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“I can not wait to go home after eight years as president,” Buhari assured Tinubu that he is ready to welcome him as his successor
…. May 29 handover date sacrosanct
Pardon me if I’ve hurt you, President tells Nigerians
…Sultan to politicians: accept outcome of election in good faith
…Sanwo-Olu, Others urges faithful to uphold lessons of Ramadan
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed his readiness to receive Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to the State House as President on May 29.
The President also declared that the handover of power from him to the President Elect on that date is sacrosanct.
Buhari and Tinubu spoke on the phone to exchange pleasantries on the occasion of the Eid el Fitri.
The president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said his principal assured Tinubu that he was ready to welcome him as his successor in the Presidential Villa on May 29.
“President Muhammadu Buhari and the incoming President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Friday morning exchanged Eid greetings in a phone call to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan,” Shehu said in a statement.
“Both leaders thanked God Almighty for seeing this day and prayed for the stability and the wellbeing of the nation.
“President Buhari expressed his readiness to welcome Asiwaju Tinubu to the State House as President on May 29th.”
And fielding questions from journalists at the Eid grounds in Abuja after the Sallah prayers, Buhari said Nigerians have fully embraced and demonstrated their love for democracy, hence the handover of power to Tinubu is not negotiable.
“Nigerians appreciate the stability of democracy,” he said.
“The outcome of the elections, in which more than 10 governors failed to make it to the Senate, sent a clear message that ordinary Nigerians know the power of their votes and how to use it.
“Nigerians cherish democracy. They have shown their love for it and will defend it against real or perceived threats.
“They will continue to vote one way or the other depending on their preferences.”
Reiterating the sanctity of the handover date, the President said, “God willing, nothing will stop it.”
Buhari, who later hosted the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja community as part of his last Sallah celebration as President in the Villa, apologised to those he might have hurt with his actions during his eight years in the saddle.
Buhari, while tendering the open apology, also pledged to be far away from Abuja after his tenure to avoid distracting his successor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“There is no doubt I hurt some people, and I wish you will pardon me and those that think that I have hurt them so much. Please pardon me,” he said moments after returning home from the Abuja Eid grounds where he had joined other residents for the Sallah prayers.
Buhari told his guests, led by FCT Minister Mohammed Bello, that God has been kind to him, having served the country in various capacities.
He said once his tenure is over next month, he will be as far away from Abuja as possible to allow the incoming administration run without any interference from him.
He said: “I think this is a very good coincidence for me to say goodbye to you and to thank you for tolerating me for more than seven and a half years now.
“I assure you, I have deliberately arranged to be as far away from you as possible, not because I don’t appreciate the love you’ve shown to me, but because I think I’ve gotten what I have asked and I would rather quietly retire to my hometown.
“Having been a governor, minister and president twice, I think God has given us an incredible opportunity to serve as your president, and I thank God for that. So, please, whoever feels I have done wrong, we are all humans.”
He said he could not wait to go home after eight years as president.
His words: “I can’t wait to go home to Daura. If they make any noise to disturb me in Daura, I will leave for Niger Republic.
While thanking Nigerians for tolerating him since 2015, Buhari described himself as lucky to have led Nigeria in various capacities.
Describing democracy as the best form of government, Buhari said without it, he could not have been President, having already served as military head of state and given the side of the country he hails from.
His words: “I am counting the days. Democracy is a good thing, otherwise how can somebody from the other side be a president for two terms? My home town to Niger Republic is eight kilometres.
“I honestly consider myself very lucky. I was made a governor, minister of petroleum, head of state in uniform, then after three attempts, God, through technology and PVC, I became president.
“I tried in 2007, 2011 and 2015 and ended up at the Supreme Court three times.”
He took a swipe at those who claim they cannot get justice at the courts, recalling that all the Supreme Court justices that heard all his election petitions were not only from the north but were also Muslims, yet he lost.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff Ibrahim Gambari, Senator Philip Aduda, Christian Association of Nigeria Chairman in the FCT the Reverend Timothy Amakum and Umaru Shagalinku, the man who started one of the oldest restaurants in Abuja, were also at the Sallah homage.
