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Enikanolaiye Appoints Richard Elesho, Raphael Oni to Foreign Affairs Media Team

By
Akeem Adebayo
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ABUJA — The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has appointed Richard Elesho and Raphael Oni to a new media team to strengthen strategic communications, digital diplomacy and public engagement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The appointments were announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, who said the new team would support effective communication of the ministry’s mandate and the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Elesho was appointed Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communications, while Oni was appointed Special Assistant on Digital and Public Diplomacy.

The ministry said the two appointees bring decades of combined experience in journalism, public affairs, government communication and media management.

Elesho is a graduate of Delta State University, Abraka, and Kogi State University, Anyigba. He previously served as Chief Press Secretary and Director General of Media Affairs to former Kogi State Governors Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada.

Until his appointment, he was the North Central Bureau Chief of The News/PM News, a frontline Nigerian media organisation.

Oni, a diplomatic correspondent and public diplomacy specialist, has more than 15 years of experience in government communication, international relations and media.

He holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Abuja and is the publisher of Diplomats Extra Magazine, a publication focused on diplomacy and international affairs which he founded in 2013.

The ministry said Oni has also served two terms as Secretary General of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) and as Secretary General of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents Chapel, Abuja.

He is also an award-winning photojournalist and diplomatic correspondent.

The appointments come as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to strengthen its communication of Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities and engagement with diplomatic missions, international organisations and other global stakeholders.

With Elesho assigned to strategic communications and Oni to digital and public diplomacy, the new team is expected to support the ministry’s media relations, public communication and digital engagement.

The ministry urged stakeholders and colleagues to extend the necessary support to the appointees and expressed confidence in a cordial working relationship with the new media team.

Nigeria Pledges Deeper Ties with Chad on Independence Anniversary

By
Akeem Adebayo
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ABUJA — Nigeria has pledged to deepen its bilateral partnership with Chad, particularly in trade, security, education and regional cooperation, as the country marks its Independence Anniversary.

The commitment was contained in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday and signed by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa. The ministry also congratulated the Government and people of Chad on the occasion.

Nigeria said its relationship with Chad was built on deep historical and cultural ties, as well as shared interests in peace, stability and development.

“Nigeria remains committed to strengthening bilateral relations with Chad, particularly in the areas of trade, security, education, and regional cooperation, for the mutual benefit of our peoples,” the ministry said.

The Federal Government also commended Chad’s resilience and its efforts towards national development, peace and stability.

According to the statement, Nigeria and Chad’s geographical proximity and membership of the African community make cooperation between the two countries important to regional stability.

Nigeria said it looked forward to strengthening collaboration with Chad in regional and international organisations, including the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).

The government said such cooperation would help advance shared objectives of peace, prosperity and sustainable development.

The congratulatory message comes as Nigeria continues to emphasise stronger engagement with countries in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, where security, trade, migration and development challenges increasingly require coordinated regional responses.

Nigeria and Chad are also linked by their shared interests in the stability of the Lake Chad Basin, particularly in addressing insecurity and promoting economic and social development among communities across the region.

The Federal Government wished Chad continued progress, peace and prosperity, saying the spirit of independence should continue to inspire the country’s people and national development.

Customs Intercepts ₦3.24bn Smuggled Goods Across South-West

By
Akeem Adebayo
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LAGOS — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods valued at ₦3.24 billion across the South-West, including illicit drugs, foreign rice, vehicles, poultry products and wildlife items.

The Comptroller of the unit, Gambo Aliyu, disclosed the seizures in Lagos, saying the operation also resulted in the recovery of ₦729 million in government revenue.

Aliyu said the seizures followed enhanced intelligence gathering, risk profiling, compliance checks and targeted operations against suspicious declarations and smuggling activities.

Among the intercepted items were 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each, equivalent to eight trailer loads; 12 foreign-used vehicles; 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis weighing 1,439.9kg; 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 26.1kg; and a parcel of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg.

