The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Guru Maharaji seeks 25-year jail term for workers’ salaries diversion

    Guru Maharaji seeks 25-year jail term for workers’ salaries diversion

    The founder of  the One Love Family sect, Ibadan, Satguru Maharaj ji, on Friday called for  a law stipulating a  25-year jail term for any public servant caught diverting workers’ salaries to personal use.

    Maharaj ji made the call  in Ibadan while addressing newsmen on activities marking the  24th anniversary  of his declaration of Nigeria as the new holy land of the universe.

    He said  some public servants often  divert salaries of workers to  banks  with the  intention of  reaping monetary  gains in  interest.

    “Such officials  should be jailed 25 years with hard labour and should also be stopped from holding public office.

    “Doing this would deter would be offenders as well as  reduce the level of corruption in the public service and in Nigeria in general,’’ he said.

    Maharaj ji said God had  blessed  the country with the All Progressives Congress (APC) government which initiated change, adding that the administration must be supported in the anti-graft campaign.

    The sect leader also called on government at all levels to urgently tackle the issue of  indecent dressing, especially among females.

    He ascribed the development to films which promote pornography, especially among youths.

    The sect leader further  decried  the recent issuance of ultimatum to Igbos in the north to quit the region, saying this was capable of destabilising the country.

    He  called on the Federal Government to be proactive in containing the threat, especially coming during  the Ramadan.

    Maharaj  ji also called for persistent prayers by Nigerians for President Muhammadu Buhari to enable him  recover his health and continue his transformation initiatives.

  • FG to add 340 megawatts to power grid before December – Fashola

    FG to add 340 megawatts to power grid before December – Fashola

    Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing said on Thursday that 340 megawatts of electricity would be added to the national grid in or before December.

    Fashola said this during his inspection tour of Afam Power Plant in Oyibo local government area of Rivers as part of Federal Government Power Sector Recovery Programme.

    He said the 340 megawatts of electricity would be generated from Afam power plant alone while another 270 megawatts would be generated from same facility before end of 2018.

    According to him, the Afam facility has about 1,000 megawatts of installed capacity which has underperformed due to years of neglect by previous governments.

    “Afam 1 to 5 power plants is currently producing about 100 megawatts which is as a result of failure to maintain the facility over the years.

    “We are here to assess the progress of the work we have been doing in the last 17 to 18 months aimed to get the facility back to its optimum capacity.

    “The Afam 5 plant is currently being rehabilitated in collaboration with General Electric to restore 240 megawatts to the facility.

    “All the turbine and equipment needed for the project are already in the country while the only challenge we are facing is the access road, logistic and few other things that we came to assess.

    “We think that we will add 240 megawatts and another 100 megawatts before December with addition of 276 megawatts in 2018 from Afam power plant alone,” he said.

    Fashola said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration inherited debt running into billions owed to companies which supplied gas to power plants in the country.

    He said the Federal Executive Council approved N701 billion in March with focus to settle the debts through a Power Payment Assurance Programme arrangement with gas companies.

    The minister said the federal government was discussing with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to separate old debts under the power payment assurance programme initiative that would ensure availability of gas.

    “Now that there is a payment assurance programme we are assuring that every gas that would be supplied to Afam and others would be paid for.

    “General Electric has come in to invest in power while we equally want more investors because there is a lot of gas deposit to tap from,” he said.

    Fashola said that government had engaged the World Bank and other development partners aimed to successful implementation of the Power Sector Recovery Programme.

    He said that the dilapidated Bodo-Bonny road in Rivers was among several road projects that would soon be addressed as soon as budget was signed.

  • Bayelsa commends FG for citing new fertilizer, petrochemical plant in Brass

    Bayelsa commends FG for citing new fertilizer, petrochemical plant in Brass

    The Bayelsa Government has commended the Federal Government for citing a multi-billion dollar private sector-driven fertilizer and petrochemical plant in Brass.

    The state Governor, Seriake Dickson gave the commendation when he led the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, Commodore Alfred Diete-Spiff (rtd), and a team of private investors on a thank you visit to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    According to Dickson, we are also here to discuss other issues concerning the take-off of the project.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Brass is a Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, with headquarters in the town of Twon-Brass on Brass Island along the coast.

    It has a coastline of approximately 90 km on the Bight of Bonny.

    Dickson told state House Correspondents on Tuesday that the project would create enormous jobs and transform the economy of the state and the country at large.

    The governor assured investors of adequate security.

    “We came to discuss issues on the Brass Fertilizer Project billed to take off in Bayelsa. That is a big ticket investment running into billions of dollars.

    “The government team is here, the traditional ruler is here because the project is taking place in his domain.

    “We are here to assure the Federal Government and investors that Bayelsa as they all know is one of the safest states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “We have worked hard in the last five years I have been governor to bring that about.’’

