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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari, Senate leadership meet in Aso Rock 

    Buhari, Senate leadership meet in Aso Rock 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night met with the leadership of the Nigerian Senate at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki led the delegation.

    Speaking at the end of the meeting, Saraki said that they were at the Villa to brief the President on the decisions and resolutions of the Senate regarding the Benue crisis.

    Asked what the President’s response was,  Saraki said that the President received the team and it’s briefs very well.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Ita Enang commended the Senate for robust debate on the crisis devoid of sentiments.

  • Buhari not violating 1999 Constitution, Presidency tells CAN

    Buhari not violating 1999 Constitution, Presidency tells CAN

    The Presidency on Tuesday denied allegation that President Muhammadu Buhari has been violating the 1999 Constitution.

    The Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, made the remark while reacting to press conference by the General Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ), Dr. Musa Asake.

    Shehu said “Our attention has been drawn to reports of a press conference by General Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Dr. Musa Asake in which he passed a judgement on the constitutionality of certain actions of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    “Unfortunately, he could not cite any valid cases of constitutional violations. President Muhammadu government poses no threat to the country’s democracy and Constitution.

    “There are no cases of any violation of our sacred constitution and there will be none under this President.

    The respected religious leader should stick to his religious duties and leave politics for politicians.” he stated.

    Read Also: Buhari wrecking economy with fuel scarcity – PDP

  • President Buhari receives in new commander guards brigade

    President Buhari receives in new commander guards brigade

    President Buhari receives in new commander guards brigade.

    PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES INCOMING AND OUTGOING COMM GUARD BRIGADE 3B. President Muhammadu Buhari receives the The Incoming Commander, Guards Brigade, Brig Gen Umar Thomas Musa (Right) and the Out-Going Commander Guards Brigade, Major General MS Yusuf at the State House in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. JAN 16 2018

  • Buhari, Gambian President meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, Gambian President meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed-doors with the Gambian President, Adama Barrow at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Gambian President after the meeting told State House correspondents that he was in Abuja to thank Nigeria for the support given to his country during and after the impasse.

    He said “My visit is very important to us. We have always wanted to say thank you when Nigeria gave us all the support during and after the impasse. Nigeria has been supporting

    “The Gambia for a long time in different areas like technical assistance in the area of education, judiciary. We are really happy to come.

    “When we met in Mali, he (Buhari) took a decision as a leader in a closed door meeting, he made one statement that changed everything, that if The Gambian President wants to challenge the subregion, he is welcome.

    “This was his words and that make a big difference as a leader. And that leadership role was very important not just for The Gambia but for Africa because the problem was an Africa problem with an Africa solution.

    “So we are very grateful and that was why we wanted to come and say thank you. There is a saying in my country that if you want to thank a farmer for a good job, you have to visit him at his farm and that is why we are here.” he said

    Asked what was the deal he struck with the former president that led to the smooth transition, he said “Basically, the deal was ECOWAS was involved, UNDP and the international community was involved to mediate and this mediation, Nigeria was involved and Liberia as the chair was involved, the Guinean President and the Mauritanian President were also involved. the Guinean President and the Mauritanian President were physically on the ground, for him to accept the will of the people, exit to allow us assume office.

    “This was the deal, he accepted to go on exile which we couldn’t guarantee his security. This was the deal.” he said

    On what role Nigeria will continue to play to help The Gambia overcome its challenges including security, President Buhari said “Well, your President has virtually answered the question. We did our best in the most critical time, hopefully now the president will raise his team and we will raise a corresponding team and we will seat together and see how we can draw a political programme that will complements each other’s effort on development. So this is the next time we are going.”

  • 2018: Amaechi sets the ball rolling

    2018: Amaechi sets the ball rolling

    New Year usually comes with a lot of expectations and happenings. For many, it is a period of a new resolve, a time to move forward and put behind setbacks of life.

    Every person or individual hopes that the year, 2018 will usher in good news in their respective lives and take them to the next level of bliss.

    And so, for the Transportation Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the year 2018 signals a year of projects’ completion as another giant feat was again recorded last week in the transportation sector with the successful commissioning of  two additional locomotives/10 Coaches for Abuja-Kaduna train service and Inland Dry Port in Kaduna. Meanwhile, some of the projects expected to be completed this year are the Itakpe-Warri and Lagos-Ibadan Rail lines among others.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, accompanied by top government Officials commissioned two additional Locomotives and ten (10) Coaches for the Abuja-Kaduna train service and Inland Dry Port.

