FocalPoint Reports

Nigeria Partners With Boeing for Aviation Industry Growth The Nigerian government has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Boeing, an aircraft manufacturer, to enhance the country’s aviation sector. This development was disclosed by Tunde Moshood, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications. Moshood said the agreement also aims to expedite the purchase of aircraft and enhance Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure and operational standards. The signing ceremony, which took place in the United States on Wednesday, was witnessed by key Nigerian aviation stakeholders, including executives from major Nigerian airlines, the top management team of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and representatives from the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON). The MoU, signed by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and Anbessie Yitbarek, Boeing’s Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Africa, will see Boe...

Court Grants DIA Order To Freeze Bank Account Of Suspected Terrorist Leader, Idris The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has received approval from the Federal High Court in Abuja to freeze the bank account of Usman Idris, a suspected terrorist leader, for a period of 30 days. The account, held at the United Bank for Africa (UBA), is being investigated in connection with alleged terrorist activities. Justice Peter Lifu issued the freezing order following the DIA’s request, which was presented through an ex-parte application by the agency’s counsel, Barrister S. A. Aminu. The lawyer argued that the account holder, Idris, has been linked to several serious crimes, including banditry, kidnapping, oil bunkering, and financing terrorism. The application, filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1145/2024, was supported by evidence of illicit arms purchases and requested a 90-day freeze on the account. However, Justice Lifu limited the order to 30 days after questioning the lawyer about the durati...

Nigeria Passport Are Treated With Disdain In Foreign Countries – FG Laments The Federal Government has decried the disdainful treatment given to Nigeria’s Passport in foreign countries across the world. The Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Baba Ndace, said though Nigeria is not a perfect country and has its challenges the treatment given to Nigerians with Nigerian passports is unacceptable Baba Ndace partly blamed the poor treatment of Nigerians in foreign countries on negative narratives that have flooded the internet and media space concerning the country. The VON DG stated this during a visit to the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Peter Odey in his office in Calabar, on Wednesday. “ As a person, when you travel out with a Nigerian passport, you are treated with disdain, unbefitting of your status. This unacceptable treatment is traceable to negative stories people have peddled about Nigeria. “ We may not be perfect, but we are not what is being ...

Climate change worsening farmer-herder clashes, says Speaker Abbas The speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, says climate change contributes to worsening the farmer-herder clashes in the country. He said this at a stakeholders’ forum on addressing the impact of climate change on farmer-herder clashes in Nigeria organised by the office of the deputy chairman, House Committee on Environment on Wednesday, August 28. The event premiered the documentary, “Behind the Valley”, which is a story of climate change and farmer-herder conflicts in Benue State. The speaker said as part of efforts to address the challenge, there is a need to get rid of outdated herding and farming methods and adopt global trends in farming amidst climate change. He also said the Land Use Act puts limitations on how much the Federal Government and the National Assembly can go to make the changes required to address the situation. The Speaker was represented by the Member representing Makurdi/Guma Fe...

Breaking: FG, ASUU Begin Meeting Over Strike A critical meeting between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has commenced in Abuja, as both parties aim to prevent another nationwide strike in the country’s public universities. The meeting, which is taking place at the Conference Hall of the Federal Ministry of Education, follows a recent threat by ASUU to embark on industrial action over what the union describes as the government’s failure to meet its demands. ASUU, led by its President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed frustration over the unmet commitments, which reportedly include issues related to funding, staff welfare, and the implementation of past agreements. Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, had previously addressed the media, signalling the government’s readiness to engage with the union. However, an earlier planned meeting last Monday was postponed without explanation. Other notable participants at the meeting include...

Rivers Crisis: Nigerian govt pensively supporting saboteurs causing troubles – HURIWA alleges The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State not to be deterred but remain committed to upholding democratic principles and ensure that local government administration is managed by democratically elected officials. The rights group warned that the plan by Fubara to conduct LGA elections must not be thwarted by the previous local government chairmen, who were appointed by the former governor, Nyesom Wike. HURIWA’s concerns follow the unending political crisis rocking the state, even as the group suggests that the issues in the state appear to be externally induced. The rights group questioned if powers were instructing the Inspector General of Police to direct the Rivers State Police Command to show loyalty to someone other than Siminalayi Fubara, who is the democratically elected Governor of the State It stressed that it is both...

