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Jonathan flags off Calabar channel dredging

OPERATIONS for the dredging of the much talked about Calabar channel was yesterday flagged off by the President, Goodluck Jonathan, at the Calabar Port in Cross River State.

The president who was represented by the Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, said when eventually functional, the Calabar Port would help decongest the Lagos and Tin Can Island Ports.

The president said the gesture marks another milestone in the commitment of his administration to provide adequate infrastructure in partnership with the private sector.

He said once it is dredged and properly maintained it would attract traffic to boost the social and economic life of Cross River State and other South-South and South-East States.

Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Habib Abdulahi, said the development was a joint venture between the Calabar Channel Management and Niger Global Engineering Services Limited.

He said it was a dream come true and expressed appreciation to the federal government for supporting it. He assured the NPA would ensure the success of the management of the Calabar channel. Abdulahi said it will ultimately open up the market in Calabar and the region. Managing Director of CCM, Mr Pieter Van Hekken, said the flagging off is coming at a period of renewed global interest in trade and investment in the Nigerian maritime and cognate sector.

Hekken assured that in no distant time, the Calabar Port will be the choicest port to the shipping community as it will. Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, said the dredging of the port is something the state has always yearned for. He however hoped that the project would come to stay as a contract had been awarded for it before but never came to fruition.

October 18, 2014
Jonathan tackles former leader over comment

The Presidency yesterday faulted the claims by former Head of State and Presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammad Buhari.

Gen. Buhari, on Wednesday during his declaration of intention to run for President in Abuja, picked holes in the economy and past elections conducted under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former Head of State had claimed that the last 16 years of PDP government has witnessed a decline in all critical sectors while the economy continued to deteriorate.

But in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, titled “Conduct your presidential campaign with greater regard for the truth, Jonathan tells Buhari”, the President said Gen. Buhari’s claims are false and uncharitable.

Stressing that he will not be discouraged from implementing his transformation agenda, Jonathan noted that Gen. Buhari’s claims are not in agreement with local and international statistics on Nigeria’s growing economy.

He said: “The falsity of General Buhari’s anti-Jonathan and anti-PDP claims will be obvious to knowledgeable Nigerians and friends of the country, but for the benefit of others we affirm that there is absolutely no truth whatsoever in his charge that ‘the last 16 years of PDP government has witnessed a decline in all critical sectors of life in Nigeria’ or that ‘the economy continues to deteriorate’.

“Statistics and rankings from the National Bureau of Statistics, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other international economic agencies give the lie to General Buhari’s claims on the state of the Nigerian economy.

“As is well known, available figures, statistics and ratings show that the Nigerian economy has consistently maintained an unprecedented growth rate of 6-7% under the Jonathan administration. They also show that the Nigerian economy is now the leading economy in Africa and the 26th largest in the world with a gross domestic product of over $500 billion per annum.

“Also, contrary to General Buhari’s assertion yesterday, Nigeria’s agricultural sector is thriving under the reforms being implemented by the Jonathan administration as current production figures show and neither manufacturing nor commerce is ‘down’ as the APC presidential aspirant alleged.

“His most uncharitable and inexcusable accusation against the present administration was that election rigging continues to thrive in Nigeria.

“We trust that all patriotic, objective and non-partisan Nigerians will reject that allegation, knowing it to be invalid and they will have the evidence of the progressively freer, fairer and ever more credible elections conducted under the Jonathan administration to support their position.

“Despite the other false accusations General Buhari made against the President who he clearly fears to take on in an honest, issues-driven presidential election contest, President Jonathan will continue to carry forward his transformation agenda in the power sector and other areas.”

October 17, 2014
Jonathan decries politicisation of Ebola containment

President Goodluck Jonathan kicked yesterday against attempts to politicise Nigeria’s success in containing the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak.

The President spoke at the launch of the Tony Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He said neither himself nor any governor should claim credit for the efforts of ordinary Nigerians which stopped the disease from spreading in Nigeria.

According to him, credit should rather go to every Nigerian, religious and social groups for their sacrifices with attitudes and conduct for making Nigeria Ebola-free.

