News
Tinubu’s critic lack knowledge – FG *Lists gains of UK visit
“We know that Nigeria has had its own fair share of criticism about some of those policies that were instituted back home, some of them (criticism) arising from a lack of adequate knowledge and some out of sheer mischief.”
These were the words of Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, on Sunday, with which he explained the efforts of President Bola Tinubu to reposition Nigeria and put it on a sound footing.
Idris, during an engagement with the international media in the United Kingdom, as part of preparations for Tinubu’s state visit to the UK this week, said that Nigeria and the UK had maintained a strong partnership for decades, adding that the state visit would further strengthen the ties.
Highlighting the benefits of the engagement by the two countries, he said: “This visit is significant in many ways. It highlights the historic and strategic relationship Nigeria and the United Kingdom, between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, a relationship that is built on deep diplomatic, economic, cultural, and democratic ties.
“For decades, our two countries have maintained a partnership that spans trade, education, security cooperation, cultural exchange, and shared democratic values.
“President Tumbu’s visit provides an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration across critical areas, including trade and investment, security cooperation, climate action, education, and technological innovation.
“It also reflects Nigeria’s growing importance as a key democratic and economic partner in Africa, and a responsible participant in global affairs,” Idris said.The delegation comprised ministers and presidential aides.
“So, as communicators, we thought that it is important, regardless of whatever position anyone may have taken, to go through some of these programmes and policies that have happened in the last… close to three years, and then interact with you.
“Where you have questions, we take them; where you seek clarifications, we provide. Where we need to take some advice from you, we’ll also take and get back home,” he added.
President Tinubu will be hosted by His Majesty King Charles III in what is expected to be a landmark moment in UK–Nigeria relations.
The visit will combine the ceremonial traditions of a royal welcome with high-level engagements aimed at strengthening economic, diplomatic, and strategic ties between the two countries.
Last week, the king hosted members of the Nigerian diaspora in the UK to a pre-visit reception.
The reception featured jollof rice and live music by Dele Sosimi and the Afrobeats Orchestra.
The Royal Family described the event on its official X handle on Thursday as “a wonderful evening,” thanking those who attended the event.
“Last night, The King hosted a reception with members of the Nigerian diaspora in the UK, ahead of the incoming State Visit of the President of Nigeria.
“With jollof rice and music by Dele Sosimi and the Afrobeats Orchestra — it was a wonderful evening. Thank you to everyone who joined us,” it said.
Ahead of the planned state visit, UK authorities have activated airspace restrictions over Windsor Castle, which will reportedly be extended on March 18 to cover the period from 7 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Armed officers, search teams, the Mounted Section, road policing units, and Project Servator resources are expected to be deployed across Windsor, alongside an extensive CCTV network.
The Royal Family had announced in February an invitation to Tinubu from King Charles III, said to be the first in 37 years for the former colony and Africa’s most populous country.
“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from Wednesday, 18th March to Thursday, 19th March 2026.
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, announced the approval of the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats and ordered the immediate release of ₦10 billion as emergency intervention funding.
Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesman, who conveyed the development to the public, said the fund would strengthen the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical national public health emergency response activities.
To be chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, the committee with membership drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and state representatives is also expected to get briefings on their plans to contain the disease.
Onanuga, stated that Tinubu also specifically directed all states hosting international airports and international border corridors, as well as relevant MDAs, to submit their plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for consideration and coordinated implementation.
Stating that the President’s move followed a stakeholder meeting convened under the CoS to review Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies against the possible importation of Ebola into the country., the statement informed that the Task Force would also intensify passenger screening at all international airports through enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control protocols.
Other measures would also include enhanced monitoring of passengers arriving through high-risk airline routes, including Air Uganda, Rwanda Air, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines; and the immediate activation of referral and isolation centres at the Lagos and Abuja international airports, with other airports to follow.
Other measures include the mandatory activation of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for passengers originating from or transiting through designated high-risk countries, as well as the disinfection of departure halls, cargoes, baggage areas and airport facilities as precautionary environmental measures.
