President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic.
The meeting started at the President’s office around 11.30am.
It was still in progress at the time of filing this report
Tag: Muhammadu Buhari
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National interest will guide decision on AFCFTA, says Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said Nigeria will be guided by ‘‘national interest’’ in taking any decision on the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He made the remark while receiving National Council of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) led by its president, Engr Mansur Ahmed, at the State House, Abuja.
The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said he is ready to receive the report of a Committee set up to assess the potential costs and impact of signing the agreement establishing the AfCFTA for Nigeria.
He recalled that the Presidential Steering Committee on the AfCFTA Impact and Readiness Assessment Committee was inaugurated on October 22, 2018, with the mandate to assess the extent to which Nigeria was ready to join the agreement, and what the impact of doing so would be.
The Committee was initially given 12 weeks to conclude its assignment, after holding wide consultations with industry groups and stakeholders, including the MAN.
The President told National Council of MAN the AfCFTA is on the agenda for the upcoming AU Summit in Niamey, Niger Republic, in July.
‘‘I don’t think Nigeria has the capacity to effectively supervise and to ensure that our colleagues in AU don’t allow their countries to be used to dump goods on us to the detriment of our young industries and our capacity to utilize foreign exchange for imported goods,’’ he said.
President Buhari also promised to look into the presentation by MAN highlighting issues of concern to the manufacturing sector, namely the AfCFTA, Export Expansion Grant and other incentives, challenges with the 2019 fiscal policy measures, recent increase in NAFDAC charges, the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) (Amendment) Act, 2019, among others.
‘‘I assure you that I know the enormity of our problems in terms of population growth rate and teeming young people.
‘‘We need to move very fast, and the government will try and encourage you as very much as possible so that the problem of unemployment and the provision of other services relative to our population and state of development can be tolerated,’’ he said.
Speaking earlier in his remarks, the MAN president outlined some credible policies that have driven the economy forward in the first term of President Buhari.
Commending the Buhari administration for consistent efforts to sustain the growth trajectory anchored on improving the business environment, Engr Ahmed recognised the government’s efforts at improving the Ease of Doing Business Project, fight against corruption, focus on poverty reduction, job creation and inclusive growth as well as the launch of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
He, however, noted that despite the significant progress recorded in the last 4 years, ‘‘it is clear that our economy is still fragile.’’
‘‘With the GDP at 2.0 per cent and below the population growth rate, the clouds are still threatening and the task of driving the economy upwards is still enormous.
Read Also: ASUP lauds Buhari’s assent to Poly Act Bill
‘‘But Your Excellency we are encouraged by the very strong commitment you expressed only last week in your Democracy Day address.
‘‘You did say that in your second term, your administration will do, even more, not only to continue to drive the economy on the path of sustained growth but indeed to create a more inclusive and sustainable economy,’’ the MAN president said.
Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, he said the Council of MAN, sought the audience to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his successful re-election and also to share thoughts and views with him on the way the economy should be going forward.
He said “Over the past four years being the first term, we have seen a lot of efforts to redirect the economy and steer it in the direction of positively sustained growth. At the beginning of his first term, the economy was in recession. Efforts were made to turn around the country out of recession in 2017.
“We recognize that the economy is still fragile and a lot more needs to be done in the second term to keep the economy on the path of sustained growth.
“So, we came to share our thoughts on these Matters with Mr. President and also to thank him for his continued support to the manufacturing sector, because, on many occasions, when we raised issues, Mr. President had responded positively, paid keen attention to those issues.
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ASUP lauds Buhari’s assent to Poly Act Bill
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) on Wednesday lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Polytechnic Act Amendment Bill into law.
It’s National President, Mr Usman Dutse, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday, while reacting to the signing of the bill into law by the president.
Dutse said the union was happy that the bill was finally signed, hoping that all agencies concern would commence its implementation immediately.
He said the law when implemented, would bring development into the system, minimise internal challenges and conflicts in the sector and also increase efficiency in operations.
Dutse said the law would also minimise government’s interference and improve democracy in the sector and industrial harmony.
“We are happy that finally, the bill has been signed; and we thank God Almighty for this great feat we have recorded in the sector.
“The law is a paradigm shift in the polytechnic sector; it will address many challenges bedevilling the sector.
“We appreciate President Buhari for assenting to the bill because we made series of efforts in the sixth and seventh assembly, but all the efforts ended without any result.
