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Tinubu offers French investors ‘easy in, easy out’ opportunity for skills development to bridge the gaps, Says Onanuga
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•Macron welcoming Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to Elysee Palace…yesterday. With them are Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Hyacinth Alia (Benue); Peter Mbah (Enugu); Dikko Radda (Katsina) and Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar
•Macron welcoming Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to Elysee Palace…yesterday. With them are Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Hyacinth Alia (Benue); Peter Mbah (Enugu); Dikko Radda (Katsina) and Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar
Tinubu pledges skills development for out-of-schoolchildren
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with France in key sectors such as food security, energy, solid minerals, education and security.
Tinubu made the pledgeduring a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
The two leaders later addressed a joint news conference.
The President, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also emphasised his administration’s commitment to skill acquisition training for Nigerians, especially children who have “been out of school for years”.
Tinubu highlighted the vast and largely untapped potential within Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
He called on international investors to capitalise on opportunities in the sector.
“The French—Nigeria Business Forum is doing a lot already, but we need to do more on food security. We cannot help but invest in another country,” said the President.
Tinubu described Nigeria’s financial sector as a facilitator for foreign investment, particularly from French enterprises.
He said: “Nigeria’s financial sector is evolving and flourishing. We are also creating grounds for investment in Nigeria’s economy for French nationals, especially in food security.
“It is our responsibility to put together a food security programme for the private sector to come and invest in the country.
“We are working on stability and we are getting closer and closer, but we can do better and better.”
The President said Nigeria’s economy was being repositioned for more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) that would directly impact Nigerians.
“I can assure you that Nigeria is open for business and close to this, we have a vibrant youth population that is educated, and ready to be trained in various areas of entrepreneurship and development,” Tinubu said.
He implored the French government to extend to Nigeria, trainings that would develop its youth population.
“Furthermore, we should de-risk the opportunities in the solid minerals. We have the potential and we have agreed on a deeper and deeper relationship,” the President added.
Tinubu noted that Nigeria, like most African nations, has been preoccupied with tackling food insecurity.
He said: “A starved nation will not care about weather or environment, and in the 21st century, no child should go to bed hungry.
“If an African child is given a glass of milk in a class, there will be no problem in getting him to return and stay in school to learn. The more educated the children are, the better it is for us.”
President Tinubu said the blue economy in Nigeria also provides a huge opportunity for investment, with unexplored potential in fishery.
“In Lagos, we have tamed the Atlantic Ocean. For us, fishery is an important aspect of investment.
“We want to assure the French investment community that Nigeria is open for business. It shall be easy in and easy out,” he stated.
Tinubu outlined plans to significantly reduce the number of out-of-school children through innovative return-to-class initiatives and skills development programmes.
Chairman, United Bank of Africa (UBA)/Founder, Heirs Holding, Tony Elumelu and French Finance Minister, Antoine Armand signing an agreement at the Elysee Palace, Paris…yesterday. With them are Presidents Tinubu and Macron
“To bridge the gap for some who are of age, and have been out of school for a while, we will encourage skills development,” he stated.
The President told Macron and his wife, Brigitte, that Nigeria’s developmental potential hinges on a well-educated populace.
He said although “insecurity in some parts of the country makes it hard for children to return to school, we are gradually re-populating the classrooms.”
“We need skills development to bridge the gaps,” the President added.
He also highlighted efforts by his administration to enhance security across the country.
“With some more efforts, we will be able to get some level of stability. We had a very good harvest this year and as soon as more farmers can go back to the farm, we will have more stability in harvest and supply,” Tinubu said.
On global security, the President noted that there was a need for collective responsibility to fight terrorism.
“Nigeria is a partner in progress. We are ready to partner with France so that we can have security operations that will stop the challenge of migration,” he said.
President Macron acknowledged the state visit by Tinubu, saying it will herald deeper bilateral relationships between the two countries.
He emphasised collaborative growth in creative industries and youth-focused initiatives.
Macron acknowledged Nigeria’s vast growth potential and the importance of investing in educational initiatives.
He reflected on his formative experiences during his six-month internship at the French Embassy in Nigeria.
Macron also noted that global humanitarian challenges could only be solved with governments working together.
He said: “We have confidence that you, Mr. President, will reinforce our relationship with Nigeria, and it will cover the West Coast region, with ECOWAS playing the leading role.
“I will seek your leadership to work as partners of progress. You are the great leader of the great country in Africa.
