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Tag: Osinbajo

  • Osinbajo, Tinubu, governors to voters: stop PDP

    •Defections hit PDP as Fayemi intensifies campaign

    All is now set for the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag off mega rally in Ekiti State ahead of the July 14 governorship election.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other key party figures are expected at the rally scheduled for Oluyemi Kayode Stadium.

    Members of the APC National Campaign Council headed by Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, National Working Committee, governors and ministers are also expected at the rally.

    Security has been beefed up at the venue with riot policemen stationed within the vicinity of the arena. The stadium was being decorated ahead of the rally.

    Osinbajo is expected to hand the party’s flag to the governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his running mate, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.

    Fayemi took his campaign to communities in Ekiti West and Ijero Local Government Areas on Monday, urging the people to reject the continuity agenda of Governor Ayo Fayose, which he said was aimed at keeping them perpetually in poverty.

    Communities visited include Aramoko, Erio, Ido-Ile, Okemesi, Ikoro, Ijero, Ijurin, Iloro, where more leaders and members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the APC.

    The defectors promised to ensure victory for Fayemi in their various localities, saying they were rejecting the PDP in protest against Fayose’s alleged “deceit, wickedness, lies and greed”.

    In Aramoko, a stronghold of the PDP where the visits kicked off, no fewer than 30 of its top leaders led hundreds of supporters to defect to the APC, while in Ido-Ile, residents said they would vote for Fayemi for the water project, roads, schools rehabilitation and social security for the elderly people he provided in his first term.

    Fayemi expressed delight that it was mainly those giving the APC headaches that defected to the party in Aramoko and assured them of equal treatment in their new party.

    He listed his achievements in agriculture, schools and hospital rehabilitation, social security, appointments, education, roads and electricity, among others, in Aramoko to the thunderous applause of supporters.

    Fayemi regretted that nothing had been added to what he did in the town, except for Fayose to introduce payment of tax by school pupils, while workers are unpaid for between six and 10 months.

    He urged the people to dismiss Fayose’s lies on debts, saying though he borrowed N25b to implement projects that are verifiable, including completing projects started by Segun Oni’s administration.

    The APC candidate revealed that he paid back N14.5b of the loan before leaving office, while Fayose had so far borrowed N56b but did nothing with it, except a bridge built at over-bloated cost.

    Fayemi said the road he awarded but abandoned by Fayose would be completed, including new projects that the community might request for in his budget.

    He urged the people to reject continuity of sufferings, unpaid salaries and lies that Fayose wanted to sustain by working to install Prof Eleka as his successor.

    In Erio, the hometown of Fayose’s wife, residents regretted that though Fayose is their son-in-law, they had not seen any development assistance from neither Fayose nor his wife in the last three years.

    The community presented a copy of the Holy Bible to Fayemi, declaring that the APC candidate represented a soldier of Christ who will always win his battles. They said victory is sure for Fayemi on July 14.

    Fayemi expressed shock that the road he initiated leading to Erio worship centre was abandoned by Fayose. He promised to complete the project and implement other ones they choose in his pre-budget meetings with the people.

    He also promised to continue his pro-people schemes, including social security, free education and helping students to pay for public examinations and scholarships.

    The rally at Okemesi was dramatic, as residents in the town openly rained abuses on one of her sons in Fayose’s administration who early in the morning allegedly led thugs in knife battle to create sense of insecurity to disrupt APC rally.

    The Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, in his palace praised Fayemi for appointing indigenes, including Adewale Fapohunda, into his government, while Kayode Fasakin was a member of the House of Assembly. The monarch said they were the best to represent the town in government.

    He said the town had the best of times while Fayemi was governor, even as he praised Fayemi for constructing the abandoned road to the town’s hospital. The monarch assured Fayemi of total support of the community.

    At Ikoro, country home of the third runner-up in APC primary, Kayode Ojo, the former aspirant, who described Egbeyemi as his father’s friend, urged the people to vote for Fayemi, reminding the people that Fayemi’s years as governor was an evergreen experience in the development process of the town.

    Another party chief from the town, Dr. Femi Thomas, regretted Fayose’s neglect of the town despite support for him in 2014.

    He described Fayemi as a man of honour who can be trusted with his words while another former aspirant, Dr Bayo Orire, spoke in the same vein, urging residents to vote for Fayemi.

