The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Osinbajo unveils five Super Mushshak aircraft to tackle insurgency

    Osinbajo unveils five Super Mushshak aircraft to tackle insurgency

    Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday in Kaduna unveiled five Super Mushshak trainer aircraft acquired by the Federal Government to boost the capacity of Nigeria Air Force personnel in the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five aircraft are among the 10 acquired by the government from Pakistan.

    Osinbajo, who was represented by Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, said Nigeria would welcome more support from friendly nations in its efforts to mow down Boko Haram insurgency.

    “I will not fail to mention that the decision to acquire the Super Mushshak aircraft from Pakistan has greatly promoted the existing bilateral relationship between the two sister countries.

    “It is our hope that we will continue to have the support and collaboration of other friendly nations, especially as we continue to combat insurgency and other security challenges in our country.’’

    The Acting President, who also witnessed the graduation of 16 young Student Pilots from 401 Flying Training School, for the first time in 30 years, pledged that the administration would continue to invest in the country’s air arsenal.

    He recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had two years ago pledged to build the capacity of the armed forces to effectively address Boko Haram insurgency and other national security threats.

    “These achievements are a demonstration of the commitment and visionary leadership of the administration,’’ he said.

    Osinbajo stressed that the administration had remained committed to its desire of ensuring a peaceful country.

    “This has been a major security policy thrust of this administration.

    “We have since embarked on qualitative training and acquisition of new platforms and other supporting equipment for the Armed Forces and security agencies.

    “We have also sanitised the procurement process of military hardware with a view to eliminating corruption and inefficiency.

    “I make bold to say that we have achieved remarkable savings and infused quality into the system.

    “This has contributed in no small way to the acquisition of these new aircraft without any encumbrances.

    “It is now your responsibility to make good use of the aircraft as we await the delivery of the last batch by the end of the year.

    “I have no doubt that the acquisition of the Super Mushshak aircraft would add impetus to the training efforts of 401 FTS.’’

    He lauded the achievements and transformations taking place in the military, linking the feat to “focused and visionary leadership.”

    “It is heart-warming to see the Nigerian Air Force striving to meet the nation’s security needs through the sacrifices, dedication of the officers, airmen and airwomen,’’ he added.

    Earlier, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar said the NAF has attained 70 per cent aircraft serviceability as against 30 per cent two years ago.

    He said that the training of several combat pilots and other capacity building initiatives had raised the morale of air personnel and their efficiency.

    “We now have the capability to embark on and sustain major operations simultaneously within and beyond our national boundaries,’’ he said.

  • Presidential committee to deliver 260 truck of grainsto IDPs in Adamawa

    Presidential committee to deliver 260 truck of grainsto IDPs in Adamawa

    The Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Distribution in North East is to deliver 260 trucks of assorted grains to the returnee IDPs in Adamawa.

    Hajia Zainab Mohammed, Minister for State, Budget and National Planning, made this known on Monday at a courtesy visit to Gov. Mohammed Bindow in Yola.

    Mohammed, who is the chairperson of the committee, said that 86 trucks had already been delivered to 3,000 people.

    The minister explained that the committee had conducted  census of the households in the affected area and was to deliver food items to 17,000 households in the state.

    She added that a total of 79,000 people were to benefit from the entire food distribution excercise in the state.

    She said that the distribution would ensure  respect to human dignity as the beneficiaries would get their food items at their door steps.

    According to the minister, the era of queueing for food distribution is over.

    Mohammed commended the governor for supporting the committee to carry out its mandate.

    In his remark, Bindow commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring that insurgency was fought to standstill.

    Bindow also assured the committee of security in the state and advised them to ensure transparency and fairness in the distribution of the items.

  • Buhari’s wife returns to London 

    Buhari’s wife returns to London 

    The Wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, on Sunday left Nigeria for the United Kingdom (UK)

    The President, Muhammadu Buhari, had been in the United Kingdom since May 7th to meet up with consultation follow up with his doctors.

    Aisha Buhari, who returned to Nigeria from UK last week, had severally insisted that her husband was recovering fast and will soon return to Nigeria.

    Even though there was no official statement on Aisha’s latest trip, some staff in the Presidency confirmed the latest trip.

  • Ozubulu church attack: Buhari calls Obiano

    Ozubulu church attack: Buhari calls Obiano

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday night made a telephone call to Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra to commiserate with him and people of the State over the Ozubulu Church attack.

