"Our Goal Is To Use Education To End Poverty", President Tinubu Tells Duke of Edinburgh.

President Bola Tinubu emphasized that his administration’s economic and institutional reforms aim to equip Nigerian youths with globally competitive skills to secure their future. Speaking during a meeting with the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, at the State House, Abuja, on Monday, Tinubu stated, “Our goal is to use education to drive down poverty.”

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that discussions also covered plans for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award events in Lagos.

Tinubu highlighted that Nigeria’s participation in the G-20 this week will focus on youth empowerment and economic growth, stressing that reforms prioritize demography, skills development, and opportunities for young people.

He noted the introduction of a special education loan fund to ensure university students receive support to complete their studies, alongside broader reforms to enhance infrastructure, including fibre optics, security, and crime reduction initiatives. Tinubu also acknowledged humanitarian agencies for their role in supporting terrorism victims.

Finance Minister Wale Edun briefed attendees on the country’s median age of 17 and explained that policies are designed to expand youth participation, skill acquisition, and growth prospects. Prince Edward praised Nigeria’s reforms and highlighted the Lagos events, where 320 youths will be recognized for pursuing their passions, developing skills, and contributing to national development.

Also present were the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Sir Richard Montgomery; the Duke’s Private Secretary, Alex Potts; the Award’s Secretary-General, Martin Houghton-Brown; and International Trustee Muhoho Kenyatta.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a global program promoting non-formal education through schools, youth organizations, and community groups to develop skills, resilience, and service among young people.

President Tinubu Reappoints Buba Marwa as NDLEA Chairman.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has renewed the appointment of Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) as Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for another five-year term.

The announcement was made on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.

Marwa, first appointed by the late President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021, previously served as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse between 2018 and 2020. His renewed tenure means he will lead the NDLEA until 2031.

An Adamawa-born retired military officer, Marwa is a former military governor of Lagos and Borno States and an alumnus of both the Nigerian Military School and the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1973, he held several key roles, including brigade major of the 23 Armoured Brigade, Aide-de-Camp to then Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Theophilus Danjuma, and academic registrar of the NDA. He also served as Deputy Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC, and later as Defence Adviser to Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

Marwa holds two postgraduate degrees: a Master of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.

His time at the NDLEA has been marked by major successes, including the arrest of more than 73,000 drug traffickers and the seizure of over 15 million kilogrammes of illicit substances.

The agency has also intensified nationwide campaigns against drug abuse under his leadership.

President Tinubu praised Marwa’s achievements, describing his reappointment as a vote of confidence and urging him to continue pursuing drug cartels and traffickers seeking to endanger Nigerians, especially the youth.

Alleged Genocide: Bayo Onanuga Reacts After Trump's Aide Said The USA Is Ready And Willing To Act.

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy has reacted to the statement that Trump's aide, Marco Rubio made about alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria.

The reaction of Bayo Onanuga was contained in a post that he shared on his official X handle on Saturday, November 1, 2025.

In the post that Marco Rubio shared on his official page, he claimed that several Christians are being slaughtered and the US government is ready and willing to act.

Here is what Marco Rubio wrote on his official X handle;

"The ongoing slaughter of thousands of Christians in Nigeria by radical Islamists and Fulani ethnic militias is both tragic and unacceptable. As President Donald Trump said, the United State of America stands ready, willing and able to act".

However, Bayo Onanuga has now shared his thoughts after the post surfaced online. In a statement that he shared on his page, he said Christians are not being slaughtered in Nigeria.

He said both Christians and Muslims are being attacked in Nigeria. The presidential aide said what Nigeria needs from America is military support to fight the violent extremists in the country.

Here is what Bayo Onanuga wrote on his official X handle;

"Dear Secretary Rubio, there is no ongoing slaughter of thousands of Christians in Nigeria. This is a gross exaggeration of the Nigerian situation. What we do have are sporadic attacks on some villages by bandits and terrorists and the attacks are religiously insensitive. Christians, Muslims, churches and mosques are attacked randomly".

Tinubu Revises Pardon, Reduces Maryam Sanda’s Death Sentence to 12 Years

President Bola Tinubu has reversed the earlier presidential pardon granted to Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello. Instead, her death sentence has now been commuted to a 12-year prison term.

This adjustment was revealed in an updated official gazette released on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

According to the document, Sanda has already served six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre in Niger State. With the revised sentence, she has approximately five years and four months left to serve before completing her term. 

The change was made on compassionate grounds.

