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Jonathan, Wike, Others Condole Buhari Over Abba Kyari’s Death
The former military President of Nigeria, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, yesterday, condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari over the demise of his Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari.
Babangida, in his message to the President, described Kyari as a very dedicated, conscientious, forthright, roundly qualified, astute, and patriotic servant of Nigeria.
According to him, as chief of staff, he pre-occupied himself to always stand by you as a loyal staff, friend, and adviser, who always answered the call to duty.
Babangida said: “He was always ready to render you the necessary support in line with the policy principles and objectives of your administration.
“I have no iota of doubt that Kyari had performed all his tasks creditably to your absolute satisfaction believing in his capacity and competency, he was honest, simple, humble, and transparent.
“He always puts the people, the nation, and your good self first in all his actions and duties.
“Undoubtedly, you and his family will miss Kyari the most, as Muslims, we believe and accept that we shall all return to Allah, the Supreme Giver of Life.
“It is stated in the traditions of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, that whosoever dies as a result of an epidemic affliction is a martyr, and I fervently pray so it shall be for Kyari.
“I pray that Allah will accord him the reward and honour as a martyr.
“Additionally, Kyari also passed on one of the most auspicious days for Muslims, namely Friday.”
Babangida said that the President had lost a great ally, friend, admirer, and compatriot who served him and the nation with extreme loyalty and patience.
He urged the President, as a committed Muslim with a depth of faith and as a gallant military officer who fought to unite this country, to take solace in the legacies left behind by Kyari.
“Please, remain steadfast in the challenging tasks heaved upon you, our country, and people by the Covid-19 epidemic. I pray for the quick end of this deadly scourge,” he said.
He also prayed to Allah to shower His Mercy and Forgiveness on Kyari by placing him among the dwellers of His Highest Paradise.
“And to his immediate family, I pray to Allah to grant you the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss of a decent man with equanimity,” he said.
Also, the former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan condoled with the President and the Kyari family over the death of the late chief of staff, who was buried earlier on Saturday in Abuja.
A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Buhari also received condolence messages from Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State on behalf of the Progressive Governors Forum, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong on behalf of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi on behalf of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum as well as Governor Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman of Kawra State and Senator Umar Ibrahim Kurfi.
Similarly, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari over the death of his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari.
A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, in Port Harcourt, last Saturday, quoted Wike as stating that “the death of Abba Kyari was a great loss not only to President Buhari but the entire nation”.
He described him as a patriot, trustworthy, humble and caring leader who contributed immensely to the development of the country.
In the same vein, the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari over the death of his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari.
A statement by Acting Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Daniel Alabrah, said, Diri also condoled with the Kyari family, saying his departure was a huge loss to Nigeria.
He prayed for the repose of his soul and for his memory to be blessed continually.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, had last Saturday, received several messages of condolences from foreign and national leaders over the death of Abba Kyari, his late chief of staff.
A statement by Garba Shehu, indicated that the President received telephone calls from Ghanaian President, Nana Akuffo-Ado, and President Muhammadou Youssoufou of Niger Republic.
He also received calls of condolences from ex-President Yayi Boni of Benin Republic and two former Nigerian Heads of State, Generals Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Buhari also received similar messages of condolence from the embassies of friendly countries, including Egypt, Chad and Liberia, as well as US President Donald Trump.
Messages were also received from Governors Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State; Yahaya Bello of Kogi State; Prof Babagana Zulum of Borno State; Abubakar Bagudu, Kebbi; Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State; former governors of Katsina, Sa’idu Barda; Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari; and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara as well as the former Senate President, Ken Nnamanni; the Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Sa’ad Abubakar 111; and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Samson Ayokunle; and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal.
The Emirs of Kazaure, Najib Hussaini Adamu; Gwandu, Gen Muhammadu Ilyasu Bashar (rtd); and that of Machina, Alhaji Bashir Al-Bashir Bukar; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the Chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia; President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; and the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Amb Mamman Nuhu; were among the early callers.
Calls to the President were also received from Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi; former ministers, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; and Gen Ike Umaru Sanda Nwachukwu; Senators Monsurat Sunmonu; and Kabiru Marafa as well as Pastor Tunde Bakare.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a Federal Executive Council committee to move swiftly on measures to further reduce food prices across the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this in Abuja, on Wednesday.
According to him, the directive focuses on ensuring safe passage of farm produce across transport routes to cut logistics costs.
“The President has given a matching order with a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” Abdullahi said at a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents.
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Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced worsening food insecurity since the removal of fuel subsidy, high transport costs, and insecurity on major highways disrupted the movement of goods.
Despite government interventions, food remains largely unaffordable for millions.
