Abiodun Essiet PhD

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central ), OGLC fellow, MWF, Coady Fellow, PhD in International Development

[Abiodun Essiet PhD @AbiodunEssiet]

A star of community peace and transformative leadership - Chief Dr Abiodun Essiet. Projecting the concerns of vulnerable people in the decision-making platform @woye1 @UNWomenWatch @iamAhmadOlolu @MathewGonet @Yeribaaba

[Bayo Onanuga, OON, CON @aonanuga1956]

President Tinubu on arrival in Lagos: I'm here, ready to work, and ready to go. Video credit: NTA

[Bayo Onanuga, OON, CON @aonanuga1956]

STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE

President Tinubu departs Paris for Nigeria

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ended his working vacation and has already departed Paris, France, for the homeward journey to Nigeria.

President Tinubu’s aircraft is expected to touch down at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, later this evening.

The Nigerian leader chose to fly to Lagos first to honour the memory of Chief MKO Abiola, the martyr of Nigeria’s democratic struggle.

On Independence Day, the President will attend the premiere of a movie honouring Abiola, the winner of the June 1993 election, at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

While in Lagos, President Tinubu will also hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates over several days in preparation for the 2027 elections.

President Tinubu departed Abuja on August 30 for the working vacation. He spent one week in London before heading for Paris.

While in Paris, he attended a private dinner with President Emmanuel Macron. He also met with business leaders, including Mr Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group, whose media and digital interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.

On Monday, he also met with the Chairman of First Holdings, Femi Otedola.

Last week, President Tinubu witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World to build a Gateway deep seaport in Ogun Waterside and create a Blue Marine Economic Zone in the area.

DP World, one of the world’s leading ports and logistics operators, plans to invest $7 billion for the seaport and the economic zone.

President Tinubu will return to Abuja after his political engagements in Lagos.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President,
(Information and Strategy)
September 29, 2026

[Abiodun Essiet PhD @AbiodunEssiet]

Based on a community report about the welfare of IDPs in Gulbin Boka, Mariga LGA, Niger State, my office carried out a humanitarian intervention in Gulbin Boka community, Mariga LGA. Supported by: Tinubu Shettima Mobilization Force Movement

Activity: Distribution of Food Items to over 1000 Internally Displaced People in;

1. Central Primary School, Gulbin-Boka
2. Missionary and Bible School, Gulbin-Boka
3. Nursery School, Gulbin-Boka
4. Bible College, Gulbin-Boka

We have shared our findings report with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs for further support. We are committed to the renewed hope agenda, making sure that the needs and concerns of vulnerable communities are prioritized and considered in the decision-making platform

[Sunday Dare,CON, Ph.D @SundayDareSD]

*NIGERIA, US SIGN MINERAL INVESTMENT PACT*

Nigeria broke new ground in a drive to woo the United States to invest in the mining sector at a historic agreement-signing ceremony at Nigeria's Mission House on Wednesday in New York, United States.

Nigeria's Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau signed and exchanged the agreement, described as a framework for American investment in Nigeria's $700 billion mineral resources.

The agreement is expected to use the Nigeria-US government relationship as a foundation for business-to-business transactions to boost Nigeria's value-addition-driven value chain.

Welcoming Landau and the United States delegation to the ceremony, Alake spoke glowingly of the agreement as a development that will shape the future.
His words:"Some agreements manage the present, and some agreements shape the future. The framework we sign today belongs to the second kind...In signing this Framework, Nigeria and the United States affirm a shared conviction: that the supply chains for these critical minerals must be secure, resilient and built on responsible investment.
But let me be clear about Nigeria's ambition. We are not here to remain a source of raw material for the values that others create. Our goal is to turn potential into lasting value at home through stronger local processing, new skills, quality jobs, and new opportunities for Nigerian businesses."

According to Alake, the framework opens the way for both countries to cooperate and collaborate on geological data and exploration, mineral development and processing, infrastructure, and technical capacity.

He said the implementation will achieve the economic diversification goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and boost industrial growth.

" Now comes the harder and more important work: moving from agreement to implementation. A signature is a promise, results are the proof. In the months ahead, we will identify viable projects, mobilise investments and build the commercial partnerships that deliver measurable benefits to our nations", the minister said.

Responding, Deputy Secretary of State Landau concurred with Nigeria's position, adding that as Africa's fastest-growing economy and most populous country, Nigeria is a regional power that deserves partnership with the United States.

He said the agreement will bring greater prosperity to both countries and that the United States is happy to supportNigeria's economic growth

"The signal we are sending is that the United States and Nigeria are partners...
Under President Trump and President Tinubu's leadership, the United States and Nigeria have done many things together in the last one and a half years that we've never done before. I think we will like to keep building on that momentum." Landau said.

