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APC caught Elephant in Fubara, says Keyamo
- …Minister inaugurates, flags off roads in Rivers
- …We will join forces to deliver Tinubu in 2027, says governor
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Chief Festus Keyamo (SAN), has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) caught an elephant in the south-south following the decision of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to join the party.

Keyamo spoke in Rivers State while inaugurating the Igwuruta-Airport Road constructed by Fubara and flagging off the bypass to the Airport and Tollgate initiated by the governor.

Kayemo said, “I won’t conclude without warmly welcoming the latest catch in APC. We set a trap to catch a frog, but we caught an elephant in the person of Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

While welcoming the governor to the party, he described it as a big family and the largest in Africa. Keyamo said he was on the ground to witness the presentation of the APC membership card to the governor.

Keyamo hailed President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s strategic leadership that had made the APC attractive to the South-South.

He said, “As a true son of the South-south, may I say that we want to thank Mr President. I cannot leave here without thanking Mr President for all he has done for the people of Rivers State and the people of South-south.

“It has never been this good for the South-south. We started from zero in 2015, now we are six over six in the South-south for the ruling party. Traditionally, Rivers State has never been in opposition, so what we have from 2015 to this time was even an aberration.

“From time to time, Rivers State has always aligned with the centre for the progress and good of the people of Rivers State. I want to thank Mr President for the bold reforms he has made that have attracted many people to the ruling party.”

Keyamo said with the flag off and inauguration of roads, Governor Fubara had solved one of the biggest headaches in the aviation industry.

He said, “It has always been first our headache that the road leading to the Port Harcourt Airport once branch off the highway, that road has been in a deplorable condition and we had always wanted to give that road a facelift so that those who arrived Port Harcourt which is one of our oldest International Airports will have a good view of the city and a good impression when they are driving into the city.

“But it looks like Rivers State has more money than us. We have been pleading with the governor to help us pave the road. When we leave here, the world will see that you have done it for us. That is the first problem you solved for us.

“The second problem is our dear brothers and sisters from this community. I apologize most profusely for any perceived wrongs that we, as the Federal Airport Authority and the Aviation Ministry, have done to them.

“Any perceived neglect, we apologize. We know you are our host here, and we should pay more attention to you. We have done some, but we can always do more, and the governor has come to our rescue

“We take note of all the protests you have sent to us, and we have always asked ourselves what we can do more for this community. So when I cried to the governor, he responded with swiftness.

“The response of the governor and the passion he has for the people of this community is unmatched. I remembered the day they protested here last year, and I got a call from the governor. I called the MD, FAAN, and he said the community is protesting one thing or the other.

“As we were thinking of how to solve the problem, the governor, on his own, called the community and doused the tension for us. We thank you, sir, for that act of statemanship that you displayed. Before I knew it, he started providing some of the succour for this community on our behalf.

“Today, we thank God that we are received here with warmth by the community. We have been received with love and friendliness, and I assure you that we will reciprocate.”

Keyamo said the road, when completed, would open up a whole new corridor to the airport and to the community, adding that the gesture would lead to more commercial activities and buildings in the area.

In his remarks, Fubara said he was happy to receive the APC membership card, declaring himself the 001 of the party in the state.

He said, “I am not just a member of the All Progressive Congress, I am the number 1. I have collected my membership Card, and it is 001. From this moment, it is no longer an issue of to be or not, I am there with all my heart. What is the message?

“The message is clear. We are going to do everything to make sure that the 2027 election for Mr. President would be a smooth ride in Rivers State. It is with all of you here and your support that we can do it.

“The only way we can continue to tell Mr President thank you is to support him. So take note that as you are leaving here, we have started our work and we are not relenting. We will join forces with every group that is in support of the cause of Mr. President.

“I thank you again and the community and assure you that no matter what it is, we will continue to do what will uplift the face of Rivers State. We won’t join anything that will bring negative news to Rivers State. That should be the message to all of you, that is, my supporters. Continue with those things that will bring pride and honour to our dear State.”

Commenting on the projects, the governor said about a year ago, the community went on a protest and blocked the Airport entrance, adding that his government had been looking for a way to resolve the challenges.

