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Tag: BUHARI

  • Four new airports ‘ll sustain economic growth, says Buhari

    •President inaugurates $600m new terminal in P’Harcourt

    •Wike: Rivers safe for business

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday adduced reasons why the Federal Government is building four new international terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.

    The government, he said, is building the airports with a view to modernising their infrastructure, maintaining the global aviation standard and improving service delivery in tandem with international best practices.

    Buhari spoke while inaugurating the $600 million dollars new international terminal at the Port Harcourt International Airport funded by the Export-Import Bank of China and the Nigerian Government.

    The terminal was constructed by China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC). The company is also constructing new terminals in Abuja, Kano and Lagos International Airports.

    The colourful event was attended by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike; Minister of State for Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika; former Rivers State Governor Sir Celestine Omehia; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Pastor Usani Uguru Usani; his counterpart in Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige; Minister of State for Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire and Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

    Others were Senator Andrew Uchendu (Rivers East); Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers Southeast); the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Pastor Tonye Cole; and his running mate, Chief Victor Giadom; APC Chairman Ojukaye Flag-Amachree; Nigeria’s Ambassador to The Netherlands Oji Ngofa, who is APC’s senatorial candidate for Rivers Southeast for 2019 election; and Chairman of Rivers Council of Traditional Rulers King Dandeson Douglas-Jaja; among other eminent personalities.

    Buhari, who visited the state for the first time since his inauguration on May 29, 2015, got to the arena at 12:34p.m. in an unmarked black Mercedes Benz saloon car, with golden coats of arms in front and at the back.

    The President expressed confidence that the new terminal would help to enhance the economic activities in the state and hailed the Rivers people for their patience during the construction period.

    Buhari said the new international terminal would address the increasing international air travel needs of the country, adding that the increase in population had also added impetus.

    According to him, since the existing terminals in all the major airports in the country were opened in late 1970s and early 1980s, not much had been done to increase their handling capacities by successive administrations

    The president said the completion of the project was in line with his administration’s commitment to completing ongoing projects initiated by his predecessors in the transport sector.

    “I am very pleased to formally commission the new international terminal of the Port Harcourt Airport, Omagwa today.

    “This ceremony represents a significant landmark for international air travellers, especially from the Southsouth region and the entire country.

    “You will recall that after the opening of the major airport terminals in the country in the late 70s and early 1980s, not too much was added to increase the passenger handling capacity by successive administrations.

    “Following the large increase in the number of passengers and air passenger travel, the terminal became grossly inadequate to cater for the increasing passenger travel.

    “Although, palliative measures were periodically carried out on facilities to repair the wear and tear.

    “The Federal Government is responding to global trend of which aviation has become a catalyst for economic growth and facilitates the movement of persons,” he said.

    Buhari hailed the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, particularly aviation, the Chinese government and the China Exim Bank for their financial support and the various roles they played leading to the successful completion of the project.

    He also lauded the contractor, Messrs CCECC, for the timely service delivery.

    Wike said his people and the entire Niger Delta region were happy that the project was completed and inaugurated.

    The governor said: “Before I came here, I wanted to make a request, but before I did it, the Minister of State for Aviation had taken the word from my mouth. He said Mr. President had directed him to make sure that the domestic wing of Port Harcourt International Airport would be commissioned in December this year. I hope that my friend, Senator Hadi Sirika, will keep to it, so that the people of Rivers State and the people of Niger Delta will continue to be happy with President Buhari.

    “Mr. President, what has happened today is a clear statement that Rivers State is safe and secure, for people to come and invest. I urge all of us, who are from Rivers State and who are from Nigeria, to market Rivers State well and not to de-market our state.”

    He said the state government was ready to partner with the Federal Government to develop transport infrastructure.

    Wike hailed the Federal Government for the completion of the new terminal building.

    Minister of State for Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika said the project was executed in partnership with the Chinese Government with $500 million dollars loan from Chinese Exim Bank and 100 million dollars counterpart funding from the Nigerian government.

    Sirika said the airport had the capacity to process seven million passengers annually, bigger than what Ghana could process annually.

    He said the project was initially expected to be delivered within a period of two years, adding that as at the time the present administration came on board, the level of work was below 30 per cent.

