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Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari, security chiefs meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with service chiefs.

    The meeting started at the President’s office in the State House around 11am.

    Discussions at the meeting would dwell on the security situation in the country.

    It would specifically address the increasing banditry attacks in the North Western states, killings in Kaduna state and kidnapping in other parts of the country.

    Read Also: Court rejects pro-Buhari group’s name in N40b suit against Atiku

    With the upsurge in banditry in Zamfara State, the Federal Government, apart from deploying special team and equipment, on Sunday linked the banditry to the illegal mining in the state.

    It then ordered suspension of mining activities in Zamfara state and its environs and specifically called on foreigners to quit mining sites in the state.

    In a statement on Tuesday, President Buhari had condemned the recent violence in Kaduna state, which led to the death of 20 members of the Adara community.

    The meeting with the security chiefs was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Senate set to override Buhari’s veto on two Bills

    The Senate on Wednesday resolved to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto on two bills passed by the National Assembly.

    The upper chamber also agreed to reconsider and pass 15 other Bills rejected by President Buhari.

    The resolution to override the president’s veto on the bills and reconsider 15 others was unanimously adopted on the floor of the Senate.

    The two affected bills are the “the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration No. 28,) Bill, 2018” and “the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

    The Forth Alteration No. 28 Bill, a constitution amendment, seeks to provide for the time within which the President or Governor shall lay the Appropriation Bill before the National or State Assembly.

    The Bill also seeks to encourage early presentation and passage of Appropriation Bills.

    President Buhari declined assent to the Bill on the grounds that it did not take cognizance of the provisions of Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

    The Industrial Development Amendment Bill, is 2018, on the other hand, aimed to enable companies that expand their operations in pioneer industry or product to apply for a new pioneer status.

    Records showed that President Buhari declined assent to the Bill on the ground that ongoing inter-ministerial consultations would be affected if the Bill is signed into law.

    Findings showed that since the inauguration of the Eight National Assembly, President Buhari has vetoed more than 36 Bills passed by the National Assembly.

    The President has vetoed over 15 Bills passed by the National Assembly this year alone.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator David Umaru, whose committee considered the rejected Bills, presented the report of the committee.

    Umaru said that the 1999 Constitution, (as amended), gives the Senate the right to override the President in the event that a Bill is vetoed.

    The Niger East Senator quoted Section 60 of the Constitution and Rule 88 of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 to back the position that the Senate is constitutionally empowered to override the President in the event the a Bill is vetoed.

    He said: “Therefore, the Bills having been rejected by Mr. President, the National Assembly even if it considers Mr. President’s observations or not, must pass the Bills again and be assented to by Mr. President or override the veto, in which case, Mr. President’s assent would not be required.”

    The 15 Bills the Senate resolved to reconsider and pass were also rejected by the President.

    The Bills are expected to be represented on the floor of the upper chamber for normal legislative process, before passage into law.

    The affected Bills include the Fourth Alteration, No. 20, expected to strengthen the Judiciary and accelerate dispensation of justice.

    Fourth Alteration, No. 8, which seeks to alter the Constitution to

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  • Ex-militants to Buhari: don’t confirm Brambaifa as NDDC MD

    A group of ex-militant leaders has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to shelve any plan to confirm Prof. Nelson Brambaifa as substantive Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The ex-militant leaders under the auspices of Niger Delta Ex-agitators Leaders Forum (NDEL) alleged since his appointment as the acting MD of the commission, Brambaifa had not been able to coordinate the activities of NDDC.

    For instance the ex-militant leaders, who met in Yenagoa, the state capital on Wednesday said the acting MD had not been able to resolve issues surrounding the water hyacinth project.

    The Coordinator of the group, Leader Monday, particularly said Brambaifa refused to pay for water hyacinth projects and to meet with them to discuss kilometer road jobs.

    Monday said the attitude of Brambaifa was at variance with the principles of youth empowerment to stop restiveness in the Niger Delta in line with the objective of the commission.

    He said if the acting MD continued to neglect them, they would storm Aso Rock, Abuja for series of protests.

    Monday said they were particularly unhappy that Brambaifa snubbed all their efforts to meet with him to discuss the knotty issues.

