Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday convened a high-level strategic briefing with key figures from Nigeria’s economic, fiscal, and energy sectors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Though officially described as a routine engagement, sources within the State House told The Nation the session was both timely and tactical, given the nation’s ongoing efforts to stabilize the economy, strengthen revenue, and deepen energy reforms under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Among those in attendance were: Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of…

THE Presidency has sharply criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its recent remarks on the state burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the party’s statement as “obnoxious,” “dishonest,” and a desperate ploy for political relevance. In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Mr. Sunday Dare, accused the ADC of exploiting a solemn national moment for cheap political attention. The ADC had earlier alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was using Buhari’s death for political gain. Reacting, the Presidency called the allegation “an opportunistic exercise in manufactured…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Muhammad Babangida, the son of former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), as Chairman of the newly restructured Bank of Agriculture (BOA). The announcement was made in a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga and made available to News Point Nigeria. According to the statement, the President also approved the appointment of seven other distinguished individuals to serve as chairmen and directors-general of various federal government agencies. Muhammad Babangida, 53, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has renamed the University of Maiduguri in Borno State after ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. News Point Nigeria report that Tinubu announced this on Thursday during an expanded FEC meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja in honour of the former Nigerian leader. “Before we take the prayers in honour of his [Buhari’s] memory, with this special session of the Federal Executive Council (expanded) can we adopt the naming of the University of Maiduguri with a new name Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri,” the president said at the end of the FEC meeting. Earlier, the President paid a glowing tribute…

THE Federal Executive Council will on Thursday hold a special session to honour the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement via his official X handle on Wednesday. The presidential spokesman stated that the session will be presided over by President Tinubu. “A special session of the Federal Executive Council in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari will be held on Thursday, 17 July, from 1 pm. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lead the session of tributes for the departed leader,” Onanuga said. The…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government to ensure full compliance with Nigeria’s international obligations, particularly in matters related to the authentication of citizens’ identities for consular and visa-related services abroad. The directive comes amid diplomatic tension over newly introduced visa policies by the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which have impacted Nigerian travelers and residents. According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu has mandated that all relevant MDAs work in close coordination to address concerns raised by the U.S. and…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the passing of his predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari. The immediate-past Nigerian president died on Sunday in London at about 4:30 pm, following a prolonged illness. According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, Tinubu has spoken with the former First Lady, Mrs Aishat Buhari, and offered his deep condolences. Tinubu has also ordered Vice President Kashim Shettima to proceed to the United Kingdom to accompany the body of the former president back to Nigeria. Buhari was twice elected Nigeria’s President in 2015 and 2019. He also served as military Head of…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has called for a reevaluation of the current global governance structure and the financial and healthcare systems, urging greater equity and inclusion for low-income and emerging economies, particularly in Africa. At the 17th meeting of the Global South and the emerging economies bloc, BRICS, on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the President stated that environmental degradation, the climate crisis, and healthcare inequalities should receive more attention, as they contribute to slowing growth and development. President Tinubu, invited to the summit by Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, stated that Nigeria supports the BRICS position on…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has issued a marching order to the military to confront Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, separatists, and other criminal gangs threatening the peace and sovereignty of the nation, stating that the time to crush the criminals is now. President Tinubu, who gave the charge at the grand finale of the 2025 Nigerian Army Day celebration held in Kaduna State, reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of officers and soldiers of the armed forces. He also promised to continue to invest in modern equipment, intelligence, and human capital that would improve the effectiveness of the military. Represented…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has assured that all bottlenecks hindering the realisation of the agricultural sector’s potential, including livestock production, will be removed to enable food sovereignty and export. In a bilateral meeting held at the Copacabana Forte with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva and some members of both countries’ cabinets, President Tinubu noted that bureaucracy contributes to delays in realising the agricultural sector’s potential. The President informed the Brazilian leader and delegation that Nigeria was already undergoing reforms to reposition the economy for global competitiveness, particularly in agriculture, where it already has a competitive advantage. President Tinubu stated…