    He added that the project was also bedeviled with various technical challenges, which included foundation design change, inaccessibility to apron, inadequate apron, masterplan distortion, water and sewage provision, litigation and inadequate power supply.

    According to him, the administration has achieved a milestone in the implementation of its aviation road map.

  • Senator hails Buhari for road contract award

    Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West) has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for the approval of award of contract for the construction and rehabilitation of Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

    Reacting to the outcome of the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC’s) deliberation on Wednesday, where the council approved the award of N63.023billion contract for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Lagos-Badagry- Seme Border Expressway, Sen. Adeola said it was a commendable action on the part of the Federal Government, adding that it was determined to ameliorate the suffering of his constituents and other Nigerians.

    He said collapse of major roads over the years had caused commuters hardship and crippled businesses along the international land gateway to Nigeria.

    “Millions of my constituents, other Nigerians and foreigners plying this important international highway in Lagos spend gruelling hours in gridlock occasioned by the deplorable state of vast sections of the roads leading to Seme international border with Benin Republic.

    “Last year, I took my town hall meeting and empowerment programme to Badagry and we spent four and a half hours to reach Badagry from Ikeja for a journey of less than one and a half hours. I spent a night and a day to conclude what should ordinarily be a programme of less than three hours,” the senator said.

    He said the approval of the 46- kilometre road contract as announced by Minister of Works, Power and Housing Babatunde Fashola to include a 24- kilometre six lanes and 22- kilometre retaining the old four lanes would impact on the welfare of the people and business growth along the corridor.

    Adeola, the chairman of Senate Committee on Local Content,  added that with the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration undertaking the construction and rehabilitation under contract from the Eric Moore to Okokomaiko section, Nigeria, at the completion of the contract, would have fulfilled its part of the Lagos-Abidjan Highway project as agreed by the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS’) heads of state since 2013.

    He promised to keep a track on the progress of the contract for its complete execution, noting that in a bid to ameliorate people’s suffering on that axis of his humongous senatorial district, he facilitated the rehabilitation of Baale-Olodi Apapa Road (Boundary-Berger-Suya -Kirikiri Bridge) in the 2017 budget by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), as well as inclusion of rehabilitation of Gbagi-Owode Road in Badagry in the 2018 budget of FERMA.

     

  • Ex-agitator: why I won’t back Buhari in 2019

    Eshanekpe Israel a.k.a Akpodoro, leader of National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators (NCNDE-A) was prominent among ex-militant generals, who backed Muhammadu Buhari for President in 2015. He established his loyalty further by helping to cripple operations of the destructive Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). But today, the Urhobo-born ex-agitator has alleged his group was abandoned after working for the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) administration. In this interview, he puts this and others into perspective.

    My name is Eshanekpe Israel a.k.a Akpodoro. I am an Urhobo man from Gbaregolor in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State. I am an ex-militant leader with over 17,000 followership in the Niger Delta. During the disarmament of militants, I played a major role in that process, and we achieved results. The generation of the military echelon at that time can testify to this.

    How has the Amnesty Programme been?

    So far so good, the administrators of the Amnesty Office are the major impediments to the success of the programme owing to their love for aquisition of wealth occasioned by massive looting and lack of focus. Therefore, it will be plausible to say the programme is neither here nor there.

    How do you assess the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration?

    President Buhari’s administration is difficult to assess. Nigerians are frowning more than before. Nigerians are hungry. Any leadership that spreads hunger in the country is a failure. So, the APC government has failed.

    Are you part of the failure?

    No, I am not. Since the President decided to abandon those of us who worked for him by empowering those who opposed him, I had to withdraw my support for his re-election.

    Why?

    It is seemingly not in the character of the President to reward loyalty, particularly those who are not from his place or religion. Remember, I was the only ex-militant leader, who declared support for Buhari in 2014 even though it wasn’t fashionable then. I was used to work against my people for Buhari to rule. My life and that of my family were put on the line for Buhari to be President. Today, I have nothing to show for my loyalty to him.

     Do you regret being instrumental to President Buhari’s success story in the fragile security in Niger Delta?

    I don’t regret pivoting the process that brought renewed militancy to a halt in the Delta region. That region is our home, and we have no other place to call ours. Buhari’s interest in the region is political, while mine is regional and national solidarity. Therefore, I’ve no regret. My only regret was that I worked for President Buhari against my people to become President, after which he neglected me and my followership. I led my group of over 17,000 members to work for Buhari’s victory.

