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Tinubu appoints ex-INEC Chair Yakubu, Fani-Kayode, Reno Omokri, others as ambassadors (FULL LIST)

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent the names of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

This was disclosed in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Saturday.

The new list, which has the names of Chief Feni Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, and Reno Omokri, ex-Presidential aide, is coming days after the President sent the first batch of three names.

In two separate letters to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu asked the Senate to consider and confirm expeditiously 15 nominees as career ambassadors and 17 nominees as non-career ambassadors.

four women on the career ambassadors’ list and six women on the non-career ambassadors’ list.

Among the non-career ambassador designates are Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia, a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri (Delta), former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakubu, former Ekiti first lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo, and former Enugu governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Others are Tasiu Musa Maigari, the former speaker of the Katsina House of Assembly, Yakubu N. Gambo, a former Commissioner in Plateau State and former deputy executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, a former senator from Plateau; Otunba Femi Pedro, a former deputy governor of Lagos State; Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister from Osun State; and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra State are on the nomination list.

Also on the list are former First Lady of Oyo, Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Lagos Commissioner, Lola Akande, former Adamawa Senator, Grace Bent, former governor of Abia, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, businessman, lawyer and Senator from Ondo State, and the former ambassador of Nigeria to the Holy See, Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu from Benue State.

Among the nominees for career ambassador and high commissioner-designates are: Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa), Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi) and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun).

The other nominees are Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah(Edo), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger), Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina), Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara) and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).

The new nominees are expected to be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains excellent and strategic bilateral relations, such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, and to Permanent Missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. All the nominees will know their diplomatic assignments after their confirmation by the Senate.

Last week, President Tinubu sent three ambassadorial nominees for screening and confirmation. The nominees were Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun). All three are in the pot for posting to the UK, USA, or France after their confirmation.

Tinubu said more nominees for ambassadorial positions will be announced soon.

 

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President Tinubu
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BREAKING: Tinubu finally appoints ambassadors

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

President Bola Tinubu has sent a 3-man list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced this at plenary on Wednesday.

The nominees are Kayode Are from Ogun State, Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa and Ayodele Oke.

“The list contains three names for now, I am sure others will follow,” Akpabio said after reading the letter from President Bola Tinubu.

Since the emergence of Tinubu in 2023, he has not appointed an ambassador, an issue that critics have latched on to.

After President Donald Trump of the United States blacklisted Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, many blamed this on the non-appointment of ambassadors.

In an interview he granted in September, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, dismissed concerns that diplomatic missions were paralysed without appointed envoys.

“All our embassies are functioning well. The chargé d’affaires in each mission is carrying out responsibilities effectively. The absence of ambassadors has not created a vacuum”, he had said.

He explained that an ambassador is the head of mission, but the diplomatic chain of command includes deputies, counsellors and career officers who handle daily operations.

“Diplomacy is not a one-man show. The system is designed to cope with such situations,” he stated.

Tuggar noted that the appointment of ambassadors is strictly the president’s prerogative and will be made in due course.

“Mr President is considering the matter, and when the time is right, names will be announced. Meanwhile, our missions are not idle,” he had said.

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President Tinubu
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FG Borrows N17.36tn in 10 Months, Exceeds 2025 Target by 55.6%

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Federal Government (FG) has borrowed N17.36 trillion from domestic and foreign sources in the first 10 months of 2025, N6.06 trillion (55.6%) above the prorated N10.9 trillion borrowing limit set in the 2025 Appropriation Act.
Domestic borrowing hit N15.8 trillion by October, while external loans reached N1.56 trillion in the first half.
An additional $2.35 billion (N3.384 trillion) Eurobond issuance, initiated last week, will push total borrowing to N20.74 trillion.

Projections based on current trends estimate full-year borrowing at nearly N23 trillion, N10 trillion (80%) over the N13.08 trillion annual budget ceiling.

The 2025 budget projected N54.99 trillion in expenditure against N41.91 trillion in revenue, leaving a N13.08 trillion deficit to be financed through borrowing.

Breakdown of Domestic Borrowing (Jan–Oct 2025):

Treasury Bills: N11.43tn (+4.6% YoY)

FGN Bonds: N4.042tn (-22% YoY)

FGN Savings Bonds: N40.19bn (+5.6% YoY)

Sukuk Bonds: N300bn (from zero in 2024)

Financial analysts warn that persistent overshooting amid weak revenue performance risks a debt trap, crowds out private sector credit, and undermines IMF-backed fiscal reforms.

