President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s development, declaring that his determination to build a prosperous nation has become stronger following his recent spiritual journey to Saudi Arabia.

The President said he sought divine wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians, expressing confidence that his prayers had been answered.

According to a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu made the remarks while reflecting on his lesser Hajj (Umrah) pilgrimage, during which he was granted the rare privilege of entering the Holy Ka’abah in Makkah to offer prayers.

The President expressed gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for granting him and members of his Nigerian delegation access to the sacred site.

Describing the experience as historic and deeply meaningful, Tinubu said it demonstrated the longstanding friendship, mutual respect and cooperation between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

He also expressed appreciation for the hospitality and recognition extended to him by the Saudi authorities.

“I want to say a big thank you for the faith, for the recognition. I can’t believe the fencing of the Ka’abah is in Green-White-Green, which reminds us of the Nigerian identity,” he said.

Tinubu described the opportunity to pray inside the Ka’abah as a rare spiritual privilege, adding that it was an experience he would always cherish.

“It is an honour that I enjoyed, and it is gracious of them to have allowed me to enter inside the Ka’abah. This is history,” he stated.

Reflecting on his prayers during the pilgrimage, the President said he asked Almighty Allah for wisdom and resilience to continue leading the country.

“Well, I asked for wisdom and resilience to continue to serve the people. I know that prayer has been granted,” he said.

He recalled undertaking a similar Umrah pilgrimage before the 2023 presidential election, during which he prayed for Allah’s blessings and promised to return in gratitude if his prayers were answered.

The President also referenced Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26 of the Holy Qur’an, which highlights Almighty Allah’s ultimate authority over sovereignty and the power to grant and withdraw political authority.

According to Tinubu, political power should be treated as a divine trust that requires humility, responsibility and commitment to the welfare of the people.

He stressed that leadership was a privilege granted by Almighty Allah and should be exercised in accordance with divine guidance.

“There is no other God but Almighty Allah. He is the giver and the taker. He owns power and authority. He says, ‘If I give you, use it well.

If you don’t use it in accordance with my dictates, I can take it from you and give it to another person. I am the only One who has that authority,” he said.

Tinubu described his emergence as Nigeria’s President and Commander-in-Chief as a special blessing, noting that the position carried enormous responsibility to serve the country.

He said his administration remained committed to pursuing policies and programmes that would promote national prosperity, strengthen the economy and improve the lives of Nigerians.

“My commitment to Project Nigeria is higher. I am determined to usher in prosperity and fully develop the country, consistent with the wish of Allah and the support of the people,” the President declared.

He urged Nigerians to put Almighty Allah first, follow their conscience and remain committed to the right path towards national development.

On the economy, Tinubu expressed optimism about the country’s outlook, describing the foundation laid by his administration as solid and the progress recorded as encouraging.

“The foundation is solid, and the economy has come out of the dark tunnel. This is inspiring,” he said.

The President also emphasised the need to invest in young Nigerians, warning that decisions taken by current leaders would determine how future generations remember their contributions to the country.

“We need to build a future for our youth. If we don’t invest in their future, how do we want to be remembered as leaders 50 years from now? That’s the main thing,” he added.

He reiterated that his administration would continue to prioritise economic strengthening, youth development and the creation of opportunities that would enable Nigerians to realise their potential.

Also expressing gratitude for the spiritual experience were the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate; and the governors of Borno, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kaduna, Yobe and Kwara States.

Other members of the Nigerian delegation included business leaders such as the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and the Chief Executive Officer of Oando, Wale Tinubu.

They reportedly expressed appreciation to Almighty Allah and the President for the opportunity to enter the Holy Ka’abah and offer prayers.

Former African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina has declared his readiness to serve Nigeria in any capacity, saying he remains committed to contributing to the country’s development but is not seeking a new job.

Adesina made the declaration on Tuesday after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he briefed the President on his 10-year tenure at the continental development finance institution and its contributions to Nigeria.

The former AfDB president said his willingness to serve was driven by his sense of duty and commitment to his home country, stressing that he would be available to support the administration wherever his experience could be useful.

“I’m fully able to help Nigeria in any capacity.

I’ve always had that. My heart is always at home,” he told State House correspondents.
“In any capacity that His Excellency feels I can help, I can help in anything. I’m not looking for a job. I’m not looking for anything.

“It’s my country. I have a duty, an obligation and a responsibility to do so, and I will,” he said.

Adesina briefs Tinubu on AfDB achievements
Adesina explained that his visit to the President followed the completion of his two terms as AfDB president, noting that it was customary and necessary to return home and brief the Nigerian leader on his achievements.

He said he used the meeting to present an account of the bank’s activities and the support extended to Nigeria during his leadership.

“I completed my two terms as President of the African Development Bank, 10 years, and it’s customary and required that I come back home to tell His Excellency the President of the completion of my term, and to give him a report of what was achieved during my term,” he said.

According to him, Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the bank’s performance and the assistance provided to Nigeria during the period.

AfDB provided Nigeria $7bn under Adesina
The former AfDB president disclosed that the bank provided approximately $7bn in financing to Nigeria between 2015 and 2025, representing about 63 per cent of its total financing to the country since it began operations in Nigeria in 1971.

