Breaking: Tinubu to Depart Abuja to France on "Short Working Visit"

• The presidency has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu will be travelling out of Nigeria to France on Wednesday, April 2
• According to a statement by the president's spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu will be in Paris on a two-week working visit
• President Tinubu is expected to review the achievements of his administration in the last two years, ahead of his anniversary, during his stay in France

Aso-Rock, Abuja - President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to depart Nigeria for Paris, France, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, for a short working visit.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga noted that Tinubu will evaluate his administration’s mid-term performance and assess its major achievements while abroad.

The statement reads in part:

“This period of reflection will inform plans to deepen ongoing reforms and accelerate national development priorities in the coming year.”

Tinubu reiterates his commitment to governance

According to the statement, President Tinubu's commitment to this move was influenced by the recent economic strides. It further noted that this was evident in the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) report, which showed a significant increase in net foreign exchange reserves to $23.11 billion.

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The presidency stated that the CBN’s revelation was a testament to the fiscal reforms Tinubu had initiated since 2023 when the reserves stood at $3.99 billion.

Onanuga further disclosed that the President would continue to engage with members of his team and oversee governance activities.

See the full statement here:

Tinubu sacks NNPC boss

This came hours after the president sacked the former group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, and announced the appointment of his replacement, Bayo Ojulari.

The president also sacked all board members who were appointed alongside Kyari in November 2023. This latest development happened amid the ongoing saga between the NNPC Limited and Dangote Refinery, a major privately owned refinery in Nigeria.

The NNPC earlier agreed to sell Nigeria's crude oil to the refinery in naira, with the hope of stabilising the currency and reducing fuel prices in Nigeria.

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Nigerian president sacks board of state oil company

NNPC ends crude for naira deal with Dangote

However, the deal ended a month ago, and the two companies did not renew the contract, which has led to an increase in the price of fuel.

Retailers are now importing fuel rather than buying from Dangote, with the private refinery also selling in dollars following the end of the deal.

On April 2, 2025, the presidency announced a major shakeup in Nigeria's major oil company as Tinubu's administration sacked all the board members and made fresh appointments.

Tinubu sends congratulatory message to Mele Kyari

Legit.ng previously reported that President Bola Tinubu sent a congratulatory message to Kyari, now former NNPC boss, on his 60th birthday.

In a statement from the presidency, Tinubu praised the diligence of Kyari in transforming Nigeria's national oil firm into a profitable entity.

The president described Kyari as a good example of his Renewed Hope Agenda, citing his achievement of creating more opportunities in the NNPC.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng