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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • ‘Buhari will enhance democratic governance, if re-elected’

    Alhaji Muazu Bawa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger, says President Muhammadu Buhari will enhance democratic governance in the country, if re-elect in 2019.

    Bawa told the News Agency of Nigeria in Minna on Thursday that Buhari remained the only credible choice among the array of presidential candidates vying in 2019 and hoping to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

    He also called on members of the party to put behind, their bitterness arising from the party primaries, in order to strengthen the party capacity to win the forthcoming elections.

    The chieftain said Buhari had demonstrated political commitment in executing meaningful projects that had improved the lot of the people.

    “ Nigerian electorate should vote for continuity in order to consolidate on ongoing changes in the country that will further set the nation on the path of progress.”

    “We have since embarked on aggressive sensitisation of people  on the laudable achievements recorded by President Buhari administration in the last three and half years,”he said.

    Mu’azu also commended Buhari for ensuring prompt release of funds for the procurement of heavy duty equipment for Baro Port.

    Read Also: Buhari orders troops to wipe out Boko Haram

    He said that the decision of Federal Government to link Minna and Abuja with rail from Baro Port would boost socio-economic and political development in the country.

    “ Baro port project is one of the best that has happened to the people of Niger as over 2 million residents will be gainfully employed. ”

    Muazu, a former Commissioner of Finance in the state expressed optimism that the President would be re-elected to continue with the laudable projects he initiated.

    “ President Buhari has proved beyond reasonable doubt to be honest, sincere and committed to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians, irrespective of political, tribal and ethnic differences.

    Bawa called on politicians to play responsible politics and shun all kinds of political violence and thuggery for peace, progress and political growth of the state in particular and the country at large.

    “What the country needs at this material time is a peaceful atmosphere for the smooth implementation of electoral processes.”

    “ Our politicians, especially those seeking elective positions, must do more in promoting political tolerance and understanding for us to achieve transparent elections in 2018.”

  • Boko Haram Insurgency: President Buhari heads to Chad

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday departed Abuja for N’Djamena, Chad, to preside over the Summit of Heads of States and Governments of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari, in his capacity as Chairman of the Summit of Heads of States and Governments of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), summoned the meeting meant to find lasting solution to the menace of Boko Haram insurgency.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja said the meeting of the Heads of States and Governments of the LCBC would take place in N’Djamena, Chad on Thursday.

    Also, the President of Benin Republic, a troops-contributing country, has also been invited to attend the meeting.

    The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), and national operations of the affected countries have appreciably degraded the capacity of Boko Haram terrorists, although the insurgents still retain the capacity to attack isolated targets in desperate search for supplies.

    According to Adesina, the one-day meeting will review the security situation in the areas affected by Boko Haram insurgency.

    He said it would also adopt measures to enhance the capacity of the MNJTF to meet the challenges of securing the areas.

    Read Also: Metele Attack: 23 soldiers killed, Boko Haram uses drones-Buratai

    “The presidents of the LCBC member countries of Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and the Central African Republic have been invited to attend the meeting.

    “The President of Benin Republic, a troops-contributing country has also been invited to attend.

    “The MNJTF and the national operations of the affected countries have appreciably degraded the capacity of Boko Haram terrorists, although the insurgents still retain the capacity to attack isolated targets in desperate search for supplies,’’ Adesina said.

    Millions of people in Africa’s Lake Chad region (north-east Nigeria and parts of Niger, Chad and Cameroon) are facing a profound and protracted crisis driven by extreme poverty, climate change and violent conflicts according to the UN.

    The crisis, the world body added has led to the internal displacement of 2.4 million people, the destruction of livelihoods, human rights abuses, and the disruption of health, education and other basic services.

    More than 10 million vulnerable people need life-saving assistance and protection today. Women and children are particularly hard hit.

    In Feb. 2017, a conference on the Lake Chad region, co-hosted by Germany, Nigeria, Norway, and the United Nations took place in Oslo where donors pledged 672 million dollars to emergency assistance and support in 2017 and beyond.

  • Buhari to military: End Boko Haram threats now

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Maiduguri, Borno State, ordered the military to eliminate all threats of Boko Haram.

    According to him, the war against terrorism is “a must win’’.

    He made the remark while declaring open the 2018 Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said “It is a must win war. I want to encourage our troops not to be distracted by speculations but remain focused and committed to the task of eliminating Boko Haram from the surface of the earth,’’

    He assured the military that his administration will continue to address their needs in terms of manpower development and equipment supply.

