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PRESIDENT TINUBU EMBARKS ON WORKING VISIT TO PARIS

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to depart for Paris, France, today on a short working visit, during which he will assess his administration’s mid-term performance and key milestones. The President will use the retreat to review ongoing reforms, engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration’s second anniversary, and deepen ongoing reforms to accelerate national development priorities in the coming year. In a statement, the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, said the President’s commitment to economic reforms is evident in the significant increase in net foreign exchange reserves to $23.11 billion, a testament to the administration’s fiscal reforms since 2023 when net reserves were $3.99 billion. Onanuga added that the President will remain fully engaged with his team and continue to oversee governance activities while away. “This period of reflection will inform plans to deepen ongoing reforms and accelerate national development priorities in the coming year,” Onanuga said. The President’s working visit to Paris is expected to last about a fortnight, during which time he will continue to work with his team to drive national development priorities. As Onanuga noted, the President’s administration has made significant strides in economic reforms, and this visit will provide an opportunity to review progress and plan for the future. Onanuga reiterated that the President remains committed to his administration’s goals and will continue to work tirelessly to achieve them. Upon his return, President Tinubu is expected to implement new strategies and plans to drive national development.

PRESIDENT TINUBU MEETS CATHOLIC BISHOPS, REITERATES COMMITMENT TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reassured Catholic Bishops that his administration understands the concerns of Nigerians but is committed to implementing economic reforms necessary for building a resilient country and securing the future of its citizens. He made this statement on Friday in Abuja while receiving the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, revealed that President Tinubu emphasized the importance of citizens and leaders investing in the nation to build a strong society. He noted that poverty affects everyone, regardless of religion, and called for collective efforts to combat it. The President stressed that the tax reform presents a good investment opportunity for citizens to build their nation. President Tinubu stated, “Yes, removing the fuel subsidy was hard, tough for me, but it’s a hard choice that Nigeria must face. We are not going to bankrupt our country. We were spending the investment of the future of our children yet unborn; We were spending their rights, and poverty has no religious basis.” Onanuga added that President Tinubu commended the Catholic body’s commitment to education and healthcare. He also promised to look into ways to assist students of private institutions not covered by NELFUND, which he established to ensure that no student drops out of school due to a lack of funds for tuition fees. The President acknowledged the efforts of security agencies in curbing insecurity and expressed his commitment to maintaining an open-door policy. He thanked religious leaders for their prayers, highlighting the positive developments in the country, including increased investments and improved security. CBCN President, Most Reverend Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, led a delegation of 20 Bishops from across the country to congratulate President Tinubu on his victory and commend his efforts to reposition the country. Ugorji expressed concerns and proposed solutions, including the redirection of public funds towards pressing national needs. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, emphasized the need for national unity and support for the government, even in the face of temporary hardship. Mohammed noted that security has greatly improved in the nation and highlighted the upcoming launch of the national value charter, which aims to reclaim lost values and promote civic education. Onanuga stated that the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, also attended the event.

PRESIDENT TINUBU CELEBRATES NIGERIAN WOMEN ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has celebrated Nigerian women on International Women’s Day, acknowledging their resilience, brilliance, and indispensable contributions to the nation. In a statement, the President described women as the bedrock of the nation, driving progress in various sectors, including homes, farms, boardrooms, and communities. “Yet, 30 years after the Beijing Declaration, too many still face barriers that limit their potential,” President Tinubu noted. He reassured that his administration is committed to dismantling obstacles, expanding access to finance, and ensuring equitable opportunities in governance, agriculture, and every sector. The President’s message emphasized the importance of women’s strength in fueling Nigeria’s future. “To our mothers, daughters, sisters—your strength fuels Nigeria’s future. Together, we rise!” he exclaimed. President Tinubu concluded by wishing all women a happy International Women’s Day, signing off as Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

