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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Mohammed, Fashola, Onu set to retain cabinet seats

    There were strong indications last night that between 12 and 15 ex-ministers will join President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

    It was learnt that the ex-ministers’ names are on the list which was reportedly submitted to Senate President Ahmed  Lawan on Wednesday.

    But there was still a pall of uncertainty on the size of the cabinet.

    The President has the constitutional right to have a 36-man or a 42-man cabinet.

    The President is said to have decided to retain some of the ex-ministers on merit.

    Those speculated to be on the list last night are ex-Ministers of Justice and AGF Abubakar Malami ( SAN); Adamu Adamu( Education); Hadi Sirika ( Aviation); Zainab Ahmed (Finance); Aisha Abubakar (Women Affairs); Lai Mohammed ( Information); Babatunde Fashola (Works, Power and Housing); Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation); Mohammed Musa Bello( FCT); Suleiman Adamu Kazaure (Water Resources); Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (Science & Technology); Solomon Dalung (Sports & Youths Development) and others.

    Although Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, former governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti) and Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos) were also being speculated last night to have made the list, none of our sources could confirm such speculations.

    The sources confirmed that some ex-ministers, such as Adebayo Shittu (Communications) and Okechukwu Enelamah (Trade and Industry) lost the battle to return to the cabinet.

    A government source said: “I know that the two women ex-ministers are returning to the cabinet. We have a few others who have really added value that the President will be retaining.

    “It is not a total overhaul, which you are anticipating. What the President promised was to leave sustainable legacies in his second term.”

    Read Also: Breaking: Buhari to submit ministerial list this week

    As of press time, it was difficult to ascertain whether or not the President of the Senate had received the ministerial list.

    A principal officer of the National Assembly said “Lawan dropped a hint that he will receive the list on Wednesday”.

    Another source said: “I think the list is already with the Senate President and some officers but they said it will not be made public until Thursday.”

    A source in the Presidency simply said: “All things being equal, the Senate will receive the list on Thursday morning. “

    It was uncertain whether or not the President will retain the 36- member cabinet in his first term or expand it.

    Section 147(1-3), provides that the President should have no fewer than 36 ministers at one per state.

    The section reads:   “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President.

    “Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.

    “Any appointment under Subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of Section 14(3) of this Constitution:

    ”Provided that in giving effect to the Provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state.”

    Lawan confirmed on Wednesday that the list of ministers will be out this week.

    President Buhari had promised to appoint into his cabinet those who would help him to implement his “Next Level” programmes.

    Lawan spoke during plenary on Wednesday, following a Point of Order by Senator Albert Bassey Akpan (Akwa Ibom Northeast).

    Akpan, who spoke under personal explanation, prayed the Senate to mount pressure on Buhari to transmit the list to the chamber.

    The senator reminded his colleagues that the Senate would embark on its annual recess within the next two weeks.

    He stressed the need for Buhari to transmit the list before the recess.

    Akpan said: “Mr. President, in view of the yearly long recess the Senate and the House of Representatives will embark upon in two weeks, there is need to urge President Muhammadu Buhari to forward the much expected ministerial list to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

    “This is very important because if such list is not made available for the required legislative attention before we embark on the long recess, there will be no ministers and, by extension, the federal cabinet for the President to work with till September.

    “Making the list more urgent now from the President before our long recess, is the fact that if it is not made available, the concerted effort being made by both arms of government to return to the yearly budget cycle of January to December will be defeated.

    “On this note, I call on the President of the Senate to inform President Muhammadu Buhari of the need for the ministerial list before we embark on recess.”

    Lawan said: “Let me, on the strength of this motion, inform the Senate that the Executive arm of government is working very hard on the ministerial list.

    “In fact, the list, based on information at my disposal, will be forwarded to us by the President before the end of this week.

    “May I, therefore, appeal to us all to be ready to make the necessary sacrifice in terms of sufficient time to be spent in carrying out thorough screening and confirmation of appointments of the expected ministerial nominees.”

  • Only National Assembly can restructure Nigeria, says Osoba

    To former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, only the National Assembly has the constitutional power to restructure the country.

    He made the remark in a chat with State House reporters after presenting a copy of his book: “Battlelines: Adventures in journalism and politics” to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

    According to him, he also reported the political situation of his state to the President.

    The new governor of the state, Dapo Abiodun, he said, has started governance on a very good note.

    According to him, the President has given an instruction that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to give Ogun State maximum support in agriculture.

