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Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari urges National Assembly to pass Proceeds of Crimes Bill

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday urged the National Assembly to speedily consider and pass the Proceeds of Crimes Bill.

    According to him, the provisions of the bill are crucial to effective recovery and managing of stolen assets.

    The President spoke at the State House in Abuja after receiving the report of the three-man Presidential Committee raised to audit recovered funds.

    The panel was raised to carry out a comprehensive audit of assets and funds recovered by federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies from May 29, 2015 to November 22, 2017.

    Buhari said: “However, a key tool that will revolutionize our asset recovery and management architecture is the Proceeds of Crimes Bill which is currently awaiting passage by the National Assembly.

    “Once the Bill is passed and assented, many of the challenges facing our asset recovery and management practice will be adequately taken care of as the Bill addresses most of the challenges facing effective asset recovery and management in Nigeria. I therefore encourage the National Assembly to take necessary steps to pass the Bill.”

    On the committee, Buhari said: “As a result of gaps identified in the asset recovery process and in order to foster greater accountability and transparency; when I inaugurated the Committee in November 2017, I emphasized the resolve of this administration to pursue a strong anti-corruption policy and to trace and recover stolen assets using all legal and diplomatic resources at our disposal.

    “I also directed the agencies involved to submit detailed reports of all their recovered assets by March 2017. I must say that today’s event which symbolizes the successful completion of the onerous task given to this committee is another milestone in the fight against corruption; a project that is very crucial to our developing democratic governance.”

    Corruption, he said, constitutes a threat to the well-being, national security and the economy.

    “I have made it clear that this government will not allow the wanton diversion and embezzlement of public funds into private pockets.  Thus, we intend to continue taking all necessary measures to deprive looters of public assets of the fruits of their crimes.

    “It is in keeping with the anti-corruption policy of this government, and in line with global best practices that this committee was set-up to review our asset recovery and management practices in order to evolve a proper management, transparency and accountability culture in the management of recovered assets.

    “Given our history of impunity, much of Nigeria’s wealth has historically been squandered or stolen; leaving us with inadequate infrastructure for our growing population and economy. Asset Recovery is thus one of the essential tools for fighting corruption and we must therefore take issues of managing such recovered assets very seriously.”

    The President said that the proceeds of the recovered assets would be utilised optimally to address the economic and social problems in the country.

    According to him, loopholes for stealing public funds must be blocked.

    He assured that the report and recommendations of the committee would be carefully examined and given due consideration.

    “Our asset recovery and management system will in future be transparently, effectively and efficiently managed, and we will set-out a fresh template of public accountability in the country,” he added.

    He also assured that his administration will remain committed to its promises.

    “Until Nigeria triumphs over the evil of corruption, attain a prosperous economic status and surmounts all her security challenges,” he said.

    He thanked the committee members for their service and dedication in preparing the report.

    Justice Minister & Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami gave the breakdown and total amount of assets recovered within the period under consideration.

    He said “N3.8 million, $378 million and 27,800 pounds have been recovered from public officials.

    “In summary the recovered funds by the three man committee is N769 billion cash was recovered within the period under review,” he said

    Malami also disclosed that the Federal Government recovered N13.8 billion from tax evaders in May 2018.

    In May 2018, he said, government paid N439.2 million to about 14 whistle blowers who gave specific information on tax evasion.

    While thanking the President for the opportunity to serve, panel chair Olufemi Lijadu hoped that the report will assist the government’s efforts to ensure that recovered assets are accounted for and managed in an accurate, transparent and logical manner.

    According to him, the report is prepared in four volumes.

    He said: “Volume I is the main report which contains the committee’s findings and recommendations; Volume II contains the detailed schedule of cash recoveries; Volume III contains the detailed schedule of non-cash recoveries; Volume IV contains correspondence with auditees and Volume V contains presentations and memoranda from auditees and professional organizations.”

  • Nigerians ‘ll enjoy 24-hour power supply if Buhari is re-elected, says Amaechi

    Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has said Nigerians will enjoy 24 hours electricity if President Muhammadu Buhari is re-elected.

