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Tinubu Fires Back At Atiku, Says ‘I’ll Give Nigerians Full Attention, Not Half From Dubai’

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Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), says he will devote all of his time and energy to Nigeria’s service.

In what appeared to be a swipe at Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tinubu said he won’t be a part-time president who will share his time between Dubai and Nigeria.

The former vice-president had spent most of his time in Dubai after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared President Muhammadu Buhari the winner of the 2019 election.

Tinubu, according to a statement by Tunde Rahman, his media aide, spoke on Sunday at an interactive session with members of the Tijjaniyyah sect at the Kano government house.

The former Lagos governor said he would focus on confronting and surmounting Nigeria’s pressing challenges.

In September, Kashim Shettima, vice-presidential candidate of the APC, had also said his party would retire Atiku to Dubai in 2023.

Bashir Bareebah, leader of the Tijjaniyyah sect, urged Tinubu to ensure the inclusion of the sect in his cabinet and other government appointments while reducing Hajj fares and completing the Tijjaniyyah University under construction in the state.

Improved electricity, security, agriculture, education, and the completion of dams were also part of the demands of the sect.

In response, Tinubu said solutions to the problems were contained in his manifesto.

He said he is running for president because of his commitment to improving the lives of all Nigerians.

The APC presidential candidate also met with northern business leaders to assure them of his commitment to creating a stable business environment.

“There is a strong nexus between the place of Kano as a center of prosperity and my plan for Nigeria. What I pledge is a revamped economy that will renew the hope of our people. Our country needs multiple centers of prosperity, and we intend to achieve that by adding value across all sectors of our economy,” Tinubu said.

“As I said during my speech at the Arewa House on Monday, Nigeria is sitting on a goldmine. No state in Nigeria is lacking in one resource or the other. We are determined to explore and exploit these resources to the maximum benefit of our people. Kano, for example, has huge agricultural potential and important mineral resources underneath its ground like gold, silver, nickel, tin ore, and columbite. Each of these, if properly harnessed, can add significantly to our economy as a country.”

BIG STORY

Non-Oil Sector Accounted For N15.69 trn Of N20.59 trn Revenue Generated In Eight Months — Presidency

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The Presidency has announced that non-oil sectors contributed ₦15.69 trillion, accounting for three out of every four naira collected by the government between January and August 2025, signaling a major shift away from oil dependence.

According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, total government revenue during the eight-month period amounted to ₦20.59 trillion—a 40.5% increase from the ₦14.6 trillion collected in the same period in 2024 .

The sharp rise in non-oil earnings reflects a combination of fiscal reforms, enhanced compliance, and digitised tax administration, including customs automation and broader enforcement measures .

Customs collections alone tallied ₦3.68 trillion in the first half of 2025, exceeding the target by ₦390 billion and accounting for 56% of the full-year goal .

This fiscal strength has translated into historic FAAC disbursements: for the first time, monthly allocations to states and local governments surpassed ₦2 trillion in July—funds critical for supporting food security, infrastructure, and social services .

Significantly, the Presidency also confirmed that the federal government has not borrowed from domestic banks in 2025, a notable departure from prior reliance on local borrowing .

While the gains are substantial, officials acknowledge that revenue still falls short of the government’s spending goals for education, health, and infrastructure, and urged continued efforts to bridge the gap .

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BIG STORY

I Have To Create State Police, We’ll Defeat Insecurity — Tinubu

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President Bola Tinubu says the establishment of state police has become inevitable as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Speaking at the presidential villa on Tuesday while receiving a delegation of prominent Katsina citizens led by Governor Dikko Radda, Tinubu said his administration would adopt decentralised policing to strengthen security at the grassroots.

The president directed security agencies to review their operations in Katsina following renewed banditry in the state and announced the deployment of advanced military hardware, including drones and surveillance equipment.

“The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it,” Tinubu said.

“I have today directed all the security agencies to energise further and look at the strategies. We have approved the additional acquisition of drones. I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create state police. We are looking at that holistically. We will defeat insecurity.”

Tinubu added that the federal government is considering upgrading the recently deployed forest guards in Katsina into a more structured force.

Buhari’s Legacy

The president also assured the delegation that his administration would preserve the legacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“He didn’t hand over a defeated country, a battered political structure, but a legacy of success, and that is the most important thing,” he said.

“We just have to continue praying that Almighty Allah should grant him Aljannah Firdausi and give the rest of us the ability to stand very strong and push Nigeria forward.”

Katsina’s Demands

Governor Radda thanked Tinubu for his continued support to the state, noting that Katsina needs more security interventions, youth empowerment, and infrastructure.

Former Governor Aminu Masari commended Tinubu for honouring Buhari with a “true state funeral,” while Ibrahim Ida, the Wazirin Katsina, called for the upgrade of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and greater security focus on southern Katsina.

The move towards state policing follows earlier steps by the federal government. On February 15, 2024, a committee was inaugurated to explore its creation. Vice-President Kashim Shettima later confirmed that all 36 states had supported the initiative, though 20 were yet to submit reports.

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BIG STORY

Lagos Police PRO Hundeyin Appointed New Force Spokesman

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The Nigeria Police Force has appointed Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO).

Hundeyin takes over from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Muyiwa Adejobi, who has been redeployed to Delta State Police Command as deputy commissioner in charge of operations following his promotion.

Police authorities described the appointments as part of routine administrative adjustments aimed at career progression and manpower optimisation, stressing that the changes are neither punitive nor controversial.

Profile of the new FPRO

CSP Hundeyin holds a degree in English Language from Lagos State University and a master’s degree in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology from the University of Ibadan.

He has undergone specialised training in Civil-Military Coordination at the Nigerian Army Leadership Institute, Jaji, and is a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), International Public Relations Association, and Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN).

Hundeyin also served with the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), gaining experience in peacekeeping and crisis communication.

Appointed Lagos police spokesperson in March 2022, he has since been recognised for proactive engagement with the public and media.

New national assignment

As Force PRO, Hundeyin is expected to spearhead the police’s national communication strategy, improve crisis management, and strengthen transparency and public trust through strategic messaging.

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