“We appreciate your visionary leadership and energy in transforming the economy of your country. We will work together for collective, global success,” he said.
The French leader assured that he would encourage more investments in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
Both countries signed an agreement after Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake made a presentation on the sector’s potential.
President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu were welcomed with full honours at Hotel Les Invalides and Palais De l’Élysée by Macron and his wife, Brigitte.
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Update : FG, States, LGs Share N1.894trn February Revenue from Federation Account
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total of N1.894 trillion among the three tiers of government as federation allocation for February 2026.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Federal Ministry of Finance, the distribution was made from a gross revenue of N2.230 trillion generated during the month.
From the amount shared, the Federal Government received N675.086 billion, the 36 states received N651.525 billion, while the 774 local government councils got N456.467 billion. Oil-producing states also received an additional N110.949 billion as derivation revenue, representing 13 per cent of mineral proceeds.
The statement further disclosed that N77.302 billion was paid to revenue-generating agencies as the cost of collection, while N259.078 billion was allocated for transfers, interventions and refunds.
The ministry explained that gross revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT) for February stood at N668.450 billion, compared to N1.083 trillion distributed in the preceding month, indicating a decline of N414.710 billion.
From the VAT revenue, N26.738 billion was deducted as cost of collection, while N22.593 billion was set aside for transfers, interventions and refunds.
The remaining N619.119 billion was shared among the three tiers of government, with the Federal Government receiving N61.912 billion, the states N340.515 billion and local government councils N216.692 billion.
Similarly, the gross statutory revenue of N1.561 trillion recorded in February was lower than the N1.957 trillion received in the previous month, representing a decrease of N395.138 billion.
From the statutory revenue, N50.564 billion was deducted as cost of collection, while N236.485 billion was allocated for transfers, interventions and refunds.
The balance of N1.274 trillion was distributed as follows: the Federal Government received N613.174 billion, states got N311.010 billion, and local governments received N239.776 billion, while N110.949 billion was allocated as derivation revenue to oil-producing states.
New tax regime designed to boost growth, ease burden on Nigerians — Experts
The ministry noted that revenue from oil and gas royalty as well as excise duty recorded significant increases during the period.
However, it added that collections from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Hydrocarbon Tax (HT), Companies Income Tax (CIT), Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Stamp Duties (SDT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) declined substantially during the month under review.
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Contempt of Court: How Onwukwem and Associates Ended Up in Jail in Lagos
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In what looked like a syndicate, a Lagos Lanlord, Mr. Lawrence Onwukwem and his gang, who specialise in swindling innocent Nigerians through properties in their care, have run into trouble and earned jail terms for fraud and illegal eviction of a couple, Mr. Olusola Alabi and his wife, Mrs. Olufunmilola Alabi, who rented an apartment from them and were summarily frustrated.
Like a thief whose time of reckoning has come, Onwukwem, alongside his accomplice; Mr. Davies Ijele, Mr. Sodiq Kazeem, and Ms. Peace Igbo, who operates under Green Birch Tech Ltd, was recently jailed for six months each by a Lagos Chief Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Eti-Osa for contempt of court.
The imprisonment of the defendants is due to the contemptuous order of the court. The court held them in contempt, which they displayed all through the court proceedings.
In the charges, marked MISC/MCE/07/2023, the court invoked Section 44(1)(a) of the Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2011 as amended against the Defendants by convicting the Directors of the 1st Defendant (including the 2nd Defendant, Mr. Lawrence Onwukwem (Managing Director) and Mr. Isaiah Davies ljele) and one Sodiq Kazeem, the Estate Manager and one Ms. Chidinmma Igbo, all of the 1st Defendant, for forceful ejection of the Claimant/Applicant for the three (3) Bedroom flat and one (1) Room Boys Quarters with appurtenances situate, lying and being at Block A, Flat 3, No. 96B, Ladipo Omotosho Cole Street, Lekki I, Eti-Osa, Lagos State held by the Claimant/Applicant as a yearly tenant of the 1st Defendant/Respondent by unlawfully trespassing into the said Apartment, forcing the door open, and removing the Claimant’s furniture and electronics, beddings, refrigerator, air conditioners and gas cooker with gas cylinder, etc. and changing the keys to the entrance door, without any Lawful authority of any Order of any Court of competent jurisdiction, whilst the Claimant’s Suit No: MISC/MCE/07/2023: and the 1st Defendant/Respondent’s Suit No: MCE165/CIV/2024 were pending before the Court.