The operation also yielded 13 parcels of granular cannabis weighing 1.35kg and 240,000 tablets of Tramadol, as well as 12,000 tablets of Hypnox.

Other seized items included 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg, 964 25-litre jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), equivalent to 24,100 litres, 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil, 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 used tyres.

Aliyu said the seizures reflected the unit’s determination to disrupt smuggling networks, protect legitimate businesses and safeguard government revenue.

He attributed the operation’s success to improved intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing and cooperation from members of the public and other stakeholders.

The Customs commander said the interception of foreign rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, used vehicles, clothing and other prohibited goods would help protect domestic industries and support Nigeria’s food security objectives.

He said the seizure of illicit drugs, pharmaceutical products and other controlled substances was equally significant because of the potential risks such substances pose to public health, particularly among young Nigerians.

Aliyu also highlighted the recovery of elephant tusks, saying it demonstrated the Customs Service’s role in efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species.

On revenue, he described the ₦729 million recovery as encouraging and said the unit would continue to pursue revenue lost through under-declaration, false declarations and other customs-related fraud.

The Comptroller said enforcement operations would continue alongside efforts to facilitate legitimate trade, assuring compliant traders of the Service’s commitment to a fair, predictable and transparent trading environment.

He, however, warned that the unit would maintain its zero-tolerance approach to smuggling, revenue fraud and other activities considered economic sabotage.

Nigerians’ Visa Applications to South Africa Nearly Double Despite Attacks

By
Akeem Adebayo
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ABUJA — Visa applications by Nigerians seeking to travel to South Africa have almost doubled in recent months despite concerns over xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African migrants, South Africa’s Consul-General in Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, has said.

Moroe disclosed this in an interview on Nigeria Info FM on Sunday, while dismissing reports that South African missions in Nigeria had stopped issuing visas to Nigerians.

The Consul-General said South Africa remained open to Nigerian travellers for tourism, business and other purposes, while assuring prospective visitors that the country was safe to travel to.

“I just want to give reassurance that South Africa is open for business, South Africa is open for tourism, and South Africa is open for any other form of visit,” Moroe said.

He added that reports suggesting South African missions in Nigeria no longer issued visas to Nigerians were untrue.

“But I can assure you and the listeners, that it is safe to travel to South Africa. I indicated during the beginning of the show that the number of visa applications have almost doubled,” he said.

His comments come amid renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks in South Africa, with Nigerians and other African migrants reportedly affected by pockets of violence in parts of the country.

The attacks have included assaults, looting of foreign-owned businesses and forced displacement, with perpetrators sometimes citing competition for jobs and allegations of criminality.

The violence has also triggered concern among Nigerian authorities and citizens, with the Federal Government previously facilitating the repatriation of more than 1,400 Nigerians who were stranded or feared for their safety in South Africa.

Envoy urges Nigerians to follow immigration rules

Despite the security concerns, Moroe urged Nigerians travelling to South Africa to obtain the appropriate visas before departure and comply with the country’s immigration laws.

“It is everybody’s responsibility to ensure that before you travel, you ensure that you have your visa, you comply with the immigration laws of the country, you become a good ambassador of your country,” he said.

The Consul-General also advised Nigerians to familiarise themselves with South African laws and understand their rights while in the country.

He urged travellers to identify law enforcement agencies and other relevant authorities in the areas they intend to visit in case of emergencies.

“When you get to South Africa, you know and understand your rights, but you must also familiarise yourself with the laws of the country,” Moroe said.

He added that travellers should carefully choose the places they visit and know where to seek assistance if problems arise.

Moroe expressed confidence that movement between Nigeria and South Africa would continue to increase, stressing the importance of the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries.

