Tag: President asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

This is contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanugu, on Wednesday.

The statement said the appointment is subject to the Senate’s approval in accordance with the provisions of section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act, 2026.

President Tinubu sent a letter today to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, requesting the expeditious confirmation of Ambassador Yusuf to replace Professor Abdullahi Usman, who resigned this week, after about 14 months in the post.

Yusuf is a seasoned Nigerian career diplomat who served as the Nigerian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye from 2021 to 2024.

Many Nigerians have taken to various platforms to express their views on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s frequent foreign trips.

The President spent 23 days abroad in January 2026 alone, having departed Nigeria for Europe on December 28, 2025.

Recall that the President spent nine days in France for End-of-year break and holiday. He proceeded to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, where he spent seven days for the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week 2026.

He then jetted to Turkey on a state visit where he spent another six days before returning to Nigeria.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi is among those who have criticized Tinubu over his incessant foreign trips amid insecurity in Nigeria.

Obi, who said the President had already spent 23 days on foreign trips just in the month of January, stressed that the first month of the year serves as a critical measure of the challenges that lie ahead, decrying that the situation in the country continues to worsen.

A cross-section of Nigerians have now expressed their mixed feelings over the President’s trips.

For Divine Akor, it is outrageous for the President to have spent 23 days outside the country within one month.

He said at a time of crushing inflation, hunger, and worsening insecurity, the statistics raise serious questions and concerns about the fate of Nigerians in the hands of the President.

“I know very well that Tinubu’s protagonists will come up with  the usual defense in an attempt to justify such frequent foreign trips by saying- it’s for  economic diplomacy, investor talks and global engagement. These are mere gimmicks to exonerate their paymasters.

“We can only accept such propositions or reasons when there is valid evidence of the positive impacts of such foreign trips. Diplomacy, global networking etc, without verifiable results is just  a glorified excursion or frequent flying.

“From what I have seen so far, all I can say is that the foreign trip is for a subtle foreign medical care, personal relaxation or running to a serene atmosphere from the volatile political and security situations in Nigeria.

“If we say they’re for global networking and investments, where are the investments such trips have attracted to Nigeria since he started long ago? We see foreign Companies folding up and new investors are not coming as it used to be under President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Where are the jobs created through the frequent trips? Where is the relief Nigerians can feel?” He asked.

Speaking also, Michael Ameh said President Tinubu had preached the need for Nigerians to make sacrifices, asking why the same president cannot show examples by living a life of sacrifices.

According to him, it is not right to preach sacrifice at home while the president is projecting personal comfort abroad, especially when hardship is whipping Nigerians.

“Leadership in crisis demands presence, urgency, and empathy- not prolonged absence. No one says a president shouldn’t travel. But excessive travel during national hardship looks less like strategy and more like detachment. Nigeria doesn’t need more handshakes overseas.

“It needs proactive decision, direction, and delivery at home. How many other world leaders spend such a humongous time in another country? It’s only in Nigeria we see this kind of absurdity every tenure,” he lamented.

He charged the President to make every Nigerian feel the impact of his trips if he claims they are for the good of Nigerians and not personal gains.

“We want to see investors trooping in to Nigeria, we want to see jobs popping up, infrastructure, improved electricity supply, reduction in inflation and overall upsurge in the standard of living.

“If we don’t see, then it is obvious it’s for personal vacation, medical care and so on, which is not healthy for Nigeria,” he added.

On his part, Paul Igbashangev said the President’s incessant foreign trips, especially spending 23 days in the month of January, feels like he is jet-setting more than governing.

He said, “Honestly, I’m a bit concerned about President Tinubu’s foreign trips. I mean, 23 days abroad in January alone? We have got pressing issues at home – insecurity, economic hardship, infrastructure decay… and he’s swanning off to France, UAE, Turkey? Some folks are saying he is out there networking instead of fixing Nigeria.

“Look, I am not saying these trips can’t yield benefits, but where is the tangible outcome for the average Nigerian? Agreements, partnerships…show me the results! He has been president for over two years and we are still struggling.

