News
Tinubu not discriminating against North, says Shettima
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not discriminate against the North, Vice President Kashim Shettima reassured yesterday.
He said his principal was not working against the region’s interests.
He spoke in Kano while receiving a Federal Government delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Bajabiamila, on a condolence visit over the death of his mother-in-law, Hajiya Maryam Abubakar.
The vice president cited the appointment of the two defence ministers (Abubakara Badaru and Bello Matawalle), the Chief of Defence Staff (Gen Christopher Musa), and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd) , among others, all from the North, as evidence of the president’s commitment to the region’s growth.
He urged Nigerians to support President Tinubu’s efforts to make Nigeria great, emphasising that governance transcends political affiliations.
Shettima stressed that the country’s unity and progress were more important than party differences.
He cited the support he received from the Kano State Government, led by Governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), during his time of bereavement.
Shettima said the country had moved beyond politics and was now in the act of governance, saying there was a need for collective efforts to achieve greatness.
He noted that Nigeria’s greatness was a collective responsibility.
Shettima described President Tinubu as an exceedingly good man with a clean heart who has a lot on his sleeves for the entire nation.
“He means well for Kano; he means well for the north and he means well for the nation,” the vice president said.
On the security challenges, Shettima said President Tinubu was determined to redefine governance.
“He is determined to address the challenges of security facing the entire nation.
“That is why the President deliberately picked the Minister of Defence and Minister of State Defence from the Northwest, the Chief of Defence Staff from the Northwest and the Chief of Air Staff from the Northwest – Kano, to be specific.
“The President picked the Minister of Police Affairs and Minister of State for Police Affairs from the North.
“To address the hunger challenges, the president picked the Minister of Agriculture and Minister of State Agriculture from the North.
“So, if anybody starts carrying stories that the president does not mean well for the north, tell them it is a lie,” he said.
Shettima said it was time the administration started laying out the facts for people to make informed judgments.
He added: “Where there is a will, there is always a way. And no matter how the darkness of the night lasts, it must give way to the light of the dawn.
“I want to call on all of you to rally around him so that together, we shall salvage this nation.
“It is not a game of apportioning blame; it is a game of making this country work. And if Nigeria works, Africa will work.”
The vice president expressed sincere gratitude to President Tinubu for sending a high-level delegation to condole with him.
“This confirms the purity of the heart and empathy of Mr President.
“May God make it easy for our president to govern this country well. May Allah grant him good health, wisdom and the tenacity of purpose,” he said.
He also expressed special gratitude to Governor Yusuf and the people of Kano for hosting him well.
“Governance was literally suspended in Kano in the past three days to host us.
“We have moved beyond politics to the phase of governance and what binds us together supersedes whatever that divides us.
“We shall continue to nurture this relationship for the peace and development of the country, as there can never be development without peace, and there can never be peace without development,” he said.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu also sent a delegation led by Mrs Ekaette Akpabio; wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the wife of the Minister of Budget and Planning.
On arrival in Kano, the delegation led by Gbajabiamila was received by Gov. Yusuf.
While delivering the president’s condolence message to Shettima, Gbajabiamila said President Tinubu felt saddened about the passing of Shettima’s mother-in-law and sent his deepest sympathy and prayers.
“The President has sent us to commiserate with you and your family.
“He sends his best wishes, prayers and thoughts to you and your wife and the entire family of the deceased.
“Mr President has asked that we convey to you his deepest sympathy and his prayers that the Almighty Allah grant our mother Aljannah Firdaus and forgive her sins.
“It’s indeed saddening that she died. We commiserate with you on behalf of Mr President, on behalf of the government and on behalf of his cabinet and the whole federal government of Nigeria,” he said.
By Francesca Hangeior
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has canvassed for greater efforts and commitments to the Federal Government’s aspirations to produce a workable legal framework for the country.
He charged the Committee put in place by the federal government to review, revise and consolidate the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, LFN, to double the efforts and commitments to deliver on the mandate at the appointed time.
Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, spoke on Monday in Abuja at the second retreat of the Committee put in place in October last year for the laws of the federation revision and reform.
The AGF while challenging the committee to be up and doing asked the members to remain united in purpose and steadfast in the resolve to produce a legal framework that is worthy of the nation’s aspirations.
He said the second retreat organized by the federal government was a strategic consolidation of the national law reform efforts and to provide an invaluable opportunity to come up with a better workable legal framework for the nation.
