Tag: tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will return to Abuja on Tuesday (tomorrow), September 16, 2025, bringing an early close to his working vacation in Europe.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the planned early return of the President in a statement on Monday.

The President, who left Nigeria for France on September 4 to spend part of his annual holiday, was initially scheduled to divide the period between France and the United Kingdom. 

Read Also: Tinubu’s agenda puts infrastructure, jobs, diversification at forefront – Akume

However, he has concluded his engagements earlier than planned and is set to resume official duties immediately on arrival.

While in Paris last week, President Tinubu held a private luncheon with his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, at the Élysée Palace. 

Both leaders reviewed key areas of cooperation between Nigeria and France and agreed to deepen their partnership for mutual prosperity and global stability.

President Tinubu’s early resumption is expected to refocus national attention on critical economic and governance issues awaiting his leadership in Abuja.

…begins wards, units, LG mobilisation

The governing All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Movement in Ondo State has vowed to secure 1.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, with a pledge to bring all support groups under one umbrella.

Addressing journalists on Monday after the elders’ meeting in Akure, its chairman, Nimbe Farunkanmi, said that Ondo state, which has nearly two million registered voters, will deliver for President Tinubu.

Farunkanmi revealed that the elders have started canvassing for President Tinubu’s re-election by mobilising from the wards, units, and local government levels in the state.

“We are determined to deliver 1.5 million votes to Tinubu. It is possible because Ondo currently has 1.9 million registered voters. The problem has always been voter apathy, and that is what we, as elders, want to change.

“So, this is an elders’ movement for Tinubu’s continuity, and meetings like this would be replicated at local government, ward, and unit levels to ensure total mobilization for the President,” he said.

Jamiu Ekungba, a prominent stalwart of the party, emphasised that the movement was formed to unite the APC elders and ensure massive voters’ turnout for the 2027 election.

He disclosed that plans were underway to encourage sons and daughters of the state to return home to vote, while mobilization would also target farmers, traders, and artisans.

In her remarks, Mrs Olukemi Iyantan, a party member and federal commissioner at the National Population Commission (NPC), noted that the elders’ intervention would bring unity and direction to the party.

Read Also: Tinubu approves portfolios for five executive directors of NCDC

“The unity of purpose is key. Before now, the absence of leaders made the party appear disorganized. But with the Elders Forum, we have a strong platform for consultation and wisdom that will help us achieve victory for Tinubu in 2027,” she said.

On his part, Mr Olumuyiwa Ogunleye, one of the prominent elders of the APC, explained that the elders’ role was to rally all factions and support groups under a single umbrella, “Ondo State for Tinubu 2027,” in line with the caucus already established by the state governor.

He said, “The elders are intervening to ensure there’s no division in the party’s support for Tinubu. All groups will now operate under one structure with the sole aim of delivering maximum votes for the president in Ondo State.”

…Kaduna-Kano rail project to be commissioned in 2026 – Alkali

President Bola Tinubu has stressed the need to connect Nigeria by rail, citing the country’s large economy and population as reasons for urgent investment in railway infrastructure.

Speaking at the 2nd International Railway Conference in Abuja, themed “Opportunities and Challenges in Railways Development in Africa”, Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said rail transport plays a vital role in linking factories to raw materials, workers to opportunities, and farmers to markets, while also strengthening cultural and social bonds.

He added that reviving and utilising Nigeria’s railways is the only way for the country to become Africa’s logistics hub, ensuring that its vision of national integration is not constrained by distance or geography.

He said, “Today, more than at any point in our journey as a nation, we are in great need of rail services for two compelling reasons. The size of our economy and the scale of our population, 230 million people, is ageing towards 250 million. And by 2050, we will be the third most populous nation on earth.

“We will surpass the United States, and our population will hit 440 million people. The world has remained committed to railway services because they have proven to be the backbone of industrialisation, connecting more materials to factories, workers to opportunities, and farmers to markets. They shape not only economies, but also the cultural and social bonds of societies.

“This enduring relevance explains why every forward-looking nation, from China to Vietnam, across generations, has invested in the railways as a special driver of development.

