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Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari wades in governors, FAAC row

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has waded into the deadlock in the meeting between the Federation Accounts and Allocation Committee (FAAC) and the governors.

    Nigerian Governors Forum Chairman and Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari and Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun briefed State House correspondents yesterday after a meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Yari said: “Initially, it was supposed to be a private meeting, but it has turned to be official. We were supposed to hold the FAAC meeting since last week, which became deadlock. That is why I came to discuss with the President.

    “And in further discussion, the Chief of Staff decided to invite the minister so that we can discuss further and to know how best we can deal with the issue at hand.”

    Asked whether there is any headway, he said: “Yes, there is headway because the President and the Minister of Finance will meet with NNPC officials, where the problem is so that we will solve it.”

    On the fruitfulness of the meeting, Mrs. Adeosun said: “As you know, the FAAC meeting was inconclusive last Wednesday and since then, we have been having series of engagements between ourselves, governors, the commissioners and the various stakeholders.

    “Today’s meeting was for me to brief the governors and the Chief of Staff, and by extension, the President on the progress we have made so far on our position. The President has promised that he is going to take the next step and to that extent, we were very successful.”

    Asked if the NNPC finances are not under the TSA, she said: “They are. Every agency is in the TSA. You know FAAC is unique. All the revenue generating agencies make their returns every month in FAAC. And those returns are net of their expenses. So, it is in the area of expenses where we have dispute.

    “It is not in the gross revenue. The area of dispute is what has been deducted from the gross revenue to give us the net, which is brought to the FAAC account.

    “But I think this is a healthy process. We must be satisfied with figures before we sign up. We must as stakeholders ensure that all our agencies are aligned with the programmes of the government in terms of getting this economy really moving. It is more of reconciliations than stand ups. I’m sure we will have the FAAC in the days or so resolved.”

  • How Ayade’s trailblazing project charms Buhari

    The enormous demands of his office coupled with the complex nature of the federation makes the Nigerian President one of the busiest presidents in the world hence to get President Muhammadu Buhari to pay a visit to a state twice within three years is no mean feat.

    This is why friends and foes alike have been wondering how Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade was able to bring the President to the state twice in three years, especially in view of the fact that both leaders belong to opposing political parties. President Buhari is of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) while Ayade is governor on the platform of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, (PDP).

    Cross River is one of the few states the President has visited more than once since assuming office May 29, 2015. In fact the state was the first state he officially visited shortly after assuming office.

    The people of Cross River say Ayade’s winning formula which attracts the president to the state is good governance.

    President Buhari’s second coming on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 woke the sleepy but alluring city of Calabar, the Cross River state capital as it bustled with human and vehicular traffic.

    Ecstatic and cheering Cross Riverians lined virtually all the streets in the beautiful city to welcome the president and show appreciation to their performing governor. The Nigerian leader was in the state to commission another of Ayade’s people oriented project, the Cross River Rice Seed and Seedling factory. The facility is the first automated rice seeds and seedlings factory in Africa.

    President Buhari beamed with smiles as he commissioned the project. He was evidently excited by the multi-billion Naira magnificent rice factory and Ayade’s unwavering commitment to decouple the state from over dependence on crude oil driven federal allocation by investing massively in agriculture.

    Essentially, Governor Ayade’s revolution in agriculture resonates across the state with the ongoing construction of rice mill in Ogoja, the cotton farm in Woda – Yala, the cocoa processing plant in Ikom, the banana plantation in Odukpani, the feed mill  and yellow mill maize farm in Obubra, as well as the ultramodern poultry  farm in Calabar for export of  frozen chicken.

    Speaking at the event, the President described Calabar as home and said he was delighted to visit the state again in connection with yet another visionary project from Governor Ayade.

    Buhari: “I must say that visiting the state for the second time within three years in connection with Governor Ayade’s people oriented project is heartwarming.”

    The President expressed joy that Ayade’s agricultural blitz in Cross River is in tandem with his government’s vision.

    “When we assumed the reins of leadership of our dear country, our administration launched a zero-oil economic roadmap as a way of making our country less dependent on oil, while encouraging investments in other sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture. I am happy Governor Ayade keyed into that policy and has today become a reference point in our agricultural revolution effort”, the President said.

