Bayo Onanuga, OON, CON

President Tinubu and First Lady Remi Tinubu are heading for Lagos for the Sallah.

STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU FELICITATES MUSLIMS ON EID-EL-FITR, URGES RENEWED PATRIOTISM As Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid-el-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Muslim faithful in Nigeria, urging renewed commitment to the nation and humanity. President Tinubu enjoined Nigerian Muslims to rededicate themselves to the noble teachings of the holy month, which emphasise piety, empathy, and unity among humanity. "We have a lot to draw from the noble lessons of Ramadan, especially at a time like this. We must continue to abide by the virtues of piety, selflessness, perseverance, kindness and compassion beyond this period," he said. President Tinubu urged all Muslim faithful to extend a hand of kindness to the needy of all faiths, to further show unity and camaraderie. The President also tasked Muslim leaders to use the occasion to offer prayers for peace and prosperity to prevail in the country. Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President Information and Strategy March 19, 2026

As a young senator, I joined those who challenged military rule and defended the democratic mandate. Like many in that struggle, I was forced into exile. Today, I visit Britain as President, at the invitation of His Majesty King Charles III, on the first Nigerian state visit in almost four decades. Britain stood with the Nigerian people during those dark years. London, for many, became a home for political exiles organising under the National Democratic Coalition – a pro-democracy group that opposed the dictatorship of Sani Abacha. Since then, our countries have stood shoulder to shoulder: from the restoration of democracy in 1999, to confronting the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria’s north-east, and defending peace and democracy across West Africa. Read President Tinubu’s article in the London Telegraph of March 19 titled Britain and Nigeria can build prosperity on shared trust telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/1…

President Tinubu today witnessed the signing of a £746 million financing agreement between Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance, led by Wale Edun, and Citi Bank to modernise Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos.

Memorable moments of President Tinubu’s State visit to the UK. Courtesy Arise TV

President Tinubu, First Lady, ministers and King Charles lll and the British Royal Family arriving for the State Banquet in Windsor Castle on Wednesday night

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the second day of President Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom on Thursday.

The friendship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom will continue to grow, says President Tinubu Text of the Speech By President Tinubu at the State Banquet in His Honour at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Your Majesty, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a profound honour to stand before you today, representing the people of Nigeria as we reaffirm the enduring bonds of friendship, history, and shared purpose that have united our two nations for several centuries. Allow me first to express my sincere appreciation to Your Majesty and to Her Majesty, The Queen for the warmth and generosity extended to me, my wife, Oluremi, and the Nigerian delegation. As the first Nigerian leader to speak here at Windsor Castle, which has served the British Crown for nearly a millennium, is particularly historic. Windsor has stood as a symbol of continuity, witnessing the steady evolution of institutions that have shaped governance, culture, and public life not only in Britain but far beyond these shores. Nigeria and the United Kingdom have shared more than just history; our two nations share a vision of progress and resilience. Today, we continue that journey, committed to building a future rooted in partnership, mutual respect, and common values. Standing here in Windsor Castle, one cannot help but reflect on Britain’s impact on modern democratic governance worldwide. The Magna Carta of 1215 laid the early foundations for the rule of law and the development of parliamentary democracy, establishing enduring ideals around liberty, accountable government, and civic responsibility. Great British thinkers and writers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Edmund Burke helped to propagate those democratic ideals. Their influence continues to resonate to this day. The literary genius of William Shakespeare and other writers such as Charles Dickens, has enriched and shaped the English language, spoken by over 1.5 billion people worldwide. In Nigeria, elements of these traditions continue to inform the institutional foundations of our own republic. Our courts draw upon legal traditions rooted in English common law. Our parliamentary institutions reflect constitutional practices that evolved here over centuries. Our civil service structures have also drawn upon administrative models developed in Britain and adapted to Nigeria’s own national context. While institutions matter greatly, our people remain the strongest bridge between our two countries. The Nigerian community in the United Kingdom has become one of the most dynamic diaspora communities worldwide.  Nigerians contribute enormously to the vitality of this nation.  Within the National Health Service, Nigerian doctors and nurses play an indispensable role in delivering healthcare. Nigerian-trained doctors are among the largest groups of international medical professionals serving the NHS. In sport, rugby players such as Maro Itoje, footballers including Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze, and champion boxer Anthony Joshua, illustrate the remarkable human connection that links Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Our partnership is further strengthened through the Commonwealth of Nations, which connects 56 countries under Your Majesty’s leadership. As one of the largest nations within the Commonwealth, Nigeria looks forward to contributing constructively to the continued growth and vitality of this global community. Our West African region faces complex terrorism challenges with roots in the Sahel.  Nigeria carries an enormous responsibility to help safeguard regional stability. In confronting these threats, partnership with the United Kingdom remains essential and I look forward to my meeting with Prime Minister Kier Starmer tomorrow. Despite these challenges, Nigeria approaches the future with hope and confidence. We are a nation of diverse and vibrant people, of young people dreaming big, of entrepreneurs with a global outlook, and of a hopeful people determined to realise their full potential. Your Majesty, I am confident that the friendship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom will continue to grow. Finally, Your Majesty, I wish to express Nigeria’s deep gratitude to this great nation for the refuge and support it extended during the dark years of military dictatorship. Like many Nigerians involved in the pro-democracy struggle, I found safety here, and I recall that my residence was placed under Metropolitan Police surveillance for protection following threats from agents of the junta. That solidarity remains etched in our collective memory, and it is deeply humbling for me to stand before Your Majesty today as the President of a democratic Nigeria. On behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, I thank Your Majesty, Her Majesty The Queen, Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, other members of the Royal Family, and the people of the United Kingdom for their longstanding friendship. In the spirit of friendship and our shared destiny, I invite you all to raise a glass with me: To the special bond between Nigeria and the United Kingdom,  and to the bright future that we shall build together. God bless His Majesty The King. God bless Nigeria.  God bless the United Kingdom.  Thank you very much.