In his remarks during the FCT residents’ homage to the president, FCT Minister Bello thanked the President for hosting the delegation and allowing more people into the Villa for the last homage before his handing over on May 29.
Bello said the conceptualization and realization of the FCT was historic and deserved commendation, reminding Buhari of his role as part of the military Recce Team for the capital in the 70s.
The Rev. Amakon thanked God for using Buhari to transform the nation and to maintain peace and development of the country.
He prayed that God will continue to strengthen him even after he leaves office to continue to play the role of an elder statesman.
The cleric also prayed that God will help the incoming administration to continue the great work of the Buhari administration.
He commended the Minister of FCT for the good job he has done and prayed that Christians and Muslims will continue to co-exist peacefully.
Accept election outcome in good faith, Sultan tells politicians
More goodwill messages also came yesterday from political and religious leaders on the occasion.
In his goodwill message, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, appealed to politicians currently seeking redress at the various election tribunals to accept the results of the last general elections in good faith.
“The elections have come and gone, people should go ahead with their routine activities peacefully. Politicians seeking redress in courts should take the outcomes in good faith and support whoever emerges for the sustenance of peace, unity and development,” he said.
Abubakar, who appreciated the Almighty Allah for the successful completion of Ramadan fasting by the Muslim Ummah across the country, added: “As mankind, we always appreciate the Almighty Allah for the gift of life and good health to be among those that will celebrate this great day.
“During the period of Ramadan, we have learned a lot from our scholars. We should continue to sustain those lessons to be part of life. Our generosity to the less privileged among us should be maintained in order to enhance our relationship and sustain our love for one another.”
He felicitated with all the Muslims across the country and prayed for the elected leaders to succeed in delivering their campaign promises to the citizens.
He also prayed for the sustenance of peace, unity and peaceful coexistence, while urging leaders to fear Allah in the discharge of their responsibilities.
CAN calls for mutual understanding, peace among Christians, Muslims
In its own goodwill message, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) urged Nigerian Muslims and Christians to continue to live in peace and mutual understanding.
The President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said both faiths share a lot of good virtues in common and their adherents must use their understanding of the Holy books to promote inclusivity, and work towards building a more tolerant and egalitarian society for us all.
Praying for continued blessings of God for the President-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, Okoh said: “Ramadan is a time of self-reflection and a renewed commitment to living a life of piety and peace. It teaches us the importance of sacrifice, compassion and generosity towards others, especially the less privileged in our society.
“As we mark this important occasion, we must take the opportunity to reflect on the lessons of Ramadan and the values that it teaches us, which is love for one another and mutual understanding for a peaceful society.
“As we celebrate the Eid-el-Fitri festival, we call on all Nigerians to use this occasion to pray for our beloved country, for peace, and for the prosperity of all our people.”
Let’s keep to the lessons of Ramadan for a stronger, happier nation, APC tells Nigerians
In a similar message, the All Progressives Congress (APC) asked Nigerians, especially the Muslim Ummah, to adhere to the lessons of the just concluded Holy Month of Ramadan with a view to building a stronger and happier nation.
The party in the message signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka, hoped that the lesson of the holy season “will strengthen our resolve to pursue and attain higher and transcendental ideals, and help us rededicate to more wholesome and patriotic living.”
He said: “As we celebrate, may we show more love, respect, compassion, empathy and tolerance towards our fellow citizens irrespective of religion, ethnicity and social circumstance, and demonstrate greater faith and hope in our country’s future of assured greatness, especially with the Renewed Hope agenda of the incoming administration of our President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“May the blessings of Eid endure in our lives and nation. Eid Mubarak, dear compatriots!”
APC National Chairman advises Muslims to continue to be peaceful
National Chairman of the Party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, advised Muslims across the country to continue to imbibe the attribute of peace and live together in peace and harmony with other Nigerians.
“My message is for us to continue to live in peace with ourselves because it is only peace that enhances anything we want in this life,” he said.
He warned that peace was very crucial in achieving any goal in life, because without it, no progress can be achieved, hence the call to the Muslim Ummah and other Nigerians to imbibe the attribute of peace for the attainment of set goals.
“See what is happening in Sudan. You need to be there to appreciate what it means not to have peace on a day like this.
