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Breaking: ‘Fuel Subsidy, Economy, Reforms’ – Akume Breaks Down Tinubu’s 12 Key Moves

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Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has listed twelve noteworthy advancements.
In February 2023, Tinubu, who was previously the governor of Lagos State, was proclaimed the victor of the presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Tinubu took the oath of office on May 29, 2023, and became the president of Nigeria.
A number of Nigerians have expressed disappointment over the economic policies that the country’s leader has introduced since taking office.

However, Akume pointed out in a series of posts on Thursday on his official X handle that the current administration had made noticeable progress in less than two years.

Under President Tinubu, he claimed, efforts to change the economy started to pay off.

He pointed out that funds saved by eliminating the Fuel Subsidy are now being sent to subnational governments for development at the local level.

According to Akume, the Tinubu administration is making progress on structural changes, especially in the field of agriculture, to ensure food security and agriculture for the long run.

All Nigerians will gain from this, he said, as it will increase the food supply and reduce inflationary pressures.

The 12 Nuggets of Progress that the SGF released are listed below.
“2025 is already well underway, and we are fully committed to our Renewed Hope Agenda. In less than two years, we are witnessing observable advancements as President @OfficialABAT’s initiatives to bring about economic reform start to pay off.

1. To reduce inflation and rebuild the credibility of our monetary system, we are working tirelessly. We are changing the foreign exchange regime to a more transparent and effective market mechanism from an opaque system of preferential allocations.

2. The Fuel Subsidy is no longer available. As the new, market-driven gasoline marketing system boosts the economy, the advantages of deregulation become more apparent. The savings are currently used for grassroots development by the subnational administrations.

Read Also: Nigerian TikToker Faces Rearrest in Court Over Police Harassment Accusations

3. To maintain agriculture and food security for the long term, we are making progress with structural reforms, especially in the agricultural sector. In turn, this will help all Nigerians by increasing the supply of food and reducing inflationary pressures.

4. The importance of our contribution to Mission 300, the World Bank project that aims to give 300 million people access to power, cannot be emphasized. We are on track to electrify the entirety of Nigeria before we leave office, as power infrastructure is essential for both industrial and economic growth.

5. We have always prioritized creating a business-friendly atmosphere. Our Ease of Doing Business Index is rising as we draw in sustainable investments and spur growth led by the private sector for a more robust economy.

More information soon.

Nigerian TikToker Faces Rearrest in Court Over Police Harassment Accusations

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Seaking, a well-known Nigerian TikToker, was arrested again during a court appearance on Thursday, purportedly for his recent remarks on social media that exposed police corruption.
Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist, revealed the development on his X (formerly Twitter) account and denounced the arrest as an effort to silence anyone who disagreed with the Nigerian Police Force.
According to Sowore, Seaking was arrested again under false pretenses of cybercrime by Force Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

We’ve learned that @PoliceNG in Lagos detained @seaking303 during a court hearing today, apparently charging him with cybercrime because of his recent posts on social media against police corruption. Force PPRO Adejobi Olumuyiwa @Princemoye1 is said to have planned this most recent arrest.

He said, “We ask the police to stop harassing Nigerians with cybercrime accusations and to release @seaking303 immediately.”

Seaking was reportedly first taken into custody on December 20, 2024, and arraigned on December 23 of the same year at Ogba Magistrate Court in Lagos. He was accused of treason and cyberstalking in a widely shared TikTok video in which he urged young Nigerians to fight police harassment by hurling stones at officers who insist on looking at their phones.

The judge granted him bail even though Inspector Christopher John, the police prosecutor, pushed for his 30-day remand. But because to administrative procedures and holiday holidays, his release was postponed.

His attorney, Inibehe Effiong, verified Seaking’s release from Kirikiri Maximum Security Custodial Center on January 6, 2025, following his compliance with the terms of his bail.

“We just left the Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Kirikiri with Olumide Ogunsanwo, also known as Seaking, on TikToker,” Effiong said.

He also promised to challenge the legal processes and chastised the police for stifling free speech through criminal accusations.

The accusations made against Seaking consist of:

According to Section 168(d)(2) of the Lagos Criminal Law, 2015, he posted a TikTok video encouraging the public to oppose police officers inspecting their phones, which is considered a breach of peace.

Read Also: Breaking: Tinubu Dismisses, Reshuffles Leadership in Federal Universities

Section 57(b) of the Lagos Criminal Law, 2015, states that the second count is inciting a breach of peace by inciting young Nigerians to attack police officers.

