News
Tinubu Reduces Entourage On Foreign Trips To 20 Officials

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday approved “cost-cutting” measures that involve slashing, by 60%, official entourage on local and international travels.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.
Ngelale said the directive applied to the Offices of the President, Vice President, First Lady, Wife of the Vice President and all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
He said, “President Bola Tinubu has approved that anywhere he travels within this country he will no longer accept or allow huge security delegations to be following him from Abuja, which attracts massive bills with respect to estacode and duty allowances from now on.
“He has approved a massive cost-cutting exercise that will cut across the entire Federal Government of Nigeria and the Offices of the President himself, the Vice President and the Office of the First Lady. It will be conducted in the following fashion.
“On international trips, the President has directed that no more than 20 individuals be allowed to travel with him. That number will be cut down to five in the case of the First Lady. Additionally, the number in the entourage on official international trips for the Vice President will be cut to five. The number that will be placed as a limit on the wife of the Vice President is also five.”
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This decision came five weeks after Nigerians criticised the Tinubu administration for participating in the United Nation’s annual climate summit, COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates with 1,114 delegates.
Although the Presidency said it sponsored only 422 delegates, reports say it spent N2.78bn on airfares and estacodes.
In their first seven months in office, Tinubu and Shettima visited 16 countries, collectively spending 91 days in foreign engagements, The PUNCH observed.
Checks revealed that Tinubu has so far visited Paris, France (twice); London, the United Kingdom; Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic; New Delhi, India; Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Berlin, German, spending 55 days.
Meanwhile, VP Shettima represented him in Italy, Russia, South Africa, Cuba, China and the US, logging 36 days abroad in 2023.
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While the Presidency defended these trips as vital for attracting foreign direct investment into Nigeria, critics question the economic impact, particularly the size of the entourage.
But the President’s spokesperson told journalists that Tinubu is “determined to bring total sanity and prudence to the management of the commonwealth of our people.
“Henceforth, the President is insistent that the notion of government wastage and the notion that government officials will be allowed to conduct their affairs in a way that is different from what we are asking of Nigerian citizens with respect to prudence and cost management, those days are over.
“The President is insistent that the prudence of government officials must reflect the prudence of the Nigerian citizens.”
Revealing more details about the directive, Ngelale said, “The President has approved a new limit of 25 staff members to accompany him on domestic trips.
“The Office of the First Lady is now limited to 10 staff members to accompany her on official trips within the country.
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“The Vice President will be limited to 15 members of staff on official trips within the country, while his wife will be limited to 10 members of staff on officials within the country.”
On the issue of the President travelling with an army of security personnel across states, Ngelale said henceforth, “the security outfits within states, be it police, the DSS or branches of the military, will frontline his protective detail when he travels to those states.” This also applies to the Office of the VP, the First Lady, and the VP’s wife.
He explained that the number of persons allowed to accompany each officer on international trips is less than those allowed on domestic trips because “international trips are far more expensive across the board.”
For the MDAs, Ngelale said ministers are now limited to four persons for foreign trips, while agency heads can only travel with two persons.
“By this directive, every minister will be limited to having not more than four staff members going with them to any event anywhere in the world. In the case of CEOs of agencies, they will be limited to two staff going with them to anywhere in the world,” he explained.
Asked what sanctions await those who defy this directive, the presidential aide replied, “I believe we do not need to convince the officers of the Federal Government of Nigeria of the seriousness of the President with respect to how he will implement his directives.
“If there is anybody who feels that the directive of the President is not binding on them, who feels that the President will not uphold this directive in implementation and seeks to test it, they will do so at their peril.”
News
Edo Expresses Commitment To Ease Of Doing Business

