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  • Southeast Renewed Hope Agenda backs Tinubu’s re-election bid

    Southeast Renewed Hope Agenda backs Tinubu’s re-election bid

    …hails president’s approval of $3 billion Eastern Rail line

    Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Southeast Renewed Hope Agenda (SERHA) has thrown its weight behind the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.

    The national coordinator of SERHA, Belusochukwu Michael Enwere, disclosed this at the inauguration and empowerment of the Imo State chapter of the body in Owerri.

    He said that the group would concentrate on grassroots mobilisation in promoting President Tinubu’s vision for the Nation.

    “The focus would be on grassroots politics and mobilisation, as well as promoting the vision of the President for the nation,” Enwere said.

    He highlighted the positive initiatives of the President’s administration, particularly the recent approval of the $3 billion Eastern Rail line, which he said would reconnect the Southeast and create jobs.

    “This signals a dramatic policy and economic shift aimed at bridging decades of regional neglect and infrastructure inequality,” Enwere noted.

    “This would be the first time any administration will budget such a huge fund for a Southeast transport project, which, when completed, would slash transport costs, open new export channels, as well as revive dormant industrial zones in the southeast region while realigning it with the centre.”

    Enwere hailed the President for establishing the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC), saying it would unlock opportunities for regional growth and development. “The Renewed Hope Agenda is committed to showcasing visionary leadership rooted in inclusivity, progressive governance, and strong institutions,” he added.

    The SERHA chieftain called on all and sundry to join hands with them to re-elect President Tinubu for a second term.

    “We have only one performing President, and the people of the South East will not back out to ensure his victory come 2027,” Enwere said.

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    SERHA plans to tour the 95 local government areas and 2,344 wards across the five states of the Southeast from next month to mobilise support for the President’s re-election bid.

    In his earlier welcome address, Imo State Coordinator of the South East Renewed Hope Agenda, Chief Justus Ogu, expressed his delight in welcoming the national officers of the Southeast Renewed Hope Agenda to Imo State.

    He described the visit as a symbol of unity and solidarity, emphasising the Southeast’s vital role in the national political equation.

    “We are proud to receive you and are inspired by your unshakable commitment to the Renewed Hope vision as led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Chief Ogu said.

    “This visit signifies more than an inauguration of a political Support Group in Imo state–it is a rallying point to mobilise, sensitise and energise the Southeast in readiness for the historic task ahead: the reelection of our President Come 2027 election year.”

    Chief Ogu highlighted the achievements of the President’s administration, including the establishment of the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) and the appointment of prominent Igbo sons and daughters to federal boards and committees.

    He also praised the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, for his spectacular performance in areas such as youth empowerment, infrastructural development, and healthcare.

    “We believe that continuity under his purposeful leadership will consolidate the gains of this administration and bring lasting development to our region and nation at large,” Chief Ogu said. “We are committed to delivering increased support and massive votes for President Tinubu’s reelection.”

    The inauguration is expected to inspire renewed passion, stronger coordination, and a clear strategic focus among the party’s leaders and members in Imo State.

  • President Tinubu, 2027 and Buhari’s sad death

    President Tinubu, 2027 and Buhari’s sad death

    • By Tunde Rahman

    As if blessed with clairvoyance or possibly having a premonition of President Muhammadu Buhari’s imminent death, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, seemed to have stirred up the debate around the former President’s political strength and likely impact on the 2027 election, even in death.

    On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, just four days before Buhari’s death, the former SGF claimed President Bola Tinubu did not make Buhari president in 2015. He was speaking at the public presentation of a book, titled “According to the President: Lessons From A Presidential Spokesman’s Experience,” written by Mallam Garba Shehu, Spokesman to the late Buhari.

    In his keynote address at the book launch, Mustapha argued that the former President’s fame was never in doubt and that he had already had over 12 million votes in his kitty before the 2015 election. “The merger of the legacy parties merely contributed three million votes to his victory at the 2015 presidential election,” he noted.

    To speak of the true motive behind such a claim or whether the 12 million votes endured would only be conjectural. Yet, it begs the question: If Buhari had always had a guaranteed bloc of 12 million votes, and the alliance partners contributed only three million votes, many would wonder why those massive votes didn’t make him President in 2003, 2007, and 2011 until President Tinubu and others teamed up with him to form an alliance that produced the all–conquering All Progressives Congress.