    When did you decide to withdraw your support for the President?

    My decision to withdraw my support for Buhari’s re-election was taken when it became obvious that he would not reward loyalty. When he called the bluff of those who were instrumental to his ascension to power, I took my decision. When the President decided to empower members of the opposition against those of us who almost lost our lives for his cause, I decided to leave him.

    Really?

    Yes. I left Buhari when he patronised notable members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against who we fought to bring All Progressives Party (APC) to the Niger Delta, I took my decision to dump him. When I was asked to bring $100,000 by Aso Rock ‘profiteers’ to have audience with the man I worked for – President Buhari, I decided to withdraw my support for the President.

     What necessitated the demand for $100,000 in Aso Rock?

    There was a growing need to see the President at the time.

     What need?

    I was privy towards the end of 2015 to the plan by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to resume hostilities in January 2016. Several letters about that plan was sent by me to the security chiefs but they didn’t act until the January 2016 strike by the Avengers. Repeated strikes by the Avengers caused the security authority to call me in July that year. Of course, between January and July 2016, you will recall how many times bombs went off in the Delta region.

    I met with a handful of ministers too after the strike in January, explaining the enormity of the plan by the Avengers to wreck havoc on our national patrimony in the region, but was tossed here and there. At a point, I made moves demanding to see the President, but his handlers demanded $100,000 from me to see the man who told me to stabilise the Niger Delta region.

    Also, I needed to see the President over the neglect of my group – the National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, NCNDE-A, and its affiliates by the administration, and possibly engage him on the need for patronage. But $100,000 was a major impediment.

     So, what happened thereafter?

    I was eventually engaged by the Army to cripple the operations of the NDA and we succeeded, and eventually we were further abandoned.

    What do you make of the tardiness of the security chiefs as they failed to act swiftly on your information?

    They are lackadaisical and carefree. They don’t act when needed. They allow evildoers strike severally before they half-heartedly rise to the occasion and that’s the more reason we have killings everywhere in the country. For me, overhauling the security architecture of the country is overdue but unfortunately, the President is not in touch with the reality on ground; he is caged by the racketeers, who I call Jankolikos, in Aso Villa.

    Who are we?

    Members of the NCNDE-A and its affiliates, led by me.

    So, why didn’t you approach the party leaders?

    I did, but I was rebuffed by the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu-led Reconciliation Committee after I was told to submit all documents as mentioned by me to the politician’s aide in his Abuja home following a rally by members of my group. If I may mention this, Asiwaju, prior to the election hosted me in his Lagos home at Bourdillon. He was very happy seeing me that day and he gave me the title: No. 1 APC ex-militant leader …

    He did much better  compared to the deception of Rotimi Amaechi who tricked me into making declaration in the creek for Buhari only to renege in all his promises.

    Incidentally, and as customary of politicians in our clime, Asiwaju became inaccessible after the victory till date.

    How did that affect you?

    My group members, till date thought I’d been settled, and they became hostile but for the fact that they knew how honest I was, the group would have been in extinction today.

    What’s your next line of action?

    For 2019 election, I am still in discussion with powerful forces, which have all it takes to defeat President Buhari. I’m in talks with those forces, which have the capacity to fulfil promises to the nation and individuals.  My coalition is discussing with those who can overrun APC candidate at the poll. We need a more visionary and energetic leader, who can redeem Nigerians from poverty and despondency.

    President Buhari has tried his best; he has fought corruption in the media, let someone else come fight hunger and starvation.

    What do you have to tell Nigerians?

    Stay out of trouble; pursue your dreams diligently and participate more in deciding who your leaders should be. Be patriotic, show solidarity to the Nigerian state. Most importantly, get your PVC and vote out this regime of hunger and starvation.

     

  • Yayi hails Buhari on Lagos-Badagry road contract award

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West), has hailed President Mohammed Buhari for approving the award of contract to rebuild and rehabilitate the deplorable Lagos–Badagry Expressway.

    This is coming a few days after the President’s visit to Badagry in Lagos West Senatorial District.

