The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Malam Garba Shehu

  • Buhari to Traditional Rulers: Support fight against criminality

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday welcomed traditional rulers in the country to the “Next Level”, urging them to be prepared to play a crucial role in the prevention and detection of criminal activities in their domains.

    The President’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, said Buhari made the call when he received members of the National Council of Traditional Rulers led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, at State House, Abuja.

    The President noted that involving the royal fathers had become necessary in view of the deep knowledge of their localities.

    “You know all the families who harbour criminals and you know those who produce respectable individuals. You know the weaknesses of our society.

    “We need your support to consolidate our achievements,’’ he said.

    President Buhari listed several efforts by his administration to enhance national security while emphasising the need for stability in the country.

     “What we need now is your support. No government can serve creditably without your support. We will always count on your support,” he told the traditional rulers.

    The President also welcomed the royal fathers to his “second and final term, at the end of which I will, God willing, go to Daura and settle down.”

    The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Council, told President Buhari that the leadership of the council was in the presidential villa to congratulate and felicitate with him over his re-election, on behalf of all the Traditional Rulers in Nigeria.

    While urging Nigerians to accept the election result as the will of God, the Sultan assured the president of the traditional rulers’ continued support in the execution of his administration’s laudable projects.

    He said the council would particularly support ‘’the government’s cardinal objectives of fighting corruption, containing insecurity, generally sanitizing the governance machinery, entrenching discipline, hard work and peaceful co-existence amongst the citizenry.’’

    The Co-Chairman of the Council and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, assured Buhari that their members would work closely with his administration to fight criminal activities.

    The Ooni urged the re-elected Nigerian leader to be a president for the whole nation and father to all citizens.(NAN)

  • Buhari felicitates with Obasanjo at 82

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as “a passionate and great patriot who deserves accolades for his immeasurable contributions to our democracy and national unity.”

    In a statement to mark Obasanjo’s 82nd birthday, President Buhari acknowledged that “regardless of our political differences with Obasanjo, I still hold him in the highest esteem because his contributions to the development of the country overshadow those differences.”

    Read also: Jonathan greets Obasanjo at 82

    The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, quoted President Buhari as saying, “Chief Obasanjo gave a good account of himself and inspired his juniors with his wit and other leadership skills.

    “Nigeria’s successful transition to democratic rule in October 1979 was one of Obasanjo’s remarkable contributions to national development.

    “As he celebrates his 82nd Birthday Anniversary, I wish Chief Obasanjo more good health, knowledge and wisdom in the service of Nigeria and humanity.’’(NAN)

  • Buhari cancels “casual leave’’

    President Muhammadu Buhari has cancelled his planned five-day “casual leave’’ as a mark of respect for victims of Boko Haram attacks across the battlefields in the Northeast zone of the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the President had planned to spend the casual leave at his home country, Daura, Katsina State from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2.

    The president, according to News Agency of Nigeria, had earlier cancelled his official trip to Benin City, Edo, where he was initially billed to inaugurate the Edo-Azura Power Plant and grace the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference.

    News Agency of Nigeria reports that already the advanced teams of the president, who left Abuja for Katsina and Benin on Sunday, had been asked to return.

    News Agency of Nigeria gathered that the cancellation of the trips would also enable the president to continue his ongoing meetings and consultations with relevant security and intelligent community aimed at addressing the nation’s security challenges.

    However, the president is expected to declare the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference, which was moved from Benin City to Maiduguri, Borno, on Nov. 28 at the Government House Conference Hall (CGH).

    President Buhari’s aide on New Media, Alhaji Bashir Ahmad, had on Sunday confirmed this development on his tweeter handle.

    He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to declare the COAS Annual Conference on Nov. 28, 2018 at the Conference Hall CGH in Maiduguri, Borno state.

    “The conference was earlier scheduled to take place from 26 -28 November 2018 in Benin, Edo state.