    He called on elders and leaders from the region to reach out to the aching MD and prevail on him to act properly to avoid violent conflicts in the Niger Delta.

    “Professor Brambaifa like most public office holders should desist from playing politics with public NDDC funds to the detriment of e-militants and remain apolitical.

    Read Also: Buhari condemns Kaduna violence

    “Brambaifa is unfit for the position of managing Director of NDDC and should not be confirmed as one. We need an apolitical MD who can address issues without bias,” he said.

    But a university don, Chief Kalaiti Jephthah, sued for peace and warned the ex-militant leaders against fighting their kinsman.

    Jephthah argued that Brambaifa should be given benefit of the doubt and time to settle down as the acting MD of the commission.

    “To the best of my knowledge Professor Nelson Brambaifa is a well- meaning elder, gentle, amiable and a true product of the struggle with good listening ears. We have everything to gain if we are patient with him,” he said.

  • Buhari condemns latest violence in Kaduna

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the recent violence in Kaduna State, which led to the death of 20 members of the Adara community.

    These unfortunate deaths are the latest incident between the Adara and Fulani peoples in the state, who have a long history of mistrust between them.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, also condemned the resurgence of cultist killings in Rivers State and ordered for increased community and law enforcement action against its escalation.

    He appealed for peace and decries the on-going culture of ‘an eye for an eye’ that has fuelled a number of attacks and reprisal attacks, with the two communities at different times, suffering casualties in Kajuru and Kachia local governments in Kaduna States.

    The President also appealed to indigenes of Kaduna and other Nigerians to refrain from comments in the traditional and social media, especially by people who have little knowledge of the history of the longstanding conflict.

    Such comments, he noted, can fuel further conflict in the area and between the two groups.

    Read Also: ASUP to Buhari: sign Polytechnic act into law

    Buhari made a special appeal to traditional and religious leaders to be cautious with their comments on the conflict, insisting that whatever words they share publicly should not be inflammatory but be inspired by an interest in peace.

    The President condoled with those who lost loved ones in the attacks: “The entire nation grieves with you. The Nigerian army and police are already in the area to ensure that peace and security are restored.”

    In response to reports of the resurgence of cultism leading to loss of lives in Rivers State, President Buhari called on law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts to end the menace before it further escalates.

    The President urged quick and effective intervention by community and civic leaders in support of law enforcement efforts, in all such areas bedeviled by cultist attacks and inter-communal violence.

  • ASUP to Buhari: sign Polytechnic act into law

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sign into the law the Polytechnic Act recently passed into law by the National Assembly for the smooth running and industrial harmony in the nation’s polytechnics.

    The union also frowned at what it described as showdy process of appointing Rectors of some polytechnics without due diligence, saying this has become an embarrassment to the sector, demanding the reversal and adherence to due process in such appointments at the Federal Polytechnic Bida and Ile Ile-Oluji.

    In a communique at the end of its National Executive Committee meeting signed by National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Chris Nkoro, the Union said failure to adhere to due process in the appointment of Rectors or the reversal of such, the union may be forced to embark on a one week strike to protest such actions.

    The communique asked the Minister of Education and the management of the National Board for Technical Education, the regulatory agency for polytechnics in the country to ensure that the new Polytechnic act is transmitted to the President immediately for his ascent.

    While congratulating Nigerians for the success of the 2019 general election, the union said the outcome of the election is a huge leap in Nigeria’s democracy and urged the elected ones to be magnanimous in victory.

    The polytechnic lecturers however condemned the pockets of violence in various parts of the country during the elections, particularly “the loss of lives of our members in Rivers state and harassments in Bauchi and Taraba states and called on federal government to avail itself of technological gadgets to track security challenges in the country.”

    They also expressed concern over the rising cases of armed banditry and kidnapping in the country, a situation they said has made people prisoners in their homes and called on government at all levels to be more alive to their responsibility of safeguarding the lives and properties of Nigerians irrespective of social strata or creed.

    The Union said “Laws and Regulations can make or mar the progress of any organization. Noting this, the NEC is appreciates the 8th National Assembly for having passed the corrected Amendment Bill of the Polytechnics Act.

