As parts of efforts to tap from the carbon market, which has an estimated value of $2.5 billion, the Vice President Kashim Shettima, yesterday inaugurated the Intergovernmental Committee on Carbon Market Activation Plan.

The committee is expected to help create a blueprint to drive an efficient sustainable carbon market ecosystem in the country.

Inaugurating the committee on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Shettima said it was in fulfillment of the promise made by President Bola Tinubu to reduce Nigeria’s carbon footprint as well as plans by the federal government, in collaboration and support of the Africa Carbon Market Initiative (ACMI).

The inauguration of the committee, chaired by the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Zacch Adedeji, followed the creation of the Intergovernmental Committee on Carbon Markets by the President at the COP28 in December 2023.

Shettima said the move is a justification of the Tinubu administration’s focus on natural gas as a transition fuel.

The Vice President noted that the Intergovernmental Committee on carbon market stands as a testament to the federal government’s dedication to developing a national carbon market strategy.

Shettima further stated that the initiative would attract crucial investments, catalyst emission reduction and foster sustainable development.

He stated: “However, the intervention we seek can’t be achieved unless the best minds of this nation come together to oversee our transition, and I have no doubt that we are on the right track, especially with the calibre of the technocrats that are in this room.

“We gather here today as part of the broader initiative to position Nigeria and, by extension, Africa in green growth manufacturing and Industrialisation. This underscores our commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

“This justifies our focus on natural gas as a transition fuel alone site investment in renewable energy sources. Our mission is to meet the needs of the present while safeguarding the future.

“The sincerity of our commitment to coordinating carbon-related market plans and initiatives has never been in doubt. The Intergovernmental Committee on carbon market stands as a testament to our dedication to developing a national carbon market strategy.”

The Vice President noted that the implementation of the carbon market mechanism represents a radical shift, stressing that each and every member of the committee must consider the initiative as a call for collaboration, innovation and collective action.

“Today, as we embark on the mission to translate innovative ideas from conference papers into tangible actions, we must recognise that our collaboration with the African carbon market initiative not only exemplifies our commitment to environmental stewardship but promises to reposition Nigeria as an investment-friendly destination for a high integrity carbon market.

“What we are making here is history that will expand our participation in the voluntary and compulsory carbon market. We are all aware that the carbon market offers a remarkable opportunity to unlock billions for the climate finances of Nigeria and Africa at large,” the VP added.

Earlier, in his remark, the co-chairman of the committee, Mr Zacch Adedeji, said the initiative holds immense promise for Nigeria’s sustainable future.

He commended the Vice President for his unwavering support and commitment to driving Nigeria’s carbon market agenda forward.

Adedeji assured that the committee would work hand-in-hand with the African carbon market initiative to harness Nigeria’s vast carbon potential which exceeds $2 billion.

Also, Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Dr Salisu Dahiru, said the committee had swung into action since December 2023 when it was established by President Tinubu on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai.

Dahiru explained that the issue of carbon market and trading is axiomatic to any country’s mitigation as well as adaptation efforts in terms of what it needs to do to contribute to global efforts for managing climate change.

President Bola Tinubu condemns the heinous incidents of abduction involving very vulnerable victims, internally displaced persons in Borno State, and students in Kaduna State.

The President directs security and intelligence agencies to immediately rescue the victims and ensure that justice is served against the perpetrators of these abominable acts.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale on Friday, 8th of March, 2024.

“I have received a briefing from security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued.

“ Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family members of these abducted citizens. Justice will be decisively administered,” President Tinubu says.

The President sympathises with the families of the victims, assuring them that they will soon be reunited with their loved ones.

Also read: VIDEO: Kaduna gov visits school, assures return of abductees

Recall that Suspected Boko Haram members had on Wednesday stormed an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Gamboru Ngala town in Borno State and abducted scores of the IDPs, most of whom are women.

Again on Thursday morning, bandits invaded the LEA Primary School, Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and kidnapped scores of pupils.

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday fixed 22 March for continuation of the money laundering trial of a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

The trial judge, Chukwujekwu Aneke, told the prosecutor for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Jacobs, to inform an ex-official of the EFCC who had earlier testified as a prosecution witness in the case, to appear for cross-examination on 22 March.

