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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Maritime University: 304 ex-agitators apply for jobs – Boroh

    Maritime University: 304 ex-agitators apply for jobs – Boroh

    The Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme ( PAP ), Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, said on Thursday that 304 amnesty beneficiaries had applied for job at the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State.

    Boroh, who is also the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters, disclosed this in an interview in Abuja.

    The Coordinator said the University had commenced operations and placed advertisements for those interested in working with the institution as academic staff.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved increase in the of take-off grant for the University from the earlier  N2 billion announced to N5 billion.

    He said the grant had already been included in the 2018 budget, under the Federal Ministry of Education allocation, presented to the National Assembly.

    Boroh described the recent upward review of the earlier budgetary allocation from N2 billion to 5 billion in the 2018 budget for the new university, as a show of commitment on the part of the President towards sustainable peace, stability and development in the region.

    He assured that the University would  create massive employment opportunities for youths in the region, adding that so many youths have been trained in different disciplines and vocations.

    Many of them were trained in marine engineering, maritime studies, seamanship, shipping, marine transport related studies, diving, underwater welding, automobile engineering, aviation, tourism and hospitality, agriculture, particularly in aquaculture.

    The Special Adviser said the youths can fill the manpower gap in the maritime sector, using the maritime university as the channel.

    Boroh added that the maritime university would continue to provide the platform for many other economic activities and development that would shape the geo-political and socio-economic dynamics in the region.

    He said the University is now hiring professors, readers, senior lecturers, lecturers, assistant lecturers and graduate assistants to teach in the faculties of Science, Maritime Transportation, Maritime Engineering & Technology, Maritime Environmental Management and General Studies.

    “It is important to see unemployed graduates thinking about how to take control of their career development on a daily basis by developing  their skills, values and interests as this will be helpful to them throughout their working life,”.

    The Coordinator , however, urged youths in the region not to give up on their dreams.

    “With high competition for graduate jobs in Nigeria , it’s easy to feel discouraged when looking for a job.

    “You don’t have to give up on your dream job,”  he said.

    He lauded the President for his commitment to the smooth take-off of the University and release of grant.

    He, however, assured that the federal government would sustained the establishment for good.

    The Presidential aide stressed the importance of giving support to the planned development of this administration for the ultimate purpose of improving the wellbeing of Nigerians.

    “Nigerians should know that the president is human and needs the sincere prayers of all well-meaning Nigerians to move the nation forward,” he said.

    NAN

  • Actress, Remi Oshodi tasks government on child education

    Actress, Remi Oshodi tasks government on child education

    Nollywood actress, Remi Oshodi, popularly known as Remi Surutu, has called on the present administration and key stakeholders to join hands to push the nation’s education system forward.

    Speaking at a press conference put together by the Goldfish Initiative for Illiteracy and Poverty Alleviation last Tuesday, the actress said that it is very sad that majority of Nigerians cannot afford basic education for their children.

    “I attended nursery school; I grew up being carried in a car to school, so I feel for those who cannot afford an education. That was why when I was called last year, I felt so moved and I decided to go with them. Because people live in luxury, they see every other person as beneath them and that should not be the case. You have to look for a way to encourage them,” she said.

    Also speaking, founder of The Goldfish Initiative for Illiteracy and Poverty Alleviation, Chimanma Rushworth-Moore called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister Education, Adamu Adamu, to raise the standard of education in Nigeria and also make the Nigerian child welfare a priority.

    She charged the Federal Government to make education the right of every child, stating that many children in the rural areas can neither read nor write due to circumstances they find themselves.

    “Anyone who cannot read or write does not exist because he or she cannot vote. Many children go to school half naked while many sit on the floor in rickety classrooms to learn.  Many Nigerian children lack basic welfare. Children’s welfare and protection should be non-negotiable and this is why Goldfish initiative is the voice of these children who cannot speak for themselves,” she said.

    She therefore called on Federal Government to make things right by allowing money to flow through the right source to alleviate poverty completely.

