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Tinubu Flags-off Abuja Light Rail

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Tinubu Flags-off Abuja Light Rail
Tinubu Flags-off Abuja Light Rail
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*** Hail Wike’s Commitment to Renewed Hope Agenda

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially flagged off the commercial operations of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit system, also known as the Abuja Light Rail as part of the Administration’s first anniversary.

According to the statement by the Director of Press (Office of the Minister), Anthony Ogunleye, President Tinubu, during the inauguration exercise, emphasized the significance of the achievement, saying that it was a major step towards progress in the country, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory.

He expressed joy at the successful rehabilitation and launch of the commercial operation of Abuja light rail, aimed at establishing a fully functional and efficient public rail transportation infrastructure for the benefit of the people, saying that it signifies his administration’s commitment to fulfilling its pledges.

President Tinubu also described the Abuja light rail as a symbol of progress, connectivity, and inclusivity, emphasizing that it represents his administration’s commitment to modernizing public transportation infrastructure, easing traffic congestion, and improving accessibility for all FCT residents and visitors.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made his way into the train carriage following his flag off of commercial operations of the Abuja Light Rail on Wednesday.
The President recalled that he had earlier expressed the desire to ride on the metro line and thanked the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, and his team for ensuring the timely completion of the project.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu read ing his speech during the flag-off of the commencement of commercial operations of the Abuja Light Rail on Wednesday.

President Tinubu who thereafter announced that there will be no charge for riding the Abuja light rail until the end of the year, also acknowledged the track record of the FCT Minister as well as the accomplishments of the FCT Administration, saying it is a demonstration of serious commitment to value. He said the FCT Minister is truly serving the nation, in line with the ideas of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the new national anthem.

The President said, “The commencement of this project is a dream come true for all of us. I am not surprised, given the track record of the Minister. The FCT Administration’s accomplishments demonstrate a serious commitment to value, the chapter that we ought to embrace in this country. Mr. Project, I say thank you very much to you and your team.

“In keeping with the Renewed Hope Agenda ideals, you have demonstrated unusual capacity with your team. Thank you very much once again. The huge investment that you put into this project is there for the people to remember.

“I heard you declared free ride for two months, while, I am declaring free ride till the end of the year”.

During his speech, the FCT Minister recalled that President Tinubu had instructed the Administration to prioritize making the Abuja light rail operational for the benefit of the residents.

He noted that the contract for rehabilitating the Abuja light rail was awarded in 2018 at a cost of $30 million, which remained unpaid when he assumed office. The Minister also disclosed that the 10 train stations lacked access roads and car parks, which hindered the effective operation of the Abuja light rail project.

Barr. Wike however expressed joy that the FCT Administration, along with the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Ministry of Finance, and the Accountant General of the Federation, successfully facilitated the payment of the contract sum to the contractor which ensured the completion of the rehabilitation exercise.

He added that the access roads to the various train stations and car parks were also constructed at the cost N21.4 billion and that the directive of the President to make the train operational for residents was actualized within a period of nine months.

He said, “As I speak to you today, all those roads to the various train stations are completed with car parks for people to use to the various train stations.

The Minister also disclosed that the FCT Administration was able to renegotiate the training cost for personnel from $128 million to $75 million, thereby saving about $50 million for the Federal Government.

While making clarification on what was being inaugurated, the Minister stressed that it was the commercial operation of the Abuja light rail and not the train stations and that the rehabilitation of the Abuja light rail was a promise made and fulfilled in the FCT, adding that the FCT Administration has rekindled the hope of the people with its accomplishments.

He said, “For me, today is the happiest day. We are talking about the Renewed Hope Agenda. What is the Renewed hope agenda? Giving back hope to the people. That’s what it is. So, it is a reality. What you are seeing today is a reality. People will now be happy that I can come to the city and go back. Those who want to watch a football match will take the train to the next train station, walk down to Moshood Abiola Stadium, see the match, go back to the train station, and go back to their house”.

In his remarks, the Mandate Secretary, FCTA Transportation Secretariat, Chinedum Elechi, said the Abuja Rail Mass Transit System has 12 diesel multiple units each with a capacity to accommodate a minimum of 700 passengers. He said each train is designed to run at least 14 trips per day, meaning that one train can transport approximately 9,800 passengers daily.

And in her remarks, the Minister of State, FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud thanked President Tinubu and Vice President, Kashim Shetima as well as other members of Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly for their invaluable support to the FCT Administration.

The Minister also thanked the entire team involved in the planning, design and construction and now operation of the Abuja light rail, saying the commencement of commercial operation of the rail service has showcased the power of collaboration and determination in bringing about positive change.