PRESIDENT TINUBU SIGNS HISTORIC N54.99 TRILLION BUDGET, ASSURES NIGERIANS OF IMPROVED ECONOMY

President Bola Tinubu has signed the 2025 Budget of Restoration into law, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to economic recovery, stability, and growth. The N54.99 trillion budget is based on projected revenues and aims to secure the nation’s future, rebuild prosperity, and ensure that every Nigerian shares in the dividends of governance. The Special Adviser to the President, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement that President Tinubu thanked the leadership and members of the National Assembly for their collaboration in giving the appropriation bill speedy attention and passage. “We have no dust on our faces or tears in our eyes. We walked together as brothers and sisters. Though the initial outlook was turbulent, we can now see signs of progress,” President Tinubu stated. President Tinubu noted that the uncertainty over the economy was gradually clearing as the reforms took shape, delivering a national GDP growth of 3.86% in the last quarter of 2024, the fastest in three years. He highlighted several key achievements, including increased revenue, reduced deficit, and restored investor confidence. The President emphasized that the budget prioritizes National Security, Infrastructure and energy, Human Capital Development, healthcare, education, and skills development. He also assured that the increased allocation for agriculture and food security will boost local food production and ensure that no Nigerian goes hungry. Onanuga stated that President Tinubu urged the legislators to extend the same support for implementing the budget, emphasizing that every government agency would be held accountable for prudent spending and value-for-money initiatives. “To ensure smooth budget implementation, we will work with the National Assembly to redefine corrigenda within the Appropriations Act,” President Tinubu added. The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, assured President Tinubu of the full support of the National Assembly in implementing the budget. Akpabio noted that the President inherited a “foaming economy” that needed urgent economic measures to recover. The Senate President affirmed that President Tinubu’s experience from Lagos and versatility in managing men and resources enabled the economy’s ongoing reforms and turnaround. Onanuga stated that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said the passing of the budget had been a collaborative effort based on consultation, negotiation, and analysis. “The National Assembly has all along been partners in progress with you, Mr President,” Edun added. Bayo Onanuga concluded by stating that President Tinubu’s administration remains committed to economic recovery, stability, and growth, and that the 2025 Budget of Restoration is a significant step towards achieving this goal.

SOUTH WEST GOVERNORS’ FORUM COMMENDS PRESIDENT TINUBU, RESOLVES ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The South West Governors’ Forum, comprising Governors of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo States, held its meeting on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at the Governor’s Office, Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State. The Forum commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the economic stability and improvements recorded across the nation, particularly in the sustained supply and distribution of petroleum products and the stabilization of the exchange rate. The Forum urged citizens to continue supporting the President’s efforts to strengthen the economy and improve the overall well-being of Nigerians. They also applauded the Federal Government for the successful implementation of the Student Loan Scheme under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has benefited South West students in tertiary institutions. In addition, the Forum congratulated Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, on his victory in the Ondo State Gubernatorial Election held on November 16, 2024. The Governors commended themselves for maintaining relative peace and security in the region, particularly during the recent festive period. The Forum strongly condemned the threat posed by ISWAP activities in parts of the South West and encouraged enhanced collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force and local security outfits. They also committed to taking necessary actions to counter these threats and established a Joint Surveillance Monitoring Team to oversee and coordinate security efforts across the South West region. Furthermore, the Forum commended the Federal Government and the Senate for establishing the South West Development Commission (SWDC) and agreed to situate its headquarters at Cocoa House, Ibadan, Oyo State. They acknowledged the efforts of Odu’a Investment Company Ltd. in efficiently managing joint assets of the South West region and commended the company’s proposed investments in other key sectors of the economy. The Governors expressed concern over food inflation in the region and agreed to establish a State Food Inflation Joint Monitoring Team and Aggregation Centre/Food Hubs to foster inter-state collaboration and mitigate food inflation. They also commended the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission for its improved performance and encouraged it to continue working diligently with South West Commissioners for Agriculture on industrialization and infrastructural development across the region.