Jonathan noted that such unity of purpose and compassion among Nigerians were exhibited during the fund raising, two years ago, for victims of the 2011 floods.

The President said N11 billion was still in the coffers of the floods fund.

He said the Federal Government donated N250 million to the N1.5 billion Elumelu Fund, which the promoters said would be used to revitalise the economies of post-conflict communities, like those in the Niger Delta and Jos, Plateau State.

A member of the fund and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah, called for common fora that would enable philanthropic Nigerians to connect with one another to bring succour to devastated communities.

Jonathan sad: “I’m quite pleased with what is happening because I have realised that government alone cannot solve human problems. Anything done by government, once you involve the private sector and the civil society, there is always a difference.

“The most recent one is our ability to manage Ebola. People are trying to play politics with it, which is quite unfortunate. But we had assistance from international donors; our development partners participated, in terms of giving protective gear and various suggestions.

“The Federal Government did a lot of things, in terms of logistics, moving people from one part of the country to the other, quarantining people within their homes and getting doctors or medical experts to follow up. We did not arrest anybody, moving people from Port Harcourt to Lagos for treatment and so on. A number of things were done.

“But the key thing that made the government to succeed is the buy-in by the ordinary Nigerians. When the government said we must be mindful of gatherings, of handshakes, we should not move bodies unnecessarily, even churches that I was afraid would resist because of practice of Holy Communion, having 1,000 people sharing the same cup and so on, stopped that practice within that period.

“Even the saluting by shaking people was suspended by religious organisations within that period. Nigerians became mindful; friends stopped embracing one another, saying until we get out of Ebola.

“So, it had the buy-in of the populace. Of course, that is why we succeeded so fast. Otherwise, we couldn’t have. There is no magic the government would have used to solve that problem. No President or governor would claim any credit. The credit should go to the ordinary Nigerians for their cooperation and buy-in.”

Also, Health Minister Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu has said the battle against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) may have been won in Nigeria but the war is not yet over.

Chukwu spoke in Abuja at the plenary of this year’s Summit on Women and Girl-Child Education with the theme: Reinforcing the Agenda for Girl Child Education.

The minister noted that while the global accolades Nigeria got for tackling the disease was well deserved, the country cannot afford to go to sleep on a likely new case since the scourge was still ravaging some West African countries.

He said: “I have confidence that the war against the EVD has been won (in Nigeria). But I must also warn that the preventive measures still in place should be taken seriously, as long as the disease is still ravaging some African countries and spreading beyond.”

Chukwu said the Nigerian experience at containing the scourge had amazed many, who wonder how the country subdued it, despite some lapses in the nation’s health care delivery system.

The minister added that it was an exemplary achievement worthy of replication in any Ebola-infested country.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, said the Federal Government would continue to recognise the valuable contributions of Nigerian women and girls to the sustenance of the society.

October 17, 2014
Jonathan condemns ‘politicisation’ of Ebola success story

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday kicked against attempts to politicise Nigeria’s success in containing the Ebola Virus Disease imported into Nigeria in July.

Speaking during the launch of the Tony Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he said that neither he nor any state governor should claim credit for the laudable efforts of ordinary Nigerians that kept the disease out of the country.

According to him, credit should rather go to every Nigerian, religious and social groups that made the sacrifices in their attitudes and conduct which helped to ensure that Nigeria is now Ebola-free.

He also maintained that such unity of purpose and compassion by Nigerians was also witnessed during the efforts to raise funds two years ago for victims of 2011 flood disaster in the country.

Stressing that N11 billion was still left in the flood fund, he announced a Federal Government donation of N250 million to the N1.5billion Elumelu Fund which the promoters said would be channelled to revitalising the economies of post-conflict communities like those in the Niger Delta and Jos, Plateau State.

A member of the Fund, and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, called for common forum that will enable philanthropic Nigerians connect with each other in efforts to bring succour to devastated communities.

Jonathan sad: “I’m quite pleased with what is happening because I have realised over the period that government alone cannot solve human problems. Anything done by government once you involve the private sector and the civil society there is always a difference.