“So we thank God Almighty for being merciful to Nigerians and that in spite of everything, we enjoy relative peace and we are able to observe this day of Eid-el-Fitr this year in a very peaceful atmosphere,” he said.
Justice is very important -PDP
In its own goodwill message, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged adherence to the principle of justice and effort at national regeneration.
“The Holy Ramadan offered our nation the divine opportunity for serious introspection, especially on issues of the fear of God, integrity, accountability, adherence to set rules and constitutional order as well as respect for the rights, personal freedom and will of the citizens in a democratic setting,” National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, said.
He added: “Nigerians, especially leaders, must reflect on the essence of Ramadan and use the occasion to reawaken the virtues of selflessness, honesty, self-restraint, fair-mindedness, mutual respect, forgiveness, love and compassion for one another without regards to ethnic, sectional, religious or partisan considerations as this is the only way to achieve the much-desired politically stable and economically viable nation.”
The party said it was deeply saddened that Nigerians were still under siege by terrorists and being subjected to living in fear, misery, anguish, abject poverty and excruciating economic hardship.
Continuing, the PDP said: “It is more saddening that effort by Nigerians to instill a purposeful, honest and responsible leadership is being sabotaged by oppressive forces desperate to impose themselves against the will of the people. “
Ramadan, period of rejuvenation, says Lalong
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong said the period provided a fresh opportunity for Muslims to carry out spiritual rejuvenation and acts of charity that are in tandem with the message of Prophet Mohammed.
He said the celebration of Eid el Fitr is not only significant to Muslims alone but provides an opportunity for people of other faiths to share in the joy and essence of the moment.
According to Governor Lalong, the event should help Nigerians to reflect on love, tolerance, peace and good neighbourliness which are virtues that are enshrined in the teachings of the two major faiths in the country.
Sanwo-Olu urges faithful to uphold lessons of Ramadan
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu urged Muslims in Lagos State and across Nigeria to continue on the path of spirituality and peaceful co-existence.
He said:”The Holy Month of Ramadan is very significant to Muslims across the world as one of the major pillars of Islam, which teaches abstinence from worldly pleasures, steadfastness in prayers and total submission to the will of Allah according to the Quranic injunctions.
“I want to admonish all of us that we shouldn’t allow all the prayers and fasting during the Holy month go to waste.
“Please, let us all continue to live in that state of grace. Let us continue to imbibe and show that something important has passed through us and let it reflect in our words, our lives and our relationship with fellow human beings.
“We should not limit the goodness of our deeds to Ramadan period alone; we must make the lessons and acts our ways of life.”
……Era of shared prosperity begins, Tinubu assures
Nigeria has reached a turning point in its economic recovery, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared.
He said the period of painful reforms has accomplished its purpose, and the country is now entering what he described as an “age of prosperity”.
Tinubu, in his Independence Day address to Nigerians marking the country’s 66th anniversary this morning, said the central task of his administration would henceforth shift from correcting structural economic distortions to ensuring that the gains of the reforms translate into lower living costs, jobs, increased production and broadly shared prosperity.
“The age of reform has done its work. Now begins the age of prosperity.
“An age in which the promise of this great nation must finally become the lived experience of Nigerians from all walks of life”, the President said.
He said the government’s immediate priority in the new phase would be to bring down the cost of living by reducing the cost of producing and transporting food and other goods consumed by Nigerians.
Tinubu, who likened the state of the economy his administration inherited in 2023 to a cancer patient requiring painful treatment, said the government had completed what he called the “emergency treatment” of the economy and repaired its foundations.
“My fellow Nigerians, we have reached a turning point.
“The emergency treatment is over. The foundation has been repaired. The central economic task before us has changed. For three years, our overriding purpose was to correct our nation’s course.
“Now, our purpose is simple: shared and widespread prosperity,” he said.
The President said the prosperity being envisaged was not merely about headline economic growth or improved statistics, but about creating conditions under which Nigerians could afford food and transportation, access education and healthcare, secure productive employment and confidently plan their future.
He said his administration would pursue increased agricultural production through mechanised irrigation, dry-season farming, improved access to seeds and fertiliser, greater mechanisation and investment in storage and transportation.
