FocalPoint Reports

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will have an easy ride in the 2027 presidential election. Wike said the emerging opposition coalition would not pose a serious challenge to Tinubu. He added that the President would return to the Presidential Villa without facing much pressure. The minister spoke during a media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while discussing the opposition coalition and preparations for the 2027 election. “This will be an election where a president will be walking to the Villa with no pressure,” Wike said. Wike also spoke about the Rainbow Coalition, saying its main objective was to support Tinubu rather than promote the interest of any particular individual. “Rainbow coalition is not about one person. What is important is that we are supporting Mr President. No one party takes everything,” he said. The minister further dismissed the strength of opposition parties, arguing that ...

Digital payment platform OPay has threatened legal action against a 𝕏 user after a social media post claimed the fintech company would shut down its operations on September 1, 2026. The user, identified as Cute Hafserh (@Haifah_Er_Abba), reportedly shared the publication online, prompting OPay to issue a formal warning and demand its removal. The company, through its Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Moses Rokosu, accused the social media user of circulating false and misleading information that has harmed the company. OPay directed the user to delete the post, warning that it was prepared to pursue legal action. The development followed the company’s earlier clarification that it had no plan to suspend its operations on September 1, after a shutdown rumour circulated across social media. OPay had reassured its customers that its services would continue without interruption, urging them to disregard the unverified claims. In the warning issued to the 𝕏 user, OPay said it wo...

‘ The President and Convener of the Transparency and Accountability Group, Comrade Ayo Ologun, has called for an investigation into the use of public funds for the foreign travels of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.  Ologun raised the concern after records from GovSpend showed that $553,884 was released as foreign exchange for overseas trips involving the First Lady between 2023 and 2024. Speaking with Daily Trust, Ologun questioned the legal basis for funding the foreign trips, arguing that the Office of the First Lady is not recognized as a separate government office under the law or provided for as an independent office in the national budget. He said the issue should not only be viewed from the perspective of whether financial regulations were violated but also whether public resources were being unnecessarily depleted. “Because her office is not recognized by the law, and there is nothing like the office of the wife of the President, but because we have seemingly adapted...

President Bola Tinubu has left Nigeria for a three-week vacation in Europe as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections. The President departed Abuja on Sunday for the break, which his media aide, Sunday Dare, described as an opportunity to rest and regain strength ahead of an expected period of hectic political activities. Dare, the Presidential Adviser on Media and Public Communications, spoke with journalists shortly after Tinubu’s departure from the Federal Capital Territory. Explaining the reason for the President’s vacation, Dare said Tinubu had spent the last several months dealing with major national issues, including the economy and security. He said the sustained engagement made the break necessary, particularly as the political season had begun. Dare said, “The President has had several months six, seven months of being engaged with state matters. We’ve seen monumental changes, monumental decisions taken with our security, with our economy and so many...

Former Kogi West senator Dino Melaye has urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to serve as the country’s watchdog and conscience. Melaye gave the charge at the 66th Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference (NBA-AGC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He mocked President Bola Tinubu for his inability to produce his primary and secondary school certificates, and called on the NBA to show interest in issues like these. Melaye appealed to lawyers not to leave everything to NBA executives, but to get involved in issues of the nation. Melaye said, “We must make sure that the leadership of the NBA begins to take on issues of common interest across this country. The President of this country filled an INEC form, he’s the most brilliant person on earth. He went to university straight without attending primary and secondary schools. What are we saying about it? What questions are we asking about this? “So every lawyer in this country must make sure that the leadership of th...

The choice of who will be the government anointed candidate for the role of the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been narrowed to just two names, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal. Following the resignation of Ibrahim Musa Gusau led board of the NFF, there will be fresh elections into the seats of the football house by a normalisation committee which will run Nigerian football for three months. In the build up to the process, we can exclusively reveal that former president of the NFF Amaju Pinnick who was under consideration for a return has been dropped from the options. Two names are highly favoured from the South West, with a new name emerging to challenge the initial overwhelming choice of the presidency and the National Sports Commission (NSC). Although the two are the front runners projected and presented to the presidency, former Super Eagles midfielder Seyi Olofinjana is the idea of certain interests in the NSC. There is every likelihoo...