    Adeola, popularly called Yayi, was reacting to the outcomes of the President Buhari-chaired Federal Executive Council (FEC) deliberation on Wednesday, where the council approved the award of a N63.023 billion contract for the rehabilitation and rebuilding of the Lagos-Badagry-Seme Border Express Road.

    The senator noted that the move was commendable as it showed that the Federal Government was serious to ameliorate the daily suffering of his constituents and other Nigerians.

    He said the collapse of those major roads over the years had caused untold hardship to commuters as well as crippled businesses along the international land gateway to Nigeria.

    Adeola said: “Millions of my constituents, other Nigerians and foreigners plying this critical international highway in Lagos spend gruelling hours in gridlocks occasioned by the deplorable state of vast sections of the roads leading to Seme international border with Benin Republic.

    “Last year, I took my town hall meeting and empowerment programme to Badagry. We spent four and a half hours to reach Badagry from Ikeja for a journey of less than one and a half hours. I had to spend a night and a day to conclude what should ordinarily be a programme of less than three hours.”

    The senator said the approval of the 46-kilometre road contract, as announced by the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, include a 24-kilometre six-lane expressway and 22 kilometred retaining the old four lanes.

    He said the roads would impact positively on the welfare of the people and business growth along the corridor.

    According to him, with Lagos State government under Akinwunmi Ambode undertaking the construction and rehabilitation contract from Eric Moore in Surulere to Okokomaiko section, Nigeria, the completion of the contract would have fulfilled its part of the Lagos- Abidjan highway project as agreed by ECOWAS Heads of State in 2013.

    Adeola promised to keep track of the progress of the contract for its execution.

    The senator said in a bid to ameliorate the suffering of the people in that axis of his “humongous senatorial district”, he facilitated the rehabilitation of Baale-Olodi Apapa Road (Boundary-Berger-Suya-Kirikiri Bridge) in 2017 Budget of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

    A statement by his Media Adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro, said Adeola also included the rehabilitation of Gbagi-Owode Road in Badagry in this year’s budget of FERMA.

     

  • Buhari has not performed, claims PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insisted yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari has not performed.

    Party spokesman Kola Ologbodiyan, in a statement, said: “We know that President Buhari is eager to stuff up his false performance claims ahead of election, but doing so with the achievements of others is the height of desperation and deceit, which has already become repugnant to majority of Nigerians and the international community.

    “The PDP therefore counsels President Buhari’s handlers to use the remaining days of his failed administration to prepare him to get ready to accept his imminent defeat in 2019, as Nigerians have already rallied behind our candidate, Atiku Abubakar, whose performance credential is known to all.”

    The opposition party also accused the administration of claiming credit for the Port Harcourt Airport Terminal, saying the project was conceptualised, articulated and financed by the PDP administration.

    The PDP said President Buhari’s “theatrical” commissioning of the terminal built by the PDP administration was another failed media stunt to create a false impression that Mr. President is performing, even when he made no contribution whatsoever towards the execution of the project.

    “If anything, the Buhari administration, in its incompetence, only succeeded in delaying the completion of the project, which was perfected by the PDP, including payments to contractors.

    “It is to say the least appalling that after three and half years, a President, who is seeking reelection, cannot point to any development project initiated and executed by his administration in any part of our country.

    “Instead, our dear President has been moving around trying to claim credit for projects executed by the PDP, all in a desperate attempt to cover his failures in governance,” he added.

    The PDP said the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had similarly attempted to claim credit for the Abuja Light Rail Project, saying that it is public knowledge that the project was conceptualised and policy-propelled by the PDP.

     

  • Don’t underrate PDP, Yahaya Bello warns

    *How APC can win 2019 election – Yahaya Bello

    *Buhari, best President to lead Nigeria to greatness

     

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday night warned that the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is not a pushover that should be taken for granted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s general election.

    He gave the warning when President Muhammadu Buhari hosted youth political appointees to a dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the APC must go out aggressively to market to Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari and the numerous projects of his government in the last three years, if it must remain in power after 2019.

    He said that the issue of perception must be taken seriously by the APC to ensure that no chance is given to the opposition to return to power in 2019.

    The governor also declared that President Buhari remains the best President to lead Nigeria to greatness beyond 2023.

    He said “All that the crooked PDP is offering Nigerians is that corruption is better than incompetence in quote. 2015 was about change, 2019 will be about progress.

