President Bola Tinubu has extended palliative support to Student Union Government (SUG) Presidents across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The distribution of rice, facilitated by the Special Adviser on Students Engagement, Asefon Sunday, took place in Abuja.

During the event, Asefon explained that the initiative was part of the President’s ongoing efforts to support students and their communities. He recalled a similar gesture in December 2024, when student leaders received palliative support during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“Today, SUG Presidents across the Federation will receive rice from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a leader who values students not just as tomorrow’s leaders but as leaders of today,” Asefon said.

He noted that the rice, initially meant for distribution in December 2024, arrived late in Abuja on December 28. To ensure proper distribution, representatives were invited to Abuja to personally receive the items. Two SUG Presidents were selected from each zone to oversee and manage the distribution process.

“This is unprecedented. For the first time in this country, a sitting President is directly reaching out to student leaders during the festive season,” Asefon remarked.

Looking ahead, Asefon assured students of more benefits under the Presidential initiative in 2024. “This is a time for Nigerian youth and students to reflect, express their views, and engage actively with the government. The impact of this administration is now being felt by students nationwide,” he added.

Fahad Abdullahi, the SUG President of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, expressed gratitude on behalf of the student leaders. “We were informed that all SUG Presidents across the nation would receive rice, a kind gesture from the President. We sincerely appreciate this initiative and commend him for his focus on students, from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to this Rice Initiative,” Abdullahi said.

President Bola Ahmed Tinibu has approved the appointment of Folashade Arinola Adekaiyaoja fsi+, fdc, as Deputy Director General for the Service.

The approval, the first by any president, has drawn commendation from a large section of serving and retired DSS officers who see the move as aimed at restoring professionalism to the Service.

The presidential approval, it was gathered, seeks to revise the agency’s structure for better efficiency, in line with the original onanogram of the service.

Checks revealed that the DSS is structured to comprise three Deputy Directors General in its hierarchy.

The appointment and ratification by the President, according to elated operatives of the agency, was based on the recommendation of the DG through the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

One of the sources told Vanguard that the appointment is in line with its extant regulations and unprecedented in the history of the Secret service.

The appointment of Adekaiyaoja, a native of Kogi State, it was gathered, is being celebrated by a cross section of officers and operatives who see her as eminently qualified for the position.

It was further gathered that President Tinubu had, in line with his promise to improve on the security of life and property of Nigerians, tasked the heads of security agencies to come up with proposals on how to improve on their service delivery.

“It was on this note,” offered a security source, “that the President approved the DG’s recommendation, which many serving and retired officers are confident would boost career progression in the Service.”

As at December 31, 2024, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has signed a total of 5,481 Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O), the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, has said.

This is 2,919 less than the total number of C-of-O printed and signed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) from 2010 to 2023 (13 years).

In a statement on Tuesday, Olayinka said; “the moment necessary payments are made, land allottees can now get their C-of-O within two weeks.”

He said “one of the reasons land allottees do not find it compelling to pay for their C-of-O is because when they pay, they wait for years. But in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, that has changed now.

“Even uploading of necessary information to show when a C-of-O is collected as well as details on the collector that used to take months, is now done within 72 hours.”

Giving details of C-of-O produced and signed in the FCT in the last 15 years, the Minister’s Spokesperson said; “From May 2010 to May 2015, total of 5,655 Certificates of Occupancy were produced and signed.

“From May 2015 to May 2019, a total of 1,174 Certificates of Occupancy were produced and signed, while 1,571 were done between May 2019 and May 2023.

“Meanwhile, from May 2023 that President Tinubu assumed office till December 31, 2024, a total of 5,481 Certificates of Occupancy were produced and signed by the FCT Minister.

“Also, in the next few weeks, land allottees whose C-of-O are ready for collection will begin to receive auto-generated SMS because it has been discovered that most of them don’t even know that their title documents are ready.”