Section 24(1)(a)(b)(2)(a) and (i) of the Cybercrime Act, 2015, incites violence against the Nigerian Police, according to the third count, which consists of charges linked to cybercrime.

Activists have expressed indignation over Seaking’s rearrest and cautioned against the abuse of cybercrime laws to stifle dissent.

Legal experts and Sowore have called for his quick release, claiming that the police are using intimidation to prevent the people from criticizing the force’s suspected wrongdoing.

Breaking: Tinubu Dismisses, Reshuffles Leadership in Federal Universities

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The University of Abuja, officially called as Yakubu Gowon University, is one of the federal universities where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced major leadership changes.
According to reports, in a statement released on Thursday, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, revealed that these adjustments take effect immediately.
At Yakubu Gowon University, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi was stripped of her responsibilities as Vice-Chancellor, and President Tinubu dismissed the whole governing council.

Former University of Agriculture, Makurdi pro-chancellor Senator Lanre Tejuoso has been named pro-chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University. Alvan Ikoku University of Education’s pro-chancellor, Senator Joy Emordi, will succeed him in Makurdi.
Professor Lar Patricia Manko was named by President Tinubu as the Acting Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University for a six-month tenure in order to succeed Maikudi.

When the substantive Vice Chancellor position becomes available, she will not be allowed to apply.

Furthermore, Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu was dismissed by President Tinubu prior to his term ending on February 14 from his role as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

For the six months that he has been his successor, Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam will not be able to seek for the permanent position.

As part of the leadership changes at UNN, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu was moved to the position of Pro-Chancellor at the University of Uyo.

Read Also: UK Immigration: Badenoch Proposes 15-Year Requirement for British Citizenship

Olubunmi Kayode Ojo, an engineer, was named the new UNN Pro-Chancellor by President Tinubu. Ojo has worked at the Federal Universities of Oye-Ekiti and Lokoja in the same capacity.

The Federal University of Lokoja has named Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, who is currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, to succeed Ojo.

Senator Joy Emordi has been replaced as the Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education by Senator Sani Stores. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has Senator Stores on its council.

Furthermore, the new Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, is Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi, a current Council Member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

“All decisions regarding reassignment and appointments take effect right away.

The administration’s dedication to revitalizing Nigeria’s higher education sector via effective leadership and accountability is reflected in these improvements, President Tinubu emphasized.

In Nigeria’s tertiary education system, “the restructuring aims to strengthen governance and academic excellence,” the statement continued.

UK Immigration: Badenoch Proposes 15-Year Requirement for British Citizenship

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For immigrants to be eligible for a British passport, Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the UK Conservative Party, has suggested a 15-year timeframe.
The Nigerian-British legislator reportedly made this statement in support of his party’s immigration stance.
“Brititian is still a home, not a hotel,” Badenoch added. The policy would protect Britain and maintain its economy, she said.

“We call Britain home,” she said. It isn’t a lodging establishment. The moment has come to state the facts about immigration and offer practical solutions. My goal is to decrease immigration and give living here a purpose. Our current immigration system must be modified. The Conservative Party will be doing the following things differently, I am declaring.First, you will need to live in our country for ten years instead of five if you wish to apply for indefinite leave to remain and stay here permanently. Second, if you wish to bring family members along, you will need to have a high enough wage and be a net contributor.

Read Also: Breaking: Obasanjo’s Former Aide-de-Camp Jemitola Passes On

You are prohibited if you have a criminal record. Third, you cannot even apply if you have already received benefits or require social housing.

Fourth, we will extend the 12-month period before you can apply for a British passport to five years, which means that it will take at least 15 years to begin the application process.

Five, you will never be allowed to obtain a passport or leave to remain in this country again if you unlawfully enter or overstay your visa.

The most significant adjustments to our immigration system will be these modifications combined with a stringent cap on the number of applicants. Reduced numbers, safe borders, and an immigration system that at last benefits the British people. Our strategy to manage our immigration system includes this step as well. Join us and let’s finish it if you agree.

Breaking: Obasanjo’s Former Aide-de-Camp Jemitola Passes On

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Major General Chris Jemitola (rtd), died Thursday morning after collapsing at the IBB Golf Club.
His family confirmed to The Whistler that he was taken to the hospital right away, but that he was declared dead when they got there.
From 2003 to 2007, Jemitola, who was a colonel, supported Obasanjo as his ADC.