“Let me start by expressing gratitude to the Chairman, Co-Chairperson and members of the Committee for their selfless service and sacrifice, to ensure that this project is executed efficiently and effectively.
“The call to be part of this assignment is indeed a sacred that inevitably and positively affects the lives of individuals, government, businesses as well as citizens of this nation.
“The general purpose of law is to regulate human behavior by protecting lives and properties in society. The inauguration of the Committee on the 24th October, 2024 marked a historic milestone in our collective efforts to modernize, consolidate, and harmonize Nigeria’s body of federal statutes.
“The retreat successfully provides a clear framework for the structure and methodology of the revision exercise, oriented the 14 Working Groups tasked with reviewing specific legal subject areas, and fostered collaboration among key institutions and stakeholders on the project.
“Following the initial retreat, I wish to note that the Committee has recorded steady progress in its work.
“The Ministry has taken several measures to ensure that the assignment is delivered efficiently, including:training sessions for secretaries of the working groups to enhance documentation and coordination; technical meetings of the main committee and its various sub-committees; working sessions and deliberations among editors and reviewers; and ongoing technical collation of revised laws by the Secretariat.
“This second retreat is a strategic consolidation of our national law reform efforts and provides an invaluable opportunity to: review progress made since the first phase;
address any technical or structural challenges encountered during the collation process;
– Harmonize the output across working groups; and set the tone for the final stages of this important project.
“The next stage of the law review and consolidation process would include editing and proofreading the reviewed legislation, ahead of the final collation, production and printing of the laws of the federation.
“It is my conviction that these phases will be executed with even greater commitment by the Committee, with the support of stakeholders and development partners.
“I wish to commend the leadership of the LFN Committee, the Secretariat for its diligent coordination and day-to-day management as well as the Working Groups, Editors, and Reviewers, for their intellectual rigour and professionalism.
“Special gratitude to our development partners, particularly RoLAC, for standing firmly behind this national project.
“Let me urge all participants to use this retreat as a platform for robust engagement, peer learning, and practical collaboration.
“We must remain united in purpose and steadfast in our resolve to produce a legal framework that is worthy of our nation’s aspirations.
” I wish to express gratitude for your commitment to duty and I charge you to work in synergy and cooperation, in the overall interest of the nation”, the AGF said.
The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has replied to the Nigerian Bar Association regarding the reason for relocating its Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu State.
Ibas faulted the reason cited by the NBA, describing it as misleading and uncharitable.
The Sole Administrator stated this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday by his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, and sent to newsmen.
He said while the NBA reserves the right to choose a venue for its conference, the association had yet to address the issue of the refund of the hosting rights paid by the state government for the conference.
The statement partly reads, “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its “principled position”— didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.
“If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.”
It added, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to the Nigeria Bar Association’s announcement dated 10th April 2025, relocating its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
The statement partly reads, “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its “principled position”— didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.
“If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.”
It added, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to the Nigeria Bar Association’s announcement dated 10th April 2025, relocating its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
By Francesca Hangeior
The Federal Government has unveiled the second phase of its contactless biometric passport application system across its four missions in United States, Mexico, Jamaica and Brazil.
The Nigeria Immigration Service NIS disclosed this in a tweet on its ‘X’ handle signed by Service Spokesman, ACI AS Akinlabi.
The statement reads; “ain continuation of the phased Roll-Out of the Contactless Biometric Passport Application System across Nigerian Missions abroad, the Nigeria Immigration Service under its
Comptroller General, Kemi Nanna Nandap wishes to inform the General public especially Nigerians in the Diaspora that it is implementing the next stage of the roll-out across the following countries.
“The Application System, which is currently available on Google Play Store (NIS Mobile), is designed to allow Nigerians to renew their passports without visiting any Passport Centre for Biometrics enrollment. The Apple Store version will be onboarded shortly and an enhanced version of the NIS Mobile App for both Android and iOS users will be deployed to further improve users’ experience and accessibility.
“With this roll-out, the Service further informs the General public that the Contactless Passport App is now available in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Jamaica, Brazil, Europe, and Asia. It is yet to be rolled out in Australia and Nigeria, a future date will be announced for both countries in due course.
“The Service remains committed to innovative and efficient Service Delivery to Nigerians anywhere in the world”.
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