    News Agency of Nigeria also gathered that the shifting of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference from Benin City to Maiduguri might not be unconnected with the killing of Nigerian soldiers at Metele, a remote village bordering Nigeria and Chad.

    Read Also: Buhari to Oyetola: Rule with the fear of God

    News Agency of Nigeria learnt that President Buhari would use the opportunity of the COAS conference to address the Nigerian soldiers at the battlefields to further boost their morale.

    It would be recalled that President Buhari had on Sunday presided over a meeting of security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of the ongoing efforts to engage military and intelligence community towards addressing Boko Haram insurgency.

    In a tweet in Abuja on Sunday, the President’s aide on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, said all the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim and the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi were part of the meeting.

    “All the Service Chiefs, I-G of Police and DG of DSS were at the State House this morning. As President Buhari said (Saturday) yesterday, in the coming days, he will be engaging the Military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking,’’ Ahmad said in the tweet.

    President Buhari had pledged on Saturday to ensure that the loopholes, which led to the fatalities are blocked once and for all.

    On 18 November, the Al Barnawi faction of Boko Haram attack the 157 Task Force Battalion based at Metele in northern part of Borno state, killing scores of Nigerian troops.

    The military authorities are yet to give the specific number of casualties.

    Buhari in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu in Abuja on Saturday reiterated his administration’s commitment to the security of military personnel and other citizens.

    “No responsible Commander-in-Chief would rest on his oars or fold his hands to allow terrorists to endanger the lives of military personnel and other citizens”, Shehu quoted the president as saying.

    “Our loyal forces have proved their strength over the terrorists and we are ready to give them all the needed support, in terms of equipment and manpower, to succeed in ending the renewed threat.

    “In the coming days, I am engaging the military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking.”

    The President noted that fighting terrorism had taken a global dimension, which necessitated international collaboration among states facing similar security challenges.

    He, therefore, reassured Nigerians of his continued commitment to their security and of his efforts to sustain the momentum in the previous significant successes recorded against the terrorists.

    The president, however, advised Nigerians against making a political capital out of the national tragedy, saying “members of the armed forces are one family, commonly committed to the security and safety of all Nigerians.’’

  • Buhari sympathises with victims of Jos terminus market fire

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday sympathised with the victims of Jos Terminus Market where more than 200 shops were destroyed by fire.

    Buhari expressed his feelings in a statement issued by Malam Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Sunday.

    NAN reports that properties worth millions of naira, were on Saturday morning destroyed in Jos Terminus Market as traders wept and counting their losses.

    The Chairman of the traders association in Plateau, Mr Abdulrahman Yusuf, told journalists in Jos that over 270 shops with property worth millions of naira were destroyed.

    “We have one trader in this market that lost goods worth over N20 million. It is a huge loss and it’s quite devastating,” he said.

    The president said he was devastated by the scale of economic losses suffered by “hard working and ordinary Nigerians who believe in self-reliance to support themselves”.

    He observed that trading and agriculture had remained “the mainstay of these hard working businessmen and women and every democratic leader would genuinely feel the pains of the victims of this fire disaster.

    “With profound sense of empathy, I am touched by the large scale economic losses suffered by the victims of this fire disaster.

    “The role of these enterprising Nigerians in the economy of our country cannot be underestimated.’’

    Buhari said he was worried that the latest fire disaster at the Jos Terminus Market was the third in less than 10 years.

    “As you count your losses, I send you my heartfelt commiserations over this devastating disaster.

    “I am confident that your enterprising spirit would help you rebuild your lives. May God replenish you with more prosperity,’’ he said.

    The president also appealed to the local authorities concerned to take every necessary measure to forestall frequent fire incidents.

    He said the incidents were taking a heavy toll on people’s means of livelihood and the intervention of all three tiers of government would go a long way to alleviating the hardships.

  • Buhari congratulates Fayemi for winning APC Guber ticket

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated former Governor of Ekiti State and Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi, for winning the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) ticket to contest the July 14, 2018 governorship elections.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu in Abuja on Sunday, President Buhari commendd all the participants in the keenly contested position, who passionately worked hard to serve the state as governors.