“The most recent one is our ability to manage the Ebola virus. People are trying to play politics with it which is quite unfortunate. But we had assistance from international donors and our development partners participated in terms of giving protective gear and various suggestions.

“The federal government did a lot of things in terms of logistics, moving people from one part of the country to the other, quarantining people within their residences and getting doctors or medical experts to follow up. We did not arrest anybody, moving people from Port Harcourt to Lagos for treatment and so on. A number of things were done.

October 16, 2014
Jonathan seeks discipline in civil service

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday urged permanent secretaries to maintain a high level of discipline in the civil service.

The President spoke at the swearing-in of new six permanent secretaries at the State House in Abuja before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting started.

The new permanent secretaries are: Musa Istafanus (Taraba), Aminu Bisalla (Niger), Sunday Echono (Benue), Amina Shamagi (Kebbi), Nana Mende (Edo) and Bulus Lolo (Kaduna).

He urged the new permanent secretaries to ensure harmonious work relationships in their ministers.

Jonathan said: “You have been in the system. Most of you had, one way or the other, acted on behalf of your permanent secretaries. You are in a very familiar terrain. And listening to your brief citations, definitely, you have to show the training process. We believe sincerely that you will do a very good job for the country.

“I think the key thing people get worried about the civil service and government generally is the issue of discipline.

“These days, you hardly see a permanent secretary querying a director, or a director querying an assistant director, or an assistant director querying a principal officer or a principal officer querying a senior officer and so on.

“In a system where there is no discipline, definitely you cannot get best output. You can’t assume that everybody will do the right thing. Situations pass through a process and one must be able to bring discipline to bear in the service, if we must give our country the best.”

On the need for harmony in the system, he said: “One of the other things is the ability of permanent secretaries to work with their ministers. Lately, we received many complaints about cold relationships between permanent secretaries and ministers.

“If permanent secretaries don’t work with ministers and ministers don’t work with permanent secretaries, there is no way we can do what we are expected to do. The ministry is meant to be run by the political head, the administrative head and the accounting officer and, of course, key directors.”

The President noted a conflict or cold relationship among key officers in any government department would cause failure.

He said: “So, in any ministry, where the permanent secretary and the minister are not in good terms, that’s another way of telling Nigerians that both of you have failed the country.

“Yesterday (Tuesday), I had a conversation with the Head of Service and I was even beginning to think about what we have to do to develop a system that will stop this. I believe that has to do with the relationship between human beings.”

October 16, 2014
Presidency denies tenure elongation plot

The Presidency on Wednesday dismissed an online media report alleging that President Goodluck Jonathan is plotting to elongate his tenure illegally by two years.

Briefing State House correspondents, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said that the online report was false.

He said the report is a calculated attempt to embarrass the President.

He said: “We have read the news as published in Sahara Reporters that the president is trying to elongate his tenure through means other than democratic means and that he is trying to use the excuse of the insurgency in the North East as the basis for doing so.

“This type of falsehood is quite characteristics and is the hallmark of Sahara Reporters in particular. But still, in order that the world and Nigerians in particular are not misled, I want to state categorically here that there is no truth whatsoever in that statement. It is not true. There is nothing like that on the board and this is not a President that will do a thing like that.”

“There is no reason whatsoever for this President to do that. This is the same President as you must have recently heard, over 12million Nigerians have put their signatures to papers that he should come out and run.

“All the agencies, levels, stakeholders and authorities in his party, the PDP, have endorsed him and they are actually asking him to come out and make a declaration and run.

“It is quite a logical thing to do because there is no reason why anybody should be thinking of changing a winning team.

“The issue also is that ever as it is everywhere in the world, endorsement itself is not undemocratic. It is the normal pattern in democratic parlance that when you have a sitting President and he is interested in a re-run, usually, he is given the choice of first refusal.

“The President is yet to make public his desire but this news from Sahara Reporters is absolutely untrue, it is falsehood and we deny it in all its entirety. It’s part of the calculated attempt by the opposition to try and throw everything into the arena to embarrass this President.”