Mr Fayose is being prosecuted by the EFCC alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd., on 11 counts of N6.9 billion fraud and money laundering.

When the case was called on Friday, Mr Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), appeared for the EFCC, while Messrs Ola Olanipekun, a SAN, and Olalekan Ojo, also a SAN, appeared for the first and second defendants, respectively.

Mr Jacobs told the court that his 13th witness, Aliyu Madaki, who is to be cross-examined by the defence, was held up in Jos, the Plateau State capital, and unable to attend court.

He also told the court that the witness was no longer an employee of the EFCC.

Mr Jacobs said the witness now resides in Nasarawa State.

The prosecution informed the court that the witness had pleaded for another chance to be present on 28 March, a date the court had already scheduled for continuation of trial in the case.

Mr Jacobs, however, said he had just discovered that the court would be on Easter vacation by then, and he consequently, prayed for a new date.

Meanwhile, the second defence counsel, Mr Ojo, expressed displeasure at the absence of the witness, on the grounds that it showed great disrespect to the court.

Mr Ojo insisted that whatever issues preventing the witness from attending court did not happen today and so the prosecutor could not have kept silent till today before informing the prosecuting counsel.

In support of this position, the first defence counsel, Mr Olanipekun, also expressed dissatisfaction on the grounds that the prosecutor ought to treat the matter with the importance it deserved and informed the prosecutor earlier.

Although the prosecutor insisted that a date in March would not be sufficient for him to ensure attendance of the witness, the judge told the prosecutor to inform the witness that it is an order from the court.

Consequently, the court fixed 22 March for cross examination, and ordered the prosecutor to produce his witness on that date.

The court also fixed further dates of 25 and 26 April 25 and April for continuation of trial.

Mr Fayose is being prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged N6.9 billion fraud and money laundering.

He was first arraigned on 22 October 2018, before the former trial judge, Mojisola Olatotegun.

He was arraigned alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd., on 11 counts of fraud and money laundering.

Mr Fayose pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was granted bail on 24 October 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.

The defendants were re-arraigned before the new judge, Chukwujekwu Aneke, on 2 July 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Ms Olatoregun, following a petition by the EFCC.

Mr Fayose, again, pleaded not guilty before Aneke, who allowed him to continue on the bail granted him by Ms Olatoregun.

The EFCC has since opened its case before the new judge and has since been calling its witnesses.

According to the charges filed by the commission, Mr Fayose and one of his aides, Abiodun Agbele, on 17 June 2014, took unlawful possession of N1.2 billion for the purpose of funding his governorship election campaign in Ekiti State.

The commission alleged that the sum formed part of crime proceeds.

Mr Fayose is also alleged to have received a cash payment of $5 million from the then Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution.

The EFCC also alleged that the former governor retained N300 million in his bank account and took control of the aggregate sums of about N622 million which formed part of crime proceeds.

It added that Mr Fayose got De Privateer Ltd. and Still Earth Ltd. to retain aggregate sums of N851 million which formed part of crime proceeds.

The commission also accused Mr Fayose of using about N1.6 billion crime proceeds to acquire property in Lagos and Abuja.

The former governor also allegedly used N200 million crime proceeds to acquire a property in Abuja in the name of his elder sister, Moji Oladeji.

The alleged offences, EFCC said, contravened sections 15(1), 15 (2), 15 (3), 16(2)(b), 16 (d) and 18 (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011. (NAN)

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said the abductions of women and students in Borno and Kaduna States are clear manifestations of the failure of governance.

Reacting to the two kidnap incidents in an X post on Friday, the former vice president said the problem of insecurity in the country is getting worse by the day and has turned Nigeria into one of the most terrorized territories on earth.

Atiku said the All Progressives Congress-controlled federal government has failed woefully to provide the people with security, shelter, and other basic things expected of a responsive government.

He stated that the Bola Tinubu government has continued to play the ostrich while the nation is plagued by insecurity, adding that while the weak and vulnerable are neglected, the government is making empty rhetoric about reforms.

