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Tag: BUHARI

  • Diversification only way out of poverty – Buhari

    Diversification only way out of poverty – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday maintained that the only way out of poverty in Nigeria is through diversification of the economy.

    Diversification of the economy through agriculture and solid minerals mining, he said, is the way to go.

    He spoke in Kebbi State while officially launching N40 billion “Anchor Borrowers’ Programme” organized by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for rice farmers across the country and launching of the 2015/2016 dry farming season.

    The ABP programme aims to create an ecosystem to link out-growers (Small Holder Farmers) to local processors.

    To tackle challenges of poor funding, the CBN has set aside the sum of N40 billion from the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) for farmers at a single-digit interest rate of 9.0 per cent.

    Stressing that the discovery of oil in Nigeria ought to have complemented her agricultural productivity, President Buhari said it was almost allowed to replace agriculture to the detriment of the country.

    According to him, the falling oil prices in the international market have necessitated urgent need to diversify the economy.

    He said: “Economic diversification is no longer an option for us as a nation. It is the only way to reclaim economic momentum and drive to prosperity. The only way to do this is to develop our agricultural production.”

    He said that the ABP will go a long way in achieving food security for the country.

    He added: “In 2014 for example, the total demand for rice in Nigeria was estimated to be about 6.1 million metric tonnes of which 2.6 million metric tonnes was produced locally while the rest was imported.

    “Equally, the demand for wheat in Nigeria is now about 5 million metric tonnes, a significant amount of which can be produced locally.”

     

  • Buhari lauds engineers’ contributions to national development

    Buhari lauds engineers’ contributions to national development

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday attributed his victory in the March 28 presidential election to transparent electoral process brought about by advanced technology.

    Buhari said this while declaring open this year’s National Engineering Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) held in Akure, Ondo State.

    He said the commitment of Nigerian Engineers to technological advancement led to transparent electoral process which produced him as winner of the election.

    Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. David Lawal, President Buhari noted that the commitment of Nigerian engineers to national development through technological innovations and improvement could not be overemphasized.

    He said the achievements of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the conduct of the last general election were made possible by the commitment of Nigerian engineers to transparent electoral process.

    The President urged engineers in the country to continue to inculcate professional integrity in their practice, stressing that the country has the potential to produce world class engineers.

     

  • Buhari seeks approval to pay N413b subsidy claims

    Buhari seeks approval to pay N413b subsidy claims

    President writes National Assembly

    There  is good news for fuel marketers. President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the National Assembly to approve the payment of their N413 billion claims, it was learnt yesterday.

    The payment is believed to be the key to ending the crippling petrol scarcity in many cities.

    Petrol is being sold for between N100 and N400 per litre in various parts of the country. Queues are long at filling stations where there is fuel. Many others are shut for lack of supplies.

    A Presidency source said last night that “only about N140 billion was appropriated for subsidy payment in the current budget and it has been exhausted”.

    “Out of respect for the parliament, the President insisted that the right thing must be done by seeking approval from the National Assembly before an additional kobo is paid in excess of what the budget makes provision for.

    “This is a clear departure from the past, when extra-budgetary expenditure was the norm.”

    Another source said “the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) expressed the belief that with the outstanding payment due to oil marketers now assured, the marketers and other downstream players will join hands with the corporation to guarantee that the nation remains wet with petroleum products all year round,” the source said.

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA), Media, to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, noted that the President “is desirous to end the petrol scarcity. But he insists that due process must be followed.”

    Marketers are hopeful that if the N413 billion subsidy cash is disbursed, the fuel scarcity will be over.

    But they also complained of lack of foreign exchange to facilitate importation of products.

    A marketer last night said: “We cannot access dollar or pound sterling to import. The banks have refused to give us letters of credit because they don’t have confidence that we will pay back. It is only the NNPC that imports and what they import is grossly inadequate.

    “The issue is that many independent depots and retail outlets don’t have products because the NNPC only gives product to marketers accredited as bulk buyers.

    “The fuel marketing arm of the oil industry is gradually collapsing because most of the oil marketing firms currently operate at about 30 per cent capacity utilisation. Some of our depots that load around 150 trucks daily have dropped to 40 trucks daily.

    “If the current supply situation is not addressed quickly, the Yuletide will be celebrated without fuel, and you know the implication.”

