JUST IN; President Tinubu slashes number of Nigerian delegates attending UNGA in New York

Published

1 year ago

August 17, 2024

JUST IN; President Tinubu slashes number of Nigerian delegates attending UNGA in New York

President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to reduce the size of Nigeria’s official delegation to the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings in New York, United States.

The directive was disclosed by Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, on Saturday in Abuja, during a one-day retreat organised by the State House management for heads of government agencies under its supervision.

He stated that the decision to streamline Nigeria’s delegation to the 79th session of UNGA in September was part of the administration’s commitment to ensure prudent management of resources and reduce the cost of governance.

He highlighted the need for the State House and agencies under its supervision to ensure that their functions were guided by statutes, regulations, policy decisions, and presidential directives.

Gbajabiamila hinted at upcoming policy announcements aimed at ensuring efficient service delivery in government operations.

“I have just discussed with the President this afternoon. In the next few weeks, we shall see a test of this policy during UNGA in New York.

“During recent protests, there were talks about reduction in cost of governance. Everyone is waiting to see if Nigeria, as in the past, will send the ‘largest delegation’ to UNGA.

“From experience, we know that some individuals use the opportunity of such international meetings to attend to their personal business.”

He stated that the President directed that anyone who had no business at the UN General Assembly should not travel to America.

The Chief of Staff urged heads of agencies at the retreat to comply strictly with the directive.

He added that the President was listening to the concerns of Nigerians and was committed to addressing them diligently.

On the retreat, Gbajabiamila noted that it would facilitate collaboration and coordination among government agencies, particularly those under the direct supervision of the State House.

“The idea is to ensure coherence as we jointly work together to achieve the objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Coordination is not just a choice but a necessity for the government to succeed and for us to meet the expectations of the Nigerian people.”

He said the retreat would be a continuous exercise, as governance was an evolving process that required regular adjustments.

Gbajabiamila also urged the State House management and chief executives of agencies under its supervision to lead by example.

He said they should ensure compliance with statutes, laws, regulations, and various policies designed to enhance governance.

“We must demonstrate excellence in our compliance with the Public Procurement Act, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act, the Finance Act, and various appropriation acts in operation.

“Compliance with the civil service rules and the scheme of service guidelines, especially regarding recruitment, promotion, and presidential approvals, is also non-negotiable.”

The one-day retreat was themed, ‘Strengthening Institutional Mechanism for Effective Delivery.'(NAN)

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President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi outing

Published

2 hours ago

January 17, 2026

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President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi outing

President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after participating in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026).

Presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.

The president attended the summit alongside some members of his cabinet.

On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The agreement is aimed at deepening economic cooperation, boosting bilateral trade and investment, and enhancing technology transfer.

It will also expand collaboration in key sectors, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining and renewable energy.

In his address at the summit, Tinubu announced that Nigeria and the UAE would jointly host INVESTOPIA in Lagos in February.

The initiative is designed to attract global investors and accelerate sustainable investment inflows into Nigeria.

Tinubu also said Nigeria targets mobilising up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance.

He said the funds would support energy transition reforms and expand nationwide access to electricity. (NAN)

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APC clears air on receiving letter of defection from another State Governor

Published

3 hours ago

January 17, 2026

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APC clears air on receiving letter of defection from another State Governor

The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied receiving a letter from Gov. Dauda Lawal seeking to defect to the party.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were speculations across the state over Lawal’s move to defect to APC.
A statement issued in Gusau on Saturday by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris, described the speculations as fabricated.
“The party came across a fabricated report purported to have emanated from one Tambarin Gusau claiming that Go Dauda Lawal has sent a letter to the party wanting to join the APC.
“The report is malicious, unfortunate, unfounded, mischievous and showed the unprofessional manner which some people can go in misleading others and causing chaos in a stable and a peaceful party like the APC.
“The APC has responsible channels where everything is done in a guided manner,” Idris said.
According to him, the party has not received any letter from Lawal as claimed through the imagination of the writer nor was the party aware of any recent moves by the governor to defect from the PDP to the APC.
“All members of the party and indeed the public especially in Zamfara should therefore disregard such report.,” Idris added.(NAN)

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282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos

Published

7 hours ago

January 17, 2026

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282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos

A Qatar Airways passenger plane on Friday made an emergency landing at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos after developing a technical fault mid-flight.

The aircraft, which had 248 passengers and 12 crew members on board, was forced to land abruptly after the malfunction was detected while it was operating within Nigerian airspace.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident in a statement released by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.

According to him, the agency was alerted to the situation through its 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines, prompting an immediate response from emergency officials.

He explained that upon receiving the distress call, the LASEMA Response Team (LRT) was swiftly deployed to the airport to assess the situation and provide necessary support.

“Upon arrival at the scene, the LASEMA Response Team confirmed that the aircraft was in distress,” the statement noted.

“The pilot executed a safe landing on the runway at Murtala Mohammed International Airport with LASEMA Response Team and other emergency responders standing by on extreme high alert on the runway.

“Collaborative efforts of the multi-agency responders were coordinated. After proper check by the pilot and the engineering crew, the aircraft was moved to the apron for detailed inspection and prompt repairs.”

“All passengers of the distressed airplane were evacuated safely; no injuries reported, no loss of lives,” the statement said.

Despite the technical issue and the emergency landing, the agency stated that there was the aircraft experienced no major damage.

“The aircraft has been secured on the apron. Recovery activities have been completed,” the statement added.