Atiku, therefore, sympathised with the victims and their families over the sad developments and urged the security agencies to save the innocent citizens from their captors.

He wrote: “The problem of insecurity in Nigeria is getting worse by the day. The media has been awash with terrifying news of banditry, kidnapping, and bloodletting that has turned our country into perhaps one of the most terrorized territories on earth.

“Within one week, there have been many reported cases of mass abduction of hapless citizens in the Northwest and Northeast regions of our country. In the early hours of Thursday, school children numbering over 280, together with their teachers, were abducted in Kunga, Kaduna State, by bandits riding on motorcycles, without any challenge by security agencies.

“Earlier in the week, it was reported that scores of women and children fetching firewood were abducted by gun-totting bandits suspected to be members of Boko Haram. It was also reported that over 200 people, mostly women and children, were abducted from the IDP camp in Ngala in Bornu State. The cases are endless, and the problem seems interminable.

“The APC-controlled government has failed woefully to give the people the basic things expected of a responsive government. It is a clear manifestation of the failure of governance. The government has continued to play the ostrich while the nation is plagued by insecurity.

“While the weak and vulnerable are neglected, the government is making empty rhetoric about reforms. And while our young men are abducted, killed, or conscripted into the army of the terrorists and our women and girls are ravished and subjected to different forms of gender-based violence, the authorities do nothing.

“This is in negation of the constitutionally guaranteed commitment that the security and welfare of citizens is the primary responsibility of government.

“I stand in solidarity with my fellow citizens and sympathise with the victims and their families. I urge the security agencies to rise up to the challenge and save innocent citizens from the horrors of banditry and terrorism.”

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that things would soon turn around for their own good, in response to the present economic hardship in the country.

The President who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, made the statement on Thursday, at the State House in Abuja at the official Unveiling of the Nigeria For Women Programme.

He said the government is aware that Nigerians are complaining about hunger, adding that his administration is pushing out palliatives to cushion the effect of hunger, is also ready to implement a new minimum wage.

He said: “My administration is committed to Nigerian women and this is reflective in my policies. It gladdens my heart to stand before you and tell you the future of women in Nigeria looks very promising. Ministry of Women Affairs is working day and night, leaving no stone unturned to ensure that all your needs are met and exceeded, the Ministry has embarked on several notable projects.

“As a government, it is our duty to prioritize interest around the most vulnerable citizens which are women and children, so that we’ll put this behind us.

“The federal government actively working to ensure that programmes designed for Nigerian women are impactful and accessible to the intended beneficiaries, we are nit just committed to women in Abuja and other urban centres, the government is committed to all women particularly the most vulnerable who live in the rural areas.

“I am gladdened by the use of technology in dispensing sustainable development for our women. Sustainable agriculture, empowerment and technology is key in driving national prosperity.

“I am calling on all partners here to take a pledge today to support my administration and the Minister of Women Affairs. Today I want to officially unveil the Nigerian for Women programme. In a few days time, as we go into Ramadan, we should all rise up and pray for our country, let us pray for a more united Nigeria, let us pray for peace, let us pray for our President and the continuation of our Federation.

“Today we complain about hunger, we would be pushing out palliative so that the effects of hunger can be brought to a minimum. Ours is a very complex Federation, based on three tiers of governments, we have the federal, state and local governments and all of them have direct access to the Federation account. So winning together we can do a lot for our people. Today things are a little bit harsh, but this is not forever.

“Things would soon begin to change as more food is brought to the table of our citizens and as we prepare to implement a new minimum wage.”

The Minister of Women Affairs, Barr. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye explained that the programme intends to empower women in all states of the federation by providing them with machines to produce a lot of the things local women extert so much energy and time producing locally.

She said thee-market platform would be used to market the products of local women entrepreneurs all over the country for buyers and banks have already shown interest in assisting the women access their finances and payments digitally.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi in his remarks, urged the government to look beyond Abuja when implementing programmes especially those that affect women.

