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“Let me take the abuse”, you take the privileges, Together, we will build a nation we are all proud of, I will drive the change, Tinubu tells governors

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Autonomy drive not to take councils away from states
NGF aligns with President’s leadership for progress
Governors are critical to food security and prosperity, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said yesterday.

He reminded them that their leadership at the subnational level is central to achieving rapid national growth.

He expressed gratitude for their collaboration while highlighting key areas requiring joint effort.

The President spoke when Vice President Kashim Shettima and members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) paid him a New Year homage at his Ikoyi, Lagos residence.

“You are the most important link to Nigeria’s prosperity and development.

“The Federal Government accounts for about 30 to 35 per cent of the allocated revenue; the rest comes to you.

“The agricultural value chain depends on you.

“You own the land, and the job is in your hands,” President Tinubu said.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu stressed the importance of unity and shared responsibility in driving grassroots development.

He assured the governors there was no intention to undermine their control over local governments.

He urged them to focus on delivering transformative governance at the grassroots, noting that effective local governance was crucial to restoring hope and improving lives.

Quashing rumours of a rift over local government autonomy, President Tinubu reiterated his commitment to fostering a partnership that prioritises the welfare of the people and strengthens democratic institutions.

He said: “We will not fight within us. I will drive the change.

“You control your local governments. You can restore hope by effectively fulfilling what the people expect at the grassroots level.

“There were gossips that we had disagreements on local government autonomy. No. Just drive development at the local government.

“Nobody wants to take them away from you, but we need collaboration. Let’s do it together and ensure Nigeria is better off for it.”

Calling for stronger collaboration, the President added: “We have to work harder, grow more, and ensure the situation of our currency improves.

“Nigeria will see prosperity, but it requires consistent effort from all of us.”

He also urged the governors to take pride in their efforts.

“There is no state we visit and not be proud of its development. We have better allocations now.

“Let me take the abuse; you take the privileges. Together, we will build a nation we are all proud of,” he said.

Reflecting on his leadership journey in the last 19 months, the President expressed confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to thrive.

“I am glad I asked for this job, and Nigerians gave me the mandate. We’ll be on this voyage together.

“I thank all of you for where we are today and where we are heading,” he said.

The President announced that he will visit Enugu on January 4.

President Tinubu welcomed his declaration by ThisDay as Man of the Year.

Activist to Tinubu: prioritise welfare
According to him, “what they considered a failure initially is now a success.”

NGF chairman/Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazak described ThisDay’s decision as a significant endorsement of the administration’s policies.

He noted that the acknowledgement from a newspaper known for critical media coverage reflects the tangible progress made.

“The policies are working. In agriculture, I was in Jigawa. The complaint in Jigawa was that there was a bumper harvest, but because of the strength of our currency, traders exported the harvest.

“So, most of us are encouraging ourselves to buy bumper stocks into our silos, store them for the rainy day.

“So, in terms of agriculture, the policy is working. We’ll continue to deepen that and ensure we are 100 per cent sustained in food security and feed the whole of West Africa,” he said.

The governor urged the President to visit states to see the ongoing transformations firsthand.

He assured the President of the steadfast support of the governors, particularly in contributing to local security architecture to further enhance the nation’s security.

“I must confess that I have not done two years in this administration, but I’ve done more projects in two years than in the four years of my first term”, AbdulRazaq said.

“We are getting more funding due to the restructuring of the economy. Yes, there is inflation, but we are overriding it.”

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, emphasised the state helmsmen’s resolve to support the President’s leadership and vision.

He said they appreciate President Tinubu’s strong leadership and determination to transform the country.

Vice President Kashim Shettima assured Nigerians that the positive impact of the Tinubu Administration’s policies will begin to manifest in the coming weeks and months.

Speaking during the visit, Shettima expressed optimism about the nation’s economic trajectory and a brighter future for its citizens.

He noted that the economy is already showing signs of recovery.

He expressed confidence that 2025 will herald significant economic activity and improvement in the lives of citizens.

