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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari extols Late Senator Wakil’s dedication

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of Senator Ali Wakil from Bauchi State as “an incalculable loss to Nigeria’s democracy whose dedication to duty was remarkable and worthy of emulation.”

    The President said that the death of the senator came as a great shock to him, adding that his dedication to duty would remain one of the greatest virtues for which the deceased would be remembered.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said “The passion for duty was one of the finest qualities of late Senator Wakil,” as he urged other democratically elected leaders to borrow a leaf from the deceased’s record of dedication.

    The President, while praying to Allah to bless the soul of the departed senator, also extended his condolences to his family, his colleagues in the National Assembly, as well as the government and people of Bauchi State over this great loss to the country.

     

  • Buhari congratulates Xi Jinping on re-election

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Chinese President Xi Jinping on his re-election as the President of the Peoples Republic of China.

    In a letter personally signed by him, the Nigerian leader praised his Chinese counterpart for his wisdom and vision.

    “On behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I congratulate you most sincerely on your re-election as the President of the Peoples Republic of China.

    “Your re-election is an indication of the trust and confidence reposed in you by the people of China on your ability to bring your vision and wisdom to bear in the conduct of national and global affairs,” he said.

    President Buhari also looked forward to increased cooperation between China and Nigeria on one hand and China and Africa on the other hand.

    “It is my firm belief that your re-election will also bolster the existing mutually benefiting partnership between the Peoples Republic of China and Nigeria.

    “I look forward to meeting Your Excellency at the forthcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit in September 2018. I am confident that it will be a great success and good opportunity to draw up new levels of partnership between Africa and China,” President Buhari said.

     

  • Buhari skips order of elections in talks with Saraki, Dogara

    There were indications last night that the order of the 2019 general election was not one of the issues President Muhammadu Buhari discussed with the Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other leaders of the National Assembly at a meeting they held on Thursday night.

    A principal officer of the National Assembly at the meeting told our correspondent yesterday that “the matter was never discussed.”

    Rather, the source said, the Presidency and the leadership of the National Assembly are engaged in behind-the-scene talks on the row over the order of the elections.

    Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that efforts were on to resolve the crisis concerning the alterations amicably.

    Out of three issues raised by the President, the contentious one is the new Section 25(1) which says that the elections shall be held in the following order: (a) National Assembly elections; (b) State Houses of Assembly and Governorship elections and (c) Presidential election.

    President Muhammadu Buhari was also said to have bowed to National Assembly’s demand by directing all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to submit budget details to the lawmakers.

    It was learnt that based on the presidential directive, the National Assembly has promised Buhari “expeditious passage” of the 2018 Budget into law.

    The President was said to have briefed the leadership of the National Assembly on all the steps he has taken to address the security challenges facing the nation.

    The principal officer of the National Assembly, who spoke in confidence, said: “We did not discuss the amendment to the Electoral Act, especially the order of elections, with the President.

    “But I can tell you that there are behind-the-scene talks between the Presidency and the National Assembly on how to resolve our differences on the alterations amicably.

    “Lobbying, exchanging ideas on motions, bills and amendments to any Act are parts of democracy.

    “Some of our colleagues believe the National Assembly can expunge two out of the three alterations objected to by the President.

    “But a few others had been asking the National Assembly to override the President’s veto on the bill.

    “We are engaging in behind-the-scene talks to compare notes. If these attempts fail, the two parties will allow the law to take its course.”

    The National Assembly Conference Committee on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill on February 6 adopted the reordering of the sequence  of elections approved by the House of Representatives.

    Both chambers of the National Assembly subsequently adopted the decision which was then forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.

    The President, however, declined assent, explaining in  a letter to the  National Assembly that his action was motivated in part by the threat posed to the independence of the commission to  “organise, undertake and supervise elections.”

    On the more than 50 outstanding nominations yet to be considered by the National Assembly, the source added: “The Senate gave exemption to those nominated to the board of the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), but the National Assembly members believe we need to deal with this matter once and for all.

    “We are already considering the fact that we should have a holistic approach to the pending nominations.

    “We are working hard on this, but again, it was not discussed at the meeting with the President.”

    The source, however, explained that the 2018 Budget and security challenges in the country were the main issues at the Thursday session.

    The source added: “Everybody was concerned about the budget. We promised the President that we can pass the budget as quickly as possible if the MDAs provide the required details.

    “If these MDAs comply with our demand, we will pass the budget expeditiously.

    “I think not quite long, the budget will be passed.

    “The President gave a commitment, and from what we have seen on Friday, he has given directive to all MDAs through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha.

    Mustapha told newsmen as follows: “Mr. President has given instructions that all ministries and parastatals should ensure that they appear before the National Assembly to defend their submissions so that we can get this out of the way.

    “This is a very dynamic year. There are preparations for elections and we are having quite a number of security challenges.

