FocalPoint Reports

NIGERIANS AT WAR AS INFLATION RATE RISES To 32.7% The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, disclosed this in its Consumer Price Index, CPI Report for September. The Bureau said: “In September 2024, the Headline inflation rate was 32.70% relative to the August 2024 headline inflation rate of 32.15%. Looking at the movement, the September 2024 Headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.55% compared to the August 2024 Headline inflation rate. “On a year-on-year basis, the Headline inflation rate was 5.98% points higher compared to the rate recorded in September 2023 (26.72%). “This shows that the Headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in September 2024 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., September 2023). “Furthermore, on a month-on-month basis, the Headline inflation rate in September 2024 was 2.52%, which was 0.30% higher than the rate recorded in August 2024 (2.22%). “This means that in September 2024, the rate of increase in the average pric

Tinubu’s Influence Fueling PDP Crisis – Atiku’s Aide Alleges Phrank Shaibu, Special Assistant on Public Communication for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has voiced concerns over President Bola Tinubu‘s alleged involvement in the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) ongoing leadership crisis. Shaibu warned that if PDP fails to resolve its national chairmanship disputes, Nigeria could face a collapse into a one-party system dominated by Tinubu’s political influence. According to Shaibu, Tinubu’s political approach, which allegedly consolidated power within Lagos State for over two decades, could now be aimed at weakening opposition forces at the national level. “ We know his (Tinubu) strategy even as governor, he operated a one-party in Lagos State even after leaving office for over 20 years. “From the local government to the state house of assembly, to the state governor. They will always stifle and muscle the opposition, we are not surprised. “We know the drummers of war and those st

Shell not leaving Nigeria, investing more in deepwater — Osagie *NLNG operating at 62% capacities, CEO *Says insecurity hampering oil & gas firms  By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company and Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor on Tuesday insisted the company is not leaving Nigeria despite moves to divest its onshore assets.  Okunbor who disclosed this during a high-level panel session at the ongoing Nigeria Economic Summit, said the company is concentrating more in the deepwater where it has significant technological and financial advantage.  The session had the theme, Fuelling growth: The Future of Oil and Gas. He explained that the company is investing more money in Nigeria with a single project in the deep offshore costing as much as $5 billion.  “Shell is not leaving Nigeria. We are not going anywhere and we will be together for a long time. Our onshore assets shares are being divested to a consortium of four companies wh

Tanker explosion claims 90 lives in Jigawa  No fewer than 90 people were confirmed dead, following a petrol tanker explosion in Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday. Mr Shi’isu Adam, the Police Spokesperson in Jigawa, confirmed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday. He also said that 50 other persons had been hospitalised for varying degrees of injury due to the explosion. ”At about 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Majia Town, Taura local government area of Jigawa, the tanker driver lost control near Khadija University and it exploded. “The driver left Kano and was heading to Nguru in Yobe. when the accident happened,” Adam said. He said: ” We are worried that in spite of police warning for people to steer clear from scenes of accidents involving fuel tankers, they still engage in such acts. ”People gathered around the accident scene, that is the reason for the mass casualty,” he said The spokesperson said that a mass burial o

Police Dismiss Eviction Claims As Falomo Barracks Undergoes Major Redevelopment The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has refuted recent claims of officer evictions from the Falomo Barracks in Lagos, clarifying that personnel were given ample relocation notice, support, and a compensation of ₦2 million each to secure temporary housing. In a press conference in Abuja, the Force’s Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed that affected officers will also receive monthly rent allowances consistent with provisions for personnel residing outside the barracks. He assured that once the new facility is complete, these officers will return to updated housing units, ensuring a smooth transition. ACP Adejobi urged the public to disregard misleading reports about the reconstruction, stating that the redevelopment is part of the NPF’s commitment to providing safe, modern housing for officers. This project aligns with international standards and reflects the NPF’s long-term vi

Lagos govt issues ultimatum to contractor on LagosHOMS project deadline   The Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, has directed the contractor handling the LagosHOMS housing scheme in Ajara, Badagry, to meet the agreed project deadline or face consequences. Akinderu-Fatai gave the directive during a tour of the ongoing project, accompanied by the technical team of the Ministry. He emphasized that the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration is committed to ensuring that all ongoing housing projects are completed to the highest standards and within the governor’s tenure. Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to providing quality homes, particularly for low- and medium-income earners, Akinderu-Fatai inspected the site, which consists of 420 housing units spread across 35 blocks of one-, two-, and three-bedroom flats. He expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of construction but stressed the importance of meeting the delivery timeline. “The de