Also on the US delegation were Deputy Assistant Secretary for West African Affairs, Rich Michaels; Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southern Africa, Foreign Assistance and Critical Minerals, Chris Kulukundis; Senior Policy Advisor to the Deputy Secretary, Wyatt Toehlkeke; and Jitu Sardar.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Oluwo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals DevDevelopment, Engr Yusuf Yabo, Director-General, Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, Engr Simon Nkom, Executive Secretary, Solid Minerals Development Fund, Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi and Chief Executive Officer Nigeria Solid Minerals Company, Martin Imonitie witnessed the event.

Kehinde Bamigbetan
Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister

New York
United States.

September 24, 2026

[Abiodun Essiet PhD @AbiodunEssiet]

In the move to strengthen the activities of the Directorate for Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, the Deputy Director-General, Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation, H.E. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, today presented a bus to each of the six senior special assistants to the President on community engagement to support our field operations and engagements across the zones.

This important gesture will strengthen our mobility and expand our reach to more communities, enabling us to advance infrastructure advocacy, deepen nationwide political sensitisation, and support grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections across our respective regions.

We sincerely appreciate H.E. Engr. Nweze David Umahi for this valuable support and the leadership of the Presidential Campaign Council. @woye1 @FMWNIG @KogiStateGov @benuestategovt @PLSGov @OfficialAPCNg

[Yeribaba’s Page 🇳🇬 @YeriTheSGF]

President Tinubu need to be punished with more votes! How can you in the name of Development Waste public funds that should be kept in the bank on Second Niger Bridge 🌉

[Fredrick Okango @fokango]

President @WilliamsRuto puts a COGENT case for Africa at #Unga81

[Abiodun Essiet PhD @AbiodunEssiet]

Press statement.

The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central) has entered into a technical partnership with the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Programme, implemented by Tetra Tech, to strengthen peace coordination, learning and impact measurement across North Central Nigeria.

The partnership, covering an initial period from August 2026 to March 2027, will support the Office’s engagement with communities, state institutions, peace actors and development partners to strengthen social cohesion and sustainable peace.

A key component of the partnership is the development of a Peace Initiatives Coordination Dashboard to map and monitor peacebuilding actors, programmes and initiatives across the region. The dashboard will improve visibility and coordination, while helping identify gaps, opportunities for collaboration and areas requiring greater attention.

SPRiNG will also support the establishment of a Knowledge and Learning Hub and Peace Impact Measurement Framework within the Office. Technical experts will work with the Office to strengthen the documentation of community experiences, lessons and innovations, and generate evidence to inform programming, policy engagement and decision-making.

The partnership will complement the Office’s ongoing work on community peace structures, early warning and early response, dialogue and social cohesion, while strengthening institutional capacity to coordinate and assess the impact of peacebuilding interventions.

The Office welcomes the partnership as an opportunity to strengthen linkages among communities, government institutions, peace actors and development partners, while ensuring that community experiences and knowledge remain central to peace and security interventions.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to a more coordinated, evidence-driven and sustainable approach to peacebuilding in North Central Nigeria.

The SPRiNG Programme is a UK FCDO-funded initiative working to reduce conflict and strengthen the resilience of communities in Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central states, including their capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change. @woye1 @UKinNigeria @aonanuga1956

Signed:
Dr. Abiodun Essiet
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central)

[Presidency Nigeria @NGRPresident]

Cheaper Transport. Real Savings.

In Abuja, commuters at Banex are rushing onto CNG buses like never before. Fares that used to cost N1,000 to N1,500 are now as low as N600 to N700.

One passenger put it plainly:

“I used to pay one thousand, sometimes one-five. Now I’m paying seven hundred, sometimes six hundred. It has reduced transportation cost for me a lot.”

Driver Umar Aliyu, just back from his trip, was relaxed and smiling behind the wheel:

“They have our people now, mechanics, drivers, marketers. The motor no problem. Nigeria go good.”

Another driver added:

“The price is very low and we appreciate it, especially we commercial drivers.”

This is the difference President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s CNG programme is already making. Cheaper transportation, more money in people’s pockets and drivers who can actually smile at the end of the day.

Mr President, the people have seen it. Please do more. More buses. More states. More routes. Keep the savings coming.

#CheaperTransport #CNGBuses #Tinubu #RenewedHope #Abuja #NigeriaRising

[Abiodun Essiet PhD @AbiodunEssiet]

That is my President

[Presidency Nigeria @NGRPresident]

Key Quotes From President Tinubu's Statement On The Death of Suspected Illegal Miners.

[Presidency Nigeria @NGRPresident]

Key Quotes From President Tinubu's Statement On The Death of Suspected Illegal Miners.

[Abiodun Essiet PhD @AbiodunEssiet]

We are investigating the deaths of 30 illegal miners in NSCDC custody, in Minna, Niger State. May their souls rest in peace. Please stay calm and let the security operatives do their job. @woye1 @NigerStateNG

[Presidency Nigeria @NGRPresident]

Speaking on behalf of the D'Tigress team, coaches and officials, Head Coach Rena Wakama has expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for fulfilling the commitments made to the team following their 2025 FIBA AfroBasket victory.

She acknowledged the significance of the
administration's support, noting that the fulfilment of the promises is a strong demonstration of its commitment to recognising and rewarding excellence in Nigerian sports.