    The NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, said the Corporation trucked out 25,042,686 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) to various parts of the country  between last Saturday and Sunday..

    According to the data made available by the NNPC spokesman, which showed the depots from where the fuel was loaded, companies that took delivery of the product, the number of the vehicle that lifted the product and the quantity lifted, 615 filling stations got 25,042,686 litres. They include majors, such as Total, Mobil, Oando, MRS, Conoil and Forte Oil. The NNPC Retail and independents, including NIPCO and Eterna, among many others, especially in Gombe, also got supplies.

    Suleja depot loaded 7,178,613 litres for 179 stations, Kaduna depot 2,470 490 litres for 59 stations, Kano 4,930,847 litres for 107 filling stations, Minna depot 224,986 litres for six stations, Gusau 2,311 951 litres (60 stations), and Satellite depot, which feeds Lagos State, 2,164,940 (63 stations).

    Others include Ilorin depot 303,000 litres (nine stations), Ore 110,989 litres (three stations), Ibadan depot, 766,007 (21 stations), Gombe area, which has the highest number of independent stations got 3,662,893 litres (78 stations) and Aba depot, 917,970 litres (30 filling stations).

     

  • Vague handover notes delayed cabinet, says Buhari

    Vague handover notes delayed cabinet, says Buhari

    •President: let’s institutionalise transition process

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday explained why it took him time before constituting his cabinet.

    He said the inadequacy of the  handover notes of the Goodluck Jonathan administration to provide the needed information on what the new administration was inheriting contributed to the delay.

    Buhari explained that the handover notes, which came four days to his assumption of office, were vague and  were not as helpful as they ought to be.

    He, therefore, advocated for an institutionalised framework that would make seamless transition possible.

    Buhari  spoke yesterday in Abuja at the National Democratic Institute’s (NDI) post-elections stakeholders’ conference on Government Transition Framework for Nigeria.

    It has the theme: “Strengthening the Nigeria political transition frameworks for democratic consolidation”.

    The president, who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture,  Alhaji Lai Mohammed, reasoned that the failure of the last administration to pave way for a seamless transition process showed that it never envisaged that it would be defeated at the poll and so failed to put any structure in place for the country’s first ever real transition programme.

    The president added: “Our experience in the last transition process was unique, despite the fact that we have held many general elections and transitioned from one government to another. Indeed, the last election heralded the first real transition in the history of our nation, being the first time that an opposition party will sweep the ruling party out of power.

    ”This probably explains why the then ruling government was completely caught unawares by the outcome of the election.

    “For the government led by a ruling party that had vowed to stay in power for 60 years in the first instance, they were not prepared for any transition that would not be from themselves to themselves. How can they, when they felt invincible, judging by their perceived strength and assumed popularity and the huge resources at their disposal?

    ”Because they were not mentally prepared for the outcome of that election, they were unable to put in place structures that would make the transition seamless.”

    The president said the absence of this almost marred the transition process that followed.

    “Because our country lacks an institutionalised transition system, the then ruling government simply did not know what to do, and unpatriotic elements exploited the situation, which almost led to a national crisis,” he said.

    Advocating for an instutionalised framework for transition process, Buhari said: “It is important to state here that every democrat, every politician must imbibe the culture of true democracy, which implies that they will appreciate the power of the people in determining whether or not they remain in power.

    “No administration must look beyond its immediate mandate, and elected governments must eschew arrogance and avoid personalising and politicising the system.

    ”It is absolutely important, therefore, that we put in place an institutionalised system that guarantees a seamless transition of power, whether intra, that is from a ruling government to itself, or inter, from the ruling power to the opposition. This will in turn reduce the kind of tension and anxiety that attended the last transition, and set the tone for a predictable and orderly transfer of power, thus solidifying the concept of governance as a continuum.

    ”In putting in place an institutionalised transition process, we must also look at what obtains in the world’s older and more advanced democracies. The fact that their system of transition is clear and unambiguous is the reason why they have been able to avoid the kind of tension and uncertainty that we experience in these parts.”

    He, therefore, urged the country to borrow a leaf from them and ensure a proper framework that meet  best practices as far as transition frameworks are concerned.