“Billions spent on foreign trips in two years? That is a lot of money! Shouldn’t he be focusing on making life better for Nigerians instead of racking up travel miles? What do you think, is he doing enough? The answer is no!”

Similarly, Augustine Oyiwona said Nigerians are sceptical about President Tinubu’s frequent visit to foreign countries due to the high cost of such trips -especially during the economic hardship and other domestic issues that need urgent leadership attention like insecurity, hike in fuel prices, unemployment, and rising inflation.

He, however, said that foreign trips are not inherently bad and can be justified if Nigerians can see tangible outcomes.

“Some of the benefits attached to those visits are that it attracts foreign investors to the country’s growing economy and the active engagement of President Tinubu with the highly industrialised countries of the world helps Nigeria to maintain regional and global influence as the giant of Africa.

“Debt talks, trade deals, energy cooperation and security partnerships often require face to face diplomacy. These foreign trips also can improve security cooperation as we recently see between Nigeria and the United States of America,” he added.

In the same vein, Abdulkadir Hassan stressed that one of the functions of a President is to ensure there is a mutual relationship between the country and other international countries.

He stated that the 23-day international trip of President Bola Tinubu to some countries was in line with his exclusive duties, adding that he has visited France, the United Arab Emirate, Turkey, in the month of January to ensure that Nigeria strengthens its bound in economics, security, and social development with these countries.

“It may look absurd to some individuals that Mr President is out of the country for 23 days, but it is very imperative for a leader of a country like Nigeria to visit some international countries to discuss critical and relevant issues.

“It can be noted that the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, ADSW, 2026, serves as a crucial platform for Nigeria to secure investment, accelerate its renewable energy transition, and foster international partnerships for sustainable development.

“Also, the visit to Turkey by Mr President is also an economic acceleration for Nigeria because at the end of the meeting, the two countries signed agreements on diaspora policy, defence cooperation, joint declaration establishing the economy and trade joint committee, halal quality infrastructure, higher education, media and communication, diplomacy academy, among others.

“For this, the trip wasn’t done in isolation but to develop Nigeria and the Nigerians at large,”he stated.

President Bola Tinubu has stated that 2026 signals the start of a stronger and more dynamic phase of economic growth.

The President stated this on Thursday in his New Year’s message to Nigerians,

Fellow Compatriots,

I welcome you all to 2026, with gratitude to God and confidence in our collective resolve that this new year will be a more prosperous one for our nation, our citizens, and all who call Nigeria home.

During 2025, we sustained the momentum on our major reforms. We had a fiscal reset and also recorded steady economic progress.

Despite persistent global economic headwinds, we recorded tangible and measurable gains, particularly in the economy.

These achievements reaffirm our belief that the difficult but necessary reforms we embarked upon are moving us in the right direction with more concrete results on the horizon for the ordinary Nigerian.

As we enter 2026, our focus is on consolidating these gains and continuing to build a resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and growth-oriented economy.

We closed 2025 on a strong note. Despite the policies to fight inflation, Nigeria recorded a robust GDP growth each quarter, with annualised growth expected to exceed 4 per cent for the year.

We maintained trade surpluses and achieved greater exchange rate stability. Inflation declined steadily and reached below 15 per cent, in line with our target.

In 2026, we are determined to reduce inflation further and ensure that the benefits of reform reach every Nigerian household.

In 2025, the Nigerian Stock Exchange outperformed its peers, posting a robust 48.12 per cent gain and consolidating its bullish run that began in the second half of 2023.

Supported by sound monetary policy management, our foreign reserves stood at $45.4 billion as of December 29, 2025, providing a substantial buffer against external shocks for the Naira. We expect this position to strengthen further in the new year.

Foreign direct investment is also responding positively. In the third quarter of 2025, FDI rose to $720 million, up from $90 million in the preceding quarter, reflecting renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic direction, which global credit rating agencies, including Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s, have consistently affirmed and applauded.

A few days ago, I presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly.

In that address, I emphasised that our administration has implemented critical reforms that are laying a solid foundation for long-term stability and prosperity.

