FocalPoint Reports

Good News: FG To Place 20,000 Nigerian Graduates In Fully Paid Jobs. President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to make a key announcement on the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme on Tuesday. According to Villa Updates, August 31 2021, the programme aims to place 20,000 skilled young Nigerian graduates (under the age of 30) into jobs in private and public sector organizations around the country. The jobs will last for 12 months, will be fully-paid, and will seek to help prepare qualifying recent graduates for their future careers and work environments.

 Establish Host Community Trust Fund...Mulade Sheriff tells FG, Appreciates Buhari for Quick Assent to Bill The National Coordinator of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish and inaugurate the Host Community Trust Fund HCTF, provided for by the PIA, to manage the Petroleum Industry Fund towards addressing environmental and infrastructural issues affecting oil and gas producing host communities in Nigeria.  Chief Mulade, the Ibe-Serimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West LGA of Delta State, made the call in Warri on Monday 30th Aug, 2021, while chatting with newsmen on Delta State at 30.  The environmental activist condemned the idea that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs or the Governors of oil and gas producing States should control and manage the 3% allocation provided for in the PIA, based on the oil and gas resources derived from, and the degradation effects of oil

We shed tears of joy after receiving first pay Salary  in Saudi Arabia, UK, others – Nigerian doctors Some Nigerian doctors in Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America have knocked the Federal Government for its alleged failure to invest in the health care sector The doctors, who spoke in separate interviews with Newsmen, said the inconsistency of the government to adequately cater for the needs of medical practitioners had led to massive brain drain in the health sector. Some of the doctors who shared their experiences with our correspondents added that they cried and felt overwhelmed when they received their first wages, which some of them described as being 10 times higher than the wages in Nigeria. One of the doctors, who spoke to Newsmen on condition of anonymity, said he was stunned when he received his first salary in Saudi Arabia. He said, “To be honest, I was overwhelmed that I cried when I received my first salary in Saudi Arabia here. Whi

Ex-militants Protest: Coordinator Dikio Tenure Expires Without Approving Payments  Lobby for Extension Failed, Abandoned Protesting Agitators, traveled to USA as ploy The expiration of the one year tenure of Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) as the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) is brewing tension in the Niger Delta region as the ex-militants are already protesting the non payment of their monthly stipend by the Amnesty office. Pointblanknews gathered that the inability of Dikio to approve the payment before leaving office, Thursday was a ploy to force President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to reappoint him as the administrator of PAP. But there has been a brewing battle of wits between the Amnesty boss and the National Security Adviser to the President, Major General Babagana Mohammed Monguno (rtd.) over the issue of tenure elongation. A ccording to a sources, Dikio left for the United States same day his tenure expired as a way of instig

2023: PDP Remains The Only Hope For Nigeria – Tambuwal Sokoto State Governor and chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ forum, Aminu Tambuwal has declared that the party is putting its house in order to reclaim federal power in 2023. He stated that Nigerians have been deprived of dividends of democracy in all states that are not governed by the PDP. Speaking on Saturday during the party’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting, Tambuwal added that Nigerians are already tired of the All Progressives Congress (APC). “Whenever you hear a major event, activity or commissioning of projects, it is happening only in PDP state,”  he said. He added that  “We shall continue to do our best and we assure you of our total loyalty to our party.” The Sokoto State Governor while acknowledging challenges within the PDP, added that the party is putting its house in order and resolving all contentions ahead of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria. “Challenges, disputation, disagre

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has announced the reciept of a grant from the United Kingdom government to support the ‘Strengthening the Delivery of Peace and Security in Nigeria’ (SDPS) project. According to a press release issued in Abuja at the weekend and signed by CDD Director, Idayat Hassan, the policy advocacy and research think-tank noted that Nigeria is burdened by an unprecedented array of overlapping security crises ranging from banditry to the spread of extremist jihadist movements. “No corner of the country is spared by this surge in conflicts. This funding supports CDD’s well documented work in the areas of peace and security and will strengthen efforts to stem the surge of insecurity as well as to combat misinformation and disinformation which are often drivers of conflicts across the country. Leadership.ng

Breaking: Amaechi reveals how people steal money in Buhari's administration Sunday, August 29, 2021 at 1:00 PM by  aanuadegun Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said stealing is done quietly under the current government. Amaechi said this while responding to questions in an interview with Daily Trust.   Asked to comment on the legacy of the Buhari administration, which has 21 months left in office, Amaechi said the All Progressives Congress (APC) government has handled the resources of the country better than others. He said unlike the past when people with no known source of income became billionaires and were not prosecuted, such could not happen under Buhari. “I want Nigerians to be honest; can you openly take money in this government? I am not saying whether we are corrupt or not.” “Let us assume we are corrupt, can you openly take money in this government? In the past governments, what happened? You can take money in the streets. Corruption was so pervasive that n