The Edo State government has expressed commitment to providing the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state.
The state Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, gave the assurance after a closed door meeting with representatives of Pan Ocean Oil Corporation Nigeria Limited, NewCross Exploration and Production Limited in Benin.
The deputy governor, who served as chairman of the state boundary committee, noted that this is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and the SHINE Agenda of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Idahosa, who said “it is part of the state’s strategy to create employment opportunities,” pointed out that it is in line with Governor Monday Okpebholo economic drive to turn the state into an investor friendly one.
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He also emphasised meed to resolve the lingering disputes, saying the boundary committee is proactively looking into and settling areas of concern regarding the issue.
“All communities that are in the boundary line between Edo and Delta States where there are communal disputes, we want to assure them that we are doing everything within our power, using diplomatic and democratic means to make sure this is resolved amicably,” he assured.
The deputy governor noted that under the SHINE Agenda of this administration, much has been done in the area of infrastructural development.
READ ALSO:Okpebholo’s One Year Performance Outshines Some governors’ 8 Yrs, Says Idahosa
“This has made it possible to access roads to major companies, communities, and, ensuring the security of life and properties across the state by investing aggressively in security,” he stated.
On the outcome of the robust interface with the oil workers, Idahosa said through deliberations at the meeting, both parties successfully forged a headway.
He said this has resorted to the invitation of the Edo State Boundary Committee for an on the spot inspection of operation sites in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state.
He called on investors and multinational companies operating in Edo State to go about their businesses with ease as the Okpebholo led administration is investment friendly.
News
Imansuangbon Donates To Benin IDPs, Charges Wealthy Nigerians To Advance Humanity

Politician and philanthropist, Barr. Kenneth Imansuangbon on Wednesday charged political office holders and well-to-do Nigerians to use their position and wealth to advance humanity.
Imansuangbon gave the charge when he visited Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)housed by Home for the Needy Foundation, Benin, where he donated food items, drinks, cash, toiletries, etc to the children and women as part of his Christmas gifts to them.
Recall that last month the IDPs lamented hardship caused by the economic situation of the country, saying due to the economic hardship, a single meal where they used to cook 15 bags of rice has been reduced to 5.
Rising to the occasion, the philanthropist said his love for humanity and in accordance with the teaching of the Holy Book drove him to give to the needy annually, adding that he has been doing it for the past 20 years.

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Imansuangbon, who expressed displeasure over the current happenings in the country, said: “If the country is really working we will not find ourselves in this kind of situation. This is an embarrassment to the giant of Africa.”
“If we teach ourselves love and humanity, then the country will be safer and better for everyone
“We are just a tool in the hand of God Almighty. Anywhere God has placed you, use it to advance humanity. You are in government? Get it at the back of your mind that you are not the first person to occupy the position, and you are not going to be the last.
“The way our country is today, I am not satisfied, this goes beyond Mr. President or the Senators, it is about realising that We all need to save our country. If the country is really working, we will not find ourselves in this kind of situation. This is an embarrassment to the giant of Africa.”

READ ALSO:Imansuangbon Donates Food Items IDP In Edo, Sues For Honour For Humanitarian Workers
Imansuangbon, who is the proprietor of Pacesetter School, Abuja, expressed gratitude to students, staff members and parents of the school, saying the donations were from them.
“I’m here in Benin with the half of their donation. The children donated ₦1.5m cash, and I am here with the money. You can see these 70 bags of rice, 100 bags of noodles, bags of cane drinks, water, toiletry, etc, are from them. I am grateful to them for doing this for the past 20 years.”
He, therefore, appealed to Governor Monday Okpehbolo to extend the hand of fellowship to the IDPs particularly on Christmas day.
Responding, coordinator of the camp, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, while appreciating the donor, said: “He does this regularly not because he is a politician but because of his love for humanity. He is one of the few that comes here anytime, not an electioneering period alone, but anytime we are in need. He has been showing his love for the children for years, so I thank him.”
Folorunsho used the occasion to appeal to well-to-do Nigerians to come and assist the IDPs, stressing that until Imansuangbon came they (IDPs) had nothing to “eat for today.”
News
27-year-old Man Dies Inside Deep Well In Ogbomoso

The corpse of a 27-year-old man identified as Alagbe Gbemisoye has been recovered from a deep well at Ire-Akari, Adeniran area of Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
His body was retrieved by officials of the Oyo State Fire Service after passersby alerted them to the incident.
The circumstances that led to the deceased falling into the well were still unclear as of the time of filing this report.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Fire Reforms and Chairman, Fire Services, Moroof Akinwande, said his men were alerted by a running caller and Mr Ajayi Olayemi.
READ ALSO:Oyo: Properties Worth Millions Of Naira Destroyed As Fire Ravages Residential Buildings
“Fire personnel led by CFM Oladejo promptly deployed to the scene. On arrival, it was discovered that a man of about 27 years old, named Alagbe Gbemisoye, had fallen into a deep well. His body was recovered and handed over to the DPO, Owode Police Station,” he said.
Akinwande urged the public to always observe safety precautions in their daily activities and emphasised the importance of having fire extinguishers in their homes to prevent fire incidents.
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