The updated list also includes over 80 other inmates whose sentences were similarly reduced to shorter prison terms.

Egbon Bayo Onanuga abusing me because i stated the position of Nigeria’s debt. He called me economic illiterate—-a presidential spokesperson ooooo

Tell Egbon Bayo to challenge me with facts not abuses.

Has Nigeria not borrowed 152 trillion under Tinubu?
@ruffydfire

Tinubu Nominates Dr Bernard Doro as Minister to Replace APC Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda.

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Dr Bernard Mohammed Doro from Plateau State as a new minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who confirmed that the president has transmitted Doro’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

According to Onanuga, Dr Doro’s nomination follows the election of Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in July.

Born on January 23, 1969, in Kwall, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Doro brings over two decades of multidisciplinary experience spanning clinical practice, pharmaceutical management, strategic leadership, and community development in both the United Kingdom and Nigeria.

He holds degrees in Pharmacy and Law, an MBA specializing in IT-driven business strategy, and a Master’s degree in Advanced Clinical Practice. He is also an Independent Prescriber and Advanced Clinical Practitioner with frontline NHS experience in urgent care, GP practices, and hospital settings.

Beyond his medical career, Dr Doro is recognized for leading youth mentorship and social impact initiatives across diaspora and local communities.

Clemency: You’ve brought shame, scrap NDLEA, EFCC, ICPC – APC chieftain to Tinubu.

A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has called for the scrapping of some federal government agencies.

The agencies include the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

According Eze, these agencies have Iost their flavours to political Interferences, stressing that President Bola Tinubu’s presidential pardon of drug barons have further erodes public confidence in statutory Institutions.

The APC chieftain said as long as he remains a member of the ruling party it must be said categorically that Tinubu, by his action, has brought shame and reproach to the party.

Eze believes that no reasonable person would vote for the APC again as the President has made it unelectable in any election in this country.

Eze said that APC’s return to power in 2027 would mean that Nigerians approve of a regime that legitimizes illegality as a political strategy to sustain its odious reign beyond 2027.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Information and Strategy last week, said in a statement that out of the 175 beneficiaries of the Presidential pardon, 41 illegal miners, 28 drug traffickers and 22 murderers topped the list.

Notable among the 175 beneficiaries are Herbert Macaulay, one of Nigeria’s foremost nationalists; Farouk Lawan, a former member of the house of representatives; Mamman Vatsa, a major general and poet executed in 1986 over alleged treason; and Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death for killing her husband in 2017.

Don’t let anyone take your life’ – Kemi Afolabi reacts to Tinubu’s presidential pardon for convicted murderer.

Popular Nigerian actress, Kemi Afolabi, has reacted to President Tinubu’s presidential pardon for convicted murderers and drug barons.

The Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu granted a presidential pardon to 175 criminals.

The beneficiaries according to a release by Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on Media and Public Information have 28 drug traffickers, 41 illegal miners and 22 murderers topping the list.

The controversial presidential pardon has sparked diverse reactions from Nigerians, with many politicians, groups and Nigerian elite calling for the reverse.

Reacting to the presidential pardon for murders, actress Kemi Afolabi urged netizens to protect their lives by any means necessary.

Speaking on her Instagram story, she wrote: “Do not allow anyone to take your life, guard it with all your being. Be it in marriage, friendship, courtship or any kind of relationship”.

She gave the advice after the family of late Bilyaminu Ahmed condemned the pardon of Maryam Sandain, a convicted murderer.

Bilyaminu was murdered in 2017 by his wife, Maryam Sandain who was sentenced to death by hanging in January 2020.

"Finance Minister Wale Edun Recuperating in Abuja, No Plans for Replacement" — Presidency.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, is recovering at his Abuja residence after falling ill, senior Presidency sources confirmed on Sunday. 

Contrary to reports, officials insist his condition is not stroke-related and that President Bola Tinubu has no plans to replace him.

A senior government official told The PUNCH that while Edun’s illness is “a bit serious,” he remains in Nigeria under the care of local doctors. “He’s indisposed but not suffering from a stroke,” the source said, adding that Edun might seek treatment abroad only if necessary.

Earlier reports had claimed that Edun’s condition was “very serious” and that the President had begun discreet consultations to find a replacement. However, multiple Presidency insiders dismissed those claims, emphasizing that the minister is still in his home and being monitored closely.

Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga also confirmed Edun’s situation, stating: “Yes, he’s indisposed. Wale Edun is about 69 years old. He suddenly fell ill, but he’s in Nigeria and recuperating.”