The Federal Government has warned that 915 communities across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory are at critical risk of flooding between August 27 and September 9, 2026, urging residents in the affected areas to take immediate precautionary measures and prepare for possible evacuation. The National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre classified 915 communities across the affected areas as being at critical flood risk, requiring immediate watch, preparedness and protective action. Another 429 communities in seven states were classified as high risk, while 656 communities across 13 states were placed on moderate-risk watch. The critical-risk states are Kogi, Benue, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo. Major cities and communities listed include Lokoja, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Benin City, Asaba, Calabar, Yenagoa, Uyo, Aba, Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri, Lagos, Abeokuta, Akure, Osogbo a...

The elder brother of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has reportedly been killed by suspected bandits. The victim was the Village Head of Galla in Borgu Emirate, Niger State. The assailants were said to have stormed his palace on Monday, August 24, 2026, in an incident that has reportedly unsettled residents of the community. According to Daily Post, sources familiar with the development said the monarch had earlier warned the bandits to stay away from the community. His warning was allegedly viewed as an affront by the criminals, who later returned and attacked him at his palace. The killing has further raised concerns about the security situation in the Borgu Emirate, where bandit attacks and other criminal activities have reportedly increased in recent times. When contacted, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, acknowledged receiving inquiries about the incident. He, however, said he would ge...

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, has disclosed that terrorists and extremist groups are currently using the SIM cards of dead people to raise illicit funds for their criminal activities. This is contained in the agency’s 2026 Annual report released on Monday. The NFIU equally stated that terrorist financiers were also opening bank accounts in women’s names and using phone numbers for mobile banking or account alerts that were not registered to the account holders or actual beneficiaries. The agency’s report showed that the crowdfunding schemes involved foreign-based facilitators using social media platforms to solicit donations under the guise of humanitarian relief or educational support before moving the funds through multiple layers to terrorist operatives in Nigeria. According to the report, hundreds of sympathisers were encouraged to make contributions ranging from $50 to $500 through PayPal pages or conventional bank accounts, with the amounts deliberat...

The days of Ibrahim Musa Gusau as the president of the Nigerian Football Federation are numbered following the adoption of a new leader for Nigerian football by the presidency, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports. We exclusively gathered that Gusau’s tenure could possibly come to an end on Wednesday when a board member, who is presently abroad returns and make his resignation official. It will bring the number of board members who have thrown in the towel to nine out of the 12 , and by the statutes of the football house the board will be dissolved accordingly. Already contracts has been made with who will head the normalisation committee after presidency rejected the choice of former NFF supremo Amaju Pinnick. The committee will last for three months, and will organise fresh elections into the board of the NFF, and already there is a candidate who has been anointed by the presidency. We can exclusively reveal that his name was sent to the National Sports Commission (NSC) by the pres...

Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has urged opposition parties to focus on President Bola Tinubu’s performance rather than his academic certificates as politicking for the January 2027 election gathers steam. Ndume, a chieftain of the APC, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Monday. He noted that the back-and-forth over Tinubu’s credentials was needless and only distracts from the real issues. Ndume said, “The narrative around his certificate is distracting. What opposition presidential candidates should be doing is to tell Nigerians what they have to offer. What are their alternative economic policies? What can they do better than President Tinubu? “They should interrogate his economic policies and how his government has handled insecurity. The President has been in office for over three years now. So why should his certificates be the main talking point?” There have been renewed concerns among opposition figures after checks showed that in the EC9 form submitted by Ti...