    Asked if he advised the President on the issues of restructuring and devolution of powers, Osoba said: “I have said it and I am one of the founders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I would not discuss in details because I have access, I am part of the presidency because the President is our president.

    “But I can tell you, all this noise about restructuring, we in the APC put devolution of power, true federalism in our manifesto and we’ve moved far from there to where a committee was set up, headed by the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.

    “That committee has submitted its report; that report has been presented to us in the caucus and the President was there, the president endorsed the outcome.

    “I want Nigerians to please, give us time. I hope and pray that at the right time, the government or the party would send that report to National Assembly for debate.

    “I would say with all authority that restructuring lies with National Assembly. The President is not a military president; he cannot change anything by decree. Sovereignty in Nigeria now is vested in the National Assembly.

    “Those agitating for sovereign national conference must go through the National Assembly and unless the National Assembly surrenders part of its powers by an Act, there can never be sovereign national conference.

    Read Also: Osoba @ 80: A protege remembers

    “Secondly, agitation for referendum; there must be an act of the National Assembly to create that referendum. It’s not the president that would by fiat or by executive order for referendum.

    “It must go through the National Assembly and that is why I plead with our elders: Pa Edwin Clark, Pa Adebanjo, Prof Banji Akintoye, all across Nigeria, they met with the Eight Senate and they heard what that National Assembly has done in terms of the review of the constitution.

    “They should come back and tell us. We cannot move forward until we recognise the importance and the powers vested in the National Assembly. And for restructuring, let us go through the legal route.”

    Asked to clarify whether the chieftains of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), who agreed to serve in military administration of the late Gen. Sani Abacha got the nod of the winner of the June 12 presidential election, the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the former Ogun governor said the late politician gave his nod.

    Osoba said: “There have been a lot of blackmail and denigration of people. For example, people like Jakande, Onagoruwa, late Alex Ibru, they said that they went and collaborated with Abacha which is not true.

    “Solomon Lar, Abubakar Rimi and all others were all in a meeting in MKO Bashorun Abiola’s house on a Sunday after the late Gen. Abacha seized power on November 17, 1993 and kicked us out.

    “The following Sunday, we met in Bashorun MKO Abiola’s house and we debated with chieftains of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) and we that produced him as president and made June 12 possible agreed that those that may be invited to come and serve the country, should serve but remain loyal to the mandate and use their influence to perhaps persuade the military to return the mandate to Abiola. Iyorchia Ayu was one of them, he was former Senate President.

    “I can call many of them who were at the meeting in which MKO Abiola presided. So, I have to clear this doubt that Abiola had knowledge and gave approval to serve in Abacha’s government.”

  • NJC to Buhari: appoint Muhammad as substantive CJN

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad to President Muhammadu Buhari for confirmation as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

    It was learnt that the NJC chose Justice Muhammad ahead of the second most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, who was interviewed with Justice Muhammad.

    Justice Muhammad’s choice was said to have been in furtherance of the tradition of succession by seniority.

    Justice Muhammad was appointed as acting CJN following the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen who was arraigned by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for some infractions in his assets declaration forms.

    Justice Onnoghen was found guilty by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), which recommended him for sack.

    But the President later accepted the voluntary retirement which the former CJN tendered earlier while on suspension and before the conclusion of his trial by the CCT.

    In a statement on Wednesday, NJC’s spokesman Soji Oye said the recommendation of Justice Muhammad for CJN was among many other decisions taken at the emergency meeting of the Council.

    Oye said the NJC also recommended names of judges to be appointed as Chief Judges and Grand Kadis for Lagos, Sokoto, Anambra, Ebonyi, Niger, Taraba, Kano and Jigawa states.

    For Lagos, the NJC recommended Justice Kazeem O. Alogba: Justice Muhammad S. Sifawa (Sokoto); Justice Ijem Onwuamaegbu (Anambra); Justice Nwaigwe A. Anselm (Ebonyi); Justice Aliyu M. Mayaki (Niger) and Justice Filibus B. Andetur (Taraba).

    Read Also: Acting CJN justifies Onnoghen’s suspension

    The NJC recommended Justice Filibus B. Andetur for appointment as the Grand Khadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kano and Kadi Isa Jibrin Gantsa as the Grand Khadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Jigawa.

    Oye said the newly appointed heads of courts would be sworn-in after the approval of the President and the Governors and confirmation by the Senate and state Houses of Assembly.

    He said the NJC also received retirement notifications from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court;  Chief Judges of Gombe, Edo, Niger and Ebonyi states.