In Edun’s absence, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Washington, DC, beginning Monday, October 13. The delegation will also include Minister of State for Finance Doris Uzoka-Anite.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu departed Abuja for Rome, Italy, to attend the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Meeting, which focuses on security issues in West Africa.

Edun, a seasoned economist and banker, was appointed Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy on August 21, 2023.

Pres. Tinubu Grants Clemency to Maryam Sanda, Convicted of Killing Her Husband in 2020.

President Bola Tinubu has granted clemency to Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute in Abuja.

The announcement was made on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the decision followed appeals from Sanda’s family and reports of her good conduct and remorse while in custody.

Now 37 years old, Sanda had spent six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre before her release. Her family argued that her freedom was in the best interest of her two children.

Sanda was convicted by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court, who found her guilty of culpable homicide for fatally stabbing Bello, son of former PDP chairman Haliru Bello, in 2017. The court ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced her to death by hanging.

Her case drew national attention for years, marked by multiple bail applications, delayed hearings, and emotional testimony. Sanda maintained that her husband’s death was not premeditated, claiming it happened during a heated quarrel.

Mr. Onanuga noted that Sanda was among 175 convicts granted pardon or sentence reduction by the President. Others on the list include illegal miners, drug offenders, white-collar criminals, and elderly inmates.

“President Tinubu granted clemency to most of them based on their remorse, good behavior, or the acquisition of vocational skills and education,” Onanuga stated, adding that some were pardoned on grounds of age or health.

Sanda’s release marks one of the most high-profile acts of presidential clemency in recent years.

Presidency Issues Warning Over Planned Protest for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release.

The Presidency has issued a stern warning to rights activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore, over his plan to lead a protest in Abuja demanding the release of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Sowore, who was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 elections, had announced that the march tagged #FreeNnamdiKanuNow would hold on October 20 at 7 a.m.

He described it as a “historic” rally aimed at compelling the government to free Kanu.

Reacting to the development, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga accused Sowore of trying to create chaos under the disguise of activism.

Writing on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, Onanuga said, “You are nothing more than an anarchist masquerading as a rights activist. You very well know that Nnamdi Kanu is facing trial for treason, and yet you want to cause a breakdown of law and order by mobilising for a protest. Is this the kind of revolution you envisage for Nigeria, where the rule of law will be violated and your idea of justice would be the law of the jungle?”

The presidential spokesman also criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for supporting the planned protest, describing his position as reckless and unbecoming of a statesman. According to him, issues before the court cannot be settled through street actions.

He further stated that although the legal process may seem slow, the administration is committed to ensuring justice through the right channels.

“While the wheel of justice can sometimes be grindingly slow, partly caused by Kanu’s lawyers, Nnamdi Kanu will eventually get the justice he deserves for his alleged transgressions,” Onanuga added.

Sowore, known for his bold activism, has since maintained that the demonstration would proceed as planned.
He urged Nigerians to join him in demanding fairness for the detained IPOB leader.

Tinubu grants mass clemency to 175 Nigerians including Herbert Macaulay , Mamman Vatsa, Ogoni Nine, and Farouk Lawan.

President Bola Tinubu extends historic pardons to national icons, ex-lawmakers, and long-serving inmates — sparking debate over justice, mercy, and selective forgiveness.

In a landmark exercise of presidential clemency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the pardon of 175 Nigerians, including posthumous exonerations for Herbert Macaulay, Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, and the Ogoni Nine, alongside amnesty for several living convicts such as former lawmaker Farouk Lawan.

The decision, endorsed by the National Council of State in Abuja, was made public through a State House statement issued on Wednesday by Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga.

Among the pardoned historical figures, Herbert Macaulay—Nigeria’s founding nationalist and co-founder of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC)—was posthumously cleared of his 1913 colonial conviction, which barred him from public service. Mamman Vatsa, a poet and general executed in 1986 for alleged treason, also received a symbolic national pardon nearly four decades later.
Equally significant is the posthumous pardon of the Ogoni Nine, led by environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, whose 1995 execution by the military regime sparked global outrage. Their rehabilitation comes with national honours awarded to four other Ogoni elders for their advocacy and sacrifice.

The list of pardoned individuals includes:
Farouk Lawan, convicted for bribery while chairing the House fuel subsidy probe,
Nweke Francis Chibueze, a convicted drug trafficker,
Dr. Nwogu Peters, jailed for fraud,
Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Barr. Hussaini Umar, and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu, among others.
According to the PACPM’s report, 175 beneficiaries met the criteria of old age, ill health, good conduct, rehabilitation, or remorse during long-term imprisonment.

