Saudi Crown Prince assures Tinubu of govt support

The Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has assured Nigeria of support in its economic reform programmes.

The assurance came when the Crown Prince and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met on Monday in Riyadh on the sidelines of the joint Arab-Islamic Summit.

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

He said the two leaders explored potential areas for cooperation, particularly oil and gas, agriculture, infrastructure and the constitution of the Saudi-Nigeria Business Council.

Nigeria wants an agreement with the Saudi government over a proposed $5 billion bilateral trade facility between the two countries.

The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company, SALIC, invested $1.24 billion in 2022 to acquire a 35.43% stake in Olam Agri, one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural firms.

Talks are being held so that SALIC can have more stake in the company.

The Saudis hoped the investment would make Olam one of the biggest agro-allied businesses in the world.

The Crown Prince commended President Tinubu’s economic reforms, noting similarities to his steps to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s stability and development when he became Prime Minister.

He also assured Nigeria of his support and promised to motivate his team to realise the various areas of partnerships discussed at the meeting.

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At the meeting with the Crown Prince were the Saudi Minister of National Guard, Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, and several senior officials.

Meanwhile, the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit has renewed the mandate of Nigeria and other member states on the Ministerial Committee assigned to engage with global leaders in seeking an end to the ongoing war in Gaza and Lebanon.

This decision was part of the resolution issued after the extraordinary Joint Arab-Islamic Summit, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 11, 2024.

Two Nigerian companies developed contactless passport renewal – FG

The Federal Government has revealed that the contactless passport renewal solution, which went live in Canada on November 1, 2024, was developed by two Nigerian software companies.

The disclosure was made by Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, during the Politics Today programme on Channels Television on Tuesday.

Tunji-Ojo explained that the Federal Government deliberately chose to trust indigenous technology for the project.

“The solution is completely indigenous. We did not go to look for foreign technology. We got Nigerian technology – the two companies/vendors that came together to develop the solution are Nigerian software companies,” he said. 

The minister expressed confidence in the solution, citing his over two decades of experience as an IT cybersecurity expert and his extensive history as a project manager on numerous occasions.

He did not, however, mention the names of the companies, and at this time, they are not yet publicly known.

The Interior Minister emphasized that the contactless passport renewal solution is designed to alleviate the challenges faced by Nigerians in the diaspora, such as long travel distances, accommodation costs, and taking time off work to renew passports.

He shared specific examples of Nigerians in Canada and London who had to cancel lectures or miss work to complete their passport renewal process.

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While acknowledging that the new solution has encountered some initial hitches, Tunji-Ojo reassured Nigerians that these issues would be addressed.

Tunji-Ojo also clarified that delays in passport issuance, such as those reported by some Nigerians in Canada who experienced waiting times of up to 42 days after using the contactless passport renewal process, are not linked to the system itself.

• Instead, he attributed the delays to the limited processing capacity of Nigerian embassies. For instance, he said that the UK embassy, which has received over 48,000 passport renewal applications (note: the contactless renewal system is not yet available in the UK and is currently exclusive to Canada), can only process 300 applications per day, leading to significant backlogs.

• The Interior Minister explained that the contactless system leverages biometric databases, facial recognition, and live authentication checks, enabling applicants to renew their passports via a mobile app without visiting the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) office.

• However, the system applies only to Nigerians aged 18 and above with existing biometric records, as first-time applicants must still visit the NIS office for interviews and biometric capture.

• The Federal Government plans to expand the contactless passport renewal solution to other countries in the coming weeks.

Additionally, a centralized personalization center is being established in Abuja, equipped with advanced machines capable of printing up to 32,000 passports daily, to improve the efficiency of passport issuance.

Two Nigerian companies developed contactless passport renewal – FG

Things will get better, Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu assure Nigerians

President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Monday, admitted that Nigerians are experiencing social and economic difficulties, assuring that the situation will soon change.

While Tinubu insisted that his government was on the right track, he argued that solutions to complex problems could never be as instant as coffee.

Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu, who called for prayers, described the current leadership as tough men working to get Nigerians through difficult times.

Tinubu, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, spoke at the 70th birthday of Serving Overseer of Citadel Global Community, Pastor Tunde Bakare, PTB, organised by the Citadel Global Community in Lagos.

Those present included former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon  (retd), represented by Evangelist Austin Kemie; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba; former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong  Attah; former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amechi; former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai; former Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, represented by Ogwa-Olusan of Warri, Chief Mene Brown; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), represented by Asoya of Isoya Ife, Oba Muraina Adedini; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Alake of Egbaland, Adedotun Gbadebo III.

Tinubu, in his speech, said: “The President acknowledges that times are hard, but at the end of it all, there is always light. And solutions to complex problems can never be as instant as coffee, but we are on the right track.”

On the celebrant, the President described him as a spiritual leader and advocate for truth who had left an indelible mark, not just on those who follow his teachings, but on the nation as a whole.

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said: “We are here to celebrate a true man of God, a most precious human being. It gives me great joy to honour a man whose life has been an embodiment of passion, integrity and an unwavering commitment to justice and righteousness. PTB has been a beacon of hope and a voice for the voiceless in our society.

“His decades of service and dedication, principles of honesty, transparency, and fairness have been in the respect and admiration of many across this nation. His life journey reflects our commitment not just to spiritual growth, but also to the social and political development of our country.

“I acknowledge your relentless passion for better Nigeria, a country where equal justice and good government prevails. This celebration is a testament to a life of strength and courage, of powerful messages and fearless advocacy, deep volumes of your dedication to lifting humanity.

“It is these values that allow you to make such a difference. As you unveil your token of growth, the vast but definitely not the least, we look forward to gaining insights into the endless experiences that have shaped you into the formidable figure we see today.”

It’s tough time, public servants need prayers – Sanwo-Olu

Sanwo-Olu, in his address, said: “We that are in public service, we need all your prayers. It’s tough times, but you see, we are also tough men, and we know that at the end of the tunnel, there will be a bright phase.”

On the celebrant, the governor said PTB was not just a father to all, noting: “He is a man that is completely detribalised. He is a man that, with all the complexities of understanding people, stands up for fairness, equity and justice. There’s still a whole lot that God is still going to use you for, not only to this nation, but to the world. We thank God for who you are. You are a vessel of God.”

PTB testament to Ogun legacy of trailblazers – Abiodun

Abiodun, in his remarks, said: “We join him in reaching the remarkable 70. Considering the brevity of life, reaching 70 is not easy. PTB has made life one of purpose and significance. I have had the privilege of drinking from his wealth of knowledge. He stands as a testament to the Ogun State legacy of trailblazers. He is among the distinguished ambassadors of our state. As a spiritual guide, he has mentored many. PTB has touched lives.”

Let’s put nation first – Bakare

Meanwhile, Bakare, in his vote of thanks, urged Nigerians to put the country above personal needs, saying: “I want to appeal to you on this day that let us think of nation first. Let’s be less concerned about what we can get out of this nation. Let us think of how to make this nation a better place to live.”

Things will get better, Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu assure Nigerians