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  • Delta APC endorses Tinubu, Oborevwori for re-election

    Delta APC endorses Tinubu, Oborevwori for re-election

    The Delta State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has passed a unanimous vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

    They endorsed them as the party’s sole presidential and governorship candidates for the 2027 general elections.

    The decision was reached on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, during the State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting held at the APC Secretariat in Asaba under the leadership of the State Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie. 

    The meeting had in attendance members of the State Executive Committee and local government chairmen from the 25 Local Government Areas of the state.

    Sobotie charged party leaders to remain steadfast, disciplined, and united in strengthening the APC in Delta State under the leadership of Governor Oborevwori. 

    He stressed that harmony and loyalty were essential for the party’s victory in future elections, urging members to embrace reconciliation and inclusion across all levels of leadership.

    Discussions during the meeting focused on strengthening grassroots mobilization, healing internal divisions, and repositioning the APC as a dominant force in Delta politics. 

    The chairman also briefed members on the forthcoming empowerment programme designed to bring relief and tangible benefits to party members and communities across the state.

    The highlight of the meeting was the adoption of a resolution endorsing President Tinubu as APC’s sole presidential candidate in recognition of his visionary leadership, bold economic reforms, and commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Read Also: Delta APC chairmen score Oborevwori high on performance

    Oborevwori was also endorsed as the sole governorship candidate of the party in Delta State for 2027, with members citing his proven record of service, inclusive leadership, and dedication to good governance under the M.O.R.E Agenda.

    The motion for the resolution was moved by Chief Ubu Jiminyevwe Digbame, State Assistant Auditor of the party, and seconded by Pastor Norbert Sochukwudinma, party Chairman of Aniocha South Local Government Area . 

    The endorsement was met with thunderous applause, reflecting the overwhelming support of the State Executive Committee for the two leaders.

    The meeting ended with prayers for unity, peace, and progress led by Sir Joshua Kekeje, Chairman of Ughelli South Local Government Area.

    In a  subsequent statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, Esq., the Delta APC reiterated its commitment to unity, discipline, and service, pledging to mobilize grassroots support that will secure resounding victory for the party in 2027.

  • ‘How Tinubu is attracting investors’

    ‘How Tinubu is attracting investors’

    Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo and the Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema yesterday highlighted efforts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is attracting investors into the country saying the many shuttles of  the number one citizen  is already consolidating the legacies of the administration.

    According to Keyamo, Tinubu should be commended for reaching out to many countries and their leadership, which are ready to do business with Nigeria.

    The minister said no investor will come if the President decides to just sit in the office expecting the quantum leap of investors who are already pouring in.

    Speaking in an interview when the Presidential contingents that accompanied Tinubu to Brazil arrived at the Lagos International Airport, aboard an Air Peace Boeing 777 aircraft, Keyamo Nigeria , has started harvesting the immediate fruit of the diplomatic / business interface.

    Keyamo said with the direct flight put together by Air Peace, Nigerian business operators, tourists and others can now move between Africa and South American countries with ease.

    Read Also: Tinubu: our markets must be trusted engine of prosperity

    He said : “ This is not just a mere connection of flights , but a window to connect  people culturally and economically. The President knows how to drive the quest for investors. Were people expecting him to lock himself inside the office in Abuja and expect that investors will come on their own. He is doing the right thing by embarking on the shuttles.”

    Describing the bilateral pact as a win-win for Nigeria and Brazil, Keyamo said Air Peace could now enter into an interline agreement and other understanding with local carriers in Brazil to distribute passengers to other South American countries.

    The minister said the efforts of Tinubu should be commended for opening up the trade / diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

    Also speaking, Minister of Information and National Orientation   Mohammed  Idris said the diplomatic shuttles of Tinubu are beginning to draw benefits for several sectors of the economy.

    He said: “ When the President met with the delegation yesterday, the full benefits of this feat were highlighted. It goes beyond connecting people and business, but another avenue to promote cultural ties.”

    “ When President Tinubu talked about the Nigeria First Policy, this is a demonstration of that gesture , in ensuring that whatever we can get in Nigeria, there is no need to go elsewhere looking for it..”

    On his part, Onyema commended Tinubu for the support he has extended to the airline to achieve the feat.

    He said the endorsement given Air Peace by both presidents is enough indication that the carrier has the capacity to deliver.

    Onyema lauded Tinubu who continues to extend protection for indigenous entrepreneurs.