ISWAP death toll rises to 75 after devastating defeat in Malam Fatori By: Zagazola Makama The death toll of terrorists neutralised during a failed infiltration attempt on troops’ position in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno, has risen to 75, in what security analysts describe as one of the most decisive recent blows against the Islamic State West Africa Province. Zagazola report that the Initial reports had put the number of insurgents killed at 61, following a coordinated response by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, supported by the Nigerian Air Force. However, updated battlefield assessments and mop-up operations indicate that at least 75 fighters were neutralised, with several others believed to have escaped with severe injuries. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, saw ISWAP fighters advancing on foot toward the 68 Battalion location, reportedly deploying armed drones in an attempt to breach defensive lines. The infiltration, launched from the Duguri axis toward the Bravo Company frontage, was swiftly detected and repelled. Military sources said the success of the operation was anchored on superior coordination between air and ground forces, illustrating the growing effectiveness of joint-force synergy in counter-insurgency operations in the North-East. Four precision air interdiction strikes were conducted on identified terrorist withdrawal routes effectively degrading their combat capability and disrupting their manoeuvre. The integration of air power ensured that the insurgents were fixed in position and subjected to sustained bombardment, forcing a chaotic withdrawal toward the Arege axis. Further compounding the losses of the terrorists group was the intervention of allied air assets from the Niger Republic, which carried out additional strike passes on fleeing terrorists.Although a full battle damage assessment of those strikes is still ongoing, security sources believe the combined firepower significantly increased the casualty figures. In addition to the high number of fatalities, troops reportedly recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from the battlefield, further weakening the operational capacity of the group in the Lake Chad region. On the side of government forces, four soldiers sustained minor injuries and have since been stabilised.

CDS urges Borno, Yobe residents to take ownership of fight against terror, says enemy operating from within By: Zagazola Makama The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has raised fresh concerns over internal complicity in the protracted insurgency in the North-East, urging residents of Borno and Yobe to take ownership of the fight against terrorism. Oluyede’s position, articulated after a high-level security meeting in Maiduguri, signals a strategic shift in emphasis from purely kinetic military operations to community-driven counterinsurgency, as Nigeria battles the enduring threat posed by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province. The meeting, which lasted about four hours, brought together top military commanders, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar and other top military officials. At the heart of the CDS’s message is a troubling reality: the insurgency is being sustained, in part, by individuals that sometimes embedded within affected communities. According to Oluyede, intelligence reports indicate that many of those responsible for attacks over the past 15 years originate from the same communities bearing the brunt of the violence. This assertion reinforces long-standing concerns within security circles that local knowledge terrain familiarity, social networks, and community cover has continued to provide operational advantages to insurgents. He cited a recent example in Kukawa, where troops discovered wounded terrorists hiding within the community during post-attack clearance operations, pointing to the challenge of distinguishing between civilians and collaborators. The dynamics complicate military efforts, as insurgents exploit familial and social ties to evade detection, making intelligence gathering more difficult despite sustained offensives. The CDS’s call for residents to “take ownership” reflects a recognition that military القوة alone cannot decisively end the insurgency without active civilian cooperation. Oluyede’s remarks suggest a push to recalibrate this dynamic by encouraging residents to see the fight as a collective responsibility rather than solely a government burden. The CDS also acknowledged the evolving tactics of insurgents, particularly the increasing use of drones and other technological in attacks. Oluyede disclosed that the Nigerian military is adapting, including the deployment of advanced drone systems to enhance surveillance, targeting, and battlefield coordination.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla welcomed President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Remi Tinubu on Wednesday with a blaze of ceremonial grandeur, vibrant colours, mounted cavalry, horse-drawn carts, a fanfare of trumpets, and a gun salute.