THE Government of Saint Lucia has awarded one of its highest national honours to Nigerian President Tinubu in a symbolic move that signals deepening ties between Africa and the Caribbean. The government announced Monday that Tinubu has been named a Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCOSL), recognising his leadership on the African continent and his efforts to promote South-South cooperation. Acting on the advice of Philip J. Pierre, who is the Prime Minister, the Governor General approved the title, typically reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to Saint Lucia or the global community. Upon formal…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has proposed visa waivers for holders of diplomatic and official passports from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), as Nigeria and Saint Lucia formally established diplomatic relations. He made the announcement on Monday while addressing a special joint sitting of the Senate and House of Assembly of Saint Lucia at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, Gros Islet. The President emphasised the importance of people-to-people engagements and called on OECS nations to reciprocate Nigeria’s visa waiver proposal. “I respectfully urge a reciprocal gesture to enable smoother movement of officials and foster closer institutional cooperation. My…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima have mourned the passing of Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, an elder statesman, business mogul, and philanthropist. Dantata, who passed away at 94 in the early hours of Saturday, was a renowned and accomplished businessman. In a statement signed by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga on Saturday, President Tinubu described Dantata’s death as a monumental national loss because of his sterling contributions to Nigeria’s economic growth and development. In addition to his long-standing and reputed business acumen, the late Dantata served as Commissioner for Planning and Development in the old Kano State, among…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has assented to the four tax reform bills recently passed by the National Assembly. The short ceremony which took place at the Presidential Villa on Thursday was attended by the leadership of the National Assembly and some legislators, governors, ministers, and aides of the President. The four bills: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill were passed by the National Assembly after extensive consultations with various interest groups and stakeholders. According to the presidency, the new tax laws will significantly transform tax…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu will sign into law four groundbreaking tax reform bills on Thursday, transforming Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework. The four bills —the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill —were passed by the National Assembly after extensive consultations with various interest groups and stakeholders. According to a statement by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the presidential assent to the bills at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, will be witnessed by the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate Majority Leader, the House…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has emphasised the importance of expanding Nigeria’s dairy and livestock economy, noting that with the country’s growing population, the sector holds enormous potential for job creation, rural development, and food security. The President spoke on Tuesday at the State House, Abuja, when he received Queen Mary Elizabeth of Denmark, who was in Nigeria as Patron of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). It was her first visit to Nigeria. According to presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Denmark in knowledge transfer, veterinary health, and sustainable agribusiness practices. He identified conflicts…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Monday celebrated Alex Sigman, his longtime friend and colleague from Chicago State University, Illinois, the United States. The Nigerian leader stated this at the launch of the Renewed Hope Mechanisation Programme in the Nigerian capital city Abuja. Tinubu said the launch of 2,000 tractors and other farm implements at the event was part of Nigeria’s bilateral deal with the European nation Belarus on the mechanisation of farming to eradicate poverty and make Nigeria a partner in food sovereignty. The event was graced by the Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, Viktor Karankevich; and Tinubu’s Chicago colleague Alex…

THE Presidency has strongly refuted recent claims made by former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, regarding President Bola Tinubu’s role during the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, describing them as “false” and “revisionist.” In a statement titled ‘Setting the Record Straight: President Tinubu’s Role in the June 12 Struggle’, issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the presidency expressed concern over Lamido’s comments made during a live television appearance, in which he accused Tinubu of supporting the annulment of Nigeria’s most historic election. This newspaper reported that…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to redouble their efforts in defeating the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents in the country. Tinubu made the call while mourning the victims of the suicide bombing in Konduga, Borno State, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday. The President described the attack as an act of cowardice. He commiserated with the Borno State Government and the people of the state over the incident. He also directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to support the survivors. The statement read in part, President Bola…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Saturday, attend the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja. The Economic Summit, which enters its second and final day on Saturday, precedes the 67th Ordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), scheduled to be held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, on Sunday. An initiative of President Tinubu in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, WAES is the first of its kind and is convened to deepen regional economic integration. Its strong focus…