Tinubu

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to give equal attention to all victims of insecurity across Nigeria. The opposition party asked the President to provide updates on efforts to rescue 176 residents of Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, who have remained in captivity since they were abducted on February 3, 2026.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the President’s celebration of the recent rescue of abductees in Oyo State had raised concerns about the fate of people still being held by kidnappers and insurgents in Kaiama, Borno and other parts of the country.

The ADC also pointed to the recent abduction of 40 residents from communities in Zamfara State, fresh deadly attacks in Benue State, and the kidnapping of Kebbi State High Court judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, as signs that insecurity remains a major challenge despite repeated assurances from the Federal Government.

According to the party, the administration must show through its actions that every Nigerian life is valued equally.

“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is concerned by what is becoming an unmistakable pattern in the Tinubu administration’s response to insecurity: some victims receive swift presidential attention, while others are left to languish in silence.



“Every successful rescue of abducted Nigerians deserves to be celebrated. But the President must ensure that his actions do not create the impression that the value of a Nigerian life depends on where the victim comes from or whether the tragedy attracts national headlines. Leadership demands equal compassion for every citizen, because no country can build national unity on the basis of selective empathy and selective attention.”



The statement recalled that residents of Kaiama Local Government Area staged a peaceful protest on July 24 over the continued captivity of the 176 abductees from Woro community. It noted that more than 170 days after the incident, families were still waiting for answers from the government.

The ADC also expressed concern over the worsening security situation in other parts of the country.

“The tragedy is not standing still; it is spreading. In Zamfara State, no fewer than 40 residents from 11 communities in Mayanchi District of Maru Local Government Area were recently abducted by bandits, most of them women and children, forcing terrified families to flee their homes.



“On Friday, July 24, fresh attacks again claimed lives in Benue’s Sankera axis. And in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, 2026, suspected bandits abducted a Judge of the Kebbi State High Court, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, from his residence. Meanwhile, communities in Borno State continue to endure insurgent attacks and mass displacement. These are not isolated incidents. They are reminders that insecurity remains a daily reality for millions of Nigerians.”



Abdullahi said Nigerians deserved to know the progress made in securing the release of abductees still in captivity across the country.

“What progress has been made in securing the release of the 176 abductees from Kaiama? What is being done to rescue the women and children taken in Zamfara? What efforts are underway to secure the release of Justice Bunza? What updates are available on victims in Borno and other affected communities? The President owes Nigerians more than broad assurances. He owes them regular updates, timelines and evidence that no Nigerian community has been abandoned.”



The party also questioned the effectiveness of repeated presidential assurances on security.

“On Thursday, July 23, 2026, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu again assured Nigerians that insecurity in the North would soon come to an end. We sincerely hope that promise becomes reality. But hope cannot survive indefinitely on declarations alone. There comes a point when repeated assurances, unaccompanied by visible results, cease to reassure. They simply become another headline in a long cycle of official optimism and public disappointment.



“That is why many Nigerians no longer receive presidential statements on insecurity with the confidence they once did. The administration has become remarkably consistent in making reassuring pronouncements but far less convincing in delivering outcomes. On one of the defining challenges of this government, the President is increasingly seen as a professional statement-maker, while communities continue to bury their dead, search for the missing and wait for rescues that never seem to come.”



The ADC called on President Tinubu to prove, “through action rather than rhetoric”, that every Nigerian deserves equal protection and attention.

“The people abducted in Woro on February 3 matter.



“The women and children abducted in Mayanchi, Zamfara matter. The families living under siege in Borno matter. The victims of fresh attacks in Benue matter. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza matters. They deserve the same urgency, the same empathy and the same presidential attention that every rescued Nigerian rightly receives. Leadership is not measured by how quickly government celebrates a rescue; it is measured by whether no Nigerian is left behind or forgotten.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Minister of Works, David Umahi, on his 63rd birthday, describing him as one of the top-performing members of his cabinet.

Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State, turned 63 on Saturday, July 25, 2026.

In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu praised the minister for his commitment to infrastructure development and his approach to supervising road projects across the country.

The President described Umahi as “one of my outstanding, hardworking ministers” and said the former Ebonyi governor remains committed to delivering quality infrastructure.

Tinubu also said the minister is “passionate about the job and delivering durable roads and bridges that will last for about a century”.

The President commended Umahi’s “passion, dedication to duty, and deep sense of patriotism.”

He also urged the minister to sustain the pace of road construction, rehabilitation and project delivery in line with his administration’s plan to improve the quality of life of Nigerians and stimulate economic growth.