“We thank God that this time, we were able to achieve something, and we believe it will be a paradigm shift in the sector.
“The law will bring development into the system, minimise internal challenges and conflict in the sector; it will bring about increase efficiency in operations, minimise government interference and improve democracy in the sector
“I want to encourage all stakeholders to implement the law. We are calling on all the agencies to immediately commence implementation.
We are appealing to all the agencies concern to do the needful without further delay,” he said.
Dutse urged the Federal Government to also continue with the efforts and give more attention to the sector.
Read Also: Buhari signs Polytechnic, National Institute for Security bills into law
He said that Polytechnic Act was just one of the many agitations and demands of the sector, urging the government to meet other demands.
“We are calling on the government, to without further delay, release the approved funds for the NEEDS assessment in all polytechnics, so that with the review of the law, everything will be complemented.
“The NEEDS assessment is to ensure a sustained and effective intervention in the infrastructure and other needs of our institutions, and it is long overdue.
“A good law without good infrastructure in the polytechnic will not yield the desired result; so we want government to improve infrastructure facilities in the sector.
“We also want government to meet all other demands which include reviewing the Memorandum of Action, release of the revitalisation fund, non-payment of salaries by some state governments, payment of CONTISS 15 arrears and HND/BSc dichotomy, among others,” he said.
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Don seeks more funding for research
Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) Prof Francis Eze has challenged the Federal Government to fund researches in universities and see the ingenuity of students and the academia.
Eze, who was speaking on the backdrop of a statement by President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigerian Universities are slow in research, noted that researches in any field are capital intensive and takes time to mature.
The Vice Chancellor spoke during a media parley to mark his third anniversary in office. He attributed the slow pace of research as observed by the president to lack of funding, saying funding is a critical aspect of research programmes.
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He said: “The Federal Government should establish functional research laboratories in the universities and see the ingenuity of our people. We have the best brains but we are hampered by lack of funding.
“Research is not something you expect the result immediately, you have to invest in research, it is a long term project.”
The don hinted that the university, in the last three years, has made remarkable breakthrough in academics, inventions and other core areas within its mandate. “We developed a tricycle that is powered with solar energy, we have tried to assemble a car, among several other inventions, we have great potentials but we have limitations because of funding”.
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Subsidy jinx
•FG’s resolve on turnaround maintenance of refineries won’t solve the problem
Finally, the Federal Government has gotten close to making its four refineries economically useful. It has entered into partnership with an Italian company to do a full turnaround maintenance of one of the country’s four refineries. But before reaching this stage, the four refineries: Old Port Harcourt Refinery with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per stream daily (bpsd); Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company with capacity for 125,000 bpsd; Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical with 110,000 bpsd capacity; and New Port Harcourt Refinery of 150,000 bpsd capacity had in the last four years cost the country N231billion for abysmal performance during the four years of Muhammadu Buhari’s first term as president.
Too much of the nation’s resources had been lost because of dilly-dallying on the part of governments for too long. If the four refineries had been put in good working condition in a timely manner, they could have been able to refine a total of 445,000 bpd for the benefit of consumers. With this number, locally refined premium motor spirit (PMS) could have met 50% of the country’s need that has hovered between 2017 and now around 750,000 and 850,000 barrels per day. And such development could have brought oil subsidy payment down considerably, thus raising the hope of ending decades-old oil subsidy payments for importation of petroleum products to meet domestic needs in Africa’s largest petroleum producer.
There may be no exaggeration for keen observers of Nigeria’s economy to feel, as many do, that the country must have been jinxed since the onset of post-military rule. For illustration, the first post-military government of General Olusegun Obasanjo inherited a regime of subsidy payments that had been created by years of erosion of capacity utilisation of each of the four refineries.
Even though Obasanjo got to the point of pushing for privatisation of the refineries, this move was aborted soon after Mr Umaru Yar’Adua became president, on account of what he saw as the need to perfect the privatisation process. After Yar’ Adua’s death, President Goodluck Jonathan could not in almost six years of his presidency fix the refineries, despite the high rhetoric about the imperative of making the refineries work as they should. And even in the last four years under a government elected on the platform of change, the refineries remained partially comatose till the recent announcement that one of the refineries is ready for proper turnaround maintenance.
