Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tonight, our nation has reason to give thanks. The children and teachers abducted by Ansaru terrorists in Oyo State have been rescued by our security forces, alive and unharmed. No ransom was paid. No concession was made. I salute every officer and operative whose courage, discipline, and professionalism made this possible. To those who seek to spread fear through terror, know that the Nigerian state will pursue you relentlessly. We will protect our people, defend our communities, and never relent until peace and security prevail across our country. BOLA AHMED TINUBU President & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR, AT THE MAIDEN STATE HOUSE PRESS CORPS DINNER, STATE HOUSE, ABUJA, ON THURSDAY, 2 JULY 2026. 1/2

SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO ALHAJI GANIYU KOLAPO OSENI Goodnight, Alhaji Kola Oseni, goodnight, my brother It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that I received the news of Alhaji Kola Oseni's passing. Though he is no longer with us, the memories of the time we shared and the legacy he left will endure. Alhaji Kola Oseni was a visionary administrator, an elder statesman, a progressive politician, and a trailblazer. His inspiring leadership, vision and industry stood him apart. He was restless in his determination to do many things for our people Kola Oseni's immense contributions, first as organising secretary of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria in Lagos in the Second Republic, laid the foundation for the establishment of the Lagos State Printing Corporation, among others, for which a central mosque in the company was recently dedicated in his name. To me, however, he was much more than that. He was a leader, my ally, my comrade, a friend and a brother rolled into one. He brought me into politics and stood by me along with others to become the Senator representing Lagos West and later the governor of our Lagos State. We shared good moments and also made sacrifices for our country and our people. I can never forget all we went through together in the struggle to restore democracy in our land. Kola Oseni was a warrior for democracy. He believed in the ideals of democracy and good governance and fought for them. Together, we fought for the sanctity of the June 12 election won by the late Bashorun Moshood Abiola, and together, we struggled to end military dictatorship in the land. In 2022, when I indicated interest in contesting for the presidency, Kola Oseni blessed my aspiration and offered prayers. But he could do little because by then he had relocated to America. As President, I'm implementing some of the ideas and reforms we discussed, determined to make Nigeria better and stronger. Thank you for your service to Lagos State. Thank you for your service to Nigeria. Thank you for being a brother and a friend and for standing by me over the years. Indeed, a brother and a bosom friend has fallen. An Iroko among us has fallen. I give thanks to Allah that Alhaji Oseni lived well, lived to an advanced age, and left behind worthy children. I will never forget Kola Oseni. I will never forget all that he stood for. I pray that Almighty Allah comfort and protect his immediate family, particularly the wife and children. May they have the fortitude and strength to continue from where he stopped. As Kola Oseni's remains are laid to rest, Remi @SenRemiTinubu and I wish him eternal rest. May Almighty Allah grant him the best part of Aljanna. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President & Commander-in-Chief. July 3, 2026.

4/4 I have directed the Presidential Metering Initiative to work with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development @fmydNG, NAPTIN @NaptinNigeria, and all relevant stakeholders to commence this programme within the next 30 days. I encourage eligible young Nigerians to apply. Join The Power Force. Learn a skill. Earn with dignity. Help us end estimated billing and be part of the work to light up Nigeria. Apply via pmi.naptin.gov.ng. Portal opens on July 4, 2026. Bola Ahmed Tinubu President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria @NGRPresident @NigeriaGov

3/ Metering is also central to making power more available to Nigerians. When homes and businesses are properly metered, Nigerians can pay for what they actually use. When electricity distribution companies collect revenues more transparently and fairly, they are better able to reduce losses, maintain infrastructure, expand connections, and invest in better service. This is how we build a power sector that is fairer to consumers, stronger for investors, and better able to deliver reliable electricity to the Nigerian people.

Jobs for our young people remain central to our Renewed Hope Agenda. Through the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), which I established to close Nigeria’s metering gap, end estimated billing, protect consumers, and strengthen the electricity market, we are opening a new pathway for 5,000 young Nigerians to be trained as meter installers and technicians under The Power Force.