  • How to save Nigeria’s democracy, by Osinbajo, Onnoghen, others

    VICE President Yemi Osinbajo and some other eminent Nigerians have observed that the best way to grow and sustain the nation’s democracy is to ensure an effective justice system.

    Osinbajo, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen; Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami; Chair, Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC), Kefas Magaji and ex-Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF), Prof I. A. Ayua, said democracy would be better served where the nation’s laws were up-to-date and applied dispassionately without fear or favour.

    They spoke in Abuja yesterday at the opening session of a national summit on law revision organized by the NLRC. The summit has as its theme: “Law revision towards national development”.

    Osinbajo said the law revision exercise was in line with the present administration’s policy of reforming the justice sector as a measure for sustaining democracy, based on the principle of rule of law.

    Osinbajo, who was represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF), Dayo Apata, said: “I believe that every successful democracy thrives on the principle of rule of law. And I also believe in law as an instrument for social change and development

    “It, therefore, follows that, if the law is expected to meet these critical demands of the society, it has to be revised, at least every 10 years in line with international best practices and in consonant with the prevailing laws and values of the society.

    “It is equally in line with international best practices that, while the Parliament makes laws, the law reform institution is expected to monitor, review, reform and revise the law to guarantee its efficacy, utility, availability and accessibility to the public and to the end users.”

    Onnoghen was of the view that the nation’s nascent democracy has to be nurtured, consolidated and developed because democracy still remains the best form of government.

    The CJN, who assured that the judiciary would not fail in its duties of law interpretation and justice dispensation, noted that the “duty of nurturing our democracy, no doubt, imposes on all of us severe obligations and conscious efforts”.

    He noted that the court, with its process of adjudication was capable of rapidly enhancing the true comprehension of “our constitutional provisions as a step towards the identification of the grey areas, requiring future amendments, modifications or alterations and or even deletion”.

    Onnoghen expressed the hope that the Federal Government would fund the various law reforms initiatives to fruition, because of the positive impact, which include providing solution to the various loopholes, which encumber the justice system

    He urged support for the initiative, which he believes would impact positively on the nation’s justice delivery system.

    Malami, who was represented by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Etsu Mohammed, stressed the importance of continuous law revision in every democracy.

     

  • Osinbajo, Tinubu, Oyegun, others storm Ekiti

    All is now set for the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag off mega rally in Ekiti State ahead of the July 14 governorship election.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other key party figures are expected at the rally scheduled for Oluyemi Kayode Stadium.

    Members of the APC National Campaign Council headed by Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, National Working Committee, governors and ministers are also expected at the rally.

    Security has been beefed up at the venue with riot policemen stationed within the vicinity of the arena. The stadium was being decorated ahead of the rally.

    Osinbajo is expected to hand the party’s flag to the governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his running mate, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.

    Fayemi took his campaign to communities in Ekiti West and Ijero Local Government Areas yesterday, urging the people to reject the continuity agenda of Governor Ayo Fayose, which he said was aimed at keeping them perpetually in poverty.

    Communities visited include Aramoko, Erio, Ido-Ile, Okemesi, Ikoro, Ijero, Ijurin, Iloro, where more leaders and members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the APC.

    The defectors promised to ensure victory for Fayemi in their various localities, saying they were rejecting the PDP in protest against Fayose’s alleged “deceit, wickedness, lies and greed”.

    In Aramoko, a stronghold of the PDP where the visits kicked off, no fewer than 30 of its top leaders led hundreds of supporters to defect to the APC, while in Ido-Ile, residents said they would vote for Fayemi for the water project, roads, schools rehabilitation and social security for the elderly people he provided in his first term.

    Fayemi expressed delight that it was mainly those giving the APC headaches that defected to the party in Aramoko and assured them of equal treatment in their new party.

    He listed his achievements in agriculture, schools and hospital rehabilitation, social security, appointments, education, roads and electricity, among others, in Aramoko to the thunderous applause of supporters.

    Fayemi regretted that nothing had been added to what he did in the town, except for Fayose to introduce payment of tax by school pupils, while workers are unpaid for between six and 10 months.

    He urged the people to dismiss Fayose’s lies on debts, saying though he borrowed N25b to implement projects that are verifiable, including completing projects started by Segun Oni’s administration.

    The APC candidate revealed that he paid back N14.5b of the loan before leaving office, while Fayose had so far borrowed N56b but did nothing with it, except a bridge built at over-bloated cost.

    Fayemi said the road he awarded but abandoned by Fayose would be completed, including new projects that the community might request for in his budget.

