The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Sokoto: Tambuwal updates Buhari on peace mission, oil exploration

    Sokoto: Tambuwal updates Buhari on peace mission, oil exploration

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state has briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the peace mission by five Northern governors to South-east and South-south regions, and the efforts toward oil exploration in Sokoto Basin.

    The mission, embarked upon by Governors Kashim Shettima of Borno, Aminu Masari of Katsina, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi and Simon Lalong of Plateau states, in September, was meant to douse tension and promote peace and dialogue among all sections of Nigeria.

    Tambuwal, who spoke to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Buhari, disclosed that the delegation met and interacted with their counterparts in Rivers, Abia and the Imo States as well as northerners residing in the South East and South – South areas.

    “I am sure you are aware that recently we were in the south-east, as governors from the north went to interact with our brothers in the South East and South – South and particularly people of the North residing there so there was a need for a feedback.

    “Also we have discussed with the President, if you remember very well recently, I was personally at the NNPC towers where we engaged the GMD (Group Managing Director) of the NNPC on possible oil exploration in the Sokoto basin.

    “I have had cause to brief the president on that particular interaction, there is a need for the Federal government to continue to support that endeavour which I believe will help in more provision of oil and gas which we believe is very much in abundance in this basin but also in bringing about agricultural revolution in that area.

    “If you have gas it will support the power supply which will, in turn, enhance and influence agro-allied industries that are likely to come on board and also have a positive impact economically on the lives and well- being of the people that are along the basin,’’ he said.

    The governor said that the first attempt to search for oil and gas in the Sokoto Basin was in 1957 before attention was shifted to the Niger Delta region.

    He said: “It has always been there since 1957, when the first attempt was made but with the discovery of oil in the Delta, which we believe from the information we have is easier to exploit, there was a shift in focus to that of Niger Delta.

    “We believe particularly the issue of gas, we need it for our local consumption, we have the conviction that what we have in that area is more than sufficient for an upward of 20 to 30 years of use by the people of the area.

    “If explored, we don’t have to make pipelines from the Delta region up north to North West states of Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina, if you do that you will ease the problem of evacuation and transportation or piping as it were of gas and Petroleum products. So it’s a way of providing cheaper services to the people.’’

    Tambuwal described President Buhari’s response to his presentation as “very positive”.

  • Buhari mourns Gen. Malu

    Buhari mourns Gen. Malu

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday extended heartfelt condolences to the Malu family as well as the government and people of Benue State on the death of Lt. General Victor Malu (retired), a former Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also commiserated with the Nigerian Armed Forces on the demise of a very distinguished and professional colleague, who demonstrated incredible courage and leadership, including during very turbulent times in Liberia.

    The President recalled that as Force Commander of the ECOMOG peace-keeping troops in Liberia from 1996 to 1998, General Malu was an icon of professionalism, bravery and discipline, and aptly demonstrated these attributes throughout his national and international military assignments.

    The President believed that the late General Malu will be fondly remembered for his dedication and commitment as a military officer; and his numerous landmark contributions to Nigeria’s unity and development.

    He urged the bereaved family, friends and associates to honour Malu’s memory by upholding his invaluable sacrifices for a peaceful and united Nigeria.

    The President prayed that Almighty God will comfort all who mourn Gen Malu, and grant his soul perfect peace.

  • Boko Haram: Yobe Governor seeks N13 billion refund

    Boko Haram: Yobe Governor seeks N13 billion refund

    …Tambuwal briefs Buhari on security, oil exploration in Sokoto basin

     

    Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State on Monday said that his state spent N13 billion to fight the insurgents Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

    According to him, he would be glad if the Federal Government could refund at least 30% of the N13 billion.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said that his state has already submitted a request for refund to the Federal Government.

    If refunded, he said that the money would enable the state government carry out some developmental projects including the construction of new hospitals as well as provision of other infrastructural facilities.

    He said “We have not received a single kobo in terms of cash but in terms of materials, food and non-food items, we have been receiving a lot which I cannot tell you precisely in a quantify form.

    “But, doing the last administration in Yobe, we took care of the Joint Task Force, a combination of the military, the SSS, the mobile Police, who were carrying out the war against the insurgency.

    “We even paid their allowances, all their logistical needs including patrol vehicles. We spent huge amount of money in that direction up to about N13 billion during the time of the insurgency.