    “The NEC however, calls on the FME and NBTE to quickly facilitate the process of transmitting of and the subsequent signing of the Bill by the President, Mohammadu Buhari as soon as possible for improved productivity and best practices in the Polytechnics and Monotechnics.”

    They also at the persistent lethargic disposition of the Federal government and its agencies towards re-negotiation of FGN/ASUP agreement is utterly disappointing to the 94th NEC which views this as a ploy to cripple the system and perpetuate suffering on our members asked the government to without further delay, commence the re-negotiation process.

    It observed that while the Union had agreed on the terms of enrolling of the sector into IPPIS, some rectors have continued to use backhand ploy to enrol some institutions without recourse to our Union’s documented peculiar concerns while asking government to promptly call these erring rectors to order.

    Read Also: Buhari decries use of cyberspace to manipulate elections

    The union is also not happy that salary shortfalls and CONTISS 15 migration challenges which led to the suspended strike action have persisted, despite continued assurances by government that this situation has been dealt, stressing that with the conclusion of the 2019 general election, these issues would be addressed squarely by government immediately.

    The union also frown at the conditions in State Polytechnics/Monotechnics in terms of delay in payment of salaries, arrears of promotions and other infractions are still sources of grave concern, stressing that the situations still prevail in Abia, Kogi, Imo, Osun, Oyo, Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, Ekiti, Ondo and Zamfara.

    It reiterates the firm invocation of the “no salary, no accreditation” policy on the institutions concerned and further urges that all cases of victimization should be adequately redressed immediately.

    The union appeal to governments at all levels to desist from reneging on agreements and address these recurring issues in the spirit of the Union’s magnanimity in suspending the strike in February 2019, adding that by so doing, government would have shown its sincerity, humanity, altruism and responsiveness to improve the citizenry for higher industry.

  • Come to prosper in Nigeria, Buhari woos Dubai investors

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with six different groups of investors at the sidelines of the Annual Investment Meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, had a message for them all: Come to Nigeria and prosper. Come and have handsome returns on your investments, within the shortest possible time.

    Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum is a member of the Dubai ruling family. He is also a private investor and member of several boards of companies, both state owned and private. He is interested in establishing a power plant in Lagos, and studies have already been completed.

    Lulu Group operates a chain of supermarkets in the Middle East and Asia.

    Mr. Yusuff Alli, Chairman of the group, told President Buhari that the outfit, with headquarters in Abu Dhabi, has over 164 supermarkets and shopping malls. It employs over 50,000 people.

    The interest is to work with Nigerian farmers, using local produce to ensure food security. Quality, affordability and hygiene are the watchwords of the company.

     

    Also in bilateral meeting with President Buhari was Sheikh Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of Amea Power. The company develops, owns, and operates thermal and renewable energy projects in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Its wide range of power solutions include conventional – gas, coal, oil, and renewable – solar, wind and hydro.

    Apart from power, the company, which owns Rotana Hotel chain, is also interested in the hospitality sector in Nigeria.

    Also on cue was Sheikh Ali Rashid Lootah, Chairman, Nakheel Properties and Limitless Group.

    One of the world’s leading developers and a major contributor to Dubai’s real estate transformation, the company’s current and future retail project portfolio covers nearly 17 million square feet of leasable space. They are keen to expand their investments in Nigeria.

    Sheikh Khalid Bin Kalban is the CEO of Dubai Investments. His meeting with the Nigerian president centred around real estate, processing industries, mergers and acquisitions, health care, education, and financial investments.

    Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has supported over 66 projects in 29 African countries. They include rural solar power and water projects, and that was the focus of the discussion, as Sheikh Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, the CEO, met with President Buhari.

    Read Also: Buhari calls for safe, inclusive digital world

    The statement said that the bilateral sessions were not concluded, till the Nigerian president had met with Mr. Jitender Sachdeva, CEO Skipperseil Group. An integrated energy company with operations in the manufacturing of substation equipment, discussions were on engineering processing, construction of transmission lines and substations for utilities, institutions and industries.

    The company’s CEO expressed delight at meeting with President Buhari, and looked forward to doing good business in Nigeria.

