The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari vows to fight piracy

    Buhari vows to fight piracy

    •Restates commitment to national security

    President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday vowed to extend his campaign against corruption to the Nollywood industry.

    He said he would ensure relevant Agencies and Commissions are strengthened to execute his anti-corruption campaign on piracy.

    The president spoke at the 28th edition of Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists (SONTA) international conference, organised by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), in Abuja.

    He said the sector has contributed positively to the nation’s economy, thus deserves his attention.

    “It is also pertinent to state that this administration is committed to revamping the Nigerian economy, diversifying the economy in the face of dwindling profits.

    “In this regard, a sector that generates huge sum of money annually for the Nigerian economy and employs over a million Nigerians requires our attention. Relevant agencies of government will be empowered to deal with the menace of piracy which have become an albatross to both practitioners and government.

    “We support the call for Nollywood to be repositioned to serve as veritable tool for the promotion of cultural diplomacy in view of the popularity Nollywood films enjoy globally,” Buhari said.

    The President decried the influence of foreign movies on Nigerians which he said, has “resulted in moral decadence and erosion of our cherished values.”

    Buhari who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Mrs. Nkechi Ejele  expressed optimism that Nollywood was capable of restoring the lost moral values.

    Some of the Nollywood actors, who converged at the conference described piracy as the greatest threat to the sector which should be vigorously addressed to a logical end.

    The participants said despite being ranked as the second largest movie industry in the world, Nollywood ought to stimulate collective attention because of its potentials to the economy.

    In his remark, former Military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida canvassed for an appropriate policy that would sustain growth of the sector and help tackle some of its challenges.

    He described the sector as being capable of addressing cultural imperialism.

    Babangida, who was represented by the former NICO Governing Board Chairman, Alh. Is’mail Ibrahim said Nollywood could promote the nation’s culture, external relations as well as foreign exchange learning.

    Earlier, National President of SONTA, Prof. Sunday Enessi advised the President to extend his vision to the film industry.

    According to him, the sector has the potential of contributing immensely to  the nation’s coffer especially in an era that the nation is considering to diversify it’s economy.

    “Permit me to state that, if the present government was to go far in her ‘change’ mission and national orientation, the answer is Nollywood. Also, we affirm that Mr. President’s determined fight against corruption is commendable and it should not start and end with government officials only.

    In his keynote lecture, Professor Hyginus Ekwuazi from Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan recommended a working relationship between Nollywood and security forces, provision of grants by government, checkmate ‘Africa Magic and MultiChoice”, merge the National Film Institute NFI and the TV college.

    He called for provision of legal teeth to the Motion Picture Practitioners Council (MOPPICON) and also make the national film policy an article of faith in the industry.

  • Cost of Buhari’s US trip exaggerated – Presidency

    Cost of Buhari’s US trip exaggerated – Presidency

    The Presidency Tuesday night declared that the N2.2 billion reported as the total cost of President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent trip to the U.S. was grossly exaggerated.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the cost was most minimal in line with the Government’s policy to cut waste and extravagance.

    According to him, it was not up to 10 percent of the speculated figure.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to an editorial published in the Nigerian Pilot of August 2, 2015 and an earlier report in which the total cost of President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent trip to the U.S. was estimated at N2.2 billion.

    “It is very sad that in this age of free-flowing information and in this era of CHANGE, a media organisation would make itself available as a vehicle to peddle a lie of such low and ignominious quality.

    “Contrary to the newspaper’s assertions, the total cost of the trip to the Nigerian taxpayer was at the most minimal, in line with the policy of this administration to cut waste and extravagance.

    “In point of fact, the total amount expended on the trip by the office of the President amounted to nothing near ten per cent of the speculated figure.

    Due to the free accommodation provided by the host government, he said that all the personal staff who accompanied the President on the trip received reduced allowances.