See how women-farmers lament lack of access to farmlands Participants at a consultative meeting on agriculture budget in Kwara State have expressed worry over lack of access to farmlands by farmers, particularly women- farmers, in the state.  The group, who are made up of small holder women-farmers, agric organizations and the state government officials also observed that there is no specific budget allocation for farmers with disabilities in the agriculture sector. As part of the communique issued after a one-day meeting in Ilorin, signed by the coordinator, Scaling up Public Investment in Agriculture (SUPIA) budget committee, Mallam Abdurrahman Ayuba, the people urged the state government to increase the agriculture budget to meet with the 10 per cent Maputo/Malabo commitments and declarations. Credit Source: Tribune

NMA Moves to Join Resident Doctors’ Strike, Gives FG 21-day Ultimatum The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has issued a 21-day strike notice to the federal government with effect from today (Monday). This is coming as the federal government said it has set aside the sum of N4.8 billion as a residency training fund for the striking doctors in the country. At the end of her National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Benin City, Edo State held from the August 22 to 28, the association and all the affiliates resolved to give the federal government 21-day notice to fully resolve all the issues contained in the various agreements signed with the doctors. In a statement signed by the NMA President, Prof. Innocent Ujah, and Secretary General, D.r Philips Uche Ekpe, the association said: “After due consideration NEC has put the federal government on a 21-day notice to fully resolve all the issues contained in the various agreements signed with Affiliate members of the Nigerian Me

Delta House of Assembly bye-election Saturday 11th: Ifowodo of APC, goes on serious campeign for Isoko South Constituency l,   following the death of Hon. Kenneth Odafe Ogba on 27th June 2021, The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC fixed Saturday 11th September 2021 for the conduct of a by-election to fill the vacant Isoko South state Constituency seat. The Delta State House of Assembly candidate under the All Progressives Congress, APC, Isoko South Constituency l bye-election, Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo, has gone on a serious campeign, assuring the people of quality representation if elected as a member into the State House of Assembly to represent Isoko South Constituency 1. Ifowodo said that the party will use this election to make a statement and show its intent towards the 2023 polls in the state, adding that the party is sure of victory at the poll. The APC candidate and former Commissioner representing Delta State on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commis

See alluring Photos as Former President Jonathan visits Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III

Sad moment as 20 died, 37 injured, N1b properties lost to flooding 20 people lost their lives, while 37 others sustained varying degrees of injuries as properties and goods worth over N1 billion were lost to floods caused by torrential rain in Bauchi State.  The Coordinator of the Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Abubakar Umar Gabarin, who made this known to journalists at the weekend, said that more deaths were recorded as the entire 20 local government areas of the state continue to be affected by floods.  Gabarin, who said that the agency was still collating reports on flooding in parts of the state, further disclosed that 6,000 farmlands have so far been submerged, 47 culverts washed away, while 27 bridges have collapsed, which he said, now makes movements within the affected communities extremely difficult.  According to him, “We are still collating the number of casualties affected. However, we have recorded additional figures of death: we recorded

Big shock for America as China and Russia plans collaboration to support Taliban's dominated Afghanistan The U.S. along with China, Russia and Pakistan, elier said jointly they do not support the establishment in Afghanistan  However, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday told his Russian and Chinese counterparts that Tehran is ready to cooperate with the two countries to establish "stability and peace" in Afghanistan. The Taliban have capped a staggeringly fast rout of Afghanistan's major cities in just 10 days, achieved with relatively little bloodshed, following two decades of war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. The collapse came as U.S. President Joe Biden moved to complete the withdrawal of U.S. troops. "Iran is ready to cooperate with China to establish security, stability and peace in Afghanistan and strive for its people's development, progress and prosperity," Raisi told China's Xi Jinping in a phone call i

NNPC Considers Offering Shares to the Public After Declaring First Profit In 44 Years   The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is considering an Initial Public Offering (IPO) after declaring a profit, the first in its 44-years of operation. “A listing would draw on the experience of Saudi Aramco, the Saudi Arabian oil giant that listed in 2019,” Bloomberg quoted Managing Director Mele Kyari as saying at a briefing in Abuja on Thursday. “There is no date on it, but there is a possibility of doing this,” Kyari added. A bill recently signed by President Buhari holds in it a clause that enables the NNPC offer shares to the public. The President had on Thursday announced the declaration of a Profit after Tax (PAT) of N287billion in the year 2020, according to him, the announcement is in fulfillment of an earlier pledge by the Federal Government to publicly declare the financial position of the NNPC. This is sequel to the completion of the statutory Annual Audit exercise for Year