Edo Guber: APC, Edo Govt Fight Over Plan To Rig Election The Edo State Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have accused each other of planning to rig the September 21 governorship election. While the APC accused Governor Godwin Obaseki‘s administration of trying to use Edo State Security Network to rig the governorship election; Obaseki through his media aide also accused the APC of planning to use federal influence to rig the September election. In a statement, the Director of Media, Edo APC Campaign Council, Prince Kassim Afegbua, accused Governor Obaseki of planning to use intimidation and harassment to cow the electorates against their will. The statement titled “Governor Obaseki plotting to rig Edo election”, On Wednesday read: “ We, of the Edo State APC Campaign Council, are hereby alerting the public, Edo electorates, and all others concerned, of the clandestine and surreptitious moves by the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, to rig the forthcoming Edo ...

Guber Poll: APC, Edo govt trade words over alleged plan to rig election Barely 25 days to the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, the All Progressives Congress, APC, campaign council and the state government have again accused each other of plans to rig the election. It was reported that while the APC governorship campaign council accused the state government of planning to use the State Security Network, otherwise known as ESSN to rig the election, the State government, on the other hand, alleged that the former was relying on “Federal might”to win the gubernatorial poll. A statement by Prince Kassim Afegbua, the Director of Media, Edo APC campaign council, titled, “Governor Obaseki plotting to rig Edo election” alleged that the state government has started producing Police and Military uniforms for members of the state security network to wear on the election day. He said the uniforms were to enable the members of the security network disguise themselves as real po...

Tinubu’s 18-Year-Old Policy For WAEC, NECO, JAMB Belongs To Stone Age – Atiku Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has said the 18 years policy of President Bola Tinubu as the age limit to write secondary school leaving examinations and enter tertiary institutions in Nigeria belongs to the Stone Age, FocalPoint News reported that the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, announced that students below the age of 18 years would no longer be allowed to write the West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) and Unified Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams. Atiku in his reaction, said the policy is an absurdity and a disincentive to scholarship. He added that the policy runs foul of the notion of delineation of responsibilities in a federal system of government. In a statement on Wednesday, Atiku explained that states should be allowed to make respective rules on education. “ The recent policy of the Federal Ministry of Education peg...

How God Saved Me From Cancer – Ayodele Oritsejafor The founder of Word of Life Bible Church, Pastor Ayodele Oritsejafor, has shared his battle with cancer and how God healed him. The clergyman made the disclosure while addressing his congregation. According to the cleric, he left Nigeria for medical treatment in the USA and knew someone who also travelled to the United Kingdom with the same kind of cancer but never survived it. He said: “ While I was leaving for America, somebody I know was leaving for the United Kingdom with the same kind of cancer. It’s an aggressive cancer. The day I boarded the flight coming to Nigeria, he was in a casket coming to Nigeria. “How do you face cancer and still stand like this? “But I did not tell you when I was going to America full of cancer, you did not know, I did not tell you. I look normal because this is my way of life. “Hear me, I was on my two legs. I walked onto the plane, but he wasn’t there. “Please don’t clap because I am not bett...

Breaking: US Donates 10,000 Mpox Vaccine Doses To Nigeria The United States of America, on Tuesday, donated 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine to Nigeria. FocalPoint Reports News  gathered that Jynneos is the approved vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of smallpox and mpox in adults aged 18 years and older who are at risk of mpox infection. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, while speaking during the official handover of the mpox vaccine to Nigeria in Abuja, thanked the US government for the donation. He stated that the Federal Government is committed to improving the well-being of Nigerians. Pate, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom, said,  “This is a spirit of cooperation and collaboration through the years, and this vaccine will be of great help to us. The Federal Ministry of Health understands the importance of having a healthy nation, so all the policies that we i...

New NIA, DSS DGs Must Work Together To Tackle Insecurity- Ex DSS DG, Ejiofor A former director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, has advised the new heads of the DSS and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi and Mohammed Mohammed, respectively, to work together to tackle the country’s insecurity. Mike Ejiofor said the DSS has maintained professionalism in its operation. He added that some of the misgivings of Nigerians against the intelligence agency are few. In an interview with Arise TV on Tuesday, Ejiofor, stated that DSS personnel are also victims of Nigeria factor, socially and economically. Ejiofor said, “ The SSS, as far as I know, has been very professional, although there might be some one or two areas people have some misgivings, but if you look at the overall performance of the service, I think they have done averagely well, comparing what is going on in Nigeria. Don’t forget that these people, the service officers, t...

