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315 Nigerian South African returnees are expected to arrive in the country on Wednesday, 15th July 2026, in a final evacuation move by the Federal Government.

This was revealed in a statement signed on Tuesday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.

The flight to be operated by AirPeace will depart South Africa at 1.30 AM with an estimated time of arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, set at 6.30 AM.

The government had earlier conducted four evacuation flights, bringing home hundreds of Nigerians following the recent xenophobic attacks and security concerns in parts of South Africa.

The Federal Government’s evacuation consists of Nigerians who indicated interest in returning home as a result of the attacks.

The previous batch brought in a total of 40 returnees.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians wherever they may be and expressed appreciation to all stakeholders involved in the evacuation exercise.

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Recalling the last moments of former President Muhammadu Buhari at a London hospital last year, Vice President Kashim Shettima said he wept seeing that life was ebbing out of the late leader.

Speaking at the one year remembrance event yesterday Shettima said: “The President (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) called me and said, ‘Kashim, I’ve just learnt that President Muhammadu Buhari is ill in London. Please kindly proceed to London and find out what is happening, and ensure he lacks nothing.”

The vice president described the poignant scene at the London hospital, which he said left him in tears.

“I came out with tears in my eyes and met Zara and Yusuf (Buhari’s children) at the door of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). It was a moving spectacle. It was an emotional moment,” Shettima said, adding that escorting the late President’s body home remained one of the greatest honors of his life.

Echoes of the late president’s life and times reverberated in Abuja during activities marking the one year of his transition.

His body was brought back home and buried in his Daura, Katsina State home.

Members of the late leader’s family, his political associates, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, military allies and subordinates, gathered for the event.

The high-profile, solemn assembly drew distinguished leaders, including former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the National Assembly leadership, governors, royal fathers and members of the diplomatic corps.

President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Shettima, opened the floodgate of tributes to the late leader.

Delivering Tinubu’s keynote address, the vice president reassured the bereaved family of the Federal Government’s lifelong solidarity.

Addressing the former First Lady and her children directly, the President said: “To the immediate family, to our dear Mrs. Aisha Buhari, and to the younger Buharis, I know that you have passed through a season of profound grief. Please be assured that the nation and this administration stand with you now and in all the years to come.

“Our administration will continue to hold you up in our prayers, trusting that Almighty Allah will comfort you, sustain you, and shield you from all harms.”

Reflecting on his long political journey with the late leader, Tinubu described Buhari as a “co-traveller on the long road of politics and national development,” noting that they shared a deep, common passion for a progressive Nigeria.

“He gave everything he had to this country, and he gave it without reservation. He served with courage. He served with conviction and with a patriotism that never asked what the nation could return to him,” Tinubu said.

The President praised the late Buhari’s “rare ability to maintain the love and trust of ordinary Nigerians even after leaving office”, a feat he noted “is uncommon in public service.

“Power, ordinarily exhausts the affection of the governed… yet, when he laid down the burden of leadership, and through all the years of his retirement, and in his final months… the trust of ordinary Nigerians did not depart from him. It followed him into private life,” the President remarked.

Before reading the official presidential address, Shettima strayed from the script to praise President Tinubu’s fierce loyalty to his friends, recalling a touching directive he received when Buhari fell ill in London.

Urging the gathering of friends, associates, and mentees to look to the future, President Tinubu stated that the finest way to honor the departed is to emulate his core values.

“Our duty, as his friends, as his mentees, and as his associates, is to carry forward the inheritance he left us: honesty, simplicity, and self-discipline,” Tinubu said, concluding that the late President’s memory has safely entered the permanent consciousness of Nigeria.

Gen. Gowon took the audience down memory lane to their active military days, describing the late Buhari as a “gallant soldier”, who did his best to keep Nigeria united.

Gowon praised the political alliance between the late Buhari and Tinubu, noting that Buhari returned Tinubu’s early support when the time came for the transition of power.

“He stood firmly behind President Tinubu so that he could continue serving Nigeria,” Gowon observed.

Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda described the late former President Muhammadu Buhari as the state’s “moral compass” and a leader whose personal integrity became entirely synonymous with public service.

Represented by his Deputy Malam Faruk Lawal Jobe, the governor stressed that the late Buhari’s physical absence has left a deep void, but noted that the home state remains immensely proud of his lifelong dedication to the Nigerian project.

He said: “Here in Katsina State, President Buhari was more than a former Head of State, or former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he was our illustrious son, our pride and our moral compass. He never forgot his roots.”