According to him, ongoing investments in roads, railways and ports would also reduce the cost of moving produce and manufactured goods from farms and factories to markets.
“Our logic is simple. When a farmer produces more cheaply, when fewer crops are lost between the farm and the market, when a manufacturer spends less on electricity, when a truck reaches its destination faster, and when the business environment fosters fair competition, all those savings will ultimately find their way into the price of goods in the market,” he said.
Tinubu said job creation, enterprise development and industrial expansion would also be placed at the centre of government policy, with greater emphasis on gas-powered industries, revival of manufacturing centres, digital connectivity and improved access to infrastructure and finance.
The President said the country must convert its huge youthful population into an engine of economic production by equipping young people with skills demanded by employers and creating conditions for Nigerian businesses to expand.
“I want to see more Nigerians making things. I want to see more Nigerian farms feeding our cities and supplying our factories. I want to see Nigerian businesses selling Nigerian goods to the whole world. I want young Nigerians building unicorns and creating opportunities for others here at home,” he said.
Defending the economic reforms undertaken since his assumption of office, Tinubu rejected calls for a reversal of some of the policies, particularly subsidies, arguing that the measures did not create Nigeria’s economic weaknesses but were introduced to confront them.
The President compared previous economic management approaches to administering painkillers to a cancer patient instead of treating the underlying disease.
“For too long, Nigeria’s leaders chose morphine while praying for a miracle that never came.
“They focused on symptoms while allowing the disease to take hold deep within the fabric of our society. We spent enormous sums sustaining inefficient arrangements that were never intended to last. We hid from difficult truths and passed the consequences from one generation to the next,” he said.
Tinubu acknowledged that the reforms imposed hardship on Nigerians, saying their “side effects were real,” but insisted that Nigerians must distinguish between what he described as the medicine and the disease.
“Our reforms did not create the weaknesses in our economy. They confronted them.
“Now, as certain influential but regressive voices would have us abandon the treatment and return ourselves to the abuse of addictive subsidies, we must resist their siren song. We must remember why we began this journey and how far we have already come,” he said.
The President said three and a half years after the reforms began, the country’s economic outlook had improved, citing economic growth of more than four per cent this year, contributions from both oil and non-oil sectors, declining oil theft, falling inflation, improved foreign reserves and greater stability in the foreign exchange market.
He also said Nigeria recorded its highest non-oil export revenue in 2025, exceeding $6 billion, adding that increased foreign direct investment and private sector activity reflected improving confidence in the economy.
While acknowledging that millions of Nigerians were still struggling with food, school fees, healthcare, transportation and other basic needs, Tinubu said the government would continue strengthening support for vulnerable households while pursuing policies capable of lifting people permanently out of poverty.
He said the National Social Register was being improved to ensure assistance reached those genuinely in need, while programmes such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation, CREDICORP, were designed to broaden access to education and essential assets.
According to him, the government would also work with states and local governments to strengthen primary healthcare, basic education and other public services relied upon by low-income Nigerians.
“These programmes are not substitutes for prosperity. They are a bridge to aid our nation’s citizens on their path towards it. Our objective is not to manage poverty more efficiently.
“We will defeat it,” Tinubu declared.
He admitted that reversing decades of poverty, low productivity, inadequate infrastructure and weak institutions would take time, discipline, sustained economic growth and the creation of millions of productive opportunities.
“We cannot erase in four years what accumulated over generations. But we can change its course. We can build an economy that steadily lifts people out of poverty while ensuring that those who remain vulnerable are not abandoned along the way,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s 66 years of independence, Tinubu paid tribute to generations of Nigerians who had kept faith with the country despite war, military rule, economic crises, insecurity and political upheavals.
He also praised farmers, traders, teachers, entrepreneurs and members of the Armed Forces and security agencies, saying their sacrifices had sustained the country through difficult periods.
The President said Nigeria’s founding fathers fought not merely for a flag, anthem or international recognition, but for Nigerians to have the freedom to determine their destiny and build a country capable of providing opportunity, dignity and a better life.
