The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Promissory Notes: NASS approved figures sent by Executive for Delta, Taraba States, says Saraki

    The Senate on Wednesday said the letter by President Muhammadu Buhari on his reasons for declining to endorse N90.2 billion approved by the National Assembly for Delta and Taraba States as reimbursement for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government must have resulted from misinformation by his aides.

    It noted the Presidential letter to the Senate in which President Buahri claimed that National Assembly’s approval for refunds to Delta and Taraba State Governments through the issuance of Promissory Notes, for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government, was different from what the Federal Executive Council approved and the reports in the media over the issue, were wrong and must have resulted from misinformation to the President by his aides.

    The Senate in a statement by the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu, noted that the Senate approved the exact figures for Taraba and Delta States submitted by the Executive through the Ministry of Finance as stated on page 402 of a document titled “Federal Ministry of Finance Submission of Federal Government of Nigeria Outstanding Liabilities to National Assembly, May, 2018”.

    Read Also: Our decision on NASS leadership supreme – APC

    It said: “The President had claimed in his letter to the National Assembly dated March 5, 2019 that “While the Federal Executive Council approved a total sum of N78, 601, 631, 430.16 as reimbursement to Delta and Taraba State Governments, the National Assembly approved N90, 236,461, 031.36, which is higher than the amount approved by the Federal Executive Council.

    “The Senate would like to clarify that the breakdown which the Executive through the Ministry of Finance submitted to the National Assembly showed that the outstanding liability due to Taraba State is N22, 254,062,330.08 while that of Delta is N67, 982, 398, 701. 28 while the total for the two states is N90, 236, 461, 031. 36.

    “Therefore, the National Assembly approved the figures submitted to it by the Ministry of Finance as approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government. At no time did the executive forwarded the figure of N78, 601, 631, 430, 16 to us and we do not know where the President got that figure from.

    “We have decided to make this clarification in order to set the records straight and disabuse the minds of the general public.  We believe the President must have been misinformed and misadvised by his aides while writing the letter he sent on this issue to the National Assembly.”

    The Senate attached the letters forwarded to it by the Federal Ministry of Finance on outstanding liabilities of the Federal Government.

  • Air Peace orders 30 brand new E195-E2 jets in $2.1bn deal

    Air Peace on Wednesday set a continental record with a firm order for 10 brand new Embraer 195-E2 aircraft.

    The deal, which was unveiled during Embraer Business Meeting with the Aviation World in Port Louis, Mauritius, makes Air Peace the first to order the brand of jets in the whole of Africa, thereby becoming the official launch customer of the brand of aircraft in Africa.

    The order comprises purchase rights for a further 20 E195-E2 jets. The aircraft is a 124 seater jet in dual class and 146-seater jet in single class configurations respectively.

    With all purchase rights exercised, the contract has a value of US$2.12 billion based on current list prices.

    The carrier also set a regional record in September 2018 when it ordered 10 brand new aircraft from Boeing, increasing its fleet size then to about 37 aircraft. With the new order, Air Peace’s fleet size has increased to 67 aircraft.

    Shortly before the firm order for 10 brand new aircraft from Boeing, Air Peace set a domestic record as the first Nigerian airline to acquire and register the Boeing 777 aircraft in the country.

    Three of the four wide-body aircraft it acquired for its long-haul operations to Dubai, Sharjah, Johannesburg, London, Houston, Guangzhou and Mumbai have so far been delivered.

    Speaking on the latest order in faraway Port Louis, Air Peace Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema said: “Embraer’s new E195-E2 presents us with a marvel of economic performance.

    “It’s also great that we will be the first E2 operator on the African continent. We already have the ERJ145s in our fleet, so we understand the high standards of Embraer products.”

    The E195-E2 aircraft, he said, would strengthen Air Peace’s drive to deploy the right kinds of aircraft to underserved and unserved domestic and regional routes under its no-city-left-behind project.

    READ ALSO: Air Peace gets two new captains

    Onyema thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for creating an enabling environment for the growth of aviation in Nigeria through waving customs duties on commercial aircraft, engines and spares as well as granting value-added tax (VAT) waiver.