Strike: FG gives October deadline to clear SSANU/NASU minimum wage arrears The Federal Government has promised to clear arrears on the consequential adjustment on minimum wage owed to members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, by end of October. Minister for Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, disclosed this at the end of a meeting between the Federal Government and the Joint Action Committee, JAC of the two unions, convened to examine the level of implementation of the Memorandum of Action, MoA, it signed with the unions in February 2021. Ngige commended the unions for their understanding and maturity in cooperating with government to resolve their issues, emphasizing that government did not take them for granted. The Minister disclosed that the meeting was a continuation of an earlier one held on 25th February 2021 at his instance, and at which agreemen

Delta State Police Command Arrest Suspected Armed Robber, Recovers   Ammunitions  The Delta State Police Command has recorded another achievement in it right against crime.  A statement by the Police Public Relations, Edafe Bright said, "Stop and search has been vital in helping the command in fighting crime in the state. Its part of the proactive policing that has been put in place by the Commissioner of police Delta state command, CP Ari Muhammed Ali, FCIA, psc+ which continue to help nip crime in the bud. On the 23/8/2021 at about 0700hrs, Safer-Highway teams stationed between Delta/Edo boundary along Sapele Benin road while on stop and search duty  intercepted a white colour Nissan Maxima Reg. No. JJJ 494 ES. The Vehicle was flagged down for search. Upon searching the vehicle one AK47 rifle with breach No. 7165 with nine (9) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition was recovered the suspect one Davison Edehede ‘m’ 34yrs of Ugbor road Ukpaka area of Warri was arrested. Investigation is

Too much deaths in Nigeria: 76 People Buried in one day, See State where Killing is underreported The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar has said that killings of innocent Nigerians largely go unreported. Sultan Abubakar, who spoke at the 3rd quarter 2021 meeting of the intra-religious council in Abuja on Thursday, recalled a time when 76 residents of Sokoto were killed by criminal elements in one day.  This also followed by the killing of yet another 48 persons on another day. The Sultan said that the killings were not reported. He challenged the security agencies to identify those behind killings in the country and bring them to justice. “In eastern Sokoto alone, there was a day we buried 76 persons, who were killed in cold blood by criminals who came from nowhere, people don’t hear about that one. There was another day we buried 48 persons in the same Sokoto, but you didn’t hear about it.

Tension as unknown helicopter shoots passengers’ boat in Rivers, many casualties  There is a panic in Rivers state a yet-to-be-identified helicopter has reportedly shot at a passenger boat travelling from Port Harcourt to Bonny on Friday. A source revealed that there is Fear in Port Harcourt, Rivers state over the alleged shooting of a passenger boat on Friday, August 27 An eyewitness said a chopper/flight helicopter went very low and started shooting at the boat a few minutes after taking off.  However, the spokesman of the River state police command, Nnamdi Omoni, however, said he was yet to be briefed about the incident. According our source, there are fears of casualties, with some occupants severely injured and rushed to the hospital.  resident of the community, Yakubu Bagudu, disclosed that the gunmen also razed many houses in the raid after killing about 30 persons. However, Bagudu noted that security operatives have been deployed to restore calm in the area. Confirming the atta

Jos attacks: Hospital wards, mortuaries filled with victims, say doctors Doctors in Plateau State said on Thursday that hospital wards and mortuaries in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State have been populated with injured persons and corpses of victims of the armed attacks in the council. Red Cross Nigeria, in a  “Save our Soul (SOS)”   message, pleaded with well-meaning individuals to “donate blood to the injured victims. In a separate SOS, youths of the three ethnic groups in the council,  called for a proactive response by the federal and Plateau state governments, saying they had lost over 100 of their kits and kin to different attacks in the last two weeks. The latest attack by gunmen on Tuesday in Yelwa Zangam Jos North LGA left 35 persons dead, many injured, and scores of houses burnt. On August 15,  23 persons traveling to Osun State met their untimely death when their vehicle ran into a group of irate youths in. Gada-Biyu-Rukuba Road in the

