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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari gave me N30.8b to pay salary arrears, says Bello

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari gave him a bailout of about N30.8 billion to clear salary arrears of workers in the state, insisting that his government is presently up to date in the payment of salaries.

    The governor, who spoke with reporters after a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC and all those who contested the party’s governorship primary, also asked the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to look inward in the search for those who attacked the venue of their primary election rather than blaming him.

    He said: “As regard the issue of news making the round that Kogi State is owing salaries, I want to categorical state that, my two predecessors inherited salary arrears.

    “It is a problem I inherited when I assumed office. But I want to announce to you today, that Kogi is not owing any worker’s salary at all. We have been able to clear all workers’ salaries and we are up to date. As a matter of fact, the last primary election that was held on August 29, we paid the salaries of August. That is to tell you that we are up-to-date as far as salary is concerned.

    Read Also: Yahaya Bello wins APC ticket

    “The issue of us owning up to 38 months’ salary arrears before we cleared it was all false and lies. We did owe up to that, what we were owing at that time was between four to five months.

    “As I speak with you now, Mr. President graciously approved a bailout of N30.8 billion for us and our national chairman seated help me to facilitate the release.”

    The governor said he had fully applied the bail-out fund to clear salaries and pension arrears. “We are not owing any salary,” he said.

    On the allegation by the PDP that he was behind the attack on their primary, Bello said: “I am a member of the APC and not PDP. We gave a level playing ground to all the aspirants from all political parties to carry out their activities freely within the state. They moved around the entire state and we provided security for them and ensure that they were safe.”

  • BREAKING: Buhari, Gbajabiamila meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Gbajabiamila’s car drove to the forecourt of the Presidential Villa around 11.22am

    The meeting started at the President’s office around 11.30am.

    Discussion at the meeting may not be unconnected with the killings of Nigerians in South Africa and other national issues.

    Read Also: Buhari mourns Robert Mugabe

    Some members of the House of Representatives had urged Gbajabiamila to cut short the recess for the lawmakers over xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

    They want the lower chamber of the National Assembly to give legislative backing to the executive arm of government toward protecting Nigerians in South Africa.

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

     

     

  • China to fund UNGA President’s office for one year

    The Chinese government has promised to fund the office of the President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, for the next one year.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, stated this after President Muhammadu Buhari’s meeting in Abuja with a special envoy, Yang Jiechi, from the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping.

    Muhammed-Bande, who is Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), was elected as President of the 74th UN General Assembly in June.

    He is the second Nigerian to hold the office after Joseph Garba, a retired military officer and diplomat who led the organ between 1989 and 1990.

    Onyeama said: “On the global level, the Chinese have agreed to support the UN’s reform for Africa to be presented in the Security Council.

    “We have, as you know, had a Nigerian representative at the United Nations, Prof. Muhammed-Bande, elected as the next President of the General Assembly. The Chinese have provided a funding for that office so that he can function effectively over the next one year.”

    Read Also: Oil dips on U.S, China tariffs trade war

    At the meeting, the minister said President Buhari was presented with an overview of the support and cooperation between China and Nigeria and how it can be taken forward.

    “In the area of power, the President emphasised the Mambilla power project and the importance of getting that moving again. They looked at the issues of airport, the progress of the airport terminals that the Chinese are helping to construct across the country.

    “We also discuss the support of the cooperation in the area of agriculture as well as encouraging Nigeria to export more to China. We talked about the China exhibition by the end of this year, which will be a platform for us to also showcase what we can export, not just agricultural products but also finished products.

    “China is also putting more money on security, sharing of intelligence with our military, assistance with arms production and in the fight against terrorism.

    “On the issue of Lake Chad, China has had a lot of experience with refilling dams and long-range water project. So, Mr. President also feels that we need their support in that area. They are already supporting the Lake Chad Basin Commission and we are hoping that they will help us with regard to recharging of the Lake Chad,” he said.