    He urged the people to reject continuity of sufferings, unpaid salaries and lies that Fayose wanted to sustain by working to install Prof Eleka as his successor.

    In Erio, the hometown of Fayose’s wife, residents regretted that though Fayose is their son-in-law, they had not seen any development assistance from neither Fayose nor his wife in the last three years.

    The community presented a copy of the Holy Bible to Fayemi, declaring that the APC candidate represented a soldier of Christ who will always win his battles. They said victory is sure for Fayemi on July 14.

    Fayemi expressed shock that the road he initiated leading to Erio worship centre was abandoned by Fayose. He promised to complete the project and implement other ones they choose in his pre-budget meetings with the people.

    He also promised to continue his pro-people schemes, including social security, free education and helping students to pay for public examinations and scholarships.

    The rally at Okemesi was dramatic, as residents in the town openly rained abuses on one of her sons in Fayose’s administration who early in the morning allegedly led thugs in knife battle to create sense of insecurity to disrupt APC rally.

    The Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, in his palace praised Fayemi for appointing indigenes, including Adewale Fapohunda, into his government, while Kayode Fasakin was a member of the House of Assembly. The monarch said they were the best to represent the town in government.

    He said the town had the best of times while Fayemi was governor, even as he praised Fayemi for constructing the abandoned road to the town’s hospital. The monarch assured Fayemi of total support of the community.

    At Ikoro, country home of the third runner-up in APC primary, Kayode Ojo, the former aspirant, who described Egbeyemi as his father’s friend, urged the people to vote for Fayemi, reminding the people that Fayemi’s years as governor was an evergreen experience in the development process of the town.

    Another party chief from the town, Dr. Femi Thomas, regretted Fayose’s neglect of the town despite support for him in 2014.

    He described Fayemi as a man of honour who can be trusted with his words while another former aspirant, Dr Bayo Orire, spoke in the same vein, urging residents to vote for Fayemi.

  • Govt to empower millions, says Osinbajo

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said the fedral government’s efforts to reduce unemployment is paying off.

    He said jobs were created through the N-Power programme and granting of soft loans to people operating small businesses.

    Osinbajo spoke in Benin City at the State’s edition of Micro, Small and Medium-Scale Enterprise (MSME) Clinic.

    He said the federal government was ready to roll out another Social Investment Programme? targeted at empowering petty traders across the country with interest -free loans,

    The vice president said he was in Benin to ensure the small business owners in the state to meet with regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC, Bank of Industry and others.

    He said another batch of 300,000 beneficiaries would soon be engaged by the Federal Government to increase the beneficiaries to 500,000.

    “The policy of the Federal Government is to support businesses, not just big business but particularly small, medium-sized businesses and microbusinesses. The whole idea is that we want to ensure that we give whatever support whether it is cash, advice or even registration to all of our small and medium enterprises.

    “Apart from the existing GEEP MarketMoni scheme, which targets market women, traders, artisans and enterprising youths, Osinbajo also revealed that the Federal Government is rolling out TraderMoni, a new micro-credit scheme to cater for ultra-micro enterprises.

    “It is a different thing from MarketMoni because TraderMoni is for the smaller traders. These are the hawkers; those who are doing little things where in many cases their inventory, the whole thing they are selling is sometimes not even more than N5,000- N10,000. We want to give those kinds of people some credit as well and once they pay back, we will give them some more money.”

    Executive Director of Financial Inclusion of the Bank of Industry, Toyin Adeniji, said Edo State had recorded over 4,000 beneficiaries of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).

    Governor Godwin Obaski said the state government would commence the school feeding programme in four local government councils.

    He listed the local government areas to aas Uhunmwode, Orhionmwon, Ovia North East and Ovia South West.

    Governor Obaseki solicited for increase in Social Investment Programme to the state to stem illegal migration.

  • Osinbajo praises private sector-led economic expansion in Edo

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo yesterday in Edo State, commended the private sector-led economic expansion in the state under Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    Prof. Osinbajo gave the commendation at the groundbreaking ceremony of the 1800 housing-unit Emotan Gardens, in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.

    He said: “It is good to see the great and dynamic work the governor is doing. I was in Auchi recently to commission the Edo Fertiliser and Chemical Company Ltd. I was in this local government for the Benin Industrial Park. I commend the governor and MIXTA Africa for this excellent idea.”

    He lauded the governor’s investment drive and the increased participation of the private sector in the state’s economy.