Fubara desceibed the last year’s protest by the community as embarrassing, especially as it coincided with the period the state was undergoing political turbulence.

On how his government resolved the problems, he said: “You can imagine blocking the airport, the interpretation was the government was not doing anything. So we moved in and invited the community.

“They demanded employment, which wasn’t within our powers, but we promised to talk with the Aviation authorities. They also demanded healthcare, and I immediately directed that the Health Center in the community be activated, and today it is working. They also demanded electricity, and we also did that for the community.

‘On our return, we looked for a way to solve this problem. Business activities were shut down in Rivers State that day. It wasn’t a good thing. How would people coming to invest in Rivers State feel? At the slightest of provocation, my people will block the way to the airport. I said we need to look for a permanent solution to this problem

“So, what we are doing here today is to create a bypass through which the community can access their place without interfering with the airport. It is not even healthy to be passing through the airport to your communities. So we have resolved this issue for you today. This road will lead to your communities and bring development.”

Fubara said his government was happy that the community and the Minister of Aviation, including the airport authority, gave him the necessary support.

He said the road would bring a lot of development to this community, make life easy, and improve commercial activities as he thanked the people for supporting his government.

The governor emphasised on the need to assist President Tinubu in resolving federal issues in the states.

He said, “We can’t leave all those responsibilities in the hands of the Minister and Mr. President. It is a joint thing, so we took it upon ourselves to give a facelift to the driveways around the airport.

“I can proudly say that anyone who comes into Port Harcourt today feels that sense of seriousness and sees the beauty of the State, which reflects from its entrance. I am happy it wasn’t just conceived for personal purposes but for the good of Rivers State. That particular project within the airport, Igwuruta to the roundabout, is 12.2km, and happy to say that we delivered it.

“This particular one we are starting today is 7.1km. So you can imagine what we are doing within this axis, which is over 19.3km of road as our investment in the lives of the people of Ipo and Igwuruta communities.”

Promising that the project would be delivered within eight months, he said, “As soon as this road is completed and put to use, you no longer have any business with the old road. The old road will be tolled.

“There will be a toll-gate at the entrance of the old road to the Airport. I believe if you don’t have any serious business in the Airport, you won’t go there. If you are coming to the village, you use the bypass.
December 12, 2025
JUST IN: Dangote refinery slashes ex-depot petrol price from N828/litre to N699/litre

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has once again reduced the gantry price of petrol, lowering the ex-depot rate from ₦828 to ₦699 per litre.

According to real-time market data from Petroleumprice.ng on Friday, the refinery implemented a fresh downward adjustment, slicing ₦129 per litre off the Premium Motor Spirit benchmark price, a 15.58% reduction.

“The refinery reduced its petrol price to N699 per litre,” a source said.

The new price took effect on December 11, 2025, marking the 20th petrol price adjustment introduced by the refinery in 2025.

The latest reduction comes just five days after the refinery’s Chairman, Aliko Dangote, reiterated his pledge to maintain “reasonable and competitive” fuel prices for the domestic market, despite global market fluctuations and ongoing smuggling across Nigeria’s borders.

After a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu on December 6, Dangote had said prices would continue to drop as the refinery increases production and competes directly with imported fuel products.

Details shortly…

December 12, 2025
BREAKING: EFCC arraigns former Minister Ngige, remanded in Kuje prison

Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, was on Friday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before an Abuja High Court in Gwarinpa over allegations of a ₦2.2 billion contract fraud.

Justice Maryam Hassan ordered that Ngige be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his bail application, which is scheduled for Monday, December 14.

Ngige pleaded not guilty to eight counts bordering on abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) during his tenure as supervising minister from September 2015 to May 2023.

Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant.

Details shortly…

December 12, 2025
BREAKING: Supreme Court overrides FG’s pardon for Maryam Sanda, affirms death sentence

The Supreme Court has overridden the pardon granted by President Bola Tinubu to an Abuja-based house wife, Maryam Sanda, who was in 2020 sentenced to death by hanging for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute.

President Tinubu had reduced Sanda’s sentence to 12 years imprisonment on compassionate ground.

But in a judgment a on Friday, the Supreme Court, in a split decision of four-to-one, affirmed the death sentence handed Sanda by the Court of Appeal, Abuja which upheld the decision of a HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sentencing her to death by hanging.