However, the decision has ignited public debate. Activist Omoyele Sowore criticized the clemency list, accusing President Tinubu of “forgiving political criminals while keeping Mazi Nnamdi Kanu behind bars despite court rulings in his favour.”
Sowore wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“Criminals and political thieves are forgiven, celebrated, and rehabilitated, while a man demanding self-determination remains unjustly detained.”
The presidency, however, insists the move aligns with Nigeria’s constitutional commitment to mercy, justice reform, and national healing.

Council of State Approves Prof. Amupitan (SAN) as New INEC Chairman.

The National Council of State on Thursday approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

President Bola Tinubu presented Amupitan’s name to the council during its meeting at the State House, Abuja, following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served from 2015 to October 2025.

In a statement by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described Amupitan as an apolitical nominee and the first person from Kogi State in Nigeria’s North-Central region to be nominated for the position.

Council members unanimously endorsed the nomination, with Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing the nominee as a man of “proven integrity.”

Following the council’s approval, the President will transmit Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation in accordance with constitutional provisions.

Amupitan, 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. A Professor of Law at the University of Jos and an alumnus of the same institution, he specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law.

He was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2014 and has authored several works on corporate and commercial law.

If confirmed, Amupitan will succeed Yakubu as Nigeria’s chief electoral umpire, overseeing the nation’s electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Minister of Innovation, Science & Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji has resigned from office following allegations of certificate forgery and everything leveled against him.

The development was confirmed on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information & Strategy, who announced that the President had accepted Nnaji’s resignation.

According to Onanuga, “President Tinubu accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science & Technology, following some allegations against him.”

Nnaji, who was appointed in August 2023, tendered his resignation in a letter expressing gratitude to the President “for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.” He also stated that he had “been a target of blackmail by political opponents.”

“President Tinubu thanked him for his service & wished him well in his future endeavours,” the statement added.

Nnaji’s resignation comes amid mounting scrutiny over the authenticity of his academic credentials, though he has continued to deny any wrongdoing.

Tinubu sheds political baggage as embattled minister Nnaji resigns.

President ‘accepted’ resignation, takes immediate effect, says aide
• CISLAC demands independent investigation into corruption claims
• HURIWA warns public trust eroding over alleged silence on misconduct
• Agbamuche-Mbu is INEC’s acting chair as Yakubu gets national honour
• Tinubu to chair FEC meeting after weeks of absence

President Bola Tinubu yesterday accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, drawing a line under a steadily escalating scandal and sparing his administration the weight of mounting political baggage ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Nnaji, who was appointed in August 2023, stepped down following allegations of certificate forgery.

The resignation takes effect immediately.

In his resignation letter, he thanked the President for the opportunity to serve and stated that he had been the target of blackmail by his political opponents.

The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, expressed appreciation for Nnaji’s service to the nation and wished him success in his future endeavours.

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had earlier visited the main campus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in connection with allegations that the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Nnaji, had forged his degree certificate.

The Guardian learnt that DSS officials questioned key university personnel, including Vice Chancellor Prof Simon Ortuanya, the Registrar, and officials of the institution’s Examinations and Records Department.

Tinubu Honours Former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu with National Award After Resignation


Following the resignation of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred upon him one of Nigeria’s highest national honours — the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

The announcement was made via a statement shared on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, through his official X (Twitter) handle.

According to Onanuga, the award recognizes Yakubu’s “dedicated service to the nation” during his ten-year tenure as head of the electoral commission.

“In recognition of Yakubu’s dedicated service to the nation, President Tinubu has bestowed on him the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON),” the statement read.


Yakubu’s resignation marks the end of a decade-long era in which he oversaw multiple general elections, including the landmark 2023 polls.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has directed that May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior national commissioner at INEC, assume leadership in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.

The news of Yakubu’s national honour quickly went viral, sparking a wave of diverse reactions from Nigerians on social media. While some praised the recognition as a reward for years of service, others questioned the timing and motives behind the gesture.

Many online commentators took to X (formerly Twitter) to express contrasting opinions — some lauding Yakubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system, while others criticized his tenure as controversial and politically divisive.

Despite the mixed reactions, the development marks another notable chapter in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, highlighting the interplay of leadership, legacy, and public perception in national governance.