    The organisaton also held a walk against child illiteracy on Thursday.

  • FG plans N1b support to fight HIV/AIDS through NHIS

    FG plans N1b support to fight HIV/AIDS through NHIS

    The Federal Government said on Monday that it would support the fight against HIV/AIDS programmes through the National Health Insurance Scheme ( NHIS ) in 2018.

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said this at the opening of a two-day Nigeria HIV/AIDS intervention symposium in Abuja.

    Adewole said that the support had become important because of the prevalence of the epidemic in the country and the world at large.

    He explained that in 2016, the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) report had revealed that 36.7 million people live with HIV and AIDS globally, out of which Nigeria contributed 10 percent of this burden.

    According to him, out of every 10 HIV positive persons in the world is a Nigerian.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is poised to reverse this ugly trend by making prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection one of the signatory projects in the health sector.

    “I am making this pledge that the Nigerian leadership is committed to supporting all interventions that will ensure sustainable reduction of new HIV and AIDS infections in Nigeria.

    “Nigerian’s HIV and AIDS response plan has equally benefitted from increased government funding.

    “Furthermore, an additional one billion naira has been approved by the National Assembly through National Health Insurance Scheme ( NHIS ), to support the HIV and AIDS programme in the country,” he said.

    The minister said that an estimated 3.2 million people live with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria, which ranked only behind South Africa.

    He said that although no fewer than one million Nigerians presently had means to anti-retroviral treatment, access to care by those in need remained a challenge.

    The health boss advised the participants to imbibe sustainable HIV and AIDS control programmes as well as increase health care service delivery services to achieve meaningful growth.

    He also called for proper data management on the number of persons with HIV to encourage strategic planning, realization of fights against the epidemic and also reduce gaps in the national health sector response.

    The event which attracted stakeholders across the country featured discussion on challenges and way forward for preventive strategies on HIV and AIDS.

    NAN

  • President Buhari updated on 2017 Hajj, NCC activities

    President Buhari updated on 2017 Hajj, NCC activities

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday received briefing on 2017 Hajj operation from the Executive Chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria ( NAHCON ), Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar.

    Mukhtar, however, declined to speak with State House correspondents after the briefing.

    The NAHCON boss also briefed the president on preparations for smooth conduct of 2018 Hajj.

    Mukhtar had on Sept. 14 at an interactive session and dinner with members of the 2017 Hajj Media Team in Makkah, disclosed that NAHCON had commenced preparations for 2018 Hajj.

    He said that the commission had already sent a team, headed by the Consul General, to negotiate price of accommodation in Madinah to ensure that Nigerian pilgrims were
    lodged close to the Prophet’s Mosque.

    He said: “To this end, the Commission has sent a delegation to Madina to prepare ground for negotiation of a comprehensive package for pilgrims.”

    The Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Sen. Olabiyi Durojaiye, also briefed President Buhari on activities of the commission.

    NAN

  • Gombe citizens tackle Goje for embarrassing Buhari’s family

    Gombe citizens tackle Goje for embarrassing Buhari’s family

    The Concerned Citizen of Gombe have apologised to the wife of the President and her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari over the embarrassment she encountered during her condolence visit to Gombe state.

    The President’s wife, Aisha Buhari had on Wednesday visited Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje over the demise of his wife Yelwa who passed on in the United States on November 9, 2017.

    Senator Goje at the occasion claimed on the contrary that since he was sworn in as Governor in 2011, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has never visited him despite deaths and other calamities that had befallen his family, even though his late wife was instrumental to the governor’s candidature.

    The Concerned Citizens said it was not the first time Goje is embarrassing the president’s family, recalling that while a CPC Presidential candidate in 2006, Goje who was then governing Gombe state on PDP platform prevented Buhari from landing at Gombe Airport by blocking the runway of under the guise of maintenance work.

    “Secondly, he (Goje) ordered the complete sealing of Pantami Stadium and spread the vicinity with latrite to prevent vehicular movements around the stadium on the scheduled day of Buhari’s campaign team arrival.

