Category: Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the outcomes of the 10th France-Nigeria Business Council Meeting held at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, describing the development as a sign that both countries are moving from dialogue to implementation.

Tinubu stated this in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the President, the growing economic ties between Nigeria and France now carry “real economic weight” and should translate into jobs, industries, infrastructure and shared prosperity.

He noted that trade between both countries reached $4.7 billion in 2025, with Nigeria remaining the leading destination for French investment in sub-Saharan Africa.

The meeting was attended by Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, France’s Minister Delegate, Nicolas Forissier, as well as leading Nigerian and French business executives.

Tinubu commended the Chairman of the France-Nigeria Business Council, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, for convening what he described as a productive session involving major private sector players from both countries.

The President also acknowledged the participation of prominent business leaders, including Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Tony Elumelu, Wale Tinubu, Kola Karim, Kashim Bukar, Patrick Pouyanné of TotalEnergies, Rodolphe Saadé of CMA CGM, as well as representatives of Danone and Accor.

According to him, their participation reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms and long-term competitiveness.

Tinubu particularly welcomed the signing of an agreement between Accor and Shoreline Group for Nigeria’s first national hotel platform, describing it as a major boost for the country’s hospitality, tourism and investment sectors.

“This is the partnership Nigeria is ready for. We are ready for investment that builds, capital that produces, and enterprise that creates jobs. Nigeria and France are no longer simply exchanging goodwill. We are opening a new chapter of serious economic execution,” the President said.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the business environment, supporting credible investors and deepening reforms aimed at making Nigeria a more stable, productive and competitive economy.

“The message from the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi is that Nigeria is ready, France is engaged, and the private sector in both countries is moving forward.

“The next chapter of Africa-Europe relations will be written in factories, hotels, ports, energy projects, technology platforms, farms, jobs and new value chains,” he added.

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has officially declared his intention to contest for the Agege Federal Constituency seat in the forthcoming elections.

Obasa made the announcement on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Agege, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries.

The sixth-term lawmaker said his decision followed extensive consultations with party leaders and stakeholders who urged him to represent Agege at the federal level. “I answered the call of our leaders and stakeholders who believe I can serve Agege better,” he told party members.

He urged members of the APC to remain united and committed as the party prepares for its primaries, stressing that internal cohesion was vital for victory.

Obasa also threw his support behind former Agege council chairman, Hon. Ganiyu Egunjobi, who is contesting for the Agege Constituency I seat, describing him as a loyal and diligent public servant. “Egunjobi has served our people diligently and deserves the support of all loyal party members,” he said.

The Speaker further endorsed Mr. Azeez Ninolowo, an aspirant for Agege Constituency II, noting that the area needed experienced and dedicated representatives who understood the challenges facing residents. “We must present candidates with capacity, loyalty, and commitment to the progress of Agege,” Obasa added.

His declaration adds momentum to the growing list of APC aspirants in Agege, as supporters intensify mobilisation ahead of the party’s screening and primary exercises.

Residents of Agege and Orile-Agege are closely monitoring developments as party leaders conclude internal consultations, while members across Lagos await the outcome of the screening by state and national leadership.

Political observers say Obasa’s move shifts attention from earlier speculation linking him to the Lagos governorship race, positioning him instead for a strategic role at the federal level.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced the commencement of the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for aspirants seeking to contest various elective positions on the party’s platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday and jointly signed by the National Chairman, Sen. Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, and the Secretary, Barr. Ikenna Morgan Enwekweu.

According to the statement, the sale of Expression of Interest Forms will begin on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, and end on Monday, May 18, 2026.

The party said screening exercises and appeals arising from the screening process would hold between Thursday, May 21, and Saturday, May 23, 2026.

It added that the sale of Nomination Forms would commence immediately after the screening exercise and close on Monday, May 25, 2026, while appeals from the screening exercise would be entertained between Tuesday, May 26, and Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

The NDC further stated that primary elections for various elective offices would hold from Thursday, May 28, 2026, while the Presidential Primary Election is scheduled for Saturday, May 29, 2026, in Abuja.

Under the approved fees released by the party, presidential aspirants are expected to pay ₦20 million for Expression of Interest Forms and ₦40 million for Nomination Forms, bringing the total cost of presidential forms to ₦60 million.

The party also fixed ₦1 million for Expression of Interest Forms and ₦1.5 million for Nomination Forms for State House of Assembly aspirants.

House of Representatives aspirants are to pay ₦2 million and ₦3 million respectively, while Senate aspirants will pay ₦3 million for Expression of Interest Forms and ₦5 million for Nomination Forms.

Governorship aspirants are expected to pay ₦10 million for Expression of Interest Forms and ₦20 million for Nomination Forms.

The party, however, granted concessions to female aspirants and persons living with disabilities (PWDs), stating that female aspirants would pay 50 per cent of the approved fees, while PWDs would pay 25 per cent.