     

  • ‘Buhari has fulfilled his campaign promises’

    ‘Buhari has fulfilled his campaign promises’

    Hon. Akintayo Amere is a House of Representative member from Iwo-Ayedire/Olaoluwa Constituency, Osun State. In this interview with SINA FADARE, he says security is a collective enterprise that requires the input of all stakeholders. 

    What impact have you made on your constituency?

    I was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2011 to represent Iwo, Ayedire/Olaoluwa Federal Constituency of Osun State. As a result of my meritorious service to my people within those four years they decided to re-elect me in 2015.

    Along the line, l was able to donate farm implements such as two brand new tractors to my constituents. I also gave scholarships to indigent students from the constituency; empower unemployed youths with millions of naira; sink boreholes throughout the constituency, electrification step down plan aiming at boosting electricity supply and distribution of General certificate of Examination forms (GCE) to the first six students in  three selected schools,

    I also recommendations to the Federal Government on how to complete abandoned federal projects within my constituency. I have also assisted in subsidising the price of fertilizers for the farmers, provided financial assistance for market men and women, artisans.

    In the area of education, I organised campus scope programme at the Reality TV, Iwo. I’ve equally built offices for market men and market women at Odo Ori Iwo and the offices are being furnished with modern facilities, I have built an ICT centre at AUD Araro Iwo.

    What is your assessment of the APC-led Federal Government?

    President Muhammadu Buhari can be described as a messiah sent to save us from the 16 years of PDP mal-administration in the country. As you can see, within Buhari’s few months in office so far, he has done a lot and the good people of Nigeria are heaving a sigh of relief.

    For example, fuel price has stabilised at N87.00 per litre and it is readily available at filling stations across the country. The price of cement has equally gone down, from N2.000 per bag at the tail end of Jonathan administration, to around N1, 200.

    President Buhari also deserves kudos for his fight against corruption. Buhari should be commended as well in the area of job creation, security, especially in the area of taking the battle to the door step of Boko Haram.

    What can be done to put a stop to the insurgency in the Northeast?

    The cooperation of all Nigerians are needed to make the December deadline a reality. Nigerians should try to compliment the effort of the Federal Government and security agencies, by being security conscious, especially in the areas like Abuja, Bornu, Yobe, Adamawa, Lagos and Plateau States. The reality is that government alone cannot do it alone, except through our assistance.

    I also want to use this medium to call on private establishments to assist the government, by creating employment opportunity for the teeming unemployed graduates.

    For instance, we have a lot of potentials in agriculture, which use to be the pivot around which the economy revolved in the early 60s. If our youths can be encouraged to embrace agriculture, the issue of unemployment will become a thing of the past.

    How will you assess the performance of Governor Rauf Aregbesola?

    No matter what anybody says, the reality is that Governor Rauf Aregbesola is a performer. It is only those who are familiar with the state before he became governor that can appreciate what he has done so far. The network of roads that he constructed to open up the rural areas is second to none.

    Besides, the governor sponsored some young farmers to Israel and China, to go and learn the rudiments of modern-day farming. By the time he would be winding up, the state is going to be the food basket of the nation and this will translate to opening the economy of the state; from being a civil service state to one driven by the private sector.

    Most banks have agricultural-related products that the youths can assess, to turn farming into a business. This is a better option than waiting for office work which may never come and in the end, they may be frustrated. This is the time to put on their thinking caps and be more creative to utilise the abundant opportunities in the sector.

    In terms of security, Governor Aregbesola has invested heavily in this regard and that is why the state is relatively peaceful. In this area, he also engages these youths as volunteers and they are also engaged in various sectors, including sweeping the street, traffic monitoring, environmental sanitation officers, and other sundry matters. At the end of it all, the multiplier effect on the economy of the state is very significant.

     

  • Fallen heroes’ sacrifices won’t be forgotten – Buhari

    Fallen heroes’ sacrifices won’t be forgotten – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday promised that the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes, heroines, and veterans who rose up to the security challenges facing the nation won’t go unnoticed.

    He gave the assurance while launching the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal Fund at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration is observed on every January 15 to commemorate the selfless service Nigerian troops in military campaigns and wars.

    The theme of next year’s celebration is: “Motivating the Nigerian Armed Forces for Effective Service Delivery.”

    Buhari at the event announced a donation of N10 million for the emblem.

