The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has invited all members of the Senate to a dinner at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, on Friday.
The invitation was formally conveyed on the Senate floor during a recent sitting, when Senate President Godswill Akpabio read out a message from the First Lady to his colleagues.
Akpabio, while relaying the message in a light-hearted tone, said: “First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria… so this is like an invitation by the mother to the children. On Friday, I wish you a sumptuous meal and fruitful discussions. Senator, you’re looking at me as if you’re going to travel – don’t. This is very important, so we all meet there on Friday.”
Poor Timing
Nigeria has, in the past few weeks, been gripped by a variety of security, economic and humanitarian challenges. On November 21, 2025, armed men stormed St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State, abducting about 315 people, including over 300 students and 12 teachers, in one of the worst school kidnappings since Chibok.
Days earlier, 25 schoolgirls were seized from a boarding school in Kebbi State, where the vice principal was killed; all 24 abducted girls have since been rescued. There has also been attacks in multiple attacks in Kwara state leading to loss of lives.
Additionally, the UN World Food Programme has warned that, if current trends continue, northern Nigeria could face an unprecedented hunger crisis by 2026, with militant violence disrupting farming and millions at risk of severe food insecurity.
These challenges therefore makes the timing of the dinner invitation a bit of a problem in a period where all hands should be on deck.