Connect with us

news

Update : Cabinet Reshuffle, Non-performing ministers face sack and FEC members get order to speak on achievements, Says Onanuga

Published

on


After more than one year in office, some of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ministers are likely to be axed.

Some others may swap ministries as the President moves to add pep to governance.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed the likelihood of the cabinet rejig yesterday during an interaction with reporters at Aso Villa.

He did not, however, give a timeline to the imminent action that will shake up the Federal Executive Council (FEC) inaugurated on August 21, last year.

There were 49 ministers at inception but two – Simeon Lalong, who left to take his seat as a senator and Dr. Betta Edu, who is on suspension – are out.

While the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs previously headed by Dr. Edu has been without a minister, Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister for State Labour and Employment, has been doing the job.

Plateau, where Lalong comes from, is the only state without representation in the FEC.

The President has expressed his desire to reshuffle his cabinet and he will do it. I don’t know whether he’s going to do it before October 1, but he will surely do it.

“He has not given us any timeline, but he will do it. He has expressed his plan he wants to do it.”

O’tega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital and New Media, who accompanied Onanuga to the news conference, said: “We also need to realise that the President’s decision to reshuffle is also based on empirical evidence.

“He said during the retreat for the ministers that they were going to have periodic reviews, and the decisions that are extracted from these reviews will be used to make that final decision.

“I know he’s gotten a couple of reports, and as Mr. Onanuga said, when he’s ready to do that, I believe he will.”

President Tinubu has instructed the ministers to actively promote the accomplishments of his administration.

He said the President has also directed the ministers to publicise the administration’s successes, particularly how it has worked to achieve the realisation of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’

He explained that the President would be guided by an empirical process, referring to the performance indicator, which is being coordinated by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination and the Head of the Central Delivery Coordination Unit, Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman.

Onanuga stressed: “The President at the FEC meeting (Monday) gave an order to all his ministers to go out there and speak about the activities of his administration.

“Some of them have been media shy, television shy, radio shy, and he wants them to overcome all that and go out there and speak about what they have been doing.

“Because the feeling out there is that the government is not doing enough and the government has been doing a lot.

“It is up to them to go out there and blow their own trumpet. They should go out there and talk about what their ministries have been doing.”

‘Fed Govt won’t dabble into petrol pricing’

The Federal Government will not intervene in the ongoing controversy between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery over petrol pricing, the presidency said.

Onanuga emphasised that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) allows NNPCL to operate independently, despite being owned by the federal, state, and local governments.

According to Onanuga, private marketers who find NNPCL or Dangote’s prices too high can import fuel and sell it at a reasonable price, benefiting consumers.

He noted that this is made possible by the deregulated market, which ultimately benefits consumers if a price war starts.

“As far as this government is concerned, the PMS regime has been deregulated, Dangote is a private company. We should not forget that NNPCL is a limited liability company. Whatever controversy both of them are having is their problem.

“If you go by the terms of PIA, NNPCL operates as a limited liability company.

“The private marketers said if think they find the NNPCL or Dangote’s prices too much for them, they will resort to importing fuel because it’s a deregulated market.

“At the end of the day, it’s the consumer who benefits if a price war starts.

“If NNPC’s fuel is expensive, the private marketers can go to the market and bring in their fuel and sell at the price that they think is very reasonable and profitable for them.

“So my answer is that, as far as government is concerned, government is not dabbling in this controversy,” Onanuga said.

Economic Stabilisation Bills to strengthen naira

The government has taken bold steps to bolster the naira against the dollar with the Economic Stabilisation Bills currently before the National Assembly, the presidency said.

An aspect of the bills aims to guide the operations of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Port Authority, ensuring that all accrued revenues are collected in naira.

Onanuga said the bill will enable agencies to collect fees, charges, levies, and fines in naira at the applicable exchange rate, rather than solely in dollars.

This move is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen the national currency and prevent dollarisation of the economy.

“As the government wants to emphasise the use of our national currency, payments will now be made in naira, eliminating the need for dollars,” Onanuga explained.

He said the Economic Stabilisation Bills also propose amendments to the National Identity Commission Bill 2004.

The revised bill seeks to provide all Nigerians, including foreigners earning income in the country, with a registered National Identification Number (NIN).

This will enable them to be enlisted in Nigeria’s tax structure, ultimately shoring up the nation’s revenue base.

“The Economic Stabilisation Bill comprises multiple bills, including the amendment to the National Identity Management Commission Bill 2004,” Onanuga noted.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

news

UPDATED: Police Arrest Adeyemi Over Alleged False Claim as PFIPC Director-General in Osun

Published

on


Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have arrested Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-styled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), in Osun State.

Adeyemi, who had been the subject of an intensive manhunt by security agencies, was apprehended following intelligence-led operations weeks after investigations into allegations about the purported federal agency’s activities.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, the suspect was arrested without incident by a team of IRT operatives and has been moved into police custody for further interrogation.

He confirmed the arrest while speaking to our correspondent in Abuja.

His arrest followed days of coordinated efforts by security operatives, who had earlier raided his family residence while tracking his whereabouts. Reports indicated that investigators questioned his family members during the search for the suspect.

Adeyemi came into national prominence after controversy erupted over the operations of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, an organisation widely described by government officials as having no legal backing or official recognition.

The controversy deepened following allegations that the suspect claimed close links with top government officials and allegedly used the platform to project influence in government circles.

Oyo police rescue abducted farmer after joint security operation
The matter also generated public attention after claims surfaced that huge sums of money were exchanged in connection with promises of government appointments. Those allegations remain under investigation and have not been proven in court.