    The Sunday early morning attack on St. Philip Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area had claimed the lives of 11 worshippers and 18 others injured.

    Buhari had earlier in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Malam Garba Shehu condemned the attack, describing the incident as “an appalling crime against humanity and unspeakable sacrilege”.

    In the statement, the President said that “there was no justification whatsoever to target Church worshippers and kill them in cold blood.’’

    He expressed his deep sympathy with the families of the victims, the Church leadership and the government of Anambra.

    However, barely two hours after the release of the President’s statement on the incident, Shehu also confirmed that the President had a telephone conversation with Gov. Obiano where he commiserated with him, families of the victims as well as the people of the state.

    He said: “The President has just finished speaking to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, in the course of which he commiserated with him, the famines of the victims and the citizens of the state over the tragic shooting incident this morning.’’

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Gov. Obiano was quoted as saying that the Ozubulu killings was a result of a dispute between two sons of the area and vowed that all those behind the act would be apprehended.

    The Commissioner of Police in charge of Anambra, Mr Garba Umar, also in an interview with newsmen in Awka on Sunday, revealed that the police had launched a manhunt on those behind the incident and gave an assurance that everybody behind the act would be brought to justice.

  • Anambra Church attack unspeakable sacrilege, says Buhari

    Anambra Church attack unspeakable sacrilege, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the Ozubulu Church attack in Anambra State by a yet to be identified gunmen, describing the incident as “an appalling crime against humanity and unspeakable sacrilege.”

    The President expressed his grief in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Sunday.

    President Buhari said that “there was no justification whatsoever to target Church worshippers and kill them in cold blood.’’

    He said this kind of atrocity “plumbs the depth of depravity and extreme cruelty of the kind that words cannot adequately express.’’

    According to the President, there is no religion that does not lay constant emphasis on the sanctity of life, and that “all Nigerians must rise up and speak with one voice against these remorseless evil men.’’

    The President expressed his deepest sympathy with the families of the victims, the Church leadership and the government of Anambra state.

    He reassured all Nigerians of his administration’s firm and uncompromising commitment to protect their lives and properties at all times.

    The  police in Anambra on Sunday confirmed that a gunman killed 11 worshippers and injured 18 others in an early morning attack on St. Philip Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Garba Umar, told newsmen that the remains of the dead had been deposited at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi.

    He said the police had launched a manhunt on those behind the act and gave an assurance that everybody behind the act would be brought to justice.

    Umar described any insinuation that the attack was carried out by Boko Haram elements as false and urged the people to go about their normal businesses.
    He said the police were on top of the situation.’’(NAN)

  • Buhari’s health critical to APC government’s vision, says Ajomale

    Buhari’s health critical to APC government’s vision, says Ajomale

    The Chairman of the Forum of APC States Chairmen, Chief Henry Ajomale, on Wednesday declared that the health of President Muhammadu Buhari is critical to the vision of the ruling APC government.

    He said this while addressing State House correspondents after the All Progressives Congress state chairmen’s meeting with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at Aso Villa.

    According to Ajomale, who is the Chairman of the party in Lagos State, the Forum discussed at length the situation in the country and “then our anxiety for the health of the President.”

    “We are grateful that God in His infinite mercies has made him whole which is very critical and important to the vision that we have for this country as APC government.”

    He explained that the Acting President was able to brief the forum about the situation in the country, the economy, and steps taken so far to address the challenges facing the country.

    “We are very impressed with his explanations and we will go back to our various states and let the people know that the government has very good intentions.

    “And that we should be part and parcel of the government in order to ensure that the poor people of this country are getting better deal.

    “In a nutshell, we are very happy for what we heard from government and we intend to carry it to our states,’’ the forum chairman said.

    On the specific issues discussed, Ajomale said members expressed concerns about the economic situation in the country.

    He noted that the situation was not totally the fault of government since it was a global problem with the economic recession taking its toll on every country.

    He expressed delight that the Buhari administration was trying to diversify the economy following a slump in oil prices.

    Ajomale said:“We also discussed diversification into agriculture, especially rice production, the level of children’s welfare (Home Grown School Feeding programme).

    “And then we talked about corruption also which is the key among the problems that the president is particular about.

    “I think that the people of this county are particular about this too that corruption cannot continue and a systemic method had been put in place to ensure that it is cut down.