    That event has again shown that the man in charge, Rt.Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is not just passionate about job delivery but concerned about ameliorating poverty in the position he superintends. Amaechi is tireless about bringing the overall change needed in the transportation sector with the privileges at his disposal. It is of note that while some other top government functionaries travelled to their respective homes and towns to wine and dine with their love ones during the festive period, Amaechi was glued to a specific assignment of setting the ball rolling as the transportation Minister in the Rail and maritime sectors of the economy.

    One of those efforts and sleepless nights of Amaechi last year is the result of the latest commissioning of the two additional Locomotives, 10 Coaches and Inland Dry Ports in Kaduna. He is determined to see ongoing projects in his ministry completed at the stipulated time frame.

    The commissioning of the Locomotives is part of government efforts towards alleviating the suffering of Importers and Exporters at the hinterland and numerous challenges they go through as businessmen who are zealous in participating in shipping and international businesses. The Dry Ports were conceived as parts of government Ports reform programme to facilitate efficient Cargo delivery to the hinterland, provide access to Port services amongst others.

    According to the Minister, “ It is worthy of note, that on the 15th of March,2006, the Federal Government of Nigeria approved the development of six(6) geo-political zones of the country, on a public private partnership(PPP) basis, under the supervision of Nigeria Shippers’ Council”.

    “Wisely buying into this Federal Government initiative, the Kaduna State Government, in April, 2011, sought for, and obtained approval to upgrade the existing Kaduna bonded terminal of the Inland Containers Limited (ICNL) into a Standard Dry Port”, he said.

    The Dry Port, according to Amaechi will have direct benefits to the people as they will replicate port economy in the hinterland, improve the ease of doing businesses in the maritime sector, reduce transportation and transaction cost and attract various infrastructural and regional development projects just to mention a few.

    Speaking further Amaechi said, “The multiplier effect of this project to the Federal Government and host State Government, as well as its environs, and the economy at large, cannot be overemphasised. At this juncture, let me appreciate the level of inter –agency cooperation among relevant government agencies. I once again, welcome Mr. President who agreed to personally commission this Dry Port and register my appreciation for the honour, as well as all the stakeholders who excitedly accepted our invitations to witness this historic event”.

    Speaking at Rigassa train station in Kaduna during the commissioning of the Locomotives, the President recalled that he commissioned the Abuja-Kaduna railway service in July 2016, being the country’s first ever standard gauge train service.

    “I am glad that this service has become very useful for commuters and would soon become the preferred means of transport for the journey from Abuja to Kaduna” he said.

    Muhammadu Buhari reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to pursue with vigour railway development in Nigeria through the implementation of the 25 year strategic railway masterplan. He reassured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to bring all-round development to the citizens in order to bridge the huge gap that exists in Nigeria’s infrastructures.

    He stated that government would further focus on coastal rail lines. “Additional critical projects which I particularly picked out include the coastal rail lines from Lagos to Calabar with branches in Benin, Agbor and Onitsha; Port Harcourt to Maiduguri standard gauge rail lines with branches in Warri, Awka, Abakaliki, Yola and Damaturu”, he said.

    According to Mr President, rail lines from Kano to Kazaure, Daura, Katsina, Jibya to link some other cities in Niger Republic will commence in earnest this year as part of regional interconnectivity and also to boost trade and commerce in the region.

    Buhari said that the private sector would be encourage to participate in the railway development as negotiations was on for the concessioning of the narrow gauge rail Lines to a consortium, General Electric (GE). “We are looking forward to a more efficient railway service on the narrow gauge line to be driven by the private sector”. The President added that government is creating conducive environment for private sector participation by strengthening the legal and regulatory framework towards this plan.

    He reiterated government commitment to linking all major commercial and production centres in the country by rail for rapid social economic development and improving the quality of life of the citizenry.

    The President further reiterated his administration’s resolve to continue to develop Nigeria’s railway system as he appreciated the Hon. Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amechi for his doggedness in the Ministry and also stakeholders who have played major part in the continued development of the country’s railway system.

    At the commissioning of the first Inland Dry Port in Kaduna, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed optimism that the Inland Dry port would boost the nation’s economy.

    According to President Muhammadu Buhari, the facility with about 29, 000 tonnes of cargoes yearly is expected to serve the port of origin and destination as cargoes would be conveyed via locomotives from the Lagos Ports to Kaduna.

