The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Osinbajo briefs Buhari, says ‘I’m back to my position as Vice-President’

    Osinbajo briefs Buhari, says ‘I’m back to my position as Vice-President’

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on some of his activities as acting president while the president was away in London.

    Osinbajo who made this known after a closed door meeting with the president in Abuja, said “I’m back to my regular position as Vice-President.”

    He said that the president, who was updated on national and international issues as they concerned the country, gave specific directives on the next steps to be taken.

    “We just had a very long meeting. As you can see we were basically trying to bring the President up to speed on some of the things we have done while he was away‎.

    “He has given a few directives on what we should be doing on so many areas, the Northeast, budget, the economy, a wide range of issues,” he said.

    On the readiness of the president to resume work, the vice-president said he had already handed over the governance of the nation to the president.

    “He’s held a meeting with me for well over an hour now where we discussed a wide range of issues.

    “So, his readiness for work isn’t in doubt at all. As a matter of fact I think he is over ready.

    “Oh yes! I’m back to my regular position as vice president,” Osinbajo said.

    On whether the president was impressed with his performance as acting president, Osinbajo said President Buhari “was reasonable satisfied”.

    Osinbajo dismissed the assertion that there might be a lot of delegation of duties to him, due to the health of the president.

    According to him, nothing will be done without the president’s clearance.

    He said: “I think the president, as you know, has always given me several responsibilities.

    “I think what we must recognise is that the way this administration work is that it has always been team work.

    “Very little is done without the president’s clearance.

    “Generally speaking, even with responsibilities that are my constitutional responsibilities, we have full discussions on them, we have full agreements on all of those issues.’’

     

  • NANS to submit anti-corruption report to Buhari

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Sunday in Abuja, said its report on anti-corruption was ready for submission to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    NANS President, Mr Chinonso Obasi disclosed this when speaking with newsmen at the side-lines of a thanksgiving service to mark the return of Buhari at Faith Miracle Centre International(FMCI).

    NANS had on March 8 declared a three-day prayer for the quick recovery and early return of Buhari to Nigeria.

    He said that God had answered the prayers of over 40 million Nigerian students as the president, who had been on extended medical vacation, returned within the period of the prayer.

    Obasi said that students were grateful to God for granting their prayers.

    “The urgent appeal I am making to Mr President, which is why we prayed for him to recover and come back, is to urgently order the anti-graft agencies to beam their searchlight on our tertiary institutions.

    “We have done a lot of work underground; any time within the week, we will be submitting our report on anti-corruption war we have been fighting.

    “We believe so much that he will swing into action.

    “We are pleading with Mr President to set up a special anti-corruption court; there is no gainsaying, we are fighting corruption and people found guilty keep on appealing,’’ he said.

    Obasi said that Nigerian students were the most marginalised group in Nigeria and appealed to the president to subsidise education.

    According to the NANS president, when a Nigerian child is trained, the nation is trained.

    He said it was wrong to leave the responsibility of training a Nigerian child to the parents because untrained children were tools for militancy and insurgency.

    Earlier in a special prayer for Buhari, Pastor Faith Vedelago thanked God for restoring the president’s health and bringing him back to Nigeria.

    She commended NANS for making out time to fast and pray for the president.

    “I will advise the president to also be prayerful; I believe that God will give him the wisdom to lead the nation well.

    “God said we should pray for our leaders and that is what we are doing; I believe that God will give him the grace to lead.

    “God has never forsaken Nigeria and I know he will not forsake us this time around,’’ she said.

    She said that if the citizens played their roles with commitment, things would be easy for the leaders.

     

  • President Buhari felicitates with renowned poet, Niyi Osundare at 70

    President Buhari felicitates with renowned poet, Niyi Osundare at 70

    President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the literary world in congratulating a renowned academic, poet, columnist and dramatist, Prof. Niyi Osundare, as he turns 70.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina in Abuja on Sunday, Buhari felicitated with all the friends, colleagues and family members of the literary icon.

    The president noted that Osundare, who through courage and the power of the pen, had contributed immensely to the political history of Nigeria.

    According to him, the septuagenarian’s sacrifices over the years can only be rewarded with strong democratic institutions that guarantee free and fair elections, and effective governance that provides security, good health facilities and sound education to its citizenry.

    President Buhari commended “the disciplined, forthright and diligent spirit of the erudite scholar whose written works already span the globe’’.

    He further noted with delight that the written works had continued to attract “numerous awards, and whose voice of wisdom will continue to resonate through generations’’.

    The president prayed that the almighty God would grant Osundare longer life, good health and more wisdom to serve humanity.

     

  • 130 Nigerian youths complete seafarers’ graduate programme in Egypt

    The Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) has produced 130 cadets graduates from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Alexandria, Egypt.