The government-owned refineries have been financial liabilities to the nation for too long and it is about time the Federal Government took the right action. Although a lot of resources have been lost in the distant and immediate past, the decision of the Federal Government to begin to take the bull by the horn is welcome, because good moves are better late than never. Another positive side to the move to turn the refineries around is the information that the first maintenance will be completed within six months. This suggests that, with continued commitment on the part of the Federal Government to restore the four refineries to full capacity utilisation, a lot of the uncertainties that have bedeviled the supply of PMS may get substantially reduced within 24 months, should the government fix the refinery one after the other.
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With restoration of the four refineries to full utilisation and the likelihood that the 650,000 bpd capacity of the Dangote Refinery expected to come on stream within the next 18 months, Nigeria will be in a position to stop importing PMS and end payment of billions of naira subsidy, at least in the short-term.
But for the long term, there is reason for the government to pause for reflection on downstream and upstream sides of the petroleum sector. Current uncertainties about profitability of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) deserve a new policy attention. And the need to determine the fate of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is a necessary condition for the executive and legislative branches of government to think things through once and for all.
Even as the Federal Government has decided to do turnaround maintenance of the refineries, there is still the need for it to look beyond the few years of their post-maintenance life. In another 18 months, most of our refined petroleum will come from the private sector, as Dangote’s company will refine about 70% of the country’s PMS. The existence of government-owned refineries is fast becoming anomalous, especially decades after privatisation of telecommunication, electricity and other sectors of the economy. So is the distortion of the economy by decades of oil subsidy payment due for permanent solution, just as protecting the NNPC from temptations for corruption crying for a fitting reform of the downstream sector.
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Buhari signs Polytechnic, National Institute for Security bills into law
President Muhammmadu Buhari has signed two bills into law, including the National Institute for Security Bill and the Federal Polytechnic amendments Bill.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives) Umar Yakubu, briefed State House correspondents on Tuesday.
He said that the Federal Polytechnic amendment bill seeks to amend the Federal Polytechnic Act cap 17 of the laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,
The new amendment, he said, seek to harmonize the tenure of the Rectors of the Federal Polytechnics, retirement age of the staff of the Polytechnics, as well as the establishment of the Governing Council for the Polytechnics and membership of the Council.
According to the new law, he said that membership of the Councils will be a five-man Council and will be Chaired by a Chairman.
He said that the law also provides that such membership must be a reflection of the Federal Character.
Read Also; Buhari yet to discuss ministerial list with us – APC Govs
Each Polytechnics Council under the new law, he said, must have a female member as well as a person representing the area where the Polytechnics is located.
The new law, he said, also provided that each Rector is expected to serve a single term of five years.
“This means that where anyone is currently appointed to serve for four years, it shall be extended to five years.” he added
Yakubu said that the new law on the National Institute of Security Studies seeks to establish that institute with the view to ensuring that both the middle and senior managers in the Security sector have their competences built and that they will be trained to build their capacity
The Bill also established standards for agency relationships, with the views to harmonizing their relationships for efficient and harmonious relationships amongst the inter-agencies locally and globally.
“It will also serve as a critical research institute for policy initiators and implementors with the view to ensuring that we have competent people managing the nation’s security and for global peace and stability” he said.
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‘Obaseki can’t intimidate us’
The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers-elect in Edo State have said Governor Godwin Obaseki cannot intimidate them into picking Assembly leaders of his choice.
The party’s leadership last weekend zoned the Assembly positions to different senatorial districts, but the actions did not go down well with the 19 lawmakers.
The lawmakers, who addressed a news conference yesterday, accused Obaseki of attempting to truncate democracy by refusing to send a proclamation letter.
Washinton Osifo said the governor was usurping the powers of the legislature by refusing to allow the Assembly function. He insisted that the governor, no matter how powerful, could not impose a Speaker or Deputy Speaker on the legislature.
It was gathered that the lawmakers-elect have made some fresh demands on Obaseki before they will adhere to the party’s zoning arrangement.
The demands, according to sources, is for the governor to give them the yearly N36 million for constituency projects instead of executing the projects on their behalf; payment of all allowances owed old members, restoration of travelling allowances and other payments stopped by the governor.
He said: “We urge all well-meaning individuals, including Oba Ewuare II and President Muhammadu Buhari, to prevail on Governor Obaseki to issue the letter of proclamation to enable the Edo State House of Assembly function.
“We are ready to defend our democracy and the sanctity of the legislature.”
But Obaseki, who spoke through his Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Paul Ohonbamu, assured the lawmakers that the proclamation letter would soon be sent. He said the party’s intervention in the assembly leadership was to prevent the rancour that characterised the sixth Assembly.