    He praised the governor for focusing on projects that are building a new economic base  for Cross River rather projects with short term benefits for the purpose of making cheap political points, saying Ayade “has keen eyes for tomorrow”.

    Buhari is optimistic that seedlings from the Cross River rice factory will improve rice yield from the current national average of 3 to 4 tons per hectare to about 9 to 10 tons per hectares, thus helping to ensure rice sufficiency in the country, save foreign exchange and create jobs for the unemployed. The President thus directed relevant federal government agencies, particularly the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through its anchor borrower’s programme to partner with Cross River state in the area of supply of seedlings to farmers.

    Barely 24 hours after the commissioning of the rice factory, the presidential directive assumed life following the receipt of orders from Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) for the supply of rice seedlings to the tune of N2 billion.

    An elated Governor Ayade said: “Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Rice and Wheat Production, Senator Abubakar Bagudu has confirmed that they are ready to take off every quantity we have got, so we have open order in excess of N2 billion”.

    Pledging not to relent in establishing income generating industries that will not only create employment for the people of Cross River state but also reduce the state’s over dependence on monthly federal allocation, Governor Ayade praised President Buhari’s economic policies and assured him of Cross River’s support in that regard.

    Meanwhile, the Cross Rivers state governor has disclosed that plans are underway to get the President to visit the state for the third time to commission the multi-billion naira rice mill in Ogoja when construction is completed.

    Located within the Ayade industrial park which also boasts of the garment factory, pharmaceutical factory, the Cross River cosmetic industry, Noddles factory and Poultry farmer/factory, the Cross River Rice Seeds and Seedlings Automated Factory which is the first in Africa parades massive state of the art machinery and produces high yielding, vitamised and disease resistant rice seeds and seedlings. The factory is expected to generate a yearly income of between N70 billion to N100 billion.

     

  • I’m doing my best to end killings – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday replied his critics, saying he is doing his best to end killings of innocent Nigerians in the country.

    He spoke at a closed door meeting held at the State House, Abuja, with the visiting leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The President said he cannot support harming or killing of the citizens he was elected to protect.

    He said: “I thank you very much for taking the time to pay this visit today and for the issues you have raised. The recent killings in Benue, Zamfara and lately Plateau are wicked, condemnable and completely unacceptable acts.

    “We, Nigerians, are religious people and no religion or culture accepts the killing of people for any reason whatsoever. This is why we must all rise as one to condemn these vile and wicked acts to ensure that all the culprits are brought to justice.

    “We owe it to the memory of those who lost their lives in the violence in Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Zamfara and elsewhere since 1999 to bring the conflicts to a decisive end. I assure you that we will do this.

    “Let me make it clear that even a single life lost in any part of the country is one too many. I came to office vowing to ensure the protection of lives and property, and I remain committed to this despite the challenges we have experienced.

    “I, therefore, seek your support as clerics and religious leaders to join hands with this administration and give us your full support. As you all know, deploying law enforcement agencies is fully our responsibility as a government while creating the platform and mechanisms for dialogue is a collective effort.

    “The military and police have arrested hundreds of suspects across the various flash-points in the region and several prosecutions are going on. In a number of cases, we have seen convictions. Nigerians are right when they say they want to see more convictions and I would like to appeal to the judiciary to help us fast-track these cases.

    “When some, for clearly political purposes, attempt to suggest that this government is doing nothing about the killings, and that I, being Fulani, must be encouraging these satanic acts. It seems to me that there is no limit to the evil in the minds of men.

    “Otherwise, how can anyone in their right minds suggest that I, as elected President even with substantial votes in the affected areas, will for any reason do harm by an act of omission to those same people?

     

    “Secondly, the problems in all these areas, as you all know, are historical. There is no administration that has not had to contend with killings in these same areas over the years.”

     

  • Buhari, CAN, Lalong meet in Aso Rock over Plateau killings, others

    Worried by the incessant killings of Christians in the northern part of the country, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, on Thursday met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    They demanded for the review of the country’s security architecture to end incessant killings by suspected herdsmen.