FX Reforms Helping Stabilise Nigeria’s Economy, Says NRS Chairman Adedeji

By
Akeem Adebayo
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ABUJA — Foreign exchange reforms implemented by President Bola Tinubu’s administration have been critical to restoring stability to Nigeria’s economy, Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, has said.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Adedeji said the FX reforms, alongside the removal of petrol subsidy, were necessary to address structural distortions inherited by the administration and establish a more sustainable economic framework.

He said the government assumed office with an economy characterised by multiple exchange-rate windows, an unsustainable fuel subsidy regime, weak oil-sector performance and a narrow revenue base.

According to him, the decision to unify the foreign exchange market was particularly important because multiple exchange-rate windows had distorted economic transactions and made it difficult to determine the true value of transactions.

Adedeji acknowledged that the reforms initially created significant pressure for households and businesses but argued that they were beginning to produce changes in the structure of the economy.

He linked the reforms to increased domestic refining capacity and higher government revenue, saying domestic refining capacity had risen from about 30,000 barrels per day before the reforms to approximately 700,000 barrels per day.

He also said government revenue had increased from roughly N12 trillion to N40 trillion, attributing the rise to stronger revenue mobilisation and broader economic reforms.

Adedeji said the government’s revenue strategy was not designed simply to increase the tax burden on Nigerians but to expand economic activity and generate higher revenues as businesses and households become more prosperous.

“We are taxing prosperity, not poverty,” he said.

Tax reforms target broader economic base

The NRS chairman defended the administration’s tax reforms, saying broadening the tax base would help create a more sustainable fiscal system and reduce dependence on a relatively small pool of taxpayers.

He said the reforms should be viewed alongside measures targeting electricity, infrastructure, education, agriculture and access to credit.

On electricity, Adedeji cited the Electricity Act as an example of efforts to restructure the power sector by allowing states to play a greater role and creating opportunities for investment.

He argued that improved electricity supply would reduce production costs and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses.

Infrastructure and industrial investment

Adedeji also defended government spending on major infrastructure projects, stressing the need to distinguish between budgetary provisions and actual funding.

He said government resources had to be prioritised for projects capable of generating long-term economic benefits, citing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Expressway as examples.

According to him, infrastructure investment can stimulate economic activity through construction, job creation and increased demand for goods and services.

He added that the government was supporting agriculture and industrial development through institutions including the Bank of Agriculture and Bank of Industry, with the aim of expanding production and improving access to finance.

While acknowledging the economic hardship that followed the reforms, Adedeji said the administration was now focused on consolidating the gains from the adjustment process and building a more sustainable economic foundation.

PENGASSAN: Nigeria’s Refineries Shut Over Losses, Not Failure to Produce

By
Toyin Adebayo
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ABUJA — Nigeria’s state-owned refineries were shut down because their operations were commercially unviable, not because they had completely stopped producing petroleum products, outgoing President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, has said.

Osifo said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) was forced to halt operations after the cost of processing crude became higher than the value of the petroleum products produced.

“So, the refineries were actually shut down, not that they were not functioning,” Osifo said.

He explained that the facilities were still producing some petroleum products, but continuing to operate under the prevailing conditions would have resulted in further financial losses.

Using an example to illustrate the economics of refinery operations, Osifo said a refinery should ideally generate products worth more than the crude and operating costs invested in the process.

He said the experience demonstrated the need to prioritise commercial viability when reviving Nigeria’s refineries rather than keeping the facilities operational simply for the sake of production.

PENGASSAN backs private majority ownership

Osifo also backed plans to introduce greater private-sector participation in the ownership of Nigeria’s refineries, arguing that private majority ownership could improve efficiency and reduce government interference in operational decisions.

He said PENGASSAN was advocating a structure under which private investors would acquire up to 51 per cent of the refineries, while the Federal Government would retain a 49 per cent stake, similar to the ownership arrangement of Nigeria LNG Limited.

“They are going to buy some shares of government from this refinery. So, for us, we are advocating that, because the company is about 3 in 1 company, so let them buy up to 51 per cent. Let government retain 49 per cent as it is in NLNG,” he said.