    “We have submitted to the federal government if they could refund even 30 per cent of that amount so that we can use the money on some developmental projects like construction of hospitals.” he said

    On his meeting with the President, Geidam said that he briefed him on the return of all Yobe Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their respective domains following the relative peace achieved in the state.

    According to him, the state has not encountered any attack by the insurgents in the past two years.

    He said: “I told him that we have gotten relative peace in Yobe state in terms of insurgency. For the past two years or so we have not encountered any attack by the insurgents in Yobe state.

    “I accordingly briefed him that and told him that all our IDPs have returned to their basis and resumed their normal businesses.

    “Our problems now border on resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the destroyed areas by the Boko Haram and I told him that as government we have been doing our best to ensure we restore all those facilities which were destroyed by the Boko Haram.

    “But we need some kind of assistance from the federal government which he promised to assist.’’ he said

    The governor acknowledged that the Presidential Committee on North East Initiative had offered some assistance to the IDPs in the state.

    He, however, called on the committee to do more, adding that “some of our people lost their means of livelihood and they need to be given some amount of money either by the federal government or through the presidential committee to assist them to rebuild their houses so that they could start their normal life.’’ he said

    Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal said that he discussed with President Buhari on security situation in the country and the possibility of oil exploration in the Sokoto basin.

    He said; “I came to see our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari and we had discussion  on quite a number of issues, of specific mention is the issue is the general well- being of the country, security situation of  the country. I am sure you are aware that recently we were in the south east, as governors from the north went to interact with our brothers in the south east and south south and  particularly  people of the North   residing there so there was a need for a feedback.

    “Also we have discussed with the President, if you remember very well recently, I was personally at the NNPC towers where we engaged the GMD of the NNPC on possible oil exploration in the Sokoto basin and I have had cause to brief the president on that particular interaction.

    “There is a need for the Federal government to continue to support that endeavour which I believe will help in more provision of oil and gas which we believe is very much in abundance in this basin  but also in bringing about agricultural revolution in that area.

    “If you have gas it will support the power supply which will in turn enhance and influence agro- allied industries that are likely to come on board and also have a positive impact economically on the lives and well- being of the people that are along the basin. These are some of the issues we discussed with Mr President.

    “It has always been there since 1957, when the first attempt was made but with the discovery of oil in the Delta which we believe from the information we have is easier to exploit, there was a shift in focus to that of Niger Delta.

    “We believe particularly the issue of gas, we need it for our local consumption, we have the conviction that what we have in that area is more than sufficient for an upward of 20 to 30 days of use by the people of the area. If   explored, we don’t have to make pipelines from the Delta region up north to North West states of Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina, if you do that you will ease the problem of evacuation and transportation or piping as it were of gas and Petroleum products. So it’s a way of providing cheaper services to the people,” he said.

    On what the president’s response was, he simply said “It was very positive.”

    Also speaking with State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Buhari, Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru, dismissed the social media report claiming that the Jigawa House of Assembly was plotting to impeach him.

    According to him, the relationship between the executive and legislature in the State has remained cordial.

    On his meeting with the President, the governor, who is the chairman of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, said he updated him on issues bordering on agricultural development in the country.

    He said “We believe agriculture and solid minerals are key to our development and we discussed a lot on how to improve our international competitiveness in agricultural production.

    “As you are aware also that I’m the chairman of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, we have been discussing on fertilizer on agriculture for quite a long time with Mr President and I’m sure he is happy with the suggestions and encouraged us to work hard and to be sure we safeguard the country,’’ he said.

    The governor disclosed that the government was looking into possibility of reducing the cost of inputs as well as to increase farmers’ yields so as to make them competitive.

  • Kachikwu’s memo aimed at inciting people against Buhari – Coalition 

    Kachikwu’s memo aimed at inciting people against Buhari – Coalition 

    A coalition of civil rights activists from Niger Delta region, Monday, asked security agencies to probe the leakage of the controversial internal memo the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, sent to President Muhammadu Buhari alleging corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    The coalition under the auspices of the Niger Delta Activist Forum (NDAF) said whoever was behind the leak had the sole motive of inciting the people against the President.

    The Convener of NDAF, Success Jack, in a statement called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Security (DSS) to investigate the source of the leak and persons behind it.

    The statement, which was co-signed by Prince Emmanuel Omoniyi and Efe Elliss said persons behind the leak of the eight-paragraph memo, which had pitted Kachukwu against the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Maikanti Baru, should be arrested and prosecuted.

