Tag: tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday joined Muslim faithful for Jumat prayers at the Lekki Central Mosque in Lagos, where the presiding Imam urged him to remain steadfast in pursuing his vision for the country despite challenges and criticism.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.

Delivering the sermon, the visiting Imam of the mosque, Dr. Salahudeen Munirudeen Arriyadhi, commended the President for what he described as the administration’s ongoing developmental efforts, reminding him that leadership often attracts divergent opinions.

“You cannot satisfy everyone at the same time,” the Imam said, urging the President to stay focused on governance and service to the people.

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Quoting from the Qur’an, Dr. Arriyadhi told the President that “Allah was happy with leaders who listened to the cries of his followers but unhappy with leaders who do not attend to the needs of the led,” adding prayers for divine guidance and success for the administration.

“We are praying for you, and you will succeed,” he said.

In his sermon themed: Unity in Diversity and Remembering the Day of Judgement, the cleric said human differences in colour, tribe, religion, language and nationality were divinely ordained and should be embraced rather than feared.

He stressed that diversity was not accidental but a sign of God’s wisdom, noting that it should serve as a foundation for harmony, unity and mutual learning among people.

“Diversity is a sign of Allah’s Wisdom. If Allah had wanted every one of His creations to be one, He would have created them one. Diversity in religion and tribe should not be a source of problems,” the Imam said.

President Tinubu was accompanied to the mosque by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, among other senior officials.

He was received at the mosque by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, as well as members of the mosque’s management.

The President arrived in Lagos on Saturday, December 20, to spend the end-of-year festive season in the nation’s commercial capital.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of two members of the Kano State House of Assembly, describing their deaths as sad, tragic and painful.

In a condolence message issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President commiserated with the government and people of Kano State over the loss of the lawmakers, Aminu Saad Ungogo and Aliyu Sarki Daneji, who represented the Ungogo and Kano Municipal constituencies respectively.

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According to the statement, the two legislators died in separate incidents within an hour on Wednesday, a development President Tinubu said had plunged the state legislature and their constituents into mourning.

The President noted that the passing of the lawmakers had created a significant void, depriving their constituencies of committed and dedicated representation at the state assembly.

“I offer my condolences to their families and constituents as well as the government and people of Kano State,” the President said.

He also extended his sympathy to the leadership and members of the Kano State House of Assembly over the loss of their colleagues.

“I also commiserate with the presiding officers and all members of the Kano State House of Assembly over the demise of their respected colleagues,” Tinubu added.

The President prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased lawmakers and asked God to grant their families, colleagues and constituents the fortitude to bear the loss.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sadness over the death of renowned educationist and administrator, Professor Adamu Baikie, describing his passing as a huge loss to Nigeria’s education sector and the nation at large.

Prof Baikie, the first Professor of Education from Northern Nigeria, died on December 12, 2025, at the age of 94, and was buried on December 23.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu paid glowing tribute to the late scholar, whom he described as a respected teacher, mentor and community leader whose influence spanned decades of national and international service.

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The President noted that Prof Baikie made remarkable contributions to tertiary education, serving at different times as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin between 1978 and 1985, the University of Lesotho from 1988 to 1995, and later as pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi from 2002 to 2009.

President Tinubu said the late professor’s life and career reflected uncommon dedication to learning, leadership and service, particularly in advancing education in Nigeria and beyond.

“The death of Prof Baikie at the ripe age of 94 closed an impactful chapter of national service. It is a blow to our educational system, where the deceased played pioneering roles, especially in tertiary education,” the President said.

He added that Prof Baikie’s legacy would endure through the institutions he led and the generations of students he mentored.

“History will long remember Prof Baikie for his stewardship at the University of Benin and, later, as a Nigerian appointed to lead a foreign university, and as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi,” Tinubu said.

Beyond his academic accomplishments, the President described the late scholar as a revered community leader who provided exceptional leadership to Christian communities in Northern Nigeria, earning respect across religious and regional lines.

