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Tag: Lai Mohammed

  • FG partners WTO, CNN to boost creative industry

    FG partners WTO, CNN to boost creative industry

    The Federal Government has struck a global tripartite partnership with UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the global news leader, CNN to boost the nation’s creative industry.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this at the Creative Industry Roundtable held on Monday in Lagos.

    The minister, who declared the round table opened, said that the partnership would give the nation’s creative industry a big boost.

    He said under the partnership, his Ministry, UNWTO and CNN would use the film industry as a lens to project various aspects of the Nigerian culture, tourism and similar areas.

    He said they would kick start the project with a 13-episode production showcasing the various stages in movie production.

    “The productions include the choice of location, which will allow us to showcase the various beautiful sceneries available in Nigeria.

    “It will showcase the choice of wardrobe to show the rich options in the country’s fashion industry and the choice of sound track that will highlight our rich music genres

    “The casting will showcase our abundant talents and the technical part will provide the platform to show that there is no camera and other gadgets that we don’t have here,” he said.

    The minister said that, as part of the project, his ministry would run a programme on CNN showcasing the 20 Nigerians to watch in the creative industry.

    He said the Nigerians to be showcased would be selected by the industry players to ensure authenticity.

    Mohammed reiterated government’s position to transform the creative industry to “Nigeria’s new oil”.

    “This is an empirical statement, rather than a mere jive and the experience from other lands confirms this,” he said.

    As parts of the dogged determination to grow the industry, Mohammed also disclosed that his ministry would be organising a Creative Industry Financing Conference between July 17 and July 18 in Lagos.

    He said the conference organised in partnership with the Think Tank Media would be declared open by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    The minister said that he called the Roundtable to fast-track the transformation of the Creative Industry.

    He reiterated the government readiness to support the industry and facilitate the enabling environment for the true business growth of the creative sector.

    “The Roundtable will provide the stakeholders the opportunity to engage in business-focused discussions.

    “The stakeholders are to initiate private sector-led growth and development of the creative Industry.

    “We will dialogue and engage key industry personnel on the business of the creative sector, while addressing key issues affecting the sector.

    “The Roundtable is also expected to highlight international best practices that would enhance the business of the sector,” he said.

    Earlier, Mr Folorunso Coker, the Director General of Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), identified access to fund as one of the major challenges of the industry.

    He said the stakeholder should push for acceptance of content as collateral for funding of creative works as it was being done in other climes.

    Coker also advocated public policy reform for harmonisation of multi level regulatory institutions in the creative industry.

    He decried huge infrastructure gap, which he said was holding the industry from developing.

    According to him, China built about 40,000 cinemas in the last six years, whilst Nigeria has about 130 screens.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the round table broke into technical session after the opening remarks.

    Some of the personalities at the event were Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture.

    Also at the event were Nollywood Thespian, Saint Obi, Mo Abudu of Ebony Life, Bolanle Austen-Peters, Tajudeen Adepetu, Obi Asika and Ken Mkparu.

  • Executive, Senate rift under control – Mohammed

    Executive, Senate rift under control – Mohammed

    The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday said whatever misunderstanding that may arise between the executive and the legislature are being addressed.

    The Senate on Tuesday asked Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to immediately implement its resolutions, which included the removal of Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

    In the case of government’s non-compliance with the solutions, the Senate resolved to suspend confirmation of nominees until issues relating to the power of the Senate to confirm executive nominees as contained in the constitution are resolved.

    The Senate also asked Osinbajo to withdraw a statement credited to him that the Senate lacks the powers to confirm nominees.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting presided over by the acting President, Mohammed said the issue came up at the FEC meeting but is being addressed through the right mechanism.

    Mohammed was accompanied to the briefing by the Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello.

    He said: “We have an excellent mechanism for resolving issues between executive and legislature. That is being addressed.

    “Whatever will be the misunderstanding between executive and legislature, there is mechanism for resolving it. So we are resolving it.”

     

     

  • Stop Beating Drums of War – Lai Mohammed

    Stop Beating Drums of War – Lai Mohammed

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has admonished those beating drums of war through hate speeches and divisive statements to desist in the interest of the nation’s unity and safety.

    The minister gave the advise on Saturday at the “Lai Mohammed 10th Annual Ramadan Lecture” held in his country home, Oro, Kwara.

