NIGERIA NEWS
Tinubu Breaks Silence, Reveals What Made Him President
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has spoken openly about the circumstances that led to his emergence as Nigeria’s leader, describing his victory as the result of resilience, faith, and divine intervention.
The President made the remarks on Friday in Abuja while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the party’s 15th National Executive Committee meeting.
His comments came as he reflected on the difficult period before the 2023 general election and the hurdles faced by both his campaign and the country.
Tinubu said his journey to the presidency was not smooth, noting that it came at a time when Nigerians were under intense economic pressure.
He recalled how citizens struggled with rising hardship caused by food scarcity, fuel shortages, and the controversial currency redesign policy, which led to long queues at petrol stations and cash shortages nationwide.
“I faced obstacles on my path to the presidency,” Tinubu said, while acknowledging that many Nigerians found it difficult to afford daily meals during that period.
Despite the challenges, the President attributed his success to God, stressing that his rise to office was not by human effort alone.
“God brought us here. I am a symbol of that God because, without Him, I wouldn’t be here,” he stated.
Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain patient and grateful, even in difficult times. He said faith, endurance, and unity remain critical to navigating national challenges and sustaining democratic governance.
He also warned against actions that could weaken Nigeria’s democracy, calling on political actors and citizens to remain firm in protecting the system.
“We must continue to be resolute that this democracy we have taken into our hands must not fail,” he said.
Speaking on leadership and governance, Tinubu emphasised inclusiveness and compassion. He urged leaders to create opportunities for others and avoid imposing authority through force or intolerance.
The President further reaffirmed his belief that leadership is ultimately determined by divine will, saying, “God creates the opportunity for individuals, and if God says you will be there, you will be there.”
President Bola Tinubu will on Saturday visit Borno to inaugurate key development projects and attend a high-profile wedding ceremony in Maiduguri.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit is part of the President’s engagement across selected states during the yuletide period.
While in Maiduguri, Tinubu is expected to inaugurate projects in the aviation, transport and education sectors executed by the Borno State Government and the Federal Government.
According to the president’s itinerary, he will inaugurate new aviation facilities at the Maiduguri International Airport, including an extension and a VIP wing, aimed at boosting air transport operations in the state.
The development is expected to further strengthen aviation services in the Northeast, amid improving security conditions in the region.
The president will then proceed to Ramat Square, where he will inaugurate newly procured tricycles to enhance urban transportation and support livelihood empowerment.
As part of efforts to expand access to education, Tinubu will inaugurate a newly constructed primary and secondary school in Maiduguri, named in his honour.
The project is part of the state government’s broader drive to improve educational infrastructure and enrolment.
Tinubu will later attend the Nikkah and wedding ceremony of Sadeeq Sheriff, son of former Borno State Governor Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, and Hadiza Kam Salem.
After concluding his engagements in Maiduguri, the president will depart for Bauchi State to condole with the state government and the family of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi.
Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, a renowned Islamic cleric and leader of the Tijjaniyya Muslim Brotherhood, died on Nov. 27.
Tinubu will thereafter proceed to Lagos, where he is expected to spend the end-of-year holidays. (NAN)
The post Tinubu to inaugurate developmental projects in Maiduguri – Presidency appeared first on Vanguard News.
The University of Ibadan (UI) community and Nigeria’s electoral circle were on Friday thrown into mourning following the death of Professor Abdulganiy Raji, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Osun State.
A respected academic at the University of Ibadan and an indigene of Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Raji died on Friday, according to an official statement issued by the University of Ibadan Muslim Community (UIMC).
Raji, a professor of agricultural and environmental engineering at the premier university, was the former resident electoral commissioner in Ekiti, Ogun and Osun states.
Until his death, the late professor was regarded as a strong pillar of the UI Muslim community, where he was actively involved in religious, academic and welfare activities.
Announcing the death, the UIMC, under the directive of the Chief Imam of the University of Ibadan, described Raji’s passing as a painful loss to the community.
The statement read in part: “Inna lillahi wa inna illaehi raajiuun. With a heart full of sadness but total submission to the will of Allah, I am directed by the Chief Imam to announce the demise of a strong pillar of this community, Prof. Abdulganiy Raji.”