With patience, fiscal discipline, and unity of purpose, Nigeria will emerge in 2026 stronger and better positioned for sustained growth.

As inflation and interest rates moderate, we expect increased fiscal space for productive investment in infrastructure and human capital development.

We are also confronting the challenge of multiple taxation across all tiers of government. I commend states that have aligned with the national tax harmonisation agenda by adopting harmonised tax laws to reduce the excessive burden of taxes, levies, and fees on our people and on basic consumption.

The new year marks a critical phase in implementing our tax reforms, designed to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation for Nigeria.

By harmonising our tax system, we aim to raise revenue sustainably, address fiscal distortions and strengthen our capacity to finance infrastructure and social investments that will deliver shared prosperity.

My fellow Nigerians, the path of reform is never easy, but it is necessary. We remain mindful that economic progress must be accompanied by security and peace.

Our nation continues to confront security threats from criminal and terrorist elements determined to disrupt our way of life.

In collaboration with international partners, including the United States, decisive actions were taken against terrorist targets in parts of the Northwest on December 24.

Our Armed Forces have since sustained operations against terror networks and criminal strongholds across the Northwest and Northeast.

In 2026, our security and intelligence agencies will deepen cooperation with regional and global partners to eliminate all threats to national security.

We remain committed to protecting lives, property, and the territorial integrity of our country.

I continue to believe that a decentralised policing system with appropriate safeguards, complemented by properly regulated forest guards, all anchored on accountability, is critical to effectively addressing terrorism, banditry, and related security challenges.

The new year marks the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth, with tangible improvements in the lives of our people.

We will accelerate the implementation of the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, aiming to bring at least 10 million Nigerians into productive economic activity by empowering at least 1,000 people in each of the 8,809 wards across the country.

Through agriculture, trade, food processing, and mining, we will stimulate local economies and expand grassroots opportunities.

We will also continue to invest in modernising Nigeria’s infrastructure – roads, power, ports, railways, airports, pipelines, healthcare, education, and agriculture to strengthen food security and improve quality of life.

All ongoing projects will continue without interruption.

To achieve our objectives in 2026, we must all play our part.

Nation-building is a shared responsibility. We must stand together in unity and purpose, uphold patriotism, and serve our country with honour and integrity in our respective roles.

Let us resolve to be better citizens, better neighbours, and better stewards of our nation.

Fellow Nigerians, I wish you all a peaceful, productive, and prosperous New Year.

May God continue to bless and protect our beloved country, keep our troops safe and destroy the enemies bent on disrupting our national peace, security and stability.

Happy New Year to you all.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,

Federal Republic of Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has announced that the new tax laws will take effect as scheduled on January 1, 2026, despite objections from various quarters.

The President made the declaration in a statement on Tuesday in which he explained that the new laws are not designed to raise taxes but to drive harmonization.

President Tinubu noted that his administration is aware of agitations in some quarters over the new tax laws, but added that no substantial issue has been raised to warrant a suspension of the implementation process.

He promised that the government would ensure due process in the implementation of the laws and work with all stakeholders, including the National Assembly, to resolve all identified issues against the new tax laws.

“The new tax laws, including those that took effect on June 26, 2025, and the remaining acts scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026, will continue as planned.

“These reforms are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation for our country.

“The tax laws are not designed to raise taxes, but rather to support a structural reset, drive harmonisation, and protect dignity while strengthening the social contract.

“I urge all stakeholders to support the implementation phase, which is now firmly in the delivery stage.

“Our administration is aware of the public discourse surrounding alleged changes to some provisions of the recently enacted tax laws.

“No substantial issue has been established that warrants a disruption of the reform process. Absolute trust is built over time through making the right decisions, not through premature, reactive measures.

“I emphasise our administration’s unwavering commitment to due process and the integrity of enacted laws. The Presidency pledges to work with the National Assembly to ensure the swift resolution of any issue identified.

“I assure all Nigerians that the Federal Government will continue to act in the overriding public interest to ensure a tax system that supports prosperity and shared responsibility,” the statement read.