    Chairman, Board of Directors, MIXTA Africa, Eddy Eguavoen, said the firm was excited about the partnership with the state government on the project, noting that from his experience with other governments across Africa, the state government’s support for the private sector is unparallel.

    According to him, “Our experience has been remarkable. I want to assure Nigerians and those in the diaspora that this project will be delivered with the quality and standards that MIXTA Africa is known for.”

    Governor Obaseki said that the project is the realisation of his campaign to turn the state into an economic hub, noting that the project is in line with the pledge to revive the state’s economy.

    He said: “I promised to create 200,000 jobs in the first instance, and some of them were to be in agriculture and construction, among others.

    “We realised that housing is also key. Hence, we have re-enacted the Edo Development and Property Agency (EDPA) law and set up a new management. This project is a reflection of the new direction.”

    Noting that the state has proved that much can be achieved with the private sector, he said: “I am happy that we have proven that it can be done. This building was put up in record time. I assure you that 80 per cent of materials used for this project was manufactured in Edo State. They will be used for the entire project.

    “We are starting a new paradigm. We expect that the houses will sell from between N3 million to N12 million. We are praticalising policies being enunciated in Abuja.”

    Former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said the Vice President’s visits to the state indicate that the state’s economy is on track with Obaseki as governor.

     

  • Osinbajo urges investments outside OPEC

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday sought for re-twinkling of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) Fund in the same manner of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) fund in order to attract investments from non-member countries.

    Speaking at the extra-ordinary session of the organisation in Abuja, he said APPO Fund is already undergoing recapitalisation to fulfill its role.

    “The financial model of the fund, for example, may need some re-tweaking. It could be remodeled after similar institutions that had succeeded, like the OPEC Fund, where of course as you knowm non-OPEC members can begin to invest.

    “I would also want to talk about the APPO Fund For Technical Cooperation, which I am told is also undergoing recapitalisation to enable it better fulfill the role for which it was established. The financial model of the fund, for example, may need some re-tweaking. It could be remodeled after similar institutions that had succeeded, like the OPEC Fund, where of course as you knowm non-OPEC members can begin to invest,” he said.

    According to him, it is now time to liberalise the APPO for non member countries and private institutions to be able to invest in Africa.

    He insisted that the APPO fund ought to operate as an autonomous entity, independent perhaps, from the APPO secretariat, in the same way that OPEC Fund operates independently of OPEC itself.

    Osinbajo said: “If institutions similar to APPO and the APPO Fund have succeeded and are continuing to succeed in other parts of the world, then we have no reason, no excuse to fail as a continent.”

    The reminded the group that oil and gas that are the global economies driver of today might not sustain their relevance in future.

    Consequent upon this realisation, he said all serious economies all over have started planning for the world after oil.

  • Govt to check movement of foreign herdsmen, says Osinbajo

    •Customs collections hit N100.1b in February
    •Rice importation reduced to two per cent

    VICE President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday announced plans by the Federal Government to check movement of herdsmen migrating into Nigeria with livestock.

    He said the move would soon take effect despite the treaties of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that Nigeria is a signatory to.

    According to him, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigeria Immigration Service are collaborating to review the approach of the movement of herders and livestock from adjoining countries.

    He said: “We are also working with Customs and Immigration to take a second look at our approach to the movement of livestock and herders from our neighbours, under the ECOWAS free movement of goods and services.”

    He noted that although international protocols permit the movement of goods and services, but Nigeria ignores the required checks and certification.

    The vice president spoke as the guest speaker at the graduation ceremony of Senior Division Course 1/2018 of the Nigeria Customs and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja.

    He insisted that the herders need identification and processes, which were never kept in the treaty.

    Osinbajo said Nigeria would take action when international treaties pose threats to its territorial integrity, security and peace.

    His words: “This free movement of goods allows the movement of herders and livestock, but the checks and certification required are not yet done. So, this free movement of herders will not be overlooked.

    “It is important for us to ensure that while we respect international treaties, where those treaties threaten our territorial integrity, peace and security, we take very stringent actions.”

    He noted that there was now tremendous capacity for border surveillance technology with the use of drones and scanners.

    The vice president acknowledged that the NCS collected its highest revenue of over N1 trillion when the country was just exiting recession, stressing that the next few years will be more interesting.

    With active collaborations, Osinbajo said the Federal Government has reduced processes and documentation required for import and export.

    Osinbajo added that the government was “in the threshold of launching the national trade platform, with the integration of all ports and customs processes and documentation through a single window”.

