Author: nationalpoint

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was novel in many ways, being the first time it was being hosted in the Middle East with the traditional restrictions alien to fans of the Mundial. Though many European and America stakeholders had expressed their reservations about the restrictions that fans and other visitors to the world cup would endure, the budget of the hosts for the tournament seemed irresistible. New and state-of-the art air-conditioned stadiums, the offshore hotels, and the conviviality of the hosts lightened up the mood during the tournament. But one climax that the Mundial may have settled for last…

Delta State confirmed its superiority in national sports meets when it again won the 21st National Sports Festival that ended last weekend in Asaba, the Delta State capital. The state raked in a total haul of 648 medals made up of 320 gold, 200 silver and 128 bronze medals. It was followed by Bayelsa State, which won 132 gold, 115 silver and 90 bronze medals. Edo State, which hosted the last festival came third with 78 gold, 94 silver and 167 bronze medals. Team Oyo came fourth with 50 gold, 51 silver and 62 bronze medals, while Team Lagos was…

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has stepped up its campaign against drug abuse, cultism and other social vices in schools across the Niger Delta. Speaking during a one-day sensitisation campaign against drug abuse, cultism and other social vices in Port Harcourt, the NDDC Acting Managing Director, Engr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, said that the Commission would focus on educating young people on the dangers of involving themselves in these vices. The NDDC Chief Executive Officer, who was represented by the Commission’s Director, Human Resources, Dr. Alazigha Woyengibaragha, noted that the campaign with the theme, “The Dangers of Drug Abuse and Cultism,”…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)has knocked the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for questioning the credibility of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and Results Viewing Portal. Recall that Tinubu, while speaking on Monday at the Chatham House, said INEC had yet to assure Nigerians of the workability of the BVAS and e-transmission of poll results. The former Lagos State governor said: “We are still building confidence in our democratic and voting system. INEC is yet to assure us (that) during this election that electronic transmission, the technology being used for accreditation and…

Recent developments in Rivers State have created a cause for concern as the nation grinds towards vital general elections in February and March 2023. On Wednesday, December 7, 2022, armed assailants broke into the premises of Senator Lee Maeba in the Government Reservation Area of Port Harcourt, brutalised the residents and destroyed exotic cars and other property within the premises. Maeba, who was not at home at the time of the incident told reporters later on that he believed that what happened was a failed politically motivated assassination attempt on him. The former senator is a leader of the Peoples…

The Judiciary has been urged to be firm ready to resist all forms of pressure and ensure that those who come to the courts to challenge the out come of the elections in 2023 get substantial justice. The call was made by Dr Lawrence Ibiayemie at the Annuel Dinner of the Nigeria Bar Association, Ukwa Branch, Abia State. Dr Lawrence Ibiayemie who was the Guest Speaker at the event maintained that the global searchlight will be beamed on the Nigerian Judiciary to see how she will navigate through the law books to give validity to the Provisions of the New…

Chief Joseph Dike, the Okpala Uku and Iyasele Onowu of Onuaboh community, in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State was among thousands of members of his community that were displaced by the devastating floods of October 2022. His entire compound including his 10-room bungalow with its prized courtyard where he holds community conferences and meetings was completely submerged by the floods, which lasted for many weeks. As devastating as the disaster was to him personally, Chief Dike took the misfortune lightly even when his children rallied to provide him some support. His home was only one among the…

Rivers State Government received a barrage of knocks after it sealed EUI Event Centre, a popular events centre in G.R.A. Phase III Port Harcourt where it said guests allegedly blocked the adjoining road to traffic. The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Chris Finebone, told journalists that the EUI was sealed after its management refused to heed several warnings from the Rivers State government, instructing them not to allow their activities block the road without government approval. “The management of EUI Events Center had refused to refrain from blocking an entire stretch of part of Sani Abacha Link Road, GRA…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has challenged the nine oil-producing states in Nigeria to provide and widely publish details of spending of the oil derivation refunds of N625 billion recently paid to them by the Federal Government, including details and locations of projects executed with the money. President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government recently paid N625.43 billion oil derivation refunds to the governors of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Ondo, Imo and Cross River states. The payments covered 13 per cent oil derivation, subsidy and SURE-P refunds from 1999 to 2021. In the open letter dated December 19,…

Managing Director of Foreword Communications Limited, publishers of National Point newspaper, and award-winning Niger Delta journalist, Ms. Ibiba DonPedro, was among prominent Ijaw achievers that were conferred with Heroes of Ijaw Nation Awards last Sunday in Port Harcourt. DonPedro’s award came in the Journalism category and was recognized for being “in the trenches for the emancipation of the Ijaw race.” According to the citation, the CNN and Reuters-IUCN award winning journalist “is revered in the innermost circles of the struggle and her integrity and uncompromising steadfastness on principles is a sweet smelling savour that sets her apart from the ordinary.”…