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Category: Politics

  • Ogun deep sea port construction to begin in November — Abiodun

    Ogun deep sea port construction to begin in November — Abiodun

    ABEOKUTA, Nigeria (NPA) — Construction of the over $7 billion Gateway Deep Sea Port and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone in Ogun Waterside will commence in November, Governor Dapo Abiodun has announced.

    Abiodun disclosed this in a statement he personally issued on Monday, saying the construction would begin immediately after the planned groundbreaking ceremony.

    “We are pleased to announce that construction of the over $7 billion Gateway Deep Sea Port and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone in Ogun Waterside will commence in November, immediately after the groundbreaking ceremony,” he said.

    The governor said the announcement followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with DP World MEA FZE in Paris, witnessed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    He said the project was expected to be substantially completed within two and a half years.

    According to Abiodun, the project would unlock Ogun State’s maritime and economic potential, attract major investments, create jobs and position Ogun Waterside as a major maritime hub in West Africa.

    He also cited the rehabilitation of the Sagamu–Ijebu-Ode–Ore Road and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as developments that would strengthen connectivity and economic activities across Ogun East.

    “Beyond maritime development, we remain committed to harnessing the vast bitumen deposits within the Ijebu East axis and exploring the crude oil potential identified in parts of our State,” the governor said.

    Abiodun expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support and commitment to the project, saying his administration would continue to combine vision with implementation to attract investment and create opportunities for residents.

    Recall that President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, witnessed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the development of the Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone and the Gateway Deep Seaport.

    The Ogun State delegation was led by Governor Dapo Abiodun and included Secretary to the State Government Tokunbo Talabi and commissioners responsible for finance, works, industry, trade and investment, and transport, as well as a representative of the host community.

    The ceremony was also attended by Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, Nigeria’s Ambassador to France Emmanuel Ayodele Oke, Nigerian Ports Authority Managing Director Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, DP World Group CEO Yuvraj Narayan and other investors and partners.

    Tinubu said the agreements brought together investment capital, technical expertise and execution capacity, describing DP World as a major global ports and logistics operator.

    “The agreements before us bring together vision, expertise, capital and execution capacity. I particularly welcome DP World, one of the world’s leading port and logistics operators,” he said.

  • House extends 2025 capital budget implementation to December 2026

    House extends 2025 capital budget implementation to December 2026

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The House of Representatives has approved the extension of the implementation of the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act to Dec. 31, 2026.

    The extension followed consideration of a Bill seeking to amend the Appropriation (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act, 2025, during plenary after the House resumed from its annual recess.

    Leading the debate, the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, cited prevailing economic and fiscal challenges, as well as the need to complete ongoing projects, as reasons for the extension.

    The latest move comes after previous extensions of the implementation period. National Assembly records show that the House had earlier extended the deadline from March 31 to June 30, 2026, while the Senate subsequently moved it to Sept. 30, 2026.

    The House also considered three executive bills and communications from President Bola Tinubu.

    Among them was the National Research and Development Fund Establishment Bill, which seeks to provide a framework for financing research across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

    The House also received the 2026 statutory budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for consideration, as well as the National Postgraduate Medical College Amendment Bill, 2026, which seeks to expand the College’s mandate to include the award of Ph.D. degrees in Clinical Medicine.

    Senate resumes plenary

    Meanwhile, the Senate has resumed plenary after its annual recess, with President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, identifying insecurity, flooding and the high cost of living as pressing national concerns.

    Akpabio condemned recent abductions, including the reported incidents at Marisa and Dekera Mosque, and called on security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue captives and protect vulnerable communities.

    He also urged leaders to ensure that economic reforms translate into improved living conditions for ordinary Nigerians.

    Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Senate President called for peaceful and issue-based campaigns, stressing that no electoral contest was worth the loss of a Nigerian life.

    Six communications from President Tinubu seeking confirmation of appointments, consideration of the 2026 NDDC budget and passage of establishment bills, including the National Research and Development Fund Bill, were read and referred to relevant Senate committees.

    The Senate also observed a minute of silence in honour of former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris and the late Emir of Gumel, Ahmed Muhammad Sani.

  • Obi, Kwankwaso visit Sultan of Sokoto, call for unity and action on poverty

    Obi, Kwankwaso visit Sultan of Sokoto, call for unity and action on poverty

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have paid a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, as part of their engagements with traditional and community leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, was accompanied by Kwankwaso and other members of the NDC delegation during the visit to the Sultan’s palace in Sokoto on Monday.

    In a statement titled “In the Caliphate with a Message of Hope for the Poor and Unity in Nigeria,” Obi said the delegation used the visit to condole with the Sultan over the recent death of the Sardauna of Sokoto.