    He spoke of plans to utilize the opportunity offered by the Brazilian designation to boost air connectivity between West and Central Africa and South American as well as Caribbean countries.

    He said Air Peace has commenced discussions with partner airlines in Brazil, the details of which will be rolled out in the coming months.

    Onyema said : “ We thank God for this opportunity and ro President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this landmark achievement. Tinubu is not seeking the partnership to lord over us, but seeking partnerships that will respect Nigerian sovereignty .Tinubu has extended all the support needed to make this happen, so that Nigerian carriers can do well. “

  • JUST IN: Tinubu returns after Japan, Brazil trips

    JUST IN: Tinubu returns after Japan, Brazil trips

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Abuja around 1:20am on Thursday after concluding a three-day state visit to Brazil that yielded a raft of bilateral agreements and high-level engagements aimed at deepening Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic ties with South America’s largest economy.

    The President, who arrived aboard the presidential jet, was received at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by a high-powered delegation of political leaders and senior government officials. 

    Among those present were Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau);  Uba Sani (Kaduna); Hope Uzodinma (Imo) and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara).  

    Also on hand to welcome the President were Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and some Ministers, including Nyesom Wike (FCT); Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Budget and Economic Planning) and Bello Matawalle (Defence, State).

    President Tinubu’s visit to Brazil was marked by the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering aviation, trade, science, diplomacy, and finance. 

    At a joint press conference in Brasília, he welcomed the imminent return of Petrobras, Brazil’s state-owned oil giant, to Nigeria—five years after it halted its joint ventures. 

    Read Also: China boosts Nigeria’s flood relief efforts with $1m

    “We have the largest gas repository. So I don’t see why Petrobras doesn’t join as a partner in Nigeria as soon as possible. I appreciate President Lula’s promise that this will be done,” he said.

    The agreements also included a Bilateral Air Services Agreement, paving the way for direct flights between Lagos and São Paulo, to be operated by Air Peace. 

    Other MoUs targeted political consultations, scientific collaboration, and agricultural financing through Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture and Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development.

    Beyond the MoUs, President Tinubu underscored his administration’s economic reforms, assuring Brazilian investors of a stable, transparent financial climate. 

    He cited Nigeria’s capital market growth as evidence of renewed investor confidence and pledged continued reforms to “unlock capital, protect investors, and drive innovation.”

    In a meeting with Nigerians in Brazil, Tinubu called on the diaspora to contribute actively to nation-building, pledging technology-driven development and food security as the pillars of a prosperous future. 

    “We must bring Nigeria to the forefront of Africa’s progress, driven by technology, food sovereignty, and the courage to change our destiny,” he told the gathering.

    The visit, which featured red-carpet honours, bilateral meetings with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and cultural engagements, signalled what both leaders described as a new era in Nigeria–Brazil relations.

    Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil was preceded by his participation at the recently concluded ninth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).

  • Tinubu: our markets must be trusted engine of prosperity

    Tinubu: our markets must be trusted engine of prosperity

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the rapid growth of the nation’s capital market as a reflection of investor confidence in his administration’s reforms.

    The President made the remarks on Tuesday in Brasília, Brazil when he received the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, and the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX).

    Tinubu noted that market capitalisation and trading  have witnessed phenomenal expansion since he assumed office, creating broader opportunities for both local and international investors.

    In a statement  by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, the President said “Nigeria’s markets must be a trusted engine of enterprise and prosperity. My government will continue to pursue reforms that unlock capital, protect investors, and drive innovation, so that our economy works for every Nigerian”.

    Tinubu praised the NGX Board and SEC leadership for their commitment to strengthening the financial ecosystem and pledged continued support for capital market reforms under his Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Read Also: Tinubu pledges tech-driven growth, food security at Brazil diaspora meeting

    The president  stressed that collaboration with stakeholders remained vital to positioning Nigeria as Africa’s foremost investment hub.

    In his remarks, Agama hailed the signing of the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2025. He described it as one of the continent’s most comprehensive legal frameworks.

    He projected that the law would push Nigeria towards a N300 trillion market, while ensuring equitable wealth distribution through enhanced investor protection and regulatory clarity.

    NGX Group Chairman, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, said that trading volumes and market values have nearly tripled under the current administration.

    He called for fast-tracking the listing of major state-owned enterprises, including NNPC Limited, and urged the introduction of tax incentives to sustain growth.

    Kwairanga  also invited  President Tinubu to visit the NGX trading floor.

    Group CEO  Popoola underscored the importance of building global partnerships, modernising infrastructure, and expanding retail investor participation through digital channels, which he said would ensure inclusive market growth.

