News
Why President Is Yet To Move Into Villa Six Weeks After Inauguration
Published
2 years agoon
By
Editor
Over six weeks after assuming office, President Bola Tinubu has yet to occupy his official residence at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
While the President has been actively using his private conference room, office space, and Aso Chambers for crucial meetings with local and international guests, his official residence east of the office remains unoccupied.
In the afternoon of May 29, hours after his inauguration, Tinubu arrived at the State Banquet Hall for lunch with fellow Heads of State and country representatives, who witnessed the ceremony at Eagles Square, Abuja.
However, it is normal to see the President’s convoy leaving the premises at the close of his work day, bypassing his official residence, exiting the Villa, and heading for his Maitama private mansion. The same applies to his daily resumption.
READ ALSO: Tension High in Enugu As REC ‘Absconds’ Tribunal Subpoena
The PUNCH learned that the reason could be the ongoing renovation that began in late April when former President Buhari vacated the 32-year-old structure for a temporary residence called the Glass House.
On May 6, 2023, weeks before Tinubu’s inauguration, maintenance work began around the Villa. It encompassed recoating worn-out portions with white paint, and a change of furniture in the green room of the Council Chamber, among others.
A spokesman for Buhari, Garba Shehu, had tweeted under a picture, “Painter at work. Villa wearing a new look for the incoming President.”
A senior source in the State House had told our correspondent that Tinubu, like his predecessors, was expected to decide what kind of furniture would be installed in his official residence.
READ ALSO: Why I Crossed To Biafra To Meet Ojukwu – Wole Soyinka
Although Buhari moved into his new residence almost three weeks after his inauguration, Presidency sources confirmed the delay to our correspondent and said the same could not be expected of the new Commander-in-Chief, who is moving in eight years after a previous occupier.
The source stated, “These things are relative. It is not fixed at all. Goodluck Jonathan stayed for five years, and Buhari stayed for eight years. So, the level of repairs that needs to be done this time must have increased.
“There may be major alterations they are trying to do. For example, the Council Chamber we use today didn’t have all the technology it has now.
“There was a point during Baba’s (Buhari’s) tenure that it had to be shut down completely because they wanted to upgrade it. We were using the First Lady’s conference room for Federal Executive Council meetings at that time. And it took a long time to effect the changes.”
Another source said, “It’s also about individual choices, what you want in a place. But he (Tinubu) occupied the office as soon as he came in.”
READ ALSO: Reps Send Out Member For Improper Dressing
On June 10, a security source confided in our correspondent, “He (Tinubu) has not moved in because maintenance is still on.”
Meanwhile, our correspondent also confirmed that the Aso Rock Chapel had been actively holding weekly meetings even though the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has yet to worship there.
The First Lady had stated that the President had not appointed a chaplain for the Aso Villa Chapel after the exit of the former Chaplain, Seyi Malomo.
Mrs Tinubu, in a statement last Monday, said the President reserved the right to appoint a chaplain while debunking claims on social media platforms that the Aso Villa Chapel had been closed down.
She said, “Our attention has been drawn to a story on social media about the purported closure of the Aso Rock Chapel by the First Lady; we wish to state categorically that this is a fabrication and a false representation of the true situation.
“The First Lady at no time gave such a directive that the chapel be shut nor asked for the keys to be handed over to her.”
At the time of filing this report, the former chaplain could not be reached.
PUNCH
You may like
Coalition: Why Tinubu Must Not Sleep —Primate Ayodele
Ex-minister Amaechi Dumps APC, Says Tinubu Can’t Govern Nigeria
Peter Obi Condemns Tinubu’s Saint Lucia Trip
Tinubu Appoints New PCNGi Boss
‘Peace Has Returned To Rivers’ — Wike, Fubara Speak After Meeting Tinubu
Strike: NLC To Shutdown FCT After Tinubu’s Project Inaugurations Labour
News
Police Pension Scheme Violates Constitution, IHRC Tells Tinubu
Published
6 hours agoon
July 5, 2025By
Editor
The International Human Rights Commission, Nigeria, has thrown its weight behind the renewed push by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for a comprehensive reform of the Contributory Pension Scheme, as it affects retired officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
This is contained in a diplomatic memo addressed to President Bola Tinubu and titled “A Diplomatic Appeal for Police Pension Welfare Reform in Line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
In a statement signed on Saturday by IHRC’s Head of Media and Strategic Communications, Fidelis Onakpoma, the commission said the current pension arrangement for police personnel amounts to a constitutional breach and urged the President to take urgent corrective action.