The NDC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and internal democracy as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.

AWKA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, on Tuesday received a delegation from the Igboukwu community at the Light House, where they presented two brand new OMAA Utility Vehicles to support the state’s security operations and efforts to combat criminality.

The gesture, described as a strong expression of community partnership, was welcomed as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen grassroots involvement in security management across the state.

Governor Soludo said the donation goes beyond material support, describing it as a symbol of shared responsibility in the fight against insecurity.

“This is not just about vehicles. It is about ownership. It is about a community rising to say that the security of Anambra is our collective duty,” he said.

He commended the Igboukwu delegation, led by the President-General and traditional leadership of the community, for what he described as a clear demonstration of civic responsibility and unity of purpose.

“To Ndi Igboukwu, I say Daalụ nụ. You have shown that when government and the people move as one, no criminal can hide and no evil can thrive,” Soludo added.

According to the governor, the vehicles will be immediately deployed to enhance mobility for security operatives and improve rapid response capabilities in affected areas. He said the support will strengthen ongoing operations aimed at reducing crime and improving public safety.

Soludo noted that the initiative aligns with the People’s Public-Private-Community Partnership (PPCP) model being promoted by his administration, which emphasises collaboration between government and local communities in governance and development.

“This is the PPCP spirit at work — government providing leadership, and communities providing partnership. With this unity, we will build the livable and prosperous homeland we promised,” he said.

The governor, who recently began his second term in office, reiterated that security remains a top priority of his administration. He added that sustained collaboration with communities is central to achieving lasting peace and stability in the state.

He expressed optimism that increased community participation in security efforts would further strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance, and rapid response across Anambra.

The Igboukwu community delegation said the donation was part of its commitment to support government efforts in tackling insecurity and ensuring safer communities.

They pledged continued cooperation with the state government and security agencies to maintain peace and stability.

Governor Soludo reaffirmed that with sustained collaboration between government and citizens, his vision of a secure, livable, and prosperous Anambra State remains firmly on course.

LAFIA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it registered 106,074 new voters in Nasarawa State during the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Nasarawa State, Muhammad Abubakar-Sadiq, disclosed this on Monday in Lafia while briefing journalists on the commencement of the third phase of the CVR exercise.

According to him, the third phase of the registration exercise began on May 11 and is expected to end on July 10, 2026.

Abubakar-Sadiq explained that the commission recorded 37,323 new registrations during the first phase of the exercise conducted between August and December 2025.

He, however, said the figure rose significantly to 106,074 during the second phase conducted from January to April 2026.

The REC attributed the increase in voter turnout to heightened public awareness and the decentralisation of registration centres from the headquarters of the 13 local government areas and Lafia to the 147 electoral wards across the state.

He said eligible participants in the CVR exercise include Nigerians who recently attained the age of 18, new registrants, persons seeking transfer of voter registration, replacement of lost Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and correction of personal information.

According to him, participation was particularly high in Karu, Obi, Lafia and Nasarawa local government areas.

“Karu recorded 16,492, while Obi, Lafia and Nasarawa LGAs recorded 14,030, 13,354 and 14,493 respectively for new registration,” he said.

Abubakar-Sadiq added that female registrants outnumbered their male counterparts during the exercise.

“Female registration stood at 59,538, while male registration was 46,536,” he added.

The REC commended residents of the state for turning out in large numbers and encouraged those yet to register to visit the nearest registration centre.

He also warned against multiple registrations, stating that duplicate entries would be detected and removed through the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).

Abubakar-Sadiq further disclosed that INEC would soon display data from the previous phase for public scrutiny, claims and objections before final publication.

He noted that the commission encountered challenges including poor network connectivity, last-minute rush by registrants and geographical barriers during the previous exercise.

According to him, INEC has taken steps to address the identified challenges, including the procurement of routers for electoral officers across the state to improve network connectivity and ensure smoother operations.

The REC appreciated the media, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders for their support during the exercise and called for sustained collaboration.

He also reminded the public that voter registration remains free of charge and warned that no INEC staff or agent is authorised to demand payment for any aspect of the process. (NAN).

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) —The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will deploy more than 1.4 million members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the 2027 general elections across the country.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the leadership of the NYSC in Abuja on Monday.

Amupitan met with the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between both institutions ahead of future elections.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, quoted Amupitan as describing the NYSC as a critical pillar in Nigeria’s democratic and electoral process.

He said corps members had consistently supported election operations since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

“I dare say INEC cannot conduct elections in Nigeria without the NYSC,” Amupitan said.

According to him, corps members remain the backbone of field election operations nationwide.

“When we speak of election manpower, we are essentially speaking of your corps members,” he added.

The INEC chairman said the neutrality, discipline and commitment of corps members continue to strengthen the credibility of elections across the country.