    The governor also commended the Federal Government for its new approach in pursuing integrated development in the country based on partnership and collaboration evidenced by the fertilizer plant.

    Dickson noted that the Acting President’s dialogue on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari with  Niger Delta stakeholders, saying that a new understanding was emerging for the stability, security and development of the region.

    “It is when we bring big ticket investments, create jobs and we affect the economy and create other legitimate options through which young people can survive that some of the crises that we see here will be addressed.

    “This is a good way to begin to address that and that is why I am here to assure the Federal Government and investors for the steps so far taken.’’

    The governor also commended the Federal Government for directing oil producing companies that did not have offices in Bayelsa to open offices in the state.

    He recalled that the story of oil exploration began in Bayelsa but lamented that it was shocking that no oil company had an office in the state.

    Dickson expressed concern that the state had been denied the economic benefits of oil production.

    “There are no jobs, no employment, they don’t even pay much tax, and a number of them don’t even pay tax at all.

    “The Federal Government has said that they should go back.

    “So we expect to work with the Federal Government and engage with all the oil producing companies to see how they can begin to have respectable presence.’’

    Dickson also commended the Federal Government forits decision to establish modular refineries in the Niger Delta region.

    Citing the NLNG as one of the plants in the region, Dickson said it was yielding a lot of revenue for the country as one of the most profitable partnerships the Federal Government had gone into.

    “You have other big ones like the Gbarain/Obie gas plant project in Bayelsa owned by Shell, there are other ones.

    “But this one is a fertilizer petrochemical company, And they will do a lot of skills development and skills transfer, a lot of jobs will be created and there will be a boom in the local economy, state economy and ultimately affect the national economy positively.’’

    He said the Bayelsa government would engage the oil companies to ensure that they did their businesses without inhibitions.

  • Osinbajo commends SON on ease of doing business

    Osinbajo commends SON on ease of doing business

    The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo has commended the efforts of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for promoting the Federal Government’s initiative on the “Ease of doing Business”.

    Osinbajo gave the commendation in a statement issued by Mr Bola Fashina, the Head of Public Relations of SON in Abuja on Saturday.

    The acting president spoke at the recent Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Clinic held in Calabar on Friday.

    Osinbajo said: “I know this is a new SON ready to go, a business facilitator and not one that hinders business”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari recently established the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PBEC.

    The aim is to review and address all encumbrances in the “Ease of Doing Business’’ which includes movement of people and goods in and out of the country, transparency in government, regulations, and registering business among others.

    Fashina said the Director-General of SON, Mr Osita Aboloma, who also spoke at the event, said the organisation was saddled with the responsibility of providing  relevant Nigerian Industrial standards as benchmark for quality of products and services offered in Nigeria.

    Aboloma, represented by Mr Don Pedro, the Coordinator of SON in Cross River, said that other mandates include the promotion of quality assurance, accurate testing and measurement regimes for trade and commerce to thrive in Nigeria.

    “Great emphasis is placed on the grooming of budding Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, using the instrument of standardisation.

    “This is to support the industrialisation efforts of the government as well as promote consumer safety,’’ Aboloma said.

  • Presidency has no plans to reject 2017 Budget – Enang

    Presidency has no plans to reject 2017 Budget – Enang

    Sen. Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), says there is no plan to reject the 2017 Budget by the presidency.

    Enang made this known in a statement he issued on Saturday in Abuja, insisting that the presidency was working within the constitutional time-frame required to process details of the budget.

    “There is no such plan by it to reject the 2017 budget passed by the National Assembly as alleged in some reports.

    “The presidency can only assent to the budget or withhold assent as the case maybe.

    “However, should there be areas needing input, the presidency would engage the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives.

    “As such, any report suggesting a rejection of the 2017 Budget by the presidency is incorrect,’’ he said.

    Enang noted that the presidency was currently subjecting every detail of the budget to scrutiny using the available systems at its disposal.

    He said it was to ensure that figures appropriated to ministries, department and agencies were consistent with the realities on ground.

    “When the budget was presented to both chambers of the National Assembly for consideration last year by President Muhammadu Buhari, both chambers subjected the document to legislative processes, using internal systems at their disposal.

    “This, exactly, is what the presidency is actually doing at the moment to ensure that the budget, when assented to, sufficiently addresses the nation’s present realities.

  • Bishop urges Muslims, Christians to live in peace

    The President of the Niger Delta Bishops and Ministers Forum, Dr Julius Ediwe, on Friday appealed to Muslims and Christians to live in harmony and promote peaceful coexistence.

    Ediwe madé the call when he led a delegation of bishops and ministers of the region on a peace building visit to National Mosque in Abuja.

    The delegation was received by the Executive Secretary, Abuja National Mosque Management Board, Alhaji Ibrahim Jega.

    Ediwe told his hosts that religious leaders had a duty to properly guide their followers on the true tenets of their faith.