    Another board member, Nonso Okpala, credited the administration’s reforms, particularly exchange rate stability and macroeconomic predictability, as key drivers of growth.

    He encouraged more Nigerian businesses to list on the Exchange to democratise wealth and broaden participation.

  • Reps’ right step

    Reps’ right step

    •We commend their bill to upgrade Lagos‘s LCDAs to LGs

    Over two decades after the administration of then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu created 37 Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State from the then existing 20 local government areas to bring the total number of local councils in the state to 57, the House of Representatives has taken concrete steps towards the full legalisation of these grassroots administrative entities.

    The 37 are called LCDAs to distinguish them from the constitutionally listed 20 LGAs in the 1999 Constitution, as a result of the controversy created by their creation. The LCDAs were established in response to long standing popular pressures for the decentralisation of local administration in the state.

    Indeed, the Alhaji Lateef Jakande administration had increased the number of local government councils in the state from eight to 23 in the Second Republic (1979-1983), but this decision was reversed with the return to military rule in December, 1983.

    At the time of the restoration of democratic governance in 1999, Lagos State had 20 LGAs created through military fiat, although there continued to be intense demand for more local government councils, and understandably too.

    Although the smallest state in the country in terms of geographical size, Lagos was the most populated sub national jurisdiction in Nigeria, necessitating greater decentralisation of government to facilitate the benefits of development reaching larger numbers of people.

    There is no doubt that the Tinubu administration was on firm legal standing when it created the 37 LCDAs in 2003. For, as provided for by Section 8(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the power to create new local government areas rests with state House of Assembly through a bill passed for that purpose in accordance with stipulated processes.

    Accordingly, the state government went through all these constitutional requirements; namely getting the request for the creation of the council areas, supported by two-thirds majority of members representing the areas demanding the new councils; receipt by the House of Assembly of support for the demand by two-third majority of members from the area, and approval  for the creation of the new councils in a referendum by more than two-thirds majority of the people of the local government areas where the demands for the councils originated.

    Other conditions met before the formal passage of the bill creating the 37 LCDAs were the approval of the result of the referendum by a simple majority of the members in each local government council in a majority of local government councils in the state and the approval of the referendum through a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of members of the state House of Assembly.

    However, Section 8(5) of the Constitution requires the National Assembly to make “consequential provisions” to ensure the formal listing of the names and headquarters of the new local governments in the constitution.

    It was because the latter had not yet been done that the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration withheld the statutory allocations due to Lagos State as it claimed that the LCDAs were not recognised by the constitution and thus not qualified to receive funds from the Federation Account.

    The administration continued to withhold the funds despite a subsequent ruling of the Supreme Court that the Federal Government had no power to seize the funds, even though the LCDAs remained ‘inchoate’ until listed in the constitution.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s Dantsoho elected VP of global ports body

    Although the succeeding administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua released the withheld funds to Lagos State in obedience to the apex court, the 37 LCDAs remain unlisted till today, and thus lack constitutional recognition.

    The bill, sponsored by James Faleke (Ikeja Federal Constituency) and 21 others for requisite constitutional amendment to accommodate the 37 LCDAs as full-fledged LGAs, along with 42 other constitutional amendment bills, offers the 10th National Assembly an opportunity to rectify this anomaly.

    Along with Kano State, Lagos hosts the highest population among states in the country. In the 2006 population census figures, Kano was estimated to have a population figure of 9,401, 288 while Lagos recorded slightly over nine million persons. Estimates for 2025 indicate that Lagos and Kano have populations hovering around 18 million each.

    However, as the economic capital of the country, which attracts a daily influx of people from across the country and even beyond, Lagos is widely believed to harbour a considerably larger population than official figures assume. Yet, Kano State has 44 LGAs and Jigawa, which was carved out of Kano in 1991 has 27 LGAs, making a total of 71.

    There are those who fear that states may abuse the power to create local government councils to arbitrarily and astronomically increase the number of their LGAs so as to access higher revenue allocation from the centre. The antidote to that is to predicate the creation of additional local governments and even states on the demonstrated capacity of the latter to be financially self-sustaining.

  • APGA’s support for Tinubu total – National chairman

    APGA’s support for Tinubu total – National chairman

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Wednesday said its support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration is total with no regrets.

    Speaking while briefing reporters in Abuja, APGA National Chairman, Sly Ezeokenwa, explained that the decision is based on the performance of Tinubu.