“As a minister, he does not just sit in his office or rely on reports from subordinates; he is constantly on the road, personally monitoring construction work nationwide to ensure compliance with specifications and approvals,” Tinubu said.

The President congratulated Umahi and his family on the occasion and wished him good health and renewed strength “as he continues to serve the nation”.

Before his appointment as Minister of Works, Umahi represented Ebonyi South Senatorial District in the Senate. He also served as governor of Ebonyi State for two terms from 2015 to 2023.

By Uzair Adam

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Presidency for invoking China in its response to him, describing the move as a “monumental own goal” that has only intensified scrutiny of President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Presidency’s attempt to compare his record with China’s legal standards had backfired.

According to him, it was contradictory for the Presidency to celebrate what he described as a routine diplomatic response from the United States government while introducing China into the debate without considering the implications.

Shaibu argued that the Presidency’s spokesman had unintentionally subjected President Tinubu to the same standards he sought to apply to Atiku.

“It takes a peculiar kind of unintelligence for a spokesman to set out to drag an opponent before a hypothetical Chinese court, only to end up dragging his own principal into the dock,” the statement read.

The statement noted that China imposes severe penalties for serious drug trafficking offences, including capital punishment, adding that Atiku had never been indicted or convicted of corruption, drug-related offences or any criminal offence in Nigeria or abroad.

It maintained that if China was to become the benchmark for public accountability, Nigerians were equally entitled to question the implications of the 1993 civil forfeiture of $460,000 to the United States government in a case involving allegations of narcotics trafficking and money laundering linked to Tinubu.

The former vice president further argued that China’s justice system is also known for its strict handling of corruption and abuse of public office.

According to the statement, practices such as approving a national budget allegedly tainted by padding and questionable appropriations, ignoring allegations involving senior government officials, or presiding over worsening economic hardship would not be tolerated under China’s governance standards.

Atiku said the Presidency’s argument had collapsed under the weight of its own contradictions, insisting that invoking China had only encouraged Nigerians to apply the same standards to President Tinubu.

He also faulted the Presidency for portraying the United States government’s response to diplomatic correspondence as evidence of innocence, stressing that such communication does not amount to a judicial acquittal or erase historical records.

The statement urged the Tinubu administration to focus on addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges, insecurity, rising hunger and what it described as institutional decline instead of engaging in political distractions.

Atiku also called on the Presidency to improve the quality of its public communication, arguing that while propaganda may dominate public discourse temporarily, facts would ultimately prevail.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has accused the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, of leaving behind unresolved pension liabilities after serving as Nigeria’s vice president.

Tinubu made the remarks during a meeting with members of the Nigerian Diaspora Medical Association and North-East stakeholders who gathered to support the renomination of Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate.

The president alleged that Atiku oversaw the privatisation of government investments during his time in office but failed to ensure that pension obligations were settled.

Speaking at the event, Tinubu reflected on his professional experience in the United States before addressing Nigeria’s current challenges.

“There is nowhere like home. I have experienced being in America and have taken the best of America in my chosen profession, accountancy and finance. Where can I apply it best after initial training with Deloitte & Touche, I can’t forget the standard oil building in Chicago and my first week there.

“The leadership of the Northeast is challenged because of terrorism and banditry, I could see a collaboration that would work together. Only we stick together, work together, and face the challenges the best way possible as a united country.

“The olden age is here now if you can stabilize the economy, Nigerians are not asking for too much, simple stability and social welfare, if I can go political, somebody among my prospective opponents privatized government investment in public entities but forgot to pay the pension. I’m clearing the pensioners now, so clearing the mess they created.”

Tinubu’s comments add to the growing exchange of political attacks between the president and Atiku ahead of the 2027 general election. Neither Atiku nor the ADC had issued an immediate response to the latest remarks at the time of filing this report.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

United States President Donald Trump has lauded Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as “decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people” in a letter dated July 6, 2026.

President Trump applauded Tinubu’s commitment to addressing challenges facing Nigeria, particularly the violence affecting Christian communities, and pledged continued US support in the fight against terrorism.

“It is a true honour to stand with you in the fight against these terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous,” Trump wrote in the letter.

The endorsement comes amid strengthening security ties between the two nations, with cooperation reaching new heights in recent months. The partnership has yielded tangible results, including a coordinated attack on ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad area on May 16, which resulted in the killing of the group’s top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, and several of his lieutenants.