    He said, the port would provide importers and exporters in the hinterland the opportunity to ship and clear cargo easily without travelling to Lagos adding that this would reduce the cost of transportation and doing business as well as eliminate congestion at the Lagos port. “It remains for Customs and port officials to make these facilities work and not frustrate business, commercial and industrial enterprises with unnecessary bureaucracy, inflicting delays and hardship, thereby deflating the objective of the whole exercise as has happened in the past. Make this facility work this time,” the President said.

     

    • Okpara is an aide of the transportation minister
  • Daura youths endorses Buhari for 2nd term

    Daura youths endorses Buhari for 2nd term

    No fewer than 3,500 youths, under the auspices of Daura Youth Vanguard from Sarkinyara A ward Polling Unit 003 in Daura, have unanimously endorsed the candidature of Buhari in 2019.

    The endorsement meeting was held at the President’s polling unit in his hometown on Monday.

    Alhaji Aliyu Dahiru, who led the group to the electoral polling unit, emphasised the need for the president to unconditionally consider their request and recontest the presidential election in 2019, stressing “we are satisfied with the way and manner the president is leading this country”.

    The Sarkinyara A ward polling unit 003 was the unit where president Buhari casts his votes in all elections.

    Read also: Second term: Group canvasses support for Buhari, Masari

    He said some of the inspiring factors that led to the clarion call on Mr President were some of the unprecedented transformation introduced by the administration of Buhari.

    Dahiru said the call was timely and paramount especially considering how the president salvaged the nation from the precarious security challenges and diversified the economy into agriculture.

    He noted that the current fight against corruption is yielding dividend as sanity, probity, accountability and transparency are been restored in the public life, noting that Buhari has been an upright leader.

    Dahiru announced that the organisation would organised an endorsement rally across the five local government areas of Daura, Sandamu, Maiadua, Baure and Zango in February.

    “We expect about 150,000 youths to attend the rally scheduled to hold in Daura metropolis,” he said.

    Alhaji Lawal Aliyu, the traditional title holder of the Ubandoman Daura, and Alhaji Nalado Yusuf who is the Sarkin Sudan of Daura, also identified themselves with the course and described the call as timely and in the right direction.

    They said Daura elders would forever remained determined, committed and dedicated to the clarion call initiated by the youths, stressing that no politician in Nigeria matches Buhari’s integrity and honesty.

    The officials of the organisation included Messrs Ibrahim Killing, Jamilu Rabe, Ibrahim Lawal, Kabir Jafar and Lawal Yaro.

    Others are Usman Mani, Abdurrahaman Dahiru and Hamisu Mafia.

    NAN

  • NUT directs members not to resume schools in states owing salary arrears

    NUT directs members not to resume schools in states owing salary arrears

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT ) has restated its position that the teachers in 10 states that are still owing salary arrears should not resume work until all arrears were paid.

    Dr Mike Ike-Ene, General-Secretary of the union, spoke on the directive in an interview on Monday in Abuja.

    Ike-Ene said that 10 out of 36 states still owed teachers several months of salary arrears in spite of the Paris Club Refund given to states by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He listed the states to include; Abia, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Delta, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo, Kwara and Taraba, describing them as chronic debtors as far as teachers’ salaries are concerned.

    According to him, Abia owes primary school teachers four months and secondary school teachers one month, Adamawa; two months to primary school teachers and one month to secondary.

    “Others are Bayelsa; seven and half months to primary school teachers and four and half months to secondary, Benue owes 12 months to primary school teachers and seven months to secondary.

    “Ekiti owes eight months to primary school teachers and five months to secondary, Kogi; three months to primary school teachers and three months to secondary.

    “Taraba; six months to primary school teachers, Delta; four months to primary school and one month to secondary. Kwara and Ondo owe teachers three and four months’ salary arrears of 2016 respectively,’’ he explained.

    Ike-Ene said that the union has directed its members in the affected states, especially the primary school teachers not to resume work until all the arrears were cleared.

    He also said that NUT had in 2017, appealed to the governors concerned to use the period of the Christmas holiday to clear all the arrears, but yet some still failed to do so.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2017, advised state governors to use the Paris Club Refund to liquidate any form of arrears they owe workers.

    NAN

  • Buhari has done well, can seek second term- Momoh

    Buhari has done well, can seek second term- Momoh

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), Prince Tony Momoh on Wednesday said President Muhammadu Buhari has done well in the delivery of his electoral promises.

