The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Atiku tasks Buhari over alleged ‘stake’ in Etisalat, Key Stone Bank shares

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has called on the appropriate authorities to urgently institute a probe to unravel the hidden faces behind the new ownership structure of multi billion naira telecoms giant, Etisalat Nigeria, as well as Keystone Bank.

    In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, Special Assistant to Atiku on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu said such a probe was necessary in view of reports that members of President Muhammadu Buhari’s family now own substantial shares in Etisalat Nigeria which, has an estimated $2billion (about N727billion at 360 per dollar) of its estimated $20billion global net worth.

    Atiku also expressed shock at alleged reports from unimpeachable sources that the first family now plays big in the nation’s financial sector after acquiring mouthwatering shares in Keystone Bank with total assets of $1.916 billion (equivalent to N307.5billion) as well as purchasing about ₦3 billion worth of shares in the new Pakistani Islamic Bank.

    “I know that last week was turbulent for President Buhari and I apologize for adding to his woes, but as he is insistent on the myth that he is spotless and anti corrupt, If this is found to be true, this scandal would break every rule of corporate and public governance, since this will be the first time members of the first family will be openly involved in a once-in-a-lifetime deal that would make them all richer beyond their wildest dreams,” the statement said.

    The accusation was a reaction to allegations in the media that the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government plans to use billions of Naira from the Anchor Borrowers Programme allocated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for farmers, using imaginary donations from 12 million farmers as a façade.

    Atiku advised Buhari to shun the use of state resources and machinery for the upcoming 2019 presidential election, saying that no farmer contributed any N1.7billion for Buhari’s re-election campaign. He warned that APC’s decision to use monies meant for farmers to run the President’s campaign was untidy.

    Atiku continued, “The other day, a man who scored 15,424,921 votes to win the 2015 general election  was reported to have been nominated by 14 million APC members at the Presidential primaries for 2019. Now, over 12 million farmers have donated to his campaign.

    “Are they indirectly spewing out outrageous figures of people they intend to claim voted for them in the coming elections? Could that be why the President was flashing an occult double four hand signal that has gone viral?

    “What did the hand signal mean? Does it mean that the President has jettisoned the idea of a free and fair election and telling Nigerians that no matter how they vote, he will return for a second term of four years?

    “In any case, if the farmers who just took a loan through the borrowers anchor programme and have not liquidated the facility can donate this huge sum or any sum for that matter, it means the  ‘Association of widows and children of all those slain by Boko Haram and herdsmen will donate N5billion to the Buhari campaign. In fact, the 23.1 million youth who lost their jobs between 2016 till date will donate about N12billion to the Buhari campaign.

    “Assuming but not even conceding that such a huge sum of money was donated to President Buhari by Nigerian farmers as his handlers would want Nigerians to believe, wouldn’t such donation be in contravention of Section 91 (9)of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which says no individual or other entity shall donate more than N1m to an aspirant or a candidate,” Atiku said.

    The PDP presidential candidate referred the President to Section 91 (2) of the Electoral Act, which states that a presidential candidate can spend a maximum of N1billion.

    The law also recommends a fine of N1m or a prison term of 12 months or both for any candidate that breaches the provisions of the Act.

    “We have no stand on whether or not President Buhari should run for office. That is his prerogative and that of his party. But we believe it is improper for public office holders to forcefully loot public funds, on behalf of a sitting president seeking a second term in office.”

    ‘’What this means is that there is a ‘war chest’ which apparently is from the national coffers”. Atiku added.

    He said if President Buhari wants to run for office next year, he should take only from monies sourced from donations by his campaign groups that are independent of government sources.

    “Anything short of that – as is currently the case with the use of funds from the CBN meant for farmers will mean there will be no level playing field for all the candidates billed to contest for the presidency during next year’s presidential elections,’’ Atiku said.

  • ‘You are ignorant of laws guiding campaign funding’

    The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has asked the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and it’s Presidential campaign spokesperson, Buba Galadima to have a clear understanding of the laws guiding campaign funding before making public statement on contribution to the campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Organization lampooned Galadima for displaying crash ignorance and expressing frustration over the donation of about N1.2 billion by Nigerian farmers to the campaign the President.

