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Tag: Jonathan

  • Jonathan under attack over anti-corruption claim

    Jonathan under attack over anti-corruption claim

    Feathers have been ruffled in the Presidency following the false claim by President Goodluck Jonathan on Nigeria’s corruption rating in his Independence Day broadcast.

    The President, relying on a purported rating by Transparency International (TI) – a worldwide corruption watchdog – said Nigeria is “the second most improved country in the effort to curb corruption”, after the United States.

    The President’s claim has been denied by TI through an e-mail it sent to Premium Times, an online news portal.

    “Transparency International does not have a recent rating or report that places Nigeria as the second most improved country in the fight against corruption,” the email said.

    Embarrassed by the denial, an immediate marching order was issued for an investigation into the sources of the report by the President.

    Close presidential aides who made input to the President’s speech, it was learnt, met to review the sources of the claim, which was reportedly quoted from BusinessDay report on September 12.

    Opposition parties yesterday chided the President for the goof.

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) asks the President to apologise to Nigerians for misleading them.

    The ANPP said the President’s statement was “manufactured to boost the administration’s ego.”

    The Federal Ministry of information blamed BusinessDay for misleading the President.

    A memo on its website by Reno Omokri, Dr. Jonathan’s Special Assistant on New Media, reads:

    “Our attention has been drawn to reports from some opposition – leaning media houses alleging that Mr. President made some false claims about Nigeria’s standing in this year’s Transparency International anti corruption rating.

    “As is the practice worldwide, we accept the premise that whatever is published in the media and goes unchallenged is the truth. On this issue, the media published their synopsis of the most recent Transparency International report and BusinessDay, a well-respected newspaper with a bias for business reporting in a headline on the 12th of September 2012 with the title ‘FG’s anti-corruption initiative impacts Nigeria’s global perception’ said: “The survey on global corruption perceptions for 2011 versus 2001 showed that the third best improvement in the world was in Nigeria, with its score improving by 1.5 points”.

    The above quoted comments were relied upon in coming to the conclusion that Mr. President honestly came to in good faith. To this day, Transparency International has not disputed the findings of BusinessDay.

    For a section of the opposition to now cast aspersions on the integrity of the President when he relied on notorious facts (anything published in the press and which remains unchallenged is a notorious fact) is proof positive of the now obvious fact that they lack ideas on how to move Nigeria forward and would rather snipe at efforts of the President to move the nation forward for which any patriot would do.

    In conclusion, the President acted in good faith and his statement was based on notorious facts and are evidenced by recent breakthroughs in fighting corruption in the oil industry where subsidy fraud suspects are already facing trial as well as in the agricultural sector where decades old corrupt practices in the fertilizer distribution network have been eradicated via the voucher system which cuts off the middle man.”

    Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati said yesterday. “The President’s message is that this administration is tackling corruption. The revelations from the pension scam and the fuel subsidy scam as well as the sanitation of activities at the ports all came to be because the President sanctioned them. People should focus on the message; namely that a lot of progress has been made and is still being made to tackle corruption in the system. There are lots of people outside there who mislead Nigerians that nothing is being done. These people tackle individuals. What the President did was that he fired hope and promised his rededication to the service of the nation. There are those who are looking for a way to water down the message.”

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the ACN said:

    “In the 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index, which measures perceived levels of public sector corruption, Nigeria scored 2.4 on a scale where 0 means highly corrupt and 10 means very clean. It was ranked 143 out of 183 countries.”

    The party expressed shock and sadness that the President of Africa’s most populous nation and the continent’s second largest economy can make such a frivolous claim on an issue of global concern as corruption.

    It said i”n addition to apologising to Nigerians for the bogus claim, the President must immediately kick-start an investigation into the source of a claim that has exposed his Administration and the entire country to global ridicule.”

    The ACN said the wrong claim by the President, who was apparently trying to showcase the ‘achievements’ of his administration in the fight against corruption, raises doubts about the authenticity of other claims by the President in the anniversary speech.