The President along with distinguished guest that included the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives the CJN and the SGF amongst other guests took a train ride to the Airport station where the President unveiled a plaque signifying the commencement of commercial operations of the Abuja Light Rail.

 

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Senate Confirms Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance

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4 days ago

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March 11, 2026

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Taiwo Oyedele
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The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the nomination of Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance following his screening before the upper legislative chamber.

Oyedele, a tax expert and former chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, was approved after lawmakers expressed confidence in his competence and professional experience. He is expected to replace Doris Uzoka-Anite in the role.

During the screening, Oyedele said his nomination offered him an opportunity to serve the country, noting that he had built his career in the private sector before advising the federal government on fiscal reforms.

He highlighted his experience at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he served as Africa tax and policy leader with responsibility for more than 20 countries, adding that his work on international tax policy and economic reforms across more than 180 countries had prepared him to contribute to Nigeria’s economic transformation.

Oyedele also referenced his work as chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, noting that the committee had developed several reform initiatives, including four major tax reform laws recently passed by the National Assembly to modernise Nigeria’s fiscal framework and improve revenue generation.

He further emphasised the need for realistic budgeting, improved cash management and fiscal discipline, noting that delays in payments to contractors increase project costs and undermine trust in government, while reforms in tariff structures could encourage local manufacturing, create jobs and reduce reliance on imports.

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Tinubu Approves Posting of 65 Ambassadors, Sends Fani Kayode to Germany

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1 week ago

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March 6, 2026

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President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of 65 ambassadors-designate to various countries and international missions, comprising 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career envoys.

The ambassadors were earlier confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in December.

According to a statement issued by the State House, the postings cover diplomatic missions across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas, and the United Nations.

Among the non-career ambassadors, former presidential aide Reno Omokri was posted to Mexico City, Mexico, while former Minister of Health Isaac Folorunso Adewole will serve as Nigeria’s envoy to Canada.

Former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau was posted to China, while businessman and former senator Jimoh Ibrahim was designated as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Also among the nominees are former Lagos State deputy governor Olufemi Pedro, who will head Nigeria’s mission in Australia, and former intelligence chief Ayodele Oke, who has been posted to France.

Other non-career envoys include Femi Fani-Kayode to Germany, Fatima Florence Ajimobi to Austria, and Nora Ladi Daduut to South Korea.

In the career category, several seasoned diplomats were assigned to key missions, including Amb. Mohammed Mahmud Lele to Algeria, Amb. Abdussalam Habu Zayyad to Senegal, Amb. Haidara Mohammed Idris to the Netherlands, and Amb. Ibrahim Danlami to Kenya.

The statement noted that the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nigeria) has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, who will serve as High Commissioner.

France has also granted agrément for Ambassador Ayodele Oke as Nigeria’s envoy to Paris.

According to the presidency, the ministry has communicated the nominations of the other 62 envoys to their respective host countries and requested agrément in line with diplomatic protocol.

President Tinubu also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately commence the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and High Commissioners ahead of their deployment.

 

