READ FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT TINUBU’S INAUGURAL SPEECH.

My Fellow Citizens,
I stand before you honoured to assume the sacred mandate you have given me. My love for this nation is abiding. My confidence in its people, unwavering. And my faith in God Almighty, absolute. I know that His hand shall provide the needed moral strength and clarity of purpose in those instances when we seem to have reached the limits of our human capacity.
This day is bold and majestic yet bright and full of spirit, as is our precious nation.
As a nation, we have long ago decided to march beyond the dimness of night into the open day of renewed national hope.
We must now decide whether to stick to the work required to create a better society or to hide in the shadows of our untapped potential. I can think of only one solution. We are too strong a country and too firmly rooted as a people to deprive ourselves of our greatest potential. Millions of people have prayed for this country, and our collective sacrifices have influenced its journey.
We have faced challenges that might have caused other societies to disintegrate. The hope of a brighter future, however, merges with our enhanced ability to shape that future at this SUBLIME moment because we have carried the great load to get there. We have more solidly established this country as a democracy in both word and deed, surprising many but not ourselves
Our political heritage today emphasizes a smooth transition from one government to another. This transfer of power is a representation of our faith in God, our steadfast belief in representative government, and our confidence in our ability to remake this country into the kind of society it was always meant to be. Permit me to now address President Muhammadu Buhari, my predecessor. You have been a trustworthy, patriotic leader who has done your best for the country you adore, Mr. President. You are a deserving friend and partner, to put it more personally. I hope History treats you well.
Critics of Nigeria have been spreading the myth that our country will disintegrate or possibly perish for many years.
However, here we are. We have made mistakes along the way, but our tenacity and diversity have seen us through. Sometimes our burdens may cause us to stoop, but they will not ever cause us to fall. As the most populous country in Africa, the Black Race’s best hope, and its most steadfast defender, we stand out instead. As citizens, we therefore vow that Nigeria shall endure so long as this earth endures, as one unified people committed to one undivided national cause. The torch of human growth is now in our hands as Fate and Destiny come together. We cannot allow it to slip. We raise this flame aloft in order for it to shine on every home and in every heart that claims to be Nigerian. We raise this beam because it illuminates our way with kindness, unity, and peace. May this brilliant light never go out.
Although we will rule on your behalf, we will never be in charge of you. We will talk and consult, but we will never give orders. We will be inclusive of everyone and never disparage someone for possessing opinions that differ from our own. This nation needs to be further repaired and healed, not torn apart and damaged. In keeping with this, allow me to make a few observations about the election that led to this point. It was a competitive battle. Additionally, it was won fairly. Nigeria has not held an election of higher caliber since the establishment of the Fourth Republic. The result reflected the people’s wishes. However, despite winning, I am no more a Nigerian than my rivals. They are not any less patriotic as a result. They will always be considered my fellow citizens. And I shall treat them accordingly. They stand for significant constituencies and issues that wisdom would be foolish to dismiss. They have brought legal action on their behalf. They have the right to seek legal remedies, and I fully support them in exercising this right. The foundation of the rule of law is this.
Our founding ancestors valiantly sacrificed themselves more than 60 years ago to establish Nigeria as an independent country. The work done by those who came before us must never wither, but must instead blossom and give birth to a better world. Let us move forward with the mission they started and believed in. Let us renew our commitment to making Nigeria, regardless of creed, ethnicity, or place of origin, the indispensable home for each and every one of us. Thank you to all of my fans. I reach out across the aisle to folks who cast different ballots. I beg you to understand it in terms of brotherhood and national connection. Political overtones have vanished in my opinion. Nigerians are all I can see. May we sustain these excellent ideas as the new Nigerian standard.
My fellow citizens, The Nigerian ideal I am referring to is more comprehensive than only an increase in economic and other statistics. Although these items are significant, they can never fully communicate our story. Our goal is to make changes to our way of life that foster our humanity, promote kindness toward one another, and appropriately honor our group’s efforts to address the social issues that seek to divide us. We have a nation on paper thanks to our constitution and laws. By deepening the ties of economic cooperation, social solidarity, and cultural understanding, we must work harder to bring these beautiful documents to life. Let us cultivate a spirit of justice and equity among us. The South must recognize that good for the North advances its own interests in addition to seeking good for itself. The South must be seen similarly by the North. You are all my people, whether you come from the twisting creeks of the Niger Delta, the wide northern savannah, the boardrooms of Lagos, the humming capital of Abuja, or the bustling markets of Onitsha. As your president, I will act impartially toward everyone and with compassion for everyone.