“We Are Professionals, Guided By Transparency And Fairness” – NUPRC Speaks After Allegations By Atiku The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has provided updates on the divestment activities of some International Oil Companies (IOC) in Nigeria. The NUPRC updates were contained in a statement issued on Monday by the commission’s head of public affairs unit,  Olaide Shonola . The updates released by the NUPRC follows a recent accusation by former Vice President of Nigeria,  Atiku Abubakar , who, in a statement on Sunday, 25th August, accused  President Bola Tinubu  of giving undue advantage to his nephew in the purchase of some oil assets in the country. Atiku, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, asked the federal government to explain why Oando Plc, owned by the President’s nephew, got accelerated approval to buy the onshore assets of AGIP and ENI while other transactions such as th...

Gombe agrees to pay N70,000 minimum wage – Deputy Gov Gombe Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya has announced his intention to pay the new N70,000 national minimum wage to workers in the State. Gombe Deputy Governor Manassah Jatau who is also the Chairman of the state’s Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage negotiation revealed this to journalists on Sunday. He added that his committee is fine tuning the details in that respect while assuring that Governor Inuwa Yahaya is committed to paying the new minimum wage. Represented by the Head of Civil Service, Alh. Ahmed Kasimu Abdullahi, during the briefing, the Deputy Governor explained that the Governor is highly committed to ensuring that civil servants in the state enjoy the N70,000 new national minimum wage so that they can put in their best in serving the state. He said that the Governor has set a machinery in motion and the standing committee has been fine-tuning to see to the implementation of the new minimum wage. According to him: “...

Strike: FG Postpones Planned Meeting With ASUU The planned meeting between the federal government and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) earlier scheduled to hold today, Monday 26th August, has been postponed. ASUU president,  Emmanuel Osodeke , confirmed the postponement of the meeting, though no reason was given for the change in date. Naija News  understands the planned meeting is now set to be held on Wednesday, August 28. It would be recalled that the federal government, through the Minister of Education,  Prof. Tahir Mamman , had scheduled the meeting with the ASUU leadership to address the union’s demands. The Minister announced the planned meeting during an appearance on Television Continental’s “Beyond 100 Days” program on Thursday. The move comes after ASUU issued a 21-day ultimatum to the government, following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Ibadan last week. ASUU has consis...

Bode George Calls On PDP Leaders To Prioritize Reconciliation Over Personal Ambitions Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and member of its Board of Trustees (BoT), Bode George, has urged party leaders to set aside their personal ambitions and engage in dialogue to resolve internal issues. Speaking on Sunday during a discussion titled “National Reconciliation and Discipline in the PDP,” moderated by Femi Akande, George emphasized that internal conflicts are not unique to the PDP. George, who previously served as the deputy national chairman of the PDP, acknowledged the party’s internal disputes but insisted that such disagreements are normal in any organization. “ I know we have internal crisis in our party, it’s normal. There’s no organisation anywhere in the world that you will not have some disagreement. I am pleading with all sides, they should calm their nerves, ” the PDP chieftain stated. He stressed the importance of returning to the negotiation table, encouraging all i...

JUST IN: Resident Doctors Commence Nationwide Warning Strike The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has initiated a seven-day warning strike. Naija News understands that the nationwide industrial action by the Doctors association is aimed at advocating for the release of Dr Ganiyat Popoola, a member of NARD who has been held captive for over eight months. NARD President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi, announced this in a statement made available to newsmen, indicating that the strike will commence on Monday, August 26, 2024, at midnight. Abdullahi revealed that the decision was reached during a virtual Emergency National Executive Council meeting convened on Sunday, August 25, 2024. He emphasized that the warning strike would be comprehensive, with no emergency services provided during this period. Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was abducted nearly eight months ago alongside her husband and nephew. While her h...

[BREAKING] Diri Vs Sylva: Supreme Court Delivers Judgement On Bayelsa Governorship Election The Supreme Court on Friday, August 23, confirmed the election of Douye Diri as the Governor of Bayelsa State. In a ruling today, the highest court dismissed the appeal filed by Timipre Sylva, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Justice Garba Lawal, who authored the lead judgment, stated that the appeal from Sylva and the APC was not only devoid of merit but also represented a significant misuse of the judicial process. The apex court’s unanimous ruling upheld the prior decisions made by both the Court of Appeal and the Election Petition Tribunal. On July 18, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Abuja unanimously supported the Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal ruling, which had confirmed Diri’s reelection on November 11, 2023. A three-member appellate court panel had previously dismissed the appeal lodged by Timipre Sylva and the APC, which sought to...

