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President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said his administration will remain resilient and has no fear of the trade policy direction of U.S. President Donald Trump, particularly tariffs targeting Nigerian exports.

Tinubu made the remarks when he received in audience members of The Buhari Organisation led by former Governor of Nasarawa State,  Sen.

Tanko Almakura, who paid him a solidarity visit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The President cited Nigeria’s current economic trajectory and growing non-oil revenues as buffers against external shocks.

Tinubu said, “If non-oil revenue is growing, then we have no fear of whatever Trump is doing on the other side.”

He highlighted Nigeria’s strengthened fiscal position, having met its 2025 revenue target as of August, and noted a stabilisation in the naira, which has appreciated to around N1,450 per dollar from a previous rate of N1,900 after he unified the exchange rates upon assuming office in May 2023.

President Trump’s second term has ushered in sweeping changes to U.S. trade policy, including the imposition of a 10 per cent baseline tariff on nearly all imports, alongside country-specific levies.

In his Liberation Day trade policy announcements on April 2, 2025, Trump introduced unprecedented reciprocal tariffs under his “America First” agenda, aiming to rebalance trade deficits.

The policy included broad country-specific tariffs ranging from 11 per cent to 50 per cent on top of a 10 per cent baseline.

Nigeria, like many sub-Saharan partners, now faces a 15 per cent tariff on its exports, effective August 7, following an initial 14 per cent rate announced in April.

However, energy commodities, including oil and gas, have been exempted from the new tariff regime.

Nonetheless, reports show that heightened trade tensions and tariff imposition have already dampened energy product exports globally in early 2025, disrupting demand flows for crude oil, gasoline, and diesel.

Tinubu also pointed to progress on his administration’s agricultural reform agenda, citing a massive mechanisation programme across regions.

“If we remove hunger, we have defeated poverty,” he said, arguing that food security is key to Nigeria’s economic recovery.

Meanwhile, Tinubu recounted internal debates during the formative days of the All Progressives Congress, revealing that he clashed with the late former President Muhammadu Buhari over the party’s logo.

Recalling the early merger talks that led to the APC creation in 2013, Tinubu said,  “We disagreed to agree…We even argued over a symbol. He (Buhari) insisted on parliament, and I insisted on broom.”

“He’s so stubborn,” Tinubu said amid laughter.

Tuesday’s meeting brought together key northern party leaders, including Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda and former Governor Aminu Masari, and could be a consolidation of party ranks ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.

The APC was officially formed in February 2013 through the merger of four opposition parties: the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

Tinubu, then National Leader of the ACN and former Governor of Lagos State, played a central role in the merger, while Buhari led the CPC.

Tinubu said their differing political cultures often clashed in the run-up to registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The broom, ultimately chosen as the party’s logo, symbolised collective action against corruption and poor governance, party leaders say.

The coalition helped the APC unseat the long-ruling People’s Democratic Party in the 2015 elections, bringing Buhari to power.

[PUNCH]

The Federal Government FG, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, has told electricity distribution companies to treat state regulators with respect. The Vice Chairman of NERC, Musiliu Oseni, stated this at the commission’s quarterly stakeholders meeting, which ended in Lagos on Tuesday.

Power distributors had repeatedly countered state regulatory commissions on matters of electricity tariffs, a development that consistently pitched the two groups at opposing ends.

Oseni urged the Discos to strengthen their relationships with state regulators, underscoring the need for open communication, transparency, accountability, and mutual respect.

“Discos must do better with state regulators—first impressions last. Be open about your challenges so they can work with you. Above all, treat state regulators with the respect they deserve. A timely reminder that collaboration is essential to building a fair, resilient, and sustainable electricity market for Nigeria,” Oseni said.

However, Oseni also urged State Electricity Regulatory Commissions/Bureaus to prioritise advancing their state electricity markets “rather than relying on Federal Government subsidies.”

The PUNCH earlier reported that, as the crisis between states and electricity distribution companies continues to degenerate over who has the power to fix electricity tariffs, NERC had to summon all the stakeholders to a meeting.

Energy commissioners of state governments, under their umbrella body known as the Forum of Commissioners for Power and Energy in Nigeria, have repeatedly insisted that the Electricity Act, 2023 (Amended), has empowered state governments to regulate their respective power markets.

But power distribution companies, under the aegis of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, insisted that, although the Act enabled the states to regulate their power markets, the state governments lack the power to put a price on cross-border electricity.

As a result of this, neither the states nor the Discos are ready to shift ground over who has the authority to regulate electricity tariffs. As state regulators make moves to design tariffs for the electricity markets in their domains, starting with Enugu State, power distribution companies declared that this cannot work.

To address this, the regulatory agency met with state regulators, power distributors, and other stakeholders on Monday and Tuesday to tackle transition challenges in the sector, following concerns around the tariffs payable by consumers.

According to reports by NERC, the Tuesday sessions featured in-depth discussions on the integration of generation plants into the SCADA system and ongoing preparations for synchronisation with the West African Power Pool, including trial tests to ensure a smooth transition.