    Continuing, he said: “His son, Yusuf, received neither allowances nor estacode. The five Governors on the trip each paid his own way. Permanent Secretaries who traveled on the delegation did so in accordance with extant rules and none of them exceeded their estacode entitlements.

    “Apart from the Nigerian Pilot’s mischievous mathematics, it is shortsighted and misleading of the newspaper to have claimed that President Buhari’s trip to the U.S. achieved nothing.

    “Nigerian-US relations had suffered severely over the past few years. That relationship has now been reset. The benefits of this symbiotic relationship will become more and more evident as the Buhari administration continues to tackle the challenges of corruption, security and the economy.

    Listing some of the benefits of the trip, he said: “Some of the more immediate benefits of the President’s trip to the U.S include: the proposed $2.1 billion fund from the World Bank for the re-development of the northeast battered by Boko Haram; $5 billion from US investors in Nigeria’s agriculture sector; $1.5 billion investment in the Nigerian health sector; and another $5 billion investment from the U.S. in our country’s power sector.

    “Also, as things stand at the moment, the embargo on the sale of weapons sales to Nigeria is in the process of being removed.

    “The trip to the U.S by President Buhari was definitely very successful and beneficial to Nigeria.

    “Only those rapidly determined to find faults unnecessarily will cook up falsehood in a futile effort to rake up murk where none exists,” he stated.

  • We’ll maintain NYSC for national unity – Buhari

    We’ll maintain NYSC for national unity – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday promised that his administration will take all necessary actions to maintain and improve the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme as a functional vehicle for the promotion of national unity and integration.

    Buhari gave the assurance after receiving a briefing from officials of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development led by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta.

    The President, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, affirmed his confidence and trust in the programme, noting that the objective for which the scheme was established in 1973 is still very relevant for national development now.

    He said: “I firmly believe in NYSC and I think it should remain a national programme to promote integration.

    “Whenever I go home to Daura, I look out for Corps members from Lagos, Aba and other parts of the country.

    “I am always thrilled to learn that except for the NYSC, some of them have never left their states of origin to visit other cities in the country.”

    Mrs. Jimeta told the President that the increasing number of NYSC participants posed a challenge to the scheme due to the dwindling revenue from the national budget, to cater for their needs.

    She told the President that the annual enrolment of corps participants had increased from 2,364 at inception in 1974 to 229,016 in 2014.

    “Given the increasing number of tertiary institutions, our projection is that the number of corps participants may rise to 300,000 by year 2020,’’ she said.

    The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, told the President that there were plans to make the scheme voluntary and reduce the corps population to make the programme more sustainable.

  • Buhari approves cleaning up of Ogoniland

    Buhari approves cleaning up of Ogoniland

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday approved several actions to fast-track the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme Report on Ogoniland.

    The actions approved by President Buhari, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, were based on recommendations to him by the Executive Director of UNEP, the UNEP Special Representative for Ogoniland, Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries of Environment and Petroleum Resources, and other stakeholders, include the amendment of the Official Gazette establishing the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) to reflect a new governance framework comprising a Governing Council, a Board of Trustees and Project Management.

    The statement reads: “The President further approved that the HYPREP Governing Council should be composed as follows: Ministry of Petroleum Resources (One representative), Federal Ministry of Environment (One representative), Impacted States (Rivers) – One Representative, Oil Companies and NNPC ( Four representatives), Ogoniland ( Two representatives), United Nations System  (One representative) and Secretariat – Headed by Project Manager.”

    “He also approved the composition of a Board of Trustees for the HYPREP Trust Fund as follows: Federal Government (One representative), NNPC (One representative), International Oil Companies (One representative, Ogoniland (One representative) and United Nations System (One representative).”

    Following a meeting held on the directive of President Buhari, the statement said that it was also agreed that a contribution deposit of $10 million will be made by stakeholders within 30 days of the appointment of members of the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund who will be responsible for collecting and managing funds from contributors and donors.

