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Tag: Augustine Ehikioya

  • Nigeria, UAE sign pact on stolen funds recovery, others

    Nigeria, UAE sign pact on stolen funds recovery, others

    Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday signed six agreements to enhance bilateral relations between them.

    The signing of the agreements on trade, finance and judicial matters, according to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, was witnessed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

    Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and the UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Obaid Attayar signed the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement, while the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah signed the Agreement on Trade Promotion and Protection with the UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs.

    The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and his counterpart in the UAE,  Sultan Bin Saeed Albadi signed the Judicial Agreements on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, and Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters, which includes the recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth.

    At a reception after the signing of the agreements, President Buhari reiterated his commitment to fighting corruption and restoring Nigeria’s dignity in the comity of nations.

    He also urged all Islamic countries to support the fight against terrorism in Nigeria and denounce the atrocities of Boko Haram as un-Islamic and against the teachings of the Holy Prophet.

    In his remarks, Crown Prince Zayed Al Nahyan said the relationship between Nigeria and the UAE will be strengthened by President Buhari’s visit and the signing of the agreements.

  • We’ll look inward to tackle economic challenges – Buhari

    We’ll look inward to tackle economic challenges – Buhari

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    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said his administration will look inwards, enforce regulations to stop financial leakages and adopt global best practices in generating more revenue to mitigate the effect of dwindling oil prices on the Nigerian economy.

    He made the remark while receiving the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms Christine Lagarde, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Buhari, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said his administration will also enforce greater discipline, probity and accountability in all revenue generating agencies of the Federal Government.

    He said: “We have just come out of budget discussions after many weeks of taking into consideration the many needs of the country, and the down turn of the economy with falling oil prices and the negative economic forecasts.

    “We are working very hard and with the budget as our way forward, we will do our best to ensure that our country survives the current economic downturn.

    “We have also told all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government that on our watch, they will fully account for all funds that get into their coffers.”

    The President said the Federal Government was reviewing its operational costs and had directed all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to cut down on their overhead costs.

    He said the Federal Government will welcome the technical support and expertise of the IMF for its plans to diversify the Nigerian economy and further unleash its growth potentials.

    In her remarks, Ms Lagarde said the IMF will be willing to assist the federal government in plugging revenue leakages, tracing stolen funds and restructuring its tax system.

  • Ban Ki-Moon demands unconditional release of Chibok girls

    Ban Ki-Moon demands unconditional release of Chibok girls

    The United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon has on Monday demanded the unconditional release of abducted the over 200 Chibok girls.

    Ki-Moon made the call during a press remark at the end of a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    According to United Nations chief, the UN is poised to work with Nigeria to counter terrorism in the country and the continent.

    He declared that a change being championed by the current administration in Nigeria will also bring about positive change in the continent.

    He said: “This week will witness the 500 day of the kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls. I want to reiterate my support for the Chibok girls and so many other innocent abducted girls and boys whose names and fate remain unknown.

    “It is intolerable that their lives and schooling have been disrupted in this way. The whole world has been moved by their fate. I once again call, on the strongest possible terms, of those responsible to unconditionally release these girls and many other abducted children. I will have more to say this afternoon in my speech.”

    He said that he discussed with President Buhari a full range of issues covering development, human rights, peace and security including the cause of troubling levels of violence and terror perpetuated by Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria and beyond.

    Expressing solidarity with the government and people of Nigeria and the affected families and victims, he said: “I expressed my solidarity again with the Nigerian people. The UN will work together to address and counter extremism and terrorism.

    “Terrorism knows no boundaries and no bounds. Today, I laid a wreath in memory of the Nigerian and other victims. Now, more than ever, collaboration is indispensable in addressing these crimes.

    “The President has made regional engagement efforts and I am hopeful for the rapid operationalisation of the regional task force.”

     

  • Boko Haram’s end in sight – Buhari

    Boko Haram’s end in sight – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday reaffirmed his conviction that the end of the Boko Haram insurgency is in sight with the new vigour the war against terrorism is being prosecuted by Nigeria and her allies.

    Speaking during an audience with Mr. Mousa Faki Mahamat, the Chadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy of President Idris Deby, President Buhari said with higher morale among troops fighting the Boko Haram militants and their improved logistics, equipment and training, a rapid end to the insurgency should be expected.

    The President, however said, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, that Nigeria and Chad must be prepared to make more sacrifices to end the scourge of Boko Haram since they were at the “very heart of the insurgency.”

    “We will sustain our effort and the insurgents will be defeated soon,” President Buhari said.

    The Chadian minister said President Deby appreciated the leadership being shown by President Buhari in the war against terrorism.

    “We also appreciate the diligence shown in appointing a commander for the Multinational Joint Task Force, and President Deby believes that the fight will end in a few months.

    “Our people rely on us to end the insurgency, because economic development is being hampered.  This fight has to come to an end. My coming here is to reaffirm our full commitment. Beyond the number of troops earlier announced, Chad is still ready to commit more soldiers.

    “The enemy is weakened already. Let’s stand firm, and neutralize them,” he stated.

     

  • Buhari warns against extortion in police recruitment

    Buhari warns against extortion in police recruitment

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said he will not tolerate any irregularity or extortion of money from unemployed Nigerians in the coming recruitment into the police.

    He gave the warning during a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Police Service Commission at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari expressed sadness over the extortion of applicants who are made to pay bribes before being accepted into the police force

    He said the practice was totally unacceptable.

    The President told the officials that those in charge of recruitment and training in the police must be above board and eschew every form of extortion and underhand dealing.

    He said: “You must ensure that the recruitment process is transparent. Those who will conduct the recruitment must be above board. It should not be heard that they receive gratification or extort money from those who want to enlist in the police.”

    He also directed the Inspector-General of Police to prune down the number of policemen attached to dignitaries, and redeploy all policemen withdrawn from that role to regular police duties.

    On the stagnation of policemen on a particular rank for many years, the President counselled the PSC to review the current structure of the police, and make recommendations on how the problem can be solved to boost the morale of serving policemen.

    The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police Affairs, Dr. James Obiegbu, had in his briefing, listed inadequate police personnel, dwindling finances and non-rehabilitation of police training schools as some of the challenges facing the force.