    NSDP is an initiative of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, said this in a message to the graduation ceremony in Egypt, made available by the Head, Corporate Communications of the agency, Mr Isichie Osamgbi, on Sunday in Lagos.

    Peterside was represented at the graduation ceremony by the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr Gambo Ahmed.

    According to Peterside, this feat has further increased the pool of seafarers in the sector; as it brings to 1,045, the total number of graduates from the NSDP project.

    He said the number of graduates represented 42 per cent of the over 2,500 NIMASA-sponsored beneficiaries.

    According to the director-general, NIMASA sponsored over 2,500 aspiring cadets to the best maritime institutions around the world including Egypt, Romania, The Philipines, UK as well as India.

    He said 226 cadets graduated from the Arab Academy in Egypt, 76 from South Tyneside, Newcastle in England, while 743 graduated from various partner universities in The Philippines.

    Peterside congratulated the graduands, who had their degrees in various maritime -related disciplines ranging from marine transport and logistics, nautical engineering.

    He advised the graduands to utilise the knowledge they acquired to improve on the fortunes of the Nigerian maritime industry.

    The director-general said that the school had agreed to partner with NIMASA in providing sea time training for the graduating students and other NSDP graduands from other schools, which had hitherto been a challenge.

    He said that this would further complement the agency’s other efforts in getting sea time training for graduate cadets.

    Peterside said NIMASA was exploring other avenues to enrich the NSDP programme.

    He said that the impact of the programme would be felt worldwide, as Nigeria would soon start exporting seafarers like the Philippines and other reputable maritime nations.

    “This will reduce unemployment in the country and attract the much-needed foreign exchange,’’ the director-general said.

    The graduands expressed appreciation for the opportunity granted them to excel and pledged to use the knowledge acquired to enhance the Nigerian maritime sector.

    The youths spoke with the Coordinator of NSDP scheme, Mr Victor Egejuru, Deputy Director, Maritime Labour in NIMASA and thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Management of NIMASA for the opportunity to progress in their career and in growing maritime capacity.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NSDP initiative was floated by NIMASA in 2008 to curb the dearth of trained and certified seafarers in the country.

     

  • Orji Kalu says Buhari’s return stabilised polity

    Orji Kalu says Buhari’s return stabilised polity

    A former governor of Abia, Dr Orji Kalu, says the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from the United Kingdom on Friday has brought stability into the polity.

    Kalu told newsmen in Lagos on Sunday that Nigerians were happy that the president was back in good health.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president went on vacation to the UK on Jan. 20, and also met with his doctors during the trip before returning on Friday.

    Kalu said: “Now that the president is back, I am very happy; we have been praying.

    “Both Christians and Muslims have been praying because the country has been so polarised that the fabrics of our nation have been eaten with tribalism and religion.

    “So I am very happy that the president is back and I want him to listen to his doctor’s advice and continue to take his medication, if any’’.

    The former governor noted that the president had kept his campaign promise of restoring peace to the North Eastern part of the country, which had been facing insurrection from the Boko Haram sect.

    “I know that the president has done well in the area of defence and pursuing Boko Haram; I congratulate him as Commander in Chief.

    “I also praise the service chiefs – the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and the Inspector General of Police as well as the Director of State Service for their backup operation on Boko Haram,’’ he said.

    He, however, called on the government to intensify efforts towards improving the economic situation in the country.

    “Buhari took over when there were a lot of doubts in the economy; he took over when the oil prices went down sharply.

    “And whenever your expenditure is more than your income, then there is already recession.

    “So I am not sure that recession is just going to end so soon.

    “I believe now that the president is back, he should be able to fine-tune the economic team and put some recovery policies in place’’.

    He advised the economic team to be more serious, out looking and no to take anything for granted.

    “The most important thing government should look into is the issue of electricity and internal security.

    “Internal security and electricity are the engine room that drives development and the future of any country.

    “I believe these things can be done,’’ Kalu said.

    He also commiserated with the families of Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, former governor of the Old Western Region and Brig.-Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia, former governor of the defunct Bendel State, who passed on recently.

    Kalu said their wealth of experience would be greatly missed by the country and he prayed God to grant them eternal rest.

    NAN reports that Kalu, formerly a staunch member the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016 defected to the ruling APC.

    The former governor had told the gathering that he joined the APC to help “diffuse tensions that the party is an ethnic or religious contraption”.

     

  • We must do more to educate our children – Buhari

    We must do more to educate our children – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called for more concerted efforts in ensuring that all Nigerian children get good education in order to be relevant in a world driven by new technology.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, on his Facebook page, said Buhari stated this while speaking to some governors, members of the Federal Executive Council, service chiefs and senior government officials in Abuja.

    Adesina stated that Buhari was speaking after his return from London.

    Buhari said the world was fast changing, and more efforts must be made to equip the younger generation with relevant skills to compete in the global economy.