    ‘’Among other claims, the President had said that real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 7.1 per cent on average; that his Administration’s Investment Climate Reform Programme has helped to attract over N6.8 trillion local and foreign direct investment commitments, and that Nigeria is ranked first in the top 5 host economies for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa, accounting for over 20 per cent of total FDI flows into the continent.

    ‘’Now that the President’s claim of positive rating for Nigeria in the anti-corruption fight has been debunked, it is logical for Nigerians to doubt the truth in the other claims, and indeed in the entire speech. This is very sad for the Jonathan Administration, because if the bond of trust between the government and its citizens is broken, the government’s credibility suffers and, without credibility, any government is not worth its name,’’ ACN said.

    The party said if the President fails to act quickly to unearth the source of such a spurious claim and ensure it does not recur, he risks a bigger embarrassment from officials who may want to tweak facts and figures to justify their positions.

    ‘’In the end, the responsibility for any inaccuracy in any speech by the President rests squarely on his shoulders,’’ it said.

    The ANPP National Publicity Secretary, Emma Eneukwu said: “The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) believes it is unreasonable for the number one citizen of this great nation to misrepresent statistics as this is a strong message of support to corrupt people and those planning to obfuscate the citizens for their own personal gain. Words and body language are potent enough to aggravate corruption just as corrupt practices would. When a leader embellishes a story, he is inadvertently telling his subjects to turn the truth on its head whenever they find the opportunity.

     

  • Jonathan to cheer Eagles

    Jonathan to cheer Eagles

    President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to lead members of his Federal Executive Council to the make-or-mar Africa Nations Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Lone Star of Liberia holding at the U.J. Eusene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday 13th October.

    President Jonathan, it would be recalled, became the first-ever president of the country to watch the senior national team in training, when he visited the Super Eagles during a training session at the Abuja National Stadium before their deaparture to Liberia last month, for the first leg match which ended 2-2. The President had promised the team that he would be in South Africa in January to cheer them to victory, but for that to happen, they would first have to qualify.

    SportingLife’s source at The Presidency said: “The President is not taking his promise lightly, and in order to show the seriousness he attaches to it, he will be in Calabar personally to cheer the team on to victory on that day. He is expected to lead every member of his Federal Executive Council, and some National Assembly members led by Senator David Mark, the Senate President. Over 20 governors would also be in the stand to cheer the Super Eagles to victory.“

    “The boys need this morale booster at this time. Remember we were in the same position last year, but could not get it right, so, this time round, the Presidency has seen the need to ensure that the Super Eagles get that qualification. That is why President Goodluck Jonathan is leading the campaign,” the source concluded.

    Nigeria needed a slim victory in the last qualifying match against Guinea at the Abuja National Stadium, instead they managed a 2-2 draw which saw them not making it to the last edition held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea early this year.

  • Relief coming for floods victims, says Jonathan

    Relief coming for floods victims, says Jonathan

    TRYING floods victims may soon get some help from the Federal Government.

    President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that the Federal Government would collaborate with the affected states and local governments in reaching out to the victims. Many have lost their homes and businesses since the ravaging floods became serious last month.

    Besides, Dr. Jonathan assured Nigerians of better days ahead, saying that there has been inflow of foreign investments, which is an indication of economic growth.

    The President spoke in a national broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 52nd Independence anniversary.

    “In the last few weeks, for example, many of our communities have been ravaged by floods, resulting in the loss of lives and property and the displacement of persons.

    “I want to reassure all affected Nigerians that I share in their grief, and our administration is taking steps to address these incidents, in collaboration with the states and local governments.

    “We have received the interim report of the presidential team that was set up to assess the flooding situation across the country.

    “The Federal Government has taken measures to assist the affected states, while considering long-term measures to check future reoccurrence.’’

    The President noted that the various challenges confronting the nation would not deter the efforts of his administration on several fronts at transforming the nation.

    He said the proactive measures put in place to check the spate of insecurity in the nation were yielding results.

    Specifically, he said the government’s consultation and collaboration with neighbours and friendly nations internal and cross-border security had helped to check security challenges.