My team will make critical details of our initiative public in the days and weeks to come. Today, allow me to briefly describe a few programs that embody our vision of progressive good governance in support of the Nigerian ideal: The simple guiding ideas for our administration are as follows:
1. Nigeria will be impartially administered in accordance with the law and the constitution.
2. We will protect the country from terrorism and all other types of criminal activity that put the peace and stability of both our nation and our area in danger.
3. We will restructure our economy to promote growth and development by generating jobs, ensuring food security, and putting an end to severe poverty.
4. Women and young people will take center stage in our administration.
5. To deter corruption and increase the efficacy and efficiency of the various anti-corruption institutions, our administration will continue to adopt proactive measures such promoting a credit culture. SECURITY Our administration’s main goal must be security because, in an environment of instability and violence, neither prosperity nor justice can triumph. Both our security DOCTRINE and its ARCHITECTURE will need to be changed if we are to effectively combat this threat. In order to enhance our investment in security professionals, we must do more than simply hire additional people. We will offer greater instruction, gear, salary, and firepower
OUR ECONOMY
In terms of the economy, our goals are to drastically lower unemployment and increase GDP growth. The following actions are what we plan to take to achieve this: First, there will be a budgetary reform that stimulates the economy without causing inflation. Second, industrial policy would make use of all available fiscal tools to support domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports. Third, both homes and businesses will be able to obtain and afford electricity. Networks for transmission and distribution should be strengthened, and power generation should nearly double. States will be urged to create local sources as well. I want to let both domestic and foreign investors know that our government would look into all of their grievances regarding excessive taxation and other investment-inhibiting measures.
We will make sure that international corporations and investors return their hard-earned dividends and profits to their native countries. JOBS My administration must provide our youth with worthwhile opportunities. We will keep our promise from the campaign to create a million new employment in the digital sector. Additionally, our government will collaborate with the National Assembly to draft a comprehensive Jobs and Prosperity measure. This legislation would grant our administration the freedom to pursue labor-intensive infrastructure upgrades, support light industry, and enhance social services for the underprivileged, old, and vulnerable. Agriculture Commodity exchange boards must guarantee minimum prices for specific crops and animal products in order to protect rural incomes. There will be a national program for storage and other facilities to cut waste and spoiling.
To boost production and engage in value-added processing, agricultural centers will be established across the country. The livestock industry will be made aware of the best contemporary techniques and the measures taken to lessen the industry’s ongoing disputes over land and water resources. These steps will increase food availability while lowering its price. Farmers would make more money while paying less on average in Nigeria. More on President Tinubu Inaugural Speech INFRASTRUCTURE The Buhari administration’s work on infrastructure will continue. Priority should be given to developments in the national rail, road, and port networks.
FUEL SUBSIDY
We applaud the outgoing administration’s decision to phase out the fuel subsidy system, which has progressively favored the wealthy over the poor. In the context of depleting resources, subsidies can no longer be used to justify their ever-rising prices. Instead, we will reinvest the money in better public infrastructure, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities that will significantly better millions of people’s lives. FINANCIAL POLITICS A comprehensive spring cleaning is required for monetary policy. To achieve a single exchange rate, the Central Bank must work. As a result, money will be diverted from arbitrage into significant investments in the machinery, tools, and employment that drive the actual economy. To promote consumer spending and investment in ways that support the economy at a greater level, interest rates must be decreased. Despite any conceptual virtues, considering the number of unbanked Nigerians, the CBN overly implemented the currency swap. A review of the policy is required. My administration will treat both currencies as legal money in the interim. INTERNAL POLICY
Please allow me to make a few foreign policy thoughts given the world we live in. It is urgently concerning that some countries in our near neighborhood have turned away from democracy and the catastrophe in Sudan. The peace and security of the African continent and the West African subregion must thus be my top priority in terms of foreign policy. To put an end to ongoing crises and prevent new ones, we will collaborate with ECOWAS, the AU, and other willing partners in the international community. We will restructure our foreign policy to more actively lead the regional and continental search for collective prosperity while we contain challenges to peace.
Conclusion
The proudest day of my life is right now. However, I do not own this day. You, the Nigerian people, are the rightful owners. Nigeria proclaims on this day that it belongs among the major democracies of the globe. Nigeria will live there forever. We have arrived at this unique time thanks to the progression of our past and the promise of the future. So that the Nigerian ideal turns into and always stays the Nigerian reality, I want you to work with me to make Nigeria a more ideal country and democracy. Because I am the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I go by the name Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I can confidently state that these things are within our immediate reach. Godspeed, and may He also bless our cherished country.