    He said: “We are gathered here today to observe a worthy tradition of acknowledging and appreciating the gallantry and accomplishments of our veterans in the First and Second World Wars, Peace Support Operations around the world, and internal security operations particularly the ongoing campaign against terrorism in our country.

    “I am therefore proud to address this solemn gathering in honour of our distinguished veterans who devoted their lives to the service of our country and the world at large.

    “Today’s occasion reminds us of the need to appreciate the noble contributions of our fallen heroes who paid the supreme sacrifice to maintain national and international peace and security.

    “The sacrifices of our fallen heroes, heroines, and veterans who rose up to the security challenges cannot go unnoticed.”

    Stressing that Nigeria has remained one united country despite several challenges since independence, the President said the feat was achieved due to the determination of Nigerians to remain one people.

    He also saluted the courage and sacrifices of men and women of Nigeria Armed Forces in grappling with the wave of terrorism, oil theft​ and piracy in some parts of the country.

  • Buhari warns INEC as PDP alleges plot to rig

    Buhari warns INEC as PDP alleges plot to rig

    Presidency asks police, others to be fair in Kogi

    Ahead of Kogi and Bayelsa polls, President Muhammadu Buhari has told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police to ensure free, fair and credible governorship elections.

    Buhari spoke at a meeting with the INEC leadership and others, according to Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media Mallam Garba Shehu.

    To him, it is “mischievous” for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to read meanings into a well-intended meeting.

    In a statement, Shehu said: “The President called the meeting cited by the PDP to warn, in particular, the INEC and the police to do prepare and give the nation a credible election. He said he expected nothing short of a free, fair and credible election.

    “He said he had suffered election manipulation in 2003,2007 and 2011 and would not like to have any Nigerian to go through that again.

    “He warned against the intimidation of voters in any way and vowed that he was prepared to move with all the forces available to him against anyone who undermines the rights of any citizen.

    “The meeting was short and straight to the point. It ended after five minutes. He asked Vice President Yemi Osinbajo if he had anything to say and he added nothing.”

    The Presidency cautioned against what it called PDP’s recurring tendencies to destroy national institutions.

    It added: “Nigerians should be wary of the PDP’s fruitless attempts to destroy national institutions President Buhari is determined to rebuild.

    “They started with the courts, the EFCC, then the police and now they are on the one-week old INEC. When will PDP allow our national institutions to do their job?”

    The PDP alleged a plot by the APC -led Federal Government to rig the Kogi poll.

    The party said the Presidency, INEC and the security agencies were involved in the “plot”.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said the plot was to employ official and unofficial means necessary to ensure victory for the APC.

    The statement said: “We have incontrovertible records of separate meetings, late last week between the Presidency and the new INEC leadership as well as with some top security officers, which were coordinated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),  Babachir Lawal, who boasted that he has President Muhammadu Buhari’s orders to ensure that Kogi State is wrestled from the PDP by all means.

    “We alert all to be aware of this planned ‘coup’ against democracy again, by the now ‘new sherrif’, who though, being the biggest beneficiary of free and fair election in the history of Nigeria, is now out to corrupt the electoral system and destroy our democracy, all in the obsession to foist a one-party state in the country.

    “Intelligence information available to us shows that at the meeting with the new INEC leadership under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the commission was given orders regarding the posting of compromised personnel to strategic areas in the state to manipulate the card readers as well as the actual voting process in favour of the APC, with assurance of adequate protection by government security agencies, particularly the Directorate of State Services (DSS).

    “We are aware that in another meeting also held in Abuja, the Presidency directed summoned security officials to ensure that the forces are maximally used to intimidate the people with a view to pave way for compromised INEC officials to manipulate the process, alter ballot figures and announce doctored results.

    “To kick off the rigging process and underscore the desperation to take over Kogi State, the President himself is billed to be in the state on Wednesday to endorse the APC candidate, Alhaji Audu Abubakar, a man facing charges of corruption.

    “It is, to say the least, an embarrassing miscarriage of justice that the same President who rode to power on much publicized anti-corruption credentials, would not only superintend over plots to corrupt the electoral process, but also endorse a man facing corruption charges as his governorship candidate.

    “Whereas majority of Nigerians have seen through the cosmetic anti-corruption stance of the President Buhari-led APC government, the PDP wishes to state in the strongest possible terms that the people of Kogi State love their Governor and are fully in support of his re-election bid.