Shettima said: “The economy has started picking up, and in the coming weeks and months, Nigerians will start smiling for the better.

“We are working assiduously with the National Assembly to come up with robust solutions to our national challenges.

“No nation is immune to the economic headwinds across the world.

“The crisis in Ukraine and so many other global trends are affecting us adversely because we are part of the global community.

“But I want to assure Nigerians that the economy is turning the corner, by the grace of God, we have crossed the Rubicon and we are on a path to sustained growth.

“We wish Nigerians well.”

ROLL CALL OF GOVERNORS

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara); Hope Uzodimma (Imo); Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano); Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers); Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo); Babagana Zulum (Borno); Monday Okpebholo (Edo); Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti): Peter Mbah (Enugu): Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) and Ahmed Ododo (Kogi).

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Update : 2027 Race: APC Pegs Presidential Form at ₦100m, Unveils Primaries Date

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The All Progressives Congress has released its timetable for the 2027 general elections, fixing its presidential primary for May 15 to 16, 2026.

According to the schedule signed by the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, on Monday, the party will begin the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms at its National Secretariat from April 25 to May 2, 2026, while submission of completed forms will close on May 4.

The APC pegged its presidential form at ₦100m, comprising ₦30m for expression of interest and ₦70m for nomination.

Governorship aspirants are to pay ₦50m, while Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly forms cost ₦20m, ₦10m and ₦6m respectively.

The timetable indicates that screening of aspirants will hold between May 6 and May 8, while screening results will be released on May 11, followed by appeals from May 12 to May 13.

Photo: X/@OfficialAPCNg

Presidential primaries are scheduled for May 15 and 16, while those for the House of Representatives, Senate, State House of Assembly and governorship will hold on May 18, May 20, May 21 and May 23, respectively.

The party also fixed May 25 for the conclusion of election appeals across all categories.

The schedule shows that all primary elections will be conducted within eight days.

The party, however, granted concessions to female aspirants, youths and persons living with disabilities, who are to pay for only the expression of interest forms and 50 per cent of the nomination fees.

The timetable stated that the schedule was in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the Independent National Electoral Commission guidelines

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Breaking : Tinubu Endorses ₦68.32 Trillion 2026 Budget, Prolongs 2025 Spending Timeline

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President Bola Tinubu has signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, authorising an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion for the current fiscal year.

He also signed a separate bill extending the implementation period of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026.

The budget allocates ₦4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and ₦15.8 trillion for debt service.

It further sets aside ₦15.4 trillion for recurrent expenditure and ₦32.2 trillion for capital expenditure through the Development Fund.

The presidency made the disclosure in a statement signed by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Friday.

The statement read, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assented to the 2026 Appropriation Bill, which provides for an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion. He has also signed the bill extending the implementation period for the 2025 budget from March 31, 2026, to June 30, 2026.

“The N68.32 trillion budget for this year earmarks N4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and N15.8 trillion for debt service. It allocates N15.4 trillion to recurrent expenditure and N32.2 trillion to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure.

“With capital expenditure accounting for about 50 per cent, the 2026 budget underscores the administration’s continued commitment to economic stability, national security, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth.

“The allocations reflect a strategic balance between statutory obligations, debt servicing, recurrent expenditure, and capital investments critical to driving productivity and improving the quality of life for Nigerians,” it added.

The 2026 Appropriation Act took effect on April 1, with the Federal Government commencing full implementation in line with what the presidency describes as the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Tinubu also assented to the Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which extends the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act by three months to June 30.

The presidency said the extension would ensure the full utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure projects at advanced stages of implementation.

“The extension will ensure the full and effective utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure and development projects that are at advanced stages of implementation across the country.

“It will enable Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to consolidate ongoing works, enhance project completion rates, and maximise value for public expenditure,” the statement read.

Tinubu directed MDAs to ensure disciplined, transparent, and efficient utilisation of allocated resources, with strong emphasis on value for money and timely project delivery.

He commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for what the presidency described as their “diligence, cooperation, and patriotism in expeditiously considering and passing the budget.”

“The President reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration between the Executive and Legislative arms of government in advancing national development objectives,” the statement noted.

Tinubu also assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to deepen fiscal reforms and boost revenue generation.

“He further assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to deepen fiscal reforms, enhance revenue generation, and prioritise investments that will stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen social protection mechanisms,” the statement read.

The budget, titled “The Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” was originally presented to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 19, 2025, at a proposed sum of ₦58.47 trillion.

It passed second reading in the House of Representatives on January 29, 2026, before going through further legislative scrutiny and emerging at ₦68.32 trillion at the point of assent.

During the second reading debate in January, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere had urged lawmakers to support the proposal, pointing to a projected 3.98 per cent economic growth rate for 2026, a projected drop in inflation to 14.45 per cent, improved revenues, and foreign direct investment growth.

He also cited a stabilisation of the naira at around ₦1,400 to the dollar and a rise in Nigeria’s external reserves to a seven-year high of approximately $47 billion.

When Tinubu presented the bill to lawmakers in December, he described it as a defining moment in Nigeria’s reform journey, acknowledging the pressures the process had placed on households and businesses while insisting the sacrifices were necessary.

“The path of reform is seldom smooth, but it is the surest route to lasting stability and shared prosperity,” he told the joint session.

He vowed that 2026 would mark a decisive shift to stronger budget execution discipline, announcing an end to the long-standing practice of running overlapping budgets and perpetual rollovers.

The budget’s four stated objectives are consolidating macroeconomic stability, improving the business and investment environment, promoting job-rich growth, and strengthening human capital development while protecting the vulnerable.

Key sectoral allocations include ₦5.41 trillion for defence and security, ₦3.56 trillion for infrastructure, ₦3.52 trillion for education, and ₦2.48 trillion for health.

Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, writing in a January op-ed, described the budget as a commitment to consolidate what was working in the administration’s reform programme and ensure that shared prosperity became “a lived reality for more Nigerians, faster.”

He pointed to expanding business activity, improving investor confidence, easing inflation, and stronger external reserves as early indicators of progress, and highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects including the Coastal Highway, Sokoto–Badagry Expressway, and Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline as evidence of the administration’s delivery record.

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Northern Muslim and Christian Youths Warn U.S. Lawmaker Against Fueling Division in Nigeria

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The Coalition of Northern Muslims and Christians Youth For Religious Tolerance in Nigeria has called for the Florida State representative and Chairwoman of the UN-WCD, Kimberly Daniels to not pretend under Christianity faith to create division between Christians and Muslims in Northern region of Nigeria for her Call on the Nigeria authority to redeploy the Honourable Minister of State for Defence Dr.Bello Mohammed Matawalle.

During the Coalition joint emergency press conference which was held in Kaduna Northwest Nigeria, the Coalition Statement which was jointly signed by Secretary General Mr. Bitrus Bahago along with his counterpart the Public relation officer Ustaz Abdullahi Abubakar,
Read: “The statements credited to Florida State representative Kimberly Daniels calling for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to redeploy the Honourable Minister of State for Defence Bello Mohammed Matawalle is not necessary and terrible motive aimed at targeting Norther Muslim public office holder”

“Mrs Kimberly Daniels Should note that Nigeria is not owned by only one faith, therefore we are collectively demanding her unreserved apology for her bigotry which could affect the peaceful Coexistence and religious tolerance between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria”

The Coalition Statement further remind Mrs. Kimberly Daniels that, “even though Matawalle is only overseeing the Nigeria Navy enjoyed a Cordial working relationship with his friend a devoted Northern Christian leader General Christopher Gwabin Musa who in charge of Nigeria army and Nigeria Air force combined.

The Coalition concludes by advising Mrs. Kimberly Daniels to desist from making unnecessary bigotry demand targeting or pointing finger at a particular faith.

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