     The statement said the development was shameful and gross display of disservice to the public service sector adding that the rules in the public sector forbade leakage of classified communication.

     “How did the letter get leaked to the public? Whose interest does the leakage serve?Why are the perpetrators of the leakage in so much of a hurry to vilify the person and character of Maikanti Baru even when the logic doesn’t apply?

    ” Is the leakage good for National security? We hereby call on the Director General of the Department of State Security, the Inspector General of Police and all security agencies to fish out the source and brains  behind the leak.

     “Secondly, some disgruntled political characters have over the past 48 hours spared no effort in drawing on easy sentiments, ethnic bigotry and geographic chauvism in trying to incite violence against federal oil and gas facilities in the region. 

    “We have resisted frantic attempts to spill southern bile against the state using Mr Maikanti Baru as their excuse and would continue to galvanize efforts to resist such attempts”

     “We also want to send a clear warning to all those who think they can use this incidence as an avenue to execute political misgivings against individuals or state to desist forth with or face the consequences. 

    “Painfully this unwarranted media hype and insinuation of corruption given to a letter that merely seeks clarifications from a senior Minister, is one that goes a long way to de-market the oil and gas industry in Nigeria with ripple effects on Nigeria as a whole.

    “This will no doubt deal a hard blow on global confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas transparency quotient as it very naturally constitutes a most vicious device against foreign direct investments into the sector. 

    “It is however, our opinion that the National security adviser and all security agencies quickly liase with regulatory bodies of the media for better management of this matter to forestall further inciting of the general public”.

     The coalition in the statement said after reading the memo, it deduced that the award of all the jobs and contracts in question amounting to $25bn went through the NNPC Tender’s Board (NTB).

    Insisting that the contract went through due process, the coalition, however, criticised Baru for not bringing it before the board and its Chairman.

    The statement said: “It is, however, instructive to note that, Kachikwu is the Chairman of the board based on authority delegated by Mr  President but such delegation of authority in no way diminishes the legality of Mr President exercising those same powers, more so when he still remains the senior Minister. 

    “It is also important to state for emphasis that procurement requirements in cases such as this emphasise approval from the senior minister. Again it would be understandable for the senior minister to handle such matters under this schedule through capable and qualified aids.

     “It, however, appears to us that necessary links to reconcile records of accounts between the junior and senior minister is missing. While not been apologetically biased in favor of any of the parties involved, even the missive admits adherence to due process when it talked about the NTB. 

    “Finally, if these contracts were ratified and approved by Mr. President or the Federal Executive Council (FEC) headed by Mr. President as is the case here, then it should put a definitive end to these rather futile attempts to paint Mr. Maikanti Baru in in bad light by uninformed members of the public”.

  • Buhari must sack non-performing South-East ministers – Anyanwu

    Buhari must sack non-performing South-East ministers – Anyanwu

    A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Nduka Anyanwu has said that bad governance by past and present governors of the South-East, as well as the inability of serving Federal Ministers to deliver on their promises, was largely responsible for the current agitation for secession by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Anyanwu who is a serving ex-officio of the party told newsmen in Abuja that President Muhammadu Buhari must move immediately to sack all non performing Ministers from the region if he hopes to win the votes of the people of the south-East especially for their inability to bring under control, the agitation by the proscribed IPOB.

    The APC chieftain specifically demanded the immediate sack of the Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelama, adding that apart from being imposed on the Abia state chapter, the Minister has refused to visit the state party secretariat since his appointment, which is a clear indication of his lack of interest in the affairs of the party.

    He said: “Abians are very likeable people that will vote Buhari for 2019 if he comes out and which we are going to ask Buhari to come out. Nigerians need Buhari. Buhari is the best thing that has happened to this country but the issue is that few people that are working for him now in South-East are not really taking care of that zone, they are not doing much. 

    “Like in my state, my minister is not close to any of us, he is demarketing Buhari in the state. Is he the minister for only Abuja? I don’t think he has visited the state secretariat, I don’t think he has electoral value in his ward, what are we talking? I am asking President Buhari to reshuffle the cabinet and let them bring in somebody. 

    “When this IPOB agitation started, I was expecting the Minister of Trade and Investment, because he is the one representing us at the cabinet, to see how he would have parley with all these boys that are agitating but till today, that man has never spoken out anything, which is very bad. 

