Kashim Shettima

Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria | Former Senator, Borno Central District | Former Governor of Borno State

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

Vice President @KashimSM has arrived in Abuja following his participation at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the @_AfricanUnion (AU) in Luanda, Angola.

VP @KashimSM represented President @officialABAT at the high-level summit, where Nigeria called for stronger African-led mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution, as well as urgent continental action against recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks on Africans and other nationals in South Africa.

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

President @officialABAT has formally reported the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa to the @_AfricanUnion (AU), warning that the incidents undermine the continent’s solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence.

Specifically, he requested prompt collective action from the continent’s leaders, including the placement of this matter on the agenda for the 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly.

The Nigerian leader made the nation’s position known in a message delivered by his deputy, Vice President @KashimSM, at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) in Luanda, Angola.

Represented at the annual continental event by Vice President @KashimSM, the President also called on African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the safety, protection and dignity of all African nationals.

“Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa”.

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

The Vice President, Senator @KashimSM has departed Abuja for Luanda, Angola, where he will represent President @officialABAT at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the @_AfricanUnion (AU).

The high-level summit will focus on critical strategies for conflict resolution and the advancement of lasting peace and stability across the African continent.

Senator @KashimSM will join African leaders and other key stakeholders converging on the Angolan capital to discuss practical solutions to regional security challenges and strengthen collective efforts towards conflict prevention and resolution.

Nigeria, which has continued to play a strategic role in peacebuilding and conflict resolution across Africa and beyond, is expected to contribute to deliberations on strengthening continental mechanisms for preventing conflicts, resolving disputes, and sustaining peace.

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

President @officialABAT has said national security remains the fundamental bedrock required to achieve Nigeria’s economic ambitions and lasting prosperity.

He noted that his administration views safety and the protection of lives as the fundamental baseline for business expansion, which is why the broader economic plan focuses on stabilizing macroeconomic fundamentals, boosting local industry, and attracting foreign investment.

Speaking on Friday in Abuja during the graduation ceremony for participants of National Defence College (@NigeriaNdc) Course 34, the Nigerian leader, who was represented by his deputy, Vice President @KashimSM, maintained that strengthening the nation’s armed forces and neutralizing criminal elements, bandits, and terrorists remain central to the government’s focus.

“Our economic ambitions accompany the duty to secure our people. The Armed Forces and security agencies continue to confront terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, piracy, and organised criminality with courage and professionalism.”

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

The Federal Government has awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of 13 police training institutions across the country.

This is just as the Vice President, Senator @KashimSM, has charged the National Economic Council (NEC) to sustain ongoing reforms until improvements in the economy translate into jobs, stronger purchasing power, business confidence and better living conditions for Nigerians.

The rehabilitation of the 13 police training institutions, which is set to commence and last for a period of three weeks, is aimed at putting the institutions in shape for the commencement of the training programme by the @PoliceNG.

The update was presented on Thursday in Abuja during the 160th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President @KashimSM.

NEC also endorsed the Revised National Social Protection Policy (NSPP: 2026–2030), as presented by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, and urged states to align their Social Protection Policies, Laws, Budgets and Implementation Plans with the Revised National Social Protection Policy.

NSPP: 2026–2030 is a national policy framework for strengthening social protection coordination, financing, implementation, monitoring and accountability across the federation.

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

The Federal Government on Wednesday disclosed that it has metered roughly 60% of active electricity customers in Nigeria, with an ongoing rollout under Phase 1 of the $500 million World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).

It disclosed that under initiatives like the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) and effective coordination by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (@BPENigeria), the goal is to close the electricity metering gap and eliminate arbitrary estimated billing for registered customers across Nigeria.

This was part of the brief on updates on the activities of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) at its second meeting for the year 2026, chaired by the Vice President, Senator @KashimSM, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

Nigeria and Thailand have committed to deepen relations between both countries across technology, agriculture, commerce, and renewable energy, among other areas of strategic interest.

To this effect, Nigeria is pushing for a review of existing partnerships between both countries, leveraging Thailand’s comparative advantage in deploying intermediate technology in agriculture and related areas.

Thailand, on the other hand, is proposing a Thailand-Africa Initiative that aims to boost relations between the Asian country and key African countries in people-to-people ties, economic ties, as well as economic cooperation, particularly in agriculture.

These are highlights of the meeting between the Vice President, Senator @KashimSM, and a delegation from the Kingdom of Thailand led by its Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. @SihasakPh.