    Galadima had called for the disqualification of President Muhammadu Buhari for receiving such huge donation towards his campaign saying such donations contravene the provision of the Electoral Act.

    In a statement signed by Niyi Akinsiju and Cassidy Madueke, Chairman and Secretary respectively, BMO said that Galadima is uninformed about the tenets of the Electoral Act which is why he is finding fault with N100 individual donation of members of an association to the campaign of the President.

    “The association of farmers and fertilizer producers are not corporate entities and neither are they registered corporations, and certainly not captured in the Electoral Act. So for Galadima, a supposedly educated person and politician to ask for disqualification of president Buhari on the basis of their donation, is engagement in petty talks.

    “Is Galadima rewriting the law on who and what to contribute to an electioneering campaign fund? He apparently forgets that President Buhari enjoys mass appeal and popularity among the Nigerian poor and downtrodden who he is feverishly elevating on to higher economic levels from the extreme poverty to which they were pushed into by the collective irresponsibility of the PDP governments of many years.“

    The group contended that Buba Galadima got himself mixed up, by equating individual donation to corporate donation. “We advise this gentleman to keep his anger under control so that such anger should not be allowed to contaminate the political space”

    The group also described the spokesperson’s allegation that security agencies were after the lawmakers who heckled president Buhari at the presentation of the 2019 budget proposal “as figment of his imagination and the product of a troubled mind.

    Read Also: INEC: we’ll conduct 2019 polls with existing laws

    “Obviously, PDP elements see defeat at the 2019 election staring them in face and they are jittery. The colossal failure of their presidential campaign flag- off in three geographical zones in the country, the groundswell of popular acclaim of President Muhammadu Buhari achievements all over the country have put the PDP under tremendous pressure and they have become desperadoes”.

    BMO said President Muhammadu Buhari is a magnanimous person with a heart of gold that, despite Galadima’s rouble rousing, still keeps his (Galadima’s) daughter as one of his aides in the Presidency.

    The group said the donation by rice farmers and fertilizer producers is a guarantee of over 12 million votes for President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 2019 election, adding that people who have enough confidence in a person to donate their widow’s mite of N100 each to his election campaign fund will definitely vote for that person along with their friends and relations.

    While appreciating the testimonies by RIFAN members, through their leadership, the group said the anchor borrowers programme has yielded the desired result by generating more employment opportunities for our teeming youth in Nigeria, rice sufficiency to the Nigerian populace and easy access to fertilizer; the government programme also ensures that rice import is at its lowest level.

    “So also FEPSAN testified through its president that the government fertilizer initiative has saved the country N120bn subsidy and thereby crashing the price of fertilizer within the last three years. FEPSAN leader also confirmed that as at year 2015, less than five fertilizer blending plants were working in Nigeria, but as at now we have thirty fertilizer blending plants working due to government policy.”

    BMO says it believes that looking at the total number of beneficiaries and the card-carrying members in both RIFAN and FEPSAN, “one can confidently say that President Muhammadu Buhari will get the votes of all the members of these two associations and win in the 2019 presidential election because of his achievements in agriculture and other various sectors.”

    The Buhari Media Organization applauded the diversification policy of the Buhari administration, the positive results and the employment generated in the informal sector.

  • Buhari: System, not me, responsible for slow anti-graft war

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday blamed the democratic system for the seemingly slow pace of the anti-corruption war.

    The system, he reiterated, is responsible for the slow progress of the war not he.

    The President spoke in Abuja when he received the Federal Capital Territory community on Christmas homage at his official residence.

    “Fighting Corruption, yes, we are slow because the system is slow.

    “It’s not Baba that is slow but it is the system so I am going by this system and I hope we will make it,” he said

    The President stressed: “I told you what I did when I was in uniform but now when I have to go by this system (democracy) where people have to be arrested and then prosecuted, taken to court and then with evidence, we will collect back what they had taken illegally and for doing that, people are calling me Baba go slow.