President Tinubu condoled with the Baikie family, his protégés and former students, praying that they find comfort in the enduring legacy of service and scholarship left behind by the late professor.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday joined Muslim faithful for Jumat prayers at the Lekki Central Mosque in Lagos, where the presiding Imam urged him to remain steadfast in pursuing his vision for the country despite challenges and criticism.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.

Delivering the sermon, the visiting Imam of the mosque, Dr Salahudeen Munirudeen Arriyadhi, commended the President for what he described as the administration’s ongoing developmental efforts, reminding him that leadership often attracts divergent opinions.

Read Also: Seyi Tinubu gets installed as Okanlòmo of Eyọ Ọba Alakẹtẹ Pupa, Laba Ẹkun

“You cannot satisfy everyone at the same time,” the Imam said, urging the President to stay focused on governance and service to the people.

Quoting from the Qur’an, Dr Arriyadhi told the President that “Allah was happy with leaders who listened to the cries of his followers but unhappy with leaders who do not attend to the needs of the led,” adding prayers for divine guidance and success for the administration.

“We are praying for you, and you will succeed,” he said.

In his sermon, themed Unity in Diversity and Remembering the Day of Judgement, the cleric said human differences in colour, tribe, religion, language and nationality were divinely ordained and should be embraced rather than feared.

He stressed that diversity was not accidental but a sign of God’s wisdom, noting that it should serve as a foundation for harmony, unity and mutual learning among people.

“Diversity is a sign of Allah’s Wisdom. If Allah had wanted every one of His creations to be one, He would have created them one. Diversity in religion and tribe should not be a source of problems,” the Imam said.

President Tinubu was accompanied to the mosque by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, among other senior officials.

He was received at the mosque by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, as well as members of the mosque’s management.

The President arrived in Lagos on Saturday, December 20, to spend the end-of-year festive season in the nation’s commercial capital.

A socio-cultural group, the Northern Ethnic Nationalities Forum (NENF), has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as his decisive leadership, strategic foresight and unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s security and sovereignty.

The forum also praised the Minister of Defence, the leadership of the armed forces and the entire security architecture for their professionalism, cooperation and effective operational coordination in the recent joint counter-terrorism efforts targeting ISIS affiliates and other terrorist groups operating in the country.

The commendation was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the Chairman of the forum, Dr. Dominic Alancha, following the successful joint operation carried out by Nigerian and United States troops against ISIS elements in Sokoto State on Thursday.

NENF also applauded the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, for respecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and ensuring that all actions were carried out with the full cooperation and approval of the Nigerian government.

The forum acknowledged the consent-based collaboration and intelligence-driven partnership between Nigeria and the United States, describing it as a reflection of a mature and mutually respectful security relationship aimed at degrading terrorist networks and restoring peace to affected communities.

Eulogising President Trump, the group said his approach reinforces international law, mutual respect among nations and the shared global responsibility to combat terrorism.

Commending the joint efforts of both countries, the forum noted that terrorism poses a grave threat not only to Nigeria but also to regional and global stability, stressing that sustained international cooperation, anchored on respect for national sovereignty and local leadership, remains essential to defeating extremist violence.

The forum reaffirmed its support for the Federal Government and Nigeria’s security forces in their ongoing efforts to protect lives, secure communities and restore lasting peace, particularly across Northern Nigeria.

“We call on all Nigerians to continue supporting lawful security initiatives and to remain united against terrorism, extremism, and all forms of violence threatening our collective future,” the statement concluded.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of two members of the Kano State House of Assembly, describing their deaths as sad, tragic and painful.

In a condolence message issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President commiserated with the government and people of Kano State over the loss of the lawmakers, Aminu Saad Ungogo and Aliyu Sarki Daneji, who represented the Ungogo and Kano Municipal constituencies respectively.