    The APGA national chairman said the President has shown full support for APGA in many ways.

    Ezeokenwa said: “We have no reason not to support President Bola Tinubu. APGA is the foremost progressive party in Nigeria”.

    The chairman further described support for Tinubu as consistent with the party’s tradition of forging alliances with ruling parties at the center.

    He recalled that APGA backed former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and 2015, even when the party had the option of presenting its own candidates.

    Read Also: ‘Nigeria risks collapse without inclusive politics’

    “We don’t owe any apology for supporting Mr. President’s economic reforms,” he stated. “Our goal has always been to advance progressive governance and ensure policies that leave no one behind.”

    He further noted that APGA remains focused on consolidating its dominance in Anambra State, where it has held power for nearly two decades, and expressed confidence that Governor Charles Soludo would be re-elected in 2026.

    On the recent by-elections in Anambra, the chairman praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for conducting what he called “one of the most transparent and credible elections in recent history,” while urging that those involved in isolated cases of violence and electoral malpractice be prosecuted.

    “We want to counter the persistent falsehood, deliberate misinformation and baseless allegations” being spread by the APC governorship candidate in Anambra, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, and the party’s senatorial candidate, Hon. Azuka Okosa.

    “Despite the infamous role he played in attempting to subvert the will of the people at the said election, Mr. Ukachukwu has volunteered himself as the chief purveyor of falsehood, all in a bid to discredit the excellent work of INEC officials and security agencies,” the chairman declared.

  • Tinubu directed me to work with Ganduje for APC’s progress – Yilwatda

    Tinubu directed me to work with Ganduje for APC’s progress – Yilwatda

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu instructed him to collaborate closely with former APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to strengthen the party.

    Yilwatda made this known on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving Ganduje, who paid him a condolence visit following the death of his mother, Madam Lydia Yilwatda.

    He acknowledged Ganduje’s political experience, stating it would be invaluable as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.

    “Your Excellency, I will need to tap from your experience; I will need your guidance as I learn the curves,” Yilwatda said.

    He added, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu asked me to work with you and reach out to you for partnership. I told him I would regard you as a chairman in partnership with me—you remain the co-chairman of the APC.”

    “I am only a coordinator. My duty is simply to coordinate the membership of this party. But the party belongs to all of us.

    “We are all collective leaders of the party. Moreover, by experience and by virtue of politics, you have been there long before me. Since the time of the NPN, you have been part of the political scene.

    “At that time, I was only in primary school. I recall that we used to see Governor Rimi come to Jos in the 70s and 80s to visit Solomon Lar. One day, he came to commission a project at my school. I was just in Form 2, waving at them along with my classmates — I never knew what politics truly meant. By then, people like you had already learned the ropes of politics, while we didn’t even know the definition of politics.

    “So I need your experience. I need your guidance. The learning curve still rests with you.

    “I will depend heavily on your experience, your connections, and your contacts to ensure we solidify this party and build it together so that we can win more elections.” 

    Read Also: Akpabio condoles APC chairman Yilwatda on mother’s death

    He then assured his predecessor that his doors would be open to the former Kano State governor. “My doors are open, the office is open, the partnership remains open, and the friendship remains open. So never lock your door against me—and I know you will not—because we have worked together long before this time,” Yilwatda appealed to Ganduje. 

    Earlier, Ganduje said his relationship with the new national chairman should be a good example between a successor and predecessor. 

    He said, “One important thing is that the problem between successor and his predecessor is one of the issues that APC has solved. So in order to show examples, I am sure you know it that since 1999 the problem between former Governors and their successors has always been an issue up till now in many states of the federation. 

    “Not only in governorship , but in other positions, especially in politics. So our relationship is the beginning to solve that kind of problem. Not only in APC but in the whole atmosphere of democracy. I have to congratulate you on this new appointment.”

  • Tinubu departs Brazil for Abuja ‎

    Tinubu departs Brazil for Abuja ‎

    President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday departed Brasília, Brazil, for Abuja following a high-level state visit focused on strengthening Nigeria-Brazil bilateral relations.
    ‎
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidential jet took off from Brasília International Airport Air Force Base at about 12. 57 p.m (local time).
    ‎
    ‎Amb. Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte, Secretary for Africa and the Middle East and Amb Carlos José Areias Moreno Garcete, Ambassador of Brazil to Nigeria, were present at the airport to bid farewell to the President.
    ‎
    ‎The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and other government officials were also on ground.