Press Release
FULL TEXT OF PRESS STATEMENT BY THE IJAW NATIONAL CONGRESS (INC) ON THE RECENT PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE IJAW NATIONAL CONGRESS (INC) ON THE RECENT PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS: A SYMBOLIC GESTURE IGNORING FUNDAMENTAL INJUSTICES
October 13, 2025 | Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
The Ijaw National Congress (INC), the apex socio-cultural organization of the Ijaw nation worldwide, has observed the recent exercise of the prerogative of mercy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which granted pardons to 175 Nigerians.
While we respectfully acknowledge the constitutional right of the President to wield this power, and recognize the symbolic value in correcting certain historical wrongs, the INC views this action with profound skepticism. We are not oblivious of the serious moral issues and questions raised by other critical stakeholders within and outside the country, but feel more bothered by the fact that this gesture, though wide-ranging, does little to address the deep-seated, systemic, and ongoing injustices perpetrated against the Ijaw people and the wider Niger Delta region.
Our position is informed by the following critical considerations:
1. The Pardon of the Ogoni Nine: A Welcome but Incomplete Act. The posthumous pardon granted to Ken Saro-Wiwa and the eight other Ogoni leaders is a long-overdue acknowledgement of the grave judicial murder committed by the Nigerian state in 1995. However, this symbolic act remains tragically disconnected from the living realities in Ogoniland and the entire Niger Delta. The environmental devastation, economic marginalization, and political repression that Ken Saro-Wiwa died fighting against continue unabated today. Pardoning the dead without healing the land and empowering the living is a hollow victory.
2. A Distraction from Core Issues of Resource Justice: The Ijaw nation remains the primary source of the oil and gas wealth that sustains Nigeria. Yet, we remain in the perpetual periphery of benefit, suffering from what can only be described as “economic asphyxiation”. The legal architecture of dispossession, from the Petroleum Decree of 1969 to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021, remains firmly in place, systematically expropriating our resources and severing our sovereignty. A presidential pardon that does not restore our dignity and right to control and manage our God-given resources is no use to us.
3. The Unaddressed Ecological Genocide. While the President offers pardons, the Ijaw homeland continues to endure an ecological collapse orchestrated by decades of oil exploration. With thousands of recorded oil spills and continuous gas flaring that poisons our air and water, our ecosystem—the bedrock of our livelihood and cultural heritage—is being systematically destroyed. We do not need paternalistic gestures of mercy; we demand environmental justice, ecological restoration, and accountability from multinational corporations and the Nigerian state.
Our Demands:
The Ijaw National Congress, therefore, reiterates that our struggle is not for symbolic pardons but for substantive justice. We call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the international community to:
– Initiate a genuine process of resource control and fiscal federalism that allows the Ijaw people to own and manage their resources as a right enshrined in natural justice and international law.
– Enforce a comprehensive and urgent environmental remediation program in the Niger Delta, in line with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoniland and beyond.
– Repeal obnoxious laws like the Land Use Act and review constitutional provisions that perpetuate internal colonialism and “legalized oppression”.
– Address the disparity between the governance of the oil and gas sector, as contained in PIA 2021 and the solid minerals governance by the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007. This discrimination is designed to militarise, plunder and marginalise the Niger Delta, while affording a more equitable regime for solid mineral resources.
– Address the historical and political grievances of the Ijaw people, including the brazen political assaults on Ijaw sons and daughters, as witnessed in the recent illegal impeachment attempts against Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Conclusion:
The Ijaw nation can no longer be placated by tokenistic gestures. Our right to self-determination is inalienable and rooted in solemn treaties with the British Crown and validated by international law. We shall continue to pursue this cause through peaceful, diplomatic, and strategic means, with the full solidarity of the global community.
The INC remains resolute in its mission to champion the dignity, justice, and sovereignty of the Ijaw people. We will not relent until our people are free from the shackles of oppression and can truly determine their own political and economic destiny.
Long Live the Ijaw Nation!
Prof. Benjamin O. OkabaPresident,
Ijaw National Congress (INC) Global
Breaking
STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE: NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES APPOINTMENT OF PROFESSOR AMUPITAN AS INEC CHAIRMAN

The National Council of State has approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from the North-Central as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan as the nominee to fill the vacant position, following Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s exit. Yakubu served from 2015 till October 2025.
President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical.
Council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing Amupitan as a man of integrity.
In compliance with the constitution, President Tinubu will now send Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening.
Amupitan, 58, from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA in Kogi State, is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau. He is also an alumnus of the university.
He specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014.
Amupitan was born on April 25, 1967.
After completing primary and secondary education, he attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, and the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987. He was called to the bar in 1988.
He earned an LLM at UNIJOS in 1993 and a PhD in 2007, amid an academic career that began in 1989, following his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation in Bauchi from 1988 to 1989.