Andrew Uviase, Managing Partner at Ecovis OUC, called it “a clear reflection of fiscal indiscipline and poor expenditure control,” urging drastic cuts in governance costs and improved transparency.

He noted that despite FIRS gains, non-oil revenue remains disappointing, fueling reliance on borrowing.

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Headlines

BREAKING: Stay out of Nigeria’s Internal Affairs, China warns US

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

China has voiced strong support for Nigeria following threats by former U.S. President Donald Trump to launch military action over alleged persecution of Christians in the West African nation.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Beijing stands firmly with Nigeria as it continues on its chosen path of development.

“As Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly supports the Nigerian government as it leads its people on a development path suited to its national conditions,”

“China opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to meddle in other countries’ internal affairs or to threaten them with sanctions or the use of force,” Ning said.

Ning’s remarks followed comments by Trump over the weekend in which he accused the Nigerian government of failing to stop the “killing of Christians” and warned of possible U.S. military intervention.

“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the United States will immediately halt all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may very well move into that now disgraced country, guns blazing, to wipe out the Islamic terrorists committing these atrocities,” Trump had declared in a fiery post on Truth Social.

He added that he had directed the U.S. Department of War to “prepare for possible action,” promising any strike would be “fast, vicious, and sweet.”

The Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims of systematic persecution of Christians. Responding to the U.S. leader’s comments, President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom and mutual coexistence.

 

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Tinubu Set to Announce New Ambassadors Amid Trump’s Military Threat

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will unveil Nigeria’s new ambassadors by next week, amid the ongoing diplomatic tension with the United States over allegations of Christian killings in the country.

According to the report, President Tinubu has directed the nation’s security agencies to fast-track the screening and vetting of the ambassadorial nominees.

“President Tinubu will announce new ambassadors, and this may be as early as next week, as security services have been directed to conclude vetting immediately,” Arise TV stated.

This comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent warning that military intervention could be considered if the Nigerian government fails to address reported attacks on Christian communities.

It will be recalled that in April, reports surfaced listing some notable political figures, including former Senator Shehu Sani, ex-presidential aide Reno Omokri, and former governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), among those being considered for ambassadorial positions.

In a recent update, the Federal Government confirmed that the list of ambassadorial nominees has been finalised.

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Headlines

Catholic Priest Cries Out: ‘We’re Being Slaughtered Like Cows, Tinubu Turns Deaf Ear, Trump Please Intervene

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

A Catholic Priest, Fada Angelo Chidi Unegbu, has backed President Donald Trump’s decision to tackle the alleged massacre of Christians in Nigeria.

Trump had after designating Nigeria as Country of Particular Concern, vowed military intervention to end what he called the persecution of Christians in the country.

The US decision had triggered mixed reactions across the country.

While some citizens, particularly Christians, are celebrating the move, others believe the security crisis in Nigeria has nothing to do with religion.

However, Fada Angelo in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Sunday claimed that himself and others “have been appealing to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu all this while to stop the killings”.

The Catholic priest said they have been reminding Tinubu that he has “all it takes to stop insecurity and injustice in Nigeria, but he paid deaf ears to our pleas”, stressing that “humans are slaughtered daily like cows”.

He argued that terrorists in Nigeria are “walking freely”, while “harmless agitators and protesters have either been killed by the same government or are in jail”.

In another post, the clergy said “if the US comes to our aid, the chances are 50/50, but if not, our doom is sealed”.

“And if the US doesn’t come, who will help us? What are the plans to stop the killings? Donald J. Trump, please come quickly”, he added.

 

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Opinion

Trump’s Threat on Nigeria is opportunity for President Tinubu to act…

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The designation of Nigeria as *a country of special interest* is definitely an embarrassment to the giant of Africa. It also serves as an opportunity for the Tinubu administration to wipe the religious terrorists out of Nigeria so as to save the lives of Nigerians.

Nigeria has had a history of religious violence dating back to the days when people of Igbo extraction were prosecuted and killed in thousands in Northern Nigeria. It is not untrue to say that Christians have suffered genocidal killing in Nigeria, and continues to suffer such killings till date.

The people of the north central Nigeria particularly the people of Benue and Plateau State including the people southern Kaduna have suffered the latest brunt of religious killings by religious terrorists.

It has been a sad and embarrassing ordeal that remains an abatross exacerbated by the inability of the Federal Government of Nigeria to checkmate the killings over the years.

It is on this note that the President of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is called to step up to the plate and grab the opportunity to eradicate the menace.

President Tinubu should ask the American President, Donald Trump for help towards eradicating the menace.