    He said: “Our security agencies are constantly being strengthened and repositioned for greater efficiency. Many Nigerians have acknowledged that there has been a significant decline in the spate of security breaches.

    “While expressing our condolences to affected families; let me reiterate the commitment of this administration to ensure the safety of lives and property of all Nigerians.’’

    Jonathan said the government was succeeding in the fight against corruption in all facets of the economy.

    “We have put an end to several decades of endemic corruption associated with fertiliser and tractor procurement and distribution.

    “We have exposed decades of scam in the management of pensions and fuel subsidy, and ensured that the culprits are being brought to book.

    “In its latest report, Transparency International noted that Nigeria is the second most improved country in the effort to curb corruption.

    “We will sustain the effort in this direction with an even stronger determination to strengthen the institutions that are statutorily entrusted with the task of ending this scourge.’’

    He reassured of his commitment to non-interference in the work of the relevant anti-corruption agencies.

    The President reiterated his administration’s commitment to the pursuit of fundamental objectives of an open society.

    He said he would remain steadfast in the pursuit of freedom, security and prosperity for the Nigerian people, and for the rule of law.

    Dr. Jonathan said Nigeria will continue to be a source of pride to its citizens, to Africa, and to the human race.

    “On this special day, I call on every Nigerian to remain steadfast, because our nation is indeed making progress. I call on every Nigerian to rediscover that special spirit that enables us to triumph over every adversity as a people.

    “I bring to you today, a message of renewed hope and faith in the immense possibilities that lie ahead.

    “Fellow citizens, I have an unshaken belief in the future of our great country.

    “I consider it a priority and sacred duty to continue to strengthen the bond of unity that holds our nation together and to promote and nourish the creative energies of our people.

    “This is a central objective of our administration’s transformation agenda. Nigeria, I assure you, will continue to grow from strength to strength.’’

    President Jonathan urged Nigerians to remain steadfast as the nation was making progress in addressing socio-economic challenges facing the country.

    “Our vision is encapsulated in the transformation agenda. We are working hard and making progress on many fronts.

    He saluted the efforts of the nation’s founding fathers who, he said, brought joy and hope to the hearts of Nigerians when they won independence from Britain on Oct.1, 1960.

    “Nigeria made a clean break with more than six decades of colonial rule, and emerged as a truly independent nation.”

    The President said Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), driven mainly by non-oil sector, has grown by 7.1 per cent, while the economy attracted N6.8 trillion investments in nine months.

    “Over the past five years, the global economy has been going through a weak and uncertain recovery. During the same period and particularly in the last two years, the Nigerian economy has done appreciably well, in spite of the global financial crisis.

    “Nigeria’s real GDP has grown by 7.1 per cent on average.

    “It is also significant to state that the GDP growth has been driven largely by the non-oil sector,’’ he said.

    According to him, the nation has improved on its investment environment as more corporate bodies are investing in the Nigerian economy.

    “Our Investment Climate Reform Programme has helped to attract over N6.8 trillion local and foreign direct investment commitments.’’

    He said that Nigeria had become the preferred destination for investment in Africa.

    “It is ranked first in the top five host economies for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa, accounting for over 20 per cent of total FDI flows into the continent.’’

    The president said his administration had streamlined bureaucratic activities at the ports to ensure greater efficiency in the handling of ports and port-related businesses.

    “Specifically, we have drastically reduced the goods clearing period in our ports from about six weeks to about one week and under. We have an ultimate target of 48 hours.’’

    He said a new visa policy has made it easier for legitimate investors to receive long stay visas.

    “We have achieved a 24-hour timeline for registration of new businesses, leading to the registration of close to 7,000 companies within the second quarter of 2012.

    “The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has disclosed that as at July 2012, 249 new members across the country had joined the association, and that capacity utilisation has also improved.

    “The multiplier effect of this development on our job creation programme cannot be over-emphasised.’’

    On the country’s power supply situation, Jonathan expressed delight that electricity supply nationwide is gradually improving.

    “We are successfully implementing a well-integrated power sector reform programme, which includes institutional arrangements to facilitate and strengthen private-sector-led power generation, transmission and distribution.