According to the statement, the two legislators died in separate incidents within an hour on Wednesday, a development President Tinubu said had plunged the state legislature and their constituents into mourning.

The President noted that the passing of the lawmakers had created a significant void, depriving their constituencies of committed and dedicated representation at the state assembly.

“I offer my condolences to their families and constituents as well as the government and people of Kano State,” the President said.

He also extended his sympathy to the leadership and members of the Kano State House of Assembly over the loss of their colleagues.

“I also commiserate with the presiding officers and all members of the Kano State House of Assembly over the demise of their respected colleagues,” Tinubu added.

The President prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased lawmakers and asked God to grant their families, colleagues and constituents the fortitude to bear the loss.

…deal marks defining moment in Nigeria’s infrastructure journey — Edun

…project boosts market confidence, underscores Renewed Hope Agenda’s delivery focus

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the successful closure of $1.26 billion in financing for Phase 1, Section 2 of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, describing it as a major milestone in the delivery of one of Africa’s most ambitious and transformative infrastructure projects.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President commended the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Works and the Debt Management Office for collaborating to secure the landmark transaction, adding that his administration would continue to deploy innovative financing options to deliver critical infrastructure nationwide.

“This is a major achievement, and closing this transaction means the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will continue unimpeded. Our administration will continue to explore available funding opportunities to execute critical economic and infrastructural projects across the country,” the President said.

Phase 1, Section 2 of the coastal highway spans about 55.7 kilometres, linking Eleko in Lekki to Ode-Omi, two strategic economic corridors. 

The section is expected to significantly enhance national trade efficiency and logistics connectivity. 

The financing builds on the earlier $747 million closed for Phase 1, Section 1, reinforcing the project’s scalability and bankability.

According to the statement, the financing package was fully underwritten by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), with risk mitigation support from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit ICIEC).

The deal marks ICIEC’s first Nigerian transaction since the country’s recent institutional and regulatory reforms, underscoring renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s investment climate and capacity to deliver large-scale infrastructure.

SkyKapital served as Lead Financial Adviser, coordinating structuring, lender engagement and execution. 

Environmental and Social advisory services were provided by Earth Active (UK), ensuring alignment with the IFC Performance Standards, the Equator Principles, and international ESG best practices. 

Legal advisory services were led by Hogan Lovells as International Counsel and Templars as Nigerian Legal Counsel.

Describing the transaction as a “defining moment in Nigeria’s infrastructure journey,” the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said the funds would be deployed responsibly and judiciously to deliver the project within agreed timelines.

“The signing on December 19, 2025, of USD1.26 billion financing for Phase one — section two of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal road marks a defining moment in Nigeria’s infrastructure journey, following the successful closing of the USD 747 million financing for Phase one section one on July 9, 2025.

“Collectively, these landmark transactions firmly establish the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as one of the defining flagship projects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, embodying the administration’s commitment to bold, transformational infrastructure”, Edun said.

Edun further noted that the transaction was unprecedented in Nigeria’s road infrastructure financing history.

“This financing is particularly notable as it represents, for the first time, a truly underwritten transaction of this magnitude for a Nigerian road infrastructure project. The facility was fully underwritten by First Abu Dhabi Bank (USD 262 million) and Afreximbank (USD 500), with partial coverage provided by ICIEC, making it the largest ICIEC-supported transaction since the institution’s creation,” he said.

Construction of the highway is being handled by Hitech Construction Company Limited, whose rapid progress and early opening of key sections have attracted commendation from lenders for engineering excellence, operational discipline and execution speed.

In line with the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency and fiscal discipline, a comprehensive Value-for-Money (VfM) assessment was conducted by SkyKapital in close coordination with the Federal Ministry of Works and independently reviewed and confirmed by GIBB.

The statement said the successful financial close of Phase 1, Section 2 represents a significant step-change in market confidence, demonstrating Nigeria’s ability to translate vision into execution and reforms into tangible delivery under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.