    Read Also: Tinubu, Idris mourn Tribune’s Leon Usigbe

    This might have been akin to dissipating energy on a matter that would have been merely academic if the late President himself had not often acknowledged President Tinubu’s help in his ascent to the exalted office. Last March 29, in a telephone call to the President on his 73rd birthday, Buhari rejoiced with him and thanked Tinubu effusively for his contributions to his emergence as President in 2015.

    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the former SGF’s assertion provides a valuable insight into assessing the potential influence the former President’s death may have on the 2027 election.

    Former President Buhari lived a remarkable life by every measure, and his departure in a blaze of glory was no less extraordinary. President Tinubu accorded him a historic state burial. In the wake of Buhari’s demise on Sunday, July 13, in a London hospital, President Tinubu declared seven days of national mourning and ordered the nation’s flag flown at half-staff.

    The President was on hand to receive Buhari’s body as it arrived in Katsina from the United Kingdom. Just as significant, the Federal Government declared a public holiday on Tuesday, July 15, when Buhari’s remains were buried in his Daura hometown in Katsina State.

    President Tinubu led dignitaries, including President Umaru Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of the Niger Republic, Ali Lamine Zeine, Vice President Kashim Shettima, former President of the Niger Republic, Issoufou Mahamadou, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, many Nigerian governors and business leaders, to escort the late President’s remains on the long drive to Daura. They witnessed as the former President was laid to rest.

    No honour would be too much for that late patriot, civil war hero, distinguished army general, and former President, who stood for the Talakawas. Many Nigerians respected Buhari for living a Spartan life and standing for truth and justice, values that earned him the sobriquet “Mai Gaskiya.”

    How will President Buhari’s death impact the politics of the 2027 election and President Tinubu’s re-election, with the opposition swirling around him, baying for blood? It is yet unclear. Indeed, in the run-up to the 2027 election, some analysts liken former President Buhari’s death to a double-edged sword that can cut both ways. They contend that the impact of his demise on the 2027 election can swing for and against President Tinubu.

    Those who think his passing may chip away at the President’s re-election plans contend that Buhari remained a true and consistent ally of Tinubu till death and that the partnership between the two, built on mutual trust and respect, had remained strong until Buhari’s passing. Buhari never spoke against Tinubu or his administration while alive. The former President reportedly commended Tinubu for having the courage to make bold decisions about the economy, which he had found difficult to implement.

    There was nothing to suggest that Buhari would not have backed Tinubu in 2027 if he were still alive, given that he had consistently emphasised his indebtedness to the APC, which provided the platform that enabled him to become President, and Tinubu, who assisted him on his presidential journey.

    Perhaps realising this Tinubu-Buhari connection, opposition political figures, particularly members of the so-called coalition African Democratic Congress, including politicians from the North who still regard themselves as Buharists or Buhari Boys, desperately sought to outdo each other in a bid to earn cheap political capital, using Buhari’s death as fodder.

    Barely a day after Buhari’s death was announced, former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, arrived in Katsina to position himself as a foremost Buhari ally and the inheritor of his political dynasty. Former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi also arrived in Daura, fully draped in a turban, as a traditional chief of the town, to gain an advantage for the coalition.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar organised a grand entry into Daura on Tuesday, the day of Buhari’s burial. A motley crowd of his supporters cheered him at the airport, but it was all of no moment, rather gaudy for the sombre event. For effect, some of the opposition figures headed for Buhari’s graveside last Wednesday to pray for the repose of his soul.

    Buhari’s death appears to have opened up the leadership space in the North. And no political leader in the North today commands that extraordinary following as Buhari. With his passing, a rat race has ensued for leadership supremacy.

    This situation somewhat plays to President Tinubu’s advantage, despite the suggestion that it may hurt him politically. Indeed, this is by no means glossing over the huge void and the pains that the statesman’s death has left.

    President Tinubu has taken the proper steps to give the former president a befitting burial. In order to further immortalise his name, he named the University of Maiduguri in Borno State after Buhari. The President did all that for a leader who served the country resolutely and a political ally who stood by the spirit and letter of their convictions.

    In my view, all the President needs to do now and do strongly is seize the momentum, galvanise the rump of the Congress for Progressives Change elements that believe in him and those of other alliance partners in the North and South of the country, and assume full leadership of the Tinubu-Buhari alliance that produced the APC and produced Buhari and himself as presidents.