Speaking during the meeting with the delegation on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on behalf of President @officialABAT, Senator @KashimSM acknowledged the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and Thailand.

“I believe that our relationship should go beyond transactions in crude oil, rice production, and so on. So, there is a need for us to review our bilateral relationship at a strategic level.

“Nigeria is a large market. There are enormous opportunities for partnership and investment in agriculture, ICT, renewable energy, and solid minerals, and we have a young population and workforce,” the VP noted.

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

The National Addressing Council (NAC) has ratified the preliminary framework for the actualisation of Nigeria’s vision to build a digitised and modern addressing system for the country.

Under the new arrangement, the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology will serve as secretariat for greater efficiency and coordination, while other agencies will synergise efforts to achieve set objectives.

The decision was taken on Monday at the meeting of the Council chaired by Vice President @KashimSM in Abuja, with key members and stakeholders in the public and private sectors in attendance.

“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, our duty is to build institutions that match the energy and mobility of our people. We must build a system that locates every community, supports enterprise without barriers and strengthens government without compromising privacy.”

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

The Vice President, Senator @KashimSM, has said the administration of President @officialABAT is deliberately spreading infrastructure and economic opportunities beyond major cities to reduce congestion, expand jobs and promote balanced national development across Nigeria.

This, he noted, is driven by the administration’s conviction that such state-driven projects are consistent with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s push to expand security, welfare and economic opportunity beyond the centre.

Senator @KashimSM stated this on Thursday while inaugurating the Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Akpabu-Ikiri-Omoku Dual Carriageway in Rivers State on behalf of President @officialABAT.

The 33.5-kilometre road runs through Ikwerre, Emohua and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas of the state, connects communities along an important agricultural, commercial and oil and gas corridor leading towards Omoku, widely regarded as the state’s “Gas City.”

“A nation becomes congested when opportunity is congested. People move because roads, markets, jobs and services have not moved far enough towards them,” the Vice President stated.

He said roads are among the most democratic instruments of development, noting that they connect farmers to markets, workers to jobs, students to schools and patients to healthcare.

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

President @officialABAT, Tuesday, commissioned Africa’s first renewable energy college, the Barefoot Renewable Energy College, Osara (BARECKS), and the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant in Kogi State, describing the citadel of learning as a world-class edifice completed to international standards.

He said while the difficulty confronting Nigeria, a country “abundantly endowed with sunlight, wind, biomass and water,” had been “converting its endowment into megawatts, and megawatts into jobs,” that difficulty would now be addressed by the college.

The Vice President, Senator @KashimSM, who commissioned the college on behalf of the President at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Kogi State, conveyed the greetings of his boss, whom he said had taken satisfaction in the completion of the project.

He noted that the Nigerian leader had always maintained “that a government is measured by the industries it plants and by the households those industries feed.”

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the refinancing of the US$3.3 billion Project Gazelle Pre-Export Finance Facility through a new US$4.5 billion facility named “Project Gazelle 2”.

The approval allows @nnpclimited to refinance the outstanding balance of approximately US$1.5 billion under the original 2023 facility, while unlocking an additional US$3 billion in liquidity to strengthen the country’s external reserves, support the government’s ongoing fiscal and infrastructure priorities.

This was the outcome of the 159th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), held virtually on Monday.

NEC’s approval followed a presentation by the Minister of Finance, Dr. @taiwoyedele, which was presented by the Chairman of the Council, Vice President @KashimSM, underscoring the importance of the project.

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

The Vice President, Senator @KashimSM has endorsed the healthy cycle of competition among the 36 states of the federation, saying it is necessary to actualise Nigeria’s quest for prosperity, economic growth, human dignity, and job opportunities.

This, he said, is evident in the quality and ambition of the investment summits organised by the states across the country, emphasising that the nation’s strength lies in the proactive economic awakening of its subnational governments rather than just the government at the centre.

Senator @KashimSM, who stated this on Monday in Asaba, the Delta State capital, during the state’s Economic and Investment Summit 2026, organised by the @DSGovernment, reiterated the need for states to transition from basic asset documentation to practical execution and job creation.

“The cycle of competition among our states is now evident in the quality and ambition of the investment summits convened across the federation. Every state possesses immense promise, but each must define a trajectory unique to its history, geography, people and comparative advantage.”

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

The Vice President, Senator @KashimSM has called for a renewed national covenant on peace, observing that peace is a shared responsibility between government, community leaders, and the citizens.