    “I am going slowly but whatever the case, I will not stop pointing fingers at those who have abused trust by taking money that does not belong to them.

    “I will keep on trying to do my best for this country and get back what belongs to the country.

    “We are doing to do the roads, revive the railway and electricity with the little resources at our disposal.”

    He said he will embark on aggressive reelection campaign soonest based on the three issues that got him elected in 2015.

    These issues anti-corruption war, tackling insecurity and improving the economy, according to him, are still relevant today.

    Read Also: Why we are slow in fighting corruption, by Buhari

    The campaign, he said, will start by visits to each of the six geo-political zones of the country.

    According to him: “The party nominated me and I will contest. We are watching the Independent National Electoral Commission very seriously and we are going out very soon we will go from geo-political zone to geo-political zone to remind the people of our promises in 2015; three fundamental things, security, because you have to secure the country before you can govern it and talking about what we have done regarding securing the country, the people of the North-east know better.

    “The three fundamental things we campaigned with are still very relevant. On improving the economy, which we are still going to explore, we have done well in agriculture and those who embraced farming are not regretting it and we have also addressed unemployment and we are very lucky, through that we are now attaining food security.

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, said the FCT community was happy with the performance of President Buhari in office and pledged to support him massively for another term of office.

    He said “We pray that God Almighty to continue to grant you good health, strength, capacity, ability and patience to continue to lead us to the Promised Land.

    “On behalf of the FCT we appreciate you for the good works you are doing for the territory, just last week you commissioned for us a new airport terminal and so many road projects that are going on in Abuja and we feel highly delighted to be hosting you here and it’s my honour on behalf of the FCT community I want to assure you that we are solidly behind you and by the grace of God we look forward to you spending another four years in the state house so that you can truly make Abuja the city of our dream because we want Abuja to be among the 20 best cities in the world in the next few years to come and I think that is possible.”

    Primate of the Anglican Communion, Nigeria Reverend Nicholas Okoh congratulated the President for overcoming his health challenges and said all citizens of the country are grateful to God for that.

    The cleric noted the spirit of unity among followers of different religions in the Federal capital Territory is exemplary and should be replicated in all parts of the country.

    He said religious leaders will continue to work for peace and harmony in order to sustain peace in the country.

    The delegation comprised religious leaders and traditional rulers as well as top functionaries of the Federal capital Territory administration.

  • Yuletide power outage: Obaseki describes BEDC’s excuse as flimsy, unacceptable

    …Appeals to Buhari to revoke operational licence of power firm

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has again decried the gross inefficiency of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in providing stable electricity for residents of the state, who will celebrate Christmas and the New Year festivities in darkness.

    Obaseki said Edo people deserve a better service provider than BEDC, more so, considering the fact that Edo State is host to Azura Power plant which generates over 700MW of electricity to the national grid.

    “At a time families should be enjoying uninterrupted electricity supply as they celebrate Christmas and New Year in the state, BEDC is again unable to live up to the minimum expectation of providing electricity.

    Read Also: Xmas: Obaseki enjoins citizens to emulate Jesus, spread love

    “No excuse is good enough for the abysmal failure of BEDC and we appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to without delay, revoke the operational licence of BEDC and rescue  Edo people and residents from the crappy service being delivered to our people who are harassed weekly by BEDC to pay for electricity that it did not supply,” Obaseki said.

    He lamented that “Forcing electricity consumers to pay for services they did not enjoy with estimated bills is tantamount to corruption, which the Buhari-led government is committed to nipping in the bud.”

    Obaseki wondered why Nigerians in Borno and Kaduna states are celebrating uninterrupted power supply yet, Edo people are in unending darkness.

    The governor, further said that much as he is not a believer in conspiracy theories, he is however constrained to believe that BEDC is on a mission to sabotage the developmental efforts of his administration.

    “There can be no better time to enjoy electricity than during the Christmas holiday and only an enemy of progress will make Edo people spend the holidays in darkness,” the governor emphasized.

    He expressed his regrets over the unnecessary sufferings associated with celebrating the holiday period in BEDC-induced darkness and assured that his administration will continue to work for better deals across all sectors of the state.