    “Although it is not totally eradicated but it is far better than what we had during the President Goodluck Jonathan regime.”

  • Its too early to judge our performance, Rochas tells Nigerians

    Its too early to judge our performance, Rochas tells Nigerians

    The Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Mr Rochas Okorocha, says on Tuesday it is too early for Nigerians to judge elected officials on their performance.

    “We want to appeal to Nigerians not to judge us from past sins or within the two years we have been in the mantle of leadership of this great country.

    “You should judge us when the mandate entrusted to us expires,” Okorocha said at the opening of a retreat on policy synergy between states and the Federal Government, holding in Birnin Kebbi.

    The governor reminded Nigerians that those presently at the helm of affairs came on board when the country was at the brink of collapse due to security and economic challenges.

    He assured that the APC-led administration would meet the expectations of all Nigerians.

    “Our party has the best governors ever produced in the history of this country – from Sokoto, Adamawa, Kebbi, Lagos, Imo, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Kogi and others.

    “When you visit those states, you will know that Nigerians have not made mistake electing us to lead their states affairs.

    “We have resolved to fix the economy and it has already being fixed, ” he said.

    The chairman of the progressive governor explained that they are working with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to put resources together to stamp out hunger in the country.

    “We are united and Nigeria will always remain an indivisible nation.

    “We don’t know who is Hausa, Yoruba or Igbo, our determination is only to stamp out hunger and bring democratic dividend to our citizens.

    “Hate statements should not be taken serious or regarded from anyone,” he said.

    Okorocha commended Kebbi farmers for saving the country a lot of foreign exchange through their agricultural activities especially rice production.

    Earlier, Kebbi Governor, Atiku Bagudu, said the governors would continue to work diligently in line with the APC manifesto.

    He said they would intensify efforts to eradicate poverty.

    “The enthusiasm and patriotism of President Muhammadu Buhari and Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, demonstrate that Nigeria is getting its footsteps right.

    “All that helps Nigeria to develop is now brought to debate and discussion table, and we should always cherish what we discuss significantly in order to enhance our development,” Bagudu said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the retreat was to evaluate current challenges faced by state governments in accessing opportunities and resources provided by various policies of the federal government.

  • Presidency commends CAN’s message to Buhari

    Presidency commends CAN’s message to Buhari

    Presidency has described as “touching and thoughtful,” a message received from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) expressing joy at the news of President Muhammadu Buhari’s recovery from illness.

    In a statement in Abuja on Monday, Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Buhari, confirmed that the President received the goodwill message from CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle.

    “The CAN President referred to the news of President Buhari’s recovery from sickness as a ‘rejuvenation of hope’, and congratulated Nigerians on the joy of having their President back soon,” he said.

    Shehu added that such messages of goodwill from respected religious bodies like CAN meant so much at a time when people with ill intentions were struggling to divide the country along religious lines.

    He also thanked the CAN for its continued prayers for the President’s health.

    “The Presidency looks forward to further collaborations with CAN to ensure that Nigerians of all ethnic and religious groups benefit from the policies of the President Buhari administration which are aimed at improving the welfare of every single citizen of our great country,” he said.

  • Kebbi assures agric company of support

    Kebbi assures agric company of support

    The people of Kebbi are appreciative of the work of West African Cotton Company Limited (WACOT) in the agriculture sector and will help it succeed, Gov. Atiku Bagudu, has said.

    Bagudu made the statement when WACOT officials paid him a courtesy visit in Birnin Kebbi  to intimate him of plans for the official opening of a N10 billion rice mill built by the firm in the state.

    The mill is due for inauguration on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

    The governor said “we will ensure that we get the plant commissioned.”

    He said the people of Kebbi held the company high, especially as it  was supporting national efforts.

    “Your plant is a beacon of hope in spite of the economic challenges in the country.

    “It is obligatory for us to help you achieve your investment goals as we believe Nigeria is competitive and there are distortions coming from foreign rice importation that will hamper your competitiveness,” Bagudu said.

    He said the state would partner the company on rice production as well as in the exploration of other abundant agricultural potentialities in fisheries, soya beans, livestock and sesame production.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the company, Alhaji Bashar Aminu, said the firm would employ 1,000 workers at its 400-tonne per day capacity plant.

    “We invested N10 billion last year to put up the rice mill as we are a multi-national company.

    “We have branches in almost all the West African countries and major marketers, business entities and manufacturers.