    “Thirdly, on the day Buhari was to arrive Gombe for his campaign tour, some hired thugs were positioned directly opposite the PDP Presidential campaign office along Bauchi road to stone the office immediately Buhari’s convoy arrived to portray that the office was vandalised by Buhari supporters.

    “This made Buhari believe that the destruction of PDP campaign office was caused by his supporters and he tendered an apology,” the Concerned Citizens recalled through their spokesman, AIG Abdulmumini Abubakar (rtd).

    While speaking of how Goje ended up marrying the wife of his benefactor, late Ibrahim Hassan, the group also recalled how the Senator denied Abubakar Atku the use of Gombe airport during his 2007 presidential campaign tour, despite the former Vice President’s contribution to his becoming the governor of Gombe sate in 2003.

    The Group described the acclaimed late Yelwa Goje’s approval Dankwambo’s candidate during the preparations for 2011 election as distasteful, questioning how and positing that Gombe has some explaining to do.

    The AIG Abdulmumini (rtd) led group commended Governor Dankwambo’s handling of the matter and explained that they found it expedient to react in order not to allow silence give credence to the false claims.

  • Buhari’s visit to Turkey attracts 23 companies

    Buhari’s visit to Turkey attracts 23 companies

    Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent visit to Turkey to boost bilateral trade, 23 Turkish electrical manufacturing  companies will  visit Nigeria this week to meet buyers and distributors.

    The Managing Director of Naijalink Ltd., Mrs Thessa Bagu, said this in Lagos that the visit would strengthen trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Turkey.

    Naijalinks, a local firm, connected foreign companies willing to do business in Nigeria to local buyers or sellers.

    “Following renewed Turkish-Nigerian commitments to boost bilateral trade, a Turkish electronics and electrical goods trade mission will, this week, be visiting Nigeria for meetings with local buyers and distributors.

    “This trade mission is coming only weeks after President Buhari visited Turkey to strengthen trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Turkey.

    “Under the ambit of the Turkish Electro Technology Exporters’ Association ( TET ) – a professional body representing over 7,500 companies – the trade mission will showcase advanced Turkish white goods, electronics, cables and electrical production and distribution equipment,’’ she said.

    Bagu said that the mission would comprise Turkish manufacturers, representing companies across consumer electronics and appliances, lighting, cables, electrical transmission and distribution equipment, industrial automation products and specialised cables.

    She said that the mission, to be led by the Vice Chairman of TET Board, Mr Mehmet Kavaklioglu, would hold pre-scheduled meetings with Nigerian business operators at Eko Hotel and suites, Lagos, on Thursday.

    According to her, Turkey’s fast-growing electronics, white goods and electrical components sector annually exports over 10 billion dollars in goods to the global market.

    Buhari went on a four-day working visit to Turkey on Oct. 18.

    The president participated in the ninth D-8 Summit in Istanbul on Oct. 20 and held bilateral meetings with some member-countries.

    NAN

  • Presidency replies Lamido, uncovers plan to destroy national institutions

    Presidency replies Lamido, uncovers plan to destroy national institutions

    The Presidency says it has uncovered plan by politicians seeking the destruction of national institutions such as the courts, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) and “everything good that the nation stands for”.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

    The presidential aide cited the recent series of interviews by a former governor of Jigawa and presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), Alhaji Sule Lamido, attacking President Buhari’s efforts on ongoing war against corruption, as part of the grand plan.

    He, however, described the attacks by Lamido “as” a reflection of the intellectual and moral bankruptcy of the opposition in the country.

    “It is only in Nigeria that a leader will divert money belonging to the public into his children’s account then turns round to start pontificating on public morals, in the process subjecting the nation’s honest leadership to daily attacks based on falsehood.

    “It is even worse that such a person, facing criminal prosecution will start going round saying he wants to be president. Is this not one of the reasons why other countries are laughing at Nigeria?

