The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • ‘Trump’s comment won’t keep world leaders from Buhari’

    The Presidency yesterday said the recent comment credited to the United States President, Donald Trump won’t keep other world leaders away from President Muhammadu Buhari.

    While the British Prime Minister, Theresa May visited Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday, the German Chancellor, Ms Angela Merkel did the same on Friday.

    Speaking with journalists on arrival in Beijing, China, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said there is a special attraction to Buhari and Nigeria.

    He said: “You know that as a policy, we said that we are not going to answer the American President, however, the fact that the entire world and world leaders are coming to meet President Muhammadu Buhari, is an indication that there is something about President Buhari, there is something about the Nigeria he now leads, that the world likes.

    “I think that Nigerians themselves should better look at this from this positive point of view. It is a major development.

    “We had situations in the country in the past where key world leaders didn’t want to meet our own leaders, all of that has changed in the last three years.”

    On the expectations of Nigeria from President Buhari’s visit to China, he said: “You know from the last summit in South Africa, the Chinese financing of projects in Nigeria has more than doubled under President Muhammadu Buhari and therefore, we expect that if the same momentum is maintained.

    “We hope that going forward, all of the projects that are outstanding like the Kaduna-Kano rail project, the coastal rail scheme, Mambilla power project, the second phase of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport expansion project, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja/ Kano.

    “All of these projects, they will move more steadily and thankfully, we have virtually everyone who matters on our own side.

    “So, we hope that whatever is left, the doted lines will be signed, and we are hoping that we will take back with us, quite a number of schemes that will take Nigeria forward.”

  • Video: Buhari arrives China for FOCAC summit

    President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Beijing, the People’s Republic of China to participate in the 7th Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation

  • Photos: Buhari arrives China for summit

    President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Beijing, the People’s Republic of China to participate in the 7th Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation

    Buhari
    Buhari on arrival in China

    Buhari

    Buhari

  • Photos: Buhari off to China for summit

    President Muhammadu Buhari  on Friday departed Abuja for China to participate in the 7th Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled to hold September 3 – 4, 2018 in Beijing.

  • We respect rule of law, agreements, Buhari tells Merkel

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja said his administration will always uphold the sanctity of the rule of law in governing the country.

    He also assured the visiting German Chancellor Angel Merkel that all agreements will be fully respected.

    President Buhari received the German Chancellor, who was accompanied by top government officials and a business delegation, at the Presidential Villa.

    In his remarks during a bilateral meeting, the President said unity and harmony in every society can only be preserved by observing the rule of law, and ensuring that agreements reached in good faith are followed through to the mutual benefit of countries.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, also told Chancellor Merkel and members of her delegation that the rule of law embodies all the rightful mechanisms for conflict resolution, both within the country, and in dealing with all foreign partners.

    He assured that his administration remains focused on delivering a peaceful, economically viable and politically stable polity to all Nigerians.

    The President said Nigeria remained grateful to the German government for the fair treatment of migrants.

    He said Nigeria looks forward to improving its trade figures with Germany, which had taken strong interest in investing in the country and supporting the government in providing effective services in security, education and creation of jobs.

    Read Also: Buhari,  Angela Merkel meet in Aso Rock

    The President said his administration instituted reforms in the economy to make it more internationally attractive and business friendly for investors, noting that infrastructure development had been a priority, especially in power supply, road and rail constructions.

    The economy, he said, was already responding to the diversification reforms and the stimulus of the government as growth is now largely driven by the non-oil sector.

    The President said Nigeria was politically stable, urging German investors to take advantage of the friendly climate.

    “I enjoin you to invest in Nigeria because this is the best time to do so,’’ he added.

    President Buhari noted that the successful political transitions since 1999 were clear indications of the country’s stability and preparedness to welcome more investments that will bolster the economy.

    In her remarks at the meeting, Chancellor Merkel said Germany is prepared to further strengthen bilateral and business relations with Nigeria, which, according to her, controls 60 per cent of ECOWAS economy.

    She said the population growth and opportunities in the economy can always be explored to improve employment situation in the country.

    Chancellor Merkel said the three Memoranda of Understanding signed during the visit represent a starting point for a healthier and deeper partnership with Nigeria in areas of security, trade, immigration and education.

    The Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Volkswagen of South Africa for the manufacturing of Volkswagen vehicles in Nigeria, while Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Petkus Technologies GMBH for the supply of seed and grain processing machines.

    The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with German African Business Association on fostering trade and investment.

  • Photos/Video: Buhari, Angela Merkel meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the German Chancellor, Ms Angela Merkel at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Merkel’s visit to Nigeria is part of her visits to some African countries.

  • Buhari to illegal migrants: You are at risk

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday warned that Nigerians travelling out of the country illegally in search of greener pasture are doing so at their own risk.