    “Without these noble gestures from my President (Muhammadu Buhari),” he said, “Air Peace would not have been able to achieve this growth. Thank you very much, Mr. President”.

    Vice President Sales Africa, Embraer Commercial Aviation, Mr. Raul Villaron said: “Air Peace embodies the kind of pioneering spirit Embraer loves.

    “The airline was established to bring highly skilled work opportunities to the people of Nigeria, boosting connectivity, and therefore the economy, in the region.

    “Air Peace has delivered on both aims, while at the same time developing a fast-growing successful airline. It’s great to have them on board.”

  • Kolade Johnson: Buhari frowns at SARS, promises prosecution of perpetrators

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed regret over the recent action of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Police Command in Lagos, which led to the avoidable death of Kolade Johnson.

    President Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Wednesday, acknowledged the genuine outrage regarding the activities of SARS.

    The president reassured the public that swift actions had already been taken as the suspects were in custody.

    He said that an orderly room trial was set to commence immediately, following which indicted officers would be prosecuted in court.

    Buhari, who commiserated deeply with the family of the deceased, said: “Government will not tolerate, in any way, the brutalization of Nigerians or the violation of their rights.

    “Any officer of the law enforcement agencies or any other government functionary caught in this act will certainly be visited with the full weight of the law,” the president said.

    Read Also: BMO: you can’t compare Buhari with Atiku

    He recalled that the Presidency, in 2018 directed overhaul of the management and activities of the SARS, the president said steps were taken by the Police leadership to restructure and reform the squad.

    Buhari however, observed that a lot more remained to be done and sustained.

    The president pledged his administration’s resolve to ensure that the Police and other law enforcement agencies conducted their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Human Rights and Humanitarian Laws.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Johnson had on March 31, gone to watch a football match when he was hit by stray bullet from policemen attached to the Police Anti-Cultism Unit.

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, had already revealed the names of policemen involved in the killing of Kolade Johnson at Mangoro area of the state.

    Muazu, who made the revelation when he paid a condolence visit to the deceased’s family, identified the officers as: Insp. Ogunyemi Olalekan and Sgt. Godwin Orji attached to Anti Cultism Squad.

    NAN

  • Merkel congratulates Buhari on re-election

    The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called President Muhammadu Buhari to congratulate him on the resounding victory in the February 23 presidential election in Nigeria.

    Chancellor Merkel pledged to continue co-operation with Nigeria on peace and security, while promoting investment and trade for sustainable economic development.

    Read Also: Second term: I’ll do my best for Nigerians, says Buhari

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, thanked the German Chancellor for her spirited efforts in combating irregular migration on the continent.

    He also lauded the policy of assisting immigrants in need.

     

  • PHOTOS: Buhari, Obasanjo attend President Sall’s inauguration

     

     

     

  • New ICPC chief pledges to live above board

    Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, the newly appointed Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), has pledged to live above aboard in the discharge of his responsibilities.

    He made the pledge during his interaction with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Owasanoye, who is the fourth chairman of ICPC, was sworn-in by President Muhammadu Buhari on Feb. 4.

    Until his appointment by the then Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Aug. 2, 2017, Owasanoye was the Executive Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption.

    He replaced Mr. Ekpo Nta, who was redeployed to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

    He said that the chairman and board members of ICPC would not push past their limits, but would live above board.

    “We won’t be the ones frustrating the efforts of the commission.

    “We will provide leadership. We will work within the confines of the law.

    “We will not be ambiguous in our statements and we will be an example to the staff members of the commission.

    “We will also work with integrity, absolutely,” Owasanoye said.

    He added that as chairman of ICPC, he would ensure that staff members were motivated.

    According to him, a mechanism is already put in place to achieve that.

    READ ALSO: ICPC recovers N594b from civil servants

    On divulging information to the public, the chairman said that a provision in the ICPC Act prohibited discussion on issues being investigated.

    “We are only allowed to make a public statements when we have done an arrest and have charged someone to court.

    “Sometimes some of our investigations are jeopardised when you expose them on the pages of newspapers.

    “I appreciate it that the media have a right to know and so every now and then we will let you know measure and steps we are taking.