    The government, he added, is taking a serious approach to its anti-smuggling stance, which has resulted in the reduction of rice importation to two per cent.

    He promised that the Federal Government will enhance the remuneration of customs officers and men to better position the operatives for higher service delivery.

    Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service Col. Hameed Ali (retd) announced that the service in the month of February collected N1.1 billion, representing so far the highest in the year.

    He appealed to Osinbajo that the government should increase the salaries of the operatives to position them for better service delivery.

     

  • Osinbajo’s chopper in emergency landing in Abuja

    A chopper that conveyed Vice President Yemi Osibanjo from the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja, was forced to land few seconds after take off on Thursday.

    Osinbajo was in the college for the graduation ceremony of Senior Division Course 1/2018 participants.

    The chopper had earlier taken the Vice President to the college for the ceremony.

    Upon take off, the white chopper with yellow and blue stripes, could not ascend beyond the trees level before it emitted thick smoke and landed on the same spots few seconds after take off.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, had already departed from the venue with their respective convoys.

    Osinbajo later left the college by road.

  • Nigeria to phase out non-bio degradable plastics, says Osinbajo

    THE Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with critical stakeholders, has developed a national strategy for the phasing out of non-bio degradable plastics, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday.

    Osinbajo, at an event to mark the 2018 World Environment Day at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the ministry was working in partnership with the state governments to develop a national plastic waste recycling programme.

    It will involve the establishment of recycling plants across Nigeria.

    According to him, eight of the plastic waste recycling plants have been completed and handed over to the states. Eighteen others were in various stages of completion.

    “In addition, the Federal Government is also collaborating with the state governments to establish plastic waste recycling plants under the community-based waste management programme in the ministry,” he said.

    The vice president said two plants have been completed in Ilorin, Kwara State; one in Lokoja, Kogi State and work was ongoing on another in Karu Local Government Area of Nassarawa State – all in Northcentral geopolitical zone.

    He said there were two privately-run plastic recycling plants in Gombe and Kano states.

    Osinbajo said questions have been raised about limited options for cheap packaging of food and drinks, especially where consumers are relatively poor; micro marketing methods of fast moving consumer goods in sachets; and the retailing of detergents also in sachets.

    He challenged multi-national corporations that produce fast-moving goods in plastics to take action towards managing plastic wastes.

    “It is my view that for controlling the proliferation of plastic sachets, we must go back to the major producers of fast-moving goods to put in place recycling programmes that could effectively ensure that while we seek environmentally-friendly options for packaging, we are keeping the environment as free of plastics as possible,” he said.

    Osinbajo said that Nigeria expects multi-nationals like Coca Cola, which has committed to collecting and recycling the equivalent of all drink containers it ships, including  110 billion plastic bottles; and Unilever and Procter and Gamble, which have begun recycled plastics; would make and fulfill the same pledges in Nigeria.

    He also called on the multinationals to partner with governments at the states and local governments “to ensure that we maintain the critical balance between economic growth and a safe and livable environment.”

    “Nigeria is in a good place to lead Africa and indeed the world in beating plastic pollution,” Osinbajo said.

    He pointed out that there are a good number of effective initiatives that are being considered towards develop policies.

    President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who was represented by Senator Victor Umeh, said the Senate would continue to support the Ministry of Environment “by providing robust laws that would ensure healthy and sustainable environment.”

    Minister of State for Environment Ibrahim Jibrin said the ministry has done quite a lot in the area of pollution and waste management.

     

     

  • Osinbajo meets IGP, DSS chief, AGF in Aso Rock

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday met behind closed doors with the Inspector- General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, the Director- General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malami Abubakar.

    At the end of the meeting, the IGP declined comment on the outcome of the parley.

    He directed journalists who approached him to meet Osinbajo’s staff on the outcome of the meeting.

    Before the meeting, Osinbajo, Abubakar Malami, and Daura were seen around President Muhammadu Buhari’s office separately.

    The issues discussed at the meeting may not be unconnected with the police invitation of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over the Offa bank robbery.

    At a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moshood Jimoh, said Saraki was linked to the Offa robbery for allegedly supplying arms and vehicles to political thugs who were arrested for their involvement in the bank robbery.

    Saraki had declared the accusation as baseless and another ploy by the police to implicate him by all means.

    However, in a dramatic twist, the police on Monday evening asked the Senate president to respond to the allegations within 48 hours.