    ‘‘My single advice is that we must take education seriously, and we must do much more to educate our children,’’ he said.

    Buhari noted that the government would continue to discourage Nigerians from self-medication, urging those with discomforts to ensure they get proper diagnosis and doctor’s prescription for drugs.

    He lauded the quality of treatment he got during his medical vacation.

    The president said he had been conscious of the challenges faced in repositioning the economy of the country, noting that it would receive more attention.

    Buhari said he was pleased with the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who provided good leadership during his stay in London for medical attention.

    The president said he had planned to take a vacation in January, 2017, after asking the Vice President to take a holiday in December, 2016.

    Buhari pointed out that the team spirit with the vice president would be further strengthened in tackling the myriad challenges in the economy.

     

  • Buhari to inform NASS of his return on Monday 

    Buhari to inform NASS of his return on Monday 

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday transmit a letter to the National Assembly informing the legislature of his return to the country.

    Buhari, who left the country on the 19th of January, returned to the country on Friday.

    When seeking extension of his vacation in February, Buhari in his letter to the National Assembly had not disclosed when he will return to the country.

    A posting on the Twitter handle of the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, on Friday said that the President will transmit a letter to the National Assembly on Monday to inform them of his return to the country.

    It reads: “PMB will Monday transmit letter to N’ Assembly on his return to the country. That makes his return to work formal, and constitutional.”

     

  • I am not frustrating Lagos state govt, says Fashola

    I am not frustrating Lagos state govt, says Fashola

    The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing says allegation that it is frustrating the developmental initiatives of Lagos State Government is untrue.

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode had recently accused the ministry of frustrating his administration’s efforts to carry out a total reconstruction of the International Airport Road from Oshodi.

    Ambode also reportedly accused the ministry and security agents of denying the state government access to the Presidential Lodge in Lagos, six months after President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval.

    A statement on Friday in Abuja by Mr Hakeem Bello, Special Adviser, Communications to the ministry, said the minister, Mr Babatunde Fashola, had in 2016 approved the use of the Ministry of Works yard at Oworonsoki for Lagos State Government to create a lay-by to ease traffic.

    It further said that Fashola had also approved Lagos government’s request to manage the street lighting on the 3rd Mainland Bridge to support the security initiatives of the state.

    It said the ministry also supported the approval of a World Bank loan of 200 million dollars to Lagos State, a request denied it by the previous administration.

    On the International Airport Road being the grounds for the allegation, it said that the government had presented a request for four roads that it wished to take over.

    The ministry, however, said the request was inconsistent with its conditions for states to take over roads within their jurisdiction.

    It therefore said, “As far as the Presidential Lodge is concerned, it is under the management of the Presidency and not the ministry.

    “After the approval by Mr President that the Presidential Lodge be handed over to the state government, there was a directive to the ministry to work out the modalities for handing over.’’

    It said that the ministry had prepared a vesting instrument to convey the transfer and all that was needed was a survey plan.

    It said that the Presidential Lodge was a high security location and officials of the ministry also required security clearance to enter, to do any works, noting that access to the lodge was not under the control of the ministry.

    It said that the ministry remained committed to serving the government and people of Lagos and would treat all their requests on merit in accordance with necessary due process.

  • I thank God my husband is back – Mrs Buhari

    I thank God my husband is back – Mrs Buhari

    The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, received her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, amid cheers from families and well wishers, who joined her to welcome the President from medical vacation.

    Mrs Buhari, who received the President at about 9a.m. at the official residence in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, thanked Nigerians for their support and prayer for the President.

    The wife of the President was joined by Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, the wife of the Vice-President, wives of State Governors, Ministers, family members and her close associates.

    Mrs Buhari, who was happy at the return of her husband, expressed gratitude to Almighty God for the successful return of the President.

    In the same vein, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, has expressed her happiness for the successful return of the President.

    Oyo-Ita urged Nigerians to continue praying for their leaders to enable them deliver good governance to the people.

    Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the wife of the President Dr Hajo Sani, expressed her joy for the return of the President to the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that President Muhammadu Buhari, returned to Nigeria in the early hours of Friday from London, after 51 days of medical vacation.

    Buhari touched down at the new Kaduna International Airport at about 7.40 a.m on Friday, amid tight security.

  • Buhari arrives Aso Rock

    Buhari arrives Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday landed at the helipad in the
    Presidential Villa, Abuja at 8.42 a.m

    He flew in from Kaduna in NAF 541 and walked to his waiting car unaided.

    The President proceeded to the First Lady conference hall to meet with
    cabinet members and other guests.

    Security was tight at the seat of power with key top officials waiting at
    the helipad as early as 7 a. m. for the president’s arrival.

    The President had spent about 50 days on medical vacation in the United
    Kingdom since 19th of January.