     

  • $9.6b: Danjuma declined P&ID’s shares offer

    The United Kingdom-based gas company, Process and Industrial Developments Ltd (P&ID), initiated the controversial gas flaring contract with the Federal Government under questionable circumstances, it was learnt on Thursday.

    According to reports, the project initiation was characterized by manipulation, underground politics and operational manoeuvring.

    Billionaire businessman Gen. Theophilus Danjuma had questioned the integrity of P&ID chairman, Michael “Mick” Quinn, who bypassed him to initiate the deal, despite getting $40 million takeoff funding from him.

    Gen. Danjuma according to Businessweek, was upset with Quinn when he found out he had applied for the contract without his consent.

    P&ID was one of the 13 firms granted concessions to build plants that would end gas flaring in the Niger Delta. The project, initiated in 2008, but signed in 2010, was meant to end flaring by using oilfield gas to generate electricity.

    The project failed, following government’s inability to secure any waste gas from oil companies and link up the necessary pipeline. The plant was never built.

    Gen. Danjuma was quoted as saying that the gas flaring project was originally his idea, recalling that one of his companies, Tita-Kuru Petrochemicals Ltd, spent $40 million preparing it and not Quinn.

    The Irishman had been a consultant, using Danjuma’s funds and office space, the general said.

    When Quinn applied for the contract himself, Danjuma was upset.  “The realisation dawned that “my consultant was going to steal my project,” Businessweek quoted him as saying.

    Danjuma was later promised a share of P&ID in return for his initial investment, which he declined.

    He had no link whatsoever with the company.

    The former Minister of Defence said he hadn’t heard from the company in many years and at one point, dusted off his hands to emphasize the relationship’s end.

    But, Gen. Danjuma’s discontinuation with the deal did not stop P&ID’s team from proceeding with it.

    Read Also: $9.6b judgment: Report exposes P&ID, Danjuma’s link

    In 2012, P&ID notified the oil ministry that it was suing for breach of contract in a London arbitration forum. After a set of closed legal proceedings, judges awarded P&ID $6.6 billion, one of the biggest amounts a company has won from a sovereign state.

    But, controversies have always trailed Quinn’s businesses in Nigeria and across the world.

    Quinn, who grew up in Drimnagh, a tough neighborhood in Dublin, started working in Nigeria as oil trader around ’70s.

    On the basis of largely unchallenged evidence provided by P&ID, the judges dismissed Nigeria’s objections and awarded damages.

    Quinn’s company agreed to settle for $850 million, but the government of President Muhammadu Buhari rejected it.

    In January 2017, they awarded P&ID the profits they calculated it had missed out on because the plant wasn’t built: $6.6 billion, more than three times its original estimate of losses.

    A ruling in London didn’t guarantee payment, though. P&ID’s lawyers took the judgment to several hedge funds that specialize in wringing cash from bad debts, according to someone familiar with the conversations. Records show they found at least one taker:VR Capital Group Ltd.,  a fund manager with offices in London, New York, and Moscow.

    Quinn also worked in Ireland. In 1979 he and a partner, Brendan Cahill, formed an umbrella company, Industrial Consultants (International) to oversee their interests. They began working with the government, for example getting a public grant worth $450,000 to start a videocassette factory near Dublin. The project went bust within two years.

    One of the closest was Albert Reynolds, who became prime minister in 1992.  Reynolds was promoting Kent Steel, one of Quinn’s companies, as a potential savior of Irish industry. Kent had recently won three million Irish pounds (about $4.3 million at the time) from the European Union to explore cleaner technology for making steel—potentially a huge boon. Instead, the project produced nothing but some sketches and a bunch of debris.

    Joe McCartin, a former member of the European Parliament, said he raised concerns with an EU official that the deal was a scam and was told, “Don’t worry. Your prime minister, Albert Reynolds, knows all about the project.”

    The EU eventually decided to probe the grant, but the probe was eventually closed without penalty.