The governor noted that while the late leader pursued critical, sweeping reforms in infrastructure, rail transportation, agriculture, and social investment, his most valuable contribution to Nigeria was the enduring example of modesty he set at the highest level of governance.

Radda further said: “Whether one agreed with all his policies or not, no one could reasonably question his sincerity of purpose, his simplicity of lifestyle and his unwavering commitment to the Nigerian project.

“He firmly believed that leadership was a sacred trust and that public office exists to serve the people rather than personal interests.”

The governor challenged Nigeria’s current political class to move beyond symbolic gestures if they truly wish to keep the late president’s memory alive.

He said: “The greatest tribute we can pay to President Muhammadu Buhari is not merely through speeches, monuments or commemorative events. Rather, it is by embracing the principles that guided his life. If we truly wish to honour his memory, then we must commit ourselves to integrity over expediency, service over self-interest, justice over favouritism and national unity over division.”

Among those who paid glowing tributes were: Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum; Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and Umar Namadi (Jigawa); Budget and National Planning Minister Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; former governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Simon Lalong (Plateau); former information and National Orientation Lai Mohammed; former Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Chairman Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa.

They include: former National Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Sen. Abdullahi Adamu; former Senate President Ahmad Lawan; former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Tukur Buratai; former Immigration Controller, Mohammed Babandede; former Plateau Deputy governor Pauline Tallen and other appointees that served under the former leader.

Also in attendance were: Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State AbdulRaham AbdulRazaq; Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan and Emirs of Kazaure, Dutse and Nasarawa.

The Chairman of the Central Organising Committee and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, disclosed plans by the family to establish the Muhammadu Buhari Foundation and Centre, alongside several legacy publications, to preserve his contributions to the nation.

“Today is not merely about recalling the passing of a former President,” Mustapha stated. “It is an occasion to reflect on a life of service and to preserve for future generations the memory of a man who devoted much of his adult life to the service of Nigeria,” the former SGF said. (The Nation)

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…urge members to challenge government thinking as committee pledges practical solutions over paperwork

By Gloria Ikibah

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, has inaugurated a Ministerial Advisory Committee to provide independent policy advice aimed at translating the Federal Government’s economic reforms into measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.

Speaking at the inauguration on Tuesday in Abuja, Oyedele said the committee would serve as a bridge between policy formulation and implementation, insisting that the era of reform must now give way to tangible results.

The minister said: “Today is not simply about constituting another committee.

“It is about institutionalising a new way of thinking, a new way of solving problems, a new way of connecting ideas with implementation and strengthening the quality of economic decision making in service of the Nigerian people. This is what I call the public-policy-private partnership. The context is that we want to move from reform to results.”

Oyedele said the administration of President Bola Tinubu had embarked on some of the country’s most difficult economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification and comprehensive tax reforms.

“These were not easy choices, but are essential because sustainable development cannot be built on fiscal illusion.

“We acknowledge that these decisions impose real, immediate costs on households, businesses and communities. So our focus now is on converting the reforms into tangible results.

“It is one thing to make or change policy. It is quite another to translate that change into outcomes ordinary Nigerians can feel. The true measure of reform is not the number of policies announced or macroeconomic indicators cited. It is the number of jobs created, inflation declining, naira stabilising, and businesses investing with confidence.

“It is about the number of lives improved. That is why this committee has been established”, stated.

The minister said government required honest and evidence-based advice capable of identifying policy risks before they become crises.

He emphasised that the advisory body will not duplicate the functions of government institutions.

“This committee exists therefore to provide independent, evidence-based, and constructive external counsel. We need you to think through the second and third order effects of our policies.

“Surface vulnerabilities and risks before they become crises. Bring international best practice into our decision-making. Relay how our reforms are actually landing in factories, shops and communities so we can adjust course dynamically where necessary”

“Let me be explicit about what this committee is not. It does not exercise executive authority, nor does it duplicate or replace the existing work of any statutory institution. Your role is to advise.

“Your independent perspective will strengthen our decisions and ensure our efforts remain relentlessly focused on outcomes”, he added.

Oyedele said the committee’s work will revolve around four key priorities: economic policy advisory, public financial management, economic coordination and ensuring reforms produce practical benefits.

“We need data-driven counsel on how to achieve our core developmental objectives of job creation, robust growth, enhanced productivity and revenue optimisation.

“The government’s aspirations remain bold. Achieving seven per cent annual real GDP growth and building a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2030 requires thinking differently, questioning assumptions, challenging long-held theories and developing strategies that stretch us while remaining deeply grounded in economic reality”, he noted.