    “This is hooliganism. It is not opposition politics,’’ Shehu noted.

    The presidential spokesman challenged Lamido to convince Nigerians that his trenchant attacks against the government and the judiciary were not a smokescreen to becloud the atmosphere of his criminal prosecution.

    “In his diatribe published in the Vanguard newspaper last week, it is clear that the former governor not only set out to mock the President but the judiciary and important national institutions.’’

    According to him, this is part of an orchestrated plot to divert public attention from his scam related cases.

    He added that, “If President Buhari’s war against corruption as he said, was a mockery what does one say of Lamido’s sworn efforts to sabotage the country’s efforts to rid itself of the cancer of corruption?

    “If accountability of public officials is the very essence of a mature democracy, it is indeed ironic that a politician, seeking the leadership of the country, making a mockery of institutions and leaders seeking to entrench that.

    “As a country, Nigeria settled for President Buhari not just as President but the watchman of people’s wealth.”

    Shehu observed that the citizens are happy with Buhari’s efforts in fighting corruption and the whole world was applauding him, while the African Union, the AU named him as the Champion of the war against corruption.

    He stated that opposition politicians like Lamido needed to come to terms with the fact that their act needed updating.

    Shehu further quoted Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) that said, “the nation’s war against corruption spearheaded by EFCC was incidentally formulated by the a past PDP administration.

    “It is a tragic irony that the leaders of the same party are doing their utmost to weaken or destroy it. Watch it, is that why he is seeking to lead the country?

    “Time and again, President Buhari had lamented that strongmen had destroyed the country’s strong institutions and that it will take strong men to rebuild them.

    “He deserves the support of everyone to rebuild such institutions because they serve a common good.”

    The presidential aide, therefore, appealed to  opposition politicians to give President Buhari the support he needed to rebuild national institutions such as the EFCC.

    NAN

  • How Buhari is preventing corruption, by Presidential media team

    How Buhari is preventing corruption, by Presidential media team

    The Presidential Media Team, in a forthcoming book, offers deep insight into how the President Muhammadu Buhari ’s administration is blocking corruption loopholes in the nation’s public institutions.

    The book titled, “Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace and Prosperity: A Mid-Term Scorecard on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration”, is set for launch in Abuja on Nov. 16.
    In an excerpt of the 348-page publication, the team notes that beyond arrest and prosecution of suspects, the Buhari government is strengthening public institutions for accountability and transparency.
    The book explores measures being instituted by anti-graft agencies, especially the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission ( ICPC ), in this regard since the last two years.
    These include conduct of System Study and Review in ministries, departments and agencies, and Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) in various sectors of the nation’s economy.
    It says the education, health, water and aviation sectors as well as e-governance platforms, including the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS), have benefited from the ICPC’s CRA exercise.

    The exercise, it adds, has led to the identification of weaknesses in the systems that create opportunities for corruption.

    Consequently, the commission has designed Integrity Plans directed at plugging the loopholes and enhancing the integrity profile of the systems for efficiency and effectiveness, it states.

    The book promises to clear the cynicism of many Nigerians, who think the Buhari government is more reactive than proactive in its fight against corruption.

    Nevertheless, the publication contains milestones recorded by the ICPC in the area of convictions, and recovery of looted funds and assets since the inception of the Buhari government on May 29, 2015.

    The book was edited by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity; Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on  Media and Publicity, and Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, (Office of the Vice President).

    The Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) contributed to the publication, whose foreword was written by the president.

    The book will be presented by APC National Leader Bola Tinubu and  reviewed by Prince Tony Momoh.

    NAN

  • FMARD to engage 2m youths, 997,500 women through LIFE programme – Report

    FMARD to engage 2m youths, 997,500 women through LIFE programme – Report

    The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ( FMARD ) says it will engage 1.9 youths and 997,500 women through its Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises ( LIFE ) programme.

