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Tag: Lai Mohammed

  • FG expresses concerns over increasing out-of-school children

    The Federal Government on Monday expressed concerns over the increasing rate of out-of-school children in the country.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said it is even more worrisome that girls in the north accounted for a higher percentage of the 13.5 million out-of-school children in the country.

    He attributed this development to poverty, early marriage, teenage pregnancy and illiteracy.

    He stated this during a two-day media dialogue on Cash Transfer Programme organised by the United Nations Children Funds in collaboration with the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, in Birnin Kebbi, on Monday.

    The minister, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Advocate and Gender Desk Officer, CRIB, Uche Chuta, said that the government had introduced various development policies, including the school feeding programme to boost enrollment.

    The minister said: “Girl-child education is a major issue of concern in most developing countries of the world today, particularly in Sub-Sahara Africa, where a large number of young girls do not attend school.

    “It is however more worrisome that Nigeria is counted to be among the West African countries that have the highest number of girls that are out-of school and that more than 75 percent of the 13.5 million children out-of-school are girls.

    Read Also: CBN mobilises school children to embrace saving culture

    “Barriers to girls’ education in Nigeria, particularly in the northern parts, have been identified to include a wide range of causes. They include poverty, early marriage, illiteracy and teenage pregnancy, all of which have grave consequences for both the girl child and the society at large.

    “The Federal Government is in the forefront of enhancing massive school enrollment attendance and completion by school -aged children through various child development policies including the National School Feeding Programme.”

    Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Educate -A-Child/UNICEF, Kebbi state, Isah Usman said the goal of the EAC/CTP project is to expand access to basic education to 501, 749 children out of the 13.5 million that are out-of-school in Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states by 2020.

    He said 41, 391 children had so far benefited from the intervention programme by UNICEF in Kebbi state.

    According to him, Kebbi and Zamfara states are considered as educationally disadvantaged states in the country, thus the various interventions by UNICEF.

    “To change this ugly situation, UNICEF has contributed to the expansion of girl education through its Girls Education Project (GEP -Phase 3) 1, 2 and 3 projects.

    “This is done through reduction in the poverty level by expanding the education level of the girl child as many parents cannot afford the education of their children.

    “The overall goal of EAC is to expand access to quality basic education for 501,749 out-of-school children by 2020 in Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara state.

    “The cash transfer intervention under the EAC aims to reach 41, 391 child beneficiaries and their female caregivers in four years, 31, 044 in Kebbi state and 10, 347 in Zamfara state.

    “Cash Transfer Programme addresses some of the underlying causes of inequalities in education outcomes, such as poverty, social exclusion and malnutrition.”

  • FEC approves N1.4b for DPR building design

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC)  meeting yesterday approved N1.4 billion for the design of 12 floor building design for the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He was with the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed and Minister of Trade and Industry, Okechukwu Enelamah after six hours meeting.

    The contract, he said, is for the design of the head office of DPR in Abuja, which is currently situated in Lagos State.

    ‘Today we got the approval to begin the process to relocate them to Abuja.” he said

    When asked if the sum was not too much for designing the building, he said that it only represented about 2% of the proposed N35 billion cost of the building.

    He said: “FEC approved 1.4 billion for the design of DPR Head office in Abuja. The contract was awarded to Messers Arteck Practice Limited to design a 12 floor building at a plot which has already been allocated to by the FCT.

    “They are currently based in Lagos and are the regulatory and supervisory arm of the Ministry of Petroleum, and is instrumental in terms of income generation. It will enable DPR move to Abuja.” he said

    On the seeming high cost of the design, he said: “The contract was awarded to DPR tenders board, their bid was the lowest, the highest bid  was about N3 billion. The total projected potential cost for the building when it is done is about N35 billion.

    “So if you look at that as a percentage of the work, it is absolutely insignificant, in international terms it is very very justifiable, it is less than two per cent.”

    He added “The FCT did mention in our deliberation that because of the new zoning policies, the previous plan which was to build a car park of another five floors along with the 12 floors  have to be changed a little bit because they are taking possession of additional green area that were assigned to them.

    “So they will build a lot of parking … within the building. So I think because of the amount of work to be done and in line with international practice, it is quite frankly very reasonable.

    “Let me also say that part of the programmes we have pursued in the ministry, is how to get a lot of our parastatals to become independent and self financially generating agency and so get out of federal budget. …. has done that, DPR is the one to do that next.

