A ₦9.36 billion budget has been made for domestic and international travel and refreshments for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for the upcoming year.

Naija News reports that this information is detailed in the 2025 Appropriation Bill released by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

On Wednesday, the president presented a budget proposal amounting to ₦49.7 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The fiscal document is titled: ‘Restoration Budget, Securing Peace and Building Prosperity.’

As per the budget proposal, President Tinubu is set to spend ₦7.44 billion on travel and refreshments, while Vice President Shettima will allocate ₦1.9 billion for similar expenses.

In 2025, the president’s international travel is expected to cost ₦6.14 billion, with local trips amounting to ₦873.9 million.

Additionally, ₦431.6 million has been designated for the president’s refreshments, meals, and catering supplies.

For the vice president, international travel expenses are projected at ₦1.31 billion, with local travel costing ₦417.5 million.

The budget for refreshments, meals, and catering supplies for the vice president is set at ₦186.02 million.

In the first quarter of 2024, President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, and First Lady Remi Tinubu incurred travel expenses totalling no less than ₦5.24 billion for both local and international trips, as revealed by an analysis conducted using GovSpend, a civic technology platform that monitors and analyzes federal government expenditures.

Budget For Presidency On Cars, Fuel, Honorarium, SAs Office

Meanwhile, the Office of the President has put forward a budget of ₦4,760,035,960 for vehicles, which includes ₦3,661,566,123 allocated for the acquisition of operational vehicles for the State House and ₦1 billion designated for the replacement of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs).

Additionally, ₦255,728,214 has been allocated for the purchase of cars, with ₦127,864,107 specifically reserved for the procurement of SUVs for both the president and vice president and another ₦127,864,107 set aside for operational vehicles within the Presidential Conference Car Unit (CCU) fleet.

Furthermore, a total of ₦5,938,883,548 has been proposed for honorarium, the construction of an office complex for Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants, and fuel for generators.

The budget outlines that ₦2,118,521,128 is designated for sitting allowances/honorarium, ₦1,989,579,359 for fuel, and ₦1,830,783,061 for the construction of the office complex for Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants.

Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage, has spoken about the effects of the divorce from her ex-husband, Tunji Balogun, popularly known as TeeBillz.

Recalls that TeeBillz announced their divorce in 2018 on social media.

However, in an interview with ‘The Receipts’ Podcast, Tiwa Savage accused TeeBillz of being responsible for the divorce, stating that she did not break up with him.

She explained that TeeBillz announced the divorce while she was still struggling with postpartum depression after the birth of their son.

Tiwa Savage also stated that it was heartbreaking how the public blamed her for the marriage breakup, adding she became ‘African Bad Girl’ afterwards.

She said: “The way our situation happened, he announced it online. I did not break up with him, but I was the one being attacked.

“My baby was just a few months old at that time. My body wasn’t the same because I was dealing with postpartum and depression. Only a few people came to see me. Everyone went to him.

“It got worse after I did an interview to tell my side of the story. People were like, ‘How dare you go and talk? You are a woman, and you are supposed to build the house. It’s your fault.’

“It was very heartbreaking how the public blamed me. Ever since then, I was like, ‘I won’t ever talk about the situation.’ It was an eye-opener for me. It made me depressed and angry for so long. Then I became the ‘African Bad Girl.’ I started getting tattoos and wearing bikinis and short skirts.”

The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) has said the words British Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, used in describing Nigerian Police was unfair.

The National Chairman of PCRC, Mogaji Olaniyan, said while the Nigeria Police have its challenges, they are also doing great work in the nation.

Olaniyan, who stated this in an interview with newsmen on Friday, advised Kemi Badenoch to use her good office for the country’s good.

The PCRC Chairman said that there are many good and decent police officers in the country, like the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Adegoke Fayode, who rejected N20 million bribe.

He emphasized that United Kingdom and United States policemen in the 1960s and 1970s were also accused of corruption and unprofessional practices.

“While we are not denying the fact that there are challenges and room for improvement, we must not forget the great dangers of ridiculing our country.

“It is an undeniable fact that many horrible things happened and are still happening in foreign countries, particularly in the UK and US, that are not reported by their media.

“Rather than ridiculing the Nigeria Police, it would have been better for Badenoch to use her good position to impact positively on the system,” he said.

He emphasized that Kemi‘s outburst could be a result of an experience she had with some police officers, but that should not take away the great work of some of the personnel.

“It is possible that Badenoch or her family members were stopped or interrogated by the Police in Nigeria over an issue which prompted that derogatory comments.

“This should never take away or ignore the great works of the police in Nigeria, especially, under the current leadership,” he stated.

The Oyo State Police Command has announced ongoing investigations into the tragic stampede at a children’s funfair held in Ibadan on Wednesday.

The incident, which occurred at the Islamic High School, Orita Bashorun, resulted in the death of at least 35 children, with six others sustaining critical injuries and currently receiving medical treatment.

The probe follows a directive from President Bola Tinubu, who ordered a thorough investigation into the causes of the stampede.