    He said he also used the opportunity to emphasise the need to unite and secure Nigeria, tackle poverty, create employment and rebuild confidence in the country.

    According to Obi, the Sultan warmly received the delegation and recalled knowing him for almost 46 years, dating back to 1980 when Obi was a first-year student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

    Obi said the Sultan reminded them that leadership came from Almighty Allah and carried a responsibility for which leaders would ultimately be held accountable.

    He said the Sultan identified security, poverty and employment as three critical priorities for Nigeria.

    Obi also quoted the Sultan as stressing that Nigeria’s diversity of tribes, languages and faiths should be a source of strength rather than division.

    The former Anambra governor said the NDC sought to build a Nigeria where citizens could live safely, prosper and have a sense of belonging.

    The Sultan, according to reports from his media team, also urged politicians and their supporters to conduct their activities peacefully and responsibly, avoid insults and inflammatory statements, and respect Nigerians with different political views.

    The monarch said political positions were temporary, while Nigeria’s peace, unity and stability remained essential to the country’s development. He urged political leaders to lead by example and ensure that campaigns did not degenerate into personal attacks or actions capable of creating divisions.

    Obi expressed appreciation to the Sultan for receiving the delegation and granting them an audience, describing the visit as part of the NDC’s broader consultations with traditional and community leaders.

    The delegation subsequently proceeded to a town-hall engagement in Sokoto as part of the party’s outreach to residents and stakeholders.

    Obi concluded his message by praying for continued blessings for the Sultan, the people of Sokoto State and Nigeria.

  • Tinubu: NCGC guarantees unlock N46.95bn in loans for businesses

    Tinubu: NCGC guarantees unlock N46.95bn in loans for businesses

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says the National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC) has issued ₦21.59 billion in guarantees, helping participating financial institutions extend ₦46.95 billion in loans to businesses and borrowers.

    Tinubu, in a statement on Monday, said the NCGC was established to address one of the major barriers to business financing by sharing part of the lending risk with participating financial institutions.

    He said the arrangement gives lenders greater confidence to extend credit to viable businesses and borrowers who may otherwise struggle to secure loans because of limited collateral or lack of credit history.

    “When I sought your mandate, I promised to move Nigeria towards a credit-based economy and to establish a loan guarantee scheme that would help small businesses overcome the barriers that keep them from finance,” Tinubu said.

    The president said the NCGC currently works with 19 financial institutions comprising 13 commercial banks, three microfinance banks and three development finance institutions.

    “One year into operations, we can see what that model is doing,” he said.

    Tinubu said every ₦1 in guarantees had helped unlock about ₦2.17 in credit, with 67,512 borrowers across 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory receiving NCGC-backed credit.

    He added that 11,374 of the beneficiaries were women, while 33.5 per cent were first-time formal borrowers.

    “For more than 22,000 Nigerians, this is their first entry into the formal credit system. They now have a credit record they can build. Each successful repayment strengthens that record and can make the next loan easier to secure,” he said.

    According to the president, the businesses supported through the scheme account for an estimated 661,291 direct and indirect jobs.

    Tinubu also reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through shared production facilities under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    He said the Federal Government was investing in shared MSME hubs through its National MSME Clinics to provide entrepreneurs with access to modern equipment, reliable power and production facilities without requiring them to bear the full cost individually.

    “Today, 21 shared facilities across 19 states and the FCT are supporting businesses and an estimated 650,000 jobs,” he said.

    Tinubu said the initiative was aimed at addressing the infrastructure and equipment constraints that often prevent small businesses from expanding.

    “A tailor should not need millions of naira to buy industrial machinery before she can grow her business. A food processor should not have to build a factory before producing at scale,” he said.

    The president said Nigerians had the ideas, skills and ambition to build successful businesses but often lacked access to the tools and infrastructure required to turn those capabilities into sustainable enterprises.

    He said the government’s responsibility was to remove such barriers so that businesses could increase production, reduce costs, become more competitive and create employment.

    Tinubu also cited other credit-related initiatives, including the Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Bank of Industry and the Development Bank of Nigeria.

    He said CREDICORP provides consumer credit to working Nigerians, while NELFUND supports student financing and the Bank of Industry and Development Bank of Nigeria continue to provide financing to businesses.

    “Credit matters because of what people can do with it. A trader can restock before the festive season. When a manufacturer takes a bigger order and buys another machine to fill it, another Nigerian gets a job,” Tinubu said.

    He said the government would continue to expand access to credit so that more Nigerians and businesses could benefit from the opportunities created by its economic reforms.

