FocalPoint Reports

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), in collaboration with the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), has secured the suspension of MovieBox.ng, a website notorious for streaming pirated movies, music, and live sports. In a statement released Thursday in Abuja, Mrs Ijeoma Egbunike, Director of Public Affairs, announced that NCC Director-General Dr John Asein confirmed the suspension took effect on July 20, 2025. He said the action followed the commission’s renewed campaign against online piracy and had been widely welcomed by copyright holders in the film, music, and broadcast industries. Asein described the site’s operations as part of a coordinated attempt to sustain piracy using clone and fallback domains. “They use multiple mirror domains to access and promote pirated content, with domain histories linked to known piracy operations,” he said. He commended NiRA for its swift response and urged other internet stakeholders, including service providers and in...

The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo State, has ruled that the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, lacks the legal authority to seize drivers’ licences, vehicles, or related documents without lawful justification. This decision came in Appeal No: CA/OW/199/2022, filed by the FRSC, the Corps Marshal, and an officer identified by Uniform No. COSS 35 (as 1st to 3rd Appellants), against Dr. Emmanuel Ugochukwu Shebbs (Respondent). The appellate court upheld the judgment of the High Court of Abia State, which had earlier ruled that such seizures amount to a violation of fundamental human rights. Delivering a unanimous judgment, Justices Amina Audi Wambai, M. Lawal Abubakar, and Ntong F. Ntong affirmed the FRSC’s liability for rights violation. However, the court reduced the damages awarded to the respondent from N30 million to N10 million, covering general and exemplary damages. The case stemmed from an incident in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown, when FRSC officers stopped ...

Tragedy struck in Jigawa State as nine persons, mostly young girls, lost their lives in a boat mishap that occurred in Taura Local Government Area on Sunday, July 27, 2025. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the incident in an update released Thursday on its official handle. According to NEMA’s Kano Operations Office, the victims were travelling in a canoe from Digawa Village in Jahun Local Government Area to Zangon Maje Village in Taura LGA when the boat capsized mid-journey around 7:00 p.m. A statement titled “NEMA Kano Operations Office Assesses Boat Mishap at Zangon Maje Village, Taura LGA, Jigawa State, 30th July 2025” noted that 17 passengers were onboard at the time of the accident. “Findings revealed that the tragic incident took place on Sunday, 27th July 2025, at approximately 7:00 p.m. The boat, which was carrying 17 passengers, mostly young girls, capsized mid-journey while travelling from Digawa Village in Jahun Local Government Area to Zangon Ma...

•Agent identified, to be prosecuted, says NIDCOM The agent, who allegedly lured the stranded Nigerian miners to the Central African Republic, has been identified and will be prosecuted, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has said. The commission also revealed that the stranded miners have finally arrived at the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui. A viral video showed some Nigerian miners calling for help, prompting immediate intervention and swift response from officials of the Nigerian Embassy and CAR security, who accompanied them from their location to the capital. The journey to Bangui took a number of days with the Nigerians, who were victims of a Chinese national and a Nigerian agent who hired them for work in that country and abandoned them there without paying their remuneration for 11 months. Obviously traumatised, weak and distressed, they had called for help to be rescued. An update by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission yesterday stated: “They are now in the safe hands of of...

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his huge support for the programme's peacebuilding process in the Niger Delta. Otuaro spoke on Wednesday while delivering his remarks at the opening ceremony for the second batch of the Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Media Training organised by the PAP for its stakeholders in collaboration with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja. The first batch of the three-day workshop took place from July 16 to July 18, 2025 at the same venue- the Nigerian Army Resource Centre. He attributed Tinubu's firm backing of the programme's peacebuilding initiative to the president's strong desire for sustainable peace, stability and development in the region and indeed Nigeria. Otuaro said the President's massive support for the PAP stemmed from his concern for a better and assured future for the people of the Niger De...

Nigeria has committed $538.05 million to the first phase of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme and unveiled a youth-driven 10-year Strategic Action Plan (2026–2035) to transform its agricultural sector, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima. Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima’s spokesperson, said in a statement on Tuesday that the Vice President spoke at a high-level dialogue with African youth agri-food entrepreneurs and leaders in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4). While addressing the Plenary Session on Transforming Food Systems in Complex Settings, Shettima disclosed that Nigeria has already committed $538.05 million to the first phase of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme. He described the SAPZ as a flagship initiative aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, improving rural livelihoods, and accelerating agro-industrialisation. “The SAPZ programme in Nigeria is being impl...