He therefore urged members of the committee to offer frank advice, free from political considerations, and challenged them to remain connected to  on the ground.

Oyedele assured members that their recommendations will not be ignored.

“Be rigorous and bold. Ground your advice in hard evidence, not intuition, populism or political convenience. Data should illuminate our choices, not merely justify predetermined outcomes.

“Do not be constrained by conventional thinking. We do not need this committee to validate what we have already decided. We need you to challenge our assumptions, point out the trade-offs we might be preparing over, and tell us the truth we may not want to hear.

“Healthy, fact-based disagreement is not a weakness, it is an advantage.

“Do not let this committee become an ivory tower exercise. Speak with manufacturers, exporters and everyday citizens. Understand where policy is creating friction and how it can open doors.

“A young entrepreneur deterred by red tape, or a factory manager struggling for a permit, they are not abstractions. They are the living metrics of whether our policies succeed or fail.”

“You have agreed to serve on a pro bono basis, sacrificing your time and energy during a critical period. For this demonstration of deep patriotism, we are immensely grateful.

“In return, I promise you that your counsel will be heard. Your advice will not languish in forgotten files. It will actively inform ministerial decisions and the guidance I provide to the President”, he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, Permanent Secretary Finance in the Ministry of Finance, Raymond Omachi, described the inauguration as an important step towards strengthening fiscal governance and improving economic policy through external expertise.

According to him, the committee comprises economists, public finance specialists, development practitioners, governance experts, business leaders and representatives of the organised private sector.

“Today’s inauguration reflects the Honourable Minister’s conviction that the complex economic challenges before our nation require not only sound public institutions, but also the collective wisdom, experience and perspective of accomplished professionals from diverse fields.

“The committee is designed to serve as an independent advisory body, providing strategic counselling on economic policy, fiscal reforms, public financial management, government efficiency, stakeholder engagement and economic coordination.

“Equally important is the role of helping us to translate ongoing reforms into measurable improvement in the lives of Nigerians,” he said.

Omachi said members were expected to provide objective, innovative and nationally focused recommendations capable of strengthening fiscal sustainability and public confidence in government reforms.

Responding chairman of the committee, Abubakar Suleiman, assured the minister that members will focus on producing practical and implementable solutions rather than academic reports.

“I promise you that’s not what we’ll give you.

“What I think you’ve asked of us is that because the job of keeping this country going is a full-time job, and those who have been mandated to do it do not have enough time to think about the new things or the different things or the things that are not yet on the table.

“Our job is to free you to keep running this ministry and keep coordinating this economy while we take time off to think about things that, if you were not on this job, you would have been able to do yourself”, he said.

Suleiman said the committee understands that its role was not to repeat ideas government officials already knew.

“It will be my commitment on behalf of my members that we’ll do everything possible not to come to you with advice on the things you already know, or the things that you’ve heard all the brilliant minds that work with you advise us to tell you.

“We understand that that is not our job”, he noted.

He pledged that the committee will remain connected to the realities facing ordinary Nigerians and relay genuine feedback to government.

He assured the minister that the committee’s recommendations will be practical, implementable and focused on delivering quick wins.

“We will serve as a bridge so that what is happening on the street, what is happening in the farms, what is happening in the factory, beyond the noise, beyond the social media noise, beyond the conversations that are held spontaneously in marketplaces and beer parlours, we will try to listen and hear what people are really saying, where Nigerians are really feeling the pain, which of the policies is really working, and then we’ll bring that back to you in an environment that you can work with.

“Our hope is that the few things that we put our effort to will be valuable things. There will be things that are executable, things that are practical, but also things that can be done very quickly”, he said.

The Committee members are:

1. Abubakar Suleiman                    – Chairman
2. Dr. Ayo Teriba                              – Member
3. Prof. Uche Uwaleke                    – Member
4. Chinyere Almond                        – Member
5. Vincent Nwani                             – Member
6. Segun Oloketuyi                          – Member
7. Jide Adeola                                   – Member
8. Dimeji Salaudeen                       – Member
9. Damilola Akinbami                    – Member
10. Idris Bob-Osagie                       – Member
11. Dr. Jani Ibrahim                       – Member
12. Segun Ajayi-Kadri                    – Member
13. Prof. Joseph Nanna                  – Member
14. Dr. Suleiman Ndanusa            – Member
15. Dr. Baba Yusuf Musa               – Member

The committee, made up of economists, business leaders, governance experts and development professionals, is expected to provide strategic advice to the Ministry of Finance on fiscal reforms, public financial management, economic coordination and stakeholder engagement as the government seeks to consolidate its economic reform agenda.