    “As members of the APC, we will not deny that our party has a huge task in the 2019 general elections, the election will never be a walk-over, the PDP will not be a push over.

    “And we must take nothing and no one for granted. If we cannot defeat PDP, maybe we should not be influencers or we should not even go to politics.” he said

    He added “President Buhari is a good product we know, but we must go out to sell him to Nigerians. Perception is very critical in times like this. If we fail, God forbid, the ugly narrative of PDP will overtake the land.

    “Our score card is very rich and very rich enough. We must market the incredible accomplishments of Mr. President and of his administration to every voter and in a language he or she understands.

    “If we fail, God forbids, the adverse narrative being put out by the PDP and other propaganda machine will dominate the land and shape perception.

    “If we don’t market our product very well, a tough and progressive victory against a terrorist threat which continues to cost the lives of our brave military and law enforcement agencies will be mistaken for inactions.

    “If we don’t market our product very well, try our political exposed offenders using long extant laws which previous leaders were not willing to deploy against cronies, accomplishments will be mistaken extra-judicial measures and disdain for the rule of law.

    “If we do not put Mr. President’s achievements before our people so that they can sight it themselves, we will be agreeing with the PDP that in fighting corruption which he is offering again, is somehow better than the alleged incompetence of the APC which has accomplished everything I have enumerated above,”.

    Executive Director at the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Jasper Azuatalam, said that most Nigerians were presently disappointed with the President because he has failed to perform the magic they expected.

    He however stressed that it will be the worst things for Nigeria if power slides back to the PDP in 2019.

    Read Also: NYSC: Only two corps members involved in accident

    He said “The worst thing we can do to this country Nigeria, is to allow PDP to come back to power in 2019. It is the worst thing we can do to Nigeria.

    “I will likened PDP to a lion that has been put in the cage for a long time. I have interacted with their members and I know how hungry they have become because they don’t see free money as before.

    “If we lose this lion again in 2019, then Nigeria is going to walk more than 1,000 steps backward.

    “Like we always said in those days we lost elections, Mr. President will always get eleven to twelve million votes whether he operates from a party or not. That’s how goodwill we had that time.

    “But that is because a lot of people believed that by Mr. President’s integrity and his anti-corruption, he is going to do magic when he resumes office as President. That in two months, Nigeria will change. They don’t know how it would happen.

    “But the truth is that most of these have been disappointed because they didn’t see the magic. That is why we need to do the real work,” he said.

  • Bangladesh opens specialised institute to treat burn patients

    Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has inaugurated the country’s largest specialised institute in Dhaka to offer better treatment facilities to patients with burn injuries.

    The “Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute and Hospital’’ was constructed within about two and a half years at an estimated cost of 66.6 million U.S. dollars under the supervision of Bangladesh Army.

    Officials said that the 12-storey institute was part of the Hasina government’s efforts to ensure modern treatment facilities to patients of burn injuries and train medical professionals in Bangladesh.

    Read Also: Bangladesh, Egypt to exhibit at NCAC expo in November

    Hasina said at the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday that the institute was equipped with most modern equipment.

    She was optimistic that the hospital would be a centre of excellence for treatment, research and studies in Bangladesh.

    Officials said the institute with 500 beds, 50 intensive care units and 12 operating theatres is the largest burn and plastic surgery institute in the world.

  • Buhari to open Port Harcourt airport

    President Muhammadu Buhari is expected today in Rivers State to inaugurate the reconstructed Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

    The President will be visiting Rivers State for the first time since his inauguration on May 29, 2015.

  • Saraki, Dogara to meet Buhari over Kaduna killings, others

    The Senate yesterday mandated its leadership and the leadership of the House of Representatives to urgently meet with President Muhammadu Buhari over increasing spate of killings in parts of the country.

    Saraki and Dogara were specifically asked to enquire from Buhari how the recommendations of the National Assembly on ways and means to prevent crisis in the country were being implemented.

    The resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a motion on: “The wanton killings in Kaduna State, a call for caution.”

    Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North), in his lead debate, drew the attention of the Senate to the wanton killings in Kasuwa Magani, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis under Chikun Local Government.

    He expressed concerned over the destruction of lives and property that “have been spiral in the past days of the week”.