The Presidency had earlier distanced itself from the activities of the organisation, while the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, denied any connection with the group or its activities, maintaining that neither the office nor the Presidency authorised the operations of the PFIPC.

Police investigators are expected to interrogate Adeyemi on the circumstances surrounding the establishment and operations of the organisation, the authenticity of documents allegedly used in its activities, and claims that some individuals were deceived into believing it was an official government body.

Investigators are also expected to determine whether other suspects were involved in the alleged scheme and whether additional offences, including impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, forgery and conspiracy, may have been committed.

As of press time, the Nigeria Police Force had yet to issue a detailed official statement on the arrest or announce possible charges against the suspect. Demographics

The arrest is, however, expected to advance investigations into one of the most controversial cases involving the alleged use of a non-existent government agency to project influence within the Presidency.

Adeyemi is expected to remain in police custody pending the conclusion of investigations and possible arraignment before a competent court.

Continue Reading

news

Breaking : Nigerian Soldiers Kill ISWAP Cameraman, Uncover Foreign Terrorist Network in Borno

Published

on


Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised an Islamic State West Africa Province cameraman and recovered video materials indicating the presence of three foreign facilitators, including a Palestinian Arab identified as a trainer and a Moroccan Arab serving as a medical doctor for the terrorist group in Borno State.

The Acting Military Information Officer, Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

According to him, the operational success was recorded on Saturday following a failed infiltration attempt by members of ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Goni said the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ position and loot cholera medical supplies.

The statement read, “Troops of 19 Brigade, Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have decisively foiled an attempted infiltration by ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and forcing them to retreat in disarray.

“The successful defence of the location further demonstrates the vigilance, combat readiness and operational effectiveness of troops who continue to deny terrorist elements freedom of action across the North East Theatre.”

The failed attack, he said, occurred at about 10:20 p.m. on July 11, 2026, when the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ position.

“Alert troops swiftly detected the hostile movement and responded with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, compelling the terrorists to abandon their mission of looting cholera medical supplies and withdraw in confusion after suffering severe losses,” Goni said.

According to him, the attempted looting further lends credence to recent intelligence reports of a cholera outbreak within terrorist enclaves, as well as reports of the execution of some affected members by the group.

“The neutralisation of a terrorist cameraman during the failed assault led to the recovery of a Sony camcorder containing highly sensitive recordings of terrorist activities, including operational footage and propaganda materials.

“Preliminary forensic analysis of the last available video recorded prior to the attack indicates that the operation was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders (Qai’ds), alongside three foreign terrorist facilitators. They include a Palestinian Arab identified as Abu Ishaq, assessed to be ISWAP’s overall trainer; a Moroccan Arab identified as Abu Thaiba, a medical doctor serving within the terrorist network; and another Arab operative whose identity is yet to be established,” he added.

He said the presence and active involvement of the foreign nationals further reinforced intelligence assessments that ISWAP continued to benefit from external support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist linkages.

“Following the successful engagement, troops immediately dominated the area and conducted exploitation operations to ascertain the full extent of the terrorists’ losses,” he added.

The Army spokesman said troops recovered the Sony camcorder, several rounds of PKT and 7.62mm Special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat items during the operation.

He further stated that initial analysis of post-engagement satellite imagery revealed terrorists evacuating the bodies of some of their neutralised fighters during their withdrawal.

“This has since been corroborated by credible human intelligence sources, which confirmed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties, with many others sustaining gunshot wounds during the engagement,” he said.

According to him, two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during the firefight and were promptly evacuated by air for advanced medical care, adding that both personnel remained in stable condition.

“The failed infiltration attempt represents yet another significant operational setback for ISWAP and caps a costly weekend for the terrorist group following sustained offensive operations and intensified military pressure across the North East Theatre,” he said.

He added that the outcome underscored the increasing difficulty the terrorists faced in executing coordinated attacks against highly alert and combat-ready troops while further degrading their combat capability, morale and freedom of action.

“Operation HADIN KAI remains resolute in sustaining offensive operations, protecting vulnerable communities and dismantling terrorist networks until lasting peace and security are fully restored across the North East,” he assured.

Continue Reading

news

BREAKING: Security Forces Rescue Kidnapped Pupils, Teachers in Oyo Forest Operation

Published

on

Eight kidnappers arrested

Ibadan, Oyo State – Nigerian security agencies have successfully rescued a group of kidnapped pupils and teachers following a coordinated operation in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Photos circulating after the operation show the rescued victims gathered in a rural forest location alongside security personnel shortly after they regained their freedom.

According to available information, the victims were abducted by suspected kidnappers before security operatives launched an intensive search-and-rescue mission. The operation, carried out through coordinated efforts by security agencies, led to the safe recovery of the pupils and their teachers.

The rescued victims have since been reunited with security officials and are expected to undergo medical examinations and trauma counselling before being reunited with their families.

Authorities have not yet disclosed whether any arrests were made during the operation or if a ransom was paid. However, investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible for the abduction.

The successful rescue has been welcomed by residents of the area, who commended the swift response of the security agencies while calling for increased security around schools and rural communities to prevent similar incidents.

The incident once again highlights the persistent security challenges facing some parts of the country, particularly the threat of school-related kidnappings, which have raised concerns among parents, educators, and community leaders.

Security agencies have assured the public that efforts are continuing to track down the perpetrators and strengthen measures aimed at protecting schools and vulnerable communities across the country.

Further official details are expected as the authorities provide updates on the operation.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025 Newsthumb Magazine | All rights reserved