  • Buhari calls for safe, inclusive digital world

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called on world leaders to come up with proposals to create a digital world that is accessible, inclusive and safe to all.

    He made the call in his keynote speech at the 2019 Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) in Dubai on Monday.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said a certain level of regulation was needed to preserve the integrity of the digital economy.

    The theme of the summit is: ‘Mapping the Future of Foreign Direct Investment: Enriching World Economies through Digital Globalization.’’

    Acknowledging that digital globalisation is transforming the world almost every day with innovations and transformative ideas, the Nigerian leader cautioned that the cyber world would remain a constant threat if left unregulated.

    He decried the use of the cyberspace to manipulate elections, subvert the democratic rights of citizens as well as propagate violence.

    He also lamented the steady rise in fake news and cybercrimes, particularly when platforms are hijacked and manipulated by criminals.

    President Buhari, therefore, called for collective efforts led by both public and private sector leaders to address the emerging threats of digital globalisation.

    ‘‘Today, we have a cyber-world that is intangible but real. This borderless world is powerful, and it impacts the lives of billions of people, no matter how remote their physical locations are.

    ‘‘People work in it. People socialise in it. And people invest in it. This presents enormous opportunities. But it also remains a constant threat if left unregulated.

    ‘‘On the one hand, it has made the human race more productive and more efficient. Today, we have digital banking, virtual currencies and many social platforms that connect people and cultures.

    ‘‘On the other hand, we have seen platforms hijacked and manipulated as evidenced by the steady rise in fake news and cybercrimes.

    ‘‘More recently, we are also witnessing the use of the cyberspace to manipulate elections, subvert the democratic rights of citizens as well as propagate violence.

    ‘‘In effect, the digital world has become the new frontier for both good and evil. Therefore, the challenge for world leaders must be to ensure that this space is inclusive, accessible and safe,’’ the President told the ninth edition of AIM, attended by world leaders in both the public and private sectors.” he stated.

    Read Also: Youths: Buhari keen in ending corruption, poverty

    The President used the occasion to reflect on the digital revolution in Nigeria, buoyed by impressive statistics on mobile phone penetration, technology hubs and the advent of young entrepreneurs attracting investments of over 100 million dollars to the country.

    His words: ‘‘In Nigeria, our mobile phone penetration exceeds eighty per cent. This means the majority of Nigeria’s one hundred and ninety million citizens are fully connected to this new digital world; especially our youth.

    ‘‘Sixty-five per cent or one hundred and seventeen million Nigerians are under the age of 25 years. These bright minds are the drivers of this emerging digital sector.

    ‘‘Today, Nigeria has close to ninety technology hubs and every day, new ones are coming up and they are all developing solutions for Nigerian, and indeed global problems.

    ‘‘Already, these young entrepreneurs have attracted investments of

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  • Youths: Buhari keen in ending corruption, poverty

    The Youth Project for the Promotion of Democracy and Good Governance (YPPDGG) has called on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari in  ridding the country of corruption and poverty.

    In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Shuaibu Mustapha, in Kano, the group urged Nigerians to restore their confidence in the leadership of President Buhari, insisting his re-election would meant good for the country.

    The statement said:“We want … to commend Nigerians for giving President Buhari another mandate. We are not unaware of the perceived suffering of the masses. In any case, we want to urge Nigerians to remain resolute and pitch their tent with the desire of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government to take our great nation to the next level.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari’s government should be appreciated in …the N-Power programme, which has directly and indirectly touched … youths. In spite of the undue propanganda being peddled by the opposition, Buhari’s government has recorded achievements in agriculture, infrastructural development, power and technology.

    “We have observed the… efforts being put in place by the Minister of Science and Technology …Dr. Christopher Ogbonnaya Onu, which has continued to empower youths.”

    The group noted that “the Ministry of Science and Technology under Ogbonnaya Onu  has remained committed towards intensifying research and innovation, as well as increase the awareness among the people in the country of the importance of science and technology to their daily needs.”

    The group also hailed President Buhari for his efforts in the fight against corruption, and called on Nigerians to lend their support in that regard.

