Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu on Friday in Beijing rounded off his official engagements in China by meeting with Nigerians living in the country, describing his visit as “very good and successful.”

Addressing members of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization in China (NIDO China) and the Nigerian community at the China World Hotel, the President reeled out his efforts to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, trade, finance, energy, green economy and mining during his discussions with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and his participation at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

“What is uppermost in my mind is for you to continue representing Nigeria as good citizens, and I urge you all to be good ambassadors of our nation in China.

“We will always celebrate our diversity. We cherish it, but this diversity is our commitment to serve. If it is about service, we must be good citizens,” the President stated.

President Tinubu also reiterated the importance of discipline and commitment to national service, citing China’s disciplined society as an example for Nigerians to follow.

“I cannot tell you more, except from the embassy, that China is a very disciplined society and we have to be disciplined too. Without discipline and commitment, we cannot build a nation that is respected everywhere in the world.

“We must exploit our diversity and be ready to do everything required of us within the laws of the communities that we live in and reflect a good image of our country,” the President said.

President Tinubu assured Nigerians in Diaspora that Nigeria’s Bank of Industry is prepared to collaborate with them to leverage opportunities back home.

“Nigeria is going through reforms, and we are taking very bold and unprecedented decisions. For example, you might have been hearing from home in the last few days about fuel prices.

“But, can we help it? Can we develop good roads like you have here? You see electricity being constant in quantity and quality. You see water supply, constant and running, and you see their good schools. And we say we want to hand over a banner without stain to our children?

“What is the critical part to get us there if we cannot take hard decisions to pave the way for a country that is blessed and so talented?

“So many of you are so talented, speaking very fluent Mandarin. It is what you contribute and tell them at home that will reflect in the attitude of our people. The more you want everything free, it will become more expensive and long-delayed to achieve meaningful development,’’ the President said.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new board members for the Bank of Industry (BoI).

Former minister of state for finance, Mansur Muhthar is the chair of the newly approved BOI board.

Others are Dr. Olasupo Olusi – Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Ifeoma Uz’Okpala – Executive Director, Large Enterprises, Mr. Shekarau Omar – Executive Director, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, while Mr Usen Effiong is the Executive Director, Corporate Services.

Others are Ms. Mabel Ndagi – Executive Director, Public Sector & Intervention Programmes, Mr. Rotimi Akinde – Executive Director, Corporate Finance & Risk Management, Mallam Tajudeen Datti Ahmed Non-Executive Director, representing the Ministry of Finance Incorporated and Mr. Adedamola Olufemi Young – Non-Executive Director, representing Central Bank of Nigeria.

Also listed is Reverend Isaac Adefemi Agoye – Non-Executive, representing the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mallam Muhammad Bala – Non-Executive, representing Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment, Mr. Oreoluwa Adeyemi – Independent Non-Executive Director and Mr. Sulaiman Musa Kadira – Independent Non-Executive Directo.

”The President expects the new board of the Bank of Industry to work harmoniously, diligently, and with utmost fidelity to the nation in driving the mandate of this critical institution as a development vehicle for providing support for projects that enhance job creation, poverty alleviation, and the socio-economic conditions of Nigerian families,” Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesman, said in a statement.

Baring last minute changes, President Bola Tinubu will return to France today, Friday August 23.

The president had cut short his earlier trip to France to swear in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Kekere-Ekun’s inauguration makes her the second female CJN in the country’s history after Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who was CJN from July 2012 to November 2014.

The acting CJN took her oath of office at about 11:38am and took her allotted seat in the council chambers — on the left of the president — at exactly 11:45am.

Among those who witnessed the event were other justices of the supreme court; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; the leadership of the house of representatives led by Julius Ihonbvere; Babajide Sanwoolu, governor of Lagos; and Olukayode Ariwoola, immediate past CJN.

Also present were George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF); Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA); Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president; and Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation.

A reliable source at the presidency said Tinubu will be returning to France “any moment from now to continue his brief work stay” in the country.

President Bola Tinubu’s administration has spent a staggering N2.3 billion on foreign trips and related expenses within six months.

This revelation, sourced from the GovSpend analytics platform by BudgIT Foundation, highlights the extensive costs associated with presidential travel between February 21 and July 19, 2024.

During the period, the State House Headquarters in Abuja recorded payments for presidential trips, beginning with N300 million on February 21, 2024, for January’s expenses.

Additional payments followed, including N250 million on February 24 and a series of transactions on March 15, 2024, totalling hundreds of millions of naira.

The expenditures cover a wide range of activities related to foreign trips by the administration’s officials.

Moreover, the government spent over N2.9 billion between February 24 and March 15, 2024, on purchasing foreign exchange to fund trips by President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and First Lady Remi Tinubu.

The trips included visits to Dubai, Ethiopia, Switzerland, Liberia, France, and Côte d’Ivoire, with substantial sums used to acquire US dollars for these journeys.

For instance, N750 million was spent to purchase $1.27 million for President Tinubu’s trip to Dubai, while N1.04 billion was allocated to secure $692,265 for his visit to Ethiopia. The Vice President and First Lady also incurred costs for their trips, including N426.88 million for a visit to Switzerland and N149.79 million for the First Lady’s trip to France.

The expenditures have drawn sharp criticism, especially as they coincide with severe economic hardship in Nigeria.

President Tinubu recently urged Nigerians to endure the difficulties brought about by his economic policies, which have exacerbated inflation and contributed to widespread hunger.