    Buhari gave the warning during a joint press briefing with the visiting German Chancellor, Ms Angela Merkel at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, his administration does not support anything illegal or indiscipline.

    Those illegal Nigerian migrants stuck in foreign countries, he said, will continue to be repatriated back home.

    According to him, the Federal Government had so far repatriated over 3,000 illegal migrants who were stuck in Libya on their way to Europe.

    He said “I’m against those (my) countrymen and women that illegally find their ways to other countries other than Nigeria.

    “But I believe you know that the ECOWAS Protocol includes free movement of persons and goods and services.

    “But for those going to Europe we are not as an administration in agreement with those Nigerians who try to defy the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean because they feel there are greener pasture there, whether they are pre-paid, free or not.

    “It would be recalled that we repatriated about 3,000 Nigerians that were stuck in Libya on their way to Europe.

    “You also must have read in the newspapers or seen in the television stations the number of Nigerians lost in the Mediterranean,’’ he said.

    He added “So, the position of this administration is very clear, we do not support anything illegal, and anybody who feels that his country does not value, does not offer him what he should be offered as a citizen and decided to defy the desert and the Mediterranean is doing it at his own risk.

    “But if found stuck in Libya or anywhere between his final destination and Nigeria we will bring him back home.” he stated

    Speaking through an interpreter, Merkel, gave details of agricultural cooperation and other assistance coming to Nigeria.

    She also said that Germany would provide educational assistance that would increase the number of Nigerian students studying in Germany.

    The two countries on Friday signed two Memoranda of Understanding in agriculture and commerce.

    The first agreement was signed between the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA and the German-Africa Business Association.

    The First Deputy National President of NACCIMA, Hajia Saratu Iya Abubakar, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while Dr. Stefan Liebing, of German Africa Business Association, signed on behalf of the German Business Delegation.

    The second agreement was signed between the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, NIRSAL, and the PETKUS Technologie GmbH, a company that specializes in post-harvest agricultural value chain.

    While the Managing Director of NIRSAL, Aliyu Abdulhameed, signed on behalf of Nigeria, the representative of PETKUS Technologie GmbH, Peter Huser, signed for the Germans.

    Speaking after signing the MOUs, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, said the agreements would increase the collaboration between Nigeria and Germany in the two areas.

    Enelamah said the agreements would also leverage small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.

    He said: “We want our SMEs to learn from the German Experience and be as important. The other area of German excellence is the technical area; technical education, technical training and technical development. It’s also an area of great interest to Nigeria.

    “We are also working with Germany in the automobile sector because that’s also an area where Germany is a leader and Nigeria clearly has a policy to be a leader in the auto sector in West Africa and Africa.”

    He said all these would require high levels of engagement, collaboration and communication to be actualized.

    Also speaking, Abdulhameed said the MOU signed between NIRSAL and PETKUS was borne out of the realization of the opportunities that exist for investments in the Nigerian agricultural sector under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    He said: “Under the current administration and the present agricultural promotion policy of this government, there are ample opportunities for investors, in terms of technology and capital, to come to Nigeria and to invest in the agricultural sector.

    “NIRSAL provides the risking environment and mechanisms to enable investors like PETKUS to come to Nigeria and do their business.”

    According to him, the agreement would go a long way in reducing the 51.3metric tons of aggregate food production, equivalent of about US$9 billion, which the Food and Agricultural Organisation, FAO, report says Nigeria loses annually.

    He said PETKUS, which specializes in the post harvest segment of the agricultural value chain, would bring its expertise to bear on post harvest productions in Nigeria.

    In his remarks, Huser said the interest of his company was to help small farmers boost their yield.

    “We are not talking about big investments; we are talking about small holder farmers, where we like to help them to boost their yield, to get better yield; we are talking about plant production, we are talking about fertilization.”

    He said each machine supplied by PETKUS Technologie would provide employment and improve income for five persons and their families.

    “We are talking today not about one machine; we are talking about one thousand machines and you can imagine the value this can bring into the agricultural sector,” Huser said.

    He said the agreement was a step further in the interest of his company in Nigeria.

  • Osun 2018: APC has laid good foundation – Tinubu

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Thursday night declared that the government of the outgoing Osun State Governor, Rauf Aragbesola, has laid good foundation for the party to retain the seat in the forthcoming governorship election.

    The election comes up on the 22nd of September, 2018.

    Tinubu spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of APC South West stakeholders with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the APC is also fielding a qualified technocrat in the forthcoming election.

    He said “We expect victory. We have a progressive government there where the incumbent and the outgoing governor has worked and laid a good foundation. Therefore, we have successes to build upon.

    “We equally are bringing in one of the most competent and qualified technocrat in the person of Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola. He is eminently qualified.” he said

    Asked if the Osun election is going to be a hard battle like the Ekiti governorship election, he said “You don’t predict the activity of elections. It can always be unique from one state to the other.