    Oye added that the NJC also received retirement notices from the Acting Chief Judge of Kebbi State and nine other judges from the Federal High Court and High Courts of Gombe, Delta, Edo, Imo, Benue and Katsina states.

    The NJC, Oye said, commended Buhari for his unequivocal position on the financial autonomy for the states’ judiciary and called on the governors to, as a matter of urgency, begin its immediate implementation.

    Oye added that the NJC was of the view that the need for the governors to respect the financial autonomy of the judiciary “is not only in line with the constitutional dictates, but presently the judicial position.”

     

  • What Nigerians expect from new NNPC helmsman

    Sir: Mele Kolo Kyari, the new Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has promised to revive Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries, bring to an end the recurrent fuel scarcity and fuel importation as well, before the end of President Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2023. Can Kyari revive the refineries as well as end fuel importation and the annoying fuel scarcity forever? Many Nigerians are skeptical, because many GMDs before Kyari have made similar promises, but couldn’t achieve 100 % result.

    Nigeria imports most of its required refined petroleum products because the four state-owned refineries seldom meet their combined 445,000 bpd capacity due to nearly four decades of neglect, mismanagement, and periodic attacks on the oil pipelines.

    Acute scarcity of petroleum products in Nigeria dates back to the early days of oil production in the country. It irritates most Nigerians and also puts any NNPC-GMD on the edge of his or her seat.

    The solutions to fuel scarcity and meeting refining capacity are thorny: NNPC’s continued massive importation is unarguably expensive and unsustainable; re-introduction of the subsidy regime is corruption-prone; complete liberalization or deregulation comes with high prices, public backlash and job losses, while construction of new refineries and rehabilitation of the existing ones are capital intensive and an extremely time-consuming process.

    The long term solution to fuel importation and the  recurrent scarcity of petroleum products in Nigeria is what is critically needed. The long term is double-pronged; completely deregulate the industry and bring Nigeria’s refinery capacity to what oil refining experts call a high Nelson Complexity Index. A Nelson Complexity Index of 10 or above is indicates a refinery has high potential in value addition and high value products.

    Nevertheless, with the right approach, coupled with the available cheap and easily accessible crude oil, competent manpower and funds, Nigeria’s refineries would operate at near 100 per cent utilization with minimal downtime. What is that right approach? – effective management of Nigeria’s 5,120km pipelines network, efficient management of the nation’s four refineries and building of new refineries.

    The biggest problem facing the oil pipelines in Nigeria are: incessant illegal tapping by oil thieves, sabotage, right-of-way incursions, slow detection of leaks and in-line equipment failure due to inaccessible sites, including the old-fashioned method of managing the pipelines. However, there are advanced technologies that can successfully tackle these problems: SCADA- Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, Fiber Optic Cable (FOC) and Go-devils /scrapers or Smart pigs (also known as intelligent pigs). SCADA or FOC provide advanced warning in real time which helps pipelines companies to take quick action to protect long-stretch of pipelines network, even if it is located in inaccessible areas where visual inspection might be difficult. The impressive aspect of the SCADA and FOC technologies is that they sense and locate interference before the pipelines damage takes place. Smart pigs are used for detecting anomalies in pipelines or other mechanical damages. As for right of ways incursion, experts argue that the best way to tackle it is via community involvement through sustainable CSR projects and programmes. In addition, a robust standby force is needed to effectively man the security of the pipelines.

    Our refineries are not working because of poor management system. Since government will not privatize them, let the government put up effective conditions for their operations: the four refineries should be granted full autonomy to cater for themselves- pay their bills and dividends to the government. When the workers know that the refineries output will determine their take-home pay; things may change.

    It is also very commendable that Mr. Kyari also agrees that the Dangote refinery is essential to Nigeria in meeting her plan to triple her refining capacity to 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd). Apart from reviving the four refineries, Mr. Kyari should go modular, mini and mobile refineries: There are affordable 1,000 bpd – 30,000 bpd Modular refineries whose equipment units are pre-fabricated on skid-mounted structures prior to shipment to any location. If this is done, the new GMD has found one of the keys to fulfil his promises. However, For Mr. Kyari to achieve 100% success, he has to keep up and bring-out the benefits of the painstaking reforms, utilize his in-house experiences to put the right people and policies in the right position and time. Nevertheless, Kyari has some painstaking tasks ahead in the area of touching the life of every Nigerian – which is NNPC’s Unique Selling Point.