    • -Rahman is Senior Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties.
  • Tinubu: Falcons triumph exemplifies Nigeria’s tenacity, national pride

    Tinubu: Falcons triumph exemplifies Nigeria’s tenacity, national pride

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Super Falcons of Nigeria for clinching a historic 10th title at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), following their thrilling comeback victory against hosts Morocco in the final held in Rabat on Saturday night.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President lauded the Nigerian women’s national team for displaying resilience, discipline, and excellence on the continental stage.

    “The Super Falcons’ spectacular performance tonight in Rabat, coming from behind to beat a spirited Moroccan side playing in front of a passionate home crowd, exemplifies the determination that defines the Nigerian spirit,” President Tinubu said.

    Read Also: Fireworks expected at 46th CBN Tennis Championship finale

    The final match at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat saw the Falcons overturn a deficit to defeat the Atlas Lionesses in front of their vociferous fans, marking yet another milestone in Nigeria’s dominance of women’s football in Africa.

    President Tinubu praised the team’s unity and the dedication of the coaching staff, noting that the triumph is a reward for their hard work and a source of pride for every Nigerian.

    “With hard work, dedication, and tenacity, you have achieved the mission the nation dreamed of and prayed for,” the President said. “The nation looks forward to welcoming our champions. Congratulations! Nigeria celebrates you.”

  • Northern youth groups beg Tinubu to replace Yilwatda with Ja’oji

    Northern youth groups beg Tinubu to replace Yilwatda with Ja’oji

    A coalition of Arewa youth groups have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to consider Nasir Bala Aminu, popularly known as Ja’oji, for appointment as minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

    The Coordinated Arewa Youth Groups made the request during an emergency meeting by the Northwest branch in Kano.

    The meeting discussed the vacant position of the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, who previously occupied it, has been appointed National Chairman of APC.

    Aminu, from Kano State, is a board member of the Governing Council of Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum, Yobe State, renowned for his philanthropy and humanitarian works.

    According to Arewa youths, “The Northwest has the largest concentration of All Progressives Congress (APC) members and therefore deserves the slot, and Jo’oji is fit for the office.

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    “With the largest concentration of APC supporters from the Northwest geo-political zone, we are respectfully calling the good attention of our dear President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to kindly consider our zone, particularly Kano, which gave him the highest votes at the 2023 polls.

    “We are calling on Mr President to kindly consider Hon Nasir Bala Aminu (Ja’oji), who has been a voice for the voiceless youths across the North, for appointment to fill in the vacancy left by Yilwatda, the coalition’s communique signed by its Northwest Zonal Coordinator, Balarabe Abdullahi Jega, said.

  • Tinubu celebrates former aide Coker, at 60

    Tinubu celebrates former aide Coker, at 60

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended warm felicitations to his former aide and immediate past Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA),  Folorunsho Coker, on his 60th birthday, describing him as a tireless champion of arts, culture, and tourism.

    In a statement on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu praised Coker—fondly known as “Folly Coker”—for his decades-long commitment to promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage and for playing key roles in the public service, especially in Lagos State.

    “His love for arts, culture, and tradition is unmatched. His life and career revolve around this important sector, which has defined him and his essence today,”  Tinubu remarked in a tribute to mark the July 27 milestone.

    Coker, who served as an assistant to then-Governor Tinubu in Lagos, rose through the ranks to become one of the state’s most versatile administrators. 

    He held several pivotal roles, including Deputy Chief of Staff, CEO of the Lagos State Number Plate Production Authority, Special Adviser on the Central Business District, and Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture.

    Read Also: Umahi to Kwankwaso: apologise to Tinubu, withdraw self-serving claims

    President Tinubu acknowledged Coker’s instrumental role in shaping the tourism framework of Lagos State through the development of the ‘One Lagos’ brand, a cultural blueprint that highlighted the city’s rich and diverse identity.

    He further commended Coker for leveraging his wealth of experience while serving as Director-General of the NTDA, where he worked to elevate Nigeria’s domestic tourism and spotlight its multicultural heritage on national and international platforms.

    The President also noted Coker’s dedication to the promotion of traditional institutions in Lagos and the Yoruba cultural sphere, an effort that earned him the revered chieftaincy title of Babaeto of Yorubaland.