Every Nigerian deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of where they live or what they earn. Since assuming office, our administration, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has embarked on one of the most ambitious and comprehensive transformations of our health sector in decades. We are revitalising Primary Healthcare Centres, expanding health insurance, protecting millions of children through immunisation, strengthening our health workforce, upgrading specialist hospitals, improving maternal and child health, and positioning Nigeria to become a hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare investment. The progress is becoming evident: - 6 million more Nigerians added to health insurance. - 4,161 Primary Healthcare Centres under revitalisation, with 3,158 already completed. - 14,283 PHCs, representing more than half of all PHCs in Nigeria, are now functional. - More than 102 million children vaccinated against Measles-Rubella, and 17.1 million girls protected against cervical cancer through the HPV vaccine. - 78,054 frontline health workers trained, and 20,000 health professionals recruited into our Federal Tertiary Hospitals. - 503 health infrastructure projects delivered nationwide, alongside the development of 3 world-class cancer centres. These reforms are about saving lives today while building a stronger, more resilient health system for generations to come. The Nigeria Health Sector Impact Report below highlights some of the major milestones recorded so far under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII). I encourage you to read it. A healthier Nigeria is central to our Renewed Hope Agenda. We are building a healthier, stronger and more prosperous nation, one reform, one community and one life at a time. Our work continues. The best days of Nigerian healthcare are still ahead of us. Bola Ahmed Tinubu President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

I welcome African policymakers, innovators, investors, entrepreneurs and private sector leaders to Lagos as Nigeria hosts the AfCFTA Digital Trade Forum 2026. @AfCFTA This year’s Forum, themed “Digital Trade for a Connected African Market,” comes at a defining moment. Africa must now move from aspiration to execution, and from agreements on paper to prosperity in the lives of our people. Nigeria is proud to serve as one of Africa’s AfCFTA Digital Trade Champions. We understand the responsibility that comes with this role, and we are matching it with action. Through the National Single Window @NSW_Nigeria, we are building a faster, simpler and more transparent trading system that will reduce delays, improve compliance, lower costs, and support our importers, exporters, manufacturers and MSMEs. Through B’Odogwu, the Nigeria Customs Service @CustomsNG is modernising customs administration, strengthening revenue assurance, improving cargo clearance, and reducing friction at our borders. These reforms sit alongside our broader digital public infrastructure agenda: digital identity, interoperable payments, data governance and the growth of platforms that allow Nigerian businesses to serve African and global markets. With Nigeria, Kenya and Morocco now piloting the AfCFTA’s ADAPT framework, we are moving from policy to practice in connecting our national trade systems across the continent. The AfCFTA gives Africa the market. Digital trade gives that market speed, scale and reach. Nigeria will continue to work with our African brothers and sisters to build a continent that trades more with itself, creates more value for itself, and competes with confidence in the world. The future of African trade is digital, connected and full of promise. Bola Ahmed Tinubu President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

6/ I commend the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande; my Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman; the Federal Ministry of Education; and the members of the Reform Committee for their work. I have directed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Justice to commence the process of amending the NYSC Act and subsidiary regulations. To every young Nigerian: this nation believes in you. We are building a country worthy of your talent, your ambition and your future. Bola Ahmed Tinubu President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

5/ Our administration is also strengthening governance, standards and the dignity of the NYSC scheme. The NYSC will be led by a civilian Director-General, supported by three Executive Directors, including a Security Services Executive Director, who will be a military or paramilitary officer. Orientation camps will be assessed under a national grading and certification framework, while states will be expected to meet minimum standards. The Passing-Out Parade will become a Graduation Ceremony because our corps members will no longer merely complete service. They will graduate as trained civic and professional contributors to national development.

On Monday, at the Federal Executive Council, our administration approved the most consequential reforms of the National Youth Service Corps Scheme since its establishment in 1973. On the day I was sworn in as your President, I promised to create meaningful opportunities for our young people. I said women and youth would feature prominently in our administration, and this reform is partly the actualisation of that promise.

8/ I must commend the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Joint Committee on Identity and National Population Commission, and the distinguished members of the National Assembly for their invaluable contributions to the passage of this landmark legislation. I also acknowledge the Honourable Minister of the Interior, our development partners including Identity for Development (ID4D), the management and staff of NIMC, and all Nigerians whose support made this historic achievement possible. Together, we are building a more secure, inclusive and prosperous Nigeria. This is the Renewed Hope Agenda at work. Bola Ahmed Tinubu PRESIDENT

7/ And for those who think they can exploit the system, those who forge identities, register multiple times, or steal the identities of others, hear me clearly. Penalties have been increased by up to 100 times. Fines of up to ₦20 million for corporate bodies. Minimum five years’ imprisonment for unauthorised access, multiple registration and impersonation. The Commission now has court-authorised powers to investigate, search, seize evidence, decrypt data and arrest offenders. There will be no tolerance for it.

I have today signed the NIMC Act 2026 into law. For nearly twenty years, Nigeria’s identity system operated under a law written for a different era. That era is over. This new Act gives our nation a modern, secure and digital identity framework fit for the Nigeria we are building, a Nigeria on the path to becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.