    He said the Buhari administration has achieved a lot in security, road, war against corruption and so on.

    The minister, who spoke yesterday during an interactive session with the media, said the government was tackling killings associated with herdsmen,

    Commenting on why Buhari and the APC government deserved a second term, Amaechi said: “Nigerians have taught me a lesson I learnt in politics and that is why nothing bothers me again. The people praising you today, if you see them when you are out of power, you will be shocked. Those singing hallelujah and hosanna will still be the same people to shout crucify him tomorrow.

    “We have done much more than transport. In terms of corruption; this economy was a rent economy. Public money was spent anyhow and it was an economy that was not worked hard for. This is why you see politicians today very rich and one year after government, they are poor. They are like that because they don’t know how to manage the money.

    “When Buhari came, he said no and that we cannot continue to spend anyhow. Buhari has not said people should not steal; he has rather kept quiet to see who can steal because there is a consequence for stealing.

    “I don’t want to say it has stopped completely, but it has reduced. Before, there were many empty houses in Abuja. People were building and speculating that new politicians would come in and buy. But we came in, we could not buy because of the economy. So if you say Buhari has not done anything on corruption, you are being most unfair.

    “Also, the 2016 budget was six per cent capital, but we are doing 20 per cent capital now. We are doing 80 per cent recurrent and 20 per cent capital. We believe that in the next two to three years, we will get to 30 per cent capital and we will get there if we reduce the current expenditure and deal with wastages.”

    He continued: “It is also unfair if Nigerians think the Ministry of Works is not working. The road to Bonny was abandoned after Obasanjo left the government.

    “The contract sum for the road was below N39billion, but it is now N120billion. When I was governor, I wrote to the Federal Government under Jonathan that I wanted to do the road for N39billion, but they didn’t reply me.

    “My final year as governor, Energy wrote that they would take care of 50 per cent of the bill and I wrote again to the Federal Government, but they didn’t reply because I was in APC. Now that the Federal Government wants to do it, the cost is now N120billion.

    “So, Buhari government is dealing with corruption, building roads. The worst road in Nigeria used to be between Uyo and Calabar, but it has been awarded.

    “The road to Enugu too that people are complaining about, contractors are working on the road already. The work may be slow, but they are working. When we came, oil was $28 per barrel and our budget was $35 and suddenly it dropped, but the minister of Budget managed it for us to survive. Now oil is $74, but we still have not reached $110. If we get to that, things will change rapidly. Also, the Ilorin-Jebba road. Contracts for the construction of many roads have been awarded.

    “There is also an improvement in power. We have moved from 3000megawatt to 7000, but we are distributing 5000 because some of the infrastructures are not in good state. But we are fixing them.

    “The expectation is that it should be 24 hours power supply, but there will still be a gap. But if you give us a second term, that gap will be closed.”

    On insecurity, he said: “There is improvement in security. When the President promised security; he was looking at Boko Haram.  Boko Haram no longer have the power that they had then. Before we came, the situation was worse, churches were not safe, but now you can go to church freely and nearly all the security agencies that had special protection have reduced their protection gates because fears have reduced.

    “The threats, which used to envelope the North, have reduced and we are addressing the ones in Borno, unlike before where they would overrun villages and hoist their flags and say they owned the villages.

    “If you ask of our achievement, I think many people can attest to what we have done. People no longer go through rigorous searches before entering public places.”

  • ‘Buhari to lead Nigeria delegation to 73rd UN General Assembly’

    The Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, says President Muhammadu Buhari, will lead Nigeria’s  delegation to the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, which begins Sept. 18.

    The 73rd UNGA will begin Sept. 18 at the UN Headquarters, New York, while the General Debate will hold from Sept. 25 to Oct. 1.

    Onyeama, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a news conference on the 73rd UNGA, said Mr President would use the opportunity to assert Nigeria’s position on  global issues.

    “It an opportunity for him to assert Nigeria’s  position globally and to put forward our ideas and our vision going forward as a global community.