“They are the most dedicated, educated and patriotic election staff we have,” he said.

Amupitan noted that corps members serve as ad hoc staff during elections and play key roles in safeguarding electoral materials and processes at polling units nationwide.

He cited the 2023 general elections as an example of their importance to election management.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC deployed about 1.2 million ad hoc staff during the 2023 elections, with more than 70 per cent — nearly 850,000 — comprising corps members and student volunteers.

According to Amupitan, the 2027 elections will require an even larger mobilisation.

“INEC will deploy 707,384 corps members for the presidential and National Assembly elections.

“The same number will be required for governorship and state assembly elections. This brings the total requirement to 1,414,768 ad hoc personnel nationwide,” he said.

He added that an additional 52,446 corps members would be needed for off-cycle and bye-elections.

Amupitan said corps members account for nearly 90 per cent of key electoral officers deployed nationwide, noting that they had protected the integrity of the ballot across Nigeria’s 176,846 polling units.

“These young Nigerians protected the sanctity of the ballot in difficult terrains,” he said.

He also commended their performance during the Anambra governorship election and the Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls.

According to him, their digital skills contributed significantly to the successful deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

“Their tech competence is central to modern electoral administration,” he added.

Amupitan assured that INEC was working to improve welfare packages and insurance coverage for corps members engaged in election duties.

“We are constantly refining safety and welfare measures for all ad hoc staff,” he said.

He stressed the need for early training and preparation ahead of the 2027 elections, while also referencing upcoming off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

“These elections will test our innovations before the 2027 general elections,” he said, while seeking continued collaboration from the NYSC leadership.

In his response, NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, commended the longstanding partnership between both institutions, noting that the INEC-NYSC Memorandum of Understanding had been in operation since 2011.

Nafiu described corps members as credible, reliable and easily trainable personnel.

He added that incoming Gen Z corps members possess strong digital skills that would further enhance electoral processes.

“Their digital competence will further strengthen electoral processes,” he said.

He assured INEC of the NYSC’s continued support for electoral activities nationwide.

“We remain committed to supporting credible elections in Nigeria,” Nafiu added.

WASHINGTON, U.S (NPA) —The President of the United States has criticised The New York Times and one of its reporters, David Fahrenthold, over reports concerning the ongoing rehabilitation of Washington’s Reflecting Pool, accusing the newspaper of biased and misleading coverage of the project.

In a post on his Truth Social account on Tuesday, the President dismissed what he described as attempts by the newspaper to defend the Obama and Biden administrations’ handling of the project.

“The Failing New York Times, which is one of the worst newspapers anywhere in the World, and is losing subscribers on an hourly basis, is now at it again,” he wrote.

He further accused the newspaper of inaccurate coverage of the 2024 presidential election and alleged that it was attempting to justify what he described as the “expensively botched” rehabilitation of the Reflecting Pool located between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

According to the President, previous administrations spent more than 55 million dollars on efforts to rehabilitate the pool without success, alleging that the project left the site closed for years and in deteriorating condition.

“It was an embarrassment to Washington, D.C., and to our Country itself,” he stated, adding that despite the large sums spent, the pool allegedly continued to leak and suffered cosmetic defects.

The President claimed his administration could complete a superior rehabilitation project for between five and six million dollars within two weeks, compared to what he alleged would have taken four years and cost about 400 million dollars under previous plans.

He said the new approach treated the Reflecting Pool “as a highly sophisticated swimming pool” rather than as a conventional building structure, arguing that the revised method would deliver better long-term results at significantly lower cost.

“This is not just a paint job,” he wrote, rejecting characterisations he attributed to Fahrenthold’s reporting. “It is a deeply complicated work of smart and beautiful construction.”

The President also maintained that the project contract was awarded by the Department of the Interior and not by him personally, adding that he had no prior relationship with the contractor handling the rehabilitation.

“I saved more than 390 Million Dollars, and four years of no ‘mess,’ and was, of course, given no credit by the biased New York Times,” he added.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a final call for eligible Nigerians to register to vote ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

The commission described the exercise as the third and final phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process before the next general election.

In a notice released on Monday, INEC stressed that there would be no extension of the registration deadline.

“No extensions. No second chances,” the commission stated.

INEC urged Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing exercise, noting that voter registration remains the first step toward participating in the democratic process.

“Register now, your voice starts here, and your future depends on it,” the commission added.

According to INEC, registration is taking place daily between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at INEC state and local government offices, as well as designated registration centres nationwide.

The commission also assured citizens of a smooth and transparent registration process across all centres.

In its campaign message, INEC said: “The final phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise begins today. Your voice starts with registration.”

It added that every Nigerian deserves a voice and that the process was designed to be simple and accessible.

For online services and further information, the commission directed prospective voters to its official portal.