    “So a lot of funding for this development is going to come out of DPR itself not out of federal budgeting.

    “The plan is that if we continue the way we are doing, a lot of federal agencies will be out of federal budgeting and be self-reliant. Be it PPPRA, DPR, PEF, that is the game plan. So far we have exited NCMB and we are near existing DPR and then PEF.” he stated

    Enelamah said that FEC also approved N1.55billion  consultancy contract for the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), which is part of the Federal Government social investment programs.

    Read also: FEC approves N1.3bn contracts to reposition NAN, NTA, FRCN

    He said: “We got an approval from the Federal Executive Council to award a contract to engage a Program Management Office Consultant and System Provider, for the GEEP at N1.556billion.

    According to him, the contract which is for providing services for 4.6 million people, is a viable contract.

    He also pointed out that the program has provided credit for over 1.5million Nigerians

    Enelamah also said that FEC approved the establishment of a Committee to come up with alternative ways to add to what government is doing in financing infrastructure.

    He said that it will be a committee of Ministers and ICRC, NSIA, Africa Finance Corporation and some private sector players.

    Stressing that he will Chair the committee, Enelamah said that other members include Minister of Finance, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Minister Transportation, Minister of Water Resources and Minister of State for Aviation.

  • FEC approves N1.4 billion for DPR building design

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday approved N1.4 billion for the design of 12-floor building design for the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

    This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He was with the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed and Minister of Trade and Industry, Okechukwu Enelamah after 6 hours FEC meeting.

    The contract, he said, is for the design of the head office of DPR in Abuja, which is currently situated in Lagos State.

    ‘Today we got the approval to begin the process to relocate them to Abuja.” he said

    When asked if the sum was not too much for designing the building, he said that it only represented about 2% of the proposed N35 billion cost of the building.

  • Lai Mohammed, emir, others attend fidau of Kwara monarch

    Kwara state Deputy Governor Peter Kisira, Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed and Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari and others top dignitaries on Sunday attended the fidau prayer for the repose of the soul of the late Etsu Patigi, Ibrahim Chatta Umar.

    Etsu Umar died last Tuesday in Abuja and was buried the following day( Wednesday) at Patigi in Patigi local government area of the state.

    Speaking at the event, Elder Kisira charged Nigerians to contribute their quota to the development of their community which will in turn lead to the progress and advancement of the country.

    Kisira implored them to use their positions and wealth to serve and give their best to the development of their various communities to make life meaningful for the downtrodden.

    The deputy governor added that government alone could not meet the need of the people, hence the support of the people in achieving the needed development.

    On the late Etsu Patigi, Elder Kisira described him as a hardworking man who had passion for the progress of his community, the state and the nation in general.

    He advised the people of the community to emulate the late monarch’s sterling qualities in order to ensure peaceful co-existence and development of the state.

    He noted that the late Etsu contributed immensely to the giant stride and progress recorded in his community and the state, calling on the people of the community not to allow his lofty dreams to die.

  • APC’s victory in Kwara for Nigerians, says Lai Mohammed

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed yesterday described the dismantling of the Saraki dynasty in Kwara State as history, as well as victory for the state and Nigerians.

    He added: “It will be an understatement to say that the Kwara State election attracted the most comments in the country.”

    Mohammed spoke to reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, on the sideline of prayer and thanksgiving session organised for the All Progressives (APC) candidates’ victory at the polls.

    He said: “The victory of the APC governor-elect, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, is historic. It is not just for the people of Kwara State, it is for the whole of the country. Of course, that also means a big burden is on his shoulders, because the expectations are high.

    “What that means is that the people’s power is more important and stronger than the people in power. What the people of Kwara State had demonstrated is that they have discovered their power and that they are going to punish any government that does not care about their welfare.

    “They have finally realised that ultimate power resides in them. It is a kind of warning to all governments that if what happened in Kwara State is anything to go about, they must have the interest of the people at heart.

    “What this also means is that notwithstanding the popular support we got from the people, if we fail to perform, the same people will turn against us.”

    He added that failure is not an option for the incoming APC government, but called for understanding and patience from the public.

    Read also: Inconclusive elections: INEC, military compromised, says PDP

    “The expectations are very high and we must take advantage of their enthusiasm to ensure we deliver the dividend of democracy.