    This was disclosed in excerpts of a Book entitled: ‘‘Making steady, sustainable progress for Nigeria’s peace and prosperity: a mid-term scorecard on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’’, authored by the Presidential Media Team.

    The book will be presented to the public on November 16 in Abuja.

    LIFE is a programme aimed at bringing life back to rural communities through the empowerment of youths, women and other vulnerable groups across the country.

    It stated that the programme design commenced in the past one year.

    It is geared to promote community-based on-farm and off-farm business activities as a model for job and wealth creation among unemployed youths and women in rural and suburban households.

    “Programmes under LIFE are expected to establish 150,000 cooperatives nationwide under commodity value chain groups, establish and operate up to 1,000 cottage industries in the country.

    “It is also expected to ultimately engage 1,995,500 youths and 997,500 women for enhanced productivity and, through these interventions, add about 5,965,000 metric tonnes of foods to the national food store,’’ it said.

    The report said the key challenge leading to the late take-off of the programme was related to the cumbersome procurement procedures.

    It stated that the Anchor Borrowers Programme, driven by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with FMARD, had provided substantial money for dry season farming in 2015, wet season rice and wheat farming in 2016.

    According to the report, the programme is currently supporting 2016 dry season farming in many states.

    “Anchor Borrowers Programme is an intervention aimed at fast-tracking access of rural farmers to finance for productivity.

    “This entails provision of agricultural credit for financing the production of rice, wheat, ginger, maize and soybeans in nine states.’’

    The states are Kebbi, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Benue, Zamfara, Anambra and Kwara.

    “Through the programme for the out-growers in the past one year, massive harvest is expected to meet the national requirements of paddy and milled rice within the shortest possible time,’’ it stated.

    The publication was edited by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity; Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, and Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, ( Vice President’s Office).

    The book is a documentation of the notable achievements of the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Party (APC) administration since it was inaugurated on May 29, 2015.

    President Buhari wrote the foreword of the 348-page book, containing milestones of all the federal ministries and some select departments and agencies in the last two years.

    The Buhari Media Support Group also contributed to the compendium rich with text and visuals.

    The book will be reviewed by Prince Tony Momoh while APC National leader  Bola Tinubu is the keynote speaker/book Presenter.

    NAN

  • FG generates 18,597 jobs through labour-intensive public works in two years

    FG generates 18,597 jobs through labour-intensive public works in two years

    The Federal Government ( FG ) says it has generated 18,597 jobs through labour-intensive public works.

    It has also trained 3,392 people in technical and vocational agricultural skills in the last two years.

    It said this in excerpts of a book entitled “Making steady, sustainable progress for Nigeria’s peace and prosperity: a midterm scorecard on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’’.

    The book is to be presented to the public on Nov. 16 in Abuja.

    Authored by the Presidential Media Team, it is a documentation of the notable achievements of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration since its inauguration on May 29, 2015.

    According to the book, the Federal Government also trained 16,587 people in life planning and entrepreneurial skills and implemented 182 community/local government development projects.

    It said efforts were also made to reduce unacceptable level of poverty and socio-economic vulnerability in the nation.

    In this direction, the Federal Government formulated the Social Investment Programmes ( SIP ) for which N500 billion was appropriated in the 2016 Budget.

    The programme features Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT), Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, N-Power Job Creation Programme and Government Economic Empowerment Programme (GEEP), among others.

    “The National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme is aimed at providing a free nutritional meal for public primary pupils across Nigeria to improve school enrolment and completion as well as child nutrition and health.

    “So far, 2,000 youths have been empowered through the N-Power programme.

    “The National Cash Transfer has also given out loans to farmers, traders and business people to enable them to secure gainful employment.’’

    Buhari wrote the foreword of the 348-page book, which contains milestones of all the federal ministries and some select departments and agencies of government.

    The publication was edited by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity; Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity and Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, (Office of the Vice President).

    The Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) also contributed to the publication.

    The book will be reviewed by Prince Tony Momoh while APC National leader  Bola Tinubu is the Keynote Speaker/Presenter.

    NAN