The Delta State Commissioner for Works and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, has dismissed allegations made by former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege. Naija News reports that Omo-Agege claimed that Delta State Governo, Sheriff Oborevwor, should be held responsible and accountable if any harm happens to him or members of his family. Omo-Agege said there are increasingly credible threats to his life and members of his family emanating from the Delta State Government House in Asaba. “I note with grave concern the disturbing and increasingly credible threats to my life and my family members in Delta State emanating from the Delta State Government House, Asaba,” the ex-deputy Senate President had said. Reacting to the allegation during an appearance on Arise Television, Aniagwu said the former Deputy Senate President lacked campaign ideas. He claimed that Omo-Agege was looking for a cheap way to access the media. According to him, on Omo-Agege’s first day of campaigni...

Youths of oil-rich Ogoni ethnic nationality in Rivers State have demanded 500 job slots from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, Limited as part of the planned resumption of oil exploration in the area. This figure is against the already released 40 slots by the company.  Also, the youths, on the platform of Ogoni Youth Federation, OYF, have moved to convene a national congress of youths to address issues relating the oil exploration, which has sparked palpable divisions in the area.  Speaking in Port Harcourt on Friday, during the inauguration of the Planning Committee for the Congress, the President-General of OYF, Worldwide, Engr. Legborsi Yamaabana, said the congress is urgent in order to address all issues arising from the planned oil resumption. Yamaabana commended President Bola Tinubu on his efforts in giving attention to reopening oil businesses in the area, but quickly noted that Ogoni stands at a crossroads following the issues surrounding the oil...

ABUJA – The Federal Executive Council, FEC, has approved the acquisition and deployment of two new high-throughput communication satellites, NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B, to expand broadband coverage and strengthen critical communications services in Nigeria. The satellites to be deployed by the Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited, NIGCOMSAT, are expected to extend connectivity to underserved, unserved and hard-to-reach communities, while boosting broadcasting, enterprise connectivity and government services. The development moves the acquisition and deployment process into its next phase, with NIGCOMSAT leading implementation under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. According to the agency in a statement on Saturday, the satellites will complement terrestrial broadband networks by providing wider coverage in areas where conventional infrastructure may be difficult or costly to deploy. NIGCOMSAT said, “The deploy...

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo met with African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Youssouf on Friday to discuss regional developments and issues affecting Africa. The meeting focused on peace, dialogue and stability across the continent. The African Union said Youssouf praised Obasanjo for his continued involvement in continental affairs and his efforts to promote peace and stability. The statement said, “The Chairperson commended President Obasanjo’s continued engagement in support of peace, dialogue and stability across the continent.” Obasanjo, who is an AU High Representative, was first appointed to the role in August 2021 and later reappointed to continue his peace and mediation efforts. The two leaders also “exchanged views on key regional developments and other issues of continental interest.”

Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has seemingly responded to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo after the governor mocked Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke over his fondness for dancing. Davido, who has been openly supporting his uncle ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election, shared what appeared to be Okpebholo’s West African Examinations Council result on his Instagram Story on Friday. The singer did not attach any caption to the post, leaving followers to interpret the move as a response to the Edo governor’s recent comments about Adeleke. Okpebholo had taken a swipe at the Osun governor while campaigning for the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, also known as AMBO. Questioning Adeleke’s approach to governance, the Edo governor said the Osun governor spends too much time dancing. “Before somebody signs paper, he will dance. Are you not tired? For four years, this man has been dancing. Before he takes breakfast,...

Nollywood actress, Temitope Osoba, has died after a prolonged battle with cancer. T he demise comes barely two years after Osoba solicited financial assistance for her second surgery in November 2024. Announcing the tragic news on Wednesday, Nollywood actor, Alesh Ola Sanni, in a post via his Instagram page, disclosed that Temitope died on Tuesday evening. He wrote,  “Couldn’t sleep since last night it’s well rest in peace my dearest sister Temitope Osoba we had amazing time and good memories together till we meet again. I really dunno what to say mehn gosh.” The thespian, in an interview on Oyinmomo TV, disclosed that she underwent a series of tests to confirm the cancer had not spread. According to Temitope, the doctors had told her she would not be able to conceive for the next five years because of the medications, as it would affect the baby. She, however, said she rejected the report, held onto her faith, and began praying and fasting over the issue. She said,  “I was to...