“We cannot afford to lag if we seek to keep pace with global economic competitiveness. Thankfully, every part of this continent has embraced the reality of trains as a practical solution to our transportation challenges.

“This transition aligns with the ambitions of our nations, for no economy can grow without sustainable means of mass transportation. It is the railway that connects cities, ports, and markets. And it is the railway that ensures that our dreams of integration are not limited by distance or geography.”

On how Nigeria can take the lead in Africa, he said, “The challenge ahead of us is to lead this race as the logistics hub of Africa. By reviving and revitalising our railway services, we must be conscious of our place as the anchor of West Africa’s economy and home to the continent’s largest population, as we prepare for the adoption of modern railway infrastructure.

“This awakening inspires projects such as the Kano-Maradi railway modernisation, which opens new gateways for trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Read Also: Tinubu approves portfolios for five executive directors of NCDC

“Our agenda is shaped by the need to reduce the burden on our roads and highways. Decades of over-reliance on road transportation have led to congestion, rapid deterioration of infrastructure, and higher accident rates. Railways offer safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives, reducing carbon emissions, and reinforcing our commitment to sustainable development”.

He, however, noted that connecting the country through rail requires collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

“The task of maximising the opportunities in the railway sector is not one we consider easy. It requires networks, partnerships, and robust collaboration with stakeholders. This is why our ongoing modernisation projects, Lagos to Kano, Kano to Maradi, and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, are designed with open doors for private sector participation.”

He hinted that the Kano-Maradi rail project, which was 5 per cent when the administration took over, is now approaching 60 per cent completion.

Speaking on the proposed speed rail, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, said the project has the potential to transform Nigeria’s infrastructure base and accelerate the country’s economic growth.

Akume noted that the project, with its integrated components of high-speed rail, power generation and transmission, LNG infrastructure, and digital backbone, offers opportunities for inclusive growth and national integration.

He, however, cautioned that all aspects of the projects must be scrutinised.

“While the promise is huge, it is imperative that every financial, technical, legal, and institutional requirement is thoroughly addressed for the benefit of our country and its people”.

The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Alkali, said the Kaduna-Kano rail modernisation project was 53 per cent completed, and the Kano-Maradi was 60 per cent completed.

He added that the Kaduna – Kano project will be ready for completion and commissioning by December 2026.

Alkali said the Kano – Maradi project will reach Katsina by December this year and be ready for completion and commissioning by March 2027.

On connecting Nigeria with other countries, he said, “The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents an enormous opportunity. But without efficient logistics, our businesses cannot compete. That is why Nigeria’s Kano–Maradi corridor is more than a railway project; it is a gateway to West Africa’s markets, opening access for Nigerian goods into the Niger Republic and beyond.

“As we modernise our railways, we are also positioning Nigeria as a logistics hub for West and Central Africa. Another crucial dimension is the environmental impact. Rail is the greenest form of mass transport. Every tonne of cement or grain moved by train instead of trucks means fewer emissions, less road damage, and fewer accidents. In a world where climate commitments are shaping trade and investment, Nigeria’s ability to shift freight from road to rail will be a competitive advantage.

Alkali also urged a shift in focus from the construction of rail tracks to ensuring rail corridors serve agriculture, industry, mining, and commerce purposes.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the assignment of portfolios to five newly appointed Executive Directors of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), charging them to work closely with the Governing Board in driving sustainable development across the region.

A statement issued on Monday by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, listed the appointees and their respective roles.

Read Also: Arewa youths hail Tinubu’s reforms, pass confidence vote in Edun

According to the statement, Hajia Biliquis Jumoke Sanni will oversee Administration and Human Resources, while Aisha Rufai Ibrahim has been assigned to head Commercial and Industrial Development.

James Abel Uloko will take charge of Corporate Services, Professor Muhammad Bashar will manage Finance, and Princess Atika Ajanah will be responsible for Projects.

The President urged the new Executive Directors to bring their expertise to bear in assisting the Commission to actualise its statutory mandate of promoting and coordinating development in the North-Central geopolitical zone.

“The Executive Directors are expected to work closely with the Governing Board of the NCDC in promoting and coordinating the sustainable development of the North-Central geopolitical region,” the statement read.