Currently, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, a position he holds in conjunction with being the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
Among the academic positions he has held at UNIJOS are: Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014); Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014); and Head of Public Law (2006-2008).
Outside of academics, Amupitan serves as a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and a member of the Council of Legal Education (2008-2014), among other roles. He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja(1996-2004).
Amupitan is the author of many books on law, such as Corporate Governance: Models and Principles(2008); Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008); Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria(2013), Principles of Company Law(2013) and an Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014).
He is married and has four children.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
October 9, 2025
News
BAYELSA AIR: ANOTHER ASTONISHING FEAT BY THE MIRACLE GOVERNOR -Peretengboro
By: Divine Perezide
Bayelsa State has recently dominated media conversations – for both challenges and remarkable achievements. While reports of insecurity, cult clashes, and kidnapping occasionally surface, the state’s transformation under the administration of Senator Douye Diri continues to overshadow the negatives. From the Bayelsa Central Bus Terminal and the International Stadium to the Power Plant and now Bayelsa Air, the state’s development trajectory bears the mark of purposeful leadership. Indeed, the story of Governor Douye Diri aptly reflects the saying: “A bend in the road is not the end of the road.”
Good governance advocate and Editor-in-Chief of IduwiniVoice, Prince Dr. Peretengboro Klintin Bibaikefie, has described Governor Douye Diri as not just “The Miracle Governor” but “A Miracle-Working Governor.” According to him, it is rare to see a second-term governor working with such intensity while many of his peers are content showcasing their first-term achievements. “Only a miracle,” he asserts, “can inspire such dedication and passion.”
From the outset, Governor Diri’s journey has carried divine undertones. His emergence as Bayelsa’s fifth democratically elected Governor remains one of the most extraordinary twists in Nigeria’s political history a clear testament to the hand of God. Many across the political and social spectrum agree that his leadership was divinely orchestrated for a special mission, not just for Bayelsa but for the entire Ijaw Nation.
Upon assumption of office, Governor Diri inherited a near-empty treasury. The state could barely afford basic operations, including fueling vehicles and generators in Government House. Yet, rather than despair, he focused on service delivery, setting aside personal comfort for the work at hand.
Just as his administration was finding its footing, the global COVID-19 pandemic struck, shutting down economies and stalling progress. Hardly had the state recovered when the catastrophic 2022 flood one of the worst in Nigeria’s history ravaged communities. Being largely below sea level, Bayelsa was particularly devastated, with rivers and tributaries converging into the Atlantic Ocean across Ofits terrain.
At that point, many believed the governor’s tenure was doomed to fail. However, what seemed like setbacks were, in hindsight, divine tests preparing him for greatness. Each crisis became an avenue for providence to showcase grace. Today, the unfolding developments reveal a leader destined for transformation Generational Leader.
Such leaders appear once in a century figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, Chief Ernest Sisei Ikoli, High Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, and Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro. They share uncommon humility, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to peace, unity, and people-oriented governance. Governor Douye Diri exemplifies these virtues. Those close to him attest to his calm disposition, forgiving spirit, and tireless devotion to service.
Observers with spiritual insight often say that the spirits of Chief (Sen.) Dr. Melford Okilo, High Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, and Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro dwell within him, guiding his actions and shaping his vision for Bayelsa.
Indeed, the governor’s record speaks volumes. Beyond rhetoric, tangible projects now redefine the state’s landscape:
New Gas Turbines ensuring 24-hour power supply for Yenagoa and environs, Nembe-Brass Road, Yenagoa-Angiama-Otuan-Oporoma Road, New Yenagoa City Development Project, Glory Drive Phases II & III, Polaku-Sabagriea Road, Akaba-Ogu-Okodi Road, 25,000-capacity FIFA-standard Stadium, Angiama-Enewari Road, 9-storey New State Secretariat Complex, Sagbama-Ekeremor-Agge Road, among others
The latest addition – Bayelsa Air – has again stunned Bayelsans and the world. The state recently acquired two aircraft to operate routes from Yenagoa and Port Harcourt to Abuja, Lagos, and other destinations, with plans for additional fleets underway.
This bold move has sparked public admiration and curiosity: Is the governor campaigning for a third term? Though constitutionally impossible, such speculation underscores public awe at his relentless pursuit of progress uncommon trait among second-term an leaders who often retreat into complacency.
With uninterrupted power supply, improved infrastructure, and expanding connectivity, Bayelsa is poised for an economic renaissance. Investors, entrepreneurs, and tourists will soon flood the state, unlocking new opportunities and prosperity.
In all, the people of Bayelsa have every reason to give thanks – for the gift of Governor Douye Diri, the Miracle Governor, and for the dawn of a new era of hope, growth, and transformation.