    “We will keep widening that road until the opportunities our reforms create reach homes and businesses in every part of Nigeria,” he said.

  • BREAKING: Obidient Movement raises concerns over INEC’s planned AI use ahead of 2027

    BREAKING: Obidient Movement raises concerns over INEC’s planned AI use ahead of 2027

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Obidient Movement has raised concerns over what it described as growing secrecy and alleged institutional collusion between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    In a statement issued by its Media and Communications Directorate, the group questioned INEC’s plans to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the electoral process, arguing that the Commission should first address concerns surrounding transparency, result transmission and public confidence in its processes.

    INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Ojo Amupitan, has said the Commission is developing an AI Roadmap and an AI Governance Framework for the phased and responsible adoption of AI in electoral administration. He said the technology would be assessed for factors including processing errors, efficiency, security, public confidence and sustainability before any nationwide expansion.

    The Movement, however, said it was concerned about the proposed use of AI and demanded that INEC publicly explain how the technology would work, the problems it was intended to address and the safeguards that would prevent abuse.

    The group argued that technology alone could not guarantee credible elections without strong institutional safeguards and accountability.

    It also cited an alleged recent investigation by Mundx Analytics, claiming that presidential results from more than 50,000 polling units were uploaded from private mobile phones during the 2023 election. The Movement alleged that the uploads were part of efforts to undermine the electoral process. The claim was not independently established in the statement.

    “No amount of technological sophistication can deliver credible elections when the institution responsible for conducting them is compromised,” the group said.

    The Movement also raised concerns about INEC’s ICT leadership, particularly the continued involvement of Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode, in preparations for the 2027 elections.

    It alleged that Bayode and other officials were involved in the disputed management of electoral technology during the 2023 election and called for greater independence and public scrutiny of the Commission’s ICT leadership. Those allegations were not independently established in the statement.

    The Movement said INEC should:

    1. Publish a comprehensive 2027 election plan, including the technologies, procedures and safeguards it intends to deploy.
    2. Conduct an independent audit of its electoral technology and publicly disclose the findings and corrective measures.
    3. Guarantee transparent and verifiable result transmission, ensuring that results from polling units can be independently verified.
    4. Explain its proposed use of AI and subject the technology to independent testing and public scrutiny.
    5. Strengthen the independence of its ICT leadership to improve public confidence in the electoral process.

    The group further warned that any attempt to manipulate the 2027 elections could trigger widespread public anger and undermine democratic stability.

    It urged INEC Chairman Amupitan to address concerns over the Commission’s electoral preparations and ensure that the process is transparent, accountable and capable of commanding public confidence.

    “The people’s mandate is not negotiable,” the Movement said.

    INEC has meanwhile maintained that it has no candidate or political party to favour ahead of the 2027 elections and has said its preparations are guided by institutional safeguards, legal requirements, cybersecurity and transparency.

  • Soludo calls for collective responsibility as Nigeria marks 66th Independence anniversary

    Soludo calls for collective responsibility as Nigeria marks 66th Independence anniversary

    AWKA, Nigeria (NPA) — Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, his wife, Nonye, Deputy Governor Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Speaker of the State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, members of the State Executive Council and other residents, on Sunday, gathered at the Cathedral Church of St. Faith, Awka, for an interdenominational thanksgiving service to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.

    Reflecting on 66 years of nationhood, Soludo said nation-building remained a collective responsibility requiring resilience, sacrifice and active participation from citizens.

    He said true freedom went beyond the raising of national flags, citing the sermon by Archbishop Alexander Ibezim, titled “From Bondage to Freedom, God’s Purpose for Nigeria,” which emphasised the importance of Nigerians determining their own destiny.

    “Governments will come and go, Nigeria remains,” Soludo said, urging Nigerians to remain committed to the country despite its challenges.

    The governor acknowledged the decline of the agricultural boom associated with earlier decades but said Nigeria had not failed, urging citizens to contribute positively to the country and “brighten the corner where we are”.

    He stressed the connection between individual conduct and national development, saying, “For personal integrity is national integrity.”

    Soludo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to peace, progress and good governance in Anambra State.

    He expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future and prayed for continued progress in both the country and Anambra.

    “May Nigeria continue to rise, and may Anambra continue to win,” he said.

    The governor prayed for God’s blessings on Anambra State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • APC chieftain urges Tinubu to review social intervention programmes

    APC chieftain urges Tinubu to review social intervention programmes

    OSOGBO, Nigeria (Agency Report) — An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen and comprehensively review the Federal Government’s social intervention programmes to cushion the impact of economic hardship on Nigerians.

    Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, made the call while speaking with newsmen in Osogbo on Sunday, saying interventions covering youth employment, skills development, cash transfers, school feeding, agriculture and other areas of social protection should be evaluated to ensure they deliver measurable benefits.

    He said the assessment should go beyond budgetary allocations to determine their impact on poverty levels, employment creation, productivity, household purchasing power and living conditions.

    “Such interventions must have clear targets, transparent beneficiary selection, strong monitoring and measurable performance indicators to minimise leakages, duplication and abuse,” he said.

    Oyintiloye also urged the President to ensure that public funds allocated to social intervention programmes produced identifiable benefits for vulnerable Nigerians.

    He said efforts to alleviate poverty should not be undermined by individuals pursuing personal interests, adding that allocated funds should translate into improved living conditions for beneficiaries.

    Oyintiloye commended the Federal Government’s allocation of N462.66 billion to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in the 2026 Appropriation Act, but said the scale of poverty remained a major concern.

    He compared Nigeria’s poverty situation with Ghana’s multidimensional poverty data, which put Ghana’s national multidimensional poverty rate at 21.9 per cent in the third quarter of 2025. Nigeria’s poverty rate was estimated at 63 per cent under the national poverty line, according to the International Monetary Fund’s 2026 Article IV assessment.

    Oyintiloye also called for improved workers’ allowances and welfare packages, arguing that stronger household purchasing power could stimulate local businesses and help families meet essential needs.

    He said millions of Nigerians remained vulnerable and urged the government to further repackage its intervention programmes to improve their effectiveness.

    Oyintiloye expressed confidence that the administration’s poverty-reduction efforts could yield better results, while urging Nigerians to support measures aimed at improving the economy.

    He cited the removal of fuel subsidy and monetary policy reforms as part of the administration’s economic measures and called for continued efforts to address hardship.

    The Federal Government has continued to expand its social protection architecture, including plans for the $1 billion Renewed Hope Social Protection Programme aimed at strengthening social protection and economic inclusion.

    (NAN)

  • Ebonyi governor’s aide responds to KAA’s criticisms over infrastructure, sanitation and investment climate 

    Ebonyi governor’s aide responds to KAA’s criticisms over infrastructure, sanitation and investment climate 

    ABAKALIKI, Nigeria (NPA) — The Special Assistant to the Ebonyi State Governor on New Media, Leo Ekene Oketa, has responded to criticisms by Ebonyi-born writer and KaaTruths Podcast host, Kel Armstrong Amobi, over governance, infrastructure, environmental sanitation and resource management in the state.

    Amobi, in an open letter to Governor Francis Nwifuru on Sunday, urged the governor to engage skilled Ebonyians who have built careers and businesses outside politics in developing practical strategies for growing the state’s economy and improving its public image.

    Amobi said his platforms reach more than 60 million people monthly and claimed that he had consistently promoted Ebonyi through his podcast, articles and international engagements.

    However, after a recent visit to the state, he expressed concern over what he described as deteriorating infrastructure, poor sanitation and declining business activity.

    He cited his experience travelling through Abakaliki and other parts of the state, including Vanco Junction, the Meat Market tunnel, Nwofe and the Abakaliki Rice Mill area.

    Amobi questioned the planning and execution of some ongoing projects, including the Vanco Junction tunnel and the Nwofe flyover, and also raised concerns about the condition of roads, bridges and public spaces.

    He further criticised the state government’s handling of the airport, noting that he had to use the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu rather than Ebonyi Airport.

    Amobi also alleged that businesses were leaving the state and said he had personally abandoned projects worth hundreds of millions of naira because of what he described as an unfavourable business environment.

    He urged the governor to engage successful Ebonyians and investors in developing the state, arguing that a clear vision, credible plans and visible commitment would help restore confidence.

    “Ebonyi has thousands of intelligent, accomplished and passionate sons and daughters who want to help build the state,” Amobi said. “Give them a genuine invitation and show them that your government is ready to act.”

    He also criticised what he described as worsening refuse disposal and environmental sanitation in parts of Abakaliki.

    Governor’s aide responds

    Responding on September 27, Oketa acknowledged Amobi’s right to criticise the government but said the assessment was based on a limited experience of the state.

    Oketa argued that Ebonyi should not be defined by one journey through Abakaliki or observations of individual roads, flyovers or the airport.

    He said the Nwifuru administration inherited both challenges and projects from previous governments and had pursued what he described as a policy of continuity, maintenance, expansion and new development.

    According to Oketa, the administration has invested in roads, bridges, education, healthcare, agriculture, industrialisation, technology, housing and human capital development.