    “And so, if we do not appropriate, where will the money come from to be able to prosecute some of the assignments the Federal Government has in the appropriation of 2018?

    “So, this is a very good meeting; we intend to build on it. It is a confidence-building mechanism, and it is an interface that would definitely get a new dimension of the governance of this country for the betterment of the people of Nigeria.”

    Meanwhile, the President has laid the cards on the table for the National Assembly leaders on how he has been addressing security challenges in the country.

    Another source at the session said: “The President raised security concerns and what he has been doing. We agreed with him that he has been trying and we are prepared to support him.

    “Although we expressed worries over many killings across the country, we are in tandem with Mr. President on the approach to it.

    “So, we are on the same page with the President on how to tackle the security challenges.

    “We will make our legislative contributions and interventions.

    “It is Not Yet Uhuru, but we have pledged to support Mr. President to address the challenges.”

  • Buhari, Abdulsalam, others grace Dangote’s daughter’s wedding

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Kano, attended the grand wedding Fatiha of Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s daughter, Hajiya Fatima and her groom, Jamilu Abubakar

    The wedding Fatiha between Fatima and Jamilu, son of a former Inspector-General of police, Muhammad Abubakar, took place at 12 noon at the Kano Emir’s palace.

    The News men reports that the wedding was conducted by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II and supported by the Chief Imam of Kano, Prof. Sani Zaharaddeen.
    Buhari in his capacity as the bride’s father received N500, 000 dowries from the representative of the groom at the occasion.

    Other important personalities that graced the occasion include former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, Speaker, the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara and a retinue of serving Senators.

    Some governors and ministers as well as traditional rulers from across the country also attended the occasion.

    Read Also: Buhari seeks peace over order of elections, budget

    Others were former National Security Adviser, retired Gen. Aliyu Gusau, members of the business community, politicians and members of the diplomat corps among others.

    The event which was also attended by prominent Islamic scholars and other well-wishers from across the country, witnessed a large turnout of workers from various companies owned by the renowned business mogul.

    Security at the occasion was water tight as all the entrances leading to the palace were cordoned-off by heavenly armed security operatives.

    The development made it impossible for most journalists who turned up to cover the event to do so.

    NAN

  • President Buhari mourns Bagobiri

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

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

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

    Read Also: Bishop Bagobiri was a committed Christian – Buhari

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

    “He fought injustice and all forms oppression.

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

    He prayed for the repose of the soul of Bagobiri.

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

    He was buried on Thursday.

    NAN

  • Buhari condoles Kaduna State, Christian community over Bishop Bagobiri

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed condolences over the passing away of the Bishop of Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Joseph Danlami Bagobiri, who was buried on Thursday.

    In a message to the government and people of Kaduna State, the Catholic faithful in particular, and the Christian community in the country at large, the President described the late Bishop as a committed Christian who loved his community.

    Read Also: Buhari seeks peace over order of elections, budget

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said “He fought injustice and all forms oppression. He helped the poor, established schools including a seminary described as one of the best in the country,”

    The President prayed for the repose of the soul of Bishop Bagobiri.

     

  • Costly gridlock

    Realising the imperative of urgent diversification of the country’s economy to substantially reduce its dependence on crude oil exports for foreign exchange earnings, drastically limit imports, especially of non-essential commodities, and enhance economic self-reliance, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has commendably  adopted policies designed to boost non-oil exports, with particular emphasis on agriculture. Consequently, there has been an improvement in the domestic production of products like rice, yams, soya beans, sesame seeds, as well as cashew nuts in shell and flour.

    Yet, the continued parlous state of critical infrastructure across the country constitutes a serious threat to the realisation of the government’s objectives in this regard.

    The virtual state of emergency that obtains in Apapa, Lagos, one of the country’s major economic nerve centres, as a result of protracted traffic gridlock offers the most vivid and disturbing mirror of this grave challenge. According to reports, the Tin Can Island Port II, Apapa, one of the largest dry port facilities in the country which handles close to 80 per cent of imports and exports, has practically been on lockdown as the bad roads and traffic gridlock have impeded smooth access to the port by importers and exporters. As a result, the country has not recorded any exports through this facility in the first two months of 2018.

    Mr. Sadiq Farouk, Public Relations Manager of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Area Command in charge of the terminal confirmed to the media that no revenue from export of Nigerian products had been generated by the service between January and the first week of March this year. This certainly is bad news for an economy that needs all the revenue it can generate to consolidate its still fragile recovery from recession and stimulate further growth.

    It is thus not surprising that the sharp drop by 51% in Nigeria’s non-oil exports witnessed in the second half of 2017 has deteriorated further in the first quarter of this year. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported that the value of agricultural exports so far this quarter is 38.43 percent lower than the second quarter of 2017.