    “But we believe that with our leadership in Osun from the state chairman down to the lowest level and the way they conducted the direct primary and the way people had turned out, are signals to the opposing parties that they have no way of beating us.”

    The Osun State Governorship candidate for APC, Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, thanked President Buhari for the opportunity of the visit.

    Read Also: Buhari laying foundation for better future, says Tinubu

    He said “It shows that he is the father of all. He is committed to APC winning the Osun election come 22nd September this year.

    “He is committed to our party retaining the government, he is committed to free and fair elections. And I want to say categorically, that by the grace of God, we are winning that election on the 22nd of September.” he said

    The victory, he said, would be a foundation for the election of President Buhari in 2019.

    He added “We are committed to it and I belong to Buhari Support Group. We have done very well as a party, we have done very well as a government, the governor has done very well. The state has changed from what it used to be. Huge development projects have been taking place.”

    While thanking the former APC aspirants for their love and understanding, he said that there is now absolute reconciliation of all the aspirants.

    “We are all now working together, except for the few people that decided to defect. But that will not have any serious consequence on the outcome of the election.” he said

    Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Gamduje, who is the chairman of the Osun Governorship Campaign Council, said that the purpose of the meeting was to create an inclusive atmosphere so that they would face the election squarely.

    He said “From what has transpired, all those who contested, the aspirants that lost the election, they have pledged their loyalty, commitment and that they are part and parcel of the election campaign.

    “So, that is very encouraging. And also other stakeholders have made their commitments in order to win this very important election.

    “And most importantly is that Mr President has blessed the Campaign Council. He has appreciated those aspirants who lost the election and he appreciated also the commitment of all those who matter in the South West geopolitical zone APC politics. I think that is very encouraging for us.” he added

  • Buhari, Angela Merkel meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the German Chancellor, Ms Angela Merkel at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
    Merkel’s visit to Nigeria is part of her visits to some African countries.
    The meeting started in the President’s office shortly after Merkel arrived the forecourt of the State House, Abuja around 10.02am.
    She was received on arrival by President Buhari and top government officials.
    She came to Nigeria with a business delegation towards exploring investment opportunities in Nigeria.
    The issue of security challenges particularly in the North Eastern part of Nigeria, among other issues, are expected to be discussed at the meeting.
    Merkel’s visit came about 48 hours after the British Prime Minister, Theresa May’s visit to the State House, Abuja on Wednesday.
    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Soyinka criticises Buhari on rule of law, national interest

    Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for saying that rule of law can be suspended for the sake of national security or interest.

    Soyinka claimed that Buhari was preparing an alibi for disregarding judicial decisions.

    The President made the comment on Sunday at the opening of the 58th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja.

    Relying on a Supreme Court judgment, he said: “Rule of law must be subject to the supremacy of the nation’s security and national interest.

    “Our apex court has had cause to adopt a position on this issue in this regard and it is now a matter of judicial recognition that; where national security and public interest are threatened or there is a likelihood of their being threatened, the individual rights of those allegedly responsible must take second place, in favour of the greater good of society.”

    But Soyinka, in a statement titled Buhari’s pernicious doctrine’ faulted the President’s position.

    Soyinka said: “Here we go again! At his first coming, it was ‘I intend to tamper with Freedom of the Press’ and Buhari did proceed to suit action to the words, sending two journalists Irabor and Thompson to prison as a reward for their professional integrity.

    “Now, a vague, vaporous, but commodious concept dubbed ‘national interest’ is being trotted out as alibi for flouting the decisions of the Nigerian judiciary.”

    Soyinka wondered if President Buhari’s incarceration by the former President Ibrahim Babangida’s regime was also in the ”national interest”.

    He thanked the President for notifying Nigerians of his intentions in advance.

    Soyinka said: “The timing is perfect, and we have cause to be thankful for the advance warning, since not all rulers actually make a declaration of intent, but simply proceed to degrade the authority of the law as part of the routine business of governance. We have been there before.

    The playright challenged the the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to give a “robust response”.

    He said: “It should be of mere interest, not despondency, that this latest proclamation of dictatorial recidivism has also been made before an assembly of officers of the law, the Nigerian Bar Association. We expect a robust response from the NBA as part of its conclusions.

    According to Soyinka, “There is no short cut to democracy.

    “The history of law, even where uncodified, is as old as humanity. Numerous rulers have tried again and again to annul that institution. Sometimes, they appear to succeed, but in the end, they pay heavy forfeit. So does society.

    “The Rule of Law, however, outlasts all subverters, however seemingly powerful. If the consequences for society in defence of the Rule of Law were not so costly, any new attempt would be merely banal and boring, hardly deserving of attention. We know, historically, where it will all end.”