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Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari, Kachikwu meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, Kachikwu meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Kachikwu arrived Aso Rock around 11.30a. m.

    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 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had demanded for Baru’s sack.

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

    Details later…

     

     

  • Stakeholder to Buhari: Don’t ignore Kachikwu’s memo

    Stakeholder to Buhari: Don’t ignore Kachikwu’s memo

    More reactions on Thursday trailed the memo of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu to President Muhammadu Buhari alleging the unilateral award of $25billion contract by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru. 

    The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (NEITI) Technical Adviser, Dr Dauda Garuba urged the president to wade into the crisis because $25billion is too huge an amount to consummate its contract without due process.

    Whichever way one looks at it, $25 billion is too huge an amount to build contracts around without due process. We are supposed to be a country guided by rules and procedures. We must make Nigeria work.

    Garuba said that if it is established that there are infractions as alleged by the Minister of States for Petroleum Resources, the necessary sanctions must be deployed.

                   Related: Kachikwu protests award of $25b contracts by NNPC

    He insisted that Mr President must demonstrate that he meant business when he promised Nigerians to reform the oil sector. 

    He expressed fear that the revelation came only when there was a ray of hope that the sector was being reformed.

    Garuba, an advocate of transparency accountability in the oil and gas sector, noted insisted that sector cannot afford to reverse its reform in the last two years.

                   Trending: Ogun state owes N103b debt – Amosun

    He said that: “I must say that it is unfortunate that the Nigeria public is being unenviably treated to unpleasant developments in the oil sector. If you ask me, this is coming at a wrong time in our history. Just when we are expecting a reform of the sector so that it can deliver the country out of the wounds, we are having to deal with this. 

    “So much progress has been recorded in the reform of the oil sector in the last two years that Nigeria cannot afford to turn back the hand of the clock. I know Nigerians are yet to hear from the other side.

    “It will be fair that those who leaked the memo by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to President Muhammadu Buhari also live up to their sophistry in access to secret information by obliging Nigerians the response by the Group Managing Director of NNPC. President Muhammadu Buhari must step in and do the needful.”

  • Bello’s wife urges Buhari to sign disability bill

    Bello’s wife urges Buhari to sign disability bill

    Wife of Kogi state governor, Barrister Amina Oyiza Bello has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Person’s with Disability special protection bill into law as doing so will go a long way to addressing the numerous problems and challenges facing persons with disability in the country.

    Speaking a news conference to mark the World Cerebral Palsy Day scheduled for Friday, October 6, Barrister Bello also appealed to the government and school owners to make school environment-friendly for persons with disability while, putting in place measure to end stigma against such persons.

    The Wife of the Kogi governor who is the founder of Hayat Foundation, an Organisation dedicated to promoting the cause of children with cerebral palsy in the country said government must muster the political will to address the plight of Nigerians living with disability, adding that signing the disability bill into law will accord the necessary dignity and respect they deserve.

    She appealed to Nigerians to stop the stigma against persons living with disability, describing the International day in cerebral palsy as “a unique day in our lives, a day that people with special needs are celebrated, encouraged and assured that they are not alone in their struggle for a decent and lovely livelihood. It is a day that we remind them that despite the challenges they are facing, they can still achieve their dreams.

    “It is a day that further engages and strengthens our conviction as a foundation in supporting children with special needs with the necessary skills and education. Through early intervention  to thrive in the society.”

    She listed the six focal areas for the world cerebral palsy day celebration. To in Luke civil riot, public awareness, medical and therapeutic, quality of life, education and contribution, adding that these focal areas can easily make a big differ de in the life’s of the people living with special needs

    According to her, “Nigeria and indeed African children living with special needs are sentenced to a life of obscurity and are at a disadvantage right from birth. Most families treat them as outcasts due to perceived societal stigmatization and worse of all, they end up in confinement thereby damaging their self-esteem, their ability to acquire relevant social skills and confidence.

    “At Hayab Foundation, we are committed more than ever before in making lives easier, interesting and meaningful for children with special needs. We believe that catching them young will avail us the opportunity to groom them to live and enjoy their lives like any other normal child and prepare them for a future that seeks to be promising and bright.”