The minister said the plan is tied to Tinubu’s broader vision of food sovereignty—beyond availability to ensure affordability, accessibility, and nutrition on a sustainable basis.
To back this up, he revealed that government is set to roll out a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to boost productivity and a revamped cooperative reform initiative to mobilise resources and empower rural farmers.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members,” Abdullahi added.
The event, with the theme, “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities,” also featured Senate Media Committee Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; ex-presidential aide, Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and NILDS DG, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
The Federal Government has warned contractors, including foreign firms, that any breach of regulations in road projects awarded to them may lead to arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, issued the warning during an inspection of the ongoing dualisation of the East-West Road (Section IIIA) from Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction in Rivers State.
The section is being executed by Reynolds Construction Company (Nigeria) Limited.
Responding to questions from journalists, Umahi commended the quality of work on the project but expressed displeasure over the slow pace, stressing that the December completion deadline remains sacrosanct.
On the project, he said:“The quality of the work is excellent, but the pace of work is totally unacceptable. Let me make it very clear to the contractor that this project will neither be reviewed nor varied in price or claims.
“I’m sure we have issued over 10 warning letters to them. If they fail to comply with the completion deadline of December 15, we will not extend it.”
He added that the ministry had already put measures in place to enforce compliance
“The comptroller has negative certificates to issue, and I will recover the money from any of their other projects. All those letters are on record, and when the time comes, they will be invoked. Any contractor who refuses to abide by regulations will have the EFCC and ICPC to contend with,” he said.
Umahi further disclosed that the Federal Government had directed that road projects valued below N20bn would no longer be awarded to expatriate companies, in line with its “Nigeria First” policy aimed at strengthening indigenous capacity in the construction sector.
“This is part of the Nigeria First policy of the Federal Government. Henceforth, no expatriate firm will be awarded any project valued below N20bn. Such projects must go to indigenous companies, while expatriates focus on higher-value projects requiring more technical capacity,” he said.
The minister also noted that the Federal Ministry of Works had adopted a funding prioritisation framework to sustain road projects initially financed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
He stressed that President Bola Tinubu had directed that none of such projects should be abandoned, adding that priority would be given to critical economic corridors.
Umahi also decried the indiscriminate parking of heavy-duty vehicles on highways, saying it was damaging the pavements of completed sections of the road.
He said letters would be sent to state governors and the Inspector-General of Police to enforce punitive measures against defaulters.
Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Mrs Enwereama Tarilade, said RCC had completed 15km of the right carriageway and commenced work on the left carriageway, with one kilometre already laid in Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement.
The Rivers State Government says it will ensure the smooth and successful takeoff of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), in Ogoniland.
This commitment was made yesterday by the Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), during a courtesy visit by the university’s Governing Council and Management team at the Government House, in Port Harcourt.
The high-level delegation was led by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Professor Don Baridam and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedu Mmom.
In his address, Administrator Ibas warmly congratulated the pioneer council and management on their appointments, describing their task as both a recognition of individual accomplishment and a historic call to duty.
“This is not just a recognition of your personal achievements but also a call to history to shape an institution that will have a profound impact on Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and indeed our country,” he stated.
The Administrator commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of the specialized university in Ogoniland, describing the initiative as “timely and strategic.”
He emphasized that the university’s presence offers a critical opportunity to drive research, innovation, and community-focused solutions to the region’s pressing environmental and developmental challenges.
He further noted that the university’s core focus aligns perfectly with the priorities of his administration.“We consider this university not merely as another institution of higher learning but as a strategic partner in our collective effort to rebuild Rivers State under the ongoing state of emergency and beyond,” he affirmed.
Responding to specific requests presented by the delegation, Administrator Ibas assured the university of immediate support in critical areas essential for the its commencement.
These include the provision of operational vehicles, key facilities, and the completion of the access road to the campus, adding that other vital needs, such as perimeter fencing, refuse disposal, and the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, would be addressed within the framework of the state’s broader infrastructure and support programmes.
To ensure swift action, the Administrator directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to work closely with the university’s Governing Council to prioritize the sequence of requests, particularly those tied to the commencement of academic activities in September 2025.
“Let me assure you that Rivers State Government will stand as a dependable partner to the Federal University of Environment and Technology. We see this university as part of our long-term investment in knowledge, innovation, and the future of our youths,” he emphasized.
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Don Baridam, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community development.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has directed the institution to formally commence its academic session in September 2025, adding that preparations are in full swing to ensure a smooth take-off with adequate infrastructure and resources in place.
“Today’s meeting marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between the Rivers State Government and FUET, envisioned to establish the university as a premier hub for research, innovation, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta”, he said.