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Tag: Bukola Saraki

  • Nigeria to phase out non-bio degradable plastics – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday said that the Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with critical stakeholders, has developed a national strategy for the phasing out of non-bio degradable plastics in Nigeria.

    Osinbajo disclosed this while speaking on Tuesday at an event to mark the 2018 World Environment Day at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He also said that the ministry was working in partnership with the state governments to develop a national plastic waste recycling programme involving the establishment of recycling plants across Nigeria.

    According to him, eight of the plastic waste recycling plants have been completed and handed over to the states, while 18 others were in various stages of completion.

    “In addition, the federal government is also collaborating with the state governments to establish plastic waste recycling plants under the community-based waste management programme in the ministry,” he said.

    The Vice President said that two plants have been completed in Ilorin, Kwara State; one in Lokoja, Kogi State; while work was ongoing on another in Karu Local Government Area of Nassarawa State, all in North Central geopolitical zone.

    He said that there were two privately-run plastic recycling plants in Gombe and Kano States that work for the recycling of plastic.

    He said questions have been raised about limited options for cheap packaging of food and drinks, especially where consumers are relatively poor; micro marketing methods of fast moving consumer goods in sachets; and the retailing of detergents also in sachets.

    Read Also: Nigeria on right path – Osinbajo

    Osinbajo challenged multi-national corporations that produce fast-moving goods in plastics to take action towards managing plastic wastes.

    “It is my view that for controlling the proliferation of plastic sachets, we must go back to the major producers of fast-moving goods to put in place recycling programmes that could effectively ensure that while we seek environmentally-friendly options for packaging, we are keeping the environment as free of plastics as possible,” he said.

    Professor Osinbajo said that Nigeria expects multi-nationals like Coca Cola, which has committed to collecting and recycling the equivalent of all drink containers it ships, including  110 billion plastic bottles; and Unilever and Procter and Gamble, which have begun recycled plastics; would make and fulfill the same pledges in Nigeria.

    He also called on the multinationals to partner with governments at the states and local governments “to ensure that we maintain the critical balance between economic growth and a safe and livable environment.”

    “Nigeria is in a good place to lead Africa and indeed the world in beating plastic pollution,” Osinbajo said.

    He pointed out that there are a good number of effective initiatives that are being considered towards develop policies.

    Speaking at the event, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, represented by Senator Victor Umeh, said the Senate would continue to support the Ministry of Environment “by providing robust laws that would ensure healthy and sustainable environment.”

    Speaking earlier, the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibrin said the ministry has done quite a lot in the area of pollution and waste management.

    He said the ministry has formulated and articulated policy targets and regulatory benchmarks that end at reducing plastic pollutions in Nigeria.

  • Offa robbery: I’m to respond in writing to the allegations within 48 hours – Saraki

    As a follow up to the allegation leveled against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, concerning his alleged involvement with the criminals who wrought mayhem on the people of Offa, Kwara state, the Nigerian Police Force in a letter to Saraki said he is no longer required to appear at any station, but to respond to the sundry allegations in writing within 48 hours.

    It can be recalled that the Police through its spokesman – Jimoh Moshood, yesterday said that Saraki was to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team office in Guzape, Abuja, to clear the air on the allegations against him.

    However, in a recent development, Saraki has informed the Nigerian public that he is no longer required to appear in person at the police station, but to respond to the allegations in writing within 48 hours.

    He made this known via his twitter handle a few hours ago:

    Following my earlier tweet, I have received the letter from @PoliceNG. They are no longer asking me to appear at any station, but to respond in writing to the allegations within 48 hours — which I plan to do.

    Whether his response will vindicate him and clear the air or become part of the undulating saga, is one that Nigerians, especially the people of Kwara state earnestly anticipate.

  • Senate holds public hearing on PIB

    The Nigerian Senate today will be holding the Public Hearing on the following Bills:

    1. Petroleum Industry Fiscal Framework Bill;

    2. Petroleum Host Community Bill; and

    3. Petroleum Industry Administration Bill.

    This was made known by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki via his twitter handle in the early hours of today.