    According to her, the foundation was born as a result of “my personal experience with cerebral palsy, while taking care of my own son, Hayatullah Onoruoyiza Bello who lives with cerebral palsy and in whose honour the foundation was named” adding that the foundation. Is a special intervention outfit to reach the less privileged ones in the society.

    She disclosed that the foundation will soon hold a fundraising dinner to draw the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the plight of these children with special need, in an effort to set up a pan African Institute for children with special needs.

    “In the area of education, we also want to appeal to school owners to become more friendly t children with special needs and to make their school environment more wheelchair accessible. Our churches, mosques and religious institutions are doing a great job already, but we all need them to do more. Going forward, we are using this special Cassio. To enjoin them to set aside special days to recognize and show affection to people with special needs”, she said.

  • Kachikwu’s petition: CSO seeks conclusion of PIGB

    Kachikwu’s petition: CSO seeks conclusion of PIGB

    The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), on Thursday, called on the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari to conclude the passage and assent of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill.

    A conclusion of the enactment, according to the Civil Society Organization, will forestall the reoccurrence of the issues in the oil and gas sector that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu alleged against the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru in his petition to President Buhari.

    The petition was on the arbitrary award of $25 billion contracts, insubordination, among other infractions of the NNPC boss.  

    ANEEJ Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor made the call for the enactment of the PIGB  in a statement to journalists in Abuja yesterday. 

    He applauded the Senate for moving quickly to unravel allegations of inappropriateness levelled by the Minister of State, noting that the response of Mr President concerning the allegations of disregard for due process in the award of contracts by the NNPC GM, would define the perception of the reforms which have been going on in the oil sector.

    Ugolor said that “Since the Senate has waded into the matter, we suggest that Mr President as well must invite the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI, to carry out a comprehensive and forensic audit of the allegations. 

    “Among statutory functions of the NEITI include the regulation of matters related to the due process in the award of contracts in the extractive sector of the Nigerian sector.

    “We believe that the inconsistencies being thrown up by the startling revelations from the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources include some of the issues which the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill seeks to address and redress’, the Rev Ugolor has pointed out.”

    The statement noted that in anticipation of such a rift in the industry, ANEEJ anticipated wrote an online petition. 

    The statement reads in parts: “The present administration since inception has defined itself first through its corruption stance, and more by the reforms it has introduced in the oil sector. It scrapped the opaque oil swap which made it possible for individuals within government to line their pockets with millions of dollars and has replaced it with the Direct Sale, Direct Purchase scheme.

    “That lofty plan of Direct Sale, Direct Purchase stands in jeopardy if all the contracts that have been awarded and the companies they have been awarded are not subject to thorough vetting and investigations by both the Senate and the NEITI.” 

  • BREAKING: Bag of rice to sell for N6000

    BREAKING: Bag of rice to sell for N6000

    The National President of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Aminu Goronyo, on Wednesday, disclosed that in the next few months, a 50kg bag of rice would be sold at the rate of N6000.

    Goronyo made this known during a meeting between rice farmers, processors and the minister of agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

    According to the Farmers’ boss, the anticipated crash in prices is due to wet season bumper harvest by farmers, adding that operators have resolved to reduce the price of a 50kg bag of rice, which is currently priced within the range of N15,000 to N17,000, to N13,000.

    “This is just the beginning. The actual price will still come down because we are expecting a bumper harvest this year; we have sat down with the millers and agreed that we will work together for the interest of Nigerians,” he said.

    “At one time, people were buying a bag of rice at the cost of N18,000 but they are now buying it at between N13,000 and N15,000. The price is coming down.

    “In the next few months, God willing, the price of a 50kg bag will come down to N6,000. It is achievable, it will be a reality,’’ he said.

    Mohammed Abubakar, chairman, Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN), said the associations had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to slash the prices of both paddy and processed rice.

    “We have agreed at N110,000 per tonne of paddy. In the market, rice will come around N13,000 to N13,500 per 50kg bag,” he said.