    He urged them to keep upholding the values and philosophy of the party by supporting the APC candidate in the forthcoming elections.

    Read Also: Buhari congratulates APC candidate

    According to the President, Fayemi’s track record in the state as a reformist, with a penchant for building educational infrastructure and promoting the welfare of the ordinary people, will bolster his chances at the forthcoming polls.

    He noted that ”the successful primaries in the state, with more than 30 aspirants, further validate the credentials of the APC on internal democracy, and its preparedness to take the country to another level of development”

    Fayemi defeated other 32 contestants in the poll when he got 941 out of the 2337 votes cast by the delegates during the exercise.

    Another former governor of the state, Segun Oni, who secured 481 votes, came second.

    NAN

     

  • President Buhari commiserates with Audu Ogbeh over brother’s death

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, over the death of his younger brother, Clement Ogbeh.

    In a condolence message issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the President also condoled with the immediate family, the Otukpa community of Benue and friends of the deceased.

    Read Also: I’m grateful to those investing in Nigeria – Buhari

    President Buhari prayed that God would comfort the family of the departed, and grant his soul eternal rest.

    Late Clement Ogbeh worked at the Central Bank of Nigeria and is being buried today.

    NAN

  • President Buhari mourns Bagobiri

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed condolence over the passing away of the Bishop of Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Joseph Bagobiri, who died on Feb. 27.

    The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, communicated Buhari’s message in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

    The president also condoled with the government and people of Kaduna State, especially the Catholic faithful, and the Christian community in the country over the bishop’s death.

    Read Also: Bishop Bagobiri was a committed Christian – Buhari

    He described Bagobiri as a committed Christian who loved his community.

    “He fought injustice and all forms oppression.

    “He helped the poor, established schools, including a seminary described as one of the best in the country,’’ the president said.

    He prayed for the repose of the soul of Bagobiri.

    Bagobiri, who died at the age of 61, was born on Nov. 8, 1957, and was ordained priest in June 1983 and bishop on Oct. 21, 1995.

    He was buried on Thursday.

    NAN

  • FG approves N164.7m school fees for Chibok girls at AUN

    FG approves N164.7m school fees for Chibok girls at AUN

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N164.7 million for the payment of second semester school fess of the freed 106 Chibok girls at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Adamawa.

    The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

    The presidential aide said that the President had expressed satisfaction over the progress so far made in the rehabilitation of the freed Chibok schoolgirls.

    According to him, Buhari expressed his feelings while reviewing progress report on the affected girls.

    He said that the report was submitted to the President in line with his commitment to personally monitor the rehabilitation and reintegration into society of the freed Chibok girls.

    Shehu said the President also assured that the Federal Government would continue to provide full support for their education.

    “The President has approved payment of the sum of N164,763,759 million (one hundred and sixty four million, seven hundred and sixty-three naira) for the second semester school fees of the 106 Chibok girls at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola.

    “According to the progress report received by the President, the decision to pursue avenues in addition to military action to free the abducted girls is in the resolve to protect the lives of all Nigerians.

    “To end the insurgency in the northeast of the country, and to fulfill one of the campaign promises of the President.

    “In line with this, the Federal Government entered into negotiations with the Boko Haram terrorist group for the release of the Chibok girls who were kidnapped from their school dormitory on the night of April 14, 2014.

    “So far, two batches of 21 and 82 girls have been freed as a result of those negotiations.
    “Three additional girls were rescued by the gallant efforts of our armed forces, bringing the total number of freed Chibok girls so far to 106.’’

    Shehu noted that as a result of their experiences while in captivity, the freed girls were severely traumatised and afflicted by various ailments and injuries.

    He stated that the girls were taken to secured medical centres for attention.

    “They also went through debriefing and de-radicalisation by security operatives, after which the girls were handed over to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    “The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development was assigned the main role in supervising the rehabilitation and reintegration of the girls back into society.