    “A new implementation template has also been evolved at the instance of President Buhari, and the environmental clean-up of Ogoniland will commence in earnest with the President’s inauguration of the HYPREP Governing Council and the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund,” It added

     

  • Buhari orders ‘quick action’ on new national airline

    Buhari orders ‘quick action’ on new national airline

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered the Ministry of Aviation to expedite action on the establishment of a new national airline for the country.

    The President gave the directive while receiving briefing from officials of the Aviation Ministry, led by the Permanent Secretary, Binta Bello, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after the briefing, Bello said the President was worried about Nigeria not having a national air carrier and has given instruction for new one to be established.

    She also said the President was briefed on the challenges domestic airlines were facing despite federal government’s N300 billion intervention fund designed to boost their operations.

    The airlines, she said, were hugely indebted to regulatory agencies under the Aviation Ministry, including other factors that have left some of the airlines still struggling to maintain optimum operational capabilities.

    According to her, the four state-of-the-art terminals being constructed with Chinese Bank loan will be ready by first quarter of 2016.

     

  • Recover stolen oil money, Buhari tells NNPC boss

    Recover stolen oil money, Buhari tells NNPC boss

    President gives new helmsman Kachikwu six tasks

    A NEW helmsman took the reins yesterday at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    President Muhammadu Buhari appointed  Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, the Executive Vice Chairman/General Counsel of ExxonMobil (Africa), as Group Managing Director (GMD), asking him to give recovery of stolen oil money a priority, among other targets.

    Buhari may also appoint Kachikwu, who beat three other candidates in the race for the job, as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to ensure synergy, a source said last night.

    Those also considered and discreetly screened for the job, source told The Nation learnt, are former Petroleum Products Prices Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Executive Secretary  Stanley Reginald;  Shell Petroleum Development Company Managing Director Mr. Osagie Okunbor  and a NNPC Deputy General Manager, whose name was not disclosed.

    At the final negotiation with Kachikwu, the President gave him six terms of reference to reshape the corporation. They are to:

    • clean up the NNPC system of corrupt elements;
    • recover all stolen crude oil funds;
    • work with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Directorate of State Service (DSS) to trace and recover  stolen oil cash;
    • review the structure of the NNPC to compete globally;
    • giving targets to all subsidiaries and put in place performance benchmarks; and
    • fixe all refineries, which must work at optimal level, “even if it means using expatriates in the interim”.

    A source said: “The new GMD of NNPC was picked after a thorough search by the President. Actually, at the end of the search, the choice was narrowed down to four candidates.

    “The President opted for Kachikwu who is the Vice President of Exxon Mobil, not only in Nigeria but in Africa. Buhari was impressed by his impeccable credentials as the most senior black African in any multi-national oil firm in the world with 30 years experience.

    “Apart from being a First Class graduate, Kachikwu also obtained PhD in Law which enabled him to rise to company secretary in Exxon Mobil.”

    But it was not easy for the President to convince Kachikwu to accept the job because he was afraid that he might be messed up like other Nigerians, a source said.

    “In their negotiation, President Buhari repeatedly said: ‘I won’t interfere with your work; I will give you a free hand because I want to reform this oil sector once and for all.’ The GMD accepted the job following what he realized as “the infectious patriotism and genuine intention of the President,: the source said.

    Kachikwu yesterday took the reins at a brief ceremony held at the NNPC Towers, Abuja .

    The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, in a statement, said the new helmsman expressed gratitude to his predecessor, Dr. Joseph T. Dawha, for holding the Corporation. He pledged to work assiduously in achieving the President’s growth aspiration for the oil and gas industry.

    “ExxonMobil Upstream affiliates in Nigeria congratulate our Vice-Chairman and General Counsel, Dr. Emmanuel Kachikwu, on this opportunity to serve Nigeria as Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). We thank Dr. Kachikwu for his many contributions to ExxonMobil Nigeria, and wish him well in his new role.”

    Inside the NNPC 

    The NNPC is the national oil company, through which the Federal Government regulates and participates in the country’s petroleum industry.