Following a distinguished military career, he served as Nigeria’s Defense Attaché in Brazil before rising to the position of Director of Defense Information.
After rising to the rank of Major General in 2014, he served in the Nigerian Army as the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP) until leaving active duty.

Read Also: FRSC Officer Reportedly Shot by ‘Police’ in Lagos

Jemitola entered the private sector after retiring, joining Pinnacle Communications Limited in 2019 as Senior Advisor for Military Communications.

A formal statement about his passing has not yet been released by his family.

FRSC Officer Reportedly Shot by ‘Police’ in Lagos

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An unidentified officer from the Lagos State command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has been reported injured after reportedly being shot by a security guard wearing a police uniform.
The event occurred during an enforcement operation to identify phony license plates, which was part of a bigger project initiated by the FRSC under the Lagos Sector Command, according to information gathered.

Read Also:Breaking: House of Reps Moves to Approve 31 New States

According to reports, Kehinde Hamzat, the Corps Commander responsible for managing the operation, had not provided any details on the incident at the time this report was submitted.

However, he asked media to be patient while he investigates the specifics of this unfortunate situation.
As of this time, Lagos police authorities have not commented on the matter, and it is still unclear which security officers are affiliated with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Soon, more details will be available.

Breaking: House of Reps Moves to Approve 31 New States

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Thirty-one new states from the country’s six geopolitical zones were proposed to the House of Representatives.
According to reports, the letter was read in plenary in the Green Chamber by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.
A letter from the committee detailing the requirements that must be fulfilled before any petitions for state creation can be accepted was also read by Deputy Speaker Kalu during plenary.

There are five suggestions from the North Central region, four from the North East, five from the North West, five from the South East, four from the South South, and seven from the South West, the Committee said.
Kogi State’s Okun, Okura, and Confluence, Benue State’s Ala and Apa, Adamawa State’s Amana, Bauchi State’s Katagum, Borno State’s Savannah, and Taraba State’s Muri are a some of the states that have been suggested.

Etiti, Orashi, Adada, and Orlu Aba from the South East; Tiga and Ari from Kano; and New Kaduna and Gujarat states from Kaduna state are among the others.

Ogoja from Cross River, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers, Torumbe from Ondo, Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos, and Ogun are also included, as are Ijebu from Ogun and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun states.

According to Kalu, a request for the creation of a new state can only be approved by the National Assembly if it is backed by at least three-quarters of the senators, representatives, assembly members, and local government council members present in the area.

The only reminder given to local government advocates for the establishment of more local government areas is that this procedure is governed by Section 8 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution, as amended.

Read Also: Tinubu Sure of Nigerians’ Support in 2027 – Bwala

In particular, the National Assembly must receive the results of the referendum’s State Houses of Assembly votes in order to fulfill state demands, as stipulated in Section 8.3 of the Constitution.

“Proposals must be resubmitted strictly according to the requirements. Send three hard copies of the memoranda’s complete proposal to the Committee Secretariat in Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

Subcopies must also be submitted electronically to info.hccr.gov.nj, the Committee’s email address.

“The Committee is still dedicated to supporting implementation efforts that are in line with the provisions of the Constitution and will only consider proposals that adhere to the established guidelines.”

Tinubu Sure of Nigerians’ Support in 2027 – Bwala

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Daniel Bwala, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Advisor on Media and Policy Communication, stated that the President is confident Nigerians will support him in 2027.

In an interview with TVC on Thursday, Bwala reportedly said this.
He emphasized that the Nigerian people already understood the President was tackling all of their issues and problems.

“Those who will cast ballots are the foundation of our rest, security, and comfort. You know, neither the opposition nor the media will cast a vote. The Nigerian people will vote, but they are the ones who will decide who will remain in power or who will be elected.It’s the deliverables and the food on the table that worry them, isn’t it? Infrastructure, education, and their children’s and Nigeria’s futures. Their worry is that every time they go to bed, they eat dinner, or they eat it before bed. They think about their children’s futures when they put the youngsters to sleep and go to bed before they officially shut down.

The President is implementing reforms that practically address all of these issues, allowing you to stop worrying about your child’s future. Access will be available if your child is placed in school. It need not be a wealthy person’s child,” he stated.

He came from a minority community in the North and would not have ascended to the position he presently has if it weren’t for President Tinubu, the former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign council revealed.

Consider this picture of me sitting. I advise the President Specially. As a minority from the North, tell me which dictatorship would have given me that chance,” he said.