According to Osifo, majority private ownership would enable refinery management to take operational and maintenance decisions without going through lengthy government approval processes.

“What that is going to do is that the decision-making is going to leave the hand of government, so that if you want to do any maintenance, you don’t need to discuss it in federal council meetings anymore,” he said.

He argued that private investors would be more likely to make decisions based on commercial considerations and profitability.

“And because they are private people, they take business decisions, not decisions made from sentiment, emotions, or political leanings, but decisions that will grow the business,” Osifo said.

PIA stability needed for investment

On the broader oil and gas sector, Osifo acknowledged reforms introduced by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), including the creation of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the midstream and downstream regulatory framework and the restructuring of NNPCL as a limited liability company.

He also cited the PIA’s provisions on host community development and frontier exploration.

However, Osifo warned that subsequent changes to some fiscal provisions of the PIA and the use of an executive order to alter provisions of the law could create uncertainty for investors.

“For us, one of the ways to attract investment is for you to have some level of certainty,” he said.

He said investors need clarity on taxes, royalties and other financial obligations before committing capital to oil and gas projects.

“But if I’m investing today and I’m doubtful that tomorrow the laws will change and the laws might not favour me, I will be a bit worried in how I carry out my investment,” he said.

Osifo urged the government to allow the PIA and its regulatory framework to operate for a reasonable period before introducing major changes, stressing that oil and gas investments typically require long-term planning and capital commitments.

“In the oil and gas business, you don’t just invest today and you think you will reap tomorrow. At times, for this investment, you start reaping even after the 30th year,” he said.

His comments place commercial viability, private-sector participation and regulatory certainty at the centre of the debate over the future of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries and the wider investment outlook for the country’s oil and gas industry.

 

NERC Removes Kaduna DisCo Board Over N456.5bn Debt, Names Interim Team

By
Toyin Adebayo
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The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), April 2026 Operational Performance Factsheet
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), April 2026 Operational Performance Factsheet

ABUJA — The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has dissolved the board of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDC) and appointed an interim management team after the electricity distributor accumulated N456.5 billion in market obligations as of May 2026.

The intervention, contained in an order dated August 10, 2026, was signed by NERC Chairman, Dr Musiliu Oseni, and Commissioner for Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye. The Commission said the action was taken under Section 75 of the Electricity Act in response to KAEDC’s deteriorating financial position, persistent market defaults and failure to meet key operational and investment obligations.

NERC said KAEDC owed N415.5 billion to Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) and N41 billion to the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), while its other non-market liabilities stood at N14.26 billion.

The regulator said N118.6 billion of the market debt was accumulated in less than two years under ASI Engineering Ltd, which assumed operational control of the DisCo in June 2024 after receiving conditional regulatory approval in January of that year.

The financial deterioration was also reflected in KAEDC’s 2025 performance. According to NERC, the company settled only 41.93 per cent of its adjusted market invoices during the year, leaving a market shortfall of N46.71 billion.

The Commission said the company’s Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses rose to 71.88 per cent, while only 28.2 per cent of the electricity received by the DisCo was successfully billed to customers.

Metering coverage also remained low, ranging between 33.26 per cent and 35.54 per cent despite interventions by NERC and the Federal Government.

Investment performance fell significantly below regulatory requirements. NERC said KAEDC invested N2.48 billion in capital expenditure in 2025 against a minimum requirement of N24.51 billion, representing an execution rate of about 10 per cent.

The regulator described the situation as a serious breach of market rules, citing persistent payment defaults, weak governance and failure to meet minimum investment obligations.

The latest intervention follows an earlier ownership crisis at KAEDC involving North West Power Limited, which acquired a 60 per cent stake in the DisCo during the 2013 electricity privatisation.

NERC began a licence revocation process involving the previous investor in 2023 before ASI Engineering emerged as the next core investor. ASI received conditional regulatory approval in January 2024 and assumed operational control in June that year.