The Head of Mission, IHRC , Ambassador Duru Hezekiah, was quoted in the statement as saying, “The commission firmly supports the Inspector-General of Police’s ongoing advocacy for a just and equitable pension scheme for retired police officers.
“We call on President Tinubu to urgently address the systemic flaws in the Contributory Pension Scheme, which violate constitutional provisions guaranteeing dignity and adequate social support for public officers.”
READ ALSO:Human Trafficking: Police Rescue 40 Ghanaians, Arrest Three In Ondo
Citing Sections 17(3)(f) and 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), IHRC said the Nigerian state is legally bound to ensure the welfare and dignity of its retired officers, a responsibility it is currently failing in.
According to the commission, thousands of retired police officers are living in hardship under a pension system that disregards the realities of law enforcement service.
“The Constitution mandates the state to ensure the wellbeing of retired officers, not to abandon them to a broken system.
“The current structure of the CPS as applied to the police is inadequate, unfair, and incompatible with Nigeria’s constitutional values. These officers spent their lives in service—often in the face of extreme danger—yet they retire into poverty and indignity,” the IHRC stated.
The commission’s intervention follows a high-level meeting convened by the IGP on July 1, 2025, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
READ ALSO:Police Arrest Cleric Over Alleged Defilement Of Underage Girl In Osun
The meeting brought together delegations from the National Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, led by AIG Paul O. Ochonu (retd.), and the Coalition of CPS Retirees, led by CP Henry Njoku (retd.), to address mounting concerns over pension inadequacies.
During the meeting, Egbetokun reiterated his resolve to push for a more just and practical pension structure, describing the current system as a gross injustice.
“Our retirees deserve dignity, support, and a structure that reflects their sacrifice and service to Nigeria.
“We cannot continue to subject our heroes to a pension scheme that is clearly unfit for the nature of their work and the risks they bore,” the IG declared.
Egbetokun’s comments echoed sentiments he had expressed earlier in February during an interactive session with retired officers at the Police Resource Centre in Abuja, where he criticized the CPS as “deeply flawed and unfit for the realities of Police service.”
READ ALSO:NMA Gives FG 21 Days To Avert Doctors’ Strike
The IHRC amplified this concern, highlighting what it described as an unjust disparity between Police and military retirees.
While the latter are exempted from the CPS and benefit from a more suitable pension arrangement, police retirees, the commission said, continue to suffer from a scheme that fails to provide basic security in old age.
“The military has rightly been removed from the CPS because of the peculiar nature of their job. The same logic applies—if not more so—to police personnel.
“Our police officers risk their lives daily, and they deserve a pension structure that reflects that reality. Anything less is an affront to justice, equity, and national security,” said Hezekiah.
In line with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the IHRC urged the Presidency to act decisively in addressing the disparity and upholding the constitutional and moral obligations of the state to its law enforcement agents.
“Reforming the police pension structure is not merely a policy issue—it is a constitutional and moral obligation. We believe this government has the opportunity to right this historical wrong and restore dignity to our Police retirees,” the statement read.
(PUNCH)

The Federal Government has negotiated the cost of the Iddo Bridge rehabilitation from an initial N27bn to N17bn.
The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, made this known to journalists during an inspection of the bridge on Friday in Lagos.
He said, “Julius Berger quoted, I think, N27 billion or thereabout, but after much negotiation and discussion, we now arrived at N17 billion.”
Umahi commended Julius Berger Nig. Plc. for demonstrating a sense of cooperation under its new leadership.
He described the company as a “born-again Berger”, attributing the breakthrough in negotiation to the understanding and openness of its new managing director.
READ ALSO:FG Gives Overstaying Foreigners Ultimatum To Regularise Visa
The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to prudent spending, insisting that all contractors must align with the ministry’s standards and directives.
Umahi noted that the project had been reviewed from mere rehabilitation of the burnt section to a major work.
He expressed concern over the poor condition of the bridge, blaming it on years of neglect and human abuse, including illegal occupation and collisions by heavy-duty trucks.
He said that three spans of the bridge were severely damaged by fire, which he attributed to activities of illegal occupants who had built makeshift homes under the bridge.
READ ALSO:FG Closes Case In Alleged Terrorism Trial Against Nnamdi Kanu
“They brought in chemicals, built block walls and set up homes. Then, they set up fire that burnt the bridge and damaged three spans. Now we are going to fix the bridge completely,” Umahi said.
The minister said the Iddo Bridge, now with a headroom of about 4.5 metres, had suffered significant structural damage due to continuous hits from trucks and illegal structures beneath it.