    Quinn’s name came up again during a nationwide corruption inquiry in Ireland. The Mahon Tribunal lasted for 14 years, compiling evidence of graft on an epic scale.

    Neil Murray, a friend of 30 years, who was involved in several Quinn projects there, said Quinn knew some Nigerian past presidents.

    Among the projects Murray was involved in was a contract to repair and upgrade 36 British-made Scorpion tanks at an abandoned plant at Bauchi, capital of Bauchi State.

    For one contract, a spinoff from the main deal, his company sought to supply about 4,000 rounds of tank ammunition made by Belgian defense company, Mecar SA.

  • Nigeria draws red line with South Africa over killings

    THE unabated xenophobic attacks have sparked a diplomatic row between Africa’s giant economies – Nigeria and South Africa.

    The Federal Government is considering a full range of measures in retaliation for the killing of Nigerians including a withdrawal of its high commissioner.

    Nigerians have been worse-hit by the killings and attacks on foreigners’ businesses in South Africa.

    About two hundred Nigerians have been killed in recent years and millions of dollars lost to attacks on businesses.

    Nigeria and some African countries boycotted the World Economic Forum (WEF) which began in Cape Town on Wednesday.

    A report by the envoy despatched to Pretoria to meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa will guide the Federal Government’s further action.

    President Muhammadu Buhari met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of Foreign Affairs Geofrey Onyema on Wednesday on the continuous attacks on Nigerians in South Africa and the reaction of Nigerians who angrily attacked businesses linked to South Africa across the country.

    The minister, who spoke to the media after meeting with the President and vice president, said a red line had been drawn with South Africa, where almost 200 Nigerians.

    According to him, recalling the Nigerian High Commisioner “is one of the options we are considering.”

    He explained that the envoy sent to Pretoria “will need to come back. But, we feel he (the high commissioner) should come back after the envoy has gone there, so that Mr. President will also have the benefits of the full and comprehensive brief from all the individuals who have the position to have seen things at a close range.” He however did not name the envoy.

    Onyema said Prof. Osinbajo boycotted the WEF because of the tension unleashed by the xenophobic attacks.

    The minister said the Nigerian government would insist on full compensation for Nigerian victims of the xenophobic attacks.

    He said: “We have made it clear that what has happened in South Africa is totally unacceptable. We will not accept it and as I said earlier, enough is enough and we are not going to come back to this. We are going to address it once and for all.

    “We are going to draw a red line here. Whatever measures that needs to be taken to ensure the safety of Nigerians in South Africa, we will take.

    “We have been in touch with the South African government at the very highest level with the President of South Africa as to what we want to achieve. The special envoy has very clear directives about the commitment and the guarantees that we expect from the South African government.

    “Of course, a lot of things have been circulating in social media which have not helped matters. Some of them have really distorted the situation that has impacted in our response.

    “So, number one is that the information we have from the High Commission, from the Consul-General in South Africa is that no Nigerian life has been lost during this (current) crisis.

    “I think that is very important because on social media, there is a lot of stories going around of Nigerians being killed, jumping off buildings and being burnt. This is not the case. What we know is that premises, shops of Nigerians have been looted and property destroyed.”

    He also pointed out that the President was taken aback by the retaliatory act of vandalism that has taken place in Nigeria.

    The government, he said, believed that Nigerians have to take the moral high ground on the matter.

    Onyeama said: “We are victims here and have made that position clear to the international community and to the South African government. We here in Nigeria must not fall into the temptation of also resorting to the acts that we are condemning in others.”

    Read Also: Uproar over killing of Nigerians in South Africa

    Noting that the President had pleaded with Nigerians, he said that President Buhari is likely to make a statement on this.

    He urged Nigerians to desist from vandalism, aggression and destruction of property.

    “Now, these businesses- Shoprite, MTN and others, yes, they are South African. But, these are subsidiaries in Nigeria owned by Nigerians. So, as attacks are made against shoprite and other such institutions, it is actually the property owned by Nigerians within Nigeria and the people working there are Nigerians.