    As he marked his diamond jubilee, President Tinubu wished Coker continued good health and more years of positive impact in service to the nation and its culture.

  • Tinubu cheers Super Falcons ahead WAFCON Final, sends presidential delegation to Rabat

    Tinubu cheers Super Falcons ahead WAFCON Final, sends presidential delegation to Rabat

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dispatched a high-level presidential delegation to Rabat, Morocco, to cheer on the Super Falcons as they face the host nation in the final match of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). 

    The President said the move reflects the full support of the Federal Government and the Nigeria for the national women’s football team, who are seeking a record tenth continental title.

    In a personal message addressed to the team ahead of Saturday’ night’s final at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, Tinubu praised the Falcons for their inspiring performance throughout the tournament, describing them as symbols of national pride and resilience.

    “Tonight, you stand at the cusp of history as you face the host nation, Morocco. Your performance at this tournament over the past three weeks has been awe-inspiring. You have represented our country with pride, honour, and strength,” the President said.

    Tinubu highlighted the team’s sportsmanship and humanity, referencing the Falcons’ visit to Gabriela Salgado of South Africa’s Banyana Banyana after the semi-final clash. 

    “That simple act of compassion reflects our shared humanity, empathy, and sisterly affection, which we Africans hold in high regard,” he noted.

    Lauding the Falcons’ unbeaten run in the group stage and their dominant journey through the knockout rounds, the President declared that “if statistics alone win matches, you are already champions.”

    He reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering backing for the team, noting that “on behalf of a grateful nation, we are rooting for you and praying for your resounding success tonight, as you strive to achieve the crowning accomplishment of lifting a record tenth continental title.”

    Read Also: Umahi to Kwankwaso: apologise to Tinubu, withdraw self-serving claims

    The President’s delegation to Rabat includes Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, among others.

    Tinubu also expressed gratitude to the team’s families, coaches, supporters, and the Nigerian community in Morocco for their support throughout the tournament.

    “You will finish strong by the Grace of God. Go for the tenth! Bring the trophy home. Your fellow countrymen and women, young and old, are rooting for you,” he urged.

    The President concluded with anticipation, saying he looks forward to receiving the team, the trophy, and the officials in Abuja.

  • Umahi to Kwankwaso: apologise to Tinubu, withdraw self-serving claims

    Umahi to Kwankwaso: apologise to Tinubu, withdraw self-serving claims

    The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has refuted the recent claim by former Kano Governor Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has marginalised the North in federal road infrastructure projects.

    The Minister described the allegation as “absolutely false, misleading, and self-serving.”

    He urged the former Governor to apologise to the President for misleading Nigerians and retract the unfounded statement, which he described as lacking in both fact and substance.

    Umahi also urged Kwankwaso to rely on the factual information he had provided in the interest of Nigerians and national unity.

    He further appealed to Nigerians to disregard Kwankwaso’s claims, assuring them that President Tinubu remains firmly committed to developing every part of the country with fairness, equity, and the fear of God.

    For emphasis, the Minister challenged anyone with contrary facts regarding the road projects he presented, inviting them to an open debate.

    “To my brother Senator Kwankwaso, you owe our dear President an apology and a duty to withdraw your statement using the information I have provided for the benefit of Nigerians and the unity of the nation.

    “I request the good people of Nigeria to ignore Senator Kwankwaso’s misleading statement and know that President Tinubu is evenly committed to developing every part of this country with fairness, equity, and the fear of God,” he said.

    Accusing Kwankwaso of political opportunism, the Minister said: “This statement, in my view, is part of his struggle, along with a few others, to inherit the impeccable legacy of our late President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “I consider the statement as one made out of desperation and as part of his struggle, along with a few others who believe that they can inherit the impeccable legacy of our dear late President  Muhammadu Buhari, and that the only way available for them towards achieving the same is to be divisive and pretentious. 

    “Trying to be like our late President Buhari cannot be a job of three decades and cannot be done with deceit. 

    “I think our younger generation has such a chance and it must be worked for through hard work, honesty, transparency, and commitment to the unity of our country, a legacy that our late President Buhari achieved in all his life on earth. May God continue to bless his legacies and give him a peaceful rest, Amen”.

    To counter the allegations, Umahi provided updates on major ongoing federal road projects across all six geopolitical zones, emphasizing the Northern region.

