By Joke Kujenya
THE FESTIVE atmosphere in Lagos heightened on Wednesday as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu touched down at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport at exactly3:23 pm.
The President is set to spend the Christmas and New Year holidays in his state of origin, Lagos, as noted by Presidential Spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Wednesday.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, members of the Lagos State executive council, and prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) welcomed him at the airport.
Before his departure to Lagos, Tinubu addressed a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja earlier in the day, where he presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
The budget proposal, valued at ₦47.9 trillion, prioritises key sectors, including ₦4.91 trillion for defence and security, ₦4.06 trillion for infrastructure, ₦2.4 trillion for health, and ₦3.5 trillion for education.
Speaking during the 30-minute presentation, the President described the 2025 budget as “The Restoration Budget” aimed at fostering peace and prosperity.
“It is with great pleasure that I lay before this distinguished joint session of the National Assembly, the 2025 Budget titled, ‘The Restoration Budget,’ focusing on security, peace, and building prosperity,” Tinubu declared.
He acknowledged that the budget speech, which concluded at 1:10pm, highlighted his administration’s efforts to restore economic stability and improve living standards of Nigerians, which also marked his final engagement for the year in Abuja.
He later welcomed Ghana’s President-elect before embarking on the holiday trip to Lagos.