    Read also: Senate urges action on gully erosion menace

    Hunkuyi said the Senate should note “the indiscriminate and senseless killings and insecurity that have pervaded Kaduna and its environs even with the curfew imposed within the state”.

    He feared that the curfew while necessary to curb unwarranted movement could also be counter-productive, when majority of the people of the state were living from hand to mouth.

    The senator said: “Locking people at home can only solve one aspect of the problem, while it can lead to other crimes like robbery and theft.”

    He said the Senate should be aware that the paramount ruler of Adara land, Angwan Adara has been taken hostage with six of his aides killed during a kidnap and hostage-taking on the route from Kaduna to Kachia, which is the headquarters of Adara Chiefdom.

    Hunkuyi prayed the Senate to prevail on the Kaduna State Government and the Federal Government to quicken the release of the paramount ruler of Adara, who was taken away about a week ago.

    Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central), who officially announced his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), said the killings were totally condemnable.

    Senator Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South) described what is going on in Kaduna as “most unfortunate”.

    He said those being killed in Zamfara State were Muslims while those being killed Kaduna State were Christians.

    La’ah criticised the action of Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai for leaving the state without handing over to the deputy governor.

    The Kaduna South senators said it was obvious that those behind the killings were known.

    Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central), in his contribution, said those behind the killings “were well known”.

    Marafa noted that the killings persist because the perpetrators were never punished.

    Senator Philip Gyunka (Nasarawa North) said the problem should be traced to the doorstep of the state governor.

    Saraki said those who spoke underscored the fact that perpetrators were not held accountable for their act.

    He said there was no doubt that there were problems that needed to be sorted out.

    He said the Senate should schedule a date to discuss that issue with heads of security agencies.

    Senator Emmanuel Bwacha countered that a head of security agency invited to discuss the issue refused to honour the invitation “and nothing was done to him”.

    Saraki agreed with the suggestion of the Senate leader Senator Ahmed Lawan that the National Assembly leadership should engage the Executive on implementation of resolutions on national security.

    After two weeks of resumption from its 11-week recess, the National Assembly yesterday adjourned plenary for another two weeks.

    The Senate and the House are scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, November 6.

    Saraki, who announced the adjournment, said the break is essentially to enable members of standing committees to carry out their annual oversight functions.

    Saraki said the senators are required to focus primarily on the implementation of the 2018 budget.

    The Senate yesterday confirmed Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila as the Director General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

    The confirmation followed a favourable report submitted to the upper legislative body by the Senate Committee on Sports and Youth Development.

    Presenting the report, chairman of the committee, Senator Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central), said the committee decided to confirm Gbajabiamila after finding him suitable for the job, following an extensive screening exercise.

    Similarly, the Senate also confirmed the nomination of Dr. Bello Tukur Ingawa as chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission. Ingawa hailed from Katsina State.

    Also confirmed alongside Ingawa were 12 commissioners of the commission.

    Their confirmation followed a report submitted to plenary by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Senator Paulker Emmanuel (Bayelsa Central).

  • I’ll campaign for Buhari, Sanwo-Olu, says Ambode

    •Governor accompanies Buhari to Seme

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has assured Nigerians, especially Lagosians, that he will lead a strong campaign to ensure victory for President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in next year’s general elections.

    Ambode made the promise when he addressed reporters at the Presidential Wing of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, after receiving and accompanying President Buhari to the inauguration of the new Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) border posts at Seme-Krake in Badagry.

    The governor said it was important for the APC to retain its leadership positions at the federal and the state levels.

    He said: “I have just accompanied Mr. President to the Nigerian-Benin Border Post. So, what we have inaugurated today is a joint border patrol post between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin; it is called Seme-Krake Border Post.

    “But again, just to also use this opportunity to let Lagosians know that we are heavily committed to the re-election of Mr. President, you can see that his continuous visits to Lagos reiterate the fact that he is actually a lover of Lagos State. I am committed to ensuring his re-election.

    “We are going to campaign heavily for him. I am also committed to ensuring that the APC wins the governorship election come 2019. We support the candidacy of Babajide Sanwo-Olu and we will make sure that APC retains Lagos State and the centre.”

    The governor earlier received President Buhari at the airport before they proceeded to Seme where the President joined his Republic of Benin counterpart, Patrice Talon, to inaugurate the border post.