64 Independence: Group calls for accountability, restructuring A Group under the auspices of ‘The Rebirth Group has called for urgent Restructuring and Accountability in Nigeria as the country marks 110 years of Amalgamation and 64 years of independence. In a statement issued and signed by Convener of the Group, Owolabi Oladejo, Chairman Board of Trustees, Yemi Farounbi, and General secretary, DIY Nweze the Group pointed out that the 64th independence Anniversary of Nigeria provides the opportunity for all to come together and chart a new path for peace, progress and come up with a solution towards addressing the social, political & Economic challenges facing the Nation. ” We believe it is time for sober reflection. We must come together to chart a new path for peace and progress. Nigeria should no longer fear open debates, negotiations and decisions about the kind of relationship they want with other ethnic and how their country should be Governed. It is high time we put a stop to...

FG Needs ₦16 Trillion To Complete Road Projects – Umahi The Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, has said the federal government needs ₦16 trillion to cover the financial gap for road projects across the country. David Umahi said President Bola Tinubu’s administration inherited a total of 18,932.50 kilometers of ongoing road and a total of 2,064 contracts. Umahi stated this on Thursday while addressing newsmen. He explained that the removal of fuel subsidy and floating naira were responsible for the ₦16 trillion needed to conclude the government’s road project. According to him, the inherited projects are worth about “ ₦13 trillion as of May 2023; that will be more than ₦16 trillion when all projects are reviewed in line with current market realities.” “This is due to the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira. “It is a very sound economic decision by this administration, considering the fact that some of the projects have lingered for between five and eight years. “...

A’Ibom Oil producing communities pledge to settle issues hindering PIA implementation  OIL producing communities of Unyenge and Ntak- Inyang in Mbo and Esit Eket Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom state respectively, have pledged to settle all issues hindering implementation of provisions for Host communities in the Petroleum Industry, (PIA) Act, 2021 in their areas. The host communities to Universal Energy Resources Limited (UERL), stated gave their assurances in Uyo during a multi-stakeholders meeting organized by the Initiative for Africa Society Inclusion and Diversity (INCLUD) with support from the MacArthur Foundation. These were contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by all stakeholders representatives’, including village head of Ntak-Inyang, Chief John Ekwere, and Village Head of Unyenge, Chief Okon Etteokpo.  In the communique made available to newsmen on Thursday in Uyo, Ntak- Inyang impacted community in particular, pledged to withdra...

IPDI Commends Tompolo, Pondi, Tare for Peace, youth empowerment, Security, Environmental Sustainability in N'Delta The National President of Ijaw People's Development Initiative, IPDI, distinguished Comrade Ozobo Austin has expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the tireless efforts of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Chairman Tantita Security Service Limited, Chief (Engr) Kestin Pondi, Tantita's MD and Tantita's GM, Sir, Godfrey Tare Pondi in promoting peace, ensuring adequate security, and prioritising environmental safety and empowerment of thousands of people in the Niger Delta region.  According to the statement, their collaborative efforts had been instrumental in creating a conducive environment for economic growth and development in Nigeria. Ozobo noted that the trio's commitment to peace and security had significantly contributed to a boost in oil production, which had a positive impact on the global economy. "The increased oil...

2025 Budget Will Be Based On Needs Assessment – Gbajabiamila Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has announced that a thorough needs assessment will determine the 2025 budget for agencies within the State House. FocalPoint News  reports that the CoS stated this during a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, which followed a one-day fact-finding mission to various government agencies overseen by the State House. Gbajabiamila emphasized that this approach aims to ensure that the financial resources allocated to these agencies reflect their genuine needs. “In any country in the world, resources are limited. For us, it is about prioritising. Where are we so far? What have the agencies done? How have they measured up to their mandates, and how important are their mandates in terms of the vision of this administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda? “A lot of agencies are not properly funded. Do we merge some of these agencies, or do we...

NNPC Reveals Revenue It Made From Crude Oil Sale In 2023 The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has disclosed that the revenue it realised from crude oil sales in 2023 totalled ₦14.07 trillion. This represents an increase of 298.7 percent relative to the N3.52 trillion earned in 2022, the NNPC said in its Audited Financial Statements (AFS) for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. On August 19, the national oil company had declared a revenue of ₦24 trillion for the 2023 fiscal year. Speaking in the AFS, the firm said it made ₦7.14 trillion from petroleum products sales last year up by 58.74 percent from the N4.5 trillion earned in 2022. On revenue from the sale of natural gas, the NNPC said the country got ₦2.3 trillion in 2023, representing 237.31 percent growth compared to the N683 billion recorded in 2022. The NNPC said the country earned about ₦94 million in 2023 from the sale of power, realising no revenue in the previous year. The company said revenue...