Delta 2023: Kenneth Gbagi an accomplished man without trace of corruption, see why he remains the best choice By Ezekiel Kagbala FPR Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi has been known and seen as an accomplished wealthy man. Olorogun Gbagi remains one of the few rich men in Nigeria that EFCC or ICPC has not invited for questioning on the ground of corruption. Gbagi source of riches is more than genuine. His sources of wealth are very glaring. Unlike others, he is not seeking for power to acquire wealth, he is already wealth personified. He knows the problems of the different communities in the state and has what it takes to bring succour to them. Some of us grew up to meet companies like African Timbre and Ply Wood, located in Sapele, Asaba Textile Mill, located in Asaba, Delta Glass, located in Ughelli and a host of others. Today, all these companies have gone into Oblivion. Different types of reptiles and weeds have overtaken their sites and are having a free day. Olorogun Gbagi has t

Delta State @ 30: Chief Mulade Sheriff Celebrates with Mixed Feelings ... ...Charges Governor Okowa to give Deltans more democratic dividends An Ijaw-born peace and environmental rights activist, Comrade Mulade Sheriff has urged the State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to concentrate on good governance in the last lap of his administration, so that Deltans can enjoy more dividends of democracy before he leaves Office. Chief Mulade, a Delta State governorship hopeful for 2023, gave the charge in Asaba the Delta State Capital while speaking with newsmen on Delta State at 30, and congratulated Deltans for the unity and peace in the State since its creation in 1991. He charged Deltans to give maximum support to the government of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa despite the fact that it is yet to meet the expectations of citizens in terms of socio-economic and infrastructural development, quality healthcare delivery, job creation and employment for youths and women, as well as environmental susta

Nigeria Reports Seven More Deaths, 637 New COVID-19 Cases   As Nigerian authorities battle the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, seven more people died of complications relating to the disease on Wednesday. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed this in its latest update on the outbreak, saying 637 new cases were recorded in 18 states and the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Lagos reported the highest cases – 322, followed by Rivers, Edo, and Delta States that recorded 70, 54, and 34 more infections respectively. Others are Akwa Ibom – 31, Kwara – 31, FCT – 29, Ekiti – 17, Ogun – 14, Osun – 10, Kebbi – eight, Cross River – five, Plateau – three, Taraba – three, Kaduna – two, Bayelsa – two, Benue – one, Enugu – one, and Kano – one. “States with zero cases reported (six): Gombe, Kano, Nasarawa, Oyo, Sokoto, and Zamfara,” the disease control agency said in a Facebook post. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 188,880, sin

 Nigeria’s GDP Records 5% Growth For Second Quarter Nigeria has recorded its third consecutive quarterly growth, NBS reported on August 26, 2021,   Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 5.01% (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2021, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said. The NBS disclosed this in the latest report on the nation’s GDP entitled Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report (Q2 2021) released on Thursday. It explained that the increase in the GDP index marked three consecutive quarters of growth following the negative growth rates recorded in the second and third quarters of 2020. “The Q2 2021 growth rate was higher than the -6.10% growth rate recorded in Q2 2020 and the 0.51% recorded in Q1 2021 year-on-year, indicating the return of business and economic activity near levels seen prior to the nationwide implementation of COVID-19 related restrictions,” the report read. “The steady recovery observed since the end of 2020, with

OML 150 Stakeholders accuses oil Commissioner, Emma Amgbaduba, Tells Gov Okowa to Caution Him   ...accused the Commissioner, Mr. Emma Amgbaduba, of unilaterally dictating and hand picking community representatives to administer their affairs with Conoil. Stakeholders to Oil Mining Lease (OML 150) facility in the Niger Delta region, operated by Conoil Producing Limited, have called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to caution his Oil and Gas Commissioner to desist from actions capable of creating restiveness and violence in the seven host communities to the facility in Warri South Local Government Area of the state. Making the call during a chat with newsmen in Warri on Wednesday, the stakeholders represented by Chief Billy Besigiwa and Comrade Roland Yomere, specifically accused the Commissioner, Mr. Emma Amgbaduba, of unilaterally dictating and hand picking community representatives to administer their affairs with Conoil. They maintained that the action

PDP leadership Crisis Governors Summon Emergency Meeting   Nigerian Governors  on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have summoned an emer­gency meeting to address the crisis rocking the party. The PDP had in the past few weeks bedeviled by leadership crisis leading to calls for the national chair­man of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, to resign. Some members of the National Working Com­mittee (NWC) of the party had also joined the call for Secondus to resign. Again, on Monday, a High Court sitting in Riv­ers State, had issued an in­terim injunction restrain­ing, Prince Uche Secondus from parading himself as the national chairman and member of the PDP. The governors under the aegis of PDP Governors’ Forum, in a statement by its Director General, Hon. CID Maduabum, said, “The Chairman of the PDP Gov­ernors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in consultation with his colleagues, has summoned an emergency meeting of the Forum to hold on Thursda