    On insecurity, the group hailed Buhari’s resolve to stamp out terrorism, kidnapping and youth restiveness, saying Nigeria could only get better when Nigerians saw the fight against insecurity as a personal project.

  • Buhari: It will take decades to repair Boko Haram damage

    President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday that it would take decades for Nigeria and Nigerians to repair the damage done to  the country by the terror sect, Boko Haram.

    Buhari told the World Economic Forum on Middle East and North Africa at Dead Sea, Jordan that although the insurgents have been significantly pushed back and no longer control any territory of the country, government has been left with a big task of rebuilding what has been destroyed.

    “The deaths, damages and destruction caused by terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda, ISIS and Boko Haram over the last 10 years will take decades to repair,” he said.

    He urged world leaders to work towards narrowing gaps in social and economic opportunities for citizens as panacea to rising conflicts across the globe.

    He said: “we must ask ourselves how we, as a region, got to this point. The answer, at least in the case of Nigeria, is the lack of social and economic inclusion.

    “As Nigeria celebrated being the largest economy in Africa and one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Nigerians were migrating in droves through harsh desert conditions and across treacherous seas to seek what they believe would be a better life in Europe.

    “I strongly believe that lack of social and economic inclusion was the root cause of many challenges we are experiencing.”

    Buhari said the changes taking place across the world in technology, population, migration, trade and geo-politics had been yielding both positive and negative results in different parts of the world.

    He called for more collaboration across borders to alter tides of frustrations that fuel conflict.

    “It is my view, that no region of the world has felt the full impact of these dramatic shifts and shocks like the Middle East and Africa–North and Sub-Sahara.

    “On one hand, our region is blessed with a very young, vibrant, enterprising and dynamic population. We also have valuable natural resources that are the envy of many nations.

    “These assets and endowments contributed to our region experiencing some of the highest economic growth rates in the world.

    “In this digital age where physical borders no longer exist to protect even the most secured nations, the only way to overcome predatory and divisionary forces is for all well-meaning nations to work together for the greater good of mankind.

    “Simply put, cooperation amongst sovereign nations is no longer a choice. It is an absolute necessity.”

    He told the gathering of leaders, entrepreneurs and economic experts that “Nigeria’s population is 190 million, and by 2050, it is estimated to hit 390 million, making it the third most populous country in the world.’’

    According to him, he spent the last four years tackling security issues in the country and implementing policies that make the economy more inclusive.

    Read also: Senate Presidency: Lawan steps up campaign in states

    “We are extremely grateful to the many countries that stood with Nigeria to confront this global scourge and in particular, the Kingdom of Jordan under the leadership of His Majesty, the King.

    “Furthermore, our economic diversification and social inclusion policies are also yielding positive results.

    “Our country has now returned to the path of growth. We are making gains in the ease of doing business indices,’’ he added.

    The President said the agriculture sector was driving government’s efforts to diversify the economy.

    He added that “in the spirit of “Building New Platforms of Cooperation’, we partnered with the Kingdom of Morocco to domesticate fertilizer production in Nigeria and revive over two million tons of abandoned fertilizer blending plant capacity.

    “The outcome is we created tens of thousands of jobs in agriculture, logistics, manufacturing and retail sectors.’’

  • Unemployment: Nigeria needs skillful youths – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said that Nigeria at this point requires the youths to be highly skilful in order to solve the problem of unemployment, security and youth restiveness.

    The President, who was a Visitor at the 31st Convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), stated that the era of handing certificates to graduates without self-sustaining skills is no longer sustainable.

    Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Educationb (State), Prof. Anthony Anwuka, observed that the growth and establishment of new industries to absorb the graduates is rather too slow.

    According to him, “there is a need to re-double efforts in turning out graduates with self-sustaining, globally competitive skills and talents for the realization of national goals of building a free, democratic, just and egalitarian society, a united, strong and self-reliant nation.”

    He continued that, “our universities are also challenged to key into modern trends in Computing and Information Technology,    Cyber security, artificial intelligence, solar and alternative energies and modern biomedical technology, which is where the future is headed.”

    The President assured that, “on our part as government, we remain committed to changing the negative narratives of our universities by making effective and efficient policies that will place our higher education at the right pedestal”.