The statement further disclosed that the deceased would be buried on Saturday at his hometown, Ogbomoso, in accordance with Islamic rites.
“His janazah will take place at Ogbomoso tomorrow. The UIMC team will depart the campus by 6.30 am on Saturday, in shaa Allah. May Allah grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus. Aamin,” it added.
Professor Raji was widely known for his intellectual depth and commitment to public service.
As a former REC, he played a notable role in the administration of elections, earning commendation for professionalism, integrity and adherence to due process during his tenure.
Within the University of Ibadan, Raji was regarded as a seasoned scholar who contributed significantly to teaching, research and the mentorship of students, many of whom have since distinguished themselves in academia and public service.
Colleagues described him as humble, principled and deeply committed to the advancement of knowledge and moral values, while members of the Muslim community remembered him as a dependable supporter of religious programmes and welfare initiatives.
Since the announcement of his death, tributes have continued to pour in from academics, former electoral officials, students and community leaders, all lamenting the loss of a man widely seen as a bridge between scholarship, faith and public service.
His death is considered a major loss to the University of Ibadan, the Muslim community, and Ogbomoso in particular, where he was regarded as an ambassador of intellectual excellence and integrity.
The late professor is survived by family members, colleagues and numerous protégés across the academic and public service sectors.
- A Nigerian lady has taken to social media to search for her husband, Luqman Jajah, who allegedly disappeared and blocked her after she insisted on being introduced to his family.
- The couple reportedly married while Abiba was abroad, and despite returning to Ghana at his request, she claims she has never met any of his relatives nearly a year into the marriage.
- Her emotional post, issuing an ultimatum for clarity or divorce, has sparked widespread debate online about secret marriages and warning signs in relationships.
A lady identified as Abiba Ibrahim has turned to social media to launch a desperate search for her husband, Luqman Jajah, who reportedly disappeared and blocked her after a disagreement.
Abiba shared that the conflict began when she pressured Luqman to introduce her to his family members. According to her post, the couple married while she was working abroad. Upon his request, she moved back to Ghana, where he rented an apartment for her in a neighborhood known as Ablekuma Canada.
Despite their marriage approaching its one-year anniversary this coming Ramadan, Abiba claims she has never met any of his relatives. She expressed her frustration and heartbreak online, stating:
“My husband has been missing for weeks now and he blocked me… This happened because I asked him to take me to meet his family members and we had a little misunderstanding. Later, he told me to inform my family so that his family could come and celebrate with me… but I have never met his family members.”
In a final ultimatum, Abiba challenged her husband to be honest about his intentions, saying: “If he doesn’t want the marriage, he should come and divorce me and get out.” The post has since gone viral, with many users debating the red flags of secret marriages and the sudden disappearance of partners.
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said President Bola Tinubu’s allocation of N5.41 trillion to security in the 2026 Appropriation Bill will decisively weaken criminal and terrorist networks threatening Nigeria’s unity.
Seye Oladejo, the spokesman of the party in the state, said the deliberate and unprecedented commitment once again underscores a government that is clear-eyed about Nigeria’s present realities and firmly focused on securing its future.
In a statement signed by Oladejo, he said Tinubu has accorded security, the foremost responsibility of government, the attention it deserves.
According to Oladejo, “Beyond intent, the objectives of the 2026 Budget are practical and measurable:
“To decisively weaken criminal and terrorist networks that threaten national unity and economic activity.
“To restore investor confidence, knowing that capital flows to stable and secure environments.
“To deepen economic reforms, ensuring that gains in fiscal discipline are not undermined by insecurity.
“To reinforce social stability, allowing citizens to pursue livelihoods without fear.”
Oladejo said the primary intent of the 2026 budget is clearly to consolidate national security gains, protect lives and property, and create a stable environment for economic recovery and sustainable growth.
“The President’s proposal recognises that no meaningful development can thrive in the absence of peace and safety.
“By committing N5.41 trillion to security, the Tinubu administration is addressing capacity enhancement for the Armed Forces and security agencies; improved intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration; modernisation of equipment and operational logistics; and the welfare and motivation of personnel who daily put their lives on the line,” he added.