    One serious consequence of this situation is the steep rise in the cost of doing business at the ports. Since trucks have to queue for close to two months before being able to reach the port terminals to drop cargoes or offload containers due to the bad and clogged roads, truck owners are said to have hiked their charges by 230 percent; thus charging N200, 000 per container compared to the former cost of N60,000. Matters are worsened by the absence of storage facilities for perishable agricultural products like yams, which decay rapidly under sustained heat.

    Business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, had last month drawn attention to the huge drain that the Apapa-Wharf Road gridlock constitutes to the economy when he noted that it is causing a loss of about N86 billion daily to businesses and residents. Apart from the traffic gridlock, Dangote also deplored the heavy presence of diverse task forces, including the Customs, on the highway checking and certifying goods. We agree with his suggestion that such checkpoints should not be mounted beyond the toll gates so that they do not continue to further compound an already intolerable scenario.

    A state of emergency, even if informal, clearly exists in the Apapa axis, which requires drastic remediation. Given its crippling economic effect, everything should be done to ensure that work is accelerated on the ongoing reconstruction of the major road leading to the Apapa and Tin Can Ports being undertaken by Dangote Group, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) at a cost of N4.34 billion. The same goes for the ongoing palliative work on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway as well as the trailer park, which government is constructing off the expressway to decongest access roads to the ports.

  • Ajaokuta: Reps ask Buhari to stop concession

    The House of Representatives on Thursday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to stop Mines and Steel Development Minister, Dr Kayode Fayemi, from concession moves of Ajaokuta Steel Company.

    The House said that the stoppage was to give time for conclusion of review of the process ordered by the chamber as part of its drive to get the company back on stream. 

    The resolution followed a motion by Rep. Ahmed Yerima (Zamfara-APC) and 24 other lawmakers.

    The motion is entitled “Urgent Need to Investigate the Circumstances under Which the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Engaged the Globally Discredited PricewaterhouseCoopers ( PwC ) to audit Ajaokuta Steel Complex for Purposes of Concession.”

    Moving the motion, Yerima said he was aware that Fayemi recently announced, “and it was widely published’’, that Ajaokuta Steel Company would be given out on concession after an ongoing audit.

    He disclosed that audit of the company was undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers, which he alleged, had been discredited, “having been sanctioned in India with a two-year audit ban for infractions of over one billion dollars’’.

    The lawmaker said that the firm was also sanctioned in Brazil for which it paid 50 million dollars as fine, and was fined in the United Kingdom for 5.1 million pounds.

    He also said that the firm paid 225 million dollars and 25 million dollars, respectively, as fines to TYCO shareholders in the U.S and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishiw for laundering money for Iran, Sudan and Myanmar.

    He added that it was blacklisted for roles in terrorism and human rights abuses, among other infractions and irregularities in its operations, “which has left its reputation in tatters.”

    Yerima expressed concern by the allegation that PricewaterhouseCoopers was informally engaged by Global Steel to assist and advise them on how to recover Ajaokuta Steel Company and National Iron Ore Company ( NIOMCO ), Itakpe, from the Federal Government.

    He said he was worried that the minister engaged a company whose antecedents may suggest that they were engaged to audit and prepare reports which may skew the outcome in a pre-conceived manner.

    According to him, it may have done to favour parties which the minister may have lined up or which may represent the interests of their former clients ( GINL ).

    The legislator wondered why Bureau of Public Enterprises, and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission ( ICRC ), established by law, was not involved in the audit and concession process.

    He accused Fayemi of deliberate plot to concession Ajaokuta Steel Company to a pre-determined group.

    He decried the minister’s submission that government could no longer spend additional funds on the company “when he is already spending N2 billion for the concession process’’ and where Nigeria spent over 3.5 billion dollars on steel importation.

    Yerima said since NIOMCO was handed again to Global Steel in “so called modified concession for a seven-year period with an option of a further 10 years, the plant which is integrated with Ajaokuta Steel Complex has remained moribund’’.

    According to him, this development is an indication of likely failure of yet another concession.

    Supporting the motion, Rep. Nicholas Ossai (Delta-PDP) said “this is a man that says that Ajaokuta cannot be brought to life but has spent N2 billion on the company 

    “This has to be investigated in line with section 88 of the 1999 Constitution. 

    In his contribution, Rep. Mohammed Abdu (Bauchi-APC) said “we know that the five countries of the world that have become world powers have their roots in steel industry. We cannot play with our common sovereign wealth.”

    Similarly, Rep. Bashir Babale (Kano-APC) reminded members that “this is a government that promised change and to fight corruption.

    “How much are we spending to import steel in this country? I wonder why the minister was in a hurry for this concession.

    “We need to be patriotic enough to make sure that what we do, we do it for Nigerians. I urge my colleagues to support this motion.”