POSTINGS OF NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS

S/N NAME                        MISSION APPROVED

1.   SENATOR GRACE BENT: LOME-TOGO

2.   SEN. ITA ENANG: SOUTH AFRICA

3.   IKPEAZU VICTOR: SPAIN

4.   NKECHI LINDA UFOCHUKWU: TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL

5.   MAHMUD YAKUBU: QATAR

6.   PAUL OGA ADIKWU: THE VATICAN CITY HOLY SEE

7.   VICE ADMIRAL IBOK-ETE EKWE IBAS: THE PHILIPPINES

8.   MR. RENO OMOKRI: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

9.   HON. (ENGR.) ABASI BRAIMAH (FMHR): BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

10.   MRS. ERELU ANGELA ADEBAYO: PORTUGAL

11.   BARR. OLUMILUA OLUWAYIMIKA AYOTUNWA: TOKYO, JAPAN

12.   RT. HON. UGWUANYI IFEANYI LAWRENCE: ATHENS, GREECE

13.   BARR. CHIOMA PRISCILLA OHAKIM: WARSAW, POLAND

14.   AMINU DALHATU: UNITED KINGDOM, UK

15.   LT. GEN  ABDULRAHMAN BELLO DAMBAZAU: BEIJING, CHINA

16.   HON. TASIU MUSA MAIGARI: GAMBIA

17.   OLUFEMI PEDRO: AUSTRALIA

18.   BARR. MUHAMMED UBANDOMA ALIYU: ARGENTINA

19.   LATEEF KAYODE ARE: USA

20.   AMB. JOSEPH SOLA IJI: RUSSIA

21.   SEN. JIMOH IBRAHIM: UN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

22.   FEMI FANI KAYODE: GERMANY

23.   PROF. ISAAK FOLORUNSO ADEWOLE: OTTAWA, CANADA

24.   AJIMOBI FATIMA FLORENCE (F): AUSTRIA

25.   MRS. LOLA AKANDE (F): SWEDEN

26.   AYODELE OKE:  FRANCE

27.   YAKUBU N. GAMBO: SAUDI ARABIA

28.   SENATOR PROF. NORA LADI DADUUT: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

29.   BARR. ONUEZE CHUKWUJIKA JOE OKOCHA SAN: DUBLIN

30.   DR. KULU HARUNA ABUBAKAR: TUNIS, TUNISIA

31.   RT. HON. JERRY SAMUEL MANWE: PORT OF SPAIN, T&T

POSTINGS OF CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS LIST

S/N NAME MISSION APPROVED

1. AMB. NWABIOLA EZENWA CHUKWUMEKA: COTE D’IV/OIRE

2. BESTO MAIMUNA IBRAHIM: NIAMEY-NIGER

3. MONICA OKWUCHUKWU ENEBECHI: SAO TOME, STP

4. AMB. MOHAMMED MAHMUD LELE: ALGIERS-ALGERIA

5. ENDONI SYNDOPH PAEBI: OUAGADOUGOU-BURKINA FASO

6. AHMED MOHAMMED MONGUNO: CAIRO EGYPT

7. AMB.JANE ADAMS (NEE OKON) MICHAEL (F): KINGSTON-JAMAICA

8. AMB. CLARK-OMERU ALEXANDRA (F): LUSAKA-ZAMBIA

9. CHIMA GEOGGREY LIOMA DAVID: BAMAKO-MALI

10. AMB. ODUMAH YVONNE EHINOSEN: MALABO –E/GUINEA

11. AMB WASA SEGUN IGE: BEIRUT, LEBANON

12. RUBEN ABIMBOLA SAMUEL (F): ROME, ITALY

13. AMB.ONAGA OGECHUKWU KINGSLEY: MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE

14. AMB.MAGAJI UMAR: KINSASHA, DR CONGO

15. AMB.MUHAMMAD SAIDU DAHIRU: NEW DELHI-INDIA

16. AMB. ABDUSSALAM HABU ZAYYAD: DAKAR-SENEGAL

17. AMB SHEHU ILU BARDE: ACCRA GHANA

18. AMB.AMINU NASIR: ETHIOPIA

19. ABUBAKAR MUSA MUSA: N’DJAMENA, CHAD

20. AMB. HAIDARA MOHAMMED IDRIS: THE HAGUE-NETHERLANDS

21. AMB.BAKO ADAMU UMAR: RABAT-MOROCCO

22. AMB. SULU GAMBARI OLATUNJI AHMED: MALAYSIA

23. AMB.ROMATA MOHAMMED OMOBOLANLE (F): TANZANIA

24. AMB. SHAGA JOHN SHAMAH: BOTSWANA

25. SALAU, HAMZA MOHAMMED: TEHRAN, IRAN

26. AMB.IBRAHIM DANLAMI: KENYA

27. IBRAHIM ADEOLA MOPELOLA (F): COTONOU-BENIN

28. AMB.AYENI ADEBAYO EMMANUEL: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

29. AMB.AKANDE WAHAB ADEKOLA: BERNE-SWITZERLAND

30. AMB. AREWA (NEE ADEDOKUN) ESTHER (F): WINDHOEK-NAMIBIA

31. AMB.GERGADI JOSEPH JOHN: LIBREVILLE-GABON

32. AMB. LUTHER OGBOMODE AYO-KALATA (F): SIERRA LEONE

33. DANLADI YAKUBU NYAKU : KHARTOUM-SUDAN

34. BELLO DOGON-DAJI HALIRU: BANGKOK, THAILAND

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Tinubu Orders Suspension of Cashless Payment System at Nigerian Airports

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2 weeks ago

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March 4, 2026

By

President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate suspension of the cashless payment system recently introduced at airports across the country.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this on Wednesday, March 4, while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to Keyamo, the President ordered that the system be reviewed to ensure it operates efficiently without causing inconvenience to travellers.

“He directed that we go back to the drawing board, suspend the present system, and perfect a system that will work perfectly without putting unnecessary pressure on citizens,” the minister said.

Keyamo added that the review may involve collaboration with the private sector to develop a more seamless payment framework. In the interim, a hybrid system will be adopted, allowing travellers with payment cards to continue using them, while cash payments will also be accepted.

The cashless payment system was introduced this week by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria at the Lagos and Abuja airports. However, its rollout led to long queues and delays, prompting the President’s intervention.

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