    “Long before the girls were released, the Federal Government had established the ‘Chibok Girls Desk’ in the ministry, responsible for acting on matters relating to the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, and serving as a channel of communication between relevant agencies and the parents and relatives of the abducted girls.’’

    The media aide said that the ministry of women affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), UN Women, and other donour agencies, embarked on programmes earmarked to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of the Chibok girls with a nine-month time frame.

    According to Shehu, a hostel in the National Centre for Women Development was converted into a suitable shelter, where the girls were kept for the nine-month period.

    “The programme, which began in Jan., ended in Sept. 2017. During the period, the 106 girls were given lessons in English, Mathematics, Biology, Agriculture, and Civic Education. In addition, they were trained on ICT and vocational skills.

    “Professionals were engaged to provide them with psychosocial therapy and one-on-one counseling to help them overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).’’

    Shehu revealed that the girls were also provided with religious instruction and comprehensive care by two in-house doctors and two nurses.

    He said that periodic visits from the girls’ parents to stimulate family support and reunion were sponsored and organised by the ministry.

    “Having successfully achieved the desired goals of the rehabilitation and reintegration programme, with recorded significant improvement in the academic performance of the girls, in September, a final send-off party was organised for the 106 Chibok girls.

    “They were subsequently moved to the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola for their foundation studies and continuation of their education.’’

    He disclosed that the AUN had successfully established a foundation school for 14 out of the 57 Chibok girls who earlier escaped when the rest of their classmates were taken to the Sambisa forest by Boko Haram in 2014.

    The presidential aide observed that the absorption of the 106 girls into the AUN marked the beginning of their integration into the larger Nigerian society, thus fulfilling Buhari’s promise of providing the best education for them.

    “Although they have been officially handed over to their parents, the Federal Government will continue to be responsible for the payment of the Chibok girls’ school fees right up to their graduation from school,’’ Shehu said.

  • Buhari approves new measures to check terrorist activities

    Buhari approves new measures to check terrorist activities

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the request of the Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen. Mansur Dan Ali (rtd) for the stationing of a full battalion of Special Forces in Zamfara to check activities of bandits in the state.

    The president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, said Buhari also approved the commencement of the newly-established 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto in the new Order of Battle (OBAT).

    The presidential aide revealed that Buhari also ordered a military crackdown on bandits operating in rural communities in Zamfara.

    He said the president’s order followed fresh attacks on some communities in Shinkafi and Maradun Local Government Areas of the state.

    The President has also approved the movement of the 1 Brigade of the Nigerian Army from Sokoto to Gusau upon the take-off of the 8 Division.

    “To tackle the desperate actions of Boko Haram terrorists in the North-east, through the use of mostly female, underage girls as suicide bombers, President Buhari has equally approved the setting up of an intelligence fusion centre in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, for the purpose of gathering and sharing intelligence among the security agencies in the country.

    “This phase of the war will be intelligence-driven and the new centre is expected to intensify the harvesting and sharing of intelligence so as to bring to an early closure, the desperate last-minute activities of the terrorists.

    Read Also : Mubi mosque suicide attack cruel – Buhari

  • Buhari directs emergency response to Benue flooding

    Buhari directs emergency response to Benue flooding

    President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately mobilize personnel and resources to come to the aid of the victims of the flooding in Benue.

    The President gave the directive in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Thursday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Benue Radio Station, Wurukum Market and several other communities have been submerged occasioned by the heavy downpour in the state.

    At least 100,000 persons were also displaced across 12 local government areas of the state as a result of the calamity.

    However, President Buhari, who expressed great concern over the unfortunate incident in the state, said he would continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure compliance with his directives on the incident.

    According to him, he will also be receiving regular updates on the scale of the disaster, as well as the Federal Government’s humanitarian response.

    He assured that the Federal Government would make available any assistance needed to enable the state government and the affected communities cope with and surmount the impact of the flooding.

    The President extended his sympathies to the Government and people of Benue.