    On his part, House Leader, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, called for a Bill to stop the concession of Ajaokuta Steel Company or amend existing law to check the process.

    Many lawmakers, including Edward Pwalok (Plateau-APC), Toby Okechukwu (Enugu-PDP), Aminu Shagari (Sokoto-APC) and Emmanuel Orker-Jev (Benue-APC) supported the motion.

    The House agreed that the decision to stop the concession process was in the interest of the nation’s economy and the anti-corruption fight of the Buhari administration.

    In adopting the motion, the lawmakers resolved to expand the mandate of its Ad Hoc Committee on Ajaokuta Steel Complex to include urgent consideration of possibility of a bill for completion of the company and prohibit its concession. 

    It equally mandated the committee to inquire into the rationale of engaging “a globally discredited firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers ( PWC ) to audit the company, without due process.

    The House consequently urged the Senate to concur on the motion and resolved to amend the National Council on Privatisation ( NCP ) Act to delete Ajaokuta Steel Complex from the list of companies for concession.

    NAN

  • Buhari commissions N50B Sugar Estate in Niger

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the N50 billion Sunti Golden Sugar Estate which he said will employ 10,000 people directly.

    Speaking in Sunti in Mokwa local government area on Thursday, Buhari said the magnitude of nvestment in the sugar estate is a clear manifestation that the policies on economic diversification  of the government is attracting the right kind of support and engagement.

    “With N50 billion invested into Sunti  Golden sugar Estate, this makes it the largest Agro-allied investment in Nigeria today. The sugar factory will produce 100,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually, employ 10,000 people directly and a network of 3,000 small scale outgrowets of sugarcane. ”

    The President stated that the socio-economic impact of the company’s investment cannot be quantified as lives would be changed and the impact on the national economy will be significant.

    He further noted that the benefits of the River Niger have been overlooked for long stressing on the need for proper utilization of the masses of bodies and how it can be converted for commerce and investment.

    Read Also: Buhari: we will bring back Dapchi, Chibok girls safely

    Buhari then reassured Nigerians that the administration is committed to the transformation and diversification of the economy adding that they will continue to support businesses and investors by creating enabling business environment.

    He stated that sugar have been identified as a key commodity that is critical to national food security adding that the sugar factory will help stem the tide of importation of sugar, save foreign exchange and create wealth amidst rural poverty.

    In his address, Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello said Nigerlites are proud farmers adding that the sugar estate would utilize the farmers and make them productive.

    He said that 2018 have been earmarked as the year of agricultural revolution in the state calling on investors to invest into the state which is a perfect model for investment.

    Bello said that the sugar mills which is one of the two sugar mills in the country will produce 4,500 metric tonnes of sugar per day.

    The governor then appealed to the President for the speedy completion of the Suleja road,  Tegina-Kontagora road and Mokwa-Jebba road in order to attract more investors into the state.

    The Chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria, Mr. John Coumantaros said the Sunti sugar factory is to ensure that local sugar is produced in Niger state adding that the factory is showcasing the shift in the focus from crude oil to agriculture.

    He said that the Sunti Sugar factory will save Nigeria 100 million dollars on foreign exchange every year strengthen the capacity and economic status of the people.

    The Chairman commended President Buhari for his policies which have been good and have lead to private sector growth across the country.

    The Sunti Golden Sugar Estate occupies 17,000 hectares of land in Mokwa local government area of Niger state out of which 10,000 hectares is being used as sugarcane farm.

     

  • Private depots crash petrol price to N136.5 per litre

    …IPMAN praises government

    President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Thursday earned the accolade of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) that said that private depots which used to sell the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for sell at N170 per litre in December to February have now reduced it to N136.5 per liter.

    National Vice President of the association, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi, broke the news to our Abuja correspondent in a telephone conversation.

    He had opposed to the cut throat rates and disparities in the sale of the product in private depots and the corporation’s, whom he accused of sharp practices.

    But he told The Nation that “There is improvement in fuel supply now. It is not only to accuse NNPC and the rest of them. Now we have to appreciate what they have been doing. Both the President of the country and the minister of State for Petroleum Resources have been doing well.”

    Asked whether there is still any sharp practice in the depots, he said that “there is but it is not much. But it has reduced seriously and now the marketers can get the product from the depots within a week.”

    According to him, the corporation supplies the independent marketers directly, although some of them still load petrol from private depots.

    His words: “To get fuel from the depot now is like one week. They have started supplying fuel to the independent marketers that is why we have seen the queues reducing day by day.

    “NNPC supplies the independent marketers directly and still they go to the private depots to load. But instead of hiking that rate too high, even the private depots now have reduced their rate. In a nutshell there is improvement in the distribution. That is why the complaint has seriously reduced.”

    Asked whether the Petroleum Equalization Fund was still owing the marketers for bridging of productS, he said “they are owing the marketers but it is not much.”