    “Before now, we were buying paddy at N140,000 and N150,000 per tonne and we are selling our products at N16,000 per 50kg bag.

    “If this MoU works, we hope to sell a bag of rice at N13, 000 to N13, 500, depending on where you are in the country.”

    Ogbeh commended the associations for their decision to slash the price of locally produced rice.

    The minister, who noted that the biggest challenge facing rice farmers in the country was smuggling, said the move would aid efforts to stamp out rice smuggling into the country.

    “Let me express the appreciation of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to both farmers and millers because nobody can calculate what you have done to rescue our country that was very close to disaster,” he said.

    “What you have done is going to save us from a lot of difficulties. What we want to promise you is that we will help you ease the burden of rice farming.

    “Last year, we procured 80,000 threshers; this year, we will procure another 2,500 threshers and we are bringing in small reapers for distribution to rice farmers.

    “The equipment will enable them to cut the rice, thresh it, winnow it and put it in sacks; It will take away all the stress which makes rice farming very difficult so that you can keep to the price of N110, 000 per tonne of paddy that we agreed.

    “If we are able to keep these prices stable and we are able to contain smuggling, I hope you will keep us informed when there are any challenges confronting you because no country can claim to be strong if its citizens are hungry.

    “Let everybody know that the price of rice for this Christmas will be good enough for us to eat rice, chicken and fish.”

    The federal government had banned the importation to improve local production and some states like Lagos and Kebbi have jointly produced rice for commercial activities in their states.

    Data made available by the National Bureau of Statistics show that export activities in the agricultural sector has been on the rise in 2017.

  • FEC okays N25.99 billion debt payment to Discos 

    FEC okays N25.99 billion debt payment to Discos 

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the settlement of N25.99 billion debt owed power Distribution Companies (Discos) by the Federal Government.

    The Minister of Work, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola briefed State House correspondences at the end of FEC presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to him, the amount, which has been verified was owed by the Federal Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    He also disclosed that the verification of the amount owed by States and Local governments is still on going.

    Details Later…

  • Why cost of food items is high – FG

    Why cost of food items is high – FG

    The Federal Government says despite the revolution witnessed in the agricultural sector, the cost of food items is still high because of infrastructural deficit and export demands.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this on Tuesday when he featured in a Current Affairs programme “Focus Nigeria” of a Lagos-based Television station.

    “Despite the fact that the production of staples like rice, grains, yam has increased with the agricultural revolution of the government, food items are still on the high side.

    “There are many reasons why the prices are still up there but principally, I think it is an infrastructural deficit.

    “By this, I mean what it takes to bring the produce from the farms to the farm gates and from the farm gates to the city centres and this may not improve until various road and rail projects are completed.

    “The good news, however, is that from October this year, the General Electric, which has the concession for the 3,500 narrow gauge rail routes will commence work.

    “The Lagos to Kano standard gauge rail project and the Lagos to Calabar rail lines which will crisscross all the South Eastern States are priority projects of the government.

    “That will help in the transportation of goods and services including agricultural produce at a far cheaper fare and that will percolate to the common man,” he said.

    The minister said that the government would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the Lagos to Ibadan, Kano to Maiduguri and other critical roads across the country were completed.

    Mohammed also explained that “there is so much demand for our grains and cereals from other parts of Africa.

    “You cannot stop the farmers especially with the ECOWAS Protocols that allows for free movement of goods and services.

    “There is also a lot of demand for our grains from other parts of the world and as a matter of fact, we got over N30 billion from agricultural export in the second quarter of this year.

    “I believe that with the economy picking up and the various infrastructural development coming up, Nigeria will very soon start to feel some relief.

    “Also the Presidential initiative to employ 10,000 people from each state in the agricultural sector will bring succour and a lot of relief,” he said.

    Speaking of his hopes and fears for the country, the minister said that, 57 years after independence, he was very confident and optimistic that Nigeria will be great.

    “Living together for 57 years as an independent country with all the ups and downs and challenges and we are going stronger in all ramification.

    “The present administration is getting its priorities right and focused on the economy, good governance, security and improving the quality of life of Nigerians,” he said.