    “We have also put in place a cost-reflective tariff structure that reduces the cost of power for a majority of electricity consumers.

    “I am pleased with the feedback from across the country, of improvements in power supply.’’

    The President also noted that the country had continued to improve and stabilise its crude production volumes.

    He said that the 12-month gas supply emergency plan put in place earlier this year had produced more than the targeted volume of gas for power generation.

    “A robust Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has been put before the National Assembly.

    “Its passage into law will ensure far-reaching reforms, transparency, accountability, increased government revenue and predictability for investors in the Oil and Gas sector,’’ he said.

    He said that several government programmes and projects were creating wealth and millions of job opportunities for the youths and general population.

    Jonathan said that such programmes include “You-Win’’, both for the youths and for women, public works, the local content initiative in the Oil and Gas Sector, and the agricultural transformation programme.

     

  • A nation under water

    A nation under water

    It was perhaps just as well that the Federal Government declared several weeks ago that Nigeria’s 52nd independence anniversary would be observed, again, on a “low key.”

    Nigeria is celebrating its National Day literally under water. “Low key” doesn’t get lower than that.

    Those of a decidedly malignant disposition, whom we shall always have among us, may even see the whole thing – the encircling waters and the objects drifting listlessly in the deluge – as an apt metaphor for the national condition.

    From the parched Sahel in the grip of the furiously retreating Sahara desert to the mangrove swamps of the Atlantic, a vast swathe of Nigeria is under water. Swollen by record rainfall and by water said to have been released from dams in neighbouring Cameroun to avoid a looming disaster, Nigeria’s major rivers, the Niger and the Benue, rage as never before, swallowing up houses and washing away bridges and roads and farmlands, sparing nothing in their ravenous wake.

    For four days, the national capital was cut off from traffic from much of the South, portions of the road linking Lokoja with Abuja having been washed away. Lokoja itself, like many other cities caught up in the floods, evoked scenes of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which our own Poet Laureate Niyi Osundare has memorialised for the ages in epic verse.

    Some 130 persons, most likely a gross undercount, have been reported killed in the floods. At least as many are missing. The number of displaced persons has to be in the millions, and damage to private property must be reckoned in trillions of Naira.

    Given just the dilatoriness, the studied evasion with which Nigerian insurance companies typically handle claims, those who lost their homes and property to the flood cannot rest easy that help is forthcoming. And here I am talking of those who took the trouble and expense to buy insurance cover, or were corralled to do so by a mortgage institution.

    Most of the victims probably do not fall in this category and are entirely on their own. With the sluggish economy and rising cost of everything, and the predilection of the mercantile class for profiting from the misfortunes of others, a good many of them are not going to be in a position any time soon to repair or rebuild their homes.

    The fortunate among the millions of displaced persons will be housed in camps for months if not years, and the rest will have to fend for themselves as best they can

    The National Assembly has not met in emergency session to deliberate on legislative measures to cope with what is without question the greatest natural disaster to have struck Nigeria in recent memory.

    Perhaps its members are waiting for President Goodluck Jonathan to propose a supplementary budget. But what stops a private member from proposing an appropriate bill and shepherding it through the legislature in readiness for the President for assent?

    As for Dr Jonathan, he was half a world away, in New York, addressing the United Nations General Assembly and trying once again to charm those elusive foreign investors into coming to Nigeria to seek their fortunes as the flood waters rose steadily, turned entire cities into flotillas, and cut off Abuja from the south-western part of the country.

    The churlish would say that he should not have travelled out at all, or should have headed back as soon as he was made aware of the enormousness of the unfolding catastrophe. But it may well be that his aides never told him how dire the situation had become so as not to distract him from making the most of a moment on the world’s stage that comes only once a year.

    Besides, the vice president, cabinet ministers and officials Specialised agencies and a sprawling were on hand to deal with any emergencies. And, to his great credit, Dr Jonathan took time off his hectic schedule in New York to direct the designated ministers and officials to take charge. If they did not rise up to the occasion, it cannot be the President’s fault.