Prince William and Princess Catherine meet and greet the Nigerian leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu at Fairmont Hotel before the short ride to Windsor Castle, where their host, King Charles III, awaits them

Nigerian Military eliminates 61 terrorists in Malam Fatori, Borno By: Zagazola Makama The Nigerian Army troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in close coordination with, The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has neutralised no fewer than 61 ISWAP terrorists during a foiled infiltration attempt in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno. Sources involved in the operation disclosed that the terrorists launched the attack in the early hours of Wednesday, advancing on foot and deploying armed drones in a desperate bid to breach the defences of troops at the 68 Battalion location. The sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack, which came through the frontage of Bravo Company from the Duguri general area, was met with overwhelming firepower and superior coordination between ground forces and air components. The sources explained that troops, supported by precision air strikes, engaged the insurgents in a fierce battle that resulted in heavy casualties on the side of the terrorists. According to him, the integration of air and ground manoeuvre ensured that the terrorists were fixed, targeted and neutralised in large numbers. “Our forces executed four highly effective air interdiction strikes on identified enemy concentrations, decimating their fighting capability. The synergy between air and land forces denied the terrorists freedom of movement and forced a disorderly withdrawal towards the Arege general area after suffering heavy casualties,” he said The sources noted that additional strike support from allied Nigerien air assets further compounded the pressure on the fleeing insurgents, although battle damage assessment from those strikes was still ongoing. “The allied forces from neighbouring Niger Republic also conducted rapid strike passes in support of the operation, thereby compounding the pressure on the fleeing insurgents. “On own casualties, the officer confirmed that four soldiers sustained minor injuries during the engagement and have since been stabilised.

STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU ARRIVES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has arrived in the United Kingdom for a two-day historic State Visit on the invitation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. President Tinubu’s plane touched down at London Stansted Airport at 3.18 pm. He was received on behalf of the Royal Family by Mark Bevan, Deputy Lieutenant of Essex, as well as by the acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to the UK, Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu, and other senior officials. Also on hand to welcome the President to his hotel were some senators, governors and ministers. President Tinubu and his wife will be hosted at Windsor Castle from Wednesday, March 18, to Thursday, March 19. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and to explore investment opportunities for businessmen from both nations. Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy) March 17, 2026

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU DIRECTS POLITICAL APPOINTEES SEEKING ELECTIVE OFFICE TO RESIGN BY MARCH 31, 2026 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has directed all political appointees under his administration who intend to contest elective offices in the forthcoming 2027 general elections to resign their appointments on or before March 31, 2026. The directive is pursuant to the provisions of Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, as well as the timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, CON, which was issued by the Permanent Secretary General Services Office, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, mni, the resignation requirement applies to all categories of presidential political appointees who wish to participate in the forthcoming party primaries or seek nomination for any elective office, which include the following: Honourable Ministers, Honourable Ministers of State, Special Advisers to the President, Senior Special Assistants to the President, Special Assistants the President, Personal Assistants to the President, All Directors-General, and Chief Executive Officers of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Commissions, and Government-owned Companies, as well as all Other Political Appointees of the President. Accordingly, all affected officials are required to submit their formal resignation letters through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation not later than March 31, 2026. President Tinubu emphasised that the measure is necessary to ensure full compliance with electoral laws, uphold transparency in the political process, and promote a level playing field for all aspirants ahead of the elections. He urged all concerned officials to take note of this directive and ensure strict compliance, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and promoting credible electoral processes in Nigeria. Dewan Nengak Goshit Head, Information & Public Relations For: Secretary to the Government of the Federation

Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo Takes Oath of office as Governor of Anambra state for a second term

President Tinubu arrives in London on a historic state visit to UK