He said, “Their is life beyond Abuja that we all come for the central position of governance, it is very important for all our people to feel governance. I would like to employ our women here, ably led by the Minister of Women Affairs, please do not let this thing be one off. Try as much as possible to leave your comfort zone to go and feel what people are feeling from time to time.

“We have a lot of political networks that you can actually connect to disperse these programmes that you want to actually give to our mothers, to the women of our dear country for them to continue to impact on how to instil morals in the society and how to better the lots in terms of empowerment.”

First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu has asserted that individuals convicted of abducting young people should face capital punishment.

She made this statement in response to the recent reports of approximately 200 women being kidnapped in Borno State and over 280 pupils and teachers abducted in Kaduna State.

Additionally, she condemned the actions of the kidnappers, labeling them as coward and evil perpetrators.

Calling on the state governors, the First Lady urged them to find a solution to the situation and ensure that any abductor apprehended is subjected to capital punishment.

The First Lady said, “Whoever is kidnapping young people is sick, cruel, and a coward.

“Enough is enough and I call on the state governors that once we take hold of them, they deserve capital punishment.

“Why don’t they take people their size? Why are they torturing our children? What they are trying to do is kill our future.

“We all know parents, when we are old we rely on our children.

“Why would you go and take them from schools? Right now, I think enough is enough. As a former lawmaker, I believe that any one of them captured deserves capital punishment.

“They are animals, they are evil and we should take them out of our midst.

“The state governors and the lawmakers should do something.”

The overbearing influence of Seyi Tinubu over state affairs was first noticed prior to the Lekki Toll gate massacre of Nigerian youths who were out on a peaceful protest against police brutality. Seyi's company is alleged to hold the monopoly of right to the lighting and the camera system at the facility. Though, his role, or of the company was hidden from the prying eyes of the public but its effect set the stage for what will become the worse state onslaught against peaceful and unarmed civilians in human history. They set the stage for what was to follow by switching off the lights before the military opened fire on the citizens, sending countless to early grave. Till date, lack of public transparency still trails the tragedy.

The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces at that time was Muhammadu Buhari, who by implication is responsible for ordering the shoot at sight of the peaceful protesters.

The worst human puppet in the history of national leadership, once you can find a narrative to appeal to his ego you have pulled the string to get the puppet to dance to your sound. Buhari will later confess what the narrative that got the order out was; "the young people want to overthrow my Government"!

Who pulled the string on the President?

Though unseen, Seyi and Father's hands can't be exonerated from the deaths at the toll gate, while the yoke remains Buhari's burden to bear. Truth has never been buried successfully, if time doesn't reveal it, characters will! 

Our King had hardly been crowned when the first son of Pastor Remi Tinubu for the President, Oluwaseyifunmi Tinubu , the Crown Prince of Lagos State and the Olu-Omo of Nigeria showed us their families mission to power. He showed up in the chamber of the state house pacing up and down needlessly during the Federal Executive Council meeting. The rudeness of his conduct not even his father could keep his pretence of. He was forced as it looks now, against his will to openly rebuke his son. Seyi according to Mr. President has no business being in the chamber during the FEC meeting.

Please, what business then does he have to be on the entourage to Qatar?

Tinubu said he will cut the cost of governance by limiting his entourage on foreign trips to 20 persons after the national outcry that greeted the trip to the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates where over 1400 delegates were alleged to have made the trip, and about 590 of them were sponsored by the government at an alleged cost of #885 million to taxpayers.

"Emi lokan"; seems to be clearly defined, "Emi lokan and Sons" Nigeria Limited!

The entourage to Qatar included 3 members of the Tinubu immediate and extended family, 35 members of the main body who arrived in 2 separate jets and an advance team estimated at 40 persons who also flew in a separate jet. 

In all, 3 jets from the presidential fleet landed in Qatar, with about 70 persons, excluding flight crew of 15 persons for 3 aircraft.

The Presidency' s ear is lost. It is one which is not ready to be corrected . He has successfully surrounded himself with YES men; sycophants and hypocrites?

No man of conscience should spare Tinubu and sons on this! 