    Senate on PIB

    The Petroleum Industry Bill ( PIB ) seeks to provide solutions to several issues militating against the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

    The PIB, as a single, all embracing, and comprehensive document, will change the whole gamut of the petroleum industry in Nigeria.

    It will encourage more investment as well as achieve improved regulation, transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

    You can follow the conversation on twitter via: #PIBPublicHearing.

  • Osibanjo, nPDP meeting reconvenes Monday

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Thursday that the meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and members of the new PDP will resume on Monday, January 4 to discuss specific demands put forward by the Abubakar Kawu Baraje led group.

    Deputy National Chairman (North) of the party, Senator Lawal Shuaibu who disclosed this however denied that the new PDP members demanded that the trial of Senate President before the Code of Conduct Tribunal he stopped during their meeting with the Vice President on Monday.

    Senator Shuaibu who is leading the party in the discussion with the aggrieved party members said the meeting between the Vice President, the party and the new PDP members agreed to reconvene with smaller delegation T9 discuss specific issues brought forward by the groups.

    Shuaibu said “There was no time during Monday’s meeting the condition was given that Sen. Bukola Saraki’s CCT trial must be withdrawn”.

    He said a smaller group of eight persons comprising the Vice President, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Deputy National Chairman (North) and five representatives of the former nPDP members.

    According to him, Monday’s meeting which had in attendance twenty former nPDP members focussed superficially on ‘general discussions’, while the next meeting scheduled for next Mondaywill “go into the business of discussing the [former nPDP] specific demands”.

    Shuaibu said “When we got to the meeting venue in Aguda House, the Vice President felt we were too many. He said for the meeting to achieve any meaningful result, we needed a much smaller group. On that, there debates as to how many people.

    Read Also: Osibanjo inaugurates 1,000 Youths Empowerment Program in Kano

    “The Vice President suggested that the nPDP bring three representatives, and then himself, the Attorney General and myself to make up three so that we have six. But they (nPDP) insisted that they needed more than three representatives and we finally settled on five. From there we went into general discussions, nothing specific.

    “We said when they (nPDP) are ready with their five representatives, then we will sit down and go into the business of discussing the specific demands. There was no time during Monday’s meeting the condition was given that Sen. Bukola Saraki’s CCT trial must be withdrawn.

    “I don’t know where they got that story from. I have a strong feeling that whoever wrote that story was only being speculative because nobody could have said that.

    Sen, Shuaibu added that the basis for last Monday’s meeting was the content of the former nPDP’s letter submitted to the Party and copied to the President and Vice President, adding that “content of the letter which is now public, that is what the basis of their demands are. At the next meeting on Monday, we will go into the specifics. That letter will be x-rayed point by point.”

    On whether the meeting discussed the recently conducted ward, local government and state congresses, he said: “The letter did not even bring the issue of congresses because it was written before we started congresses. But the issue of congresses was raised in the meeting of Monday. The House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara raised the issue and we said when we come for the specifics, we will talk about that.

    “When certain issues come up, there are ways we can always address them. Are you saying we can’t make amends? Yes we can. Decisions are made and amends of such decisions are always possible. Politics is not madness, there must be a way of accommodating people’s grievances. There must be a way of carrying people along, especially those who are left behind in any process.”

     

  • World Cup: Saraki splashes N18M on Eagles

    Ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Senate President Bukola Saraki (CON) has doled out the sum of N18m (50,0000USD) to the Super Eagles to help boost their morale for the Mundial.

    The Senate President has also pledged undisclosed monetary reward suspected to be in US dollars for every unreplied goal the team scored at the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    This was revealed on Tuesday as Saraki bade the Eagles farewell for the 21st FIFA World Cup which commence June 14, at an organized forum in Abuja.

    The senator described Coach Gernot Rohr led Eagles as the best set ever and a team without faction.