    “If you want to appoint a Minister, you must look for somebody who is ready to work for you, not somebody who would go and speak only grammar. Politics is not a child’s play, it is a very serious business. I am saying that we need an experienced politician. There are lots of us that are highly educated in Abia State who can do the job better than him. 

    “We are saying this because of the issues of agitations in South-East. I am asking them to begin to look inwardly, to look at the really core party people who worked for Buhari in the South-East. 

    “The one that is representing us now is not working in Abia State, we don’t know him, he’s not part of us. All the time we were campaigning, using our money to do sorts of things, they called us all sorts of names, he was not there with us, why being the Minister of Trade and Investment? 

    “The terrain of things in Abia State now, we need a very experienced person who will be able to reach all parties to bring things together. I am saying that we want Abia State to be the APC State by 2019 but with the way things are going now, if we don’t make changes quickly now, we won’t get there.” 

    He called on the Biafra agitators to blame successive governments in the South-East including the present Abia state government and not President Buhari for the backwardness in Abia state, the APC chieftain saying: “the issue now is that since 1999 in South-east especially in my state, Abia State, I can tell you that things are not really working. 

    “If I were Nnamdi Kanu, he would have begun to agitate within the people that have ruled that state since 1999 and begin to ask questions, what have you people done? Can you give us account of stewardship since 1999? You can see in Abia State that all the infrastructures have so dilapidated. You can see poverty is visible. If you visit there at night, is like a goat stand, nothing is working. 

    “I can tell you, I stand to be corrected, 85% of the youths are not working, they are jobless. Why do they agitate? They say idle hand is devil’s workshop because these youths are not doing anything, they are all vulnerable, that is why Nnamdi was able to peneterate them and begin to tell them what to do because they don’t have future and they are looking at the whole thing that nothing is working. 

    “I can tell you that Government house in Abia state is like three-bedroomed flat. What are we talking about? All the elders in Abia state are not speaking because of what they are getting from the governor. This is the right time for EFCC and ICPC to visit Abia state and begin to ask questions. What is going on? and if they don’t go to the root of this matter, IPOB is not working today, tomorrow, another one will come out continuously because poverty is visible in Abia state. 

    “For the past two years now, I can tell you that I have not seen any project going on in Abia state apart from the ones working on by the federal government. Nothing is going on, they are busy parading themselves and at the end of the month, they will just sit down at the government house and share the money and it ends there, nobody is speaking; Abians are not speaking; nobody is talking; everybody is afraid.”