    But, wearing another hat, the President is also griever and consoler-in-chief; he sets the mood of the nation in times of rejoicing as well as in times of calamity. It would have been a gesture of enormous significance if, on his return from the United States, he had visited some of the beleaguered communities offering words of sympathy and assuring them that his Administration would do all its power to bring them succour.

    In politics, perception is almost everything. Dr Jonathan needed to be perceived as a President who cared, who feels their pain, and is firmly resolved to translate his concern into practical relief measures. Such a gesture could have bridged somewhat the widening gulf between the general public and his Administration.

    In this respect, time is still on his side, even if not on the side of the beleaguered, who will no doubt see it as a fresh disappointment that their privations rated just four perfunctory sentences in his National Day broadcast.

    It will no doubt be remarked that it was foreign contractors who made the national capital accessible by road from the South-west some four days after a stretch of the Lokoja-Abuja highway was washed away by flood waters.

    And it will be asked: Where were the indigenous contractors? Where, for that matter, were all the hardware that the government relief agencies ought to have stockpiled all these years – rescue vehicles and river craft especially. Where are the mobile emergency health centres? Where are the emergency water-treatment plants? Where was the emergency communication system?

    It will be asked even more insistently: Why was there so little preparation for a disaster so clearly foretold?

    Meanwhile, the Jonathan Administration will have to shed its preoccupation with fringe issues and devote all its energies to coping with this unfolding tragedy. The Weather Bureau says the worst may still lie ahead. This means designing comprehensive measures to deal with the present emergency and proactive measures to contain the coming one.

    I am thinking of food and shelter for the displaced; of schooling arrangements for children, and of their general safety.

    I am thinking of the vast farmlands now under water, and the harvest now lost, and the livestock that perished; the food shortage that is sure to follow, and the high prices everyone will have to pay for a piece of whatever is available.

    At a time like this, the usual posturing will simply not do. It will have to yield to fast-paced, coordinated and sustained action designed to bring relief urgently to communities of the beleaguered across the nation.

  • Transformation agents lynching the economy

    Transformation agents lynching the economy

    President Goodluck Jonathan no doubt chose a nice platitude for his term as an elected president – transformation agenda. Considering the level of poverty in the country as a result of the perennial ineptitude of those who foist themselves on Nigerians as their leaders over the years, a promise by a freshly elected President Jonathan to transform the system surely attracted hope. That hope so far remains misplaced. Among the contenders for gold for further lynching the economy are the Governor of Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Minister for Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah and of course the Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Under their watch, the departments of the national economy they oversee are surely dying. The biggest culprit is Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the egregiously garrulous Central Bank Governor. Short of courting controversies and showmanship, Sanusi has concluded his tour of duty at the apex Bank, after the controversial audits and sack of the thieving Bank executives. Probably because of the limitedness of his training and experience while working in the commercial Banks, principally as an auditor, the Kano Prince has no idea how to grow the economy. His forte is reining in spending, not growing an economy.

    Presently, even the most capitalized commercial Bank in Nigeria lends money at about 27%, and none of the commercial Banks give medium to long term facility to industries, just overdrafts and loans to last one to two years. With only short term facility available at a run away interest rate, no genuine economic activity can take place with money borrowed from a Nigerian Bank. Yet Sanusi’s supreme responsibility is to design deft monetary policies to ensure that genuine economic activities take place, to grow the national economy. Any surprise that despite his management of inflation, through a strangulating mopping up of liquidity, the Naira has remained weak against the dollar.

    The result is that Nigeria’s dependency on imports continues to consolidate, at the expense of productivity. Still, the genuine importers are not better off, because while Naira is borrowed at high interest rates, pauperized Nigerians are unable to buy because of their poor purchasing power. Thus only importers of cheap fake products, who circumvent the payment of import duties, give a semblance of economic wellbeing. This crisis when added to paying off the rent seekers, which is beyound Sanusi’s brief, turns the entire economy into a quandary.