The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has dismissed claims that his recent visit to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in Sokoto Correctional Centre was politically motivated, saying the trip was aimed at dialogue and peace, not advancing any political ambition.
Otti spoke on Friday when he received members of the Abia Diaspora Commission and the medical team of the Abia Global Medical Mission 2025 at the Government House, Umuahia.
The governor was reacting to a video circulating on social media in which a man criticised his visit to the IPOB leader. Otti defended the trip, insisting it was anchored on the need for constructive dialogue and peaceful engagement.
He also stressed that differing opinions, like those expressed in the video, are part of a democratic society.
Addressing speculation about his post‑governorship plans, Otti made it clear that he has no interest in contesting any office after completing his tenure.
Otti said, “One of the issues he raised in the video was my ambition after serving as governor.
“I have said this before, sometime in October, when we received representatives of the President, and I will say it again today. By the time I complete my tenure as governor, I will retire from public office.
“I have no presidential ambition, no vice‑presidential ambition, and no senatorial ambition.
“I came into this office on a mission, and when I deliver that mission, I will step aside and give room to younger people.”
Otti dismissed the suggestion that his actions were linked to an “Igbo presidency,” calling such arguments unfounded.
“If his argument is based on that assumption, then it has already collapsed, because you will not see my name on any ballot, but my children can contest, and your children can contest,” he said.
On the issue of Kanu, Otti said his engagement was part of longer‑standing efforts aimed at resolving complex issues involving the IPOB leader.
He said, “The second issue concerns Nnamdi Kanu, and I do not want to put too much into the public space so as not to jeopardise ongoing discussions.
“The truth is that exactly 24 months ago, I initiated discussions at the highest level regarding Nnamdi Kanu, so visiting him was the right thing to do because he is from my state and indeed, from Umuahia North Local Government Area.”
Governor Condemns Past Military Operations, Urges Legal Process
Otti reiterated his condemnation of Operation Python Dance, noting he had criticised the military operation in previous writings.
He said that while Kanu’s case is before the courts, there remains room for administrative intervention and dialogue, which does not equate to supporting disintegration.
Otti said, “When an issue has been approached legally, there is also an administrative window, and that is where I am coming from.
“I am not competent to challenge the judiciary. I am not a lawyer.
“If the court has sentenced him, that is the decision of a court of first instance. There is still room for appeal and even a possible journey to the Supreme Court.”
Otti stated that he has always opposed violent agitation and believes conflicts are best resolved through negotiation.
“I have never seen a war that did not end in negotiation. So, why start a war when you will still end up talking?” he asked.
He described himself as “an apostle of dialogue, not war,” emphasising that efforts should focus on peaceful resolution.
On the broader security situation, Otti warned that ongoing insecurity across the country has been exploited by criminal elements to target innocent people.
He said, “We will continue to do everything possible to ensure peace in this state.
“There are parts of this country where you cannot come out freely at this time of day, and that is not acceptable.
“I also know that some people take advantage of the current situation to unleash violence on our people.
“As I have told those I am negotiating with, if we have peace here and anyone brings violence, we will meet them firmly. But we must act responsibly as a government.”
Otti reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring safety and stability in Abia, stressing that peace is essential for the growth of businesses and wellbeing of residents.
He urged stakeholders to support dialogue‑driven solutions, adding that development and progress in the state depend on a secure environment.
The Recording Academy has announced Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti as a Special Merit Awards honoree at the 2026 Grammy Awards, nearly three decades after his death.
Fela, who died on 2 August 1997, will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award alongside other legends, including Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher, and Paul Simon.
The Special Merit Awards, many of which are posthumous, are scheduled to take place on 31 January 2026. This will be followed by the 68th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony on Sunday, 1 February 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Special Merit Award
Announcing the awards in an Instagram Post on Friday, the Recording Academy stated that Fela is being honoured posthumously for his lifetime influence in shaping modern Nigerian Afrobeats and inspiring many global singers.
Beyond music, the Grammy Awards organisers praised the late singer for the legacy he left behind, citing cultural monuments like the Kalakuta Museum and the New Afrika Shrine.
“An architect of Afrobeat, honoured for a lifetime of influence. Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musician, producer, arranger, political radical, activist, and the father of Afrobeat. In the 1960s, he pioneered the genre by blending funk, jazz, salsa, calypso, and traditional Nigerian rhythms.