He urged Nigerians not to retreat from the difficult choices already made, expressing confidence that the sacrifices of recent years would eventually translate into improved living standards.
“Nigeria has corrected its course. We have passed through our own Red Sea. This is not the time to look back. Let us go forward together, with faith in ourselves, faith in our country, and faith that the sacrifices we have made will yield their reward,” Tinubu said.
Describing the country’s desired destination as a “Promised Land” of abundance, opportunity and broadly shared prosperity, the President said the foundations for that future had already been laid.
“Our destination is in sight. Our foundations are strong. Our direction is clear. So let us go forward. No looking back,” he declared.
President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after spending about four weeks in Europe. Government
The presidential aircraft carrying the President landed at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 6:22 p.m. on Tuesday.
Journalists at the airport were restricted from taking visuals of the President’s arrival as the aircraft made its way to the terminal.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London, then travelled to Paris, where he held engagements with French President Emmanuel Macron, including a dinner. Government
His return marks the end of his extended stay abroad; the President is expected to participate in activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1st.
President Bola Tinubu has unveiled an investment package of more than $7 billion for the development of the Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone and the Gateway Deep Seaport, describing the projects as a major step towards strengthening Nigeria’s maritime economy and attracting foreign investment.
In a statement by his Spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday, the President spoke in Paris, France, during the signing of Memoranda of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World, a global ports and logistics operator, for the development of the projects.
Tinubu assured domestic and foreign investors that the Federal Government would continue to provide regulatory clarity, policy stability and a predictable business environment to support long-term investments in Nigeria.
“The agreements before us bring together vision, expertise, capital and execution capacity. I particularly welcome DP World, one of the world’s leading port and logistics operators,” the President said.
He added that the Federal Government would provide the necessary regulatory and institutional support to ensure that the projects moved seamlessly from agreements to implementation.
According to the President, the agreements are expected to attract an initial investment of more than $7 billion into the Nigerian economy and create over 50,000 direct jobs when fully developed, alongside additional indirect employment opportunities.
Tinubu said the projects would also generate non-oil export earnings and contribute to Nigeria’s economic diversification.
“This is economic diversification made tangible. This is industrialisation made visible. This is Renewed Hope in action,” he said.
The proposed Gateway Deep Seaport at Ogun Waterside will have a four-kilometre berth and an 18-
metre draft. The facility is expected to help decongest the Lagos port corridor and ease pressure on the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.
The president said the deeper draft would enable the port to accommodate larger vessels while providing a competitive gateway for trade within Nigeria and across the African Continental Free Trade Area.
He noted that the proposed Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone would cover about 10,000 hectares and would be integrated with the deep seaport to support manufacturing, processing, exports and logistics.
“The Gateway Deep Seaport is the critical infrastructure that will support the zone’s viability. A port moves cargo; a port integrated with a special economic zone helps to build an economy. Each reinforces the other,” Tinubu said.
He said the Federal Government would facilitate road, rail and power connectivity to the projects, while strengthening investment security and the maritime domain and removing unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles.
The president also linked the projects to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, describing the Ogun section of the road as a critical transport connection for the emerging industrial and maritime corridor.
“The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway is central to this corridor’s commercial viability,” he said, adding that the 28-kilometre Ogun section of the 700-kilometre highway was scheduled for completion before the end of the year.
Tinubu said the port and industrial zone would also form part of a wider strategic corridor linking the proposed Nigerian Navy Operating Base and Dockyard with the OK LNG Project.
The President commended Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and his administration for securing the land and structuring the investment framework.
“I commend Governor Dapo Abiodun and the government and people of Ogun State for securing the land, structuring the investment framework and reducing project risks for global investors,” he said.
Governor Abiodun led the Ogun State delegation at the signing ceremony, which also included state commissioners and other senior officials.
Senior representatives of DP World, the Nigerian Ports Authority and SkyKapital were also present at the event.
Tinubu urged Ogun State and the investors to maintain the momentum created by the agreements and move quickly towards implementation.
“Nigeria lies at the heart of West African trade. Yet, our strategic advantage has been constrained by port congestion, inadequate draft capacity and logistics bottlenecks that increase the cost of doing business. These projects respond directly to those constraints,” he said.
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