The commission was said to have reaffirmed its continuous commitment to supporting stakeholders, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring the long-term success of the NESI as the sector transitions into a more efficient and sustainable future.

“Discussions focused on the SCADA system and synchronisation with the West African Power Pool, covering timelines and GenCo compliance. The commission directed NISO to conduct a synchronisation trial to address any imperfections ahead of full WAPP integration,” the commission said in a post on its social media handles.

While emphasising the need to meet the extended June 2026 deadline, the commission reaffirmed its readiness to provide the necessary support for successful implementation.

Also, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, delivered a detailed presentation to NESI stakeholders on the new tax reform laws and their far-reaching implications for the electricity industry, saying, “We want the sector to be able to thrive because your success is our success.”

His presentation reportedly provided clarity on how the reforms will impact sector players, from tax breaks to compliance requirements and revenue management. He also highlighted the opportunities these changes present for building a more transparent and efficient fiscal environment within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man has opened up about his family background, early struggles, and the journey to building his business empire.

Speaking in a recent interview, Dangote revealed that while he hails from a lineage of affluence, he charted his own path to success without relying on inherited wealth.

Despite his privileged background, Dangote emphasized that his achievements were self-made.

His words …

“I came from a wealthy family. My late great-grandfather in the 1940s was actually the richest, you know, West African. My late grandfather was one of the wealthiest Nigerians, you know.

The family name is Dentata. That’s from my maternal side. My father too, you know, was fairly rich, you know, but he was both, you know, in business and also in politics.

But you know, David, one thing that I’m very, very proud of is that I did not inherit any money from my father. I built everything from scratch to where I am. Well, he lived in the world, but you know, I mean, whatever that I inherited from him, which means in assets, I gave that on to charity since then.

I started work with my, you know, uncle, but this few months and then I went to Lagos and now I started my own business by just, you know, buying cement, selling. You know, it was just a very low-key business. The issue is that when you look at cement, cement is what builds infrastructure and we need a lot of infrastructural deficits.

In Nigeria alone, we have about 17,000 deficit of housing and it is all over in, you know, Africa. So when we started cement in Nigeria, we realized that majority of it was actually imported and that is why we went in there, we started and it’s a long story.”

Watch video below …

“I did not inherit any money from my father. I built everything from scratch to where I am.” – Aliko Dangote pic.twitter.com/oBbiK9wRiw

— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) September 2, 2025

Nigerian comedian and skitmaker, Sanku has passed away following a car accident along Ogbomoso Road in Oyo State.

Sanku’s death was confirmed on Monday by actor Yemi Elesho via his official Facebook page, sending shockwaves across social media.

In a chilling coincidence, Sanku had released a skit on August 4 in which he humorously depicted himself in heaven after death.

In the video, he lamented the absence of expected attendees and jokingly asked his partner to join him in hell so they could enjoy life together.

Nollywood actors and fans have taken to social media to express their grief over the comedian’s untimely death.

Sharing heartbreak, Actress Funmi Awelewa wrote. “The pain, the effort, the strength, the struggle… walai nothing make sense. I’m heartbroken. Even film sef never come out! It does not make sense.”

Reports indicate that Sanku and another victim were critically hurt, but the comedian ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

See below;

Boxing legend, Joe Bugner passes away at 75, leaving the boxing world in mourning as condolences flood in.

According to a report from TMZ, the former boxer passed away at his home in Brisbane, Australia.

Additionally, he won British, Commonwealth, and European titles, and his professional record stands at 69 wins, 13 defeats, and 41 knockout victories.

Notably, Joe Bugner survived a heart attack in 2014, which was a critical health challenge for him.

He is survived by his wife, Marlene Bugner, children and grandchildren.

Prior to his passing, Joe Bugner battled with dementia. He spent the final years of his life in a Brisbane care home, where he received care and support for his condition.

79-year-old President of the United States, Donald Trump, has addressed swirling rumors about his death.

Rumors about Donald Trump’s death flooded social media platforms over the weekend, sparked by hashtags #TrumpIsDead and #WhereIsTrump.

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Donald Trump addressed swirling rumors, stating ‘NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE’ and declared Washington D.C. a crime-free zone.

“NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE. Also, DC IS A CRIME FREE ZONE”,The tweet reads.

Notably, rumors of Trump’s death emerged after his recent diagnosis with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition affecting blood flow in the veins.

See below….

The US Embassy has commenced  revoking valid visas issued to Nigerian citizens, amid recent developments in its visa policies.

As earlier reported by Gistreel, the US Embassy recently introduced a new requirement for visa applicants to disclose their social media handles as part of the DS-160 visa application process.

This development was disclosed by Olufemi Soneye, former Chief Corporate Communication Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

According to Olufemi Soneye, several individuals received letters from the embassy instructing them to submit their passports for visa cancellation, citing ‘new information’ under Title 22, Section 41.122, without further explanation.

Among the affected individuals are a prominent journalist, a government agency head scheduled to deliver an international address, and an Abuja-based entrepreneur with a spotless travel record.

Meanwhile, amid the growing controversy, the US Embassy is yet to release an official statement.