    “But in terms of specific things about who, what – until we formally arrest the person,  charge them to court, we will not put a name to what we are doing,” he said.

    He further said that coordinating what the new management met on ground was one of the challenges.

    “The commission has been talking on some cases that in my view, could be easily dealt with by other agencies or by other methods.

    This, he said, included civil contract issues and land cases.

    “I do not think we have any business with those issues,” Owasanoye said.

  • Yari commends FG, calls for media support

    Zamfara State Governor and Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar has on Monday commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s led Federal Government for the newly established Exercise “Harbin Kunama III” in the state.

    The Governor made this known in a press release signed by the acting Director General press affairs, government house Gusau, Malam Kabir Bashir Ahmad describing the development as timely considering the intense spate of killings and kidnappings going on in some parts of the state.

    He commends the Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai for establishing the exercise at Headquarters 1 Brigade Barracks Gusau, saying that the move will in no measure accelerate the fight against the bandits that have been terrorising the people of the state.

    Read Also: Breaking: Osinbajo, Fayemi, Yari meet in Aso Rock

    He says the exercise which according to the Chief of Army Staff is planned to mitigate the current threats to security in Zamfara and its neighbouring States will enjoy his administration’s support especially the traditional institutions.

    Hon. Yari then urges 8,500 Civilian JTF recruited by the state government to continue to work closely and within the ambit of the law  with the Nigerian Army and other security operatives in all nooks and crannies of the state.

    Governor Yari reassures Zamfara State Government’s commitments to providing adequate guidance, intelligence and logistics for the effective and efficient operation in the state.

    He therefore calls on people of the state to assist the security agencies with relevant information that will serve as pivotal machineries in flushing out the bandits and other criminals that have crippled the socio-economic activities of the people of the state.

  • Buhari greets Diya at 75

    President Muhammadu Buhari has warmly greeted former Ogun State Governor and Chief of General Staff (CGS), Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya, on his 75th birthday, billed for April 3rd, 2019.

    He highlighted his many years of meritorious service to the nation.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, also felicitated with family members, friends, professional colleagues and associates of the former Number Two man, whose military career saw him successfully handling sensitive and strategic leadership positions as General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Commandant, National War College (1991–1993) and Chief of Defence Staff.

    READ ALSO: Diya, NMA mourn ex-president

    The President affirmed that Gen. Diya’s gallantry, rich intellectual background and penchant for research contributed to the structure and operations of the Nigerian Army, especially in tackling security challenges within the country, and the West Coast region.

    As the former CGS turns 75, President Buhari believed the nation has benefitted from his wealth of knowledge, wisdom and experience.

    He urged him to stay relevant by providing counsels to military formations and officers.

    The President prayed that the almighty God will grant Gen. Diya longer life, good health and continue to bless his family.

  • Obi hails Tinubu’s advice on VAT

    The vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 presidential election, Mr Peter Obi has commended the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on his position on Value Added Tax (VAT).

    Tinubu had, in Abuja on Thursday, advised the Federal Government against increasing VAT rate, as being canvassed by the Minister of National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma and the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Babatunde Fowler.

    In a statement Sunday by his media office, Obi described Asiwaju Tinubu’s advice as gratifying and made a lot of economic sense given the situation in the country.

    According to the PDP chieftain, Tinubu’s position was clearly at variance with that of his party, saying it goes to underscore the uncoordinated campaign the APC dished out to Nigerians.

    Stating that tax must be relaxed to act as an incentive to local and foreign investors, Obi insisted that the right way to shape up the economy in the face of mass unemployment in the country is to have an attractive economic policy to encourage entrepreneurs and investors.

    REad also: APA Buhari: don’t forget your promise to run inclusive govt

    Obi said the call for increase in VAT or other taxes in the present economic situation amounted to insensitivity on the part of government to the plight of the populace.

    Mr Obi, however, said that Tinubu’s advice on VAT was in tandem with the position of the PDP, stressing that tax reduction was one of the main electioneering campaign messages of the PDP presidential campaign.

    “It’s extremely unrealistic for anybody to think of growing the economy of this country and creating jobs just by increasing tax. It’s too simplistic an approach”, Obi said.