    “We therefore caution the President and the APC to watch their steps as their plots have not only been exposed, but will also be stiffly resisted by the people.

    “In this regard, the new INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, must note that his legacy is at stake and that the Kogi election is for him an iron test. Prof. Yakubu must immediately distance himself and the commission from this planned ‘coup’ against democracy or be ready to hold himself responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in the state during and after the elections.

    “Let it be known to President Buhari, the APC, INEC and security forces that no amount of force, intimidation and manipulation can bend the will of the people of Kogi State in their preference for the PDP and Governor Idris Wada, and that they will not accept any results that do not reflect their wishes and aspirations at the poll.

  • Challenges before Buhari’s ‘change agents’

    Challenges before Buhari’s ‘change agents’

    Nigerians expect the incoming ministers to hit the ground running by executing the policies of the Buhari administration in their respective ministries. The expectations from the administration are very high. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI and Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN highlight some of the challenges that would confront the new ministers.

    Given the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari rode to power on the waves of the ‘change’ agenda, there is high expectation among the populace that it is not going to be business as usual. Indeed, since the administration came into power on May 29, Nigerians have challenged President Buhari to fashion out a broader vision that would truly transform the economy to start creating jobs for the teeming youth population.

    Against the background of the expectations, the President reiterated that part of the reason why he did not appoint ministers immediately he took office was to put new rules of conduct and good governance in place before they come on board. He read out what could be termed the rules of engagement during the two-day retreat for the incoming ministers, when he told that they are expected to drive the change agenda the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) promised Nigerians during the electioneering campaign.

    But, what manner of change should Nigerians expect in the coming months? Stakeholders have tried to chart the way forward, by setting an agenda for the new cabinet.

     

    Need for clear road map

     A United Stated States-based Nigerian, Dr. Kole Odutola, wants the new administration to first prepare a clear road map that will guide its journey. Odutola, a lecturer at the University of Florida, said: “A nation on its knees needs all hands on deck. The most important agenda is the road map for Nigeria. A quick period of stock taking is imperative to determine how to get to the next destination with the lean resources at our disposal.

    “Our thinkers need to decide how to fashion out a workable, sustainable development plan that can be applied from the community level to the national level. As we think about production at the national level, we also need to work on creating an integrated system that can kick start economic development without compromising our environment.

    “In short, cottage industries must be assisted to produce items that can feed into what industries may need. Tourism must be designed around the culture of local areas. Regional targets must be set for agriculture based on ecology of the place. I see a concentric circle of urgent activities revolving around security, economy and re-education of the generality of the people.”

    Odutola wants the APC-led administration to adopt the crisis-management approach, by asking the following questions: “Where are we now? Where do we want to be? What resources do we need to get us to the Nigeria of our dream?” He said the Nigeria of his dream is one where the citizenry would live in an environment where they can fully realize their potentials; a society that creates room for citizens to pursue their personal, intellectual and spiritual growth.

     

    Health

     Due to the fact that it has been neglected over the years, the health sector is almost comatose. It is a sad commentary about the affairs in the sector that political office holders are usually flown abroad each time they catch cold. This is mainly because they failed to make provisions for equipping the nation’s hospitals and making them what they should be.

    Public office holders and other Nigerians who travel overseas for medical checkup and treatments annually do so because of lack of confidence in the system in place at home. During the ministerial screening, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and one of the new ministers, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said about one to three billion dollars is spent yearly on medical tourism abroad by Nigerians, because of the dearth of medical facilities in Nigeria. Adewole said the missing link in the country’s health sector is poor funding and infrastructure. He said would have been cheaper getting treatment in Nigeria, if the country had standardised and well-equipped hospitals. The irony is that many Nigerians who travel abroad end up being treated by their compatriots working in foreign hospitals. Given the dwindling resources available to the various tiers of government, including the Federal Government, how is the country going to develop the much-needed infrastructure in this sector?

     

    Petroleum resources

     Under the former ruling party, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was described as a cesspool of corruption. It would be interesting to see the company chart a new direction under the present administration. This is particularly at a time when the collapse of the price of oil in the international market has put Nigeria’s economy in dire straits, because over 70 per cent of the country’s revenue comes from that sector.

