The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Jonathan

  • Jonathan to envoys: Help to correct misconceptions about Nigeria

    Jonathan to envoys: Help to correct misconceptions about Nigeria

    President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday in Abuja urged foreign ambassadors serving in Nigeria to convey the country’s positive realities to the world.

    A statement released by his media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the President made the appeal while speaking at an audience with the outgoing Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Roberto Colamine.

    By doing so, President Jonathan said, the envoys will help immensely in correcting current misconceptions and adverse misrepresentations of Nigeria in the international community.

    “The knowledge you have acquired here should be used positively to help us as you go back home,” the President told the ambassador.

    He commended Mr. Colamine for his untiring efforts to strengthen and expand areas of bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Italy during his tenure in the country.

    He particularly praised the ambassador’s facilitation of the training of some ex-Niger Delta militants in Italy as part of the Amnesty Programme, which, according to him, had helped to restore relative peace and security to the region.

    In his response, Mr. Colamine told President Jonathan that he had witnessed challenging political transitions in the country during his more than four-year tenure, but was glad to see the issues constitutionally resolved.

    The Ambassador also commended the President for Nigeria’s continuing leadership role in Africa as well as its efforts to promote peace, political stability and democracy in all parts of the continent.

     

  • MDGs agenda must reflect wishes of developing nations – Jonathan

    MDGs agenda must reflect wishes of developing nations – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday in Addis Ababa said the post-2015 United Natons anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agenda must reflect the wishes of developing nations.
    Jonathan made the declaration in a meeting on post 2015 Development Agenda at the 22nd Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU).
    He noted that African leaders had voiced the need to ensure that the unfinished business of the MDGs was carried into the MDGs successor agenda.
    “There is need for us to remain focused and vigilant to ensure that decisions on what forms the new framework is all inclusive, reflecting the wishes of developing countries’’ he said.
    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Jonathan affirmed Africa common position on the post-2015 Development Agenda as set out in the AU policy document of March 2013.
    According to him, the AU document promotes universal and equitable access to quality health care, gender equality, education and human capital development, disaster risk reduction, poverty eradication, shelter provision and water resources management.
    The president said the document also endorsed the harnessing of the potential of Africa’s growing population demographics.
    The Nigerian leader told the meeting chaired by Liberia President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, that Nigeria had recorded strides toward some of the eight MDGs, especially poverty reduction, education and maternal health.
    “The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation in 2013 acknowledged that Nigeria has halved the proportion of those who suffer from hunger way ahead of the 2015 deadline.
    “The net attendance levels for basic schooling have risen remarkably in the country. Gender parity targets at primary and secondary education levels have been achieved.
    “The under-five mortality and maternal health have equally seen reversal of the previously negative trend. There is continual fall in the HIV prevalence of the country.
    “Government in collaboration with stakeholders is mobilising the necessary attention needed to focus on goals lagging behind,’’ he said.

  • FG targets N1.5trn for police reforms

    FG targets N1.5trn for police reforms

    President Goodluck Jonathan said the Federal Government would spend N1.5 trillion in the next five years to reform the Nigeria Police Force.
    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Jonathan made this known at a two-day retreat on “Sustaining Nigeria Police Reforms,” in Makurdi on Thursday.
    The event was organised by the Police Service Commission in conjunction with the Benue Government.
    Represented by Senator Bala Mohammed, the Minister of the FCT, Jonathan said government was committed to building the capacity of the police force in the country through ongoing reforms.
    Jonathan said that 60 per cent of the money would be provided by government, while the remaining 40 per cent would come from the private sector, including non-governmental organisations.
    He assured that the Federal Government was committed to equipping the police for enhanced performance.
    The president urged the commission to build a police force that was impeccable and committed to ensuring the security of all Nigerians.
    He said the Federal Government had accepted the recommendations of Governor Peter Obi’s committee on the police and would soon issue a white paper on it.
    He advised participants at the retreat to contribute meaningfully to the topics, noting that such recommendations might help the government to tackle rising cases of insurgency in the country.
    Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, in his remark, said the police had to imbibe the discipline of being accountable to the elected representatives of the people.
    Suswam said that by being accountable, the police would consult widely with the people through their representatives to reflect their views on police reforms.
    The governor said reforms that never reflected the views of the people would be disregarded.
    He called on the police to redouble their efforts in providing security to the people, especially as the country moves closer to elections.
    Suswam condemned agitations for state police, pointing out that the country is not ripe enough to have state police.

