By Tunde Rahman When Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew walked into Phase III Section of the Federal Secretariat in Abuja with a forged letter and emerged with an office, signage, and a semblance of government legitimacy, he did not act alone. That is the uncomfortable truth of the “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” saga. Adeyemi has been charged with eight counts of fraud and forgery. But the bigger scandal is not one man’s alleged audacity. It is how a non-existent agency got close to N1.3bn in the 2026 budget, secured office space in the heart of government, hosted top government functionaries…
Author: Akanji Michael
President Bola Tinubu has expressed delight over the successful rescue of the schoolchildren and teachers abducted from the Oriire community in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, commending the efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies for securing their release after 56 days in captivity. In a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President praised the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force for conducting a sustained operation that led to the safe rescue of the victims without collateral damage. The operation also resulted in the arrest of…
Commission, Presidency to Convene Agric Summit as Region Shifts Focus from Oil to Food Security For decades, the Niger Delta has been defined by its oil wealth and the environmental and socio-economic challenges associated with petroleum exploration. Today, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is championing a new vision—one that places agriculture at the center of the region’s economic transformation and sustainable development. In pursuit of this vision, the Office of the Vice President, in collaboration with the NDDC, will host the Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Summit on July 15, 2026, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential…
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as the courage and political will to undertake bold economic reforms, stating that the policies have significantly improved the state’s financial position and accelerated development across key sectors. Briefing the press at the State House, Alia said that although the reforms have come with short-term economic hardships, including inflation and a higher cost of living, they are necessary to place Nigeria’s economy on a path of long-term sustainability and prosperity. He noted that the federal government had maintained close engagement with state governments as key…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of a purported “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” (PFIPC), describing the body as fictitious and unknown to the Federal Government. The President ordered the anti-corruption agency to conclude its investigation and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days. According to a State House statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and has no legal backing, presidential approval, executive instrument or any…
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has disclosed that security in the state has improved significantly, describing the situation as “relatively calm” following his meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa. Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Governor Alia said the visit was primarily to appreciate President Tinubu for honouring the state’s 50th anniversary celebrations and to provide him with a comprehensive update on developments in Benue. The governor recalled that President Tinubu recently visited the state for the Benue at 50 celebration, during which he commissioned the state’s fruit concentrate factory. He noted that two…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigerian journalists to uphold national interest through responsible reporting, urging the media to avoid amplifying the narratives of terrorists, kidnappers, and other criminal groups seeking to undermine the country’s security and democratic stability. Speaking at the inaugural State House Press Corps Dinner held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, the President emphasized that while press freedom remains a cornerstone of democracy, it must be exercised with fairness, accuracy, and a strong sense of national responsibility. “I made a commitment at the inauguration that I will do everything possible in my power…
The Presidency has dismissed claims by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew that he was appointed to head a presidential agency, describing him as an impostor who allegedly operated a fictitious government body using forged documents and false representations. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said investigations by security agencies established that the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, had no legal existence. According to the Presidency, concerns about the alleged fake agency first emerged after officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion…
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Wednesday presented his Certificate of Return to President Bola Tinubu during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, following his re-election for a second term in office. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the governor attributed his victory to the grace of God and the support of President Tinubu, saying both factors enabled his administration to fulfill its promises to the people. “It is not about what I have done differently. It is about two factors: the grace of God and the support of the President that enabled us to deliver on our promises…
The public reaction to First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s remarks encouraging small-scale businesses such as akara frying, roasted corn, and kuli-kuli production has generated intense debate across social media. While critics dismissed the comments as disconnected from Nigeria’s economic realities, a closer examination suggests that the First Lady’s message was less about romanticizing poverty and more about highlighting the transformative power of grassroots enterprise. Across Nigeria, countless families have built dignified lives through small informal businesses. These are not abstract theories; they are real stories of resilience and determination. A very close friend of mine, Doctor Abdullahi, grew up knowing…