    “So, the people that will suffer from those acts of vandalism and aggression are not South Africans or anyone else but Nigerians. But morally, it is wrong not even because of who will suffer and not suffer.

    “Mr. President is appealing to Nigerians, the government is acting, we cannot state everything in public domain with regards to what we are doing obviously.

    “But, we want to assure all Nigerians that this government is determined that the red line has been drawn and we will not give in on this occasion and that the South African government has to assumed its responsibilities and do the right thing, protect Nigerians and other Africans. I might say in South Africa and we have to hold them to count.”

    On compensation, the minister said: “Full compensation has to be paid because as we have discovered from previous experience, a lot of these Nigerians lose their property and it is a long drawn out process and every often are not compensated for it.

    “But, on this occasion, the Nigerian government is going to fight for full compensation and hold the government of South Africa to count. And we are going to consider other options to ensure that the message gets across to the government of South Africa.

    “It is not a question of weakness or anything of the sort but we have to move decisively and that is precisely what the government is going to do.

    He said the President will address the nation, following the return of the special envoy.

    He added: “Hopefully, the envoy will be back by the end of this week. Ideally, Mr. President will decide how he will communicate to the nation whether through live address or a written statement.”

    “But, we feel that it will be better for him to do once he has all the elements. We feel it will be better, let the special envoy come back and then we will have everything that we need then he will address the nation on that.

    “The identity of the special envoy will be revealed in due course. There are certain reasons we don’t want to do so immediately.”

    Onyeama said the Federal Government will not compromise the protection and wellbeing of Nigerians in any part of the globe.

    He added: “Of course, the security agencies are fully aware of the threats that are now existing to various businesses in Nigeria at the moment and they are fully mobilized to address that.”

    The minister, who could not ascertain the bone of contention between South Africans and Nigerians said: “Our basic premise is this, there is no justification whatsoever for individuals or coming as a group to take the laws into their own hands and to target Nigerians.

    He added: “As we act with the South Africans going forward, for us it’s not a balancing art, putting things on the scale. For us, it is simply that the government of South Africa over many years now has allowed hoards of individuals to come together and persistently target Nigerian citizens there, or in some cases, killing them, looting and destroying their properties and this is totally unacceptable.

    “At times it is not only Nigerians but we are responsible for Nigerians.

    It is important to note that there is now an African consensus building around this, it is totally abhorrent and unacceptable that there should be xenophobia against Africans on African soil, not to talk about what a Nigeria has done for South Africa, even everybody knows that during the years of apartheid.

    “But, we understand that the president of Rwanda will not attend the World Economic Forum, the president of Democratic Republic of Congo, the president of Malawi, the Zambian football team that were supposed to play in South Africa also stepped down that match and it is not going ahead with it.

    “And so is the African Union, the President of the African Union has also come out with a statement condemning what is happening in South Africa. The large number of victims are Nigerians and we will not tolerate it.

    The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that Air Peace Airline will begin the evacuation of stranded Nigerians in South Africa as from tomorrow.

    The decision followed the recent attacks on them in the former apartheid enclave.

    According to the ministry’s spokesperson, Ferdinand Nwonye, the airline proprietor, Allen Onyema, had volunteered an aircraft as from tomorrow to evacuate Nigerians who wish to return home free of charge.

     

  • Nigeria will honour all agreements with China – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja assured that Nigeria is ready to provide counterpart funding on all agreements reached with China for the provision of infrastructure that directly improves the livelihood of Nigerians.

    He gave the assurance while receiving Yang Jiechi, Special Envoy of the President of China, Xi Jinping, at State House, Abuja.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, expressed deep appreciation for China’s sustained and genuine efforts to improve Nigeria’s infrastructure development, especially in the sectors of road, railway, aviation, as well as power and water resources.