Speaking on Channels Television’s programme, The Morning Brief, on Friday, Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, shed light on the initial findings of the investigation.

According to Osifeso, preliminary evidence suggests that poor crowd management may have played a significant role in the tragedy.

He explained that the system for entry into the fair might have contributed to the chaos. Initially, attendees were required to pay a token fee to gain entry.

However, at some point, the fees were reduced, and later, entry was reportedly granted for free. This shift, Osifeso suggested, may have led to agitation and confusion among the crowd.

“Investigations are in progress, but from the preliminary findings, it was discovered that at some point the fair, they were supposed to go in with a token, at some point the prices were slashed and later, some had the opportunity of going in free. So, at some point, something must have gone wrong as regards some sort of agitation,” Osefiso said.

He highlighted that the overwhelming number of attendees far exceeded the expected capacity for the venue, further exacerbating the situation.

“In this case, when it comes to crowd control anything could have triggered it; it could be excitement, it could be fear, it could be panic and judging by the space, which at the end of the day we discovered that the crowd that got into that place which was not the originally planned number, could have also contributed to the stampede because those going in actually did most of the damage to those already in,” Osifeso stated.

In the aftermath of the incident, the police confirmed the arrest of seven suspects believed to have played a role in the stampede.

Among those in custody are Naomi Silekunola, a former queen of the Ooni of Ife, and the Principal of Islamic High School, Ibadan, Fasasi Abdulahi.

The police have not disclosed the specific roles of the suspects but have assured the public that the investigation will be transparent and thorough.

Former Special Adviser on Media to ex President Olusegun Obasanjo, Doyin Okupe, has said the priority given to defence in 2025 budget showed President Bola Tinubu’s seriousness in tackling insecurity.

The former Director-General of Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation said the projections on daily crude oil output, price and foreign exchange benchmarks, are realizable.

Okupe stated this on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Recall that President Bola Tinubu, in the 2025 budget, allocated to defense and security ₦4.91 trillion, infrastructure ₦4.06 trillion, health ₦2.48 trillion and education ₦3.52 trillion.

“The oil daily production of slightly more than ₦2 million barrels, the forex benchmark of ₦1,500 to the dollar and the projected crude oil price of $75 are all vividly realistic figures going on by current and predictably prevailing global trend.

“The huge allocation of ₦4.91 trillion (10 percent) to Defence and Security underscores the seriousness and political will of the administration to finally decimate insurgency and banditry.

“These two plagues are major contributors to food shortage, availability and inflation as they prevent farming activities in the North,” Okupe said.

The former aide to ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan, commended the President for the budget size. He said it showed the administration was out to spend thereby providing the necessary impetus for economic growth of the country.

“All in all, the huge size of the budget is also indicative of government’s intention to increase its spending thereby providing the necessary impetus for economic growth and increase in purchasing power of the citizens.

“The 2025 budget further strengthens the workability of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he added.

Former federal lawmaker Senator Shehu Sani has lamented that the Kaduna-Abuja free train ride announced by President Bola Tinubu’s government has facilitated the movement of thugs.

DAILY POST recalls that on December 26, the Federal Government announced a free train ride for any Nigerian wishing to travel during the Christmas festivities.

The initiative, which received praise from citizens, has reportedly been hijacked in some quarters by thugs, according to Shehu Sani.

In a post on his official social media on Friday, the former lawmaker expressed his concerns, lamenting that thugs have taken over the Kaduna-Abuja train station for aimless trips.

He wrote: “The FG Kaduna-Abuja free train ride is a good gesture that has not helped those travelling for Christmas but provided an opportunity for thugs to take over the station and the train seats, just travelling to and from Abuja without purpose.”

The Nigerian Government will in the coming day partner with Bloomberg to rebrand the country’s global image and attract foreign investments.

In a statement released on its X handle the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) is expected to sign a two-year tenure initiative aimed at rebranding the nation’s global image and attracting foreign investment.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), is set to partner with Bloomberg in a two-year initiative aimed at rebranding the nation’s global image and attracting foreign investment,” it said.

Speaking at a meeting with Minister of Finance, Wale Edun Bloomberg’s Global Director, Nicole Keefe, reiterated the company’s commitment to reshaping Nigeria’s narrative and showcasing its economic potential to the global audience.

“Bloomberg plans to leverage its vast media network to highlight Nigeria’s achievements and opportunities, addressing investor hesitations tied to outdated or negative perceptions”, the statement added.

On his part, Armstrong Takang, CEO of MOFI, noted that the partnership would spotlight key government projects such as the Real Estate Investment Fund and gas pipeline initiatives, further promoting Nigeria’s progress in critical sectors.

A United States-based Nigerian, Oluwole Adegboruwa, and his accomplice, Enrique Isong, have been sentenced to 40 years combined jail term for coordinating the sales and distribution of a banned drug through the dark web across several states in the US.