    The Christian leaders also urged President Buhari to ensure the release of the abducted student of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Leah Sharibu, who was abducted by Boko Haram militants for refusing to denounce her Christian faith.

    According to presentation at the closed doors meeting with the President, the leader of CAN in the 19 Northern States, Rev. Yakubu Pam, said the review of security architecture in the country has become imperative to give the security apparatus a new lease of life and responsiveness to earn the required trust, confidence and support of the general populace.

    He also lamented that the continuous abduction of underage Christian girls who were forcefully converted to Islam and given out for marriage without the consent of their parents, breeds religious disharmony.

    The group therefore urged President Buhari to intensify and speed up actions for the release of girls in captivity, especially Sharibu.

    Pam said: “That the security architecture of the country should be re-visited to give it a new lease of life and responsiveness to earn the required trust, confidence, and support of the general populace.

    “All communities ravaged by the herdsmen violence in the North should be rebuilt and adequate security be put in place to enable displaced persons to return to their homes and means of livelihood

    “The Federal Government should roll out a robust advocacy programme to enlighten the nomadic herders on modern cattle rearing against open grazing and roaming across states and national boundaries.”

    The group also demanded that the federal government should encourage herders to acquire land for cattle ranching across the country as a means of private business investment.

    The group noted that while the federal government under the current administration is celebrating an agricultural revolution, most farmers, especially in the north, can no longer go to their farms due to the sustained attacks by herdsmen.

    CAN urged the government to reconcile its priority by providing the necessary safety for the farmers to go on with their farming activities.

     

     

  • Buhari signs executive order on looters’ assets

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday signed executive order to freeze assets of individuals with suspected corruption cases and other relevant offences in the country.

    He signed the Executive Order No. 6 of 2018 “On the Preservation of Assets Connected with Serious Corruption and Other Relevant Offences” at a short ceremony in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to the President, there is a very strong link between corruption, which is everywhere in the country, with peace and security of the country.

    He said: “I am delighted to welcome you all to this very important occasion which is another milestone in the fight against corruption – a project that is very crucial to the viability and continuous well-being of this country.  Whilst there are many reasons why Nigeria has been struggling; regrettably, the most unfortunate cause of great disparity between Nigeria’s wealth and its poverty is endemic corruption.

    “There is also a very strong link between corruption, peace and security. Unfortunately, corruption is everywhere; at all levels of government, and every stratum of our society. Without doubt, corruption constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the well-being, national security, and economy of Nigeria.

    “Mindful of this serious challenge, as you are all aware, before coming into government, this administration specifically promised Nigerians that it will address the challenges facing our nation in the three areas of (a) Security, (b) Economy and (c) Corruption.

    “As a government, and in furtherance of our anti-corruption programme, we have since inception engaged in multi-sectoral reforms on anti-corruption including the enforcement of Treasury Single Account (TSA), strict implementation of the Bank Verification Number Policy, Signing of the Open Government Partnership, and a lot of efforts have gone into building and development of our anti-corruption institutions among others.”

    According to him, his administration has so far kept faith with the promise and will remain committed until Nigeria triumphs over the evil of corruption, attain a prosperous economic status and surmounts all her security challenges.

     

     

  • Buhari wades into FAAC, governors deadlock 

    President Muhammadu Buhari has waded into the deadlock of the Federation Accounts and Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting with governors.
    Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari and the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun briefed State House correspondents after a meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
    Yari said “Initially it was supposed to be private but has turned to be official. We were supposed to hold the Federation Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) meeting since last week which became deadlock. That is why came to discuss with the President.
    “And in further discussion, the Chief of Staff decided to invite the Honourable Minister so that we can discuss further and to know how best we can deal with the issue at hand.
    Asked whether there is any headway now, he said “Yes, there is headway because the President and the Minister of Finance will meet with NNPC officials where the problem is so that we solve it.
    On the break off of R-APC from the APC,  he said “We came here because of the issue of finances. I think the party is in the best position to answer the question. If I comment on it, that means I have not done justice to the leadership of the party.
    Asked if he was not worried about the trend of things, he said that there is no cause for panic.
    “Of course, I have to get worried, but it is something we will control. We should expect this kind of wrangling left, right and centre this time around with the issue parties and elections, moreover in a party that has majority and because of the interests therein. So there is no panic.” he said
    On the fruitfulness of the meeting, Adeosun said “As you know the FAAC meeting was inconclusive last Wednesday and since then we have been having series of engagements between ourselves, governors, the commissioners and the various stakeholders.
    “Today’s meeting was for me to briefed the governors and the chief of staff and by extension the President the progress we have made so far on our position. The President has promised that he is going to take the next step and to that extend we were very successful.