He said the bank’s cumulative financing to Nigeria over the period stood at $11.1bn, highlighting the scale of support provided during his decade-long leadership.

“If you look at the bank’s support to Nigeria from 2015 to 2025, it was roughly $7bn.

“But if you look at the total amount of bank financing to Nigeria since 1971, when the African Development Bank started operations in Nigeria, it has been $11.1bn. So within 10 years, we were able to do 63 per cent, literally, of that,” Adesina said.

He added that Tinubu was pleased with the bank’s various interventions and support for the country.

Adesina backs Tinubu’s economic reforms
Adesina also commended the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy and the harmonisation of the foreign exchange windows.

He described the measures as difficult but important decisions, arguing that they were beginning to produce positive results for the Nigerian economy.

According to him, Nigeria has experienced improved foreign exchange availability, increased interest from portfolio investors and a downward trend in inflation.

“These are very, very important, difficult reforms, but they are beginning to bear some fruit, quite some fruit,” he said.

“You have a lot more foreign exchange available today. You have a lot of portfolio investors coming into the country. You have inflation trending downwards. Prices are still a bit high, but inflation is trending downwards.”

The economist also said international perceptions of Nigeria were changing, pointing to assessments by rating agencies that had given the country stable or positive outlooks.

However, Adesina acknowledged that high prices remained a concern, despite the reported downward trend in inflation.

Former AfDB chief urges shift to economic transformation
While expressing support for the administration’s reform programme, Adesina said Nigeria must move beyond economic stabilisation and focus on structural transformation, sustainable growth and improved prosperity.

He stressed that the initial reforms should serve as a foundation for deeper changes capable of strengthening the economy and improving living standards.

“You have to now move from the issue of the reforms and stabilisation straight into structural transformation and also growth and prosperity, which is what the President is focusing on,” he said.

Adesina added that he had assured Tinubu of his readiness to contribute to the country’s development following the conclusion of his international assignment.

“That’s just the beginning of the work. I told the President, I’m back at home, here to help and ready to help. It’s my country. I love my country, and I’m ready to help,” he said.

Adesina’s record at the African Development Bank
Adesina, 66, became the eighth president of the African Development Bank in 2015, making him the first Nigerian to lead the institution. He completed his tenure on September 1, 2025, and was succeeded by Dr Sidi Ould Tah.

Before his appointment to the AfDB leadership, Adesina served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2011 to 2015.

During his time at the development bank, his leadership was associated with the institution’s High 5 development priorities, which focused on lighting up and powering Africa, feeding Africa, industrialising Africa, integrating Africa and improving the quality of life for its people.

The priorities were designed to support infrastructure development, agricultural productivity, industrial growth, regional integration and broader improvements in living standards across the continent.

At a farewell ceremony in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in September 2025, Tinubu praised Adesina’s decade-long leadership of the bank.

In a goodwill message read by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, the President said: “We celebrate your decade-long leadership and achievements at the African Development Bank.”

Tinubu also credited Adesina’s High 5 agenda with contributing to economic growth and food security across AfricaWith his international assignment concluded, Adesina has now reiterated his willingness to support Nigeria’s development, while leaving the decision on any future role to the President.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political parties can use Mapo Hall in Ibadan for political activities if they meet the established requirements for accessing government-owned facilities.

Makinde reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fairness, inclusiveness and democratic principles amid concerns over the proposed use of the historic venue by the APC for its presidential campaign.

The governor’s position was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju.

According to the statement, Makinde maintained that public facilities in the state belong to the people and must be managed transparently and equitably, without partisan considerations.

“Public assets belong to the people of Oyo State and must be administered in a manner that is transparent, equitable, and devoid of partisan considerations,” the governor said.

He stressed that his administration remained committed to providing a level playing field for all political stakeholders, regardless of their political affiliations.

Makinde noted that democracy thrived when political parties enjoyed equal opportunities to engage with the electorate, provided their activities were conducted within the framework of the law.

He explained that access to government-owned facilities was subject to established procedures and regulations designed to ensure proper use, maintenance and public order.

Consequently, the governor said any political party or organisation that fulfilled the stipulated requirements should not be subjected to discrimination or unjust restrictions when seeking access to such facilities.

“Access to government-owned facilities is governed by laid-down procedures and regulations designed to ensure proper use, maintenance, and public order.

Consequently, any political party or organisation that fulfils the stipulated conditions should not face discrimination or unjust restrictions in accessing such facilities,” he said.

The governor also urged political actors to conduct their activities peacefully and responsibly, calling on relevant authorities to ensure that applications for the use of public facilities were handled professionally and without bias.

He reiterated that the Oyo State Government would continue to promote political tolerance, protect democratic freedoms and create an environment where legitimate political interests could operate freely in accordance with the law.

“The Oyo State Government remains committed to promoting political tolerance, protecting democratic freedoms, and fostering an environment where all legitimate political interests can freely operate in accordance with the law,” the statement added.

The governor’s position underscores his administration’s stated commitment to equal treatment of political parties seeking to use public facilities, with access dependent on compliance with the applicable rules and regulations.