    ‘‘Now that we have a government in place (with the Ministers), we know the provision of infrastructure is very important. It (Infrastructure) provides job opportunities and economic sustainability which are very important for political stability,’’ the President said.

    He also underlined Nigeria and China’s cooperation at the international arena, saying: “At the international level, we appreciate the support we give to each other and very importantly this must be sustained.’’

    ‘‘Nigeria is determined to play its role wherever China’s interest is concerned,’’ the President said while appreciating China’s support for Nigeria’s presidency of the 74th UN General Assembly.

    On Lake Chad, the President emphasised the need for sustained support from China on the recharging of The Lake, noting that Nigeria and countries in the region have a lot to benefit from Chinese expertise and technology on inter-basin water transfer.

    ‘‘China has the technology, the people and the resources to help Lake Chad Basin countries because not many people in the region appreciate our problem of being near the Sahara desert and its influence on our population and climate change, which is affecting over 20 million people living there,’’ he said.

    President Buhari also welcomed the offer by the Special Envoy for close partnership between Nigeria’s governing party, the All Progressives Congress and the Communist Party of China.

    Delivering the message of President Xi, the Special envoy, who led a high-powered Chinese delegation to the meeting, assured President Buhari of China’s readiness to improve strategic partnership with Nigeria and effectively implement the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit in 2018.

    ‘‘China firmly supports Nigeria in pursuing a development path that supports Nigeria’s national conditions. We have every confidence that under Your Excellency’s able leadership, Nigeria will achieve even greater success in its national development.

    Read Also: China to fund UNGA President’s office for next one year

    ‘‘During Your Excellency’s trip to China for the FOCAC Beijing Summit, we had bilateral meetings and reached important agreements on our bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.

    ‘‘I highly value China’s ties with Nigeria and stand ready to work with Your Excellency to enhance our political trust, jointly pursue Belt and Road Cooperation, effectively implement the outcomes of FOCAC and strengthen our coordination in regional and international affairs so as to further enrich the strategic partnership between both countries,’’ President Xi said.

    The Chinese leader once again congratulated President Buhari on his re-election.

    With President Buhari at the meeting were Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Power, Transport, Aviation, Industry, Trade and Investment and Foreign Affairs.

    The meeting discussed the status and implementation of several on-going projects being undertaken by Chinese firms in the country including railways, free trade zones, Mambilla Hydro-Power plant and four airport terminals, among others.

  • JUST IN: Buhari meets Chinese President’s special envoy in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with the special envoy from the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping

    The meeting with the envoy, His Excellency Yang Jiechi, started in President Buhari’s office around 11 30am.

    He was received at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama.

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

  • Let’s team up to reverse infrastructure deficit, Buhari tells engineers

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday called for more concerted effort, creative and innovative ideas from the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) to reverse the infrastructure deficit in the country.

    He said: “Nigerian problems require uniquely Nigerian solutions.”

    President Buhari spoke in Abuja while hosting a delegation of the NSE, led by its council’s President Adekunle Mokuolu.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, the President noted that reversing the deficit would require indigenous capacity.

    He said his administration deliberately structured policies to favour more local content and capacity development to empower Nigerians.

    “The foundations of any developed, competitive and prosperous society are based on good education and quality infrastructure. Many nations we look up to are those with adequate and accessible infrastructure, power and water resources.

    “They achieved these by embracing engineering and, of course, engineers. Over the years, Nigerian engineers have been recognised globally for carrying out amazing and impactful projects.

    “Unfortunately, this is not the case here at home. For decades, the enabling environment was simply not provided these innovative and creative professionals to flourish and showcase our country as an engineering hub,” he said.

    The President urged the professionals to look inward in showcasing their knowledge and skills in a way that would directly impact the nation.

    Read Also: Buhari, Council of Engineers meet in Aso Rock

    “In the past four years, we focused on reversing this trend by introducing policies that will create the enabling environment for engineers to succeed and thrive.