    According to him, the four legacy projects of the Tinubu administration include the 750km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, with 175km under construction; the 1,068km Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, with 378km ongoing in the North; the 465km Trans-Sahara Highway, with 59km under construction in Ebonyi State; and the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe road, measuring 439km and currently undergoing redesign to rigid pavement.

    “Out of the total length of these legacy projects, the North accounts for 52% while the South has 48%. Within the segments already under construction, the North has 756km ongoing, compared to 409km in the South,” he said.

    He added that Kebbi State alone has 316km under construction and Sokoto has 240km ongoing. In contrast, Lagos has just 220km, “Yet people only mention Lagos-Calabar and ignore the massive work in the North,” Umahi remarked.

    Providing further details, Umahi cited the 275km dualized Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua-Zaria road, part of a 750km corridor being handled by four contractors at ₦824 billion, while also listing the 700km Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road, valued at ₦764 billion.

    Other key Northern projects, according to the Minister, include the 256km BUA Tax Credit road spanning Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano states; the 156km Zaria-Hunkuyi road; the 49km Kano Northern Bypass; the 110km Kano-Maiduguri Section V; and various Dangote Tax Credit roads in Borno State.

    According to him, additional projects in the North include the 76km Malando road in Kebbi; the 250km Benue to 9th Mile road; and the 86km Lokoja-Okene dualization project.

    Turning to Southern Nigeria, Umahi highlighted several completed and ongoing projects, which include the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin road, and critical repairs on the Third Mainland, Eko, and Carter bridges.

    In the South East, he explained that the Enugu-Onitsha road (107km) is being funded by the MTN Tax Credit Scheme, with an additional 72km stretch undertaken by CBC, adding that the Enugu-Abakaliki road and access roads to the Second Niger Bridge are also under construction, along with the 61km Lokpanta-Enugu road.

    In the South-South, ongoing projects include the Eleme-Onne road, the Eket Bypass, East-West Road Section 2, the Nembe-Brass road, and the Bodo-Bonny road by Julius Berger.

    Umahi announced that a comprehensive list of inherited and ongoing projects would be published shortly. 

    He noted that out of the inherited Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL) Tax Credit projects, the North has 53% while the South has 47%. Of these, the South East receives only 4% and the South West 5%. “Yet the President never complained but continued funding them,” he said.

    Read Also: Presidency to Kwankwaso: Tinubu not neglecting North

    “I have been under pressure from South West stakeholders for major roads like Ibadan-Oyo, Ibadan-Ile Ife-Ilesa, and Ore-Sagamu, but limited funding is a challenge. 

    “The Carter Bridge is so deformed it needs to be demolished. The Third Mainland Bridge is closed to heavy trucks due to underwater defects.”

    “Mr. President has continued to fund critical projects irrespective of region. These are all part of our economic corridors. I will publish details of ongoing projects above ₦20 billion next week,” Umahi said.

    Lamenting the situation, Umahi accused certain political figures of deliberately spreading falsehoods for political gain, saying, “Unfortunately, some political leaders aim only to deceive Nigerians and gain political favour instead of promoting unity.”

    The Minister, however, challenged anyone with contrary facts to an open debate, saying, “I am ready to explain further and even face a public debate to set the record straight.

    “I repeat, Senator Kwankwaso should apologize to President Tinubu and Nigerians. His claim is not backed by facts. Let the truth be known. Let us focus on building a united and developed Nigeria. The facts are there for everyone to see.”

  • Tinubu receives The Gambia’s President, Barrow, on condolence visit

    Tinubu receives The Gambia’s President, Barrow, on condolence visit

    • Buhari was my benefactor, Barrow pays tribute to late former President

    President Adama Barrow of The Gambia yesterday paid glowing tribute to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a personal benefactor and democratic icon whose legacy would not be forgotten.

    Barrow, who visited the Buhari family earlier in the day at their residence in Daura, Katsina State, later met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, to formally extend his condolences.

    Speaking to journalists after the late-night meeting in Abuja, President Barrow said his conscience would not have allowed him to remain at ease without paying his last respect to the late Nigerian leader.

    “My conscience would not have allowed me to rest without coming here to share my respect with the President and the family of Mr. Buhari,” he said.

    He recounted Buhari’s instrumental role in supporting democratic transition in The Gambia in 2016, saying the late Nigerian president was pivotal to ensuring that the will of The Gambian people prevailed.