I read a friend of mine who is an APC chieftain on the WhatsApp Platform of my Media friends and I was sorry for the President and his family. He wrote; 

"This eyesore and hideous incident is another low for Tinubu as a leader. I was appalled and disgusted because this is coming when Nigerians are in pain, despair, hungry and angry about how they are being governed.

One can just imagine how the Qatari officials will be thinking when the President's sons who are not government officials or known investors could be there to talk less of being introduced before the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

I wish one could hear how Tinubu introduced his two sons. 

Would he say: 

"Meet Oluwaseyifunmi Tinubu my son, the first son of the Federal Republic of Nigeria". 

And again: 

"This is Oluwayinka Tinubu, the Second Son of The Federal Republic of Nigeria".

I'm just wondering what will be going through the mind of the Qataris.

This is impunity taken to the highest level. It is highly provocative and nauseating. It is disrespectful to all Nigerians. Tinubu is democratically elected as President and not as a King in a Monarchical country. It is high time people who are close to this president talked some senses into his head. He should cease from insulting and disrespecting us.

There is a thick cloud over this country. No one knows the straw that will break the carmel's back".

If my friend was angry with the President and his sons, I would not! My anger is with men who failed to lift up their heads when it matters, led by the Honourable? Can we in all honesty still retain any honour for men who couldn't stand up for their own honours? 

Qatar's order of protocol is the most dishonouring one I have seen in my 57 years of life. Next to Tinubu and sons in order of protocol were, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, the Foreign Affairs Minister . The Minister was joined on the line of shame by the elected Governors of Borno and Kaduna, their Excellencies Babagana Zulum and Uba Sani. The Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, made the line with Dele Alake, Minister for Solid Minerals, same for Nuhu Ribadu Defence Adviser, Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, and the parrot at the Villa Ajuri Ngalele completed the line of "Iwofas"(serfs) who filed behind Oluwaseyifunmi and Oluwayimika Tinubu. 

Church Ministries like public Ministries are held in trust for the people. Many don't understand it when we demand succession transparency and accountability for leaders of Churches. This conduct is not different from what the attitude of our church leaders are.

I assumed they managed the situation by not walking away from that line of protocol. I have waited to see a resignation by any of the appointees and a media chiding of what the elected Governors were subjected to by the sons of Tinubu but I seem to be waiting in vain to see if any iota of honour is still left with these men that should compell them to resign for breach of protocol and gross disrespect to their offices upon their return to Nigeria.

Dr Reuben Abati, who studied protocol for four years, who wrote and passed exams according to him, asked; “Are the sons of the President not gainfully employed?”. 

And I also want to remind Sade, Seyi and Yinka that they are adults and not dependants of the President. 

They should focus on their own careers".

What seems to be a rumour before 2023 that the President Bola Tinubu wanted Seyi Tinubu as the Governorship candidate for Lagos State seems to be adding up. I think we should be prepared for Seyi in Lagos as Governor in 2027. Mummy back to the Senate for senate Presidency and Oluwayimika can make do with the Chief of staff to his father. Please, don't dare say it is not possible! What have you done to the embarrassing impossibility that has become our reality in Qatar?

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamid, after his warm embrace of PBAT was led in hand by the President to the most senior official of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on his entourage without official Portfolio! Mr Oluwaseyifunmi Tinubu followed in order of seniority of protocol by Oluwayimika Tinubu!

Many Nigerians had risen in defence of this indefensible!

What have you seen in the media against this Institutional nepotism by Tinubu? Buhari was no where near this, when crumbs seeking South West Media descended on him. Where are they now? They are shut up by Awa lokan! If not for the Arise Team that raised this, it probably would have gone unnoticed!

Tinubu has exceeded Buhari in nepotism with the appointment of his son-in-law as DG FHA, his brother as a Minister, now his sons were presented to the world as the most senior officials from Nigeria after their father; even though they were banned from attending FEC meeting!

A pity, if Nigerians can't see this "Emi lokan and Sons" Nigeria Limited coming and rise against it!

Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi is an Apostle and Nation Builder. He's also President Voice of His Word Ministries and Convener Apostolic Round Table.