     

    • Zayyad I. Muhammad, Jimeta, Adamawa State.

  • AFCON 2019: Buhari hails victorious Super Eagles

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Super Eagles for another spectacular outing that has confirmed Nigeria’s progress to the next level in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Egypt 2019.

    Nigeria beat South Africa 2-1 on Wednesday night.

    With a well-deserved victory over the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, President Buhari believed, like millions of other sports-loving Nigerians, that the mission of having the trophy in our hands for the fourth time is almost accomplished for the high flying Eagles.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, urged the team and their handlers to remain focused, disciplined and scale the remaining two hurdles to glory.

    Read Also: Just In: Buhari approves N5b for research in tertiary institutions

    He affirmed that the crop of players in the national football team represent the resilient and indomitable Nigerian spirit, which must be reflected in all other areas of national life.

    President Buhari assured the players that Nigerians are praying for them to fly higher and get to the peak of the tournament, knowing that the taste of victory is sweet and what they have achieved so far is pleasing to Nigerians irrespective of ethnic, religious or political inclination.

  • 9.8m pupils have benefited from school feeding programme – Presidency

    The Federal Government’s National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) now feeds over 9.8 million pupils daily in 32 states.

    Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, also said that Yobe has joined the programme.

    Under the NHGSFP, school children in over 53,000 public primary schools are fed with one free, nutritious meal a day, while it has engaged over 106,000 cooks in the 32 states.

    The 32 states currently benefiting from the school feeding programme are Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kogi, Sokoto, and Nasarawa.

    Others include Taraba, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Plateau, Delta, Zamfara, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Niger, Katsina, Ondo, Edo, Gombe, Ekiti, and Yobe states.

    In the second term of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the programme has a target of reaching well over 12 million pupils in all the 36 states and the FCT.

    Read Also: Presidency tackles Atiku over comments on judgement

    More so, the Federal Government has commenced the distribution of aluminium bowls and spoons for pupils in public primary schools in six states currently benefiting from the School Feeding Programme.

    Under the First phase of the distribution, over 2.4 million bowls and spoons will be distributed in Plateau State (314,082), Adamawa (182,144), Kaduna (834,130), Katsina (742, 689), Oyo (199, 922), Delta (136, 710) and Ebonyi (73, 513).

    The School feeding programme has not only helped to increase enrolment rates of pupils in the states, it is also effectively tackling early year malnutrition and the problem of stunting, while improving the cognitive skills of children.

    The programme has also provided sustainable income for local farmers, jobs for cooks as well as increasing growth and productivity in the local economies.

    NAN

     

     

     

  • Tribunal hears PDM’s application to withdraw petition against Buhari July 18

    The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has fixed July 18 to entertain an application filed by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Chief Frank Igwebuike, seeking to withdraw from challenging President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election.

    Justice Mohammed Garba fixed the date on Wednesday after the panel discovered that the application was not ripe for hearing.

    News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) reports that PDM and its candidate, Mr Aminchi Habu had jointly filed the petition to challenge the outcome of the Feb.23 presidential election.

    Mr Morrison Onunu, Counsel for the national chairman of the party had informed the tribunal of his need to file further counter affidavit against Habu’s reply to the application.

    However, Mr Yunus Usman, SAN, Counsel for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Counsel for the president, and Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Counsel for the All Progressive Congress (APC) urged the court to hear the application.

    The application was brought pursuant to Rule 29 of the Rule of Procedure for Election Petition and Section 6 (6)of the Constitution.

    The applicant is seeking an order of the tribunal to grant leave to the second petitioner (PDM) to withdraw as a petitioner in the petition marked: CA/PEPC/004/2019 in its entirety.

    Read Also:  Buhari to submit ministerial list this week

    The applicant further seeks an order striking out the second petitioner (PDM) as a petitioner with above code number.

    Igwebuike is also seeking such further or other orders as the court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

    Speaking to newsmen after the session, Onunu, said the decision to apply for the withdrawal of the petition was in the interest of the nation.

    The counsel for the applicant also explained that the National Working Committee of the party decided to withdraw the petition against the president to allow him concentrate in delivering good governance.

    “We have resolved not to be part of those using the tribunal to distract the president from doing his job.

    “The party is also interested in the peace presently enjoyed in the country and would not use this petition to destabilize the country,’’ Onunu said.

  • Breaking: Buhari, Baru, Kyari meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with the new and immediate past Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting started around 11.30am at the President’s office.