    Lai Mohammed expressed concerns over the rate of inflammatory statements capable of causing division and war in the country in recent times.

    He urged Nigerians to disregard those who were engaged in hate speeches as well as their purveyors.

    “In the last couple of months, we have witnessed the increase inflammatory and hate speeches.

    “Hate speeches have been responsible for wars. Rwandan genocide where more than 800,000 people were killed was started by hate speeches.

    “Like people say, wars are not really started by bullets, they are started by words of mouth.

    “Nigeria is too big and God has a purpose for making us one and we shall remain united.

    “There will be differences, but like the Yoruba says, “Ori bibe ko ni ogun ori fifo” (beheading is not antidote to headache).

    “We have been living together peacefully and we will continue to live together, because we have a lot to gain by being united.

    “If there is war today, none of us will escape whether you are young or old whether you are Yoruba, Igbo of Hausa ,” he said.

    The Minister recounted a story he said Acting President Yemi Osinbajo narrated on the dire consequences of the Rwanda war on two judges from that country.

    “The Acting President told us a story that in 1982, he was a young lecturer in the University of Lagos and two Supreme Court Judges came visiting from Rwanda.

    “He said ten years later, in 1992, he went to work in Rwanda and on the street with a bowl in hand looking for food were the Supreme Court Judges that he saw in Lagos.

    “This shows that when there is war, the young, the old, the rich and the poor, we are all victims,” he said.

    The Minister stressed that Nigerians must work together, understand their differences and must never pray for war.

    Mohammed thanked those who attended the lecture noting that their presence was key to its success.

    He said the Ramadan lecture, the tenth in the series, was unique because it’s attendance cuts across religions and denomination.

    The Minister explained that the presence of Christian faithfuls at the event was an indication that Nigerians, irrespective of their religious leaning, could work and live together.

    The Special Guest of honour at the event, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun said he was impressed with the turn out of people in their diversity at the event.

    The governor urged Muslim faithfuls to remain pious in the remaining days of Ramadan and pray for the unity of the country.

    Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara commended the Minister for organising the annual lecture.

    The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information, Mahmud Ajeigbe said it was a great feat for the minister to have sustained the Ramadan lecture for 10 years.

    Earlier, the Guest Speaker, Sheikh Ibrahim Gidado from Lagos preached on piety especially during the Ramadan period.

    He charged the gathering on the need for people to have the fear of God in all their dealings and to be compassionate and show love to the less privileged.

    He also called for the support of Nigerians for the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as their prayers for the President’s quick recovery.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief Imam of Oro, Mohammed Sanusi led other clerics at the event on prayers for the country, the President and his cabinet as well as the
minister and his members of families.

    The lecture was attended by traditional rulers from Kwara, including Oloro of Oro, Oba Abdulrauf Oyelaran, Clerics, Muslim and Christian faithfuls, politicians, students and people from other walks of life

  • N-Power: FG to recruit another 300,000 youths

    N-Power: FG to recruit another 300,000 youths

    The Federal Government said on Friday it would recruit 300,000 youths in the second batch of its N-Power social intervention and job creation programme.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this at Isanlu-Isin community near Omu-Aran town in Kwara State.

    Mohammed said the federal government would “reopen the N-POWER portal by next week to commence the process for the recruitment.”

    He urged the youths to take advantage of the recruitment exercise by completing the application process online, adding than 200,000 people benefitted from the first batch of the programme.

    The minister said at least 27,000 people had benefited from the Conditional Cash Transfer programme, while government had given 7,000 interest free loans to market men and women across the country.

    Mohammed said the home grown school feeding programme of government had covered over 1.2 million pupils, adding that Kwara State would be on the list of the social intervention programme in September.

    NAN

     

  • No need to panic over quit notice, FG reassures Nigerians

    No need to panic over quit notice, FG reassures Nigerians

    The Federal Government again assured Nigerians not to panic over the quit notice issued to some Nigerians living outside their state of origin.

    Some Arewa youths had recently given Igbos residing in the North ultimatum to leave the region on or before October 1st.

    The youths claimed that they were reacting to the sit at home order on the 30th May by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said that all Nigerians are free to live anywhere in the country.

    According to him, the Federal Government is on top of the situation.