    The charge that the country does not know how much of its oil is produced daily by the multinational oil companies and has to rely on the same multinational joint venture partners to come up with a figure at the point of export leaves much to be desired. The incoming minister must come to terms with the above, which borders on the corruption within the system. The administration must also come to terms with the reality of the country’s dwindling revenue from sale of crude oil, by proffering long-lasting solutions, which would include diversification of the economy from crude oil resources.

    President Buhari has hinted in an interview in the United States that the NNPC will be divided into two successor entities under his administration. The President, who stated this in an interview in Washington DC during his four-day visit to the country, explained that the decision would form one of the key steps of his reform of the country’s oil and gas sector.

     

    Security

     The biggest security challenge facing the nation at the moment is the Boko Haram insurgency. In this regard, experts say the administration must begin to fashion out how to support the communities, to keep them away from Boko Haram. It is also expected to work towards providing jobs and economic growth, to stabilize the region in the long run.

    Beyond security, legal luminary, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) said all eyes are on the new ministers particularly those that will be posted to the ministries of Works and Transport; Education and Justice.

     

    Works

     According to Akintola, the Minister of Works will be judged by the way and manner he quickly fixes deplorable highways like Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and the Onitsha-Owerri-Port Harcourt Highway.

    Akintola said: “The Abuja roads are in state of disrepair. If nothing is done it will be difficult to move freely in the Federal Capital Territory in the next five years. If you see the traffic gridlock in Apo, Nyanya and Gwagwalada, you will think all Nigerians are living in Abuja. I suggest the Buhari administration should embark on underground rail system in Abuja to minimise the traffic jam in the city. The Minister of Works has a lot to do; he has a job caught out for him.”

     

    Education

     On education, the legal practitioner described the decay in education infrastructure in public schools as unprecedented. He said the over centralisation of education system in the country is responsible for the decay.” It is wrong to centralise education; the Federal Government should only set standard. Every state should be allowed to operate the system that is convenient to them. There should be devolution of power. Education is in shambles.” He advised the Minister of Education to come up with measures that will restore the old glory of education in the country.

     

    Judicial reforms

     Experts believe that there is need for judicial reforms to drive the change agenda, because efficient justice delivery is central to the nation’s economic growth and development. Continuing to do things the same way and expecting a different outcome, they say, amounts to wishful thinking.

    The justice machinery, reputed to be the last hope of the common man, is squeaking under the weight of the growing number of cases yet to be sorted out and other problems. The criminal justice system has endured prolonged delay in the administration  of justice, congestion of courts, inadequate infrastructure and lack of access to justice by the poor, a majority of who cannot afford the services of lawyers, the congestion of prisons with the daily influx of accused persons or suspects awaiting trial, the persistent issue of the holding charge, arrest of suspects’ relatives in place of suspects, the use of torture by the police to extort extra judicial confessions and allegations of corruption against judicial officers.

    In addition, some of the country’s laws are outdated and out of tune with modern trends. Some of them are nothing but mere relics of colonial legislation that ought to have been reformed long time ago. Most of the laws brim with anachronistic provisions that take no cognizance of the changes and developments that have occurred over the years.

    The experts say the envisaged judicial reform requires both cultural and systematic change in the delivery of justice. This, they added, should include repealing/amendment of antiquated laws, enactment of modern laws to meet the needs of ever changing socio-economic conditions, court modernization and restructuring, legal reforms and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, training of judges, court personnel, and lawyers, students and civil society; and improved access to justice. The starting point for these programmes should be a clear plan that focuses on activities that have a high probability of success and that provide immediate benefits.

    Although justice is most of the time, a matter of finding the appropriate rules for settling disputes, resolving grievances and trying the accused persons with basic fairness, no justice system can be worthy of that name unless it provides for judges who are independent of the state which appoints them and operate without any pressure to decide cases in favour of government.

    In addition, certain offences like corruption, terrorism, kidnapping, election fraud, etc., should be designated as serious crimes and should attract severe punishment without option of fine. There should also be a time limit of 12 months for criminal trials to ensure speedy dispensation of justice. In cases where the accused does not have counsel when a matter is called, the state should appoint a counsel to represent him before the adjourned date. It is further suggested that various tactics employed by parties to judicial proceedings to delay and undermine the justice system, should be sternly deprecated.

    Former Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, Mr Monday Ubani, and Akintola emphasized the need for reforms in the judiciary. They called on the new Minister of Justice to introduce policies that will transform the sector.