Tinubu Accepts INEC Chairman’s Departure, Gives Him National Honour.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s departure as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the expiration of his second term in office.

Yakubu was first appointed in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of the commission for an initial term of five years. The appointment, which was renewed in 2020, has now expired due to the passage of time.

In a statement on Tuesday through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu thanked Yakubu for his services to the nation and his efforts to sustain Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the organisation of free and fair elections throughout his two-term tenure.

In recognition of Yakubu’s dedicated service to the nation, President Tinubu bestowed on him the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

He also directed that Professor Yakubu should hand over to the most senior national commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will direct the affairs of the commission until the completion of the process to appoint a successor.

In the letter dated October 3, 2025, Professor Yakubu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the nation as chairman of the commission since 2015.

Minister Nnaji’s Alleged Certificate Forgery…We’ll Act After Court Verdict, Says Presidency.

As pressure continues to mount on the minister of science, technology, and innovation, Uche Nnaji, to resign over an alleged certificate forgery, the Presidency has said it will act after the court verdict.

According to the Presidency, a comment on the matter won’t be necessary since the matter is already before the court.

Reacting to LEADERSHIP’s inquiry on Monday, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the federal government would respect the judicial process and await the court’s verdict before taking any position.

“This matter is already in court. We should await the verdict of the court,” Onanuga told LEADERSHIP.

The clarification comes following revelations that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) disowned the certificate allegedly submitted by Nnaji.

In a letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by the vice-chancellor of the university, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, the institution said records showed that Nnaji, with matriculation number 1981/30725, was admitted to study Microbiology/Biochemistry in 1981 but did not complete his studies.

Part of the letter reads: “From every available record and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current minister of science and technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study.

“Following the above, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka DID NOT and, consequently, COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate in July 1985 to Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji.”

The university said its position was consistent with an earlier letter sent to the Public Complaints Commission on May 13, 2025, in response to a similar inquiry.

President Tinubu Returns to Abuja After 10-Day Strategic Working Visit to Lagos

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after a productive 10-day working visit to Lagos, filled with high-level meetings, project inaugurations, and national engagements aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s economy and infrastructure.


A Packed Schedule in Lagos and Beyond

According to a statement by Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the President’s trip began on September 26, shortly after attending the coronation ceremony of the new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, in Ibadan.

While in Lagos, Tinubu met with leading investors, including Global Infrastructure Partners CEO Bayo Ogunlesi and Metis Capital Partners Chairman HaKeem Belo-Osagie, discussing major investment opportunities in Nigeria.

He also hosted International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, reaffirming his administration’s determination to transform Nigeria’s maritime sector into a key economic driver beyond oil.


Commissioning and Celebration Across States

Ahead of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, Tinubu visited Imo State, where he commissioned major infrastructure projects executed by Governor Hope Uzodimma and unveiled a book documenting a decade of APC-led governance.

On Independence Day, the President delivered his national broadcast from the historic Dodan Barracks in Lagos before inaugurating the newly renovated National Theatre, now officially named the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts — a tribute to Nigeria’s creative excellence.

Before his return to Abuja, Tinubu made a stop in Jos, Plateau State, to attend the funeral of Mama Lydia Yilwatda, mother of APC chieftain Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, where he emphasized his administration’s dedication to religious harmony and national unity.

President Tinubu’s aide, Onanuga, Slams U.S. Senator Ted Cruz Over Comments about Nigerian officials and religious issues

Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga has taken a swipe at U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, representing Texas, over what he termed unfounded and mali+cious allegations of religious persecution in Nigeria.

Senator Cruz, in a post shared via X (formerly Twitter), accused Nigerian authorities of “turning a blind eye and even enabling the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadosts.” He also revealed plans to push the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, a bill aimed at sanctioning Nigerian officials allegedly involved in such attacks.

Responding to the claims, Onanuga who serves as President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy dismissed the senator’s assertions as false and misleading, urging him to stop spreading fabricated narratives about the country.

“Senator, stop these malicious, contrived lies against my country. We do not have a religious war in Nigeria,” Onanuga stated. “The degraded Boko Haram terrorists operating along the fringes of the North-East target everyone. They attack farmers, our soldiers. The bandits in the North-West kill worshippers in their mosques. Christians are not targeted. We have religious harmony in our country. Stop these malicious lies.”

He emphasized that Nigeria’s insecurity stems from criminality and violent extremism rather than religion, warning that such misleading foreign commentaries could d+mage diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the United States.