  • Buhari condemns Zamfara killings

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the killing of innocent Nigerians in Birnin Magaji and Magami communities in Tsafe and Maradun local government areas of Zamfara, following attacks by suspected bandits.

    The president made the condemnation in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu in Abuja on Monday.

    According to the President, a major operation by the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Police, Department of State Services and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, is being considered to restore peace and stability to affected areas.

    “These horrendous acts of violence are crimes against humanity. This violence must stop,” he said.

    While expressing his deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the attacks, the government and people of Zamfara, the President also wished those injured a speedy recovery.

    Buhari said he had authorised an assessment trip to Zamfara and Sokoto states by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadiq, on Christmas and Boxing days.

    Read Also: Buhari greets Nigerians at Christmas

    He reassured residents of states plagued by bandits — Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger and Taraba, that their safety was an enduring commitment of his administration and he would continue to ensure that security agencies worked round the clock to protect local populations.

    The President conveyed his support to the Nigeria Police Force, which had already deployed Special Forces in each of the local governments in Zamfara and the Defence Headquarters’ deployment of a Special Military Intervention Force comprising more than 1,000 personnel.

    He said the security personnel, which were part of measures, among others, to respond to the security challenges in the North Central and North West, would be intensified to flush out the bandits from the affected areas.

    The President commended Nigerians “for the support to our security agencies who have continued to demonstrate dedication, commitment and bravery even in very difficult and complex operations’’.

    The Police Command in Zamfara had on Sunday confirmed that 17 people were killed in an attack on Magami village of Faru District in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara.

    NAN

  • Afenifere endorses Buhari for 2019 polls

    •Public declaration January 29
    •‘Any other Yoruba not with us are renegade and usurpers’

    The Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, has endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the Yoruba candidates ahead of next year’s presidential election.

    It said any other group that fails to align with the current position would be treated usurpers and renegades.

    The organisation recalled that Afenifere, as started by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, should be progressive.

    Its spokesperson Biodun Akin-Fasae stated the group’s position yesterday while addressing reporters on the outcome of a meeting of delegates and elders from the six Southwest states in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The group is led by the longest-living senator in Nigeria, Pa Ayo Fasanmi.

    Notable figures at the meeting included a former Oyo State Governor Omololu Olunloyo, Prince Tajudden Olusi, Dr. Abayomi Fini, Chief Adeleke Adewoyin, Prince Biodun Ogunleye, former Oyo State Deputy Governor Iyiola Oladokun and Pa Ayo Afolabi.

    Governments’ representatives at the meeting included Dr Morounkola Thomas (Oyo), Mr Oladosu Oladipo, Chief Akin Fasae (Ekiti), Mr Muyiwa Ige (Osun), Prof. Adebanjo Ademodi (Ondo), Mr Tokunbo Ajasin and Mr Awa Bamiji.

    Akin-Fasae said: “We have decided to host the Yoruba land in Ibadan on January 29. It is to proclaim the support of the Yoruba for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 and to tell the world that the Afenifere that Baba Awolowo created before he left is still intact as a progressive movement. Any Afenifere person who is not in the progressive is not part of us.

    “We are now telling the Yoruba people and the whole world that Afenifere, as enunciated and enacted by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is still intact and we are going to support President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the 2019 presidential election.”

    Asked why Afenifere was supporting the Federal Government, He said: “The economy is a collective issue. The economy has been bastardised for years. As at now, President Buhari is trying his best; he is bringing the economy up. The gross domestic product (GDP) is growing. Look at the programmes for youths and the children through empowerment and school feeding programmes in schools across the country; 26 states are already in the programme and many other states are happy with it.

    “So, President Buhari is trying his best and the best is yet to come. That is why we are asking people to vote for him, particularly in this Yoruba land, in the 2019 presidential election.”

    On the authenticity of the support in view of another faction of the group supporting another presidential candidate, Akin-Fasae said: “The Afenifere that we know in Yoruba land is a progressive movement. This is where we are today in Ibadan. The other Afenifere (the Ayo Adebanjo group) that is talking about Abubakar Atiku are not part of us. They are usurpers.