Read Also: I appealed to Buhari to pardon Maryam Sanda – Father-in-law

The Apex Court resolved all the issues raised in the appeal she filed against her and dismissed the appeal for being without merit.

Justice Moore Adumein held in the lead judgment, which he personally delivered, that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt as required, adding that the Court of Appeal was right to have affirmed the judgement of the trial court.

Justice Adumein held that it was wrong for the Executive to seek to exercise its power of pardon over a case of culpable homicide, in respect of which an appeal was pending.

Details shortly…

December 12, 2025
Our challenges going into 2027 polls, by INEC chair

• Amupitan decries low voter turnout, canvasses upgrading of communications infrastructure

There are challenges in three critical areas ahead of the 2027 elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said.

The electoral umpire Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) listed them as poor communication infrastructure, voter apathy and misinformation/low civic engagement.

He spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in Abuja.

Amupitan described the country’s weak telecommunications network as one of INEC’s toughest battles.

He noted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) can only function effectively where network coverage is reliable.

The INEC Chairman said despite the Commission’s advances in electoral technology, several structural and systemic challenges continue to threaten credible polls.

READ ALSO; Aregbesola’s ally, Adeoti, set to join APC

He said: “With over 176,000 Polling Units, some in remote areas, achieving real-time upload of results to IReV remains one of our biggest operational obstacles.

“A tool like the BVAS is only as good as the network it runs on.”

He added that the Commission is deepening engagement with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and network providers while “actively exploring alternative technologies and building system redundancy to bridge these gaps.”

The INEC Chairman reaffirmed that technology has “fundamentally redefined” Nigeria’s elections.

He explained that BVAS has ensured that only properly accredited voters cast ballots, thereby closing the door on over-voting and other manual manipulations.

He said IReV has “opened the electoral process to the world,” offering real-time transparency and helping to build trust.

However, he cautioned that “technology is not a panacea,” stressing that credible elections require collective commitment by political parties, the media, security agencies, civil society, and voters.

Amupitan said: “Our democracy is battling the corrosive effects of misinformation, rigging, vote-buying, and violence.

“Securing our democracy requires a proactive, multi-sectoral approach.”

The INEC Chairman highlighted low voter turnout as another critical threat to the credibility of the 2027 elections.

He said the 27 per cent turnout recorded in the 2023 general elections should concern all stakeholders.

“This is a stark reminder that apathy cannot be solved by technology alone,” he said.

He cited Anambra State’s recent off-cycle election as a breakthrough in mobilisation.

After INEC extended the PVC collection period across all 326 Registration Areas, PVC collection rose from 63.9 to 98.8 per cent before election day.

“This shows what is possible when stakeholders work together. More voters can and must be mobilised,” he said.

Amupitan announced that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) has recorded 2,685,725 completed registrations nationwide as of the latest update.

Of these, 1,576,137 were online pre-registrations, while 1,109,588 were completed through physical capture.

States leading in new registrations include Osun (208,357), Kano (159,669), Sokoto (152,650), and Imo (145,561).

Borno (123,835) and Lagos (123,484) also posted strong figures.

The INEC helmsman described the numbers as “a testament to rising political awareness.”

He urged civil society and the media to sustain the momentum as the first quarter of CVR concluded on December 10.

He said: “The drive for inclusion and participation finds its strongest expression in our commitment to CVR.

“Every eligible Nigerian must be registered before the exercise ends.”

Concern over vote-buying, inducement

Amupitan also expressed concern over the escalating influence of money in elections.

He warned that vote-buying undermines citizens’ choices and damages the legitimacy of elected officials.

“To secure democracy, technological integrity must be matched by political accountability,” he said.

INEC, he noted, has intensified collaboration with law enforcement through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

Measures include strategic deployment of security officers, covert intelligence operations at polling units, and strengthened monitoring of campaign financing.

“This is a multi-sectoral fight requiring collective resolve. Civil society must also hold political actors to account,” he said.

He described the Situation Room as “indispensable” in advancing democratic consensus by monitoring compliance, promoting civic education, and ensuring adherence to electoral procedures.