  • Jonathan seeks speedy passage of 2014 Budget

    Jonathan seeks speedy passage of 2014 Budget

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday appealed to members of the National Assembly to expedite actions on the 2014 Appropriation Bill.
    The President made the appeal through the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, who represented him at a Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) stakeholders’ forum held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.
    Stressing that the SURE-P programme since its inception in 2012 has become a critical unit of his administration’s transformation agenda, he reiterated Federal Government’s determination to continue to impact positively on the infrastructural needs of the people.
    He said: “Let me appeal to Senator Ningi who chairs the Senate committee on SURE-P to please help urge his colleagues in the National Assembly to expedite consideration of the 2014 budget which is currently before them in order for us to continue to deliver dividends of democracy to our people.”
    Apart from the programme’s massive intervention in railway, road construction and health among other areas, he said that over 190,000 youths have so far been employed under various categories.
    Speaking earlier, Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada thanked the federal government for introducing the intervention programme which he described as laudable.
    Noting that the footprints of the programme are all over the place in his state and other parts of the country, he said, “In Kogi State, our first focus was on youth employment and empowerment. The first target was school drop outs. So far, we have trained about 6,000 youths.”
    “We started with 500 youths per quarter who are trained at the NYSC orientation camp. They are taught various types of orientation. We have also used the fund for rural roads.”
    He appealed for an increase in the amount accruable to states under the programme.

  • Nigeria mobilises $700m for Trans-Sahara gas project – Jonathan

    Nigeria mobilises $700m for Trans-Sahara gas project – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday in Addis Ababa announced that Nigeria has mobilised 700 million dollars to support the completion of Nigeria-Algeria gas pipeline project.

    Jonathan made this known in a report on the status of the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline project, presented at the 30th meeting of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee.
    Represented by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Jonathan renewed the special commitment of Nigeria to jump start the project, which has an estimated cost of 20 billion dollars.
    He said the immediate focus for Nigeria was to connect major gas supply sources in the Niger Delta region through pipeline infrastructure that traverses the northern half of the country and delivers gas to the Nigeria/Niger border.
    “We have raised $450 million in Eurobonds and an additional direct equity contribution of about $250m in support of this project.
    “The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, which is the executor of this project has completed the concept design for the pipeline, which is an important milestone since I last provided an update on this project to the committee,” the President said.
    The report by President Jonathan noted that work had begun in the acquisition of Rights of Way survey of key segments of the pipeline, while work on the environmental impact assessment study of the pipeline would soon commence.
    He informed the NEPAD meeting, chaired by President Macky Sall of Senegal, that the front end design of the pipeline would be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2014.
    “This will be followed closely by major construction activities on the Trans-Nigeria segment.
    “It is our expectation and aspiration that work on the Trans-Nigeria segment will be completed, as planned, by 2018”.
    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the $20 billion trans-saharan project, when completed will transport about 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas from Warri through Niger Republic to Algeria and to Spain and Europe.
    The gas pipeline when completed will be operated by the NNPC and Sonatrach of Algeria, both of which will hold 90 percent shares of the project equities.

  • Tempo against Boko Haram will change – Jonathan

    Tempo against Boko Haram will change – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday assured that the tempo against the Boki Haram sect will change with the appointment of new service chiefs.
    He gave the assurance while paying homage to the Lamido Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Mustapha, at the palace in Adamawa.
    Stressing that the excesses of the violent group will be curtailed, The President expressed condolence to the people of Adamawa State over those who recently lost their lives due to the insurgency.
    About 72 persons were reportedly killed in two attacks in Adamawa and Borno on Monday.
    Jonathan said, “Let me also congratulate you for producing the current Chief of Defence Staff for the country. He is somebody I have worked with before and I believe with him and the other service chiefs definitely the security equation will change. They have not been cleared by the National Assembly, but I believe that will be done this week.
    “I believe by next week we will have our first Security Council meeting and I believe that the tempo will change. The police working with the armed forces, the excess of Boko Haram will be reduced.”
    Jonathan added: “Let me on behalf of my delegation sincerely thank you for your reception and again for me and members of my cabinet. We have to thank you very sincerely for your commitments in ensuring that as a nation we live in unity and peace.
    “It is quite a challenging period for our traditional rulers and religious leaders and opinion leaders because of the security challenges we have especially in the north eastern part of this country. Let me on behalf of the government, express our condolences to the families of the people that have died in this unnecessary Book Haram insurgence over this period. Only three days ago, on Sunday, people were killed carelessly, some while worshiping.”
    “These things were never part of our country before this time. These things are very alien to us or because these days they say the world is a global village so the bad habit travel faster than the good ones. Nigeria is getting its share of the terror. God willing Nigeria will overcome these challenges. We express our condolences to you, members of the emirate council and indeed all the people of Adamawa State.”