    “We introduced Executive Orders and embarked on several infrastructure development and rehabilitation projects. As a Government, we also prioritised local content in our procurement processes,” the President added.

    He urged the engineers to continue to support Government at all levels to build a more prosperous society.

    Mokuolu hailed the President for expressing his belief in local capacity in 2009 at an NSE conference and following up with Executive Orders, appointments and recognition of the regulatory council to further encourage engineers in partnering the government to develop the country.

    The NSE president said the engineering society had been playing a strategic role in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and had established a Northeast Rehabilitation Committee.

    He presented a list of requests to the President, which included involving members in conceptual stages of projects.

    Mokuolu said the council had started domesticating global codes and standards, adding that it currently has 75 branches across the country with two in Houston, Texas, the United States of America (U.S.A) and London in the United Kingdom (UK).

     

  • Xenophobic attacks : Air Peace offers to evacuate stranded Nigerians in South Africa

    As Nigeria seeks diplomatic resolution on the attack of its nationals in South Africa,  indigenous carrier – Air Peace  on Wednesday offered to repatriate   those stranded.

    The offer, the airline, said was  a sign of  its solidarity with  President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    The Chairman of the airline, Allen Onyema, made the announcement while sympathizing with the victims who lost their lives and properties in the attacks.

    According to him, the airline decided to bring back Nigerians in support of the action already taken by the federal government.

    Read Also: Just in: Buhari, Osinbajo, Onyeama meet over xenophobia

    In reaction to the attacks in South Africa, the Buhari administration has recalled Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa.

    It also pulled out with some other African leaders who  pulled out of World Economic Summit taking place in Cape Town.

    In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on September 4, 2019, Air Peace expressed readiness to evacuate Nigerians who are willing to leave the country and said that the airline would dispatch its flights to Johannesburg once the arrangement has been completed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    “The xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa are an unfortunate incident and we cannot fold our hands and watch our fellow Nigerians be killed by South Africans.

     

  • President approves special promotion for outstanding police officers

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved special promotion for outstanding police officers to reward excellence, hard work and competence in the course of duty.

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, stated this on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The IGP said the President also promised to renovate and build new barracks for officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to bring out the best in them.

    At a media briefing after addressing top police officers of the state command at Eleyele, Ibadan, the IGP said the President was aware of the efforts of the command and was ready to reward excellence.  He said: “We met with the Southwest governors and traditional rulers on Monday and we discussed security situation within the Southwest. We came out with a number of resolutions that will be implemented.

    “In implementing these resolutions, it is through you, the officers and men of the command, with the support of our special forces, that the resolutions from that summit can be implemented. For you to do that, we must empower you.

    “We are all appreciative of the fact that you have been hardworking, you have been doing a lot to keep this region safe for business to thrive. We know there are some isolated challenges here and there, but without your presence, without your input, without your dedication in fighting crime, the situation would have been worse. Your efforts will not go unnoticed.

    Read Also: Five facts you may not know about IGP Mohammed Adamu

    “The Federal Government is aware of the efforts you have been making, not only officers within this geo-political zone but also other officers and men all over the country.

    “In view of the fact that most of you are hardworking, you do it because we ask you to do it. The President has instructed me that any police officer, especially within the cadre of junior ones, who excels must be promoted for that performance that he or she has done, for those of you who are working and excelling in performing your duties. So, I will encourage you to put in more efforts to benefit from this special promotion.”

    On the deplorable state of many police barracks in the country, Adamu said: “It is for that reason the Federal Government has honest concern, especially President Buhari has honest concern on the welfare of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force. Whenever we have the opportunity to meet, he asks: ‘Are you taking care of your officers and men?’ And we only say we are doing our best.

    “And he has agreed to make sure that our barracks are brought back to a position they used to be to accommodate our officers and men, instead of our officers and men going about looking for accommodation here and there to the extent that they suffer.

    “The government is already in the process of renovating the barracks and constructing new ones for all the officers and men of the force.”