    “I have been following the performances and general behaviour of this squad. I must confess that I am very impressed. We no longer have schisms and different camps in the same camp, and you sacrifice a lot for the country without demanding so much before you go to battle.

    “From the captain, Mikel Obi to the newest member of the squad, I assure you of the love of the entire country and the well –wishes of every Nigerian as you go to the FIFA World Cup and in fact, in all your endeavours,” he said.

    President, Nigeria football Federation Amaju Pinnick lauded Saraki for his proven love for, support and encouragement of the three –time African champions during the FIFA World Cup qualifying race and even before.

    “The Nigeria Football Federation and this team are indebted to you for your huge support all the time. Your love and keen interest has contributed much to keep this team going and reaching for higher heights.

    “I must note that we are lucky to have a manager like Rohr who himself is calm, focused and very dedicated to his job, as well as a captain like Mikel who is very humble and God-fearing. The sky will be the limit for this team.

     “The Nigeria Football Federation and this team are indebted to you for your huge support all the time. Your love and keen interest has contributed much to keep this team going and reaching for higher heights.”

    Senators Ahmed Misau and Baba Kaka Garbai joined the senate President at the forum.  Also  in attendance were NFF 2nd Vice President, Mallam Shehu Dikko; Executive Committee member, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau; General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and Managing Director of Transcorp Hilton, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo among other dignitaries.

  • Saraki vs IGP: Senate delegation meets Buhari at Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari is meeting with 10-man senate delegation raised to address the ongoing impasse between the Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Inspector-General of Police over a criminal case involving some suspected cultists.

    NAN reports that members of the senate delegation included former governors of Nasarawa (Abdullahi Adamu), Gombe (Danjuma Goje) and Akwa Ibom, Mr Godswill Akpabio.

    NAN observed that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Mr Ita Enang also accompanied the senators to the meeting with the president.

    It would be recalled that the Senate had on May 9 passed vote of no confidence on the IGP, describing him as “enemy of democracy’’ over his failure to honour its invitations twice.

    Read Also: Senate panel, Omo-Agege trade words over appearance at sitting

    Idris, however, asked the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Joseph Habila to represent at the senate.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday also accused the IGP of plotting to implicate him and Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara in a murder case involving some suspected cultists.

    The Senate on Thursday raised a 10-man panel to meet with President Buhari over the allegation leveled against the IGP by Saraki.

  • PDP expresses concern over alleged plot against Saraki

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expresses concerned over claims by the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki alleging plots by the Police to frame him up.

    Saraki had, during Wednesday’s plenary, informed his colleagues that the police authorities had perfected plans to use suspected cultists, who have been in detention, to implicate him and the Governor of Kwara state, Abdulfatah Ahmed.

    In a statement on Wednesday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the PDP, as a party, has taken judicious note of assertions by the Senate President that the said plot is allegedly being hatched by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim.

    According to the President of the Senate, the IGP was out to settle scores with him over the Senate recent declaration that the police boss was not fit to hold public office.

    The statement said, “The PDP is alarmed by the trend of brazen assaults on the institutions of democracy, particularly the National Assembly and the judiciary, in addition to unrelenting attacks on dissenting voices, especially as we approach the 2019 general elections.

    “Nigerians will recall that the PDP had earlier alerted of plots to arrest, harass, detain dissenting voices and opposition members on trumped-up charges, as well as intimidate institutions of democracy and pave the way for a one-party state in our country.

    Read Also: Saraki to meet Buhari over ‘IGP’s plot to implicate him’

    “Nigerians will further recall the invasion of the Senate chambers by thugs, who disrupted proceedings and carted away the mace. Only last Friday, hoodlums violently attacked a High Court in Rivers state with guns, in a bid to stop the judiciary from making pronouncements on an electoral matter.

    “The PDP therefore charges the National Assembly to defend the nation’s democracy by sparing no energy in pursuing its resolution of engaging President Muhammadu Buhari on these assaults, in addition to putting in motion, all legislative instruments available to it, to curtail all excesses in government before the situation finally gets out of hand”.

