News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed to review the tarrifs on newspaper and broadcasting materials in order to empower the media industry to discharge its constitutional role effectively. He gave the promise at the State House on Friday while hosting the leadership of the Nigerian media, comprising members of the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Nigerian Guild of Editors, and Nigerian Union of Journalists, among others. The President commended the media owners, editors and journalists for their commitment to informing, educating and keeping citizens abreast of developments, as well as providing employment and livelihoods for thousands of Nigerians. He said that responsible leadership must take appropriate decisions at the right time, adding that anything to the contrary amounted to failure.  Tinubu acknowledged the hard but critical decisions his adm...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja     Fola Adeolu President Bola Tinubu has established a Presidential Petroleum Reform and Value Optimisation Taskforce to design and restructure Nigeria's petroleum sector. This was even as the co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank and founder and chairman of the Fate Foundation, Mr Fola Adeola will serve as the taskforce's chairman. As the chairman, he will coordinate the group's work and ensure the timely delivery of its mandate. Other members of the taskforce are: Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, Osagie Okunbor, Abubakar Suleiman, Adaeze Aguele, Farouk Gumel, Phillipa Osakwe-Okoye and Seyi Bella. Mofoluwasho Fadayomi will serve as secretary. As constituted, the taskforce is a time-bound, high-level executive working group tasked with producing execution-ready reform blueprints that will consolidate ongoing reforms, unlock capital within the petroleum sector, and strengthen Nigeria's position as a leading global energy investment destination. The in...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang as he celebrated his birthday on March 12.  Tinubu hailed the lawyer and politician, who, through responsible leadership,  stabilised Plateau State and is gradually returning the state to its glory days as 'Home of Peace and Tourism'. The President acknowledged the achievements of Governor Mutfwang on security, rural infrastructure development, healthcare, and education. He cited Governor Mutfwang's revitalisation of the state's economy through agro-logistics hubs. President Tinubu commended the governor for ensuring inclusive governance and advancing peaceful co-existence in the state. He lauded Mutfwang's inauguration of a 14-member State Advisory Committee on State Police, following his directive to all states of the federation to commence processes of the establishment of state police. President Tinubu described the governor's acti...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu on Thursday held a closed-door talks with Service Chiefs, including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.  The meeting, which took place at the State House in Abuja, lasted for over two hours. Major deliberation at the meeting was the current security challenges, and ongoing operations by troops and other security agencies to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity and protect lives and property across the country.  Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa emphasised that the armed forces are making significant gains in the fight against terrorism, banditry and other security threats. He was worried over the biased reports in some sections of the media suggesting that the military is losing the war. Musa said: "Contrary to the slanted reports by the media, the terrorists and bandits are taking more casualtie...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has informed political parties that the unity and stability of Nigeria rest on the pillars of good governance, assuring that his administration will uphold the principles for posterity.  This was even as the President reiterated his firm commitment to sustaining democracy and rule of law in the country as a lasting legacy.  He gave the assurance at an inter-faith breaking of fast with members of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He noted that strengthening internal democracy within political parties remains fundamental to building credible electoral institutions, processes, and systems. President Tinubu stated that direct primaries provide party members with better opportunities to participate and determine their representatives at various levels of governance. He said: "The Chairman of...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Lamido Abubakar Yuguda  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Lamido Abubakar Yuguda as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The appointment is in accordance with Section 8(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007. Yuguda’s nomination follows the recent appointment of the erstwhile Deputy Governor, Mr Bala Bello, as Special Adviser to the President on Political Economy. The President charges them to discharge their responsibilities with renewed dedication, professionalism, and commitment to Nigeria’s economic stability and growth, in their respective roles.    Yuguda's last public post was as director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, a position he held from 2020 to 2024. Briefly The former SEC DG is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, where he graduated in 1983 with a B.Sc. in Accountancy.  In 1991, he obtained a master's degree in Money, Banking and Financ...