Uganda, Kenya Request Verification From JAMB Due To Fake Certificate Concerns In light of recent incidents involving fake certificates detected by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), examination boards in Uganda and Kenya have reached out to the Nigerian government, seeking verification of records presented by Nigerian students applying for admission into their universities. JAMB revealed this development in a document titled “Registrar’s Report on 2023 Admission & 2024 UTME Policy Meeting,” which was made available yesterday. The document underscores the importance of safeguarding the reputation of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions on the global stage. JAMB emphasized that it will not alter the records of any student, asserting, “ Uganda and Kenya examination boards are now writing to JAMB to confirm records presented by candidates for admission. JAMB would not falsify record. ” This move follows the federal government’s recent suspension of certificate verifica...

Domestic refining will address fuel scarcity, queues, says NBA The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for full implementation of the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the supply of crude to Dangote refinery and modular refineries in the country. Describing the establishment of the refinery as a nationalistic and patriotic endeavour, the umbrella professional association of lawyers, urged the Federal Government and Nigerians to support the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to end the reign of fuel scarcity and perennial queues at filling stations in the country. It expressed disappointment that the major project is encountering strong resistance from fuel importers, who have stifled the economy and kept it reliant on imported refined petroleum products, despite Nigeria’s status as a leading crude oil producer. The President of NBA, Yakubu Maikyau, who led other leaders and members of the association on a visit to the facility, praised the President/Chief Exe...

I Don’t Have Bursary Scheme – Tunji-Ojo The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said the report that he has a bursary scheme was false. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said this in reaction to a report that his foundation marked out ₦200 million for students of Ondo State origin. According to a statement released on Wednesday by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the Minister “ strongly refuted the claims, describing the information as entirely baseless “. Tunji-Ojo said he has no foundation that mapped out ₦200 million for students. He added that no bursary scheme is being sponsored by him or any foundation related to him. He described that report as an online fabrication aimed at putting his name in disrepute. The Minister of Interior explained that his commitment is to achieve the Renewed Hope mandate of President Bola Tinubu. “This announcement being circulated online is nothing but a fabrication. There is no truth to the claim, and the pub...

Asuu Give FG 21-day strike notice  The Academic Staff Union of Universities has informed the Federal Government of its plans to embark on a nationwide strike by placing the government on a 21-day notice, The PUNCH reports. Sources within the National Executive Council of ASUU confirmed the development to our correspondent in Abuja on Monday. The notice was issued at the end of the NEC meeting, which was held at the University of Ibadan, and a copy is expected to be transmitted to the Federal Ministries of Labour and Education. “It is not an ultimatum but a strike notice. We are giving them 21 days’ notice, after which we shall embark on strike. “Our aim for putting out the notice is that it is a requirement under labour laws so we are trying to ensure that all our actions are done according to the law,” the source said. It would be recalled that ASUU had threatened to embark on strike over the non-implementation of agreements reached with the federal government. On June...

Civil service is challenged, but won’t sink in Taraba – Gov Kefas By Femi Bolaji, Jalingo Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has said that the state’s civil service, under his leadership, will not be left to sink into the pool of unproductivity that currently plagues many civil service formations across the country. Kefas spoke on Monday in Jalingo, the state capital, while declaring open a five-day professional workshop for Directors of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Taraba State government. Represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Jeji Williams, the governor said he is committed to rebuilding the weakened fabric of the state’s civil service to achieve optimal performance. According to him, “the civil service has faced numerous challenges over time, leading to a decline in its structure and administration. “However, our government is determined to reposition it for maximum productivity. “This training is part of our ongoing efforts to equip civil servants with b...

NNPCL declares N3.29tr profit for 2023 The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Monday, August 19, declared N3.29 trillion profit for the financial year 2023. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of NNPCL, Umar Ajiya, made the declaration at a press 2023 Audited Financial Statement presentation in Abuja. He said the profit grew by 28% from the N2.54 trillion recorded in 2022, N674.1 billion in 2021, N287.0 billion in 2020, N-1.7 billion in 2019, and N-1.7 billion. Read Also: Coalition seeks independent leadership for NNPCL, oil & gas agencies “Now, in 2023, profit has also grown by 28” from N2.5trillion to N3.297trillion, said Ajiya. The CFO depicted the profit as a reflection of the commitment and hard work of the management and staff of NNPCL who have worked day and night to ensure this company is sustainable and in a growth trajectory. He said the 2023 figure is the highest since the inception of the company. He said the profit is a reflection of the company’s 12 ...