Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The Presidency has refuted claims that African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, poses any political threat to President Bola Tinubu or the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on TVC’s Beyond the Headlines programme, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Adesina’s recent economic comments as inaccurate and politically misplaced. Adesina had stated during a policy forum in Abuja that Nigeria’s GDP per capita had declined from $1,847 in 1960 to about $824 in 2025, arguing that Nigerians are now worse off than they were 64 years ago. Responding, the Presidency rejected these figures, citing World Bank data which estimated Nigeria’s 1960 GDP per capita at just $93, not nearly $2,000. Onanuga stressed that GDP alone cannot determine citizens’ wellbeing and pointed to significant progress in infrastructure, education, and life expectancy. He maintained that, considering broader quality-of-life indicators and ongoing development projects, Nigerians are better off today than at independence.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed new Directors-General for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) following the resignations of the previous heads. Mohammed Mohammed is the new NIA Director-General, succeeding Ahmed Abubakar, who resigned on Saturday. Adeola Ajayi replaces Yusuf Bichi as the new DSS Director-General. Mohammed, a long-time NIA member, has served in various roles including as head of the Nigerian mission to Libya, while Ajayi, who has worked in multiple states and risen through the ranks, was previously an Assistant Director-General of the DSS. President Tinubu expects the new leaders to improve the agencies' performance and enhance collaboration with other security bodies. He also expressed gratitude to the outgoing directors for their service.

President Bola Tinubu is set to finalize the long-awaited appointment of ambassadors to Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions after months of delays and diplomatic gaps. According to multiple presidency sources, the President ordered a “final cleanup” of the list of nominees to replace those who have died, retired, or become ineligible since the initial submission to the Senate. Although the Senate had screened the original nominees, revisions became necessary due to deaths, ill health, and other disqualifications. The cleanup aims to ensure only qualified candidates remain, with the process expected to be completed within a week. The move follows Tinubu’s September 2023 decision to recall all ambassadors for a comprehensive diplomatic review, leaving most missions managed by chargés d’affaires with limited authority. The absence of ambassadors has reportedly weakened Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement, especially amid rising international tensions, including recent controversial remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump about Nigeria. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, is expected to brief Tinubu on the finalized list for imminent announcement.