    The President  promised that their welfare and entitlements will also be improved.

    “I want to reassure you that as your Commander-In-Chief, I will do everything within my power to continue empowering you by providing all the necessary equipment, force multipliers and enablers required for you to prevail on the field.

    “I also want you to be aware that I am currently looking into measures to improve your entitlements and welfare generally,’’ he added.

    He commended the efforts and sacrifices of the military in safeguarding the peace, security and territorial integrity of the country.

    He said “The officers and men who are fighting against the curse of terrorism in the North East deserve all the attention our country’s leadership can give them.

    “As President of the country, I am determined to ensure that every citizen feels safe and secure in all parts of the country. To achieve this, the security agencies must rise to the challenge and curb threats to security in our country.’’

    President Buhari called on the armed forces to embrace “the wind of change that is blowing across the country,” urging more cooperation at inter-service and inter-agency levels.

    “To this end, the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs must work closely together as well as with other security agencies to improve on strategies that will defeat terrorism, militancy and other forms of criminal activities in our country,” he said.

    President Buhari, who also addressed officers and men of the Nigerian Army at the Maimalari Barrack, headquarters of Operation Lafiya-Dole, said he shared in the agony of loss of gallant soldiers.

    “I have come to pay homage to the gallant soldiers lost by the nation and to console the injured ones in recent terrorist attacks. I urge you to remain focused and win the war,’’ the President said.

    Read Also: Buhari cancels private visit to Daura

    President Buhari also commended Nigerian Army’s commitment to upholding democracy and urged them to remain committed to their profession.

    “As we approach the 2019 General Elections, I want to urge all members of the Armed Forces to live up to their responsibilities and remain non-partisan. In addition, you must all remain vigilant throughout the electioneering period and alongside other security agencies, prevent every form of violence that could disrupt the process in line with your Rules of Engagement,’’ he said.

    He urged the soldiers, who were on parade, to always show disciplined conduct.

    “No matter how equipped the military is, the military is of no use if it doesn’t have discipline,” he said, urging them to uphold the tenets of the constitution and ensure tight security to protect lives and property.’’

    In his statement at the conference, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai said internal security had greatly improved from what it was in 2015 when President Buhari assumed office.

    Lt. Gen. Buratai said a new proactive strategy would be put in place to counter the recent military losses.

    He said the army remains neutral and non-partisan and will carry out their constitutional duty of safeguarding the nation’s democracy.

    The Minister of Defence, Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan Ali (rtd) assured the President that the military was putting in place new strategies to stabilize the country.

    President Buhari asked for a minute’s silence in memory of the gallant soldiers and before his departure, he went round the wards to visit wounded soldiers in the hospital within the army barracks.

    He gave assurances that the soldiers would be taken care of.

    At the Palace of Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, President Buhari said his administration will do everything to secure the country, commiserating with all Nigerians who lost loved ones  following recent setbacks in the fight against terrorists.

    “We have to remind ourselves where we were and where we are now and what happened in between. The people of Borno State know what we did in the last three years. The situation would have been worse,” he said.

    President Buhari also expressed his determination to change the unemployment situation of youths in the country, pointing out that “Jobs for the young persons, especially those who are 30 and below in Borno State and across the federation continue to engage our attention. We go to bed with it and wake up with it.”

    In his remarks, the Shehu of Borno, who spoke on behalf of the State’s Council of Chiefs, thanked the President for bringing peace to the state, and asked for intensive security patrols across the territories to save people from attacks on farms.

  • Why we reduced UTME fee, by JAMB

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Wednesday said it reduced its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Board Examination (UTME) registration fees because it wanted to alleviate the burden of the cost of the examination on parents.
     
    The board has reduced its registration fee for the 2019 from N5, 000 to N3, 500.
     
    JAMB’s Head of Media, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in a statement in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Wednesday, said the reduction has been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
     
    The statement said Mr. Buhari was concerned about the burden of the registration fees on the plight of ordinary Nigerians. 
     
    The statement reads: “In Mr. President’s determination to alleviate poverty and ensure that every Nigerian desirous of tertiary education is not deprived, government had introduced policies and incentive to boost the economy of ordinary Nigerians and has seen this reduction as a platform to bring more Nigerians on the tertiary education template.
     
    “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board had in less than two years shown commitment to the avowed direction of the President Buhari-led administration by returning over 15 billion.