“His influence spans generations, shaping modern Nigerian Afrobeats and inspiring global artists such as Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, and Thom Yorke. His legacy continues to live on not only through music but also through his family, the Kalakuta Museum, and the New Afrika Shrine.
“On January 31, 2026, we are honouring this year’s Special Merit Award recipients, including Fela Kuti, with a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award,” the statement read.
Fela Kuti
Although Fela did not receive Grammy Awards during his lifetime, the 2026 Grammy honour will be his second recognition by the Recording Academy within six months. In June, Fela’s 1976 socio-political album, ‘Zombie’, was inducted into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame.
Over the decades following his death, numerous awards have been bestowed in his name, with most of them being received by his sons, Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti.
READ ALSO: Afrobeat Rebellion: Art meets activism in Lagos exhibition honouring Fela Kuti
The ‘Zombie’ singer’s songs have also been sampled and referenced by some of the world’s top artistes, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Beyoncé.
Meanwhile, the recipients of the 2025 Special Merit Awards included Prince, The Clash, Frankie Beverly, Roxanne Shanté, Frankie Valli, Dr Bobby Jones, and Taj Mahal.
By Felix Khanoba
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) on Wednesday emerged as one of the biggest winners at the 2025 SERVICOM Awards and Recognition Ceremony, clinching multiple honours at the event organised by the SERVICOM Office, Presidency.
Among the awards won by the agency were the Special Recognition Award, #SERVICOMWORKSHERE, for sustained efforts in connecting government to citizens through quality service delivery, and Best Performing Parastatal Service Unit (PSU), Team C.
TETFund also ranked second nationwide among high-performing agencies, recognised for consistently demonstrating exceptional performance, efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery.
At the ceremony, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono, received an award in recognition of his support and commitment to citizen-centred service delivery.
In addition, TETFund’s SERVICOM Nodal Officer, Dr Ebere Nwobu, clinched the Best Performing Nodal Officer Award (Parastatal, Team C).
Speaking at the event, the Acting National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of SERVICOM, Mr Anthony Olugbenga Oshin, said the ceremony was organised to celebrate excellence, dedication and commitment to citizen-focused service delivery across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
“We are gathered here to reflect on our milestones through dint of hard work, passion and zeal. We are here to celebrate our success stories against all odds,” Oshin said.
He noted that 2025 had been a particularly challenging year due to limited funding, but said MDAs continued to record significant achievements despite the constraints.
“Regardless of these challenges and through our team spirit, we have been able to scale new heights and surmount the challenges we face on a daily basis,” he said.
Oshin commended SERVICOM Nodal and Focal Officers for their roles in driving service delivery initiatives, noting that their commitment and resilience contributed significantly to improved performance across MDAs.
The SERVICOM boss explained that the awards form part of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation’s Recognition and Rewards Scheme, designed to promote a culture of service excellence, encourage healthy competition and improve customer satisfaction.
According to him, deserving MDAs and officers were selected through a structured assessment process based on SERVICOM principles and annual work plans.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of plaques to award recipients.
- A Nigerian lady cried out in a viral video after she discovered that her hair flew off her head without her knowledge
- According to the lady, she was putting on a wig but only realised it was gone when she wanted to make a video
- In the video she posted, she was shocked when she saw herself in the video without her wig on her head
A Nigerian lady stirred a lot of reactions on social media after saying she lost her wig without her knowledge.
The video sparked reactions and netizens were wondering how someone could lose her wig without knowing.
A Nigerian lady said her wig flew off her head without her knowledge. Photo credit: TikTok/@lolo247maxy.
Source: TikTok
The short clip posted by @lolo247maxy suggests the wig flew off from her head when she was driving.
According to Lolo, she only realised the wig was gone when she brought out her phone to make a video.
She shouted when she saw herself in the video and discovered that there is no wig on her head.
Read also
Nigerian lady tells mother she’s working out, posts her unexpected epic response: “Very hurtful”
“Took my phone to make a beauty video and realised my wig was gone. My wig was gone. Don’t even know where and how. Maybe this is a sign.”