Delivering the judgement, the Chief Magistrate, Kikelomo Olaiya Doja-Ojo, on June 5, 2025, said that Lawrence Onwukwem, Hon. Davies Ijele, Mr Sodiq Kazeem and Ms Peace Chidinma Igbo, were to be sentenced to six months in correctional centre for continuously flaunting the order of the court while also mandated to pay the sum of N250,000 each to the court.
“The claimant is to be restored back to possession. All her belongings removed are to be returned to her immediately,” the CTC read.
Meanwhile, since the court judgement, the couple claimed that only Kazeem is already serving the jail term at Ikoyi Correctional Centre, while the other three have since gone into hiding.
Reacting to the judgement, the couple said that disputes arose following an alleged breach of the tenancy agreement by the landlord, prompting Mrs. Alabi to seek legal redress in court.
The couple said that while the tenancy matter was still pending in court, Mr. Onwukwem and his partners unlawfully broke into the apartment, removed their properties valued at N25million, and subsequently rented out the flat to another tenant.
When this reporter reached out to Mr Lawrence and Ijele for comments, their telephone lines were unreachable.
However, Igbo denied allegations that she was arrested and charged to court for failing to produce Mr Kazeem.
She refuted claims that she stood as surety for Kaeem , insisting that she never signed any legal documents in that capacity.
“They have spoilt my name and career. I don’t know how to reach them. They have issue with a particular person and why involving me instead of meeting those concerned directly. I know nothing about it,” she said.
“For the record, I didn’t sign in as a surety…I was working as a secretary and HR for the firm. I was not a lawyer in that instance. I was in law school in 2021”
She, however, acknowledged that steps have been taken to address the matter, including efforts to obtain a remand order.
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Breaking : UK Tightens Security With Road Closures, No-Fly Zones for Tinubu’s Visit
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Britain will impose airspace restrictions and deploy armed police officers in Windsor next week as President Bola Tinubu arrives for a state visit hosted by King Charles III.
Tinubu is expected to begin the visit in the company of his wife Oluremi Tinubu on Wednesday, March 18, with a reception at Windsor Castle.
Thames Valley Police in a statement on its website on Wednesday, said it is working with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, the Royal Household and other security partners.
The force said airspace restrictions over Windsor Castle, which are in place permanently throughout the year, would be extended on Wednesday, March 18, to cover the period from 7am to 11.59pm.
Chief Superintendent Adrian Hall of Thames Valley Police’s Joint Operations Unit said the air restrictions formed part of a broader security operation for the visit.
“The air restrictions are just one part of our robust security operation for the state visit of Nigerian President Tinubu next week, with many measures you will see and others you will not..
“As a force, we have a vast amount of experience in policing Royal events in Windsor and significant planning, and preparation has gone into this event,” Hall said.
He said the force would take a strong stance in enforcing the restrictions, warning that any breach would constitute a criminal offence under the Air Navigation Order and could lead to arrest.
“We will be taking a strong stance in enforcing the restrictions; anyone who breaches them will be committing a criminal offence under the Air Navigation Order and could be arrested.”
The police chief said officers with specialist capabilities, including search teams, the Mounted Section, road policing, and armed units, would be deployed across Windsor, alongside neighbourhood policing and Project Servator resources.
“We will also be deploying numerous police officers to Windsor with specialist capabilities, including our search teams, Mounted Section, Roads Policing and armed units, while our neighbourhood and Project Servator resources will also be on the ground engaging with the public,” he said.
The authorities will also deploy an extensive closed-circuit television network, hostile vehicle mitigation barriers, and other undisclosed security measures for the event.
Hall said, “We will also be using the extensive CCTV network in Windsor, Hostile Vehicle Mitigation barriers, and many other security measures that you may not be able to see to make sure the event runs safely.”
He urged members of the public to support the security operation by remaining vigilant.
“The public plays a critical role to support us so we encourage them to report any suspicious activity or anything that does not seem quite right by calling 101 or speaking to one of our officers. If there is an immediate threat or emergency, then call 999,” Hall added.
Road closures and parking restrictions will take effect from Tuesday, March 17, with possible temporary disruption to roads in and around Windsor during the visit.
Thames Valley Police said it was being supported by the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services to enforce the flight restrictions. Persons with legitimate reasons for drone flying were directed to email [email protected].
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