    In effect no genuine economic activity is taking place, substantially because of the ineffective monetary policies of Governor Sanusi. The way things are; those who attempt to get involved in genuine economic activity usually land in excruciating debt trap. As Governor Sanusi’s bolekaja debt recovery tactics confirms, many of the entrepreneurs on the published debtors list have raked up enough debts for their third generation; while the rest of us falsely see them as ‘the big men’. In practice getting involved in any genuine economic activity has turned to a Catch 22, as head or tale, the head is on a slaughter slab.

    The Minister for Aviation, Stella Oduah on her part, no doubt has her capabilities. She was very instrumental to the election of President Jonathan in 2007, through her well received Neighbour to Neighbour media stunts. But as Minister for Aviation, the sector has never had it so bad. While cosmetic refurbishment is taking place at Muritala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and a few other airports; the entire industry is an emergency theater. Unfortunately the multi-billion Naira federal government intervention fund to resuscitate the aviation sector have been mismanaged, and so far, the Honourable Minister appears helpless to push for accountability.

    Whether she is responsible for the mismanagement of the intervention fund or not, the bottom line is that only two airlines, Aero Contractors and Arik Airlines still manage to fly; and the result is near chaos on one of the most import local routes, Lagos-Abuja-Lagos. Even recently there were scurrilous allegations that a top level official of the aviation ministry attempted to muzzle Arik airliners for untoward reasons. Again, Ms Oduah’s attempt to borrow huge sums of money from China to redevelop some of the airports failed to impress industry watchers, even as the national assembly threats her program with suspicion.

    Mrs. Diezeani Alison-Madueke is another Minister who is successfully lynching the industry placed under her watch. But for being the conduit for raking in money worked for, by foreign oil companies, her primary goose, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would have since been wound up for bankruptcy. Each time the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative finishes an audit of the corporation, the level of their indebtedness to the federation account runs into trillions of dollars, and of course it has no ability and even any desire to pay. Interestingly the corporation’s former leadership had boosted that they are beyound any legislative oversight, and as such it reels in perpetual incompetence.

    Operated as perhaps the most opaque public corporation in the world, the NNPC is notorious over the years as the chief operator of slush funds for any power controlling the Nigerian federal authority. As if worst is not bad enough, the Ministry under Diezeani’s watch in the past one year has presided over perhaps the worst financial heist in the history of subsidy in the world. Between two to three trillion dollars were paid over the counter to mostly phantom importers of fuel. As the House of Representatives investigative report and Mr. Aig-Imokhuede’s review of the report showed, many of the beneficiaries of the subsidy, merely cooked up papers and collected our common patrimony as earnings.

    So when President Jonathan’s men sell the dummy that transformation is going on, your guess is as good as mine. It is fake.

  • We will not fail Nigerians – Jonathan

    We will not fail Nigerians – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan has again urged Nigerians not to despairs, even as he assured the people that his administration will not fail them.

    The president addressed the nation on the occasion of the country’s 52nd Independence anniversary celebration on Monday.

    The president also listed the fight against corruption as a top priority of his administration.

    He noted that his administration has continued to work for the progress of the country, adding that the country was making good progress.

    The country, he assured will continue to grow from strength to strength.

    He also urged Nigerians to remain steadfast as the country has remained a strong nation.

    The president noted that the various reforms carried out by his administration are on tracks and will soon be yielding results.

    Jonathan was also positive that Nigeria will continue to be a country of pride.

    “I have no doubt that by the time I address you on our next independence anniversary, many of our reform efforts would have yielded even better results.

    “Over the years, several leaders have built on the foundation laid by our Founding Fathers. The baton is now in our hands. Let me assure all Nigerians that we shall not fail.

    “I am confident that Nigeria will continue to be a source of pride to its citizens; to Africa and the Black Race and to humanity; a land that is known for progress, freedom, peace and the promotion of human dignity.

    “On this special day, I call on every Nigerian to remain steadfast, because our nation is indeed making progress. I call on every Nigerian to rediscover that special spirit that enables us to triumph over every adversity as a people.

    “We weathered the storm of the civil war, we have refused to be broken by sectarian crises; we have remained a strong nation. I bring to you today, a message of renewed hope and faith in the immense possibilities that lie ahead.

