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The Buhari Media Office (BMO) has denied reports linking former President Muhammadu Buhari to the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the claims as false and lacking any factual basis.

In a statement released on Sunday, the BMO clarified that Buhari never established any agency known as the PFIPC and did not approve a ₦1.3 billion allocation for such an organization in the 2026 Appropriation.

According to the office, the only body created during Buhari’s administration was the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), which served as an ad hoc advisory committee focused on economic matters.

The BMO explained that the PEAC initially operated from offices assigned to the Chief Economic Adviser to the President at the Federal Secretariat. Throughout Buhari’s tenure, the council functioned without a dedicated budget line.

Instead, its activities were funded through presidential approvals issued to the Minister of Finance, while operational expenses were covered by the State House following presidential authorization.

The statement noted that the PEAC was a part-time advisory body comprising economists and financial experts who provided economic policy advice to the President. Members received no salaries, with only operational costs funded to support the council’s work.

The council was chaired by Professor Doyin Salami, CFR, before his later appointment as Chief Economic Adviser to the President. Other members included Professor Mahmuda Sagagi as Vice Chairman, Professor Ode Ojowu, Dr. Shehu Yahaya, Dr. Iyabo Masha, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, and Dr. Mohammed Adaya Salisu, who served as secretary.

The BMO further stated that when the current administration took office in 2023, it neither dissolved the Buhari-appointed PEAC nor renewed the appointments of its members, who considered their tenure to have ended with the expiration of the administration that constituted the council.

It also revealed that the office jointly designated for the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser remained vacant after the transition of power and was only occupied years later.

Rejecting any attempt to associate Buhari with the ongoing PFIPC controversy, the media office insisted that claims suggesting the alleged agency originated under his administration are false, baseless, and unsupported by evidence.

The BMO urged Nigerians to disregard reports linking the former President to the alleged PFIPC, reiterating that the only advisory body established during Buhari’s administration was the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, which operated without a statutory budget line.

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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially released the final list of successful candidates for its ongoing recruitment exercise, marking the commencement of the final stage of the employment process.

The Service directed all shortlisted candidates to immediately log in to the official recruitment portal to confirm their selection, complete the required documentation, and accept their provisional offers of appointment within the stipulated deadline.

According to the NCS, successful applicants can verify their status through the official recruitment portal, while notifications are also being sent to candidates via their registered email addresses and SMS.

As part of the final documentation process, candidates are required to upload a Medical Certificate of Fitness obtained from a government-approved hospital. They must also update their current state of residence and click the “Accept Offer” button on the portal.

The Nigeria Customs Service warned that candidates who fail to complete these requirements within one week risk forfeiting their provisional appointments.

Following the successful completion of the online process, candidates will receive a Trainee Identification Number (TIN) ahead of the final documentation and training exercise. The dates, venues and other instructions for the next stage will be communicated through the Service’s official channels.

The Comptroller-General of Customs congratulated the successful candidates and urged them to demonstrate discipline, integrity and professionalism as they prepare to join the Service.

How to Check the Final List

Candidates should:

Visit the official Nigeria Customs Service recruitment portal https://recruitment.customs.gov.ng
Log in with the email address and password used during registration.
Check their recruitment status.
Upload the required Medical Certificate of Fitness.
Update their profile and current state of residence.
Click “Accept Offer” and print the acknowledgement slip for future reference.

The Nigeria Customs Service reiterated that its recruitment exercise is free of charge and advised applicants to ignore fraudsters or individuals demanding payment in exchange for employment.

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The Senate has debunked claims that the proposed amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission Establishment Act seeks to introduce a fresh ban on preaching or hawking in commercial vehicles.

According to the upper chamber, preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles have been offences under Nigerian law since the FRSC Establishment Act was enacted in 2007.

The Senate explained that the provision, previously listed as Item 36 in the Second Schedule of the Act, was only renumbered as Item 49 in the ongoing amendment process.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Office of the Senate Leader, the chamber stressed that the amendment does not seek to prohibit street preaching or restrict religious activities in public places.

It said the amendment is about the safety of commuters and other road users and is not intended to undermine any religious activity in the public space.

The Senate also dismissed reports alleging that Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele sponsored the amendment bill.

It clarified that the bill originated from the House of Representatives and is before the Senate as a concurrence bill in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

The upper chamber noted that the legislative process is still ongoing and urged Nigerians with concerns to make their views known through the appropriate legislative channels before the bill is passed.

The Senate reiterated its commitment to transparency and public participation, adding that the proposed amendment is aimed at strengthening road safety measures and protecting commuters across the country.