News
Things will get better, Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu assure Nigerians
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.
READ ALSO:
- Obaseki inherited N55bn debt, leaving N410bn – Transition report
- Appeal Court President raises special panel on Rivers crisis
- Disaster in Ekiti as funeral guests get drowned during swimming
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
News
Saudi Crown Prince assures Tinubu of govt support
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.
READ ALSO:
- Bandits do not control any Kebbi village – Deputy governor
- UBA names Henrietta Ugboh as independent non-executive director
- Two Nigerian companies developed contactless passport renewal – FG
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.
President Bola Tinubu and other leaders from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, and the League of Arab States were in attendance.
The Joint Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was formed by a resolution at the First Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh on November 11, 2023.
The group includes the foreign ministers of Nigeria, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, Palestine, and Jordan.
In its final resolution, the summit urged the Ministerial Committee to “intensify its efforts and expand them to include working on ending the aggression on Lebanon.”
The committee will submit periodic reports, which the secretariats of the OIC and the League of Arab States will circulate to member states.
The Committee has also been tasked with further engaging actors across the Global South in the efforts to strengthen international support towards ending the war and Israeli occupation.
The resolution stressed the importance of protecting sea lanes by rules of international law and welcomed the signing of the tripartite mechanism by the League of Arab States, OIC, and the African Union to support the Palestinian cause.
The summit praised the African Union’s steadfast support of Palestine.
The leaders condemned recent Israeli military actions in northern Gaza, describing them as “crimes of genocide,” including allegations of torture, executions, disappearances, and “ethnic cleansing.”
They also criticised ongoing efforts to solidify Israel’s presence in occupied East Jerusalem, reaffirming it as the “eternal capital” of Palestine and calling for the unification of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem under a sovereign Palestinian state.
The resolution reiterated “the full sovereignty of the State of Palestine over occupied East [Jerusalem], the eternal capital of Palestine”. It rejected any Israeli actions aimed at altering the city’s identity or consolidating its occupation.
The summit also expressed unwavering support for Lebanon’s security, stability, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens.
Saudi Crown Prince assures Tinubu of govt support
News
Two Nigerian companies developed contactless passport renewal – FG
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.
READ ALSO:
- Immigration: Minister launches centre to monitor all int’l airports
- COP29: Islamic bank supports WHO Impact Investment with $10m
- Court orders Alcon Nigeria to pay ex-workers over N39m
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
News
New Edo Gov Okpebholo takes oath of office, Shettima, others present
New Edo Gov Okpebholo takes oath of office, Shettima, others present
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday led the Federal Government delegation to the inauguration of Monday Okpebholo as a brand new governor of Edo State.
Other dignitaries at the event are Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, chair of the governors forum; and Philip Shaibu, the reinstated deputy governor of Edo.
Many sitting state governors across the country elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that also graced the ceremony are Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Hope Uzodinma of Imo, and Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto, among others.
The National Chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and his predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, were also at the ceremony, held inside the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.
Okpebholo took his oath of office at about 1pm on Tuesday.
Dennis Idahosa was also sworn in as Edo deputy governor.
The new governor rode in an open-top van round the stadium while acknowledging cheers from supporters.
As candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okpebholo won the September 21 off-cycle governorship election in the state.
He polled 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who came second with 247,274 votes.
Olumide Akpata, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), came third with 22,763 votes.
-
Auto3 days agoToyota by CFAO surprises customers with free Hilux, motorcycles, all-expense-paid trip to Seychelles
-
International2 days agoBelgium University offers scholarship up to €12,000 for Master’s students
-
International1 day agoUK announces 45,000 seasonal worker visas for 2025
-
Railway1 day agoNigerian railway adds extra train to Friday, Saturday trips on Lagos-Ibadan route
-
Business2 days agoFinally, marketers, Dangote refinery agree on direct fuel supply
-
International2 days agoSaudi crown prince says Israel committing ‘genocide’ in Gaza
-
Business3 days agoCement price surges by 100% to N8,800 in one year
-
Politics3 days agoAfenifere, Council of Obas back Aiyedatiwa for Ondo gov