  • Why budget was delayed, by Senate

    The Senate on Wednesday said the passage of the 2018 budget was delayed because of the neglect or refusal by heads of some government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to honour repeated invitations to defend their budget proposals.

    President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki who stated this at the plenary session shortly after the budget was passed, described the trend as unhelpful.

    Saraki said, “As you will recall, I had indicated the need for the executive and the legislature to come together, especially in the formation and passage of the Appropriation Bill.

    “However, while we may have made progress in the formation stages, there is a lot more that needs to happen, to minimise delays and other stumbling blocks in the process.

    “One of the symptoms of the unhelpful aspects of the prevailing culture hampering the process, remains the neglect or refusal of certain agencies of government to honour invitations to budget defence. It is our hope that we will see a major change in this regard, going forward”.

    Saraki harped on the need for the nation to steer the economy and the nation’s revenue generating capacity away from oil.

    According to him, “The current budget, when signed into law, should help us in this regard, especially with the coming into focus for implementation, the economic reform bills we have passed so far and those on the way to full passage”.

    Saraki added that the 2018 budget addressed growth in spending on issues relevant to the welfare and security of the people.

    He urged government to reduce spending in areas where the private sector is better placed to handle, saying this will free up funds for education, health, water and sanitation services among others.

    “On this note, it is with great delight that I announce that the 2018 Budget has met the threshold of reserving at least 1% of total budget to health. This is historic. We were focused on this commitment of the 1% set aside for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). We promised, and we have delivered.

    “For us this is not a commitment to numbers; it is a commitment to the health and well-being of our people. It is a commitment to making Nigeria stronger.

    “We expect that this will continue and even inch upwards as we work to eradicate malaria, and significantly reduce infant and maternal mortality.

    “The statistics that show Nigeria as having one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world – is not the Nigeria we want to leave behind for our children. The journey starts now; let us not look back”, Saraki added.

    The Senate stressed the need for growth in independent revenue by reviewing agreements that government had signed with the various private sector service providers.

    Saraki however observed that some of the agreements were against national interest, saying they were only favourable to the private interests.

    “These are important steps toward freeing up funding for our critical sectors, especially now with the increasing need for strengthening our security architecture and capacity across the country to improve on the safety and confidence of our people in government’s ability to provide for their welfare and security.

    “It is also hoped that we have put together a Budget that will lend itself easily to the government priority of revamping the economy, creating jobs and fuelling the economic recovery in a manner that has meaning for the ordinary man on the street.

    “We would like to see that the process of implementation of the budget starts immediately so that our people will begin to benefit from the objective of the budget and opportunities it opens.

    “In order for us to have an efficient budget implementation, we will advise that agencies of government eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and speed up the procurement process”, Saraki said.

  • Kwara youths protest against plot to implicate Saraki

    Scores of youths under the aegis of Kwara Agenda on Wednesday protested against alleged plot to implicate Senate President Bukola Saraki on criminal case.

    The protesting youths took their peaceful rally the Kwara state Government House, Ilorin, the state capital

    Leader of the group, Taofiq Olateju told Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed the plot was to link Saraki with a murder case involving one Lanre Mohammed Soliu, who was recently paraded by the police in the state over alleged involvement in cult related murders.

    The protestors carried several placards with various inscriptions such as “Fresh plot to frame Saraki uncovered”, “Stop intimidating Saraki”, “We stand with Saraki” among others.

    Addressing Ahmed, Olateju raised the alarm that the suspect was being transported to Abuja while his crime was allegedly committed in Ilorin.

    He added: “Our attention has been drawn to a fresh plot by the federal government to implicate the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki in a murder case involving one Lanre Mohammed Soliu.

    “It is on record that Lanre Mohammed Soliu was recently paraded alongside five others by the Kwara state police commissioner, Aminu Pai Saleh, as members of Aiye confraternity cult group. Soliu was specifically accused of killing one Yemi Bayero of Ago market, Ilorin. The offences which the suspect allegedly committed were carried out in Ilorin, Kwara state, and expectedly he’s supposed to be tried in a competent court of jurisdiction in the state.

