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President Tinubu’s Foreign Trips In One year

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Since being sworn in on May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has embarked on at least 19 trips abroad for both official and unofficial purposes.

President Tinubu began his official travels in June, just weeks after taking office. According to him and his team, the trips aimed to enhance Nigeria’s global standing, promote economic growth, and tackle various national challenges.

In this analysis, BIZTELLERS delves into the president’s international journeys during his inaugural year, shedding light on the purpose of each trip and its impact on Nigeria’s pressing issues.

In June, just a few weeks after taking office, President Tinubu embarked on his inaugural international journey to France for the New Global Financial Pact Summit.

During the two-day summit, the President championed his vision for expanding the fiscal realm, advocating for economic justice in Africa amidst the global energy transition, and stressing the imperative of tackling poverty and climate change on a global scale.

Following the summit in France, President Tinubu was scheduled to return to Nigeria.

However, his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy, Dele Alake, announced that the President would make a brief private visit to London before returning for the Eid-el-Kabir festivities.

On July 8, President Tinubu embarked on his first official visit within Africa since taking office, traveling to Guinea-Bissau for the 63rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

During the summit, he was elected as the new Chairman of ECOWAS, succeeding President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau.

On July 15, President Tinubu traveled to Kenya in his capacity as Chairperson of ECOWAS to attend the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5thMYCM) of the African Union (AU), the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Regional Mechanisms (RMs), and the African Union Member States.

The meeting aimed to enhance regional integration within ECOWAS, with a particular focus on initiatives related to trade, the free movement of people, promotion of investment, infrastructure development, as well as fostering peace, security, and stability in the region.

On August 1, President Tinubu undertook a brief journey to the Benin Republic to participate in the country’s 63rd independence anniversary ceremony.

Subsequently, he received a special invitation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the G-20 Leaders’ Summit. President Tinubu then traveled to New Delhi, India, on September 4 to participate in the summit.

During his visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), President Tinubu met with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to address the visa ban on Nigeria and discuss bilateral relations.

In September, President Tinubu journeyed to New York, United States of America, to participate in the 78th United Nations General Assembly.

During his address, President Tinubu underscored the significance of prioritizing African development, urging world leaders and global institutions to increase investment in the continent.

On November 9, President Tinubu departed from Abuja for Saudi Arabia to participate in the inaugural Saudi-Africa Summit scheduled for November 10.

The summit’s agenda focused on fostering joint initiatives, improving political coordination, addressing regional security challenges, and promoting economic transformation through research and the domestic development of innovative energy solutions.

President Tinubu embarked on another journey to Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, on November 15, to commemorate the country’s 50th independence anniversary and armed forces day.

Subsequently, on November 18, President Tinubu traveled from Nigeria to Berlin, Germany, to participate in the G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) conference.

At the conference, President Tinubu joined other Heads of State from CwA member countries to discuss ways to enhance economic and business cooperation, with a focus on increasing investments in various sectors such as energy, trade, infrastructure, and new technologies.

President Tinubu departed from Abuja for Dubai on November 28 to attend the COP28 Climate Summit, also known as the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC).

The summit stirred controversy among Nigerians on social media when it was disclosed that over 1,400 Nigerian delegates accompanied the President.

On January 24, President Tinubu resumed his international engagements with a private visit to Paris, France, marking his first trip of the year.

Subsequently, the President embarked on a two-day visit to Qatar on February 29, following an invitation from the Emir of the State of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. President Tinubu returned to Nigeria on March 4, after the visit aimed at bolstering cooperation between Qatar and Nigeria in various domains, including security, cultural exchange, and economic development.