𝐓INUBU’S 𝐒ELF 𝐈MMORTALIZATION

By Dr. Ugo Egbujo A leader with an eye on posterity won’t have the appetite for the vanity of naming projects after himself. True immortality will be bestowed by history, not monuments that can be renamed. Tinubu needs to submit himself to some clear-eyed, sober reflection. This preoccupation with self-glorification and immortalisation is a telltale sign. There are now Tinubu Barracks in Abuja. It is a frenzy of self-immortalization. There is a Tinubu Airport in Minna. There is a Tinubu Polytechnic in Abuja. It was approved this week. There is a Tinubu Library at the National Assembly. The NASS wants to establish a Tinubu University of National Languages. All these naming ceremonies have happened in less than two years. Some say it is not Tinubu. But it is sleazy. The president can’t watch his aides and subordinates outdo themselves in this sycophancy marathon. There is no virtue in it. Many say this idea of Oba of Nigeria matches Tinubu’s ego. It’s immoral for a leader to spend public funds to build a monument and allow his appointees to hang his name on it. Nigeria is not a banana republic Tinubu’s men have defended immorality. Their defence is that Tinubu didn’t start it. Buhari named a university after himself. Yet that comical defence is shamelessly bold. They are effectively saying that Tinubu, who came to renew hope, is building on the ignoble foundation of a few former leaders. That mischievous defence doesn’t bother to answer the question of propriety. With the rate at which the Tinubu eternalisation project is going, after 8 years, his name could be on the river Niger Azikiwe built the University of Nigeria in Nsukka. He named it after Nigeria. He only got an airport named after him long after his death. Awolowo built universities. He named none after himself. He only got a university named after him when he joined his ancestors. Obasanjo presided over the affairs of the country twice. He didn’t name a Federal University or an airport after himself. Tinubu needs a special adviser on ethics. Our people say we can know the faces from the fart. A leader committed to such brazen self-aggrandizement can not save himself from other associated temptations. If a leader can’t resist the urge to name projects after himself, if he lacks the discipline and decency to desist from childish self-immortalization, can he resist the urge to refrain from becoming synonymous with the state? Time will tell. Idi Amin There is this joke about Idi Amin. Amin appropriated all the titles in Uganda and named himself the conqueror of the British Empire. The joke was that he flirted with the idea of renaming Uganda. He felt the Idi Republic would be a better name. After all, he was Uganda. But he was only stopped when he was told that since the people of Cyprus were called Cypriots, if Uganda became Idi, then Ugandans could easily become Idiots. The joke doesn’t quite capture all of Idi Amin’s vanity. Mobutu At some point during Mobutu’s reign, his name was ubiquitous. The fawning by his aides had gone malignant. Worshipping Mobutu in public became synonymous with patriotism. Before every news broadcast on TV, an image of Mobutu descending from the clouds would be aired to remind the people of his divine ancestry and mission. People were expected to stop all they were doing to clap. Mobutu was God sent. He was a messiah. He wasn’t a mere mortal. Tinubu has to draw the line now. His apparent delight in this self-glorification is ruinous. It is a sign of moral laxity. It’s a sign of ongoing conflation of public and private political interests. It is a sign of incipient and paralysing delusions of grandeur. It is a thing the juvenile juntas in Niger or Mali should be doing. It will attract clowns to surround him. One of the most significant deficits of Tinubu’s government is its nonchalance to corruption. It doesn’t feel so dirty. Tribalism, nepotism, cronyism, etc, are all rife and permissible. Corruption is the abuse of power for private gain. In this government, a minister can revoke the title of a plot of land and give it to his inlaw. Nothing is scandalous. When people complained that Tinubu was so brazenly concentrating power in the hands of the Yoruba, Tinubu heard the complaints and intensified the lopsidedness. Nigerians are resigning to that insensitivity; they no longer care. Their president is tone-deaf. When he chooses a course for personal or group advantage, he gives no damn about public sentiment or opinion. But the naming of barracks after living politicians is remarkably naive. Our military institutions must be protected from such flippancy. We must preserve the sacredness of certain institutions. We shouldn’t make them subjects of cheap politics. A barrack could be named after a president who lived, died, and left inspiring military feats. Abacha still has a barrack, too. So why is Tinubu enamoured with his name on a barrack if it puts him in a fairly despicable company? So, should we expect more projects to be named after Tinubu? The Lagos Calabar road would fit and perhaps complete that preposterousness. It is the largest road project on the continent. It was awarded to a friend without due process. It could also be named after the father of modern Lagos. Two other prestigious projects would be the universities of Ibadan and Lagos. Since those who built them and those who came after them didn’t have the nerve, Tinubu could also take them. Perhaps, when he reaches surfeit, he will discover the folly of the adventure. Tinubu might say he won’t suffer the fate of Mobutu and Idi Amin. I agree with him. But he must remember Wike. When Wike was governor, he named a local government headquarters after himself. His statue was installed. Then, he installed his protege as his successor. It all seemed perfectly immortalised. But soon after, he fell out with his godson. A few months ago, his

PRESIDENT TINUBU TO ATTEND AFRICA HEADS OF STATE ENERGY SUMMIT IN TANZANIA

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Sunday for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to participate in the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit on January 27-28, 2025. The summit aims to advance ‘Mission 300,’ an initiative to provide electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030. The Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, in a statement, explained that the summit will bring together African leaders, private sector leaders, development partners, and civil society groups to strategize on accelerating energy access across the continent. Onanuga noted that discussions will focus on accelerating energy access in underserved regions, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and mobilizing private sector investment. On the first day of the summit, participating countries, including Nigeria, will present their national energy strategies, termed compacts, detailing their approaches to achieving universal energy access within five years. On the second day, Heads of State will endorse the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, outlining a unified roadmap for Africa’s progress towards the Mission 300 objectives. President Tinubu will deliver a national statement reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to achieving universal access to energy and its leadership role in Africa’s energy sector. Onanuga stated that President Tinubu will also highlight Nigeria’s ongoing clean energy initiatives and its strategy to drive integrated energy delivery in the continent. The president will be accompanied by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, and other senior government officials. Onanuga added that President Tinubu will return to Abuja after the summit. Bayo Onanuga emphasized that the summit will provide a platform for sharing knowledge, expertise, and resources to address Africa’s energy challenges.