    “The honeymoon may not last over three months unless we do well. We can’t afford to fail them. In less than a year, people of Kwara will see a difference between us and the outgoing political dynasty. We appeal to (Kwarans) to be patient because it is easier to destroy than to build.”

    Kwara APC Chairman Bashir Bolarinwa thanked the party hierarchy and members for standing together while the struggle lasted.

    “But for the perseverance and understanding of our members and leaders and with God’s grace, we couldn’t have come this far.

    “We swallowed our pride and came together and remained united against all odds. We shunned our grievances for the greater good of our people. We thank all of you.”

    AbdulRazaq promised to pay more attention to the north senatorial district in infrastructural growth.

    “Kwara North needs special attention in terms of development. This doesn’t mean we will not develop other areas. We will. But there is total lack of infrastructure in Kwara North,” AbdulRazaq said at a get-together in Ilorin, the state capital.

    The governor-elect said everything would be done to justify the people’s confidence in him and other APC lawmakers-elect.

    He said his campaign tours of the state exposed him to the huge infrastructure deficits in the state, especially in the northern district.

    “We’ll (therefore) pay particular attention to Kwara North because it is totally deprived.”

  • ‘APC broom has swept Kwara clean of hegemony politics’

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says with the absolute victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Feb. 23 and March 9 general elections in Kwara, the party’s broom has swept the state clean of “hegemony politics”.

    The Minister who stated this at a post election news briefing on Monday in Ilorin added that the long battle for the emancipation of Kwara had been attained with the outcome of the polls.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the Kwara APC had a clean sweep of the Presidential poll, as well as elections into the three senatorial and six House of Representative seats held on Feb. 23.

    Also, the party defeated the incumbent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Governorship elections and won all the 24 seats in the Kwara State House of Assembly in the elections held on March 9.

    The major upset was the defeat of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki of the (PDP) in his stronghold, Kwara Central Senatorial zone by the APC candidate, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe.

    Addressing the newsmen, the minister said that with the unprecedented victories, the people could confidently say that “the ‘Berlin Wall’ of Hegemony Politics in Kwara has finally fallen for good”.

    “It is a great victory for all the good people of Kwara and we give all gratitude to God for this victory.

    “It is beyond our power. Then, of course, we thank most sincerely the good people of Kwara.

    “To the long-suffering people of Kwara, this is your victory. You worked hard for it. You made incredible sacrifices, and your efforts paid off.

    READ ALSO: Lai Mohammed: February 23 to be Kwara ‘Day of Liberation’

    “You said ‘O To Ge’ (Enough is Enough) and it came to pass. Thank you to all the good people of Kwara.

    “Never again will anyone enslave you under the guise of dynasty or hegemony politics. Never Again!!!

    The minister thanked the security agencies that provided the conducive atmosphere for the people to exercise their franchise without fear.

    He also thanked the leadership of the party at both the state and national levels and expressed special gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support which propelled the party to victory.

    “Our victory here transcends Kwara State. It is a victory for all advocates of good governance everywhere. It is the triumph of good over evil, no matter how long it takes.

    “It will forever be a reference point in the political history of Nigeria, and a hard blow to those who willfully turn the public treasury into their personal piggy bank,” he said.

    The minister said that with the victories, the real work had just begun for the party because the expectations of the people were very high and they could not afford to disappoint them.

    “We must ride on the wave of their enthusiasm and determination to deliver to them the dividends of democracy, for which they have been yearning.

    “All our leaders, both elected and otherwise, must come together to channel the energy and vibrancy of our people to positive goals,” he said.

    Mohammed recalled that the long battle for the emancipation of the state started on Nov. 17 2018, when the
    party won the by-election for the Ekiti/Oke-ero/Irepodun/Isin federal constituency.

    He urged party members and supporters to be magnanimous in victory, shun vindictiveness or hatred while celebrating.

    “There is no room for violence of any kind. We are all Kwarans. The massive victory in Kwara State came on a
    peaceful note.

    “We must maintain that and banish all the vestiges of violence from our state.

    “It is a new day in Kwara State, and the sun is shining bright and beautiful once again! I thank you all for your kind attention,” he said. (NAN)

  • APC will win Kwara gov with higher margin – Lai Mohammed

    Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has boasted the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win the Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly elections in Kwara with higher margin than the Presidential and National Assembly polls.

    The minister, who is the leader of APC in the state, said this on Monday after a meeting with the party leaders from the 16 local government areas in the state.