6

A former spokesperson for ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, has called for legal action against those involved in the printing of N22.7 trillion ($50 billion) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) between 2015 to 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari. 

Akande described the situation as an “economic calamity” and demanded that those responsible “be made to answer in court”.

Akande was the chief spokesperson to Osinbajo, who was the vice president during the period the money was printed.

He expressed concern that the issue could be swept under the rug and urged the current government to take action beyond simply complaining.

Although Akande said the CBN granting Ways and Means to the Nigerian government was not necessarily bad, he said the scale at which it was done without a corresponding uptick in productivity in the country was “shocking”. 

“We must ensure that this does not happen again…there must be consequences,” Akande said on Channels TV’s Sunrise on Thursday.

“Everyone that is involved in this calamity, which is an economic calamity,They must be made to answer in court. We dont want a situation where the case has died, it is going to repeat itself.”

He said while there fears about the “misbehaviour of the monetary institution” before the end of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, he had no idea that “things were that terrible”. 

“There was nobody in that administration that did not have an idea of how things were going…the shoddiness, the sloppiness, lack of patriotism,” Akande told Channels TV.

Akande’s statement came after Finance Minister Wale Edun linked the printed money to Nigeria’s current hyperinflation.

Edun blames the “eight years of just printing money not matched by productivity” for the economic woes. 

The Senate had previously resolved to investigate N30 trillion ($66 billion) in Ways and Means funding spent by the Buhari administration.

It said the funds were mismanaged and contributed to the country’s food and security issues.

Edun confirmed plans to audit how the funds were expended and pledged to use revenue generated from a recent N7 trillion ($15 billion) bond issuance to repay the central bank and restore fiscal balance.

The Presidency has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu advised former President Muhammadu Buhari to print Naira in 2020.

A Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, described such a claim as erroneous.

Recall that a spokesman of the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, had claimed Tinubu advised Buhari to print Naira in 2020.

Ibe’s remark followed Minister of Finance, Wale Edun’s comment on the printing of N22.7 trillion under Buhari’s administration.

Edun had said the printing of N22.7 trillion by the Central Bank of Nigeria in the name of a Ways and Means loan under Buhari’s government and ex-CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele was responsible for the current rising inflation and economic hardship in Nigeria.

Speaking during an interface with the Senate Committee on Finance, the minister said the Ways and Means loans of N22.7 trillion under the past administration were done aimlessly.

He further stated that the alleged reckless spending of the overdraft collected from the CBN under Emefiele largely accounted for the country’s food and security crises.

The minister vowed that Tinubu’s government would audit the CBN printing in the last eight years.

Reacting, Onanuga recalled that Tinubu had clarified the issue when it was first reported.

Posting on X, Onanuga wrote: “President Tinubu did not advise the Buhari administration to print Naira, the way it was erroneously reported in 2020. He provided a clarification in Thisday of 30 March, 2020, a day after the false report came out.”

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, has encouraged Nigerians to maintain hope and patience with the present administration in the country, reassuring that positive changes are on the horizon.

Oyetola emphasized that the current socio-economic challenges resulting from the fuel subsidy removal are temporary and can be overcome. He expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s ability to lead Nigeria towards progress and prosperity.

Speaking on Thursday at the official inauguration of the newly-built ultra-modern Aragbiji palace in Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State, the Minister conveyed his message of hope and optimism to the Nigerian populace.

Oyetola who acknowledged the pocket of challenges confronting the nation, said “it is time for the citizens to rise to the occasion and begin to rally round the government in its resolve to reposition and transform the country.”

“In view of the concerted efforts to get over the current challenges, we need a lot of patience, I believe that our president will take us to where we desire. We need to continue to pray for him, for wisdom, good health and resources to continue to lead our country aright. I have no doubt that he will take us to promised land.”

Unveiling the state-of-the-art palace, Oyetola eulogized the sons and daughters of the ancient town for their unwavering commitment towards the actualization of the edifice.

He attributed the successful completion of the palace to the unity of purpose that exists among the indigenes of the town saying “it is a further fulfillment of our resolve as a progressive community to unleash infrastructure development on our community.