In November last year, both presidents agreed to establish a Joint Working Group co-headed by the National Security Advisers of Nigeria and the United States. The collaboration has since focused on training, intelligence sharing, and joint operations to counter terrorist activities across the region.

“The United States-Nigeria relationship is crucial at a time where conflict has spread across West Africa and around the world,” Trump stated. “We both share a mutual goal of confronting terrorism in all its forms, and our historic US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap has established a robust framework to accomplish this feat.”

Trump confirmed the deployment of US Special Operations Forces to equip Nigerian military personnel with “the skills, tools and intelligence they need to protect your homeland and ensure the safety and security of citizens, particularly those of faith who have been under attack.”

The strengthened bilateral relations were further underscored last week when US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja for meetings with senior government officials. Garcia pledged to enhance cooperation between Washington and Abuja in security and other collaborative areas.

“I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my Presidency,” Trump concluded in his letter.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has announced a ₦2 billion donation for the revitalisation of the Akwete weaving industry during her maiden visit to the Akwete Weaving Cooperative Village in Abia State on Tuesday.

Mrs Tinubu, who described the visit as a personal engagement rather than a formal event, said she would personally wear an Akwete wrapper if her husband, President Bola Tinubu, secures a second term in office.

“If God brings my husband in a second time, I’ll be wearing a buba and wrapper made from Akwete. I am going to be wearing that because it is very soft breathable cotton,” she stated.

The First Lady commended the women of the cooperative for their passion and resilience in preserving the craft across generations. She noted that young people in the community were continuing the family tradition, describing it as “a craft transferred from generation to generation.”

Mrs Tinubu explained that she had approached the visit informally, opting to spend time with the women rather than follow a scripted programme. She came without a prepared speech because the trip was intended as personal engagement.

She thanked Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, describing him as a good man. The First Lady recalled reaching out to his wife in the past specifically to enquire about the weaving tradition and expressed gratitude that the visit had finally materialised despite the delay.

“I just wanted to meet with these women, which I will tell the story. But we went on, and my husband said something. He said I was getting frustrated. I said, Otti is a good man. He’s a very good man. I see that, and I want to thank you,” she said.

The First Lady urged Nigerians to patronise locally made textiles as a way of preserving indigenous craftsmanship and boosting the livelihoods of rural weavers, while also encouraging citizens to embrace Igbo traditional attire made from Akwete fabric as a means of supporting local artisans.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved 26 new appointments across 10 federal government agencies and commissions, with former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose named as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

Major General Junaid Bindawa (retd.) takes over as Chairman of the National Salary and Wages Commission in the sweeping reshuffle announced on Monday.

Fayose will head the REA board, alongside Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar and Engineer Ilyasu Ibrahim Makinta as members and non-executive directors. The incumbent Director-General, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and three previously appointed executive directors complete the board.

At the National Salary and Wages Commission, Bindawa will be supported by eight other appointees. Former Lagos House of Representatives member Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas becomes the commission’s new secretary.

Dr Ogbole Ene Lilian (Benue), Oladele Olatubosun (Oyo), and Yakubu Umar Barde (Kaduna) were appointed as commissioners, while Dr Mai Adamu Yau (Borno), Ginika Florence Tor (Enugu), Engineer Lawrence Okoh (Edo), and Bello Morenike Iyabode (Kogi) join as members.

Tosin Johnson Adeyanju, previously Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, has been reassigned as Secretary of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission.

Dr Abuh Mohammed takes over as Director-General of the National Population Commission, while Dr Akinola Odeyemi becomes Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET).

Dr Anthony Inalegwu Godwin was appointed Chairman/CEO of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, and Engineer Julius Oloro, a former council chairman, is the new CEO of the Kwara-based National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), replacing Dr A.R. Kamal who died in January.

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission gets a new board chaired by Dr Abdullahi Maikano Saidu, with members including Mohammed Asmau, Mohammed Aliyu Makama, Dr Suleiman Gidado, Louis O. Ndukwe, Amaechi Ugwele, and Olaniyi Idowu Onikola.

Shuni Muhammad Dahiru is the new Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, replacing Professor Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu who was reassigned to the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) in April.

At the Federal Housing Authority, Gisaor Vincent Iorja replaces Mathias Byuan as Executive Director, Finance. Byuan resigned to contest the Benue governorship election. Iorja, an economist and legal scholar, currently serves as Secretary of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission.

All appointments take immediate effect.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika has defended the economic record of former President Muhammadu Buhari, dismissing claims that his administration left Nigeria in economic hardship.