    “The Yoruba are not divided; there are not so many Afeniferes. Yoruba is a nation and even during the time of Baba Awolowo, there were dissent voices. So, we are not embarrassed. Our group is led by the longest living senator in Nigeria, Pa Ayo Fasanmi. You can see everybody there, including Senator Durojaiye, Dr Olunloyo, Baba Olusi. So, every other person in Yoruba land who is not a renegade is with us. There was no time Afenifere has not been a socio-political organisation. It is a socio-cultural and political organisation. That is just the full name of Afenifere…”

     

     

     

  • Budget presentation: We showed our strength, says APC Reps

    The caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives said its reaction to the booing of President Muhammadu Buhari at Wednesday’s budget presentation was spontaneous and not planned.

    The lawmakers said they were duty-bound to protect the President, having been convinced of the modest efforts he is putting in to set the country and the economy on the path of sustainable growth.

    Oluwarotimi Agunsoye (Lagos) told The Nation that countering opposition parties jeering a the President was a duty for APC members.

    He said: “We didn’t plan anything. What happened was that in the morning on arriving at the National Assembly, we noticed, having heard that PDP members were planning to disrupt the whole proceeding and embarrass the President, we knew we had to act.

    “If you noticed, we couldn’t display normal placards; we only scribbled our thoughts on whatever we were able to lay our hands on.

    “What we did was to show our strength; we showed them that we are still in the majority.

    “What got us fired up is the fact that having done so much to set the country and the economy on the path of growth and development, for reasons best known to them, they still want to bring the nation backward and they felt that to embarrass the President was the best way.

    “There is no way we are going to allow that; that was why we rose to the occasion.

    “What you saw yesterday (Wednesday) was corruption fighting back and that is sad.”

    Nnanna Igbokwe (Imo), who corroborated Agunsoye’s account, gave an insight into what transpired among the lawmakers before the arrival of Mr. President.

    He said: “I can state that the APC Caucus of the House of Representatives was unaware of the plan of the PDP Caucus to obstruct and prevent the presentation of the budget.

    “You can agree with me that if we had the slightest knowledge – we are parliamentarians, we are colleagues – we would have taken every necessary step to lobby our colleagues.

    “But I think they had a plan to create a scene like you saw and maybe as a way of making their voice to be heard to show the seriousness about the concerns they have or the issues in contention, hoping that it may give them the desired result.

    “It is unfortunate, because whatever it is, there are better approaches you may use in addressing those issues as parliamentarians and when it became obvious, within the floor, it was now sensed and that had to cause an emergency (executive) meeting to be called where the leadership of the House, the Speaker personally appealed to everybody, given the intelligence available to him that there was need for us to comport ourselves.

    “He appealed that it was  a major assignment; we have other avenues to checkmate the government or to solve the issues brought before us, and presentation does not mean approval.”

  • PDP accuses Buhari, APC of fraudulent depletion of ECA

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the revelation of furtive depletion and siphoning of $1.68 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), further showed that President Muhammadu Buhari presides over a corrupt government that is bent on draining the treasury and foisting more suffering on the people.

    The party accused President Buhari of superintending over the surreptitious withdrawals from the ECA, without recourse to the statutory appropriation of the National Assembly, saying funds are being frittered from the account to private purses of the cabal at the Presidency and corrupt All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders.

    A statement on Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the excuses being peddled by the Buhari administration on the depletion as hazy, muddle-up and cannot find basis under the due process of statutory legislative approvals.

    The main opposition party wondered why the President is presiding over such impunity, if he is not drawing personal benefits from the obvious racket for which ECA has been turned into APC’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

    The statement said, “Apparently realizing that they have been rejected by Nigerians ahead of the 2019 general elections, the APC and the Buhari Presidency now want to drain our treasury and as usual, blame it on past administration.

    “Nigerians can recall that the PDP, which established the ECA as a buffer account to cushion the effect of any economic down turn, left $2.07 billion in the account only for the Buhari administration to drain it down to $631 million.