2023 — No. of Days
20 Jun: 🇫🇷France — 7 days
24 Jun: 🇬🇧United Kingdom — 3 days
08 Jul: 🇬🇼Guinea-Bissau — 2 days
15 Jul: 🇰🇪Kenya — 2 days
01 Aug: 🇧🇯Benin — 0 day
04 Sep: 🇮🇳India — 6 days
10 Sep: 🇦🇪UAE — 2 days
18 Sep: 🇺🇸USA — 11 days
09 Nov: 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia — 7 days
16 Nov: 🇬🇳Guinea — 0 day
18 Nov: 🇩🇪Germany — 4 days
29 Nov: 🇦🇪UAE — 6 days

2024 — No. of Days
24 Jan: 🇫🇷France — 13 days
15 Feb: 🇪🇹Ethiopia — 4 days
29 Feb: 🇶🇦Qatar — 4 days
02 Apr: 🇸🇳Senegal — 0 day
23 Apr: 🇳🇱Netherlands — 3 days
26 Apr: 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia — 12 days
23 May: 🇹🇩Chad — 0 day

2023 — 50 Days
2024 — 36 Days

President Tinubu’s foreign trips accounted for a total of 6 days out of 366 days, roughly equating to spending approximately 1 in every 4 days abroad during the year.

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NLNG Change YourStory: Backs Digital Storytelling’s New Era

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No fewer than 40 journalists from print, broadcast, and digital media in Lagos participated in this year’s NLNG Change Your Story training workshop held in Lagos between March 11 and 13.

The workshop, themed “Re-calibrate, Create, Connect,” focused on artificial intelligence in journalism, data visualisation, digital tools for real-time reporting, and ways to combat misinformation.

During the 3-day capacity workshop, participants examined the changing landscape of journalism shaped by AI and digital communication. They also explored how new media technologies can support real-time reporting, extend audience reach across borders, and strengthen engagement on digital platforms.

ALSO READ: NGX Group, IFC, CSCS and WIMBIZ Convene Leaders to Advance Gender Equality at 2026 Ring the Bell Ceremony

Dr. Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at Nigeria LNG Limited, charged the participants to apply the knowledge gained from the NLNG Change Your Story Capacity Workshop to improve the quality and credibility of their reporting. Horsfall, who spoke on the last day of it, described the workshop as part of NLNG’s broader effort to strengthen engagement with the media and support professional excellence in journalism. She encouraged participants to use the insights gained to improve the depth and credibility of their work.

“NLNG views this engagement as a strategic partnership. We provide the energy that powers nations and generates revenue for our nation; you provide the information that powers our minds. We have been proud to host you, but our pride will only be justified when we see the ‘New Standard’ in your next feature, your next broadcast, and your next investigative report. As you head back to your various stations, I urge you to take the spirit of this workshop with you,” she said.

The intensive programme combined expert-led discussions with practical sessions. Digital Communication specialist Mr. Dan Mason led sessions on digital storytelling, while media trainer Taiwo Obe facilitated a Journalism Clinic focused on newsroom practice and storytelling skills.

Mason described the NLNG programme as a relevant ingredient to grow the foundation for new digital skills among practitioners, noting that the Nigerian media industry is a vibrant sector with many energetic young people. “For me, it’s a really good place to work. I feel strongly that at each training session, people listened. ..It’s really about people going away with a little bit more confidence to say, I’m going to do this. I can do this. And in a way, that’s all you need.

“But, what you have here is the essential ingredient in developing journalism, which is the ability to make mistakes and then learn from them,” he said. He observed that Nigeria has an incredibly high rate of young people with an interest in news. According to him, research around the world shows that Nigeria stands out at the top, having young people who are interested in news.

“They care. In your use of mobile platforms, you are way ahead. People trust journalism and journalists. And while there may be issues with people or younger generations not wanting to look at the news, you’ve got such a great and strong foundation to build upon. So, I see hope and opportunity in Nigeria, though I also see the problems, because I’m a journalist. And I see fantastic opportunities here,” he added.

The Change Your Story initiative, launched by NLNG in partnership with The Journalism Clinic, is designed to strengthen professional capacity in the media industry. Since its launch in 2014, the programme has trained about 400 journalists from print, broadcast, and digital media across Nigeria.

The workshop, which began on Wednesday, concluded on Friday. At the end of the training, all participants were presented with certificates acknowledging their completion of the programme.

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has reinforced its commitment to strengthening journalism in Nigeria following the successful completion of the second edition of its #NLNGChangeYourStory workshop for 2026, held in Lagos.

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Nigeria Wants to Export Electricity to Togo While Citizens Face Outages

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Nigeria is preparing to increase electricity exports to Togo through the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), even as many Nigerians continue to experience power shortages at home.