Only the opposition political parties, Bwala continued, have failed to recognize the progress being made in the fields of education and the economy.

Despite the interventions, he said, the opposition chose to increase the nation’s suffering.

Read Also: FG Rushed Oil Exploration in Ogoni Land, Says Dakuku Peterside

The opposition uses that as their rhetoric. What’s the estimated time? What’s the estimated time? They don’t realize it has begun because they are so blinded. Similar to a rupture. It is Nigerians, not you, who have expressed strong feelings. The opposition, however, is the one who uses that catchphrase as a weapon, in my opinion. And why did I say that? Does the NELFUND impact APC members? There are hundreds of thousands of pupils affected; do you know how many?

What is your perspective on it and when will it matter? It has begun to come to pass already. For instance, consider agriculture. And have a look at how Nigeria has undergone revolutionary upheaval in many regions.

When you plant a seed on the farm, do you have a seed the next morning? You have no seed for the following day. However, I can assure you of one thing. Upon returning the following day, you will observe a steady increase. One week later, you return and discover a spread. When you have it, you cannot claim that this progressive growth is irrelevant before maturation. The advancement of agricultural farming is where they are most pertinent.

“In 2027, people—not noisemakers—will be important,” he continued.

FG Rushed Oil Exploration in Ogoni Land, Says Dakuku Peterside

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According to former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) director-general Dakuku Peterside, it is “premature” to start oil drilling again on Ogoni land, Rivers state.

Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, and a group of Ogoni chiefs met with President Bola Tinubu on January 21.

The conference was held in response to a coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) calling for $1 trillion to be set aside for Niger Delta cleanup and compensation before oil activities begin.

The federal government’s ambitions to reopen oil prospecting in Ogoni land were a factor in the discussions. Tinubu recognized the Ogoni people’s historical struggles and the need for advancement and healing.

But in an interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Peterside stated that it is not a good idea to start oil prospecting in Ogoni again until controversial problems have been settled.

According to the former DG of NIMASA, it is quite concerning that the Niger Delta population is not given equal advantages from oil development.

Resuming oil drilling in Ogoni area would be premature, if I may be honest with you. “I believe that the government has also decided to do more consultations, establish trust, and demonstrate a sincere commitment to environmental governance,” he stated.

The opaqueness of oil exploration, not only in Ogoni land but throughout the Niger Delta, has always been a problem.

Furthermore, it is highly doubtful that the Niger Delta’s residents are not included in the distribution of the profits that come from oil drilling.

“And we won’t get very far until we deal with that in an open way.”

An ethnic group known as the Ogoni lives mostly in Rivers state in southern Nigeria’s Niger Delta.

Oil exploration has caused significant environmental damage in the Niger Delta region over the years, especially in the Ogoni.

Longtime activists against environmental damage brought on by oil extraction, especially by multinational businesses, are well-known among the Ogoni.

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), founded by the late activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, brought Ogoni land’s environmental degradation to the attention of the world in the early 1990s.

Large-scale demonstrations and disputes with the Nigerian government resulted from this.

“It is not the same as addressing environmental injustice to establish a university in Ogoni land.”

Regarding the construction of a university in Ogoni Land, Peterside stated that establishing such an establishment in Ogoni Land is not equivalent to resolving the environmental injustice that the locals have experienced.

He continued by saying that in order to redress the injustices experienced by the local population, it is imperative that the Ogoni bill of rights be reviewed.

Tinubu signed a bill creating the Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni into law on February 3.

Read Also: Presidency: El-Rufai, Opposition No Threat to Tinubu’s Leadership

According to the president, the act is a step in the right direction toward addressing environmental justice and increasing access to education in the Niger Delta.

A “significant milestone” in Nigeria’s endeavors toward environmental sustainability and national growth, he said, is the Federal University of Environmental Technology.

Recognizing the Ogoni people’s historical challenges, he said the university reinforces his administration’s dedication to the area.

Dakuku Peterside, the Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration

Presidency: El-Rufai, Opposition No Threat to Tinubu’s Leadership

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The attack on President Bola Tinubu by Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has been declared ineffective by the Presidency.
In an interview with TVC on Thursday, Daniel Bwala, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Policy Communication, reportedly made this statement.
According to him, the nation’s opposition political groups lack direction. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is the only structured political party in Nigeria, he claims.
There is no direction for the political opponent. The APC is the only structured political party in Nigeria. Nearly the whole opposition party, in other words, is attempting to figure things out.I refrain from attacking because I perceive that Mr. President has a reconciliatory tendency. As you can see, he has not reacted to anyone in the more than eighteen months that he has been in office. No one has ever witnessed him acting aggressively or combatively. According to his approach to politics and administration, almost 90 to 97 percent of those in his immediate vicinity today have previously worked against him.