     

    Finance

     Ubani wants the Minister of Finance to give diversification of the economy a priority. He said the fall in oil price has proved that it is dangerous to run mono-economy. “We should invest on agriculture which was the main stay of the Nigerian economy before the discovery of oil. We should embark on exploitation of solid minerals. Nigeria is endowed with solid minerals like bitumen, coal, gold which have not been tapped. The multiplying effects of economic diversification include more revenue for the government and job opportunities for the unemployed graduates.

    Ubani said liberal industrialisation policy will attract both local and foreign investors to invest in the economy. According to him, security and power supply situation must be assuring for the investors to make Nigeria their destination. With the establishment of small and medium scale industries, the problem of unemployment that is responsible for high level of crime will be addressed.

    He advised President Buhari to assemble a crack economic team that will come up with policies to rejuvenate the economy, improve the standard of living and put food on the peoples’ table.

    The new ministers are: Chris Ngige (Anambra); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers); Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano); Aisha Alhassan (Taraba); Ogbonaya Onu (Ebonyi); Kemi Adeosun (Ogun); Abubakar Malami (Kebbi); Hadi Sirika (Katsina); Adebayo Shittu (Oyo); Suleiman Adam (Jigawa); Solomon Dalong (Plateau); Ibe Kachikwu (Delta); and Osagie Ehanire (Edo). Others are: Audu Ogbeh (Benue); Udo Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom); Lai Mohammed (Kwara); Amina Mohammed (Gombe); Ibrahim Jibril (Nasarawa); Khadija Bukar Ibrahim (Yobe); Omoleye Daramola (Ondo); Anthony Onwuka (Imo); Geoffrey Onyema (Enugu); Dan Ali (Zamfara); James Ocholi (Kogi); Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna); Okechukwu Enelamah (Abia); Muhammadu Bello (Adamawa); Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno); Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto); Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa); Adamu Adamu (Bauchi); Isaac Adewole (Osun); Abubakar Bwari (Niger); and Pastor Usani Uguru (Cross River).

  • Buhari to launch rice farmers’ borrowers scheme

    Buhari to launch rice farmers’ borrowers scheme

    President Muhammadu Buhari will tomorrow launch the ‘Anchor Borrowers’ Programme’ (ABP) for rice farmers in Kebbi State. The programme is designed to assist small scale farmers to increase the production and supply of feedstock to agro-processors.

    An initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), it is aimed at creating  an ecosystem to link out-growers to local processors, increase banks’ financing to the agricultural sector enhance capacity utilisation of agricultural firms involved in the production of identified commodities and as well as the productivity and incomes of farmers.

    The policy document of the programme also indicated that it will build capacity of banks in lending to farmers and entrepreneurs in the value chain and reduce commodity importation. It will also reduce the level of poverty among small holder farmers and create jobs while assisting rural small-holder farmers to grow from subsistence to commercial production levels.

    Under the intervention, the CBN has set aside the sum of N20 billion from the N220.0 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) for farmers at a single-digit interest rate of 9.0 per cent.  The training of farmers, extension workers and banks component involves customised value-chain finance modules for banks and an “agribusiness” training protocol for farmers that is consistent with the aspiration of the anchor borrowers’ programme.   A comprehensive risk mitigation strategy has been incorporated into the ABP model.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Buhari’s round pegs

    Buhari’s round pegs

    Nearly six months after assuming office, President Muhammadu Buhari has finally assigned portfolios to his ministers. The universal impression is that the cabinet is star-studded and capable of delivering on the programmes and policies of the All Progressives Congress (APC). With a hint of immodesty, the president also enthusiastically indicated how he avoided the mistakes of his predecessors, consulted widely, and deftly put round pegs in round holes. Polemically, experts may question the integrity of his ‘wide consultations’ and the substance of who and what constitute round pegs and round holes. But given public perception of his assignation of portfolios, not to talk of the technocratic zeal of the ministers, Nigerians appear inspired, if not relieved, to give him the benefit of the doubt.