    Read also: http://staging.thenationonlineng.net/buhari-decorates-newly-promoted-cpso/

    Asked if the NNPC finances are not under  the TSA, she said “They are. Every agency is in the TSA. You know FAAC is unique. All the revenue generating agencies make their returns every month in FAAC. And those their returns are net of their expenses. So it is the area of expenses where we have dispute.
    “It is not in the gross revenue. The area of dispute is what has been deducted from the gross revenue to give us the net ,which is brought to the FAAC account.
    “But I think this is a healthy process. We must be satisfied with figures before we sign up. We must as stakeholders ensure that all our agencies are aligned with the programmes of the government in terms of getting this economy really moving. It is more of reconciliations than stand ups. I’m sure we will have the FAAC in the days or so resolved.” she said

  • Why I’m selling off recovered assets, by Buhari

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday that the world is waiting to see if the Presidents coming after him will return the loots and assets being recovered by his administration from those who looted the treasury.

    He noted that stolen assets seized from looters under his military rule were returned to them when he was ousted in 1983.

    Buhari said his administration is selling off assets recovered from looters and putting the money in the government coffers to forestall what happened in the past.

    The President was responding to a question on Nigeria’s anti-graft battle during a joint press conference at the end of Namibian President Hage Geingob’s visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said: “We are pursuing people who have declared assets. But we find out that they have much more than they have declared. We follow them through their bank accounts to the companies they formed to the contracts they got

    “Sometimes, they swear to Almighty God that their structure that cannot develop feet and run away does not belong to them. Then they are confronted with their bank accounts.

    “Again, using my experiences when I was arrested and detained, people were given back what they have appropriated. This time around, I said we are going to sell them and put the money into the treasury and I will see whoever comes after that will have the courage to take money from the treasury and give to anybody.

    “So, we are winning, but it’s very difficult under this multi-party democracy system. And we are getting the cooperation of countries. We are trying to sell the assets wherever we find them and bring the money into the Nigerian treasury.”

    Buhari said his administration would soon reorganise the nation’s judiciary to ensure effective fight against corruption in the country.

    He said: “We are going to dedicate some judges to deal with corruption cases and try to put forward and prosecute all those that investigations proved that they have questions to answer.

    “So that is what I’m telling you that we haven’t given up; we are doing our best and we will recover as much as humanly possible.”

    Geingob thanked Nigerian government for his support and assistance to Namibia via the deployment of Nigerian volunteers under the Technical Aid Corps.

    He said he came to Nigeria to pay his last respect to the late Prof. Adebayo Adedeji, who he described as his mentor.

    Adedeji, onetime Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission of Africa, who died on April 25 at the age of 87, will be buried on Saturday.

    Geingob congratulated Buhari for his efforts in dealing with corruption in Nigeria and beyond.

    He lamented that corruption in Africa was becoming a serious case and hence strong people like Buhari were needed to tackle the social ill.

    He noted that Buhari had taken steps towards fighting corruption in Nigeria and was worthy of emulation by his country.

    “He (Buhari) is taking steps that will encourage all of us. I declared war against poverty and corruption,” the Namibian president said.

  • My successors dare not return stolen assets to looters – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari said on Wednesday the world would see if his successors would return the loots and assets recovered by his administration from those who looted the nation’s treasury.

    He recalled that stolen assets seized from looters during his military regime were returned to them when he was ousted in 1983.

    Buhari said the present administration has been selling off assets recovered from looters and putting the money in the government coffers to forestall the incidents of the past.