According to the INEC boss, credible elections are the “non-negotiable foundation of democracy,” and credibility itself depends on public trust built on shared commitment to the rules.

He said: “When citizens believe their votes count, they empower themselves to hold leaders to the highest standards.

“This synergy – consensus, credible elections, and accountable governance – is the future we must strive for.”

Amupitan said INEC is committed to further strengthening digital infrastructure, simplifying its interfaces to reduce human error, and harnessing emerging technologies to improve voter access.

“Building consensus for credible elections is not a destination; it is a continuous journey of innovation, transparency, and resilience,” he said.

He concluded with a note of optimism: “The future of Nigerian democracy is not in doubt.

“By affirming our commitment to the rule of law and the sanctity of the vote, and by consistently implementing an electoral process beyond reproach, we will build a democratic system that is both just and accountable.”

December 12, 2025
First Lady: let’s identify with less-privileged

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu yesterday urged Nigerians to embrace a renewed spirit of generosity in 2026.

She said that privileged citizens need to share more of their God-given blessings with the less privileged, stressing that giving is a moral duty and an expression of gratitude.

Mrs. Tinubu made the appeal while addressing reporters at the end of her 2025 Children’s Christmas Brunch at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.

The event, the third since she became the First Lady, was organised for children from foster homes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mrs. Tinubu said she intended to expand her message of generosity in her upcoming podcast, stating that many Nigerians refrain from giving because they measure their lives by the standards of the wealthy rather than remembering their humble beginnings.

READ ALSO; Christmas: 20 nice places to visit in Nigeria

“Next year should be a year Nigerians reach out to others, especially those who are less privileged. Most people, when they are blessed, want to remain at that level of blessing and only associate with people there. But not me. I always try to hold on to my foundation… When you begin to fly high, you can fall like Humpty Dumpty if you forget who you are,” she said.

The First Lady explained that she often continues to gives until she has “zero,” not out of abundance but from a desire to share the favour God has bestowed on her.

She urged fellow Nigerians to take pride in what they have and to view giving as an extension of gratitude.

“You’ve been eating before you got to this position. You’ve been wearing clothes before you got to this position. Own what you have; be proud of who you are; and then you will be able to share the favour God has given you,” she added.

Mrs. Tinubu explained that the event was deliberately structured for children from modest backgrounds, not the children of ministers or top government officials.

“When I was First Lady before, I never invited ministers’ children. They have food to eat. This is for the people. We bring in children so that one day, if they become leaders, the picture is already planted in their minds,” Mrs. Tinubu said.

The First Lady noted that the event also served as cultural exposure for children, introducing them to new experiences and helping shape their aspirations.

“Some said they want to be soldiers. They see what is going on and are already planning how to help protect the society in future,” she noted.

Speaking on the mixed experiences of Nigerian children this year, the global academic situation and other achievements on one hand and mass abductions on the other, the First Lady insisted that the Tinubu administration has acted swiftly and responsibly, particularly in the recent rescue of abducted schoolchildren.

“Mr. President has done the needful. They’ve gone after them. This is the quickest rescue we have ever gotten in the history of this nation,” she said.

Mrs. Tinubu urged Nigerians to appreciate the scale of Nigeria’s challenges, noting that the country’s population, estimated at over 250 million, is comparable to that of the United States.

“Cut Mr. President some slack. We work seven days a week in here. You think I don’t want a safe society? I do. Every child that leaves this place should feel safe. That is what we are working for,” she added.

Describing the brunch as “a really good day,” the First Lady said the children’s joy reflected the hope that still exists in the country.

Mrs. Tinubu added that their aspirations, including those who declared interest in joining the armed forces, show that the next generation is already thinking about how to confront security threats.

“They are ready for you. Before you get me, I’m going to get you. That’s what they are saying. It’s a good day. We should celebrate,” she said.

The First Lady engaged the children in a reading session from her book, The Christmas Story, which creatively portrays the story of Jesus’ birth, featuring Nigerian characters.

“I wanted to create a Christmas story where the heroes are blacks, where children could see themselves in the story. We own this story with our rich culture and tradition,” the First Lady stated..

She stressed the importance of instilling pride of the nation’s heritage and identity in the young ones, saying: “It is my culture that really gives me good self-esteem. I know who I am and whose I am.”