PRESIDENT TINUBU MOURNS VICTIMS OF TANKER EXPLOSION, CONDOLES WITH NIGER STATE GOVERNMENT

President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the fuel tanker explosion that occurred on Saturday at Dikko Junction, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, resulting in the loss of over 80 lives and injuring many others. In a statement, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, said President Tinubu mourned the victims and expressed his condolences to the families affected, as well as to the government and people of Niger State. Onanuga stated that the President underscored the tragic and preventable nature of the incident, as many victims were those scooping Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the overturned tanker. President Tinubu has directed the provision of comprehensive medical care to the injured and instructed security and road safety authorities to implement measures to avert similar incidents. Onanuga said the President strongly advises all citizens to exercise caution and avoid approaching accident sites, especially those involving fuel-laden vehicles, due to their highly explosive nature. Furthermore, Onanuga stated that the President has mandated the National Orientation Agency to initiate a nationwide educational campaign to raise public awareness about the severe risks and environmental dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers. Onanuga added that this campaign is aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future. Onanuga concluded by reiterating the President’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all Nigerians.

PRESIDENT TINUBU CELEBRATES CUSTOMS CG ADEWALE ADENIYI ON HIS 59TH BIRTHDAY

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Adewale Adeniyi, the 14th Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on his 59th birthday, January 19, 2025. The President commends Adeniyi for his pivotal role since taking leadership of the Customs Service in June 2023. In a statement, the Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, said the President noted that under Adeniyi’s guidance, the agency has witnessed significant progress through the steady digitalisation and automation of its operations, a renewed commitment to professionalism, and an uplift in officers’ morale, enhancing high performance. “His leadership has enabled the NCS to surpass revenue targets substantially and bolstered trade facilitation, yielding widespread positive effects on the national economy,” Onanuga stated. President Tinubu applauded the innovative anti-smuggling strategies initiated by the Customs Chief, which encompass equipping the youth with new skills for alternative livelihood opportunities, fostering engagements with traditional institutions, and nurturing a culture of effective communication and mutual respect. The President recognised the Comptroller-General’s other notable achievements, including the remarkable seizures of arms and ammunition and the revitalisation of the Comptroller-General’s Annual Conference, which aims to assess and enhance the agency’s operations. Onanuga stated that President Tinubu affirmed Adeniyi’s extensive experience of over 30 years in service and adaptability to change has greatly enriched the Customs Service. Bayo Onanuga noted that the President offered prayers for divine wisdom, robust health, and continued strength for Comptroller-General Adeniyi as he serves the nation. Onanuga concluded that President Tinubu’s message was a testament to Adeniyi’s dedication and commitment to the Nigeria Customs Service.

TINUBU UNVEILS PLAN TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS IN PUBLIC HIGHER INSTITUTIONS ACROSS NIGERIA

President Bola Tinubu has announced plans to install solar panels in public higher institutions across Nigeria, aiming to mitigate the financial strain caused by high electricity tariffs imposed by power distribution companies. This move is part of the administration’s efforts to prioritize education and address the long-standing concerns of universities over escalating power costs. Speaking at the 55th convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education. “My administration recognizes that education is the cornerstone of national development. It is the bedrock upon which a prosperous society is built. This understanding is reflected in our policies and investments in the education sector,” he stated. The proposed 2025 budget allocates ₦3.52 trillion to education, the third-highest allocation, underscoring efforts to revitalize the sector. Tinubu noted, “The ‘Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity’ reflects our determination to stabilize the economy, improve lives, and position Nigeria for a brighter future.” The administration has also introduced key reforms, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has expanded access to higher education by easing financial barriers for students. Thousands have already benefited, with plans to extend the initiative to reach more students. Furthermore, Tinubu has approved N100 billion to provide solar-powered energy to public institutions as part of the 2025 fiscal year agenda. This initiative is expected to reduce the cost of governance and provide a sustainable source of energy for public institutions.

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