He also described some presidential aspirants of the opposition party seeking to contest next year’s presidential election, as serial losers.

October 15, 2014
Chibok girls… Obama, Jonathan rekindle hope

he April 15 abduction of the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok, Borno State girls yesterday got the attention of United States President Barack Obama and President Goodluck Jonathan.

There were 219 girls taken captive by the Boko Haram sect, although yet to be confirmed reports said four of the girls might escaped. There has been no word on the others.

President Obama, according to a statement by White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice, has directed that the U.S. government should do everything it can to help the Nigerian government free the abducted girls and, more broadly, to combat Boko Haram in partnership with Nigeria, its neighbours and other allies.

“This support takes many forms but the goal is singular: to dismantle this murderous group,” the White House added.

“The United States is assisting the Nigerian government to undertake more concerted, effective and responsible actions to ensure the safe return of those kidnapped by Boko Haram, including through on-the-ground technical assistance and expanded intelligence sharing.”

Rice added: “The United States has made clear our commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to bring the girls home safely. Since then, we have aided in the investigations, including by deploying personnel on the ground, facilitated strategic communications and provided assistance to the families.

“These efforts are part of our broader support to Nigeria’s pursuit of a holistic counterterrorism strategy, which includes the rule of law and strengthened security institutions.

“The United States will continue to work toward the release of all the girls who remain in captivity,” Rice said, adding, “even as we celebrate the freedom of the few who have managed to escape Boko Haram’s clutches. “And we will stand with girls everywhere who seek to achieve their full potential through education and to claim the universal rights and fundamental freedoms that are their birthright.”

President Jonathan said in Abuja yesterday that there were no “ neat or easy answers” to bringing back the girls, but he said, nonetheless, it will take his priority attention.

Jonathan spoke at a one-day National Conference on Environmental Security, Awareness and Enforcement in Nigeria, organised by the Uche Ekwunife- headed House Committee on Environment.

He was represented by Minister of the Environment Mrs. Lawrencia Laraba-Mallam.

He said: “As an elected official, I want to solve the problem of the Chibok girls. It’s priority on my to-do list as President. I refuse to pass it on to somebody else. It is my responsibility to solve the problem. Our security interests will not permit us to withhold legitimate actions that will bring back the girls. Our institutions won’t allow it either. And neither should our conscience. I seize this opportunity to call on the opposition to quit politicisation of the abducted saga and join me to solve the problem together,”

Jonathan warned that getting the girls back may not be as easy as many think. “I agree with the Bring back our Girls campaigners, especially, for piling up pressure on us on the issue. But let me be blunt; there are no neat or easy answers to bringing back the girls. I wish there were. But I can tell you that that the wrong answer is to pretend like this problem will go away if we maintain an unsustainable staus quo and silence,” he said.

While acknowledging the efforts of the Armed Forces in the fight against terrorism, he said the country was “indeed in a major war against Boko Haram and their Al-Queda affiliates”. “We also face a range of other challenges that will define the way Nigerians live out the rest of the 21st century.

“We need to update and equip our security forces. We have made and are still making necessary investments in this regard. So far, we have fought the war with abiding confidence in the rule of law, due process, checks and balances and accountability, and we are beginning to see progress. This is my responsibility as President.”

Jonathan expressed the need for the insurgents to ensure unconditional release of the girls and urged the “insurgents and their collaborators to lay down their arms and embrace peace as no threat can defeat a united and determined Nigeria”.

He, however, knocked the National Assembly over the lawmakers’ failure to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill ( PIB).

He said “the Committee chairman in her speech, lamented the activities of the oil companies who abuse our environment. I want to assure this gathering that there is no contradiction between sound environment and strong economy.

“With less than nine months to the lapse of this seventh National Assembly, a more worthy goal to pursue will be the immediate passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill and to put appropriate sanctions in place through legislation so that those that pollute will know there are consequences that follow.

“I do not pretend, for a second, that the PIB will resolve all the environmental issues as they affect oil exploration but I have no stomach for those that are no allowing us to begin serious action from somewhere. Sticking up your head in the sand might make you feel safer, but it is not going to protect you from impeding storm. Ultimately, we shall be judged as a people and as a society and as a country on where we go from here.”