Each child introduced their ambitions, ranging from doctors and engineers, to pastors, bakers, soldiers, lawyers, and even the president.

The celebration included a feast of jollof rice, fried rice, Chinese noodles, sweet treats, and gifts from the First Lady, alongside appearances by Santa Claus.

December 12, 2025
Aregbesola’s ally, Adeoti, set to join APC

An ally of Rauf Aregbesola, the former Secretary to the State Government of Osun State, Moshood Adeoti, is reportedly considering joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Nation recalled that Adeoti formally withdrew his allegiance to former governor Rauf Aregbesola and exited the African Democratic Congress (ADC) amid growing rumours that the party plans to hand its 2026 governorship ticket to former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Najeem Salam.

Adeoti was the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Party (ADP) in 2018, polling 49,745 votes after dumping the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the twilight of the administration of Aregbesola.

He later returned to the APC in 2020 at the height of political tensions between Aregbesola and his successor, Adegboyega Oyetola, but in the 2022 gubernatorial election, Adeoti emerged as Aregbesola’s preferred aspirant, and since he had been with him till recent times in ADC.

The Nation gathered on Thursday that Adeoti may join the APC following his exit from Aregbesola’s camp, as top leaders within the party have been wooing him to their party.

A source close to him said, “Leaders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and by extension associates of Governor Ademola Adeleke have been romancing our leader (Adeoti), but I can confirm that he prefers APC because they are giving him close marking.”

Efforts to reach Adeoti were abortive as he did not answer his calls and failed to respond to text messages sent to his phone at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of APC in Osun State, Kamoru Alao, confirmed that “the party leadership is still talking with Adeoti. We are on course.”

December 11, 2025
JUST IN: Bayelsa Deputy Gov collapses, rushed to ICU

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, was on Thursday rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, after reportedly collapsing in his office.

The incident occurred at about 1:30 p.m., triggering panic among staff and an immediate emergency response. Eyewitnesses said he appeared to be in critical condition as he was transported to the hospital’s emergency unit.

Read Also: Three family members killed in Lagos multi-vehicle crash

Although the state government have not yet released a formal statement on the cause of the incident, sources familiar with the situation hinted that it may be linked to a possible cardiac emergency.

Details shortly…

December 11, 2025
JUST IN: Senate clears Fani-Kayode, Omokri, Ikpeazu, ex-INEC chair, others for ambassadorial positions

The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday approved the nomination of former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, for appointment as ambassador.

Other nominees cleared by the committee include former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau, ex-special adviser on new media to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, former presidential aide, Senator Ita Enang, and Senator Grace Bent.

Also confirmed were former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Governor of Enugu State Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and former Governor of Abia State Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, among others.

Read Also: FULL LIST of 68 ambassadors-nominees

The screening session, conducted in batches of five nominees each, experienced a mild drama during Omokri’s turn.

Senators Mohammed Ali Ndume and Adams Oshiomhole openly disagreed on how his clearance should proceed.

After Omokri’s batch had introduced themselves, Ndume moved a motion to allow the nominees to take a bow and leave.

Some senators, including Oshiomhole, indicated they wanted to comment.

The Committee Chairman, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, recognised Oshiomhole to speak, but Ndume insisted that his motion should be seconded before allowing further interventions.

This led to a sharp disagreement between the two senators.

December 11, 2025
Tinubu transmits 2026-2028 MTEF/FSP to the Senate for approval

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday transmitted the 2026/2028 Medium Term Expenditure and Fiscal Strategy Paper to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.

Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau read the president’s letter of request during plenary.

The letter, titled “Submission of the FGN 2026 to 2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper,” reads in part, “It is with pleasure that I forward the 2026-2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF and FSP) for the kind consideration and approval of the Distinguished Senate.

Read Also: Tinubu deserves support, continuity in 2027 – APC chieftain Obilade

“The 2026-2028 MTEF and FSP were approved during the Federal Executive Council meeting of December 3rd, 2025.

“As the 2026 budget of the Federal Government will be prepared based on the parameters and fiscal assumptions of the approved 2026-2028 MTEF and FSP, I seek the cooperation of the National Assembly for expeditious legislative action on the submission.”

December 11, 2025