However, NERC said critical conditions attached to ASI Engineering’s takeover, including the provision of payment guarantees to NBET and NISO, remained unfulfilled during its period of control.

Under the new arrangement, NERC has appointed a six-month interim management team to oversee KAEDC while a new ownership structure is developed.

Dr Abubakar Hashidu has been appointed Interim Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, while Dr Abdullahi Garba will serve as Chairman. Engr Francis Agoha has been appointed Special Director, with Mr Ayodeji Gbeleyi representing the Bureau of Public Enterprises.

NERC has also mandated the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to lead a transparent, market-driven process for identifying a new core investor for KAEDC within 12 months.

The process is expected to cover transaction structuring, governance design, investor engagement, bid evaluation and execution of transfer agreements, subject to regulatory approvals.

Meanwhile, NERC has ordered a 90-day reconciliation of KAEDC’s liabilities involving the interim management, NBET, NISO, BPE and other creditors.

The Commission said the exercise would establish the company’s outstanding obligations and provide a basis for a structured debt-resolution framework.

To prevent further deterioration, the interim management has been barred from taking on new borrowing, disposing of assets, entering related-party transactions or changing senior management without prior regulatory approval.

Despite the financial challenges, NERC directed the interim team to continue electricity distribution to customers within KAEDC’s available technical capacity, maintain applicable service standards, improve operational efficiency and strengthen consumer protection during the transition.

WHO Says Congo Ebola Outbreak Began Months Before Official Declaration

By
Akeem Adebayo
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BUNIA, Congo — The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo began in February, months before it was officially declared on May 15, allowing the virus to spread undetected as health teams struggle to contain its rapid growth.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, disclosed the finding at a news conference in Bunia on Monday, saying genetic sequencing indicated that the outbreak had started earlier than previously established.

The sequencing was conducted under the leadership of Dr Steve Ahuka, head of the virology department at Congo’s National Institute for Biomedical Research, according to Dr Thierno Balde, WHO’s incident manager for the Ebola response.

Some of the early cases were initially attributed to other illnesses, including malaria and typhoid, contributing to delays in identifying the outbreak, Janabi said.

“So we are chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us,” he said.

Confirmed cases have reached 4,200, including more than 1,900 deaths, according to the latest government figures cited by the WHO.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned last week that Ebola was spreading faster than response efforts, with new cases doubling in some hotspots.

Health authorities estimate that between 60 and 70 percent of new cases are being detected among people who were not already being monitored as contacts, an indication of the difficulty health teams are facing in tracing transmission.

The outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare Ebola species for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments. Early testing focused on the more common type of Ebola, contributing to delays in identifying the virus responsible for the outbreak.

The response is also being complicated by insecurity and difficult living conditions in eastern Congo, an area affected by years of rebel conflict and located near the borders with South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda.

Health workers have faced strikes by some unpaid personnel, threats from rebel groups, shortages of protective equipment and misinformation about Ebola. Response teams are also travelling along remote, unpaved roads to reach affected communities.

The large population of displaced people in the region faces additional challenges, including limited access to reliable water for handwashing.

Some pregnant women and other residents have reportedly avoided health centres because of fears of contracting Ebola, potentially putting their health at further risk.

Despite the rapid spread in the affected region, WHO assesses the global risk of Ebola transmission as low because the virus does not spread through the air and is therefore more difficult to transmit than respiratory viruses.

The agency said cases detected outside the affected area have so far been identified and contained without resulting in sustained transmission.

Ebola is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, including blood, vomit and semen, as well as contaminated materials and surfaces such as bedding and clothing. The disease can be severe and frequently fatal.

The current outbreak has recorded deaths at a faster rate than previous Ebola outbreaks, including the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic, which resulted in more than 11,000 deaths from at least 28,000 cases.

Several previous Ebola outbreaks were also declared weeks or months after the virus first began circulating. In the 2014 West Africa outbreak, for example, the outbreak was declared in March 2014, while the first human case was later traced to December 2013.

