reduced N100m ransom placed on the abducted victims. It was gathered that the gunmen had reached out to the monarch’s family over the weekend for payment of N100m ransom, which has now been reduced to N40m for the release of the two captives after extensive negotiations with the family. Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole was assassinated by suspected gunmen in his palace on Thursday night while his wife and another person were abducted.…

GUNMEN, who killed Olukoro of Koro-Ekiti in Ekiti local government area of Kwara State, Oba Segun Aremu, on Thursday night, have demanded N100m ransom for the release of the deceased’s wife and another victim who were whisked away on the fateful day. This newspaper gathered that the suspected kidnappers reached out to the family of the late monarch through a beer parlour operator in the community. A source hinted this newspaper that the suspected kidnappers got the telephone number of the beer parlour operator from his female staff, who was also abducted on the same day. The chairman of the…

A RECENT investigation  has uncovered that there is no truth to the rumours of a financial dispute between former President Muhammadu Buhari’s ex-personal assistant, Tunde Sabiu Yusuf, and billionaire oil mogul Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, popularly known as AA Rano, over a purported $400 million. Contrary to earlier reports,  no evidence of Sabiu slapping AA Rano for alleged financial discrepancies was also confirmed. It was also gathered that  there was no business relationship between the two men that would warrant such a dispute over funds. Tunde Sabiu, has case files with anti-corruption agencies regarding alleged financial malfeasance between 2016 and…

THE Senate has summoned service chiefs over the spate of insecurity in the country. This was a unanimous call by the lawmakers after an emergency session on the first legislative day of the year on Tuesday. The Senate had gone into the executive session after the leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele raised a motion on behalf of the Senators on the security situation in the country. After about two hours behind closed doors, the Senate then reconvened and resolved to invite the service chiefs next week, over the spate of insecurity in the country. The service chiefs are the Chief of…