    He warned that God will hold religious leaders responsible for the spate of violence in the country.

    Ediwe said that the role of religious leaders in promoting peace and tolerance between Muslims and Christians could not be overemphasised.

    Ediwe said that there could never be any meaningful development without peace in the country.

    The president called on Christian clergies to ensure that their followers shun all forms of violence, support the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari and pray for his quick recovery.

    “I am here at the National Mosque Abuja to thank God for the month of Ramadan which is being observed in the Muslim community.

    “I want to say to Nigeria that the texture of violence that is going on in the country is the evidence of trouble coming to the country.

    “So I am using that to say all religion both Christian and Muslims should come together and pray for the peace of this country.

    “One of the reasons for coming here is to ensure that Nigeria witnesses sustainable peace and development.

    “We want peace for this country and that is why I came here to the National mosque to meet our brothers to come together and pray for the country,” Ediwe said.

    Bishop John Peters, the Secretary, United Bishops and Eminent Clerics Initiative, said that the group supports the anti-corruption crusade of President Buhari.

    He said, “Corruption is the biggest problem of Nigeria.”

    Responding, Jega said the visit of the President of the Niger Delta Bishops and the Ministers Forum signified that Nigeria was one entity under the almighty God.

    The executive secretary also said that the physical presence of the Bishop at the mosque in the month of

    Ramadan signified solidarity as it was not only Muslims that fast , Christians also do fast.

    “Nigeria is a country comprising of Muslims and Christians and so God wants us to be and so no nobody can separate Christians from Muslims or Muslims from Christians in Nigeria.

    “We will continue as one indivisible nation, as one Nigeria.

    “We will also continue as Christians and Muslims living under God with love and respect for one another despite the fact that our worship format may be different.”

  • NARICT’s new Director General assumes duty

    NARICT’s new Director General assumes duty

    Prof. Jeffrey Barminas has officially assumed duty as Director-General of National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria.

    This is contained in a statement by the institute’s Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Aliyu Bala which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria, Kaduna State on Friday.

    It stated that the new DG formally assumed duty on Friday, May 26, 2017 following the approval of his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari before his medical trip.

    Addressing the institute staff, Barminas promised to work hard toward achieving the mandate of the institute.

    He assured them of opening new frontiers that would accelerate Nigeria’s technological advancement.

    Barminas pledged to carry all relevant stakeholders along to pave way for achieving set goals and objectives of the institute.

    The DG sought for the cooperation of the staff and urged them to re-dedicate themselves to duty, so as to take the institute to greater heights.

    NAN reports that before his appointment, the new DG was a Professor of Industrial Chemistry at Modibbo Adama University, Gombe.

    He had held many academic positions including Head of Department, Dean and member of the university’s Governing Board.

    Barminas has over 25 years’ experience as an academic with over 100 academic papers published in journals and presented at conferences.

    The new DG is also a professional

  • C’River: FG pledges full support for 275km superhighway, deep seaport

    C’River: FG pledges full support for 275km superhighway, deep seaport

    The Federal Government has pledged full support for the proposed Cross River 275km Super Highway and the Bakassi Deep Seaport.

    Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, made the pledge on Thursday in Calabar at a Town hall meeting with the people of the state.

    President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2015, performed the groundbreaking ceremony  of the Superhighway, which is one of Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River’s signature projects.

    He said that the federal government would support any genuine project by any state government for the benefit of the people.

    He said: “We are fully in support of the Super Highway and we will work with state the government to ensure its fruition.

    “The project will drive the state’s economy and Nigeria in general will benefit because the route will link other states of the federation,”.

    Osinbajo, who also inaugurated the Calabar Garment Factory in the course of his official visit, described it as a clear way of providing jobs for the unemployed.

    “ The garment factory is a clear example of how to provide jobs for the people and I urge other state governments to replicate the same in their states,” he said.

    He said that the federal government placed much emphasis on job creation and called for patience by the citizenry.

    He commended the beneficiaries of federal government’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) in the state, adding that government would do more to encourage young entrepreneurs.

    Osinbajo also said that the federal government would work with all stakeholders to ensure that the displaced people of Bakassi were adequately taken care of.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Acting President also performed the ground breaking of ceremony of Ayade Industrial Park/Rice Seedling factory and inaugurated the Calabar Mono Rail during the visit.

  • FG’s anti-corruption war on track – SERAP

    FG’s anti-corruption war on track – SERAP

    Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), says the anti-corruption war of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is on track.

    Mumuni spoke in Lagos on Wednesday at the launch of SERAP’s latest report titled, “Combating Grand Corruption: An Agenda for Institutional Reforms in Anti-corruption Strategies”.

    He faulted claims in some quarters that the anti-graft campaign was selective, saying anyone who flouted the nation’s laws was supposed to face the music.