@Coach_Rena | @DtigressNG | @NatSportsComm

[Abiodun Essiet PhD @AbiodunEssiet]

North Central Security Survey Highlights Community Concerns, Calls for Stronger Local Security Response

The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Dr. Abiodun Essiet, PhD, conducted a pre-summit, community based security survey ahead of the North-Central Zonal Security Summit to better understand the security challenges affecting communities across the region from the perspective of those experiencing their impact firsthand.

The survey, which received about 500 responses across the seven North Central jurisdictions — Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) — provided valuable insights into the security concerns of communities, perceived gaps in existing responses and practical measures residents believe can improve security.

The findings showed that farmer-herder conflict was overwhelmingly identified as the leading security challenge in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa and the FCT. In Kogi and Kwara, kidnapping emerged as the leading concern, while banditry was identified as the major security challenge in Niger State.

A major finding across the region was the strong expectation for greater involvement of local security networks, including vigilante groups, in protecting communities. This reflects the growing importance communities attach to locally driven security mechanisms and is consistent with the community-policing direction of the President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Community members also highlighted a range of measures they believe would strengthen security, including job creation and youth empowerment, improved intelligence sharing among security agencies, ranching, stronger community policing, enhanced border security, the empowerment of local security operatives, and measures to address illegal mining and open grazing.

Some of the responses received from community members included calls to:

* Create employment opportunities and strengthen youth empowerment programmes.
* Establish a coordinated, intelligence-driven regional security network linking security agencies with local communities.
* Empower vigilantes and other legitimate local security structures.
* Promote ranching as a means of addressing farmer-herder conflicts.
* Strengthen community policing and youth participation in community security.
* Improve security along national borders to prevent the infiltration of criminal and terrorist elements.
* Address illegal mining and other activities contributing to insecurity.

The concerns raised by communities were extensively considered at the North-Central Zonal Security Summit, where government representatives, security agencies, traditional and community stakeholders, and other relevant partners examined the survey findings alongside the broader security realities confronting the region.

The report has also been shared with Mr. President and relevant security agencies across the North Central, with the objective of supporting evidence-based prioritisation, improving coordination and strengthening responses to community concerns, particularly as the country approaches an increasingly important electoral cycle.

The Office emphasises that the concerns raised by communities will not remain on paper. They are being taken forward for continued engagement and practical action in collaboration with relevant government institutions, security agencies and community stakeholders.

The Communiqué from the North-Central Zonal Security Summit will also be released shortly for public review.

The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central) remains committed to working with government institutions, security agencies, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, community leaders and citizens to translate community concerns into practical responses and stronger, community-centred security mechanisms across the region.
@woye1

[Abiodun Essiet PhD @AbiodunEssiet]

@woye1 @iamAhmadOlolu @YeriTheSGF @edor_possible @MathewGonet Thank you sir

[Woye @woye1]

Summary of the presidential community engagement visit to Mangu and Riyom, Plateau State by the SSA to the President @AbiodunEssiet

2: kindly watch @iamAhmadOlolu @YeriTheSGF @edor_possible @MathewGonet

[Bayo Onanuga, OON, CON @aonanuga1956]

A United States Air Force C-17 aircraft has delivered military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force as part of the partnership agreement between the two countries.

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), made this known on X. It described the delivery, made last weekend, as a demonstration of the growing security partnership between the United States and Nigeria, to counter terrorism and other security threats in the region.

“Partnership in action,” AFRICOM said, noting that the equipment formed part of a foreign military sales agreement designed to further the U.S.-Nigeria defence partnership.

[Abiodun Essiet PhD @AbiodunEssiet]

@MathewGonet @PChaimang @bardejnr @woye1 @edor_possible @iamAhmadOlolu @YeriTheSGF Congratulations

[Abiodun Essiet PhD @AbiodunEssiet]

North Central Regional Security Summit 2026

Theme: Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability

The North Central Regional Security Summit 2026 brought together key stakeholders, government representatives, security agencies, traditional and community leaders, civil society organizations, development partners, and other relevant actors to engage in meaningful dialogue on peace, security, and regional stability across North Central Nigeria. @woye1

[Abiodun Essiet PhD @AbiodunEssiet]

Today, I received the International Republican Institute (IRI) on a courtesy visit to my office, led by its Programme Director for West Africa, Mr. Sentell Barnes. The engagement provided an opportunity for discussions on collaboration between IRI and my office, particularly in the design and implementation of programmes that promote peace, community resilience, inclusive participation and democratic stability across the North Central.

We also discussed IRI’s action plan for mitigating emerging and existing crises in the region, with particular attention to the pre- and post-2027 election period. The importance of early intervention, community engagement, dialogue, conflict prevention and strengthening local mechanisms for peaceful dispute resolution was emphasised.

As we approach the 2027 electoral process, sustained collaboration among government, civil society, development partners and communities remains critical to preventing election-related tensions from escalating into violence. @IRIglobal @woye1