Source: Associated Press

NUPRC Records 97.4% DCSO Performance in Q2

By
Akeem Adebayo
-

ABUJA — The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) recorded a 97.4 percent performance under the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO) in the second quarter of 2026, with 53.7 million barrels of crude oil and condensate supplied to local refiners between April and June.

The figures were contained in the Commission’s Q2 2026 DCSO report. Source: Statement by Eniola Akinkuotu, Head, Media and Corporate Communications, NUPRC. The report said the DCSO is being administered and enforced in accordance with Section 109 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

Under the framework, the Commission holds monthly engagements with crude oil producers and local licensed refineries before allocating specific volumes of crude oil and condensate to producers for supply to domestic refiners.

The NUPRC said the framework operates on a “willing buyer, willing seller” basis, which shapes the eventual supply outcomes.

In April, the Commission allocated 18,127,638 barrels to producers. The producers offered 19,312,476 barrels to refiners, while 20,879,381 barrels were eventually supplied to local refiners, representing 114.9 percent of the allocated volume.

 

In May, 18,778,392 barrels were allocated to producers, who offered 23,187,893 barrels to local refiners. Actual supply stood at 14,228,865 barrels, representing 75.8 percent performance.

In June, producers were allocated 18,172,638 barrels and offered 26,835,119 barrels to refiners. Local refiners took 18,606,026 barrels, representing 102.4 percent performance.

The Commission said the improvement in DCSO performance coincided with an increase in local oil production and the signing of long-term crude supply agreements supported by bankable Sales and Purchase Agreements between producers and domestic refiners.

At the refinery level, the Dangote Refinery required 63 million barrels during the second quarter, while producers offered it 68.1 million barrels.

According to the NUPRC, the 68.1 million barrels offered to the Dangote Refinery represented 98 percent of all crude volumes offered during the quarter.

The refinery eventually accepted 52.6 million barrels, representing 78 percent of the volume offered to it.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to achieving the government’s objective of energy sufficiency and said it would continue to leverage the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 framework to sustain recent gains in crude oil production while enforcing the DCSO.

The NUPRC said the DCSO remains an active part of its regulatory framework for crude oil supply to local licensed refineries.

Wike: I’m Not Lobbying To Head Tinubu’s Campaign Council 

By
Toyin Adebayo
-

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has dismissed reports that he is lobbying to become the Director-General (DG) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), insisting that his commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election does not depend on occupying any campaign position.

Wike, who reaffirmed his support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, said he would work to ensure the President secures a convincing victory in Rivers State and the FCT, whether or not he is appointed to the campaign council.

The minister’s position was made known in a statement issued yesterday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.

Wike was reportedly listed among prominent APC chieftains and government officials allegedly lobbying for, or being considered for, the position of DG of the President’s campaign council.

But the former Rivers State governor described the report as false, saying he had not discussed either the leadership or membership of the proposed campaign council with anyone.

Wike, who is currently outside the country, said his immediate concern was to continue delivering projects in the FCT in line with the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“I am outside Nigeria, resting and relaxing after spending over 30 days, commissioning projects, flagging off new ones and inspecting ongoing ones, especially those scheduled for commissioning in December and January, next year,” he said.

The minister said his focus would return to the continued implementation of the FCT’s development agenda when he gets back to the country.

“When I return, our focus will be the continuous delivery of our mandate in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and to further enhance his electoral fortune in Rivers State and the FCT,” he stated.

Wike stressed that he does not need to become the campaign council’s DG or even a member to support Tinubu’s re-election.

“Therefore, I do not need to be the DG or even member of the Presidential Campaign Council of Mr President’s political party to contribute my quota by ensuring that he wins handsomely in Rivers State and the FCT,” he said.

The minister’s denial comes as political activities and alignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with major political parties and their supporters already positioning themselves for the contests.

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