    “We are, however, alarmed by a new twist to the whole issue. As we are speaking with you, Soliu is being transported to Abuja by men of Kwara state police command.

    “This is not our concern, but our concern is about the plot by the powers that be to torture and force the suspect to implicate Dr Bukola Saraki. We have it on good authority that the main purpose of transferring the self- confessed cultist to Abuja is to implicate the Senate President in the whole saga.

    “As concerned youths of Kwara state, we want to appeal to men of conscience across the country to prevail on the federal government to stop intimidating and humiliating our God – sent leader, the President of the Senate. No Senate President in the history of this country has been so humiliated and vilified as Senator Bukola Saraki, for no just cause.

    “Saraki is our leader and a law abiding citizen whose passion is to improve the lots of the common man. He should be left alone to continue the good job he and his colleagues are doing at the National Assembly.

    “We are using this forum to warn those behind this fresh plot to frame and tarnish the image of our leader to retrace their steps. We have no doubt in our mind that this fresh plot like the ones before it shall fail woefully.

    “Dr Bukola Saraki remains committed to the cause of the Nigerian masses, and their prayers and support shall always keep him going and ensure his victory over his adversaries.”

    In his response, Governor Ahmed promised to deliver the message from the youths to the right quarters as he commended their maturity in carrying out the protest.

  • Saraki to meet Buhari over ‘IGP’s plot to implicate him’

    The President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki is expected to meet President Muhammadu Buhari to inform him about an alleged plot by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to implicate him.

    Saraki will lead the leadership of the upper legislative chamber to meet with President Buhari over the alleged plot.

    The Senate president had raised the alarm on the floor of the Senate over a plot by the IGP to implicate him using ‘coerced’ cultists.

    “My Distinguished colleagues, there is an issue which I need to bring to your attention very urgently. Last night, my State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatai Ahmed revealed to me an information at his disposal that a group of suspects who had been in police cells for several weeks for cultism and whose investigation had been concluded with prosecution about to commence under the State law based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Ministry of Justice were ordered to be transferred to Abuja this morning.

    “ According to the information available to the Governor, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim directed the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State to immediately transfer the men to the Force Headquarters.

    “The plan, as the Governor was made to understand is that, under duress, the suspects would be made to alter the statements they already made in Ilorin. They will then be made to implicate the Kwara State Government, and in particular, myself, in their new statement.

    “This plot is part of the strategy by the IGP Idris to settle scores over the declaration by this honourable Chamber that he is not qualified and competent to hold any public office, within and outside the country and that he is an enemy of Nigerian democracy based on his usual disrespectful conduct towards lawful authorities.

    “”In my own view, this plot is an act of desperation, blackmail, intimidation, abuse of office and crude tactics aimed at turning our country into a Police State where top officials cannot be made to obey the law, follow due process and subject themselves to constituted authorities.

    “I want to bring this dangerous development to the attention of all of you my colleagues, the entire country and the international community so that you can be aware of the level of impunity in our country and the danger it constitute to our democracy,” the President of the Senate said.

    Saraki explained that he was bringing the issue to the attention of his colleagues to let them know the gravity of the situation.

    “I know the gravity of the issue that is why I am bringing it to your attention and to continue to let our colleagues and the world know presently the danger we are going with and the levels of the rascality that is going on with some of these actions.

    “I have brought it to your attention and we must continue to play our own role in doing what we believe in the course of our duty.

    “It is very unfortunate but that it the information I have as of now,” the President of the Senate said.

    Read Also: Senate, Saraki fail in bid to stay judgment voiding Omo-Agege’s suspension

    The Senate resolved that the Senate President should lead a delegation to relay the concerns raised on the floor by Saraki. The delegation would consist of the Senate President, the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan; the Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye; and the Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

    Other members of the delegation would included Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator Sam Anyanwu, Senator Aliyu Wammako, Senator Fatima Raji Rasaki, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

    NAN