    He said the meeting reviewed the past elections and strategised on how to garner more votes in the Saturday’s governorship and state assembly polls.

    Mohammed told voters in the state to ignore the threat by the opposition to disrupt the Saturday’s poll, assuring them that the government would provide adequate security to protect them.

    He said he got the information that the opposition was planning to unleash political thugs to attack and intimidate voters during the Saturday’s polls.

    “We have been hearing a lot of things that they have imported a lot of thugs to Kwara to disrupt the Saturday’s elections.

    Read Also: Kwara is free at last – Lai Mohammed

    “If anyone does so, he or she will be risking his or her life.

    “We are appealing to our people that the Federal Government is going to provide adequate security for all,” he said.

    The APC won the Presidential, all the three senatorial and six House of Representatives seats in Kwara in the Feb. 23 elections.

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, lost his bid for re-election into the Senate from Kwara Central on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Saraki lost to Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe of the All Progressives Congress, in the senatorial election.

    Oloriegbe polled 123,808 votes to defeat the Saraki, who scored 68,994 votes in the four local governments of Kwara Central Senatorial District.

    NAN

  • Buhari’s victory triumph of ordinary Nigerians over elite, says Lai Mohammed

    •Obasa greets President, APC

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in last Saturday’s presidential election symbolised the triumph of the ordinary Nigerians over the elite, Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said.

    Mohammed spoke in Abuja yesterday when he received the management of his ministry, who came to congratulate him on the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at last week’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “Last weekend’s election is a direct contest between ordinary Nigerians and the elite, most of whom are rent seekers. Of course, the ordinary Nigerians have won!” he said.

    Mohammed went on: “Overall, this government is doing more with less and is restoring decency and integrity to governance. Like the New York Times said, the re-election of President Buhari is a referendum on honesty. There is no better way to put it.”

    While reeling out the policies that endeared President Buhari to the ordinary Nigerians, the minister said under the Social Investment Programme, the government feeds 9.3 million school children every day and some 500,000 unemployed graduates have been employed under N-Power, in addition to some 300,000 families who are benefitting from the Conditional Cash Transfer.

    In a deliberate effort to boost the Small and Medium Enterprises to contribute significantly to the nation’s economy, the Buhari Administration, he said, gives out interest-free loans of between N10,000 and N100,000 under the TraderMoni and the MarketMoni schemes to small business owners.

    “Pensioners who have been left in the lurch are being paid, and I am talking of ex-workers of the Nigerian Airways, NITEL and former Biafran policemen, among others. The former Nigeria Airways staffers were so delighted that they held a rally in support of the President

    before the elections,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

    He said the fight against corruption is being institutionalised with a number of policies that include Treasury Single Account (TSA), Whistleblower policy, and that it has led to the recovery of huge amounts of money as well as property from looters.

    The minister enjoined the citizenry to continue to support the Buhari Administration in building of a strong, secure, economically-buoyant and corrupt-free society.

    Read also: Saudi King, Emir of Qatar, Russian envoy greet Buhari

    On the APC’s victory in Kwara, the minister thanked the management of his ministry for appreciating his ‘modest’ effort in delivering Kwara State from the grip of a crippling hegemony.

    “I must stress – and I have said this before – that the credit for the liberation of Kwara goes to the good people of State who, despite efforts to compromise them, refused to sell their votes. A simple slogan, O To Ge (Enough is Enough), captured the determination of the people to vote out those who have held them down for decades. And that is precisely what they did,” he said.

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Deaconess Grace Isu-Gekpe, said the management and staff of the ministry were proud of the minister for his invaluable contribution to the victory of the APC at the presidential and National Assembly elections in Kwara State.

    Also yesterday, Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa congratulated Buhari and the APC.

    Obasa, in his congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak, stated that the victory recorded by the President and the party showed the clear desire of Nigerians to be taken to the Next Level.

    “It was a keenly contested election and we thank God for this well-deserved victory. This is a clear indication of the desire of Nigerians to be taken to the Next Level by APC administration at all levels of governance.

    “Nigerians have again trusted us with their mandate and I assure that we won’t disappoint. Commendations from local and international observers have confirmed the commendable performance of the electoral process and I will give INEC a pass mark for its performance,” he said.

    Obasa urged Nigerians not to rest on their oars appealing to them to vote massively for the party’s candidates in the Governorship and State Assembly Elections.