The move comes as Togo seeks to meet rising domestic electricity demand.

The Managing Director/CEO of NDPHC, Jennifer Adighije, confirmed the development following discussions with Togo’s national electricity utility, Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo (C.E.E.T).

SEE MORE: How Nigerians Can Resolve Electricity Complaints – NERC Explains

The visiting C.E.E.T delegation was led by its Director-General, Débo‑K’mba Barandao, who described the talks as productive and aimed at strengthening regional energy cooperation.

Barandao said C.E.E.T currently imports about 75 megawatt-hours of electricity from NDPHC under a bilateral arrangement.

“The imported electricity has played a significant role in sustaining stable power supply and economic activities across Togo,” he noted.

He added that rising electricity demand, especially in the industrial and commercial sectors, alongside government efforts to expand national access, has prompted the utility to seek additional supply.

According to Barandao, Nigerian electricity imports help maintain reliable and affordable power for households, businesses, and public institutions across Togo.

He commended NDPHC for its consistency, saying the partnership has strengthened Togo’s national grid and regional energy cooperation.

Responding, Adighije reiterated NDPHC’s readiness to deepen cooperation and sustain electricity exports to neighboring countries.

She emphasized that the company operates multiple plants under the National Integrated Power Project, with sufficient capacity to support increased regional supply.

She added that expanding electricity exports would require bankable and sustainable commercial arrangements between both parties.

“A reliable payment framework will safeguard NDPHC’s interests and enable continued support for regional energy stability through power exports,” Adighije said, highlighting the need for credible financial guarantees and structured payment mechanisms to reduce risks associated with cross-border electricity trade.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to developing workable frameworks for increased electricity supply from Nigeria to Togo.

Industry analysts say this reflects a growing effort among West African countries to deepen regional electricity trade and address persistent power shortages.

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‘Why My Retirement Came at the Perfect Time’ — Ex-IGP Kayode Egbetokun

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Former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has explained why he believes his retirement from the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force came at the perfect time, describing it as the fulfilment of God’s divine plan.

Egbetokun made the remarks during a retirement thanksgiving service held in his honour at the Force Headquarters Chapel in Abuja.

The event also featured the inauguration of the Police Chaplaincy building and was attended by senior police officers, clergy and other worshippers.

SEE MORE: Adeleke Urges IGP to “Call Osun CP to Order

Reflecting on his appointment as Inspector-General in 2023, the former police chief revealed that he never expected the role when it came.

According to him, the first thing he did after entering his office was to pray.

“I was not expecting the appointment when it came. The first thing I did when I entered the office alone was to pray,” he said.

Egbetokun disclosed that after assuming office, he made three personal prayers to God.

He said he prayed for wisdom to effectively lead the police institution, the grace to complete his tenure successfully, and the ability not to remain in office beyond the time divinely allotted to him.

“My first prayer was for wisdom to run the office, the second was for grace to end well, and the third was not to stay a day longer than God permits. I believe God has answered those prayers,” he added.

The retired police boss also reflected on his career journey, noting that faith played a significant role in his rise from his early days after graduating from the police academy to eventually becoming Nigeria’s top police officer.

He further recounted a dream he had before joining the force, in which he saw himself as a Deputy Inspector-General of Police travelling in a police vehicle bearing the registration number “NPF02.”

According to him, the experience later taught him that life can unfold in unexpected ways.

Egbetokun added that throughout his career he remained conscious of how his actions could influence public perception of the police, a reality he said guided his conduct while in office.

“I knew whatever I did would affect the image of the force, so I made it my duty to remain professional and uphold integrity, transparency and fairness,” he stated.

In his remarks, the Force Chaplain, Joshua Omoyele, commended Egbetokun for completing the Police Chaplaincy building project during his tenure, describing it as a lasting legacy.

Omoyele also praised the former police boss for his strong commitment to Christian service even before his appointment as Inspector-General, noting that he maintained that devotion throughout his time in office.

He further highlighted Egbetokun’s past roles in the police force, including his tenure as Commissioner of Police in Kwara State and Assistant Inspector-General in Zone 7.

 

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