  • Akpabio backs Jonathan for 2015

    Akpabio backs Jonathan for 2015

    … We will poach from APC – Mu’azu

    The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday pledged his support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election bid and called on the President to declare his intention to run without further delay.
    With the call, Akpabio, regarded in party circles as one of the President’s die hard supporters, appeared to have belled the cat on Jonathan’s re-election bid.
    Akpabio’s call is coming on the heels of a resolve by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, to poach prominent members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to counter the gale of defections from the ruling party to the opposition.
    The Akwa Ibom governor promised to deliver to the President all the delegate votes from his state, just like he did during the party’s 2011 presidential nominations.
    “We did it in 2011 and I assure Mr. President that Akwa Ibom will do it again. We were the first set in 2010 to announce our support for him to go for his first tenure in 2011.
    “We did that and other states followed. We are again the first state in 2014 to urge Mr. President to go back for a second term in office.
    “We are a monolithic group in Akwa Ibom, although you may have one or two people who want to test the political waters here and there,” he added.
    Although the President has yet to openly declare his interest in the race, his body language over time, has continued to reinforce the general belief and suspicion among party chieftains that he might be scheming for the 2015 presidential ticket of his party.
    The sustained scheming by the President’s close aides and loyalists for the party’s ticket ahead of the 2015 poll was one of the factors that sparked the lingering crisis in the ruling party.
    The crisis has led to a gale of defections, with five serving governors and a number of federal legislators elected on the platform of the PDP crossing to the APC last November.
    The five Governors are – Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara).
    37 PDP members in the House of Representatives had, in late December, also defected to the APC.
    No fewer than 17 serving senators of the ruling party are also waiting to join the defection train.

  • Jonathan hails Eagles’ stunning victory over Morocco

    Jonathan hails Eagles’ stunning victory over Morocco

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday congratulated the Super Eagles on the team exhilarating come-back victory over the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the quarter-finals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the Super Eagles rallied from three goals down to beat the North Africans 4-3, after extra time, to reach the semi-finals of 2014 CHAN in Cape Town, South Africa.
    A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Jonathan applauded the indomitable spirit with which the Super Eagles fought back to claim victory.
    “President Jonathan applauds the Super Eagles’ spirit from being three goals down to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and win a most memorable victory with almost the last kick of the match,” he said.
    Abati said the President commended the courage, patriotism, determination and dedication to national service exhibited by the Super Eagles.
    He said the President urged the team to maintain their exemplary commitment to national duty until ultimate victory in the continental soccer championship for home-based players was achieved.
    Abati said the President assured the team and its handlers that they would continue to receive the fullest support possible from the Federal Government and Nigerians.
    The President urged them to strive to add the African Nations Championship trophy to the African Nations Cup which Nigeria won last year.
    He joined all other patriotic and proud Nigerians in praying for the success of the team in the semi-finals and final of the tournament.

  • Automotive policy will make new cars affordable – Jonathan

    Automotive policy will make new cars affordable – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan said Thursday in Davos, Switzerland, that his administration is fully committed to rapidly developing Nigeria’s automobile industry through the diligent implementation of the country’s new national automotive policy.

    A statement issued by his media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the President said this at a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Nissan Motors, Mr. Carlos Ghosn and representatives of Nissan’s partners in Nigeria on the sidelines of the ongoing World Economic Forum.

    President Jonathan said a key objective of the new policy was to make new cars affordable to more Nigerians.

    “The only way to reduce the preponderance of second hand cars on our roads is to produce good quality cars with affordable pricing locally,” the statement quoted the President as saying at the meeting.

    Welcoming the Nissan group’s investment in vehicle production in Nigeria, President Jonathan noted that all investors in local automobile production in the country will have a huge ready market for their products.

    “The automobile industry in Nigeria has a huge potential for growth. The market is not just Nigeria, but the entire West African region,” he observed.

    Mr. Ghosn applauded the Federal Government’s new automotive policy, saying that it would encourage the inflow of investments and technical expertise to boost domestic vehicle production.

    The Nissan CEO informed President Jonathan that Nissan Motors plans to roll-out the first made in Nigeria 4 X 4 Utility SUV in April, using the old Volkswagen Assembly plant owned by its partners.

    President Jonathan, according to the statement, also met with President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania who assured him of his personal participation in the World Economic Forum on Africa scheduled to take place in Abuja in May.

     

  • Jonathan approves elevation of seven immigration officers

    Jonathan approves elevation of seven immigration officers

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday approved the elevation of seven officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to the rank of Deputy Comptrollers-General (DCG).

    This is contained in a statement signed by the NIS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Chukwuemeka Obua.

    The statement said the newly appointed DCGs are – Malgwi Yasika, Olaitan Olasunkami and Adike John.

    Others, according to the News Agency of Nigeria are – Ifeadi Udochukwu, Abeshi Kure, Babandede Mohammed and Oredipe Gbenga.