    “We are grateful for your support and we assure you that the APC administration at all levels will not let you down as we will continue to put in place programmes and projects that will improve your standard of living and enhance your welfare.

    “However, we will continue to ask for more support from you. Therefore,  I humbly appeal to you to come out enmasse on Saturday, 9 March, 2019 to vote for our candidates in the Governorship and State Assembly Elections all over the country. I want to particularly appeal to Lagosians to vote for all our candidates in the coming election.

    “Once again, on behalf of my colleagues in the Lagos State House of Assembly, I congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of our great party on this resounding and well deserved victory and I say let us do it again on Saturday, 9 March, 2019,” the Speaker said.

     

  • Lai Mohammed: February 23 to be Kwara ‘Day of Liberation’

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that under an All Progressives Congress (APC) dispensation, February 23 of every year will be observed as the “Day of Liberation” by the people of Kwara.

    “I want to ask the incoming governor of our state to, immediately he is sworn in on 29 May 2019, declare February 23rd (the date of this year’s presidential and National Assembly elections) of every year as the ‘Day of Liberation’ for Kwara State,” said the minister, who is also the APC leader in the state, at a media briefing yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital.

    Mohammed thanked God and the people of Kwara for the “clean sweep” which the party achieved in last Saturday’s elections in the state, saying the APC won the match against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 10-0: (1-0 for President, 3-0 for Senate and 6-0 for House of Representatives).

    “With the outcome of last Saturday’s elections, I can now conveniently say that Kwara is free; free from a choking and pauperising political hegemony of a self-imposed dynasty! Never again will Kwarans be treated like slaves in their own land. Enough Is Enough. O To Ge!” he said.

    The minister said no single individual deserves credit for APC’s massive victory in the elections, adding that the credit for the victory would go to the good people of the state.

    He noted that after being galvanised by “perhaps the most impactful, three-word political slogan ever in the history of party politics in this land”, Kwarans confirmed the saying that the power of the people is much stronger the people in power.

    Mohammed noted that with APC’s victory in last Saturday’s elections, the “Berlin Wall” of Kwara politics had cracked further and will finally crumble on March 9, when the state votes in a new governor and members of the House of Assembly.

    The minister also said Saturday’s election in the state was free, fair and peaceful.

  • Kwara is free at last – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says with the outcome of last Saturday’s elections, Kwara is free “from a choking and pauperising political hegemony of a self-imposed dynasty”.

    The Minister, who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara, stated this while briefing newsmen on Monday in Ilorin.

    He stressed that never again would the people of Kwara be treated like slaves in their own land.

    “Enough is Enough – O To Ge!,” he said.

    The minister said the official results of last Saturday’s National Assembly elections in the state were a clean sweep for the APC.

    “All three seats in the Senate and all six in the House of Representatives were won by our party.

    “The match between our party and the PDP ended 10-0 (1-0 President, 3-0 Senatorial, 6-0 House of Reps)

    He advised that with the unprecedented victory the state should declare Feb. 23 of every year as the Day of Liberation for Kwara State.

    “I want to ask the incoming Governor of our state to, immediately he is sworn in on 29 May 2019, to declare Feb. 23rd of every year as the Day of Liberation for Kwara State.”

    The minister gave gratitude to God for the victory and thanked the good people of Kwara for coming out to vote for APC.

    “No single individual can claim credit for this victory. It belongs to the people of Kwara.

    “All of us, the party leadership, were fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time to lead the process.

    “But the ultimate credit goes to the people who resoundingly said NO to the PDP last Saturday.

    “Fired on by perhaps the most impactful, three-word political slogan ever in the history of party politics in this land –” O to Ge” meaning Enough is Enough”.

    “Kwarans have confirmed the saying that the power of the people is much stronger than the people in power,” he said.

    The minister said the victory in Kwara was achieved in the sweetest way because the election was conducted in an atmosphere of peace and harmony.

    He said: “not a single shot was fired throughout Kwara, no one snatched ballot box rather it was an atmosphere of conviviality.”

    Mohammed said the election was a sharp departure from what used to be in the state.

    ‘It confirms what we have been saying, that when there is adequate security, there will be a level playing ground for all the parties, and for all Kwarans.”

    The minister thanked the security agencies, all the party members, supporters and leaders of the party across the state.

    He urged the party members to note that the job was not completed yet, until they deliver the March 9 governorship and State House of Assembly elections for APC.