  • 2019: Global affairs analyst nudges Tinubu to declare for presidency

    2019: Global affairs analyst nudges Tinubu to declare for presidency

    A Global Affairs Analyst, Ayoola Lawal has called on the National leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step forward to join the race in becoming the next President of Nigeria in 2019.
    Lawal noted that Asiwaju Tinubu can compete for the position if President Muhammadu Buhari is not interested in running in 2019.
    According to him, the outcome of the last meeting by the South-West leaders of the APC in Ibadan, Oyo state capital indicates that APC  is still on course and zoning of the highest office of the land is not yet on the party’s plate.
    “The South-West leaders pride the party in its ideology of choosing a party flagbearer on the pure merit of winning the majority votes according to the party arrangement.
    “Based on the reiteration that the presidency on the platform of the APC is not yet zoned which makes it open to any citizen of Nigeria that meets the criteria of the party irrespective of the region or zone he or she belongs,” he said.
    The Global Affairs Analyst observed that the non-zoning system produced President Buhari in December 2014, when he emerged as the presidential candidate of the APC for the March 2015 general elections amongst other candidates from different zones of the country.
    He further said: “As a global affairs analyst, an unrepentant advocate of good governance, and a patriotic socialist that is studying and following the activities of political leaders and underdogs across the globe especially Nigeria, I personally call upon the National leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step forward to join the race in becoming the next President of the most populated black nation on earth in 2019 if Mr. President is not interested and, if Asiwaju still has the ambition.
    “If I may recall, Asiwaju Tinubu boldly and pleasantly expressed his wish and dream time and again of becoming the president of Nigeria during the presidential party rallies that I was opportune to attend in 2015.
    “However, he categorically stated the reasons for not joining the presidential race then which were constructively convincing and purely patriotic, that he needed to walk the path of history of the great nations that supported, elected and trusted their generals and old men with experience to rescue them in their nation’s darkest times.
    “Then, nobody could refute that Nigeria was in an unchartered water, in an auto-pilot state economically and security wise with ruthless corruption across the board, Boko Haram onslaught without hope in sight and Nigeria was heading for the rock.
    “Indeed, Nigeria was in her dark time in the tight grasp of 16-year misrule from the People Democratic Party (PDP). Now, the coast is quite clearer for Nigeria, the war is won, and Nigeria is on the course to regain her past glory and join the league of lion nation again.
    “Thank God for the APC-led administration of president Buhari and aided by a ceaseless demand of good governance by Nigerians. I will implore other young patriots to step up and give political leadership a shot for the sake of our generation and the future of our nation.
    “As I am imploring more younger and competent patriots both in Nigeria and Diaspora to engage in active politics, it is high time the national leader of APC, Asiwaju Tinubu, slept over his ambition again, take the bull by the horn and ready to take the baton from our great leader, president Buhari to continue the master plan of APC in leading Nigeria to her dreamland.”
    Lawal stressed that besides the facts that Asiwuju Tinubu has proven himself as a savvy entrepreneur, center-left political genius that understands the value of a rock-solid political platform and what it takes to unify people across board irrespective of tribe, political belief, education and social class and networks, he is also an astute leader with eye and heart for identifying potentials both in human and material and finally inspiring them for the best of his society and humanity.
    “I would have called for the continuity of President Muhammad Buhari as the president of Nigeria till 2023 because of what he stands for, but in all fairness, my hero, president Mr. Buhari has given is best to Nigeria even in his challenging state of health, so well in as promised in his election campaigns.
    “It is time for him to go back to Daura to savor his successes, take care of his challenging health, spend more time with his families and loved ones, and be a mentor to Asiwaju in his next herculean tasks as the next president of Nigeria and Nigeria to take great care of him and other old citizens,” he summed.
  • $25bn NNPC contract: Buhari vets Kachikwu’s petition

    $25bn NNPC contract: Buhari vets Kachikwu’s petition

    President Muhammadu Buhari met with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, for one hour at the Presidential Villa yesterday.

    The meeting was the President’s response to the reported dispute between Kachikwu and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, over the latter’s alleged award of $25 billion contracts without deference to the minister.

    Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that President Buhari met with Kachikwu while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had audience with Baru in a different meeting.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The President took time to review all the issues raised in the August 30 memorandum. The points were considered one by one.

    “They met for about an hour with the President listening and taking notes.

    “And the minister, who used the opportunity to restate his high regard for the President, explained how the GMD had been treating him with disdain over what he wrote in his memo.

    “He also said he was not out to sabotage the Federal Government under any guise.”

    Findings however revealed that the GMD of NNPC met separately with Vice President Osinbajo.

    The source said: “I am aware the GMD also came to have audience with the Vice President.”

    There were indications yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari might invite members of the board of NNPC to a meeting following revelations that they had “intervened” in the crisis of confidence between Kachikwu and Baru some months ago.

    It was learnt that the President would find out from the board members if the disagreement over the contracts was actually brought to their notice.

    A government source added: “There is no way the President will not hear from the board members. The Minister alleged that he was sidelined and in over one year of Baru’s tenure, no contract has been run through the board.

    “The GMD of NNPC is adamant in maintaining that every transaction was reported to the board, whether on or before the inauguration of the board. He has cited minutes of board meetings.

    “It is now left to the President to hear from board members on what actually happened.”

    A source close to the board of NNPC said: “The truth is that the problem between the Minister and the GMD is mainly ego.

    “Kachikwu tried and Baru tried in addressing the rot in the oil sector and NNPC. The gains are visible for all stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.

    “In the past few months, we have been intervening in the crisis of confidence between the Minister and the GMD. They had been having issues and we have been able to control the situation.

    “For instance, they had disagreement on appointments. We were decisive and we made a pronouncement.

    “We advised them on how to go about doing things to sustain the stability we are gradually experiencing in the oil and gas industry.”

    On the disputed contracts, the source said: “The award of about one or two contracts preceded the inauguration of the board. For instance, when the NNPC entered into the AKK pipeline contract, which the minister said was valued at approximately $3b, there was no board then. But when it was reported to the board, we were told it was at no cost to the Federal Government.”

    The minister had accused the GMD of awarding $25 billion contracts without consulting either his office or the Board of NNPC.