    “The PDP condemns this manifest impunity by the Buhari Presidency and demands that no more withdrawals must be made from the account by this corrupt and inept administration.

    “Finally, our party urges Nigerians to unite in condemnation of the depletion of our ECA by the Buhari administration, which has less than five months to leave the governance of our country for good”.

  • Buhari commissions 15m capacity terminal at Abuja airport

    …$69.3m required to complete projects

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the new Terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

    The new terminal designed to handle 15 million passengers in a year is the second in the series of airport terminals commissioned from the projects funded by the China-Exim bank loan of $500m with a counterpart funding of $100m from the debt management office.

    From the $100m counterpart funding, the government has only paid $30.7 leaving a debt of $69.3.

    The $69.3 is expected to boost the speedy completion of the outstanding project which includes the new terminal in Kano and Lagos.

    Speaking during the commissioning in Abuja on Thursday, the President said: “It gives me great pleasure to be here for the formal commissioning of the new Terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. This event represents yet another significant milestone for International air travellers in and out of the Federal Capital Territory.

    “With the commissioning of this Terminal, Nigeria is moving towards achieving and meeting global aviation standards in facilitation, passenger processing and service delivery in tandem with international best practices.

    “This Administration recognises aviation as a catalyst for economic growth and as such will continue to encourage and support the actualization of projects that will place Nigerian Airports amongst the best in the world.

    “This event today, reflects Government’s deliberate policy to sustain the development of Nigeria’s infrastructure. We are gradually closing the infrastructural deficit bedeviling our country.

    “I am happy to note the progress being made in both the airports and sea ports on the implementation of the Executive Order on the Ease of Doing Business. Government officials manning these gateways are to sustain the momentum and ensure travellers in and out of the country have the best of experience as a necessary complement to the ultra-modern terminal.

    “Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Terminal is the first airport terminal to be connected to rail transport system in the Country and indeed in the region. This has provided passengers and other airport users with a choice in the mode of transport to and from the city center

    The President also promised to make Nigeria the aviation hub in the region. According to him:  “I wish to assure you that Government remains committed to developing Nigeria into Regional air transportation hub and thereby assuming its leadership in the aviation sub sector in Africa.”

    He also commended the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Government of the Peoples Republic of China, CCECC and the China Exim Bank for their financial support and the various roles they played which led to the successful completion of the terminal project.

    Read Also: Budget: Buhari lists achievements on infrastructure

    Also speaking, the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika urged the present to approve the outstanding $69.3 counterpart needed to complete the terminal in Kano and Lagos.

    Speaking on the commissioned terminal, he said: “From political and economic perspectives, this airport is very strategic to Nigeria not only because it is the gateway to the nation’s capital but also because it the second busiest airport in the country and the fastest growing in passenger traffic in West and Central Africa, with an average growth rate of 8%, where the world average growth is 5.8%. The Airport processed 5,709,012 passengers in 2017. This volume equals to about 13 times the total number of passengers recorded by Ghana as a country.”

    Speaking on the capacity of the terminal and some of its facilities, Sirika said: “The terminal has annual passenger capacity of 15m covering a space of approximately 56,000m2. It also has the following facilities as well as capabilities; 72 check-in counters, five  baggage collection carousels, 28 immigration desks at arrival and 16 at departure, eight security screening points, eight passenger boarding bridges, walkway to link the FCT metro rail, additional apron for remote parking of aircraft and link way to domestic wing.”

    He also hinted that the $461m recently approved by EFC would fix all outstanding issues at the new Abuja terminal.

    He said: “Mr President will recall FEC approval of the second tranche for the funding of the phase two of this project in the sum of $461,795,551.02. The phase takes into cognisance, additional facilities that will enhance airport efficiency. These includes but not limited to construction of additional apron, multi-level car park, fire station, additional boarding bridges, connection between the old and the new terminals, facility and boarding bridge to accommodate Airbus A380.”

    On the amount needed to complete the terminal in Kano and Lagos, Sirika said: “This is the second in the series of Airport terminals to be commissioned from the projects funded by the China-Exim bank loan of $500m with a counterpart funding of $100m from the debt management office.