    President Buhari is obviously a late bloomer. From the early months of his presidency when he described federal ministers as noisemakers, and permanent secretaries as the real engine of government, he has quietly given way to disillusionment with the private but outlandish trust he reposed in top civil servants, some of whom have just been sacked and are awaiting prosecution. He seems to have now embraced an epiphanic belief in the role and attributes of federal ministers. More, given the manner he has assigned portfolios and the way he romanticises his cabinet, he even seems to believe rather immoderately that ministers are the lodestar of his government, upon whose shoulders the success or failure of his administration is expected to rest. His conversion is rapid and convincing. He will hope his trust in the men he has appointed is not misplaced or betrayed.

    Nigerians will have to become accustomed to their president’s speed. He has taken all of six months to get so far. He will take many more months to accomplish other yet weightier things, the most crucial of which is the articulation of a vision, not programmes, for the country. This vision is expected to be synthesised from his party’s manifesto or road map, and will serve as the main anchor to hold together the multifarious visions his ministers will articulate in their ministries. The body of ministers functioning as one can, however, neither conceptualise nor articulate this vision, though they may provide its building blocks and give a concrete feel to it. Only the president can. Until that vision is articulated and the country buys into it, whatever success the president achieves may not transcend the commonplaceness evident in many stable and even developed countries. That commonplaceness may be good enough for Nigerians, given their antecedents and sufferings, and even lower expectations. But for any achievement to rise to the grand and soaring level of legacy, a great vision must help to carve a niche for the country and embody the collective sacrifices and yearnings of the people.

    Six months of methodicalness have brought Nigeria to the point where President Buhari has constituted a cabinet. He has done well, and he has carried out his task admirably, albeit slowly. But the time lag may evince something much deeper than just pawky caution. It may be indicative of the disparateness of the president’s thoughts, his hesitations, his undecipherable priorities, and his lack of definable and transcendental vision. While it is good and desirable to run a country where corruption is low, where infrastructure is great, where security is sound and the country stable and peaceful, it is nothing exactly remarkable. If care is not taken, Nigeria under President Buhari may follow this trajectory. But if he appreciates that these achievements are nothing but stepping stones to a greater destination, and that the time is now to chart that almost intangible and ethereal destination, only then can it be said the president has an intuitive grasp of nationhood, that he has been to the mountaintop, and that he possesses a metaphysical connection to that great destination.

    However, on the surface, the cabinet and portfolios will be criticised for their structure and suppositions, whether intended or not. Neither the North nor the Southwest can complain. Both have been empowered and compensated. By bestowing bureaucratic power on the Southwest, the president seems to have completely disemboweled the other faction of the Yoruba elite which embraced mainstreaming during the Goodluck Jonathan presidency. But either by design or accident, the president also seems to be preparing to invoke a new power elite in the zone more amenable to him, distinctly and even exclusively pro-Buhari, an organised army to be deployed for reelection and other purposes in 2019 or any other time. The history and political culture of the Southwest, however, make that latter proposition very troubling, unstable and often unworkable.

    At another general level, deliberately or inadvertently, President Buhari also seems by his cabinet and their portfolios to have bifurcated the country into two dominant power equations: the North to man the real but unseen power base of the nation, and the Southwest to man the bureaucracy; the former to inspire the levers of power, and the other to inspire the execution of programmes and policies. The perceptive southeasterner and critical South-South analyst are likely to feel shortchanged by the whole arrangement. Whether this arrangement will work remains to be seen. But surely, had the Jonathan government embraced even a little of the purposefulness being demonstrated by President Buhari, his government would have had much to show for his efforts and to still keep the PDP in office.

    As enthusiastic as this column and many Nigerians are about the Buhari cabinet and portfolio distribution and management, it is impossible not to ask why the president’s retention of the Petroleum ministry makes sense to him. It is needless, unwise, distracting and fated to create more problems for him and the country than it will solve. Retaining that portfolio may also reflect his incomplete appreciation of the magnitude of the problems he faces as he pilots Nigeria, the onerousness of the transformation the country requires, and his sanctimoniousness which he pushes in the face of the country, as if he could trust no one else to honestly direct that sensitive and graft-infested ministry.

    It is also difficult to understand what logic propelled the president to merge the three demanding ministries of power, works and housing in the hands of one minister, Babatunde Fashola, former Lagos State governor. The competence of  Mr Fashola is of course not in doubt, but it is unlikely that given the collapse already engendered in at least the power and works ministries, one minister can give the undivided attention sorely needed. It is unrealistic and unsustainable.