    The President was responding to a question on Nigeria’s anti-graft battle during a joint press briefing at the end of Namibian President Hage Geingob’s visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said: “We are pursuing people who have declared assets. But we find out that they have much more than they have declared. We follow them through their bank accounts to the companies they formed to the contracts they got.

    “Sometimes they swear to Almighty God that their structures that cannot develop feet and run away does not belong to them. Then they are confronted with their bank accounts.

    “Again, using my experiences when I was arrested and detained, people were given back what they have appropriated. This time around, I said we are going to sell them and put the money into the treasury and I will see whoever comes after that will have the courage to take money from the treasury and give to anybody.

    “So, we are winning. But it’s very difficult under this multi-party democracy system. And we are getting the cooperation of countries. We are trying to sell the assets wherever we find them and bring the money into the Nigerian treasury.”

    Buhari also said his administration would soon reorganize the nation’s judiciary to ensure effective fight against corruption in the country.

    His administration, he said, plans to dedicate some judges to deal with corruption cases where all those found wanting in their dealings will be prosecuted.

    The President added: “We are going to dedicate some judges to deal with corruption cases and try to put forward and prosecute all those that investigations proved that they have questions to answer.

    “So that is what I’m telling you that we haven’t given up. We are doing our best and we will recover as much as humanly possible.”

    On his part, President Geingob thanked Nigerian government for his support and assistance to Namibia via the deployment of Nigerian volunteers under the Technical Aid Corps.

    The Namibian leader said he came to Nigeria to pay his last respect to late Prof. Adebayo Adedeji, whom he described as his mentor.

     

     

  • nPDP forms reformed APC, declares Buhari despotic leader

    A faction led by Alhaji Bubba Galadima called the Reformed All Progressives Congress has emerged in Abuja.
    The new group declared the recently concluded congress of the APC  as null and void.
    The group, at a press conference in Abuja,  said the APC under President Muhammadu Buhari was running a despotic, contemptuous and rudderless government with the intention to shut out members of the new Peoples Democratic Party from the activities of the party.
    The nAPC said the party would now be addressed as such and that all national and ward leaders have been appointed.

    Read Also: nPDP pushed farther into the cold

    They said the APC has betrayed the hopes and aspirations of the millions of Nigerians that voted it into power.
    They also announced the new leaders of the party.

  • ‘Buhari is most impactful President in ICT development’

    A governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Prof. Adeolu Akande, has described President Muhamadu Buhari as Nigeria’s leader with the most impactful tenure in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) penetration in the country.

    The expert said the President’s initiatives will put the country in a strong footing to earn enormous revenue from the ICT sector, provide jobs for millions of youths and create wealth for Nigerians.

    He was addressing members of youth organisations from various parts of the state when they visited him in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to advise him against joining the African Democratic Coalition (ADC).

    Akande, who is the Chairman of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said President Buhari had supported the agency to record tremendous achievements in ICT development.

    The expert said no President in the history of Nigeria had been as supportive of NITDA and ICT development as President Buhari.

    He thanked the youths for their advice on the party to choose to pursue his ambition, adding that consultations were ongoing on the matter.

    According to him, the decision will be taken collectively by stakeholders who view political parties as platforms for development.

    Akande noted that politics is about service to the people rather than personal aggrandisement.

    The expert said this was evident in the achievements of President Buhari in the ICT sector.

    He listed some of the President’s initiatives in the sector to include the presidential approval for NITDA as the clearing house of Federal Government’s ICT projects.

    Akande said this had enhanced quality in service delivery and value for money as well as the National Agriculture e-project, a collaboration between NITDA and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to make datasets of the Nigerian Agriculture sector readily available to stakeholders.

    He also listed the provision of virtual library in tertiary institutions to enhance research and make Nigerian institutions competitive in research and development.

    Akande said the facility had been installed at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomosho, Oyo State.

    He added: “NITDA also provides basic ICT facilities and internet connectivity primarily to schools and similar environments where teaching and learning take place. This involves the deployment of a network of internet connectivity, computing devices and related ICT Infrastructure including alternative solar power energy in the school community capable of giving uninterrupted access to Internet services.

    “Already, 77 schools have been provided with the facility. Another 85 schools have been provided with Digital Capacity Building Centres across the country.”