Too many innocent lives have been lost to marauding bandits and religious terrorists.

Nigeria can be made great again.

Engr Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe

President General

Igbo Community Association FCT

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Business

BREAKING: President Tinubu Approves 15% Import Duty on Diesel and Petrol

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

President Bola Tinubu has approved a 15 percent ad-valorem import duty on diesel and premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.

In a letter dated October 21, 2025, Damilotun Aderemi, the president’s private secretary, conveyed Tinubu’s approval to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The approval followed a request from FIRS to apply the 15 percent duty on the cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) value of imports, aimed at aligning import costs with domestic market realities.

According to the letter, the implementation of the import duty is expected to raise the price of a litre of petrol by approximately N99.72.

 

 

 

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Headlines

Presidency Finally Breaks Silence on Alleged Coup Plot – Full Details Emerge

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Presidency has dismissed reports of an alleged coup attempt in Nigeria, reaffirming its confidence in the military’s loyalty to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking on air on TVC News on Tuesday, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to the President, Sunday Dare, said there was “no coup attempt” anywhere in the country.

He maintained that the government fully aligns with the position of the Nigerian Armed Forces, which had earlier denied any such plot.

Dare stressed that the military remains the constitutionally recognized institution responsible for safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and unity. He added that President Tinubu has full trust in their professionalism and allegiance.

He said, “We are going to stick to the narrative of the military because they are the ones constitutionally empowered to secure this country. They are given the power, arms and ammunition as the intelligence power.

“So when the military says these are the reasons why we have this development, we are going to stay with that narrative because that is the brief that is out there. Until the military comes with a different narrative, we are going to stay with that narrative. On some military being retained, there is a need to have institutional memory and maintain a balance and this decision was not taken on a flip for the person that was retained.”

However, the Presidency’s response comes amid public anxiety over claims of a coup plot and the ongoing detention of several military officers by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

In recent days, reports surfaced alleging that operatives of the Nigerian Army raided the Abuja home of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, in connection with the alleged plot.

Security sources said a “special military team” conducted the raid after intelligence linked a “former South-South governor” to secret meetings with some of the detained officers.

Sources revealed that Sylva’s brother, identified as Paga, was arrested during the operation, while the former minister was said to have fled the country days earlier. The search reportedly extended to his residence in Bayelsa State.

Although there has been no official statement from the military regarding the raid, insiders described the operation as a “targeted response” to intelligence pointing to possible political involvement in the alleged coup discussions.

The Defence Intelligence Agency has reportedly detained at least 16 senior officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force over the matter. Family members of the officers claim they have been held for weeks without communication or formal charges.

Security experts have raised concerns over the DIA’s direct handling of the case instead of allowing the respective military services to manage their personnel internally; a move some analysts describe as “politically motivated.”

 

 

 

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General Olufemi Oluyede
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Alleged Coup: Tinubu Appoints Yoruba Officer as New CDS

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Nigerians have expressed strong reactions following the removal of Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other top service chiefs, barely a week after reports emerged of an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.

In a statement by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, General Musa was confirmed to have been replaced by General Olufemi Oluyede, who hails from Ekiti State.

The shake-up has sparked widespread debate on social media, with many Nigerians linking the dismissals to the alleged coup attempt.

X user, @IkukuomaC, noted, “The sacking of service chiefs can only mean one thing — the coup attempt was real. Now he switched his CDS to a Yoruba officer… Interesting times.

User @Its_Olayinnka tweeted, “The rumour about the coup was true then. This is a very good development! We cannot have another military rule.”

Similarly, @Ohamadikae wrote, “This means the coup rumours weren’t false! For the first time, I’m pleased with President Tinubu’s choice. Baba, safeguard your loins. Despite our political differences, your safety matters and democracy must thrive.”

However, others expressed scepticism over the suddenness of the changes, suggesting that more may be occurring behind the scenes.

@djokaymegamixer commented, “There is absolutely nothing wrong with exercising presidential powers. After all, that is what presidents do.

“The real curiosity here is what suddenly inspired this burst of executive energy. Was there a midnight revelation or a nudge from somewhere we’re not supposed to mention? When things happen this abruptly, there is usually a juicy backstory waiting to drop.”

Opinions on the implications for national security were also divided. While some Nigerians viewed the shake-up as a reinforcement of democratic resilience, others raised concerns about military stability.

@Chridtian_1994 remarked, “That means there was indeed a coup attempt. It’s time to surround himself with his fellow tribesmen, but what he always misses is that all men love power, and when it’s time to seize it, they will do so irrespective of tribe or religion.”

 

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