    “Personally, he contributed to me coming to power. He contributed to make sure that the voice of the Gambian people is respected. He contributed to consolidate democracy in our country. Because of this reason, I cannot be ungrateful,” Barrow said.

    Read Also: Education under Renewed Hope Agenda undergoing transformation – Shettima

    The Gambian leader, who was accompanied by his wife, First Lady Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, described Buhari as more than just a fellow statesman.

    “Buhari was our colleague. He was a friend, and he was a brother. He was a father figure to us and a very humble president, a great man, great president, a great leader,” Barrow said, urging African leaders to emulate Buhari’s humility and sense of purpose.

    “If we emulate him, I think that will make us move mountains and move Africa to the next level,” he added.

    President Barrow said the visit to Nigeria was deeply personal, and that it was important for him to deliver condolences on behalf of the government and people of The Gambia.

    “We will remember him. He will not be forgotten because he has a legacy. His legacy was a good legacy,” he said.

  • Tinubu hails Diaspora for $20.93b remittances in 2024

    Tinubu hails Diaspora for $20.93b remittances in 2024

    • Says Nigerians abroad vital to nation’s economic growth

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has highlighted the crucial role Nigerians in the Diaspora play in supporting the nation’s economy.

    This is  as he expressed excitement at diaspora remittances reaching a record-breaking $20.93 billion in 2024. 

    Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, CON, the President spoke yesterday while declaring open the 2025 National Diaspora Day celebrations held at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, to the SGF, Yomi Odunuga, President Tinubu said the staggering amount is more than four times the value of the country’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), solidifying diaspora remittances as a vital source of foreign exchange for Nigeria.

    Tinubu said this substantial influx of funds highlights the crucial role Nigerians abroad play in supporting the nation’s economy.

    He said the theme of the celebration, “Optimizing Formidable Diaspora Potentials for National Development and Growth,” aims to consolidate efforts towards diaspora engagement and national development.

    His words: “It is also gratifying to note that we have annually on July 25th celebrated the achievements of our Diaspora, many of whom are our Ambassadors at large uplifting the image of Nigeria in their host countries, excelling globally, breaking barriers and contributing immensely to Nigeria’s development through their talents, skills, resources, global exposure and networks.

    Read Also: Education under Renewed Hope Agenda undergoing transformation – Shettima

    “Last year, 2024, our Diaspora Home Remittances through official channels stood at $20.93b, which is over four times the value of our Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

    “The Nigerians in the Diaspora are also actively investing in our Healthcare, Agriculture, Education, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Housing and Real Estate, Sports, Transportation, Oil and Gas and other sectors. This I must say is commendable and in our enlightened self-interest as only Nigerians both at home and abroad can develop Nigeria”.

    According to him, the Nigerian government holds the Diaspora community in high esteem, stressing that it has worked to uplift engagements with them through various initiatives, including the establishment of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the National Diaspora Policy.

    Tinubu commended the Diaspora community for their record-breaking remittances, assuring that government is committed to providing an enabling platform for effective policies.

    “Let me also remind you again that this democratically elected government is a Diaspora-friendly one. Our Renewed Hope Foreign Policy recognizes the Diaspora as the fourth pillar in the 4D Agenda viz Democracy, Demography, Development and Diaspora. We will continue to provide an enabling platform for effective policies for the Diaspora with the view to galvanizing your support for this administration and concretizing our democracy, optimizing your potentials and setting a good example for other African countries to emulate,” he added.

    The President promised to address the challenges faced by NiDCOM and harvest the benefits of migration through diaspora engagement.

    He also applauded the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for her dynamic initiatives, even as he encouraged the Diaspora community to key into the commission’s programmes.

  • Tinubu moves to resolve ₦4trn power sector debt

    Tinubu moves to resolve ₦4trn power sector debt

    • Appeals for patience from GENCOs
    • Okays bond programme, promises transparency in verification process

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured power generation companies (GENCOs) of his administration’s commitment to resolving the over ₦4 trillion in longstanding debts owed to them, pledging transparency and fairness in verifying the claims while appealing for patience.

     The President gave this assurance during a high-level meeting with members of the Association of Power Generation Companies, led by retired Colonel Sani Bello, at the Presidential Villa yesterday.

     According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President acknowledged the gravity of the sector’s liquidity crisis and promised that the federal government would not shirk from its inherited obligations.