Also yesterday, the Federal Government said former President Olusegun Obasanjo is entitled to his opinion on the girls.

Obasanjo last week said many of the girls may never be reunited with their families.

He said the insurgents might have separated the girls, pointing out that even though he had a way of communicating with the insurgents, the government had not given him permission to intervene.

But the coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr Mike Omeri, told reporters in Abuja yesterday that “ Obasanjo is a respected man and a former president, but I must say that he is entitled to his opinion, comments and views.”

“The Government of Nigeria remains undistracted, focused and committed to rescuing the girls safe and alive”

Omeri said in the last 180 days, over 2,000 persons, including military and security personnel as well as innocent civilians and foreigners, have lost their lives to the activities of insurgents

“The efforts at inciting the populace against the government and her agencies is, to say the least, very unfortunate. It is necessary to caution those involved that there is a clear difference between credible civil agitation and subversive preoccupation” he said

The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, who also spoke at the briefing, reiterated the government’s commitment towards rescuing the girls, saying part of the mission is the effort so far to degrade the capability of the insurgents.

He said: “People are counting days; we are not counting days. People are saying that the girls are abused; it is better to have an abused child than a dead child. Many great people were abused as children but today they are great people.”

Okupe noted that it is the effort of the government that has led to the surrendering of weapons by the Boko Haram group, which the Federal Government believes will eventually lead to the safe recovery of the girls.

October 15, 2014
2015: Anioma people endorse Jonathan

Following the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by all organs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its sole candidate for the 2015 Presidential election, one of the first ethnic groups that have thrown its weight behind him is the Anioma people of Delta State.

Although in the months leading to the PDP’s endorsement, some other ethnic groups, organisations and associations had expressed their support for the President.

The Anioma people met with Jonathan behind closed doors for about one hour at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday last week after the Federal Executive Council meeting.

Leader of the delegation, the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chika Edoziem said: “As regards the endorsement of the President, we are very much in support of Mr. President.

“We are here to confer with Mr. President on national issues such as insecurity that is affecting the country and the coming elections.”

While Anioma people are the early callers to the Villa after the PDP endorsement, the State House will, no doubt, receive more of such visits as the 2015 general elections approach.

October 14, 2014
Jonathan’s over N332.25 million largesse for athletes

On Wednesday last week, another feather was added in the cap of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

The occasion was the reception held in honour of the over 350 athletes and officials who had won various medals and laurels for Nigeria at various international and continental championships in the past seven months.

Before the programme began, President Jonathan, who is spending his fourth year in office, had been claimed to have surpassed all his predecessors, including those who spent eight years in office, in many sectors of the economy.

Apart from taking credit for making the Nigerian economy the largest growing economy in the continent and 22nd largest economy globally, Jonathan’s transformation agenda is said to have achieved unprecedented reforms in many sectors including agriculture, power, education, railway and aviation.

Many critics have, however, punctured and disagreed with many of the claims.

The Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo did not fail to add another feather in the bowler cap of President Jonathan at the reception for the athletes and officials that day.

According to him, Jonathan’s administration has witnessed the highest haul of sporting medals in the annals of Nigeria’s history.

He attributed the medals harvest to the legendary love, moral and financial support and the calm and calculated approach adopted in the sports sector by President Jonathan.

Blessing Okagbare, who won gold medals in the 100m and 200m event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, 100m gold at the African Senior Athletic Championship and 4×100m gold at the African Senior Athletics Championship this year, presented a plaque at the reception on behalf of all the athletes to President Jonathan for his unprecedented support to the sports sector.

Despite the Ebola Virus Disease threat, Jonathan, at the reception, shook hands with all the over 350 athletes besides awarding some of them with national honours a week earlier.

The female athletes, who filed out for the handshake and group photographs with the President at the reception, wore white lace and green headgear while the male athletes wore white safari suit and green bowler hat.

President Jonathan went beyond the Presidential handshakes some of the past leaders were known for by announcing total cash reward of over N332.25 million to the victorious athletes and officials.

