President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday expressed his administration’s readiness to work with the National Assembly leadership to dismantle political and bureaucratic bottlenecks stalling the operationalisation of state police.

Speaking at the State House, Abuja, during a meeting with members of the Northeast Governors Forum led by Borno State Governor Prof Zulum, the President said the time had come for a clear, collective path towards community-based policing that reflects the peculiar needs of different regions.

“I have been looking at the security situation more carefully. I have seen the Civilian JTF react to the security challenges, finding so many creative ways to protect neighbourhoods and communities around you, and that provoked my thinking about state police again.

“Politics apart, we can discuss with the National Assembly leadership to really look at a critical path to that again, see how we can eliminate or douse political alliances from state police that will be indigenous to the community and provide the additional safety buffer and effectiveness in the area. We have to look at it collectively together.”

The President stressed that while political concerns will always surface around the issue, they must not be allowed to derail urgent security reforms.

He said his government was committed to ensuring that the proposed structure would be insulated from partisanship and designed purely to strengthen safety across communities.

Tinubu also vowed not to allow partisan politics or early campaign distractions to shift his focus from national priorities.

“In the political environment we are being drawn into early political activities from our rival political parties but whichever way it is, I am not detracted. I am solidly focused, laser focused on what is ahead,” he told the governors.

He said the gains already being recorded in the Northeast – including improved security, resettlement of displaced persons, rising school enrolment, and new housing projects – were proof that collaborative governance works.

The president urged the governors to sustain their commitment to development and security while assuring them of continued federal support.

“In the short run of two years, we can beat our chest, the economy has turned round. Many of you are already sending back displaced citizens, the housing programme you embarked upon in Borno and collectively seen how displaced people are returning to their normal residences and having a roof over their head,” the President noted.

Tinubu further highlighted agricultural mechanisation as a priority, disclosing plans to establish training and maintenance centres in all zones of the country to drive food sovereignty.

He also commended Yobe State for producing outstanding students despite the region’s challenges, describing it as a sign of resilience and progress.

The president concluded thanked the governors for their dedication, saying the combined efforts of federal and state governments were laying the foundation for a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.

Zulum, who spoke for the governors, urged the president to prioritise the completion of 17 strategic roads across the region and resume oil exploration in the Kolmani and Lake Chad Basins.

Nigeria’s quest to secure a Category ‘C’ seat on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for the 2026/2027 biennium received a major boost today as the Government of Switzerland formally pledged its support.

The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, received the letter of endorsement during a courtesy visit by the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Patrick Felix Egloff, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

Expressing his delight, Oyetola described the Swiss government’s backing as “a significant milestone in Nigeria’s campaign and a strong testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to upholding international maritime standards.”

According to the Minister, Nigeria’s election into the IMO Council would further strengthen global efforts towards building “a more robust, safe, and sustainable maritime industry.”

Highlighting Nigeria’s maritime potential, Oyetola disclosed that the country boasts 200 nautical miles of Exclusive Economic Zone and an extended continental shelf of 16,300km, positioning it as a strategic maritime nation.

“With these vast endowments, Nigeria, by any standard, is a maritime nation. That’s why the Ministry, in collaboration with the World Bank, AU-IBAR, the Kingdom of Norway, and other stakeholders, has developed a comprehensive National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy capable of standing the test of time,” he stated.

Oyetola further revealed that the Federal Government is adopting a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to drive rapid investments in the maritime sector. These include inland waterways development, supply of boats, dredging, and navigation infrastructure.

On maritime security, the Minister emphasized the success of the Deep Blue Project, Nigeria’s state-of-the-art surveillance initiative:

“For the past three years, there has been zero piracy in our waters, and we’re committed to sustaining this achievement. We’re also working with other Gulf of Guinea countries to extend safety and security beyond our national waters.”

In his remarks, Ambassador Egloff noted that Switzerland’s decision to endorse Nigeria followed an earlier request from the Ministry in April 2025.

“I’m very glad to convey this letter of support. Switzerland is very happy to stand with Nigeria. You’re a strong candidate, and we appreciate your commitment to multilateralism and the maritime sector. Nigeria plays a very important role globally,” he affirmed.

With Switzerland’s endorsement, Nigeria’s campaign for the IMO Category ‘C’ Council seat gains further international momentum ahead of the elections slated for October/November 2025.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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