President Bola Tinubu congratulates the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, on his emergence as the new Chairperson of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Senator Kyari was unanimously elected on Tuesday to head the 49th Governing Council of IFAD, the international body’s supreme decision-making authority.

President Tinubu remarks: “The election of the Agriculture and Food Security minister is a confidence vote in his capacity and the reforms he spearheads in Nigeria’s agriculture and food security value chain.

“I have confidence that Senator Kyari will give IFAD the right leadership and deepen its relevance and impact, especially at a time of global food security crises.”

The President wishes Senator Kyari a successful, impactful tenure as he takes the reins.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
February 10, 2026

Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties, Kaka Shehu, has strongly rejected the budget of N127m for SUV cars for the Presidential Villa.

Speaking during budget defense on Wednesday in Abuja, Senator Shehu said such an amount of money is totally unacceptable.

He said, “The renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu is alive. We are happy that even the villa is being treated equally with other ministries. That is leadership by example.

“Convey our deep appreciation to Mr President. We are going to do justice to the budget before us.

“However, I will join my colleague in rejecting N127 million for SUV in the villa, it cannot buy even a bulletproof ‘tokunbo’. We must project the image of Nigeria positively in the committee of nations.

“That is totally unacceptable. So we will take note of that and do the needful. We don’t want a situation where a visiting president will use ‘tokunbo’ at the airport. No.

“So, the budget office must sit up. When you now send your proposal, you have to do justice to your request not by reducing it to an amount that would end up buying a ‘tokunbo’.”

Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Wednesday clashed with the lawmaker representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole.

The duo clashed during the Ministry of Works’ defence of the 2026 budget.

In a video making the rounds, the minister could be heard confronting Oshiomhole, saying, “You can’t use foul language on me. I’m a distinguished Nigerian.”

However, the senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, Rufai Sani Hanga, cautioned the minister to mind his words.

Oshiomhole was subsequently allowed to speak on the budget.