The President also directed the advisory group to consult with security, diplomatic and aviation bodies on regulating flights from affected and designated high-risk countries and mandated the task force to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights to enable controlled screening and isolation procedures, and to consider adjusting flight schedules to minimise interaction between high-risk passengers and other travellers.
Justice Akintoye Aluko of the Federal High Court, Lagos on Tuesday ordered the remand of Paul Jibrin Oweleke in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged cybercrime offences linked to social media broadcasts that allegedly called for overthrow of President Bola Tinubu.
Specifically, Oweleke, in a two-count charge was accused of publishing posts on his online platform known as “Oweleke TV”, urging the Nigerian military to remove the President from office in a manner similar to takeovers in some West African countries, an act the agency said bordered on incitement and the use of a computer system to disseminate content considered prejudicial to national security and constitutional governance.
Oweleke’s broadcasts, the agency stressed, were capable of inciting public disorder and promoting disaffection against the government, which will undermine the country’s democracy.
Legal argument had ensued immediately after Oweleke, pleaded not guilty to the charges, with his lawyer kicking vehemently against the prayer of the agency that the court should order his remand pending the commencement of trial, on the ground that a bail application had already been filed and served on the prosecution.
But Aluko, who was persuaded to grant the prayer, went with the DSS, while adjourning the matter to June 16 for the hearing of the bail application, stating that Oweleke, would remain in the facility of the agency pending the outcome.
By June 29 all medical doctors in public hospitals in Nigeria will drop their stethoscopes and other instruments of healthcare, unless the Federal Government settles all unpaid allowances, salary arrears, delayed training funds, and worsening welfare concerns of its members across the country’s health sector.
This was the notice served to the government on Monday, through The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the umbrella under which the doctors operate, after rising from Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) held in Kano.
In the 21-day ultimatum to the government, the doctors warned that it would not be able to guarantee industrial harmony if the issues remain unresolved within the 21-day period.
In the resolution conveying their position, signed by Mohammad Suleiman, President, Shuaibu Ibrahim, Secretary-General, and Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, Publicity and Social Secretary, on Friday, the body regretted that government had failed to fulfil several commitments to doctors despite repeated assurances and engagements.
“The association hereby declares an industrial dispute with the federal government of Nigeria on the outlined matters above and cannot guarantee industrial harmony after the 21-day window period given to address all the demands,” the communique reads.
The association said it is giving the federal government the 21-day window to commence concrete actions towards the development and implementation of a national healthcare workers assault prevention and response protocol
and the initiation of the necessary legislative process to address the menace.
NARD also demanded the release and payment of the 2026 medical residency training fund (MRTF) to all eligible resident doctors nationwide within the next 21 days.
The association questioned the unpaid salary and promotion arrears in several federal and state health institutions, as well as discrepancies in professional allowances reflected in members’ May 2026 salaries.
It highlighted the welfare issues affecting house officers, including salary delays, unpaid arrears, and difficulties with internship placement and onboarding processes that remain unresolved.
It also accused Motunrayo Omidiran, executive chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), of delaying the issuance of letters of compliance to federal health institutions, noting that the delay has hampered recruitment efforts, manpower shortages, and brain drain in the sector.
NARD expressed worries about the increasing assaults, harassment, intimidation, and violent attacks against doctors while on duty, demanding the arrests, investigation, and prosecution of perpetrators.
It called for the establishment of a national healthcare workers’ assault prevention and response protocol within 21 days by the federal government and security agencies.
-
News4 weeks agoTinubu to African leaders: Copy Nigeria, produce your way out of poverty
-
News3 weeks agoBREAKING: US-Nigeria troops slaughter 175 ISWAP fighters
-
Columns3 weeks agoDear General Gowon: That apology you’re running from is your nemesis
-
News1 week agoBREAKING: Terrorists strike Ibadan again! Abduct ex-Minister’s sister, twin children
-
News4 weeks agoWhy we pegged presidential ticket forms at N60million – NDC
-
News4 weeks agoGowon on civil war: My book is to put records straight, remove falsehood
-
News3 weeks agoBREAKING: Wait over! Arsenal are CHAMPIONS! Win EPL after 22 years hiatus
-
Columns2 weeks agoSee Tinubu’s terrible damage on Option A4 and its precious memories