    An Act to dissolve the former Nigerian National Oil Corporation and to establish the NNPC was created in 1977.  The NNPC was established on April 1, 1977, as a merger of the Nigerian National Oil Corporation and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel.

    By law, the NNPC manages the joint venture between the Federal Government and some foreign multinational corporations including Shell, Agip, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Total. Through collaboration with these companies, the Federal Government conducts petroleum exploration and production.

    For lack of supervision, the NNPC degenerated to a rent-collector for the government with less attention to transparency and accountability.

    Between 2007 and 2009, auditors found that the corporation over-deducted funds in subsidy claims to the tune of N28.5 billion and has not been able to account for the money.

    In 2008, Willbros Group Inc of United States (U.S.) admitted making ‘suspicious’ payments of over $6.3 million to officials of the corporation and its subsidiary – the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) for assistance in obtaining and retaining contracts at the Eastern Gas Gathering System (EGGS).

    In 2004, ABB Vetco Gray, a U.S. company and its UK subsidiary –  ABB Vetco Gray UK Limited – admitted paying over $1 million in bribes to  NAPIMS’ officials,  in exchange for obtaining confidential bid information and favourable recommendations from government agencies.

    After the publication of a report In November 2013 by Swiss, a non-governmental advocacy organisation – Erklärung von Bern – allegations of fraud surfaced, placing the NNPC under suspicion of siphoning $6.8 billion of crude oil revenues.

    From 2013, the NNPC has been battling with the allegation of non-remittance of $20 billion into the Federation Account.

    These allegations, among others are responsible for the continued calls for the sanitisation and repositioning of the corporation.

     

  • Buhari sacks Dawha as GMD NNPC

    Buhari sacks Dawha as GMD NNPC

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has named Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    Kachikwu, who was until his appointment, the Executive Vice Chairman/General Counsel of ExxonMobil (Africa) replaces Dr. Joseph Thlama Dawha as the NNPC chief.

    According to a statement by Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Kachikwu hails from Onicha-Ugbo in Delta State.

    The statement reads: “He is a First Class Graduate of Law from the University of Nigeria,  Nsukka and the Nigerian Law School.

    “The new NNPC Chief Executive also has Masters and Doctorate Degrees in Law from the Harvard Law School.

    “He started his working career with the Nigerian/American Merchant Bank before moving on to Texaco Nigeria Limited from where he joined ExxonMobil.”

    President Buhari has also approved the appointment of Prof. Umaru Garba Danbatta as the new Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

    Mr. Adesina said in the statement: “Prof. Danbatta, who holds a Doctorate Degree in Electronic Engineering, takes over from Dr. Eugene Juwah, whose tenure expired on July 29, 2015.

    “The new NCC Chief Executive’s other academic qualifications include a Bachelors Degree in Electronic Engineering and Telecommunications as well as a Masters Degree in the same field.

    “He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and has had a meritorious career in which he rose to become Professor of Electrical Engineering and Electronics at Bayero University, Kano, specialising in Telecommunications Engineering and Information and Communications Technology.

    “Before his new appointment, Prof. Danbatta held top management and leadership positions at different times, including Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, Director, Centre for Information Technology, Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (Kano Branch), Deputy Vice Chancellor and Acting Vice Chancellor.

    “His appointment as Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC is for five years, in the first instance.”

  • APC group advises Buhari on ministers

    A pressure group, Niger-Delta Youth Vanguard for All Progressive Congress (APC), yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be careful in choosing his ministers.

    The group advised Buhari to be mindful of those with a mindset to loot, mostly those who recently defected to the party after his emergence as the president.

    The group, in a statement, said only credible people without blemishes should be appointed into his cabinet for the purpose of accountability.

    The group said: “We the Southsouth people have confidence in Mr. President and we’re pleading that every development from the Federal Government to the region should come direct to the people, as our leaders have failed us.