    The former opposition vice presidential candidate enjoined Tinubu to also advise the APC to embrace restructuring, saying it’s the only option left to move the country forward.

    Obi said, “Anybody thinking that this country will work without tinkering with the political and economic structure is deceiving himself because no nation grows on injustice”.

    He described as unfortunate the fact that Nigeria with all her potential, is among the three African countries that Pew Research Center indicated that 45 percent of their adult population are desiring to leave the countries in search of greener pastures.

  • FG to Nigerian universities: Invest more on researches

    President Muhammadu Buhari has tasked  universities in the country to take the issue of research work seriously to build manpower,  human capital development and job creation.

    President Buhari gave the charge at the combined Convocation of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), held at the school campus Saturday.

    Buhari was represented in the event by the Minister of  states for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka.

    He noted that  the Federal Government is working  hard to ensure best International practice in the education sector.

    He urged Universities in Nigeria to intensify efforts aimed at attaining research breakthroughs in the new knowledge economy  that will rely on brain workers so as to generate employment, wealth and prosperity for the people.

    Buhari said,  “In this day and age research that cannot be capitalize by the industry for the benefit of the people is as good as mere academic exercise. I wish to appeal to Lecturers who are still in the old idea of publish or perish to repeal their position, in the new economy, the slogan should be, publish, patent and produce, which enriches Universities and societies in other parts of the world.

    “It is time for the university managements to change the narrative if the hope to remain relevant in the scheme of things, and also the issue of restructuring the curricular to bring them in line with the contemporary trends in other parts of the world.

    “It is time for universities to join forces with reputable industry players to frame research topics that can solve the numerous problems which besiege the industries, for which these industries goes to seek answers abroad, creating jobs for people in those countries, which is an indictment in the research capabilities of the universities in Nigeria, that industries here continues to patronise their foreign counterparts for solution to their operational and logistics problems.”

    He expressed happiness  that a few Universities in Nigeria   are bracing up with the challenges within the poor resources environment.

    He commended the  council, management, staff and students of University of Port Harcourt for the relative peace that has existed in the University saying that he is  happy that the management of the university have not concentrated on giving only  education to the students but also disciplining erring staff no matter how highly placed in the system.

    “This should serve as a warning to the students and staff who may wish to disturb the peace of the University anywhere in Nigeria. Freedom without control is a call to anarchy, which is detrimental to the peace and progress of the university system.

    “I am also happy to note that the Academic  Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its nationwide strike which paralyzed normal academic activities in the country for about three months.

    “The Federal Government has shifted grounds to accommodate some genuine demands of ASUU, but it was quiet unfortunate that the union insisted on going for the last strike action. This at variance to the what ASUU stated aim of quality university education in Nigeria stresses,” he stated.

    He stated that the Nigerian University system has under gone progressive transformation in the past four years of  his administration saying that  the result is the proof for all to see.

    He said that Federal Government has released funds through the appropriate  supervisory agencies for new structures, laboratory equipment, libraries and high impact research to the universities.

    He said that Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), and the Need Assessment have done enough to improve University education in Nigeria saying that the result has been for the universities to enhance their capacities to deliver quality education to the students.

    Earlier in his welcome address the Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt , Professor Ndowa Lale appealed to traditional  rulers and opinion leaders in the host communities to assist  the University in  onerous task of containing land speculators who he said  randomly breach the statutorily recognised boundaries of the university.

    He said that the management have been forced to go to court to claim some of the pieces of land encroached upon by the speculators.

    He assured the school community and their host of their continued cordial relationship despite the avoidable experience.

    He noted that the students have been impacted with discipline and right sense of living as they pass through the academic process.

    He said that country’s near total dependence on oil amd gas resources at the expense of sustained human capital development has infected Nigeria with the dreaded ‘Dutch disease’.

    A total of 9, 452 graduands were conferred with various degrees during the  ceremony.

    According to records from the university,  a total of 4, 681 graduands received higher degrees from the school of graduate studies for the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 academic sessions, while 2, 971 candidates received the Master’s degree and 1, 329 received post graduate Diploma in various fields among others, during the ceremony.