    There was also a guard of honor led by Col Cel Nicolas at the brief departure ceremony.
    ‎
    ‎President Tinubu arrived in Brasília in the early hours of Monday, August 25, for the strategic diplomatic engagement.
    ‎
    ‎Upon arrival, he was received with full military honours and immediately met with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and senior Brazilian officials.
    ‎
    ‎The two leaders held private discussions and oversaw the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding.
    ‎
    ‎The MoUs spanned aviation, foreign affairs, science and technology, and agriculture—key sectors in Nigeria’s development agenda‎.

    Read Also: Tinubu vows to create value at home, deliver prosperity as he suspends raw shea export

    President Tinubu also met with the Director-General of Brazil’s Securities and Exchange Commission and the Board of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc.
    ‎
    ‎He praised the Nigerian market’s performance, calling it a clear sign of investor confidence in his administration’s reforms.
    ‎
    ‎On the sidelines, he held additional meetings aimed at deepening Nigeria-Brazil cooperation in trade, education, and innovation.
    ‎
    ‎The president also met with members of the Nigerian diaspora in Brazil, urging them to contribute actively to nation-building.

    (NAN)

  • Tinubu vows to create value at home, deliver prosperity as he suspends raw shea export

    Tinubu vows to create value at home, deliver prosperity as he suspends raw shea export

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured that his administration will continue to create value at home, compete abroad, and deliver prosperity for Nigerians, as he approved a six-month suspension of raw shea exports.

    In a post on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, on Wednesday, the President described Nigeria’s shea as the nation’s “green wealth,” lamenting that although the country produces nearly 40 percent of the world’s supply, it captures less than one percent of the $6.5 billion global market.

    “That imbalance ends now. I have approved a six-month suspension of raw shea exports, on the recommendation of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit, to secure supply for local processors, create jobs, and protect a value chain where 95 percent of pickers are women. This is a win for our farmers, for our women, and for Nigeria”, Tinubu declared.

    Read Also: Tinubu pledges tech-driven growth, food security at Brazil diaspora meeting

    The President noted that Vice President Kashim Shettima would coordinate with stakeholders to rapidly expand processing capacity and ensure the reform translates into lasting prosperity.

    He also pointed to emerging opportunities, including new market access in Brazil, as evidence that Nigeria must move away from exporting raw products without value addition.

    “With new market access opening in Brazil and beyond, we will no longer export poverty and import value. We will create value at home, compete abroad, and deliver prosperity under the Renewed Hope Agenda”, he said.

  • Tinubu’s Brazil visit a strategic game changer for Africa – Information minister

    Tinubu’s Brazil visit a strategic game changer for Africa – Information minister

    The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, says President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil will unlock economic opportunities and elevate Nigeria’s voice globally on behalf of Africa.

    ‎The minister stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil.

    ‎He emphasised that  Tinubu’s presence in Brazil was not just for Nigeria, but could serve as a spring board for other African countries.

    ‎“When President Tinubu speaks, he speaks for the continent. Nigeria is a continental and global leader,” he said.

    ‎The minister noted that this was the fourth meeting between Tinubu and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, highlighting the strategic depth of their partnership.

    ‎“This is a reconnection of two great nations with deep historical, cultural, and economic ties.”

    ‎According to Idris, five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in key areas: Foreign Affairs, Aviation, Science and Technology, Agriculture, and Cultural Exchange.

    ‎He said the MoUs are already yielding tangible benefits and will catalyze long-term cooperation and investment between both countries.

    ‎One standout development, he said, is the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), enabling direct commercial flights between Nigeria and Brazil.

    ‎He disclosed that an inaugural symbolic flight by Nigerian carrier Air Peace had departed from Brasília to Lagos early Wednesday morning.

    ‎The direct route, he noted, reduces travel time between Abuja and Brasília from over 24 hours to just seven.

    Read Also: Information minister, US Ambassador, clarify visa policy changes

    ‎”This is not just about ease of travel. It’s about unlocking trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.”

    ‎Idris said the visit also carried historical and emotional weight, given Brazil’s deep African roots and centuries-old transatlantic slave trade connections.

    ‎“This is more than a state visit. It’s a symbolic healing of historical wounds.”

    ‎“It’s about cultural reconnection, economic collaboration, and redefining our shared future.”

    ‎The minister reiterated that Nigeria’s leadership role on the global stage is further solidified through this engagement.

    ‎“When President Tinubu speaks, he speaks for the continent. Nigeria is a continental and global leader,” he said.

    (NAN)