Military investigators have traced more than ₦700m in 47 payments allegedly made to soldiers, civilians, companies and Islamic clerics assigned different roles in the failed 2025 plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The investigation records alleged that a former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, provided ₦785m through Purple Waves Limited, an Abuja-based construction and real estate company accused of serving as a financial intermediary for the purported plot. The funds were allegedly transferred from the company to accounts controlled by a Kano-based Bureau de Change operator, Abdullahi Sani Mohammed, who reportedly disbursed the money on the instructions of the suspected coup leader, Col. Mohammed Ma’aji. The claims remain allegations and are subject to determination by the General Court Martial and the Federal High Court, where several suspects are standing trial. Sylva, who is believed to be outside Nigeria, has denied involvement in the alleged plot. Acc...

PRESS RELEASE: Odidi Community Executive Calls on Heritage Energy Operational Services to Immediately Address Recurring Oil Spill and Warns Against Exploitation of Environmental Situation The duly recognized Executive Council of Odidi Community calls on Heritage Energy Operational Services to urgently take all necessary steps to address the recurring oil spill affecting the community. Specifically, we urge the company to expedite its plans and immediately commence the clean-up exercise, contain the spill, provide adequate relief materials to affected residents, and ensure the replacement of the defective pipeline or facilities responsible for the recurring spill incidents in order to prevent further environmental damage. The Executive Council acknowledges the engagement between Heritage Energy Operational Services and the Odidi Community Executive and urges the company to hasten the implementation of the necessary remedial measures. The protection of the environment, welfar...

SERAP Demands Probe of ₦1.3bn Budget Allocation, Pressures Akpabio, Abbas on Transparency The anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria has taken another turn as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to account for the controversial allocation of over ₦1.3 billion to the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the 2026 Appropriation Act. The development has intensified scrutiny of Nigeria's budget process, with transparency advocates questioning how public funds were reportedly earmarked for an entity whose legal status has become a subject of controversy. In a Freedom of Information (FOI) request signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP demanded the release of official records relating to the approval of the allocation and urged the leadership of the National Assembly to explain the circumstances surr...

PAP: Leave Otuaro Alone, Allow Delta Enjoy Its Turn of Representation – IPDI Warns Detractors Prominent Ijaw leaders, civil society organisations, and youth stakeholders in Delta State have called for an end to what they described as unnecessary attacks and distractions against the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), High Chief Dennis Otuaro, PhD. In a statement signed by the President of the Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI), Comrade Ozobo Austin, the group said the Niger Delta, particularly Delta State, deserves stability and uninterrupted support while one of its sons Dr Otuaro occupies a strategic federal position as administrator. According to the statement, Otuaro's appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu provides Delta State with a rare opportunity to contribute meaningfully to federal policies and programmes in the post-amnesty era. "High Chief Dennis Otuaro is more than an individual; he represents Delta Ijaw, the Niger D...

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, has berated Nigerians over the attacks on First Lady, Remi Tinubu, after encouraging Nigerians to consider small-scale ventures such as selling akara, roasted corn, and kuli-kuli. Remi made the remarks while speaking with journalists following the second-quarter meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative with wives of state governors at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday. Speaking on the activities of the Renewed Hope Initiative, the First Lady said the programme had been providing grants, rather than loans, to vulnerable Nigerians to help them start businesses and improve their livelihoods. She said, “We’re trying to give hope, and to start Akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant. “So we’ve encouraged Nigerians as best as we could. What is within our hands, I have given, and I keep gi...