    Read Also: JAMB offers 200,000 varsity admissions

     
    “Government had deliberated extensively on how to ensure that every Nigerian benefitted from the prudent management of resources in JAMB and came up with the fee reduction.
     
    “The Board has been charged to sustain its known inclusiveness, transparency, accountability and the enviable position it is occupying amongst global examination bodies.”

  • Osinbajo presides over FEC meeting

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting started around 11.03am when Osinbajo arrived the Council Chamber.

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday visited Borno State as part of efforts to sympathize with soldiers, who recently lost colleagues and friends and loved ones to deadly attacks by the insurgents, Boko Haram.

    About 18 ministers and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, were in the Council chamber during the rendition of the opening National anthem.

    Read Also: Education must be prioritized – Osinbajo

    The National anthem was followed by Muslims prayer offered by the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, while the Christian prayer was said by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah.

    Among the issues scheduled for consideration is biometric presentations by some government agencies.

    Stakeholders to make the biometric presentation during the closed doors meeting include the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Federal Ministry of Health.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Tight security in Maiduguri as Buhari visits

    Security has been beefed up in Maiduguri and environs as President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to visit the town to declare open the Fourth Quarter Chief of Army Staff Conference.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that this is first time the president will be gracing the quarterly chief of army staff conference since he assumed office.

    The quarterly conference is used to review army’s activities, including operations and exercises with a view to improve on them.

    Read Also: Buhari cancels private visit to Daura

    The president is also expected to use occasion to address troops on the frontline in the North East and assured the people of the region of his administration determination to prosecute the counter insurgency to logical conclusion.

    The president expected visit is being interpreted as meal booster for officers and soldiers in the aftermath of killing of a number of soldiers at Metele in Northern Borno, by the Boko Haram terrorists group.

  • Education must be prioritized – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday said that the education sector must be given the needed attention at all times since it is critical for the development of any nation.
    He made the remark during the opening of two-day workshop on sustainable funding of Nigeria’s education sector at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
    Osinbajo, who was represented by Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, said that government must give priority to funding of education and how to deliver quality education to its citizens.
    “Education is very important. It is critical to the development of any nation. Therefore, all governments must give priority to how best to achieve quality education,” he said.
    According to him, adequate funding and strategic planning are knitted and must be pursued together.
    He said that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has perpetually increased funding for the education sector.
    He said: “We have consistently supported the education sector by raising its budget every year since we came on board. For instance in the first budget that we did, we took up the capital allocation for education to N35.99 billion in 2016.
    “Then in 2017 we took it up to N56.81 billion and this year 2018, the current capital budget for education is N102.9 billion” he said
    The Vice President also urged participants to come up with innovative ways by which increased funding of education can be achieved in Nigeria.
    The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu said that there was need to also focus on teachers’ training to make the profession more attractive and to enhance the quality of education at all levels.

    Read Also: Fed Govt committed to PIB passage, says Osinbajo

    Adamu emphasized the need for adequate funding and planning, in the quest to move the education sector forward, adding that sustaining the sector is a responsibility of all.
    “The main problem actually is, if a teacher doesn’t get a very good pre-service training, he is not likely to offer anything useful to his pupils or students. Education is a responsibility of all and I call on the State and Local Governments, our agencies, parastatals and indeed all Nigerians to join hands, so that we will be able to raise the funds needed to fund education,” the Minister appealed.
    Speaking earlier, Mr Harnas Chandy, who gave a goodwill message on behalf of the World Bank, commended Nigeria for taking timely steps that will help determine Nigeria’s education plans and spending.
    He said countries have to move fast to improve the quality of education by making the right investments on education.
    He said Nigeria is a global key player that has to play its critical role at all times.
    “The world needs to improve. There are some key players in the world and Nigeria is a key player in the world; Nigeria is a key global player and for the world to do well, Nigeria has to do well,” he stressed.
    Chandy however lamented that fifty percent of children in school across the globe were not getting the needed education.
    The workshop was attended by critical stakeholders in education from the thirty six states of the federation.

  • Tight security in Maiduguri as COAS conference kicks off

    Borno CP appeals to resident to cheer Mr. President from far

    We will divert traffic

    Maiduguri metropolis and its environs have been placed under heavy security ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow.

    President Muhammadu Buhari is billed  to declared the 2018 Chief of Army Staff Conference open in Maiduguri tomorrow.