PUNCH Metro gathered from a statement obtained on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Utah on Thursday that the US District Court also ordered Adegboruwa to forfeit the sum of $20m.

According to the statement, Adegboruwa led a syndicate of drug peddlers whom he instructed on how drugs obtained by customers through a dark web marketplace he controlled would be packaged and distributed.

Stressing on the arrest of the convict alongside Isong, it noted that the convict sold and distributed 300,000 oxycodone pills between October 2016 and May 2019 and made a sum of $9m from the illegal drug trade.

While Isong was jailed for 10 years in October, Adegboruwa was jailed for 30 years in November 2024.

The statement read, “Oluwole Adegboruwa, 54, of Las Vegas, Nevada, the main defendant and mastermind in a multi-million dollar dark web drug trafficking operation was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment. He was also ordered supervised release for life and the forfeiture of over $20m, which is among the largest forfeitures holding a defendant financially accountable for his crimes in the history of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.

“The sentence, imposed by the US District Court Judge Jill N. Parish, comes after a jury found Adegboruwa and his co-defendant Enrique Isong, 49, of Los Angeles, California, guilty in May 2024 of multiple federal crimes, including conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and money laundering. On October 23, 2024, Isong was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment and three years of supervised release.

“According to court documents, evidence presented at trial, and statements made at Adegboruwa’s sentencing hearing, from October 2016 through May 2019, Adegboruwa sold more than 300,000 oxycodone pills on dark web marketplaces to customers throughout the United States. The jury found that Adegboruwa organised and supervised a continuing criminal enterprise that earned approximately $9,112,471 in drug proceeds.”

Stressing the trial process, the statement noted that the convict confessed that he controlled the sales of illicit drugs and accepted payments through cryptocurrency before converting them to local currency.

It continued, “The jury found that Adegboruwa was unquestionably in charge of the illicit narcotics operation. Each member of his enterprise served in different capacities. Some were tasked with locating and procuring pharmacy-grade pills that were then re-sold through various dark web marketplaces. Others were involved in packaging the pills and/or shipping them to customers.

“At trial, Adegboruwa admitted that he controlled sales on the dark web markets and the monetary accounts, including the cryptocurrency accounts through which the enterprise received the bulk of its profits. Adegboruwa also admitted he was the one who decided to start his online dark web drug sales operation.”

Reacting to the judgement, the DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge, Jonathan Pullen, noted that Adegboruwa concealed profits from his criminal proceeds in cryptocurrency transactions. He noted that the DEA would ensure that drug traffickers do not have a hiding place.

“Adegboruwa’s criminal drug enterprise was complex, sophisticated, and generated millions of dollars in profits concealed in cryptocurrency transactions. This sentencing is a stark reminder that the DEA is relentless in the pursuit of justice and that drug traffickers cannot hide their illicit activities even in the secretive expanses of the dark web,” Pullen said.

The Lagos Blue Line Phase 1, spanning 13 kilometers from Marina to Mile 2, successfully transported 2.37 million passengers by December 2024, 15 months after its launch on September 2023.

Constructed and operated by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the electric light rail project is a key milestone in Lagos State’s transportation plan.

This data was disclosed earlier in the week by John Zhao, a senior CCECC official, via his official X (formerly Twitter) account.

“On September 4, the Lagos Light Rail Blue Line Phase 1 celebrated its first year of operation. Built and operated by #CCECC, this phase spans 13 kilometers, including 8.1 kilometers of elevated bridges and a 530-meter sea-crossing bridge.

“The line features 5 stations and a design speed of 80 km/h. Since its official launch, it has safely transported 2.37 million passengers, providing residents with a more convenient and comfortable transportation option,” Zhao’s tweet read.

The 2.37 million passengers recorded by December 2024 builds on earlier milestones, including 1 million passengers transported within the first 219 days, 1.6 million in the first year of operation, and 583,000 passengers moved during the initial four months of service, from September 4, 2023, to January 4, 2024.

What you should know
The Lagos Blue Line metro rail, spanning 27 kilometers, is a vital component of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) system. The first phase, a 13-kilometer stretch from Marina to Mile 2, was completed in 2023 and began commercial operations in September of the same year.

The second phase, a 14-kilometer extension from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko, is currently under construction by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and is expected to be completed by 2026.

As of December 2024, 26-27% of Phase 2 was completed, according to Olasunkanmi Okusaga, Director of Rail Transport at the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

As part of Phase 2, LAMATA plans to demolish the Mazamaza Bridge and construct a new one after structural tests revealed the existing bridge could not support railway operations.

Two additional bridges—the Satellite Bridge and the LASU Bridge—will be constructed, each designed with a lifespan of over 75 years to guarantee long-term durability and safety for rail operations.

The Phase 2 project will include six stations at Festac, Alakija, Trade Fair, Volkswagen, LASU, and Okokomaiko.

Additionally, a 400,000-square-meter depot at Okokomaiko will serve as the central hub for rail maintenance and operations, ensuring seamless functionality and supporting future expansions of the rail system.