He said: “They are products of the party and the party is interested in what they do. The party only helped them do what is needful.
“The governor invited them and told them the intervention is for legislative harmony. Nobody wants to impose leadership on them. The delay is not a threat to democracy.”
However, state chairman Anselm Ojezua said there would be repercussions if the lawmakers-elect do not comply with the party’s decision.
According to him, the lawmakers have accepted the party’s zoning arrangement, and it was only left for zonal leaders to consult and come up with recommendations to the party.
Read Also: You cannot intimidate us, lawmakers-elect tell Obaseki
On the constituency project funds being demanded, Ojezua said the issue of constituency project was a matter of policy and open to negotiations. He explained that the party has nothing against legitimate claims of the lawmakers-elect.
He said: “There are legitimate claims. The party has nothing against them making those claims if they are legitimate. I think the governor is open to discussions as long as there is dialogue. They are not threatening anybody; they are just asking for what they believe will enhance service delivery to their constituencies.
“There is a way we can go about it. If there are projects they are interested in, they can make input into the budget and the state will implement. There is nothing wrong if a lawmaker ensures a project goes to his constituency so that he can have something to show.
“The party is keeping to its own obligations, and we have taken needed steps. The governor has prerogative to write the proclamation letter. We don’t need to put him under pressure. He knows the importance of the parliament in a democratic system. He will do what is needful.
“There is nothing like any lawmaker being an Oshiomhole’s or Obaseki’s boy. Obaseki is Oshiomhole’s boy; there can be no other Oshiomhole’s or Obaseki’s boys. If people should give themselves name, it does not make sense to me because all of us are Oshiomhole’s product.”
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Breaking: Buhari, Sanwo-Olu meet in Aso Rock
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
He arrived the Presidential Villa around 4.10pm
The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.
It is not clear the issues that will be discussed at the meeting.
Details Shortly…
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Emefiele hails Ayade’s agric revolution
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele has hailed Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade’s agricultural revolution programme, noting that the efforts have made the state a force to be reckoned with.
Emefiele, who spoke at the launch of the 2019 wet season rice farming programme at the Ayade Industrial Park in Calabar, was represented by the bank’s Calabar Branch controller, Chuks Sokari. According to him, “the resoluteness to agriculture by Governor Ayade has created hallmarks which the entire world recognises”.
He said: “The seriousness demonstrated by the governor in the renewed zeal to project and promote agriculture has made Cross River a leading state in the comity of states in the nation.”
Ayade urged Cross Riverians to go into aggressive farming, insisting that the only way to industrialise the state was to do a balance between the green and white collar jobs which would lead to agro industrial revolution.
“The only way we can industrialise is by agro industrial revolution. I am pleading with everyone, if you don’t own a farm you are doing a disservice to all the industries I have set up. Let us prove to Nigeria that we are really the best, take agriculture seriously and prove that we are a shining example,” Ayade said.
The governor, who praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his agriculture initiative, and Emefiele for providing N10.8 billion for the state, promised that the state remains ready to partner the Federal Government to drive a digital rice planting system.
Read Also: Emefiele to unfold roadmap for economy
Ayade added: “Any man or woman with only one source of income has already prepared his or her roadmap to failure as you cannot blame your star or God. If everyone here owns a farm, Cross River will not need to depend on federal allocation, and that is what I want to do before I leave office, to see the state not depending on federal government.
“Where will I get the maize, soya beans and other raw materials for the factories we have set up if we are all wearing tie and going to office? We have the soil, the land, fertility, capacity and financial support, so let us do a balance between the green collar and white collar jobs as nothing stops me in the morning to be in the office and in midday on my farm.”
President of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria Alhaji Aminu Goranyo praised Ayade for his rice production initiatives, saying the he stands out as the first governor to train over 1,000 farmers.
In his presentation on ‘Sustaining agricultural business, the Cross River model’, Chairman of CSS Farms and Trading Centre, Keffi, John Kennedy Opara, noted said: “Ayade remains a blessing to many people as God has used him to make agriculture number one in the country. The farmers trained here have seen the future, hence Cross River will be first agricultural state in this country. The future we did not work for, we cannot capture, hence we must do the needful for a sustainable agricultural revolution.”
He advocated high quality training, technology and creativity, strategic partnership as well as monitoring and evaluation for external services as panacea for sustainable agriculture.