    He blamed the GMD of alleged insubordination, lack of adherence to due process and running a “bravado management style.”

    He said: “The following major contracts were never reviewed by or discussed with me or the Board of NNPC:

    • The Crude Term Contracts – value at over $10b
    • The DSDP contracts – value over $5b
    • The AKK pipeline contract – value approximately $3b
    • Various financing allocation funding contracts with the NOCs – value over $3bn
    • Various NPDC production service contracts – value at over $3bn – $4bn

    “There are many more, Your Excellency. In most of these activities, the explanation of the GMD is that you are the Minister of Petroleum and your approvals were obtained. However, the correct governance should be that the Minister of State and the Board review the transaction and give their concurrence prior to presentation to you.

    “As in many cases of things that happen in NNPC these days, I learn of transactions only through publications in the media. The question is why is it that other parastatals which I supervise as Minister of State or Chair of their Boards are able to go through these contractual and mandatory governance processes and yet NNPC is exempt from these?

    “I know that this bravado management style runs contrary to the cleansing operations you engaged me to carry out at the inception of your administration. This is also not in consonance with your own renowned standards of integrity.”

  • Prisons’ congestion a national scandal – Buhari

    Prisons’ congestion a national scandal – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has raised alarm over the state of the nation’s prisons, noting that it is a national scandal that many prisons are overcrowded by 90 percent.

    The president stated this when he hosted a delegation of the judicial arm of government led by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday.

    He, therefore, stressed the need to put in place urgent new measures to speedily decongest the prisons across the country.

    He stated that the call had become imperative not only in the interest of justice but to save the cost of prisons’ maintenance and boost the welfare of prisoners.

    “We need a new approach to prison congestion. It is a national scandal that many prisons are overcrowded by 90 percent.

    “Urgent new measures should be put place to speedily decongest the prisons not only in the interest of justice but to save the cost of prisons’ maintenance and welfare of prisoners.

    “My Attorney General is advocating the establishment of courts inside the prisons to speed up decongestion,’’ he said.

    On review of the conditions of service of the judicial staff, the president directed the office of the Attorney General of the federation to take up the issue with the Salary and Wages Commission with a view to advising him for prompt action.

    He stated that his administration was not unmindful of the challenges facing the judiciary, saying that the increased budgetary allocation to the judiciary in the 2017 fiscal year would be sustained.

    Buhari lamented that huge sums were being spent on security, especially in the North East and Niger Delta regions, instead of meaningful development, to better the lives of citizens.

    He, however, expressed optimism that God would touch the minds of Nigerians to be patient with the government in its efforts to transform the nation’s economy.

    “From 1999 to 2014, Nigeria has never realised so many resources since our independence, never, because of the average production, go to any renowned financial or economic institution in the world they know Nigeria produced an average of 2.1 million barrel per day at an average cost of 100 dollars per barrel.

    “But when we came in it crashed to 37 dollars per barrel, and we looked saving and there was no saving.

    “So really, we have just started working and we hope God in his infinite mercy would give Nigerians the patient to tolerate us,” he added.

    While commending the judiciary for establishing special courts to speed up the trial for corruption and other criminal cases, Buhari said the stability of the country depended a lot on the Judiciary and Police.

    Earlier, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, thanked God for healing President Buhari.

    He reassured the president that the judiciary would continue to do its best for the country.

  • Buhari, S/Court judges meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, S/Court judges meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met with a delegation of the judges of the Supreme Court.

    The judges were led into the meeting by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    The meeting, which began around 2:00pm, took place inside the Council Chambers of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filling this report.

     

     

     

    Details later…

  • Kachikwu keeps mum after meeting with Buhari  in Aso Rock

    Kachikwu keeps mum after meeting with Buhari  in Aso Rock

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu on Friday kept mum over the outcome of his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He had met behind closed doors with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Kachikwu, who arrived Aso Rock around 11.30a. m. left around 12:50 p.m

    He simply said “No comment” when approached by journalists as he walked out of the President’s office with the Special Adviser to the President on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina.

    The minister has alleged that $25 billion contracts have been wrongly awarded by the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),  Dr. Maikanti Baru.

    His protest was contained in a letter to the President, which somehow got leaked to the public on Tuesday.

    Apart from the Senate mandating its committee to probe the matter, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had demanded for Baru’s sack.