    ” Fellow citizens, I have an unshaken belief in the future of our great Country. I consider it a priority and sacred duty to continue to strengthen the bond of unity that holds our nation together and to promote and nourish the creative energies of our people. This is a central objective of our administration’s Transformation Agenda.

    “Nigeria, I assure you, will continue to grow from strength to strength.

    “We must continue to work together, confidently and faithfully, to ensure that our country’s potentials are realised to the fullest; that our dreams are translated into reality; and that our goals are achieved.

    “Let me reiterate that our administration is committed to the pursuit of fundamental objectives of an open society: the pursuit of freedom, security and prosperity for the Nigerian people, and the rule of law. “

    On the economy, the president said Nigeria has continued to witness some level of improvement even in the face of global economic downturn.

    The Gross Domestic Product, according to him has grown by 7.1 per cent.

     

  • 2012 Budget: Reps dare Jonathan

    2012 Budget: Reps dare Jonathan

    • Begin project verification tour tomorrow

    • Presidency opposed to the one-week exercise

    The House of Representatives is pressing ahead with its planned Status Inquiry of capital projects listed for execution in the 2012 budget, regardless of objection from the executive arm.

    All House committees have been mobilized with funds to avert a situation whereby Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will come to their aid.

    The one-week tour, which is scheduled to commence tomorrow is expected to end on October 9.

    A principal officer of the House, who spoke in confidence, said: “All the MDAs have submitted a list of projects executed or being constructed to the committees in the House.

    “We have also made available all the capital projects in the 2012 budget to House members so that we can crosscheck whether the Executive list tallies with ours. There is certainly no going back on the Status Inquiry Tour.

    “We are aware that the Executive made its position known to the House leadership that the tour was unnecessary but wants to assist this arm, especially Mr. President, to know the actual status of projects.

    “We have closed that chapter of the opposition from the Executive to this exercise. And this decision is collective. Every House member endorsed the exercise.

    “This is not an exercise to witch-hunt the President or any member of the Federal Executive Council. It also does not have any link with the recent budget implementation row between the government and the National Assembly.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “All committees have been allocated funds to make this assessment of projects easier. They all accessed their funds as at the close of work on Friday.

    “They have been directed not to collect any money or assistance from the MDAs or any government agency.”

    Contacted last night, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zackary Mohammed said: “Most of our members have already left Abuja for this exercise. We will be back on October 9.”

    A government source said: “The Executive did its best to make a comprehensive report on budget implementation available to the House.

    “The President also met with the leadership of the National Assembly before he traveled to the UN. It was a confidence-building session on the budget implementation and the grouses of the lawmakers.

    “With what the President and his team did, the government is of the opinion that the Status Inquiry is unnecessary. More so, a similar project assessment tour is being conducted by a team led by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku.”

    Out of the N1.3trillion voted for capital projects in the 2012 budget, the Federal Ministry of Finance said it has released N710.4billion.

    Only N535.2billion of the amount is cash-backed.

    The Ministry also admitted that the MDAs have so far utilized N320.9billion, which is about 25.5per cent of the N1.3trillion.

    Meanwhile, the Presidency is yet to communicate to the House of Representatives its position on the shift of October 4 initially fixed for the presentation of 2013 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly.

    The House had rejected the date fixed by President Jonathan because its Finance and Appropriation Committees are still considering the framework for the budget.

    Another principal officer said: “We have not got notice of a new date from the President. But since we have started our project implementation tour, it will certainly be after October 9.

    “Before we rejected October 4, we consulted with the Senate, which is also occupying the chairmanship of the National Assembly.”

     

  • We will transform Nigeria – Jonathan

    We will transform Nigeria – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday in Abuja described the church as a formidable partner in nation building and pledged the commitment of his administration to transform the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Jonathan made the remark as the special guest at the Methodist Church of Nigeria’s 170th anniversary banquet.

    Represented by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, the president commended the church for its plan to establish a world class medical centre in the FCT.

    Jonathan said when set up, the centre would help to address some of the challenges in the health sector.