    He cited the development of the ICT University at Oferekpe and the University of Aeronautic Engineering and Aerospace Engineering, as well as scholarships, recruitment of health workers, hospital upgrades, ambulances and expanded health insurance coverage.

    Oketa also pointed to investments in fertiliser production and distribution, agricultural mechanisation, rice and cassava processing and other initiatives aimed at increasing the economic value derived from agriculture.

    He listed the rehabilitation of the state’s Pipe Production Company and Fertilizer Chemical Company, a 10-storey building at Presco Junction and plans for a new cement factory among projects he said were being pursued by the administration.

    He rejected Amobi’s description of Ebonyi as a “wasteland”, arguing that the scale of public investment across several sectors contradicted such a characterisation.

    Oketa, however, said the government had not completed its work and acknowledged that there were areas requiring further attention.

    He also challenged Amobi to provide details of the businesses and projects he said he had abandoned, including what he believed the government had done or failed to do.

    “My brother, if you have ideas that can attract investment, create jobs, develop the creative economy or improve Ebonyi’s visibility internationally, bring them forward,” Oketa said.

    He also invited Amobi to identify potential investors and their requirements, saying such information could help the government improve the investment environment.

    Oketa urged stakeholders to present both the achievements and shortcomings of the state, rather than portraying Ebonyi as either perfect or hopeless.

    He said the state remained a work in progress and called for contributions from accomplished Ebonyians to support its development.

    The exchange has brought renewed attention to competing assessments of governance, infrastructure, sanitation and investment conditions in Ebonyi State, with both sides calling for greater engagement in the state’s development.

  • Presidency says Tinubu hale and hearty, dismisses concerns over UNGA absence

    Presidency says Tinubu hale and hearty, dismisses concerns over UNGA absence

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Presidency has dismissed speculation over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s wellbeing following his decision to remain in France during the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, saying the President is hale and hearty and continuing his working vacation.

    In a statement titled “President Tinubu is Hale and Hearty”, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu’s absence from Abuja did not prevent him from carrying out his official responsibilities.

    Onanuga said that, in the digital age, the President did not need to be physically present in Abuja to discharge the responsibilities for which he was elected in 2023.

    The Presidency cited Tinubu’s engagements in France, including meetings with investors and the September 24 signing of agreements involving the Ogun State Government and DP World for the proposed Gateway Deep Seaport and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone, as evidence of his continued official activities while on vacation. The projects were announced as involving an initial investment of more than $7 billion.

    Onanuga also responded to comments by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who had questioned Tinubu’s absence from the UNGA and asked about his whereabouts.

    He noted that other African leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, were also absent from the UNGA, arguing that Tinubu had publicly announced his annual vacation and delegated representation at the gathering to Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

    The Presidency had earlier said Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for his annual leave, initially scheduled for three weeks, and later extended his working vacation by a few days. It said he had continued to keep in touch with developments at home and had delegated Shettima to represent him at some official engagements, including the UNGA.

    Onanuga said Tinubu was expected to return to Nigeria during the week to participate in activities marking the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary and attend the Lagos premiere of a film commemorating the late democracy campaigner, MKO Abiola.

  • Peter Obi questions Tinubu’s absence from UNGA, praises Ghana’s Mahama

    Peter Obi questions Tinubu’s absence from UNGA, praises Ghana’s Mahama

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has questioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, while praising Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama for what he described as a remarkable address.

    In a statement titled “Where Is Nigeria’s President?”, published on Sunday and republished on his verified Facebook page on Monday, Obi said Nigeria should be represented by its President at major international gatherings, particularly when the country faces significant domestic and international challenges.

    He questioned Tinubu’s absence from the UNGA for three consecutive sessions, arguing that Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous country, should play a stronger leadership role on the global stage.

    Obi acknowledged that Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the 81st UNGA but maintained that Tinubu’s continued absence raised questions about presidential representation at the annual gathering of world leaders.

    The NDC candidate contrasted Nigeria’s absence at the presidential level with Mahama’s participation, describing the Ghanaian leader’s address as an example of what effective leadership could achieve.

    According to Obi, Mahama’s speech demonstrated the importance of competence, capacity, compassion, commitment and character in national leadership.

    He said Nigeria’s President “ought to be representing the country and providing leadership for Africa at the international level”, and questioned why Tinubu had not attended any of the last three UNGA sessions.

    Obi also called on Nigerians to pray for the President’s return and leadership in addressing the challenges confronting the country.

    The Federal Government has said Tinubu mandated Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st UNGA and deliver the country’s national statement.