However, some of her followers wondered how the wig could have left her head without she feeling the breeze. Some went ahead to accuse her of acting.
Lolo responded:
“You can imagine people saying I am faking it .The other lady is my sister and the shock hits us quick. She had 3 of her kids in the car too. It wasn’t even my car. I offered to drive us back cos her last child was crying and I asked her to move to passengers seat to pacify him. It was a long drive. I only realized cos I wanted to make a video as we stopped to get something from a local market.”
A Nigerian lady shared a video showing when she realised her wig was missing. Photo credit: TikTok/@lolo247maxy.
Source: TikTok
Watch the video below:
Reactions as woman loses her wig
@Godflakes said:
“You later see the hair?”
@NAILTECH IN EBUTTE IKD said:
“She was looking for the hair in the video.”
@NRC_23 said:
“The fastest reflex ever discovered by the world.”
Read also
“Finally mine”: Nigerian lady rejoices as man who broke up with her returns and proposes marriage
@SIRIXCOBA said:
“Nah once she cut video B4 she enter the real lamenting.”
@am.mar1o said:
“How did she not feel the breeze.”
@Nompumelelo Makhanya said:
“Ewoooo!!! That needs to be sound please abeg.”
@Jane said:
“Her friends reaction just finished me.”
@tifaTashatalia said:
“Your hair is on your head mom!? ………… it wasnt your.”
@kiki said:
“How come were you sleeping. That your fine wig way i dey eye since abeg go fine am oh.”
@7\ Siya said:
“The one screaming definitely knows what happened to it.”
Man begs his sister for wig
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian lady shared the interesting conversation she had with her younger brother who asked her for an unusual gift.
According to the lady, her younger brother sent her a message on Whatsapp requesting that she give him her wig.
The young man said if he gets the wig, he was going to give it to his girlfriend, sparking mixed reactions on social media.
Source: Legit.ng
NIGERIA NEWS
Lady sold her phone to bail boyfriend who used money to propose to another woman, embarks on vacation
A fresh controversy erupts online after a lady sold her phone to bail her boyfriend, who used the money to propose to another woman and went on vacation with her.
The heartbreaking incident was shared by @lifesochard, a user on X (formerly Twitter), who posted a series of texts the lady received from her ex-boyfriend who betrayed her.
Details Of The Text
In the text, that has left social media buzzing, the man, who remains unidentified, vowed not to apologize to his ex-girlfriend for what he had put her through.
Describing himself as a ‘principled’ man, he stated that in his tribal traditions, a man who bows loses his crown.
“Life is not an African magic babe. You are not the main character. I will still meet someone better that will still spend on me”, He firmly stated.
His Perspective About Relationships
Sharing his perspective on relationships, he stated relationships aren’t about comfort and are meant for modelling.
The man further concluded the chat by stating he was sent to his ex-girlfriend to make her strong.
“You think relationship are for comfort?. No, they are for molding. If you couldn’t handle the fire, you shouldn’t have walked into the palace. I wasn’t sent to make you smile, I was sent to make you stronger”, He added.
See below…..
Ajuji Ahmed, the National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has criticized former party members who left to join other political parties.
Ahmed said those who left the NNPP would experience rough road and challenges in their new parties.
He made these comments during the party’s 10th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Thursday in Abuja.
He described the ex-members as “renegades” while noting that although the NNPP may not be large, it is stronger and more united than many other parties.
Ahmed urged party members to ignore those who defected, saying their decision would only bring them hardship.
He added that leaving a peaceful party for troubled ones was a poor choice.
He also took a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the NNPP has remained stable despite efforts by outsiders to create problems.
According to Ahmed, the NNPP has no internal divisions and is not controlled by any individual.
He stressed that the party is not split into factions or weakened by external influence, but remains united and committed to its goals and guiding principles.
Ahmed said: “I call upon you to please forget entirely the antics of renegades who call themselves defectors.
“May their road continue to be rough.
“If a man or some men decided to jump from calm waters only to land in not just a frying pan but directly into a burning fire, we wish them a safe journey.
“We are not fragmented into three parts with two party chairmen. We have not been captured and broken and made ineffective by a single omnipotent external force, we are NNPP. We are united.”