President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was on Monday honoured with a state military reception at the Planalto Palace, the seat of Brazil’s presidency, as he began his diplomatic engagement with the South American country. The Nigerian leader, who arrived in Brasília as part of his official visit, was formally received by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Tinubu, the elaborate ceremony featured a guard of honour and military salute. Posting on X, he stated: “More photos of the official reception for President Tinubu at the Planalto Palace in Brasília,…
Author: Podium Reporters
The United States government has restated its commitment to protecting its homeland through strict visa screening protocols, including its latest requirement for Nigerians seeking visas to declare their social media handles. According to the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, applicants are now obligated to provide usernames used over the past five years on the DS-160 visa form. Officials warned that omissions could disqualify an application. The Nigerian government, however, has vowed to implement a tit-for-tat policy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, made this clear when he said: “The best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action.…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu touched down in Brasília on Monday morning, marking the beginning of a two-day diplomatic mission aimed at reinforcing Nigeria’s relationship with Brazil. The presidential aircraft, Eagle One (Nigerian Air Force One, NAF-001), landed at Brasília International Airport around 12:30 a.m. local time, equivalent to 4:30 a.m. in Nigeria. Strong Delegation in Attendance The President was warmly welcomed by Brazilian and Nigerian officials. Representing Brazil were Carlos Duarte, Secretary for Africa and the Middle East, and Carlos José Moreno Garcete, Brazil’s Ambassador to Nigeria. Representing Nigeria were high-profile figures including Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca…
The Federal Government has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s forthcoming visit to Brazil as a calculated move to reposition Nigeria’s economy on the global stage. Mr. Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, disclosed that the trip will strengthen ties with Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America and a prominent member of the BRICS bloc. President Tinubu is scheduled to arrive in Brazil on Monday for the two-day engagement, following an invitation by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. “This is the third visit of President Tinubu to Brazil, and it is with a…
Social media is buzzing again, this time over a surprising comparison between the cost of a bottle of malt in Nigeria and Ghana. A viral post by an X user, Ruth (@it_Rutie), noted: “Malt in Nigeria = ₦600. Malt in Ghana = 13 cedis = ₦1,814” In another post, she lamented: “How much be minimum wage for Ghana?? Everything here cost 3x Nigeria own. Ghana too expensive abeg.” These posts quickly gained traction, sparking conversations about the cost of living across West Africa. But behind the humor and heartbreak emojis lies a deeper economic story—one that subtly highlights Nigeria’s resilience…
Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho, has made a public appeal for forgiveness and assistance from the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, over his current legal and financial troubles. During a visit to the Ooni’s palace in Ile-Ife on Saturday, Igboho—who has been on the Federal Government wanted list since 2021 after being accused by the Department of State Services (DSS) of illegal arms stockpiling—said he regretted past verbal confrontations with the monarch. He pleaded, “I want you to forgive and forget whatever wrong I have done to you. You are my father and you…
In what security analysts describe as a decisive blow to terrorism in the North East, Nigerian soldiers under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have killed dozens of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants in fresh military offensives. Coordinated Strikes Deliver Heavy Losses The operation, spanning August 22–23, witnessed troops repelling a heavily armed nighttime assault on the 21 Special Armored Brigade Forward Operating Base at Kumshe. The engagement, supported by precision bombardments from the Nigerian Air Force, forced the insurgents to retreat after suffering heavy losses. More than 20 insurgents were confirmed dead, with their remains…
Political discourse in Nigeria is heating up as the North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima on the 2027 ticket. Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, who chairs the Forum, issued the statement in Abuja, explaining that replacing Shettima would not only destabilize APC’s political base but also amount to an unnecessary gamble. Clash of Opinions His position contradicts that of the Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum, led by Dominic Alancha, who criticized the Muslim-Muslim ticket during a Channels Television interview. Alancha emphasized that it contributed to APC’s electoral losses in Plateau, Nasarawa,…
Nigeria’s political landscape has once again been shaken by the remarks of former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, who has dismissed the African Democratic Congress-led coalition of opposition as dishonest. Baba-Ahmed, speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, openly rejected the coalition’s legitimacy. “They are deceiving us,” he remarked, signaling his distrust in their motives. Declaring his loyalty, he said: “I am a Labour Party man, for God’s sake. I am Peter Obi’s man. I still want Peter Obi to come back to the Labour Party and contest in 2027.” He further turned his focus to the Independent…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has achieved another milestone in Nigeria’s power reform agenda by securing a $238 million loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The agreement was finalized at the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), held in Yokohama, Japan. According to the Ministry of Power, Tinubu made it clear that Nigeria’s involvement in TICAD9 was focused on real results. “Nigeria’s participation at TICAD 9 was not about trade exhibitions, but about forging strategic, outcome-driven partnerships that would deliver tangible results for the Nigerian people,” the President said. The loan, with additional Federal Executive Council counterpart…