“I was with him, but I had to return after I parted ways with him. That is his personality. This combat stuff is not something that the president believes in. El-Rufai, as he previously stated, is still a member of the APC. He remarked, “So, you speak to him like a brother.”

It’s Grandstanding, El-Rufai
Bwala claimed that El-Rufai was merely displaying his grandstanding by attacking Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, and National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu.

He appears to be struggling to find a part, and I am aware that he is grandstanding. You have words and believe you can carry out a purpose, for example, if you quit a ruling party that you have influenced. To be able to do that, you must have a functioning location. He picks up one person on Twitter nearly every other day, I mean.

The national security adviser had the opportunity to speak yesterday. After that, it was the incumbent governor’s and the others’ turn. I think he’s still valuable in APC, therefore I spoke to him like a big brother. We do not need to be confrontational, but he lacks the ability to disturb the President and make any changes to the opposition and others. The President cannot get uneasy due to any resistance, either in its entirety or in its component parts.

Opposition Is Not Disrupted by APC
Speaking, the President’s Policy Communication Adviser denied the claim that the ruling government was using financial pressure to stifle the opposition.

Which APC member belongs to those groups? It takes sensitivity to recognize when you are no longer valuable. That is the situation with PDP. You can no longer use it. “It is now a congregation and conglomeration of people without a clear direction,” he said.

Bwala stated that the opposition ought to applaud the president for appointing an opposition party member, Nyesom Wike, as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to his administration.

“Wike has never been an APC member. He’s repeated it repeatedly. He is a PDP member. He has also stated that he has stock in the PDP. He claimed that because he has sponsored numerous PDP events, he cannot let his goodwill to simply evaporate. Thus, he is defending his rights.

He is fundamentally entitled to defend his rights. The president isn’t specifically telling people to leave your party, either. because we are in charge of governance. As a result, the president is unable to cease working with him due to an issue inside his party. Like Abraham Lincoln, the president conducts his business.

“He is defending the nationwide consensus.” Because of this, it is dishonest to criticize the president when you ought to commend him for cooperating with everyone. Their issue with the political party did not begin when the president took office. “That began a long time ago,” he said.

Read Also: Breaking: Ex-NYSC Boss Abducted by Bandits in Katsina

There is no coalition that can oppose the president.
Additionally, he rejected the alleged alliance of prominent political figures against the President. There would be no coalition, he said.

“In fact,” he added, “let me tell you. They would not even run on the PDP platform, notwithstanding the coalition they are referring to. Do you get it?

For this reason, we say it is no longer useful. They are congregating, they want to move, and they want to visit a new political party at the most convenient location. Because they are merely observing this person and asking, “Are you coming as a new phenomenon?” the Nigerians are not sleeping. Or is it the assembly of ex-political figures who are ravenous, like someone who is addicted to drugs, and you are suddenly attempting to help him stop using drugs? He will experience discomfort and a variety of other symptoms as soon as he begins this withdrawal. That’s what’s taking place.

The phenomenon of power withdrawal. What’s happening to them is that. In general, though, you have to be open-minded to discover how you may reinvent yourself. You must observe your rise to relevance. Additionally, there will come a point in your life when you realize you must move on from politics.

Perhaps God does not want you to receive this, or perhaps this is not what God wants you to receive. It is not about Nigerians that they are assembling. The purpose of the gathering is to retake power. It’s not an event aimed toward Nigerians.

“If there is a gathering, the Nigerian people should be applauding the president for policies that are influencing the country’s transformation. Additionally, what are they expected to provide if they believe the President is acting improperly? An alternative. Does the alternative matter to them? I mean, they use Nigeria’s suffering and suffering as a talking point.

Their weapon is Nigeria’s suffering and suffering. They use the plight of the Nigerian people as a political weapon. You see, though, I’ve always declined to answer political questions. When the moment comes, we shall be prepared for them. Our attention is now on what we are doing to fulfill the President’s pledge to the Nigerian people.

We are grateful that these developments are starting to manifest in all facets of our country’s life. Right now, that’s what makes us happy.