    The conference which was earlier  scheduled to hold in Edo State was shifted to Maiduguri, Borno State with the president expected to open the conference on 28 Wednesday, November, 2018 at the Command Guest House Maimalari Barracks.

    In a bid to ensure a successful visit of the president to Borno State which is the epicenter of Boko Haram insurgency, security measures have been put in place for adequate security to avoid any embarrassing attack by the Boko Haram insurgents.

    The heavy presence of security in the metropolis is a clear indication of the measure put in place by the security forces.

    Borno State Police Commissioner Damaian Chukwu in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Maiduguri informed that his men have put everything in place to ensure that the president visit to Maiduguridoes not witness any ugly incident.

    The CP disclosed that traffic will be diverted from the major route in the metropolis that the president motorcade will move through.

    Read Also: Ayade, COAS launch Operation Crocodile Smile III

    CP Chukwu also appeal to residents and lovers of the president not to come close to his motorcade in attempt to cheering him but that they should do that in a distance.

    His words: ”When Mr. President is said to be coming, it’s our responsibility to ensure that adequate security is provided. It is true he is coming for a military event but the military have promptly alerted us to enlighten the public that we have a very serious role to play. That role has to do with ensuring free flow of traffic before and during the visit of Mr. President and the route that he will follow.

    “I am reliably informed that the president will be landing at the air force base airstrip close to the general airport and move to the Shehu’s palace on a courtesy call and interact with international institutions and later move to Baga road to Maimalari Barrack where he would attend the Chief of Army Staff Conference and from there return to the airforce base and take off to Abuja.

    “We know that the president is a politician and people must come out to cheer him but we are appealing that people should do that from afar and should not come close to the his motorcade for security reasons. We are going to deploy personal on the long stretch of the rout and there will be diversion of traffic but the road will not be closed.

    “I have directed one of my DPOs to meet with the Baga market people to suspend normal activities at the area at least within three hours of the president’s visit. As you know, the Baga market area is very rowdy and we don’t have to take chances around that area so we are appealing to the traders to please cooperate with us to ensure a hitch free visit of Mr. President to Borno State.

    “We are not focusing on the road alone but across the metropolis and its environs. My man are going to begin an aggressive patrol on through the night to fish out any suspicious elements that will intend to frustrate the visit, CP Chukwu informed.

  • 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.’’

  • 2019: ‘Atiku can’t dare Buhari in presidential debate’

    … debate should be issue based.

    A Non-governmental organization, Known as “Door to Door Campaign for Buhari/Ganduje 2019” on Tuesday in Kano urged President Muhammadu Buhari to respect the open invitation by honoring the presidential debate against the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alh. Atiku Abubakar, coming up 19th January 2019, organized by Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON).

    The National Chairman of the campaign organization Engr. Atiku Ahmad Dongurawa, who spoke to reporters, said that president Buhari’s credential speaks volume of his laudable achievements in many areas of human endeavors, to stand any public debate with opposition parties.

    Engr. Ahmad who is also a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) said the president’s tremendous accomplishments in the diversification of economy, agriculture, security, infrastructural development, power generation and the most celebrated war against corruption in Nigeria stood tall and above the 16 years records of PDP’s administration, adding that there was no basis for comparism between Buhari and Atiku.

    According to him, “There is no reason why president Buhari should shy away from the presidential debate looking at the period when the government came to power, there are so many projects and programs that were executed by this government, even the Nigerian citizens, will bear witness. Also there is no justification that will hinder president Buhari coming out for the debate, because the president has many things to tell Nigerians that will convince the electorate to re-elect this government back to power”.

    Read Also: 2019: Between Buhari and Atiku

    Engr. Ahmad explained that the campaign organization was established to promote the good works of APC governments at all levels and use same to educate, enlightening and mobilize the public towards renewing the APC mandates come 2019 general elections.

    “This organization wants to stress the needs for the upcoming campaigns to be issued based. Our strategies from the National, state, zonal to ward and polling unit levels, is about developing innovative and substantive modalities that will help the party in winning a free and fair election.

    Commenting on the state of the nation, “We hail president Buhari and his vice effort towards a prudent and responsible management of the nation’s resources and security.

    He further said that the ongoing infrastructural transformation in Kano, spearheaded by the APC administration under Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje deserves commendation and urged Kano state citizens to return come 2019 for consolidation of its huge achievements. He appealed to the electorates to ensure that president Buhari and Ganduje get another mandate through peaceful campaign.