    Momoh, a former Minister of Information, gave the assessment in a telephone interview on Wednesday.

    He said though there were still some challenges in the country, Buhari had acquitted himself remarkably well as president of the country.

    Momoh pointed out those who said Buhari had not done well were either playing politics or refused to check the facts.

    He said the president had achieved a lot in the areas on which he anchored his campaign promises despite the herculean problems he met on ground.

    “President Buhari has done well based on the facts available and not sentiments. He has done well in the delivery of his campaign promises despite the big problems he met on ground.

    Read also: What is President Buhari up to?

    “For example, let us look at the area of security, before Buhari came in, the Boko Haram insurgents was operating almost uninhibited, to the extent of seizing territories.

    “But for Buhari’s intervention, Only God knows what would have happened to the country because of Boko Haram.

    “Also, while some other countries are still wriggling under recession caused by crash in commodity prices, the country is out and is even doing well in the area of diversification.

    “Even the World Bank has just predicted that the country’s GDP will further grow in 2018, there are also monumental gains in the fight against corruption.

    “I reviewed a book recently on the scorecard of the president and I was pleasantly surprised by some of the revelations about Buhari’s performance.

    “Those who do not know, should go and check the facts, Buhari has done well as president,” he said.

    He said the opposition was behind the cacophony of voices asking Buhari not to seek re-election based on the way they rated him.

    Momoh said they were only seeing Buhari’s performance based on their perspectives which did not reflect the facts.

    He said Buhari had the moral and legal right to seek re-election so long he made the decision and the party endorses him.

    “The opposition cannot stop Buhari from contesting if he decides to do so and the party endorses him. The facts are different from the prism through which they are looking at his performance,’’ he said.

    Momoh called for caution in treating the killings in parts of the country as being caused by Fulani herdsmen.

    He said criminal, including Boko Haram, might be hiding under Fulani herdsmen to unleash terror in some communities in the country.

    “We should be careful in the way we see the killings in some parts of the country, so that we can have a better understanding of dealing with the problem.

    “Some criminals, such as cattle rustlers and even Boko Haram insurgents can also hide as Fulani herdsmen to unleash terror on Nigerians.

    “The herdsmen we used to know were not carrying AK47, how we have come to this problem of killings calls for proper understanding.

    “It is not a political matter but a matter that needs understanding and attention because it involves lives,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Buhari presides over first FEC meeting of 2018

    Buhari presides over first FEC meeting of 2018

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presided over the meeting of the Federal Executive Council with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and cabinet ministers in attendance.

    The meeting is the first this year and has in attendance the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and Head of Service, Mrs Winifrey Oyo-Ita.

    Others attending the meeting included the National Security Adviser to the President, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno and Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari.

    Read Also: Herdsmen crisis: Buhari orders IGP Idris relocate to Benue

    The heads of agencies of the Federal Ministry of Transportation are expected to brief the council.

    The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu, was also at the venue of the meeting.

    NAN

  • Presidency urges Senate to lift embargo on confirmation of nominees

    Presidency urges Senate to lift embargo on confirmation of nominees

    The Presidency has urged the Senate to lift the embargo on confirmation of nominees sent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    It would be recalled that Senate on July 4, 2017 resolved to suspend all issues relating to confirmation of nominees submitted by the executive over what it termed as a move to reduce its legislative powers.

    The senators had said the decision would remain until the issues of confirmation as contained in the Constitution and the laws of the federation were adhered to.

    All the same, the presidency had in October 2017 nominated Mrs. Aisha Ahmad as a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ) to replace Dr. Sarah Alade, who retired from the bank in June.

    Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Mr Ita Enang said “the president had submitted as required by law and the confirmations are pending before the legislature.

    “We are engaging with the legislature within the law.

    “Therefore we are conscious that the legislature, in particular the Senate, is very responsive and very concerned about the economy.

    “And the Senate is also conscious that nothing should be done that will be detrimental to the international image of Nigeria and perception of Nigeria.

    “So we are engaging with the legislature particularly the Senate on this and the Senate is very sensitive to the public to what is likely to happen.’’

    He said the senate must have been engaged  with a number of bills  last year and were prioritising issues.

    “They are going to attend to it. Any matter that is standing as an issue between the executive and the legislature which may be the reason for the embargo, we are going to address it and make sure it is surmounted.

    “Therefore, Nigerians should be comfortable that the Senate will answer questions within the law,” Enang said.

    NAN