    Mumuni said: “This is my professional opinion as a lawyer and social rights campaigner. I believe that the war against corruption by this administration is on track.

    “Until Buhari came along, nobody knew how much of our money was being stolen, especially in the guise of buying weapons to combat insurgency.

    “So, it does not really matter if you belong to the All Progressives Congress or the Peoples Democratic Party; if you cannot account for over 2 billion dollars, then you deserve to face prosecution.”

    He explained that corruption eroded confidence in, and respect for democratic institutions, and was as an obstacle to social, economic and human development.

    Mumuni said the anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria, however, face challenges of inadequate legal framework and resources.

    As part of SERAP’s recommendations, he urged government at all levels to provide stronger and more concerted approach to tackling grand corruption in Nigeria.

    Mumuni urged the Attorney General of the Federation and those of the states to seek stiffer penalties for convicted corrupt officials and to minimise the use of plea bargaining to serve as deterrent.

    Also speaking, Dr. Olajumoke Akiode, Director, Centre for Ethics and Sustainable Development, called for attitudinal change in the fight against corruption.

    “Until the citizens come together and say `enough is enough`, we cannot win this fight against corruption,” she said.

    On his part, Mr. Babatunde Ogala, a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, noted that undue pressure placed on politicians by their constituents had also contributed to widespread corruption in the country.

    Ogala said, “Nigerian politicians are not measured by what they contribute to good governance but the assistance rendered to various individuals in their constituencies.

    “So, the society itself invests in corruption and that it why a collective effort is required to address this issue.”

  • My relationship with Buhari cordial, says Saraki

    My relationship with Buhari cordial, says Saraki

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki said on Tuesday that his relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari remained cordial, despite false claims in some social media.
    He made this known when the National Executive of the Islamic group, Jamaatu Izalatul Bidiah Wa Ikamatus Sunnali (JIBWS) led by its President, Mohammed Jingiri visited him at the National Assembly.
    The President of the Senate debunked allegations that he and the Senate are working against President Buhari.
    ”I want to assure you of the good cooperation between the legislative arm and executive led by President Muhammudu Buhari.
    ” Since the commencement of this Senate, I think we had about 196 requests from President Buhari for confirmation of his nominees and we have confirmed 185.
    “I think, we have only rejected 11. By Mathematics, that is over 90 per cent.
    “I want to assure you there is a lot of noise, you will see in the newspapers, radio and social media, please, be assured that the two arms of government are working closely together, more than in past sessions of the Senate.
    ” In January, I went to see him and assured him of our cooperation and we have continued to work closely.
    “I want to assure you as we always say, let us be judged by our actions and not by talk
    ”I want you to convey the same message to your followers, who because of social media and the fake news they hear over radio, they get wrong impression that we in the Senate are working against the President.
    I assure you that we have a very cordial relationship with the Executive,” he said.
    Saraki also reaffirmed the commitment of the Senate in ensuring good governance, economic stability and creation of jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
    He promised to ensure that all Bills to be passed by the Senate would ensure that religious sentiments of Nigerians were taken into consideration.
    The Senate President told the group that the Gender Bill currently before the National Assembly would be fair to all religious groups.
    ” I want to reassure you on our greatest concern, particularly in the issue of Gender Bill. Here in the National Assembly, we pass laws and whatever law we pass, we take into consideration the religious aspects.
    ”There is no law that can disregard the religious sentiments of the citizens.
    “So, we have discussed that whatever final version of the law that will come for discussion, because it is still for discussion, it is just a proposal, it should not be one that would have conflict with religion. I want to assure you of that”, he said.
    According to him, the final version of the gender bill will be such that all religious sentiments are taken care of and Nigerians would be proud of.
    Saraki pledged that the senate will continue to play its roles by bringing political balancing and stability into consideration.
    “We will do what we know is best for this country. We will strive to work to keep this country together”, he said.
    Earlier, the leader of the group, Mohammed Jingirr commended the Senate President on his role in the arrangement that led to the rejection of the Muslim-Muslim Presidential ticket for the All Progressives Congress ( APC) in the 2015 presidential elections.
    He added that Nigeria was not ripe for such an arrangement, which did not take into consideration the need for religious balance in the country, as all religious interest must be represented at all times, including elections.
    According to him, religious balancing must at all times be respected in Nigeria as only this will ensure harmony.
    The Islamic cleric also commended the National Assembly for rejecting same sex marriages and capital punishment, describing them as unIslamic.
    He also urged the Senate President to ensure that the current Gender Bill reflects the tenets of all religions.
    Sheik Jingiri called on the Senate to ensure equality of representations in political appointments in line with the population of states.
    He also called for cordial relationship between all arms of government for the benefit of the people.
    The leader of JIBWS prayed for the quick recovery of President Buhari, who is currently on medical vacation in London.