Announcing the cash reward, President Jonathan said: “I have the honour, on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria to announce the following token donations. African Senior Wrestling Championship: We have four gold, two silver, four bronze medals, two coaches and two team officials.

For the Gold, you will get N1 million each, Silver N750, 000 each, Bronze N500, 000 each. Coaches to get N1 million each while team officials get N250, 000 each.

“For African Junior Wrestling Championship we have one gold, one silver and six bronze medals, two coaches and three team officials. The gold medalists will get N750, 000, each, Silver N500, 000, each and Bronze N250, 000 each. Coaches to get N750, 000 each and team officials will get N250, 000 each.

“For World Power Lifting Championship in Dubai, we have five gold, one silver and one bronze medals, two coaches, two Secretaries of medal officials and five team officials. The Gold medalists will get N2.5 million each, Silver N1.5 million each and bronze N1 million each. The coaches will receive N1 million each, the Secretaries of medal officials N500, 000 each and team officials N250, 000 each.

“For Commonwealth Games, we have 11 gold, 21 silver and 18 bronze medals. They were handled by 16 coaches, 27 team officials, seven further team officials and six helpers. The gold medalists will receive N2.5 million each, silver N1.5 million each and bronze N1 million each. Coaches will get N1 million each, main team officials N750, 000 each and supporting team officials N500,000 each, helpers and loaders N250,000 each.

“For the World Team Athletic Championship in the United States, we had one silver medal and one coach and three team officials handled the person. The silver medalist will get N1 million, the coach N750, 000 and team officials N250, 000 each.

“For African Team Athletic Championship in Morocco, we have 17 gold, 12 silver, seven bronze and six medals. The team was handled by coaches, one assistant coach and five team officials. The gold medalists will get N1 million each, silver medalists will receive N750, 000 each, bronze medalists will get N500,000 each, the coaches N1 million each, assistant coaches N500, 000 each and team officials N250,000 each.

“For FIFA Under 20 team, the Falconets, we won silver and each player will get N1 million each, Head Coach will get N750,000, two assistant coaches will get N500,000 each and team officials N500,000 each and the curator, N250,000.

“For African Youth Games in Botswana, we had 42 gold, 13 silver and 19 bronze medals. 17 coaches handled them, five assistant coaches and 30 team officials. Each gold medalist will get N1 million each, silver N750, 000 each and bronze N500, 000 each. The coaches will get N1 million each, assistant coaches N500, 000 each and team officials will get N500, 000 each.

“For those who participated at international handball competition in Sweden, we have gold by 12 players. Two coaches and five team officials handled them. The gold medalists will receive N500, 000 each, the coaches N500, 000 each and team officials N250, 000 each.

“For our able team that went to China but were discriminated against, each of them will get a consolation prize of N500, 000 each.”

He promised that the reward for the athletes would be doubled if they win medals at the forthcoming 2015 All African Games and 2016 Olympic games.

October 14, 2014
Niamey pact will check terror- Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed confidence that intensification of joint patrols, military operations and intelligence sharing by Nigeria and neighbouring countries as agreed by their leaders in Niamey last week will go a long way to curtail the activities of insurgents and other cross-border criminals.

He made the remark while welcoming the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs of Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin Republic, who are in Abuja to work with their Nigerian counterparts on a legal framework for the cross-border military operations approved by Jonathan and neighbouring heads of state in Niamey.

President Jonathan, in a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, reiterated his belief that such collaboration was essential for success in the war against terrorism.

He said: “I am quite pleased with the decisions we took in Niamey to enhance and boost joint actions against Boko Haram and other cross-border criminals because we have to work together to defeat Boko Haram and other extremist groups in our sub-region.”

“I believe that if we cooperate more and monitor our borders closely, the movement of criminals and terrorists as well as small arms and ammunition across our shared borders will also be drastically reduced.”

With their collective experience and professionalism, the President said that he expects the visiting ministers and their Nigerian counterparts to come up with an effective action plan for the successful implementation of the decisions reached by the leaders of Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin Republic at their meeting in Niamey.

October 13, 2014