    Melee Kolo Kyari had formally taken over from Maikanti Baru on Monday as the 19th GMD of NNPC.

    The duo arrived the Presidential Villa around 11.05am

    Read Also: Buhari pledges support for Libya’s stability

    Baru had retired from the service of the corporation on July 7 after reaching the statutory 60 years retirement age.

    Before his appointment, Kyari was Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division of the NNPC.

    He was also the Nigerian National Representative at the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since 2018.

    He is believed to be committed to the emergence of an open, transparent and accountable industry based on international best practice, principles and standards.

    The meeting with the President was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Buhari pledges support for Libya’s stability

    President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged Nigeria’s continued support for Libya’s quest to regain political and security stability.

    Buhari spoke during a bilateral meeting with the Head of Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez Al-Sarraj, on the margins of the African Union Summit in Niamey, Niger Republic, on Sunday.

    He noted that there were over 6,000 Nigerians in Libya, who see Libya as a gateway to Europe.

    “We will do our best to help Libya stabilize”, he said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina

    The President also discussed recent developments in the North African country, as well as bilateral issues between Nigeria and Libya with Mr. Al-Sarraj.

    Buhari said the humanitarian crisis arising from insurgency and drying up of Lake Chad, which has affected over 30 million people who depended on the Lake for farming, fishing and animal husbandry, and has forced some Nigerians to defy the desert to make perilous journeys across the Mediterranean and the Sahara Desert to Europe.

    Also, in a separate audience with UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, President Buhari stressed the role the international community needs to play in recharging the Lake, noting that the financial cost was beyond the affected countries.

    Read Also: Election Tribunal: Why I criticise Buhari, by Galadima

    He decried the menace of terrorism in the Sahel countries, saying the instability in Libya has been a negative force on the Sahel.

    Al-Sarraj told Buhari that there had been a lot of deaths and injuries in his country. He, however, pledged that his government was determined to end the situation.

    “The aggression must stop. The solution is not military alone, we also believe in diplomacy. We are also victims of terrorism, just like Nigeria,” he said.

    He said Libya contributed a lot to the establishment and survival of the AU, adding that it was now time for Africa to reciprocate.

    Ms. Mohammed told the President that growing security challenges in Africa were adversely affecting development and undermining the attainment of Sustaining Development Goals (SDGs).

    According to her, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will host the SDGs Summit during the high-level week of the 74th Session of the General Assembly in September, and will use the occasion to call for a road map for a decade of delivery of the sustainable development targets.

  • Anambra community petitions Buhari against IG 

    Residents of Abba, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the Police Service Commission (PSC) to rescue them from the Inspector General of Police (IG) and his “foot soldiers”.

    The petition was signed by the President-General B. C. Anaekwe and Secretary-General Ernest Udedibia.

    The community has been in turmoil because of the alleged invasion of its land by Ukpo community, using the police to harass and intimidate youths, elderly and women.

    However, the community has vowed not to allow anybody or group take over its land by force, unless, according to it, the court permits that.

    The petition was copied to the National Security Adviser to the President, the Chief Justice of the Federation and other relevant bodies.

    The community said the IG should channel his strength to finding lasting solution to Boko Haram insurgence, kidnappings and herdsmen issues rather than engaging himself in “abetting and aiding illegal boundary demarcations”.

    The petition reads: “Abba community has been under police siege in the last one month. Precisely on June 19 and July 5, the police commissioner, on the orders of the Inspector General of Police (IG), mobilised over 500 policemen to stop our people from trading at the Oye Abba market at Abba Junction, on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

    “The IG also directed the commissioner to ensure that Abba people are not allowed into the market again, with a command to mobilise the forces under his command to deal ruthlessly with the people should they resist the forceful takeover of their land by Ukpo community.

    Read Also: Election Tribunal: Why I criticise Buhari, by Galadima

    “What we are asking is when has the job of providing security by the police changed to land dispute settlement and boundary demarcation? Abba Community is calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, the International Community and concerned Nigerians to know what we are experiencing and save us from total extinction from our land. The desperation and brigandage employed by Ukpo Community and involvement of the police in this land matter is what we cannot understand.

    “The land is not running away, it is still there, so if in the end the court says it belongs to them, we will accept the decision. But we shall resist anything in the contrary aimed at forcefully and illegally taking over of our inheritance from us. We pray for peace to reign in Nigeria as we have more than enough security challenges facing us.”

    Anambra police spokesman Mohammed Haruna said he would not make any comments until the petition was served his command.