Sirika spoke during an interview on Arise Television, where he argued that the country was in a stable economic and social condition under Buhari’s leadership.

He said, “I don’t want to get dragged into that debate, but the truth of the matter is that President Buhari has done extremely very well on the economy.

“And I’m not an economist, but I do know so because I’ve been in the country, I’ve been in the government, I know so.

”And I’ve seen that the country at the time was in good state both economically and the social issues within the country.”

When asked to assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Sirika declined to criticise the current government. He said it would be unfair to judge decisions taken by an administration in which he has no role.

He maintained that each government should be assessed according to the circumstances it faces. He also said he would not publicly question policies that he is not responsible for implementing.

According to him, “I do believe that he led the country that is flourishing. Because I am not President Muhammadu Buhari, and neither am I President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to really comment on the policies that they have made… I don’t think it’s been fair for me to sit down and make a critique of why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did this or not.”

Sirika also argued that there is no conflict between the policy direction of the Buhari and Tinubu administrations because both governments operate under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said, “But I want to say categorically that the policies by President Muhammadu Buhari are policies of our party and the policies that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is pursuing are policies of our party.

“So as an APC person, I do believe that they are not doing things, just off the top of their head, you know, to inflict injury on the country. No, I don’t think so.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff has criticised Peter Obi’s call for President Bola Tinubu to resign over Nigeria’s security challenges. He alleged that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate supports the Biafra cause and therefore lacks the moral standing to make such a demand.

Sheriff made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme. He reacted to Obi’s recent call on President Tinubu to resign or step aside over the country’s worsening insecurity.

The former governor alleged that Obi had never condemned the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or its ideology. He argued that Obi’s position on the issue makes him “the most unqualified person” to call for the president’s resignation.

“This country, Nigeria, fought a civil war. Our leaders sacrificed their lives to fight that war to keep the country together, both leaders from the north and the south,” the former governor said.

“The cause of the war was Ojukwu’s demand to secede. Peter Obi, up to this moment, is pursuing the division of Nigeria.

“How? Because he believes in Biafra. He never condemned Biafra. He never condemned IPOB.

“Biafra is secession. Our leaders fought to keep the country together. He wants to divide Nigeria.”

When asked how a politician seeking Nigeria’s presidency could also seek to divide the country, Sheriff challenged Obi to publicly reject the allegation.

“He should deny it,” the former Borno governor said.

“He should come to this station and say he doesn’t believe in dividing the country.

“He should deny it. I am confronting him, telling him this is what he stands for.”

Sheriff maintained that anyone aspiring to lead Nigeria must be committed to preserving the country’s unity.

“People like Obasanjo, General Yakubu Gowon, T.Y. Danjuma, General Shua, and General Abacha all have bullet wounds on their bodies because they fought to keep Nigeria together,” he said.

“Anybody aspiring to lead Nigeria must be someone who stands for Nigeria, not for any section.”

Obi has repeatedly called on President Tinubu to resign in recent weeks. On June 22, the former Anambra State governor described the administration as a “monumental failure” and urged the president to leave office. He said his position was influenced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation speech, which addressed public dissatisfaction over economic conditions and unfulfilled campaign promises.

On Sunday, Obi renewed the demand after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reportedly stated that Nigeria failed to record some public spending in various budgets. He said the development raised fresh concerns about what he described as widespread corruption under the Tinubu administration.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A member of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Gagdi, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration deserves recognition for the steps it has taken to address insecurity across the country, even though the problem has not been completely resolved.

Gagdi, who represents the Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke Federal Constituency of Plateau State, spoke on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The lawmaker argued that it would be inaccurate to claim that the federal government has failed to make efforts to tackle security challenges.

“If the truth be told, I will say the truth irrespective of your understanding about the truth that I am saying,” he said.

“I will not refuse to tell you here that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not make any effort towards solving the security problem.

“Promising to fix the security problem and putting effort towards fixing the security problem should both be recognised.”

Gagdi stated that although insecurity remains a major concern in the country, the government has continued to demonstrate commitment towards confronting the challenge.

He also disclosed that he had openly criticised certain security policies of the current administration during proceedings at the House of Representatives.

The APC lawmaker, however, accused some opposition politicians of taking advantage of the country’s security difficulties for political gain instead of presenting practical solutions.

According to him, some political actors appear more interested in drawing attention to the suffering of Nigerians than suggesting ways to improve the situation.

Gagdi added that national discussions should centre on finding solutions to insecurity rather than using the issue for partisan interests.