 Two Chairmen emerge in PDP as Wike, Secondus divide NWC, see details of factionalised PDP Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, was on Tuesday factionalised with the emergence of two acting national chairmen. The two Deputy National Chairmen of the party, Yemi Akinwonmi (South) and Senator Suleiman Nazif (North), in separate announcements on Tuesday, claimed to be the party’s acting National Chairman.  The PUNCH gathered that Akinwonmi was loyal to the Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, Nazif had the support of the suspended National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus. A Rivers State High Court presided over by Justice O. Gbasam of the Degema Judicial Division vacation court, sitting in Port Harcourt, had on Monday granted an order restraining Secondus from parading himself as the national chairman of the party. This was sequel to the consideration of an ex parte application in suit No: PHC/2183/CS/2021 filed by Ibeabuchi Alex, Dennis Amadi, Emmanuel

Attackers on NDA collaborated With Insiders..... CDS Irabor speaks out Chief of Defence Staff General Irabor on Tuesday, August 24, said that it is possible that the attack on the NDA was done through an insider's collaboration. He futher disclosed that there are suspicions that the attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna was the work of bandits and insiders  This possibility was hinted at on Tuesday, August 24, by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor CDS Irabor added that the Defence Headquarters. (DHQ) has embarked on a thoroughgoing investigation into the incident. The  attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna by bandits has left a lot of citizens wondering about the deplorable state of the nation's security system.  Reacting to the ugly incident, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor on Tuesday, August 24, stated that the attack looked like the effort of an insider collaborator. Irabor said an investigation is ongoing.

Izeze, Mrakpor, Oguma, others, We Must live, Work together, I have no Enemies, Followers are the problem.... Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi By Ejiro Oneya "None of these leaders in their various rank are my enemies, none. Either Izeze, Mrakpor, Chief Oguma, name them; even with other leaders, we have in one way or the other sat down together, we have ate together, we have done things together but you, our followers, wrong informations, wrong stories, wrong comments that I don't do, but wanting to leave your own to go and queue for what we called... Wether you like it, wether I like it, we must live together, we must work together, we must do things together". These were the words of the foremost  2023 governorship aspirant in Delta State, Olorogun (Barr.) Kenneth Omemevwa Gbagi when he held meeting with Ughelli South PDP LGA Executive and the 5 Ward Delegates from the 11 wards of Ughelli South LGA of Delta State on Monday 23rd August, 2021 at his country h

Cholera outbreak: 10 killed in Kogi No fewer than ten persons have been killed as a result of the Cholera outbreak in the Taki Bunu community in the Kabba-Bunu local government council of Kogi State. Tribune Online reliably gathered that the incident occurred, on Sunday, following the outbreak of Cholera. The Chairman of Kabba Bunu local government council, Hon Moses Olorunleke, […]

Celebration As Team Nigeria Returns After World Athletics U-20 Championships   After a successful outing at the World Athletics U-20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, Nigerian athletes have returned home to a rousing welcome. The team touched down at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja on Tuesday. They were received by Minister of Sports and Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, and President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa. Nigeria won four gold and three bronze medals to finish third on the medal table. Over 110 countries participated in the biennial junior track and field competition.

PDP: Secondus’ Deputy, Akinwonmi, Takes Over, Postpones NWC Meeting The deputy national chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, has assumed leadership of the party following a court injunction which barred Prince Uche Secondus from parading himself as the party’s national chairman. Akinwonmi in a statement after assuming office on Tuesday, postponed the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting scheduled to hold on Tuesday. He explained that the meeting was postponed until further notice to allow for broader consultations in the overall interest of the party.

Delta 2023: Ughelli South To Produce Delta Governor as Party leaders Project Kenneth Gbagi  Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, have asserted that; Ughelli South will produce the next governor in 2023, they pledged to work with Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi to secure his emergence in the upcoming PDP primaries. This was made known during a meeting of PDP executives, Ward Chairmen, and stakeholders with Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi on Monday 24, August 2021 in his Oginibo country home, Ughelli South.   They collectively commended the former Minister of Education Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi for creating a forum to enable them Rob minds, lay bare their grievance, and deliberate on how Ughelli South aspirants will come together for the 2023 governorship race. The  Ughelli South, Effurotor Ward PDP, LGA Secretary, Comrade  Ivwromomena commended Gbagi for his leadership roles, he said,  " We are l