    He said that the series of consultation meetings the Acting President is holding is to calm down the situation and to reassure all Nigerians of their safety anywhere in the country.

    He said: “We want to make comments on what is agitating the minds of Nigerians, that is the call for people from certain parts of the country to relocate to their region, generally very disquieting voices.

    “We just want to assure Nigerians that the federal government is on top of the matter and that yesterday the Acting President addressed leaders from the northern part of the country. At 4 p.m today (Wednesday) he is going to address leaders from the South Eastern part of the country. On Friday he is going to address south eastern traditional rulers and leaders of thoughts. On the 22nd of June there is going to be a meeting of all the groups that is, traditional rulers, religious leaders and leaders of thoughts from both the South East and North part of Nigeria.

    “The idea is not just to assure Nigerians that we are doing something about it but also to give comfort to all Nigerians that this matter is completely under control.

    “To assure Nigerians that any Nigerian anywhere is save, the security authorities are completely on top of the matter and that they will deal decisively with any group of people whose conduct that is believed is going to create instability in the country.

    “So there is no need for anybody to panic, there is no need for anybody to move from any part of the country. The security agencies are on top of the matter and there is no reason for anybody to panic,” he added.

    On why the two newly confirmed Ministerial nominees by the Senate are yet to be sworn-in, he said “I’m not sure whether we’ve had the communication from National Assembly. But what I will do is that I will probably ask from the Acting President or the liaison officer then I will come and give you feedback.”

     

  • No cause for alarm on Northern youths’ threat – FG

    No cause for alarm on Northern youths’ threat – FG

    The Federal Government on Wednesday said there was no cause for alarm on the threat issued to the Igbos by Northern youths on Tuesday.

    A coalition of the Northern groups, including the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum at a press conference held in Kaduna, gave all Igbos living in the 19 northern states a three-month ultimatum to quit or be forced out after the expiration of the October 1 deadline.

    The groups also called on northerners living in the South-East to prepare to come back home.

    The ultimatum by the northern groups followed the May 30 sit-at-home order enforced on the five South-East states by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    But fielding questions from State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said security agents are on top of the situation.

    He was accompanied to the briefing by four other ministers – Isaac Adewole (Health), Abubakar Malami (Justice), Ogbonnaya Onu (Science and Technology) and Adebayo Shittu (Communication).

    Mohammed said Nigeria is not new to one group or another issuing such threats.

    He said: “The issue of one or two groups issuing statements that is capable of destabilizing the polity did not just start today or did not start yesterday.

    “What I want to assure you is that security organizations are very very much on top of this matter.”

    On whether the ultimatum given by the group was discussed at the FEC, the minister replied with a simple “No.”

     

     

     

  • Fani-Kayode “uncouth, rude and crude” – Youth group

    Fani-Kayode “uncouth, rude and crude” – Youth group

    Youth For Change NG, an umbrella group of youths committed to enthroning decency in politics, has berated Mr Femi Fani-Kayode over his disparaging tweet against the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday, the group noted that Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, has the penchant for being “uncouth, rude and crude” in public discourse.

    The statement was signed by Mr Seun Bobade, national leader of the group.

    It said that the tweet credited to Fani-Kayode when he was reacting to comments made by Mohammed, during a television programme, “is unbecoming of a man who is supposed to be a father figure to all youths.”

    “We found Mr Fani-Kayode’s tweet extremely distasteful, very disgusting and unbecoming of a man who supposedly had good education.

    “How can Mr Fani-Kayode censure the young ones, including his own children, if they become uncouth, rude and crude in public discourse when he himself has now made such distasteful disposition his trade mark,” the statement said.

    The group noted that while it was inevitable that people in opposing camps in politics would disagree from time to time, such disagreement should not be “licence for anyone to pollute the air with crude and abusive language.

    “In recent times, Mr Fani-Kayode, who touts his pedigree at every opportunity, has not lived up to his billing.

    “If he is not fanning the embers of disunity with very incendiary statements, he is employing very nasty language even against those who are old enough to be his father.

    “This is not encouraging to the youths and should stop forthwith,” Youth for Change NG said.

    The group urged the former minister to stop his penchant for resorting to the use of base and abusive language in public discourse, saying “such behaviour has no place in the Nigeria of our dreams.”