He announced that the ministry would be creating a headroom of at least 5.6 metres.
He said that the Federal Ministry of Works was committed to restoring the bridge for the safety of all Nigerians and ensuring such incidents would not occur again.
READ ALSO:NMA Gives FG 21 Days To Avert Doctors’ Strike
On the issue of displaced persons, the minister said that no one would be allowed to return under the bridge.
“Nobody will stay under Iddo Bridge again as long as I remain the Minister of Works.
“The lives of the people are more important,” he said.
He warned that the government would no longer tolerate any abuse of national infrastructure.
NAN
News
Ex-Army Chief Proposes Mandatory Military Training For Nigerians
Published
7 hours agoon
July 5, 2025By
Editor
A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (retd.), has called for the introduction of mandatory military training for all Nigerians, beginning with the National Youth Service Corps.
This, he said, is a way of promoting national unity, discipline, and resilience in the face of growing security and social challenges.
Ihejirika made the call on Friday night at the 50th anniversary of the Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 18 Alumni Association in Abuja.
He reflected on his early days in military service and the camaraderie built over the years with fellow officers.
READ ALSO:FULL LIST: Nigeria Emerges As Africa’s Third Most Formidable Military Force
The former Army chief said the discipline and patriotism instilled in them during training were instrumental in shaping their careers and national contributions.
“Given the current situation of things in our country, I believe it’s time we start thinking about mandatory military training for our citizens.
“We can start with the National Youth Service. This will help us build a generation of Nigerians who understand sacrifice, responsibility, and patriotism,” he said.
Ihejirika praised the government’s decision to restore the old national anthem, saying it reinforces the spirit of unity.
READ ALSO:
He emphasised that the line “Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand” perfectly captures the essence of national service and shared identity.
He also expressed concern over how the national anthem is now reduced to mere fanfare at official events.
“It should be a daily reminder of our oath of allegiance. It must return to schools, communities, and national ceremonies,” he said.
Drawing from his own life experience, Ihejirika recounted his humble beginnings from his village in Abia and how military discipline transformed him.
He credited the support of colleagues and mentors for his successful career, which culminated in his appointment as Nigeria’s 22nd Chief of Army Staff.
READ ALSO:542 Senior Military Officers Retire
Beyond his advocacy, the retired general also commended the current leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces, describing them as highly experienced and well-trained.
“Many of the officers leading today served in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and other conflict zones.
“They have earned their stars through real battle experience and are doing remarkably well,” he added.
He urged Nigerian leaders at all levels to prioritise peace and stability, reminding them that no office or position is sustainable in the absence of national unity.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the dinner had in attendance the Minister of State for Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and representatives of service chiefs amongst other dignitaries.
NAN
- Police Pension Scheme Violates Constitution, IHRC Tells Tinubu
- FG To Spend N17bn On Lagos Bridge Damaged By Fire
- Ex-Army Chief Proposes Mandatory Military Training For Nigerians
- Australian Actor Julian McMahon Is Dead
- Thai Police Rescue Eight-year-old Boy Living With Dogs, Unable To Speak
- Oyo Fixes Date For Common Entrance Exam
- ‘He Wants To Keep Killing People,’ Trump ‘Very Unhappy’ After Phone Discussion With Putin On Ukraine
- Human Trafficking: Police Rescue 40 Ghanaians, Arrest Three In Ondo
- Fuel Station Manager, Three Others Arrested For Robbery
- Police Arrest Cleric Over Alleged Defilement Of Underage Girl In Osun
About Us
Trending
- Sports3 days ago
BREAKING: Liverpool Star Diogo Jota Is Dead
- News4 days ago
Senator Withdraws From Legislative Duties Over Health Challenge
- Politics4 days ago
INEC Unveils 2025-2026 Election Timetable, Resumes Voter Registration
- Headline4 days ago
US-based Lawyer Becomes First Nigerian To Travel To Space
- Politics3 days ago
Edo: S’Court Reserves Verdict On Ighodalo’s Case Against Okpebholo
- Metro4 days ago
Cleric Jailed 53 years For Sexually Assaulting 14-year-old Daughter
- Headline4 days ago
AU Helicopter Crashes In Somali Capital – State Media
- Headline4 days ago
Televangelist, Jimmy Swaggart, Is Dead
- News4 days ago
CAC Unveils AI-powered Portal For 30-minute Company Registrations
- Metro3 days ago
Controversy Over Pregnant Woman Buried Alive In Edo