    “We are in the state solely to answer the call of President Muhammadu Buhari toward food security and reduce rice or food importation,” Aminu said.

    He said the company would partner the state government to develop other areas of  the manufacturing sector.

  • 60 volunteers enter N-Power black book – Presidential aide

    60 volunteers enter N-Power black book – Presidential aide

    No fewer than 60 volunteers in the Federal Government’s job creation scheme for youths are on payment hold and may be prosecuted for fraud, the Presidential aide on Job Creation, Mr Afolabi Imoukhuede, said on Monday.

    He gave the indication while addressing 5,559 N-Power volunteers in Kwara at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Ilorin.

    At the event, he gave July ending as deadline for those experiencing payment issues to resolve them or be removed from the programme.

    Imoukhuede had led a team of Monitoring and Evaluation officials to assess the performance of the volunteers in the state as well as mandate the state’s institutional partners to take absolute charge of the volunteers.

    According to the aide, many volunteers have been collecting unbroken stipends of N30,000 monthly without reporting for work which discourages serious volunteers from giving in their best.

    He said the 60 volunteers already identified nationwide would be used to set examples, noting that the programme was not a cake-sharing or cake-collection scheme.

    He said that no fewer than 363 volunteers deployed in Kwara were  ghosts and did not exist in the programme, adding that those found guilty of absenteeism would be forced to return all stipends received and prosecuted.

    He explained that volunteers were the cause of non-receipt of their stipends because they failed to validate their financial records more than seven months into the graduate scheme.

    He further dispelled insinuations of irregularity in the payments of stipends nationwide, explaining that disparity in dates of payment was to accommodate newly validated volunteers.

    “There is no irregularity in the payment of stipends; we do not discriminate against states.

    “The reason for what you tag irregularity is that we are trying to update your accounts.

    “Our goal is that everyone will receive all stipends unbroken,’’ he added.

    Imoukhuede said that N-Power was a lifeline extended to youths by President Muhammadu Buhari and Acting President Yemi Osinbajo as a platform for learning, working and gaining entrepreneurship.

    He said it was technology-enhanced  and designed programme where the graduates were expected to be technology-compliant which informed the addition of a device for learning and data collection to increase volunteers’ employability skills.

    “There will be evaluation of performance through the devices.

    “Google and Microsoft Academy have provided lots of learning materials in the devices for your benefits, so you have to take the devices seriously as your daily manual,’’ he advised.

    Earlier at a stakeholders’ meeting, Imoukhuede emphasized that July ending was the last chance given to all with stipend issues to resolve them or they would be written to withdraw from the scheme.

    “Those of you yet unpaid are enjoying several months of grace.

    “End of July is the last chance and if they are unable to reconcile their accounts we will call them to exit the programme and 263 of them are involved in Kwara,’’ he noted.

    On the deployment of non-professionals to N-Teach, N-Agro and N-Health, the presidential aide noted that volunteers were sent as assistants in the disciplines, adding that “the scheme is qualification agnostic and we deployed to areas of need’’.

    He recalled that the Federal Government’s N6.9 billion monthly investment from where Kwara economy had sucked in N160 million via the volunteers, was not a joke.

    “The beauty of the scheme is that rather than fund state treasury, the money goes straight to volunteers’ pockets from where it trickles down to the economy of their rural families and enhances their saving culture.

    “That is why the scheme earns a space in the economic recovery programme of the Federal Government,’’ he said.

    Imoukhuede advised the state’s institutional partners to ensure effective monitoring and discipline, adding that they would be shortchanging the state and the rural communities if they failed in such task.

    The Special Assistant to the President on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Mr Mohammed Brimah, tagged the more than 5,000 graduate-volunteers in Kwara as special, having been selected from 7,000 applicants from the state.

    Brimah, an indigene of the state, urged the volunteers to remember that they were the state ambassadors but had three other persons that could replace them if found wanting.

    “N-Power has given you an opportunity to impact on your community.

    “Visit the #muchmore tag on the portal where volunteers share their contributions to add your own contributions for the nation to also see your positive impacts in Kwara,’’ Brimah added.

    The State Focal Person for N-Power and Permanent Secretary, Youth and Sports, Elder Ayobola Samuel, said that the volunteers had reduced the manpower gaps in education, agriculture and health facilities in the state.

    He hailed the Federal Government for the initiative and gave the assurance that the state government would do everything possible to enable the scheme and its participants to succeed.