  • Buhari in good hands, says FG

    Buhari in good hands, says FG

    The Federal Government on Wednesday assured that President Muhammadu Buhari is in very competent hands in London where he is undergoing treatment.

    The President had travelled to the United Kingdom on the 7th of May to follow-up medical consultation with his doctors.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, gave the assurance.

    He was fielding question on the status of the President’s health.

    According to him, there was no cause for alarm over the President’s health.

    “The president is in very competent hands and there is no cause for alarm,” he said.

  • Buhari administration creates new set of millionaires through farming – Lai Mohammed

    Buhari administration creates new set of millionaires through farming – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday said that the Federal Government through its agriculture empowerment programme had created new set of millionaires in farming.

    The minister stated this when he featured on a special edition of Channels TV programme, “Sunrise Daily” on the mid-term report of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

    Mohammed said that many young farmers were empowered through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrower Programme and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture’s Soil Map initiative.

    He said that the programme, which recorded huge success in rice and grain productions, particularly in Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa, Ebonyi and Sokoto states, had made farming attractive to young people.

    Mohammed said the initiative had also helped in boosting the local production of rice, increasing yields per hectares in grains production and reducing importation of rice.

    He said that in 2015, the country imported 580,000 metric tonnes of rice, which had been brought down to 58,000 metric tonnes in 2016 with the successful implementation of the programme.

    The minister noted that though the price of local rice was still higher than the imported one, but the situation would change when production increased.

    He said the imported rice was being subsidised and dumped into the country but assured that the trend would change by next harvest.

    The minister said that the government had also been able to bring down the cost of fertiliser from N9, 000 to N5, 000 following a bilateral agreement it signed with the Kingdom of Morocco.

    Mohammed said that the country was gradually moving out of recession, particularly in the agriculture, manufacturing and solid minerals sectors.

    He explained that it was made possible because of committed investments in infrastructure, ease of doing business and increased budgetary votes for capital projects.

    “When we came in, we inherited about N1.7 trillion in debt owed to contractors; 202 roads were abandoned. In the entire 2015, only N18 billion was spent on roads and N5 billion spent on power.

    “In 2016/2017 we released N1.2 trillion for capital projects only; we spent N260 billion on roads and N99 billion on power generation.

    “We have constructed 320 kilometres of roads and fixed 460 kilometres of road: We have built 24 bridges and repaired about 21

    “On rail lines, we have commenced the construction of the 150 km per hour standard gauge from Lagos to Ibadan and working on others across the country,” he said.

    The minister reiterated that looking at what the government had done in areas of the economy, security and in fighting corruption it had fulfilled its electoral promises.

    Mohammed said the situation would have been worse than it is now if Buhari was not in power, adding that he was proud to be a part of the administration.

    He said in spite of recession brought about by defective economy run by past administration only on oil and the sharp drop in the price of crude, the administration has performed well.

    “We are coming from a situation where we were earning over 100 dollar per barrel of oil and it was reduced to about 30 dollar per barrel

    “It takes acute discipline and management of resources to be where we are today.

    “In spite of recession, between October last year and today, we have been able to add additional 7 billion dollars to our federal reserves.

    “We have also successfully added 87 million dollar to the Excess Crude Account and attract 500 million dollar to the Sovereign Wealth Fund,” he said.

    On security, the minister said that the government defeated Boko Haram insurgency which had taken over almost half of the North-East region before the administration came into power.

    He said government was taken pro-active measures to address the challenge of clash between the herdsmen and farmers and incidences of kidnapping.

  • No ransom was paid for their release – Lai Mohammed

    No ransom was paid for their release – Lai Mohammed

    Information Minister Lai Mohammed yesterday denied suggestions that a ransom of two million euro was paid by the federal government to Boko Haram for the release of the 82 girls.

    Contacted by The Nation to respond to a BBC story that the sect got the money as part of the deal to release the girls, Mohammed said: “apart from the five Boko Haram commanders, the exchange of which we have already made public, no other concession was made.

    “Any other thing to the contrary is absolutely false.

    “I emphatically deny on behalf of the Federal Government that any sum of ransom was paid in exchange of the 82 Chibok girls.”

    A thanksgiving service will be held for the girls today in Abuja.