The affected companies have been identified as either not carrying on business, inactive for at least 10 years, or failing to meet regulatory obligations, particularly the annual filing of returns and disclosure of Persons with Significant Control. The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has threatened to delist 100,000 companies from its register over prolonged inactivity and non-compliance with statutory requirements under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA). The move forms part of the Commission’s broader effort to sanitise Nigeria’s corporate registry and ensure that only active and compliant entities remain in the system. It also aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance transparency in company ownership and governance in line with anti-money laundering standards. A public notice issued by the Commission said the affected companies have been identified as either not carrying on business, inactive for at least 10 years, or failing to meet regulatory obligations, par...

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Nwosu, has claimed that the party rejected billions to abandon its role in Nigeria’s opposition coalition. He made the disclosure on Tuesday during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja. According to him, some individuals tried to dissuade him with promises of automatic ministerial appointments. He, however, stated that the ADC would not be swayed by money or other inducements. Nwosu said, “ Some people tried to discourage us with promises of automatic ministerial appointments. “They wanted to give me three ministerial slots so that I can take one and give two to others that I choose. But I said no. I chose a democratic future for Nigeria. “Some politicians believe it’s all about money, and they will tell you, if you can’t get them with this amount of money, what you need is more money. But we in the ADC, especially the NWC members, said no. We rejected every offer, both in Nigeria and abroa...

Wife of Lagos Governor and State Coordinator for the Renewed Hope Initiative, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-olu, has launched the Lagos Chapter of the Renewed Hope Initiative- Agricultural Support Programme (RHI-ASP) for residents. Addressing beneficiaries of this year’s edition of the RHI Agricultural Support Programme at Lagos House, Ikeja, Dr Sanwo-Olu noted that the initiative birthed by the First Lady of Nigeria and Chairman, Renewed Hope Initiative, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, is poised to further boost the nation’s food security, thereby encouraging women, youths and the younger generation to embrace home gardening. She explained the RHI-ASP Initiative comprises of four core project components, which includes; Women Agricultural Support Program (WASP), Youth Agricultural Support Program (YASP), Every Home a Garden (EHAG) and the Young Farmers Club (YFC). She said the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative has supported each state with a sum...

President Bola Tinubu has ordered that 200 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) honorees be given permanent employment in the federal civil service for distinguishing themselves during the service year. Tinubu gave the directive on Tuesday during the combined President’s NYSC Honours Award Ceremony (2020-2023) in Abuja FocalPoint Reports that President Tinubu also announced a ₦250,000 cash award for the 200 honorees, as well as a postgraduate scholarship in Nigerian universities, in recognition of their outstanding service during the 2020–2023 service years. Furthermore, Tinubu directed that 10 physically challenged former corps members, who sustained varying degrees of disability while serving, be offered federal employment and assured them that the government will never forget their sacrifice. President Tinubu, who was represented at the event by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment,  Nkeiruka Onyejeocha , instructed the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation ...

According to police sources, the family of the deceased refused evacuation of the corpse to the hospital for autopsy, opting for immediate burial in accordance with religious and cultural practices. A man, Yayu Musa has been arrested for allegedly killing a 50 year-old woman, Atayi Abdul, in Olla Community of Omala Local Government Area.  Musa was apprehended by men of the Kogi State Police Command. It was gathered that the incident occurred on Friday, July 25, at about 8:00 p.m., when the suspect lured the deceased to her farm under the pretense that thieves were stealing palm fruits from it.  Upon arrival at the farm, Musa reportedly attacked and slaughtered the woman with a knife.  Police detectives were immediately mobilised to the scene where photographs of the crime scene were taken.  The suspect was arrested and is currently in custody.  According to police sources, the family of the deceased refused evacuation of the corpse to the hospital fo...

The Governor of Delta State, RT. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori needs to revitalize local governance to better serve the needs of the populace. The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria outlines the roles and responsibilities of local government councils, emphasizing their importance in delivering essential services and amenities to communities. However, many local government chairmen have fallen short of these expectations, leading to a significant gap in the provision of basic amenities. In numerous council areas, residents are grappling with inadequate access to clean water, poor road infrastructure, electricity, security and insufficient healthcare services. These shortcomings not only hinder the quality of life for citizens but also stifle local economic development. The effectiveness of local government chairmen is paramount in addressing these issues, as they are the closest representatives to the people and are tasked with implementing policies that directly impact their communities. Governor ...