    “Sir, we are committed to rounding up the project soon, the contractor has gone ahead to implement it as approved, but recently slowed down the pace of work due to non-payment of $69.3m counterpart funding by government. May I respectfully at this point, request Mr President’s kind intervention in this regard, please.”

    Also speaking, the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma also said the new terminal would be commissioned as soon as money is released to the contractors.

    He said: “Work is in progress in the remaining terminal which is in Lagos and Kano and we believe that as soon as the funding is available, we would put a lot of pressure on the contractor to perform. They are on site now working but we are not satisfied with the speed. We can speed them up if we inject some money into the project.”

    The MD also hinted that the new terminal would lead to employment of more personnel needed to handle the volume of aircraft and passenger movement.

    “With the volume of passengers coming, we will need to continually increase the number of staff in order to cope with aircraft and passenger movement.

    He also said that the old terminal would now be dedicated to domestic and some regional operations.

  • 2019 Budget: Buhari scolds unruly lawmakers

    President Muhammadu Buhari was on Wednesday forced to reprimand some recalcitrant members of the National Assembly who booed and jeered him as he presented the 2019 Appropriation Bill.

    But the presentation of the annual budget was not all marked by booing and jeering.

    Some lawmakers, who attended the presentation, however hailed and applauded President Buhari as the rituals of the exercise proceeded.

    Following the intermittent misdemeanor exhibited by the lawmakers, the President cautioned them to be mindful of their behaviour.

    “The world is watching us,” President Buhari cautioned and added “you are only messing up yourselves.”

    There were indications that all was not well when the President entered the lobby of the National Assembly to behold lawmakers singing anti-Buhari songs.

    Some anti-Buhari lawmakers on sighting President Buhari, burst into the “freedom comes by struggle, freedom comes by struggle, by struggle, freedom comes,” protest song.

    While this was going on, some other lawmakers grouped to cheer the President as he made his way into the House of Representatives chamber.

    The pro- Buhari House members and senators on the other hand shouted “sai baba, sai baba.”

    The development created tension in the entire complex as anti and pro-Buhari elements appeared to have resolved to clash.

    Observers condemned the development as demeaning in all ramifications.

    The National Anthem was taken amid the confusion as Senate President, Bukola Saraki, laboured to maintain order and decorum in the tensed chamber.

    Saraki continued to hit the gavel to keep the peace to no avail.

    The heckling became more serious when President Buhari told the lawmakers details of the Appropriation Bill would be given by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Amina Mohammed.

    What followed was chorus of “no, no, no”

    When the president informed lawmakers the economy has substantially recovered, they yelled “no, no, no, you are lying.”

    Buhari was then compelled to offer some words of caution, saying “the world is watching us.”

    Every step the President took was booed and jeered by the irritant hecklers.

    When the President said the Federal Government has made some milestones in its fight against corruption, the lawmakers screamed “no, no, no, grass cutter, grass cutter.”

    The sharp division almost marred the presentation of the budget but President Buhari kept his cool, ignoring snide comments by the lawmakers.

    As President Buhari reeled out the progress made in the water sector, one of the hacklers shouted: “lie, lie, lie, it is not true, it’s not correct, propaganda, campaign speech.”

    But a lawmaker was heard shouting “this is open challenge to the President. It is completely unacceptable.”

    Another shouted: “Some of our colleagues have gone to a ridiculous level to embarrass Mr. President. We should not allow that.”

    At a stage, it seemed some of the antagonists descended to the level of tampering with the microphone to make it impossible to hear the President.

    The stage appeared to have been set when Saraki merely introduced Buhari without backing it up with the normal speech.

    When the President concluded his presentation, some aggrieved senators and House members prevented Speaker Yakubu Dogara, from giving his vote of thanks.

    On Tuesday, All Progressives Congress (APC) senators met to articulate how to forestall any unpleasant development during the presentation of the budget.

    Members of the House of Representatives also held a closed door meeting same day to prevail on their members to behave themselves.

    The efforts appeared to have yielded nothing.