    “The President will address the 73rd Session of the High-Level General Debate of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Sept. 25.

    “He will deliver Nigeria’s National Statement on the first day of the general debate of the General Assembly high-level events,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Buhari has been placed as the number 20 on the list of the speakers out of the 193 world leaders that would address the Assembly.

    Read also: PDP kicks against Buhari’s asset seizure Executive Order

    He would deliver the address to the Assembly on the first day between 8.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. (between 1.00 a.m. and 2.00 a.m. local time).

    Onyeama said the theme for this year’s UNGA is:“Making the United Nations relevant to all People: Global Leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable development “.

    According to him, as usual Mr president will be leading Nigeria delegation with the numbers of Ministers and heads of agencies and permanent secretary to the event.

    “Of course, this is the global meeting of heads of state in the world.

    “It is extremely important and it is a rare opportunity for Nigeria as a country to engage with the other countries of the world,” he said.

    Onyeama said the 73rd UNGA will avail Nigeria and other member states of the UN the opportunity to engage, interface and share best practices toward reaching common understanding and consensus on key issues of global significance.

    According to him, Mr President will hold bilateral meetings with the UN Secretary-General, some African and other world leaders, as well as few strategic partners during this period.

    “Nigeria’s expected outcome at the 73rd UNGA should be to achieve a well-planned, synchronised and successful participation of Nigeria at the 73rd Session, under the guidance of Mr President.

    “It will be weighed against the back drop of externalisation of Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives through effective engagement,” he said. (NAN)

  • 2019: Buhari receives APC nomination form

    President Muhammadu Buhari has received the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential expression of interest and nomination forms.

    He received the forms at the state house in Abuja on Tuesday by the Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN).

    Buhari made this known in a post on his Twitter account. He said:

    “Just now at the State House I was presented with the APC Presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, by the Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN). A mixture of familiar faces, as well as new ones,united by a common vision of a secure & prosperous Nigeria.”

  • 2019: Buhari receives forms today

    President Muhammadu Buhari will today receive expression of interest and nomination forms for the 2019 elections.

    The Nation learnt yesterday that the forms would be delivered to him by 11:30am at the New Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Last week, it was reported that a group under the auspices of National Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN), bought the forms for Buhari at N45million.

    The National Coordinator of the group, Sanusi Musa, in company of his members, said: “We are members of NCAN. Our resolve, since our formation over a year ago, is to ensure that President Buhari seeks another term as well as ensure that the president emerges victorious in the 2019 poll.

    “Our reason for embarking on this project is based on the recognition of the fact that the President has started laying a foundation for a better Nigeria and there is need to consolidate on the gains made.

    “It is for this reason we pride ourselves as Network of Consolidation Ambassadors. From September 2017 to April, NCAN was in the forefront of calling on President Buhari to seek re-election, to consolidate on the good work he has been doing, by building on the foundation he has laid for a prosperous Nigeria.

    “As God will have it, Mr. President acceded to the voice of reasoning and declared his intention to seek re-election in 2019. We believe in the leadership of President Buhari; we can count on him to consolidate the good work he has started for another four years.

    “It is for this reason that we have decided to pull our meagre resources together and buy the expression of interest and nomination forms for President Buhari, as he presents himself to party members; to be chosen as their candidate for the 2019 presidential election.

    “Our members, from villages, local governments and states have contributed to making this happen.

    “It is my singular honour and rare privilege to present to you a cheque of N45 million, as payment for the expression of interest and nomination forms for President Buhari.”

    Speaking in an interview at the weekend, Musa said they could not hand over the documents to the President immediately after purchase, as he was then outside the country.

    “President Buhari has just returned. So, we have not presented the forms to him. We are in the process of sending them,” he said.

  • Buhari to open NPA conference

    President Muhammadu Buhari  is expected to declare open the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) Africa Regional Conference slated for September 17 to 19 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

    Former Head of State General AbdulSalam Abubakar will chair the event.

    The event, according to Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, will be attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    The theme of the conference, being hosted by the NPA, is “African ports and hinterland connectivity”.