“A people at peace is the highest achievement of any government because peace is the soil in which every other blessing grows,” he declared.

Senator @KashimSM made the call on Saturday in Jos, the Plateau State capital, during the 80th birthday anniversary and public presentation of the autobiography of former Plateau State Governor, Senator Jonah David Jang.

The Vice President, who conveyed the goodwill and prayers of President @officialABAT to the celebrant, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to a Nigeria where security supports economic opportunity and every citizen feels at home in every part of the country.

Specifically, he implored Nigerians to reject ethnic profiling, religious hatred, misinformation, and retaliatory violence in order to build a secure, inclusive, and prosperous federation.

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

The Vice President, Senator @KashimSM on Thursday led mourners at the Jana’iza (funeral rites) of the former Nigerian Minister of Finance and Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji.

The elder statesman, who passed earlier in the day at the age of 88 after a brief illness, had served as Minister of National Planning and later as Minister of Finance during the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).

On arrival in Sokoto, the Vice President paid a condolence visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, where prayers were offered for the peaceful repose of the late elder statesman.

Senator @KashimSM described the deceased as a behemoth of institutional memory who will never be forgotten, noting that the late Alhaji would be remembered for his service to the nation.

He also stated that the elder statesman would be immortalised by the Federal Government.

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

The Vice President, Senator @KashimSM has commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (@nigeriahajjcom) for the seamless handling of the 2026 Hajj operation.

He spoke on Wednesday when he received the Board and Management of NAHCON, and representatives of the State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The delegation met with the Vice President to brief him on the just concluded 2026 Hajj exercise and projections for future operations.

In his interaction with the team, VP @KashimSM praised the efforts of NAHCON, the State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and other stakeholders, congratulating them on an almost seamless performance.

He said the performance of the team in the 2026 exercise should be the benchmark going forward, particularly as authorities move towards adopting a more sustainable model that guarantees a 100 per cent hitch-free pilgrimage.

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

The Vice President, Senator @KashimSM has said the vision behind the creation of new regional development commissions is to further unlock and harness the unique strengths and opportunities in the various regions for Nigeria’s collective prosperity.

He thus stated that President @officialABAT needs to be praised for such foresight and directional leadership.

He said the vision must, however, be backed by innovation, effective collaboration and integrity in the discharge of the mandate of the various regional development bodies, noting that the “Renewed Hope Agenda is about translating policy into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.”

The Vice President stated this on Wednesday when he received the management of the South West Development Commission (@swdcgov), led by its Board Chairman, @SenAdetunmbi on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

[Kashim Shettima @KashimSM]

Earlier today, I attended the wedding reception of Aishatu Yusuf Buratai, daughter of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), and her husband, Malam Umar Abba Zoru, at Tukur and Tukur Farm, along the Abuja–Keffi Road, Nasarawa State.

In my remarks, I charged families and communities to promote the values of honesty, patience, and compassion, saying it is at home that these values are tested every day.

Our faith describes marriage as half of religion, and I have always understood why. It is at home that patience, honesty, and mercy are tested daily, far from the applause of strangers. Today, we celebrate Aishatu and Umar, and the families that raised them. Both households are known for service, discipline, and restraint.

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

The Vice President, Senator @KashimSM, has said it is time for African nations to take their rightful place in the control of global resources and trade by taking advantage of the natural endowments with which the continent is blessed.

This, he noted, can only be possible if nations on the continent brace themselves and maximise the potential of the resources the region harnesses.

Senator @KashimSM stated this on Friday in Cotonou, the Republic of Benin, when he led some Nigerian state governors on an official tour and assessment of the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in that neighbouring country.

He assured them that, as long as @officialABAT remains the President of Nigeria, no region will be left behind in the renewed industrialisation drive of the Nigerian leader.

[Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM]

The Vice President, Senator @KashimSM, has arrived in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, on a high-level working visit.

On arrival, the Vice President was received by the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Corinne Amori Brunet, and the Minister of Tourism and External Trade, Mr. @shegunbakari.

The visit, largely aimed at strengthening the implementation of Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme, seeks to draw inspiration from neighbouring countries and beyond.

The Vice President is being accompanied by the governors of Kwara, Imo, Jigawa, Plateau, Katsina, and Zamfara States. Also on the trip are the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, @SenatorAKyari, and other senior officials of the Federal Government.

Upon arrival, VP @KashimSM went into a briefing session with the governors and members of his team.