    “In spite of the billions of naira coming to the region through Niger Delta Ministry, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the people still drink polluted water without good road, yet some senators and House of Representatives members are making huge some from there.”

    when the people are suffering seriously. NDDC is today even worse compared to NNPC.

    “One other area is the Amnesty Office that was supposed to serve as means of empowering youths but today it has become some ex-militants’ oil well, especially those that were close friends to the former Special Adviser to the former president on Niger Delta Matter.

    “The programme was design to empower over 50 thousand youths but difficult to see 5 per cent of the youths they claim to have empowered in a reputable company as staff while those they took abroad were denied their basic allowances.”

    The group had also blamed the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta  on selfish leaders.

     

  • Buhari urges Senate to approve N14.7b World Bank loan for Edo

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday urged the Senate to approve a $75 million (about N14.7 billion) Word Bank loan for Edo State.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki read the President’s letter requesting the approval for the loan.

    President Buhari said the loan is meant for the state’s development programmes.

    The President’s letter is entitled: Request for approval to obtain $75m credit facilities from the World Bank for Edo State.

    Buhari said: “I am writing to seek the consideration from the National Assembly an approval for the request from the Edo State Government to obtain a $75 million credit facility from the World Bank.

    “You may wish to know that the World Bank had approved a development policy programme for $225 million to Edo State Government in 2012 to be implemented in three tranches of $75 millon per annum.

    “The first tranche was approved by the National Assembly in the 2012/2014 Federal Government External Rolling Borrowing Plan.

    “The Development Programme Operation (DPO) has since been successful implemented by the state in 2014.

    “Following this success, the bank’s board of executive directors approved the second tranche.

    “On April 29, 2015, the DPO too was captured in the Federal Government External Borrowing Plan of 2014/2017, which is pending with the National Assembly.

    “It is for the above reason I seek your favour to facilitate the consideration and approval of the Development Policy Operation II loan of $75 million to enable the state to consolidate on the phase of the first tranche of the operation DPO I.

    “Your Excellency, it is instructive to mention that Edo State has informed me that the key programme objectives of the DPO are already beginning to show in terms of increased inflow of private investments to the state.

    “Increased private sector employment opportunities and increased internally generated revenues, an accelerated approval of this request will help to sustain this phase.” The President requested Senate’s speedy consideration of the request.

     

  • Fed Govt won’t tolerate illegal mining, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday declared that the Federal Government will no longer tolerate illegal mining and other improper activities that have inhibited the growth of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

    He issued the warning after receiving a briefing from top officials of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development led by the Permanent Secretary, Baba Umar Farouk.

    The President, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, noted that the mines and steel sector was very important for the diversification of the economy.

    Buhari expressed displeasure at Mr. Farouk’s report that the sector had been overrun by illegal miners.

    “This is one of the most demoralising briefs I have received. The biggest threat to this country besides the Boko Haram is unemployment and the mining sector is key to employment creation.

    “We cannot be held back on such a strategic industry that can give us much needed jobs and promote economic growth.

    “There must be more seriousness in running this country and we are determined to instill that seriousness,” the President said.

    The Permanent Secretary had told the President that Nigeria’s mining  sector has been infiltrated by  “illegal aliens” who carry out unlawful mining activities in the country.

    The statement also said that President Buhari directed the Ministry of Environment to undertake a rigorous study of Lake Chad, with a view to bringing up proposals on how best to reverse the shrinking of the lake, which currently serves as a major source of livelihood for many.

    Speaking after receiving a briefing on the challenges facing the Ministry of Environment, President Buhari noted that the security and economic challenges faced by member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission could be substantially ameliorated with an improvement in the economic value of the lake.

    He also urged the Ministry of Environment to take up the challenge of researching cheaper ways of sourcing energy for cooking apart from firewood.

    The Permanent Secretary, Nana Fatima Mede told President Buhari that Lake Chad has shrunk considerably from the 1960s, when it covered an area of more than 26,000 square kilometers, to less than one-tenth of that size at present.