    The event, according to Ms Usman, will draw key stakeholders in port and harbours across the continent  and other parts of the world.

    She said: “The IAPH Africa Conference will assemble key experts and stakeholders in the port logistics and transport industry to provide a deeper understanding of the concept of port hinterland connectivity. The conference will assess the present landscape of Africa’s port sector and the challenges faced in hinterland connectivity. It will discuss the experiences of port hinterland connectivity in other parts of the world compared to Africa, explore possible critical solutions, and recommend best home-grown models that would enable Africa to improve on its port hinterland connectivity and intra-regional trade.’’

  • Coalition asks Buhari to reject N45m nomination form

    The Coalition of other APC Presidential Aspirants has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to reject the sponsorship of his nomination form for the 2019 presidential election by a group of supporters, saying it belies the anti-corruption position of his administration.

    The group is also asking that the N45 million requirements for obtaining nomination form be scrapped as it fundamentally contravenes section 90 of the electoral law, encourages corruption, and narrows the chances of unscrupulous Nigerians interested in the presidential race.

    Charles Udeogaranya who spoke at a press conference in Lagos said aggrieved aspirants will not hesitate to conduct an independent primary election should the party remain insensitive to their concerns.

    Udeogaranya also stressed that the party would only be paying lip service to the not-too-young run bill if it pegs the nomination form at such a rate.

    He said: “It is not enough to proclaim one thing and be doing another. Though some aspirants can afford the exorbitant cost of the forms, such amount is clearly not affordable to many others, including President Buhari and particularly the youths and women of our great party, APC. We have decided to take the bull by the horn and save it from a dangerous path. We must provide quality leadership which is now a very costly commodity in the Nigerian political cycle.”

    A member of the coalition, Dr. SKC Ogbonnia in his contribution said lack of policy implementation was one of the challenges confronting the country which must be addressed for progress to be made.

    “The time is gone when promises will be made and promises will not be kept. Nigeria’s problem is not lack of natural resources. It is not lack of human resources. Our problem is lack of implementation of existing policies. Policies are created but not implemented. What Nigeria needs today is men if purpose who have the will power to implement policies. If we can do these, we can help chart the nation on a part of progress,” Ogbonnia explained.

    Alhaji Mumakai-Umagha, another APC aspirant from the Delta region said it was regrettable to have such a situation in the party, accusing the party’s National Working Committee of sidelining other aspirants by inviting the president for several meetings without their knowledge.

    “There was no reason whatsoever to warrant the increment. As it is now, the game is for the highest bidder and who gets what. The contest is gradually being narrowed down to those who stole government fund to pick nomination forms,” he lamented.

  • ‘Buhari not in confrontation with NASS over electoral act’

    The Presidency says President Muhammadu Buhari is neither in confrontation with the parliament over his refusal to sign the amended Electoral Act Bill nor against the use of card readers in the forthcoming elections.

    The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, who stated this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, said the president’s decision to decline assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018, had nothing to do with the use of card readers.

    Shehu, therefore, dismissed the allegations of opposition politicians, as well as some newspaper editorial opinions creating the impression that the President was against e-voting and the use of card readers in the 2019 elections.

    The presidential aide expressed the readiness of Buhari to sign the Electoral Act after effecting all the necessary corrections, adding that he (President Buhari) had asked his officials to dialogue with the legislature for the corrections to be effected.

    “We wish to state in clear and unambiguous terms that the issue of e-voting and use of card readers was NEVER an issue for the President’s decision to decline assent to the Bill.

    “It is equally important that this issue was not raised either by the Executive or the Legislature in the recent reviews.

    “Moreover, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) adoption of e-voting reforms is enshrined in the 2015 Amendment Act to the Electoral Reform Act. Card reader is therefore a settled matter,’’ he said.

    According to him, the President’s recent decision to decline assent to the Bill has no effect whatsoever on INEC’s use of card readers.

    He further maintained: “Regrettably, purveyors of ‘fake news’ have been quick to churn out sensational headlines such as that of a leading newspaper, which screamed: “Card Reader in Jeopardy, Buhari Rejects Electoral Act Amendment Bill Again.”