    He called for generous donation to the project and urged other denominations to emulate the Methodist Church.

    Earlier, the Prelate of the church, Dr. Ola Makinde, said the centre was one of the ways the church could contribute to the medical needs of the society.

    Makinde called on the government to summon the courage to tackle the numerous challenges facing the nation.

    He said government had all the machinery to ensure the security of lives and property as well as fight corruption and other social vices.

     

     

  • FG’s approach on Boko Haram paying off – Jonathan

    FG’s approach on Boko Haram paying off – Jonathan

    Nigeria’s “robust” approach to neutralizing a threat posed by Islamist sect Boko Haram using military force, holding indirect talks with the group and improving education in the north is paying off, the President Goodluck Jonathan has said.

    Boko Haram, which wants to carve out an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, has been blamed for more than 1,000 deaths since its insurgency intensified in 2010. The United States has designated three of Boko Haram’s senior members as terrorists.

    In an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly’s annual gathering of world leaders, President Jonathan also played down the significance of the government forces’ killing of the sect’s spokesman, Abu Qaqa, in a gun battle in Kano on September 16.

    “If I look at it, the trend is coming down,” he said about the threat posed by Boko Haram. “It’s not because Abu Qaqa is dead. Abu Qaqa is just one person. If one Abu Qaqa dies, it can generate 10 Abu Qaqas.

    “The issue is not the death of one person,” Jonathan said. “The issue is that the robust approach that government is taking, exploiting all possible means … is paying off, and we believe it will continue to pay off.”

    Nigeria’s military has been accused of using heavy-handed tactics in the past and previous operations targeting Boko Haram have resulted in civilian deaths. But Jonathan made clear that the military approach could only be one part of the solution.

    Much more important, he said, was a push to improve agriculture, job prospects and access to Western-style education in the predominantly Muslim north.

    “The whole approach, both the security aspects, both the indirect talks, and the job opportunities that we are creating. We are giving hope to the people. The education institutions we are establishing are giving hope to the people,” Jonathan said.

    “One links up with the other to get to the respite we are seeing now,” he said. “I cannot credit it to only one approach.”

    This week, Nigeria’s military said it killed 35 members of Boko Haram and arrested several during an overnight gun battle in Damaturu, capital of Yobe State.

    Jonathan’s spokesman said last month that Nigeria’s government was reaching out to Boko Haram and talking with some of its members via “backroom channels” as it seeks a peaceful way out of the north’s conflict.

     

     

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  • Nigeria undeterred, unflinching in protecting citizens – Jonathan

    Nigeria undeterred, unflinching in protecting citizens – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan said Nigeria remains undeterred and unflinching in its resolve to protect the citizens and other persons living within its borders.

    Addressing the 67th United Nations General Assembly’s General Debate on Tuesday in New York, he said Nigeria would also extend such protection to other countries within its region.

    “ We know that no country has unilaterally defeated the dark forces of violence and terrorism. This is evidently an endeavour that requires international collaboration.

    “We therefore call upon the international community and all like-minded stakeholders to address this matter with all the seriousness that it deserves,’’ Jonathan said.

    He pointed at Nigeria’s long-standing commitment to the promotion of issues of particular concern to Africa, saying this has been widely acknowledged.

    President Jonathan said Nigeria had stood firm and played critical roles in all the recent developments in Africa.

    He said this included the struggle for independence and self-determination, the fight against apartheid, colonialism and discrimination.

    “Today, we are in the vanguard of the fight against extremism, terrorism and all forms of mindless violence,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Jonathan as saying in his address.

    He explained that sustainable development and progress were two ultimate aspirations of any nation which could not be achieved without peace and security.

    Jonathan however said that Nigeria, being guided by this realisation, had committed and should continue to commit herself to the attainment of regional and international peace and security.

    He said the West African sub-region had suffered some setbacks in terms of unconstitutional change of government and the emergence of insurgency, among others.

    On the political crisis threatening the unity of Mali and Guinea-Bissau, Jonathan said Nigeria and ECOWAS were working in concert to address the threat.