     “I accept the assets and liabilities of my predecessors, and there is no question about that. But that acceptance must be on credible grounds. I need to wear the audit cap of verifiability, authenticity, and the fact that this inheritance is not a mere deodorant but a support structure for critical economic and industrial promotion,” President Tinubu said.

     The President appealed to the GENCOs and their financial backers to give the government time to complete verification and validation of the debts, stating, “we are here. So market it to your other colleagues. Give us time to do verification and validation of the numbers.”

     Reaffirming his commitment to a market-led electricity sector, Tinubu emphasised that historical challenges, long left unresolved, are now receiving active attention.

     “This is a longstanding issue that is now being dealt with,” he said, referencing the government’s broader reform drive that includes eliminating fuel subsidies and promoting Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) alternatives.

     The President also called for restraint from the financial sector regarding asset foreclosures against the GENCOs.

     “To our friends in the banking sector, I ask that we avoid foreclosures. Sharpen your pencils, but keep an eraser handy. Let’s persevere together,” he urged.

     In her briefing, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen, disclosed that a ₦4 trillion bond programme had received anticipatory approval from the President to tackle the liquidity shortfall in the sector.

     However, she cautioned that only verified and legitimate debts would be accommodated.

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     “As of April 2025, the total exposure that we are carrying at the moment is ₦4 trillion. This is subject to downward revision pending final validation. Only amounts that the federal government validly owes are the things that will make it into the issuance by the DMO”, Verheijen said.

     She attributed the massive debt pile-up to a combination of unfunded tariff shortfalls and market deficiencies that have built up since 2015.

     Of the ₦4 trillion claimed by 27 GENCOs, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) has validated ₦1.8 trillion so far.

     Highlighting the administration’s strides in power sector reform, Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, lauded the President for his hands-on approach and leadership.

     “Your presence at this meeting is a clear testament to your unwavering commitment to the sustainability, stability, and long-term development of Nigeria’s power sector,” Adelabu said.

     He noted that since President Tinubu took office, the administration has signed into law the Electricity Act, 2023—decentralising the power sector—and launched Nigeria’s first Integrated National Electricity Policy in 24 years.

     Adelabu said reforms have boosted investor confidence, attracted over $2 billion in new private capital, and improved annual revenue collection by 70 percent—from ₦1 trillion in 2023 to ₦1.7 trillion in 2024—thereby reducing government subsidy obligations by over ₦700 billion.

     On capacity expansion, he reported that installed generation capacity has grown from 13,000 MW to 14,000 MW, with a record 5,801 MW peak generation and a maximum daily energy delivery of 120,370 MWh recorded on March 4, 2025.

     No grid collapse has occurred in 2025, he added.

     He further disclosed progress in narrowing Nigeria’s metering gap through the ₦700 billion Presidential Metering Initiative and the World Bank-backed DISREP, which has so far delivered 300,000 of the 3.45 million smart meters procured.

     Despite the reforms, Adelabu warned that the liquidity crisis remains a major threat, saying “Mr. President, given the grave implications of this debt overhang, including the risk of a nationwide shutdown of generation assets, I humbly seek your immediate support for defraying these obligations, even if partially, over a defined period.”

     In their separate interventions, leading business figures Tony Elumelu and Kola Adesina echoed calls for urgent relief, citing the dire financial state of GENCOs and the need to unlock gas supply to sustain operations.

     “Mr. President, we’ve come to you as a last hope. The generating companies are heavily indebted to banks, and foreclosure threats are real, not because we’re not doing our jobs, but because the system owes us trillions,” Elumelu said.

     He commended President Tinubu for restoring stability in oil production and banking, saying, “before you took office in 2023, we lost 97% of our daily oil production. Today, we are retaining 98%. That’s transformation.”

     On the energy crisis, Elumelu said “we don’t need power to complete your transformation—we need power to enable it. Power is critical to unlocking Nigeria’s full potential.”

     Adesina, for his part, stressed that “liquidity is the oxygen of our business,” warning that generation output could stall without urgent intervention.

     He proposed leveraging Nigeria LNG to unlock 800 million cubic feet of gas to boost supply to underperforming power plants, especially those in the Afam axis.

     The meeting was attended by key cabinet members and officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; as well as regulatory authorities and major power sector stakeholders.