    “Unfortunately, most of the critics of the President, including the editorial of a national daily this morning read out parts of the letters, as made available by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, detailing the issues that were of concern to the government.

    “An issue has been raised by the President concerning some ill-prepared and flawed parts of the bill for which corrections needed to be made to allow for his signature.’’

    The presidential spokesman added that the President wanted engagement with the parliament for the corrections to be effected so that, at the end of the day, “both arms of government will be happy with the fact that we have a good electoral law in place.

    “The President is not in confrontation with the parliament on this issue. He has asked his officials to dialogue with the legislature for the corrections to be effected.

    “As for his alleged rejection of the card reader, nothing can be farther from the truth.’’

    He described Buhari as the country’s number one fan of the card reader.

    He said: “For a candidate who ran three times and “lost” in an electoral environment in which votes were allocated and losers asked to go to court if they felt unhappy, the President knows fully well the role that the card reader played in his emergence in 2015.

    “He has said times without number that he would strengthen and widen its application in the country and this, he is determined to do.’’

    Shehu, therefore, appealed especially to the media to disregard baseless allegations against the President, “even as he puts in his best efforts in working with the National Assembly to give the nation a good electoral law, and in time.

    “The card reader is not in danger of being discarded. It is a sine qua non for credible elections.’’

    He also appealed to the National Assembly to reconvene as soon as possible to consider and approve the necessary corrections to the amended electoral act. (NAN)

  • PDP accuses Buhari of secretly releasing N16bn to Osun

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of authorising secret release of N16.6 billion Paris Club fund to Osun State.

    In a statement yesterday by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition party said the president’s action amounted to aiding corruption.

    The PDP said its investigation had revealed that the N16.6 billion was meant to bribe officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    It also alleged that part of the money was meant to compromise international observers as to pay hoodlums to be contracted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a plot to rig the upcoming September 22 governorship election in Osun.

    The opposition party further alleged that part of the fund was to be moved to some unnamed private company accounts, as well as various hidden locations for the ‘compromised’ INEC officials and APC leaders.

    “The PDP has been at alert regarding the movement of these funds and other secret deals between the APC and INEC and will not hesitate to expose the INEC officials, including a close relation of the President, who has been the arrow head of plots to rig elections for the APC.

  • Merkel extracts rule of law promise from Buhari

    LESS than one week after President Muhammadu Buhari controversially declared before legal experts in Abuja that the rule of law must be subordinated to national security, he gave a promise to visiting German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, that he would in fact respect the rule of law. In a statement issued by one of his spokesmen, Garba Shehu, the president hinged the preservation of societal unity and harmony upon the rule of law. The president, according to the statement, further suggested that the rule of law contained all the relevant mechanisms for conflict resolution. Hearing the president speak that way, his audience might be tempted to think he was walking back on his earlier controversial statement.

    But given his attitude since he made that declaration before members of the Nigerian Bar Association at their annual meeting, there is nothing to indicate that the president’s opinion of the rule of law has changed either superficially or fundamentally between when he spoke at the NBA meeting and when he received the German chancellor. The attitude of the Buhari presidency, as embodied in the president’s own statement and his Justice minister’s July declaration that the rule of law could not be applied at certain moments, is that the executive branch had the prerogative to determine when the rule of law should be constrained and when it should not.

    If indeed the president was walking back on his controversial assault on the rule of law, he would have long since taken steps to remedy the instances when he wilfully and whimsically subordinated the rule of law to his government’s uncertain and unreliable definition of national security. Two of these instances are his government’s disobedience of court orders in the trials of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, a retired colonel, and Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, both of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), aka Shiites. At bottom, the Buhari government has never felt comfortable with the rule of law. It is uncertain that his statement to the contrary before Mrs Merkel would be sufficient to prove that he had become born again on the matter of the rule of law. Worse, until he satisfies himself, he is unlikely to feel constrained by the law and the constitution to do what is morally and legally right.