... Says State Open For More Investments  Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Wednesday inaugurated the Osubi branch of Zenith Bank Plc in Okpe Local Government Area, describing the development as a strong endorsement of the state's economic potential and investor-friendly environment.  Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Governor Oborevwori said the opening of the bank's 19th branch in Delta State demonstrated growing confidence in the state's economy and the success of efforts by his administration to create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.  He said: "This is more than just a banking facility coming on stream. It is a strong vote of confidence in the future of Delta State and in the opportunities that lie before us".  He commended the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Adaora Umeoji, and the bank's management team for fulfilling their promise to establish a branch in Osubi...

The Niger State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended plenary indefinitely over what lawmakers described as “unresolved issues” with the executive arm of the state government. The decision followed a motion moved by the member representing Chanchaga Constituency, Mohammed Abubakar-Kabir, popularly known as Ustaz, who urged the House to halt legislative proceedings until the pending issues with the executive were addressed. Moving the motion during plenary, Abubakar-Kabir said the House could no longer continue with normal proceedings while unresolved matters between the legislature and the executive remained unattended to. Although he did not disclose the specific issues, the lawmaker warned that history would not be kind to the lawmakers if they allowed matters affecting the independence of the House to be ignored. He said the current Assembly had a responsibility to defend the autonomy and integrity of the legislative arm. According to him, posterity would judge members ...

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has denied any form of complicity in the delay in establishing State Police in Nigeria. The clarification was made by the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, at a stakeholders’ security meeting in Awka, Anambra State. He explained that the process is entirely dependent on constitutional amendments, and the creation of state police remains a legislative matter that falls within the powers of the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly. IGP Disu, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the South-East, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, appealed to stakeholders to remain patient, noting that lawmakers were already working toward establishing state police through the required constitutional procedures. “The power to create the state police is a constitutional issue that resides with the national and state assemblies. “When the National Assembly makes provision to amend the law establishing the NPF an...

By David Zipamone  The Ijaw Publishers' Forum (IPF) has called on the governors of the six South-South states to urgently reactivate and adequately fund the BRACED Commission as part of efforts to address the growing security threats confronting the region and the country. In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Secretary, Tare Magbei, the Forum urged the governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta states to treat the worsening security situation across Nigeria as a warning signal and move swiftly to strengthen regional cooperation on security matters. The group expressed concern over the increasing spread of kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes beyond their traditional hotspots, noting that criminal activities are gradually extending into new parts of the country. According to IPF, recent reports indicate that kidnapping-for-ransom and related criminal activities have expanded southward, prompting growing national concerns a...

The Kwara State Government has filed a criminal defamation case against former Senate President Bukola Saraki over remarks linked to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The case is being heard at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin. The government said the former Senate President made and shared statements on social media and in newspapers, claiming that Governor AbdulRazaq did not attend or complete secondary school education. In the charge filed by the State Ministry of Justice, the government said the claims were false and insulting. It also said the comments could disturb public peace and fall under Section 399 of the Kwara State Penal Code. When the matter came up in court on Wednesday, the prosecution lawyer, Rafiu Balogun, said the case was fixed for arraignment. He asked the court to issue a bench warrant since Saraki was not in court even after being served court papers. The prosecution also urged the court to turn down a request for adjournment from the defence side...

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed those criticising him over lands within the capital city. Wike spoke during the commissioning of Judges Quarters, Court of Appeal, and the flag-off of construction of Quarters for Industrial Court and Code of Conduct Tribunal Judges in Abuja to mark President Bola Tinubu’s third-year anniversary. He explained that he took over lands within the capital city for the sake of development. Wike revealed that some of the plots used for the construction were allocated 15 years ago and left undeveloped but were revoked by the FCT Administration under his leadership and developed for the Judges Quarters. According to him, “This land was allocated to Julius Berger 15 years ago and I revoked it. If you don’t want to be accused don’t be a politician, in fact, the day you become a politician is the day the will write your history, even those who don’t know you. I thank God that today they can see that I trul...