    The minister reiterated the position of President Muhammadu Buhari that with Nigeria exiting recession, the administration would not rest on its oars until the impact is felt by all Nigerians.

    He said it was on record that since January, the country had recorded monthly steady reduction in headline inflation.

    “Capital inflow has improved from 902 million dollars in the first quarter to 1.792 billion dollars in the second quarter.

    “We have been able to add additional 8 billion dollars to our foreign reserve which was 23.7 billion dollars last year, but now 33.5 billion dollars this year.

    “Our Balance of Trade has increased, farmers today get fertiliser at N5,500 as opposed to N13,000 before and we were able to deliver the fertilisers to farmers before the planting season.

    “These are incremental gains and if we remain focused on our reforms, all these will improve,” he said.

    For those criticising the president on his Independence Address to the nation, the minister said that Buhari addressed issues that were Germaine to national development.

    He said Buhari’s speech touched on national security, economy, corruption, unity and development as well as the achievements recorded by the administration despite constraints.

    The minister said that, though the government had made its position clear on the agitation for restructuring, “the greatest threat we have today is not restructuring but it is about corruption”.

    “I make bold to say that corruption is the bane of the country and the biggest threat to our existence.

    “Year in year out, huge sums of money are voted for and released for projects that will touch the lives of Nigerians but they are stolen and these projects are left abandoned.

    “It is interesting that those people who are vociferous about restructuring are the same people that were in power for 16 years and they did not do anything about restructuring,” he said.

    The minister commended the ruling APC for creating the platform to get the aggregate of the views of Nigerians as to what they meant by restructuring.

  • Bagudu urged peaceful co-existence among Nigerians

    Bagudu urged peaceful co-existence among Nigerians

    Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has commended the four Emirate of Gwandu, Argungu, Yauri and Zuru for maintaining peaceful co-existence and brotherly love among people of different religious and ethnicity in their domains.

    The Governor made the commendation in a statewide broadcast making Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary in Birnin Kebbi.

    The Governor was full of praise for the four Emirs of Gwandu, Argungu, Yauri and Zuru for mobilizing their subjects to champion the cause of unity in diversity within a single entity.

    Bagudu acknowledged the commendation made to Kebbi State on Agricultural production by President Muhammadu Buhari in his Anniversary speech which the Governor described as an added impetus to galvanize farmers in the state towards improved cultivation to increase yields.

    He said already two modern rice mills Labana in Birnin Kebbi and WACOT in Argungu have since begun production, while another one in Kamba was nearing completion by an indigenous businessman.

    In addition, an International Business Mogul Alhaji Aliko Dan Gote is partnering with the state government to establish a gigantic rice mill at Dugu-Raha in Shanga Local Government Area in furtherance of efforts to harness and process the immense paddy rice potential in Kebbi state.

    Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said his administration has also placed a premium on road construction throughout the state and economic empowerment to people through, materials and financial assistance to groups especially less privileged and women association.

    The government has also renovated and improved infrastructure in primary and secondary schools to enhance quality education.

    Similarly, the administration has renovated improved primary health centres in each of the 225 wards in the state towards the provision of good health care services.

    Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu announced that Kebbi state has accessed 2.3 Billion Naira from primary education funds and added another 2.3 Billion Naira as its grant which brought to total 4.6 Billion Naira expended on the renovation and upgrading of 16 secondary schools as well as 200 primary and junior secondary schools in the state.

    The governor debunks media reports that Ten Billion Naira was accessed by the state from the primary education funds.

    He commended Kebbi State House of Assembly and the Speaker of the House, Sama’ila Abdulmumini Kamba for their support and cooperation to the execution projects which record major achievement in all sectors of human endeavours. 

    The Governor thanked the people of Kebbi state for ensuring Nigerian remain as one entity where everyone could pursue his/her objectives in life.

    He said a team of American Medical expert revisit the state for another medical outreach, while investors from Malaysia were also due in the state for cooperative agreement on bio-fuel. 

    Answering reporter’s question, the Governor announced that the Argungu International Fishing Cultural Festival would be staged next year to boost tourism in the state.

    He said his administration would provide an enabling involvement with vigour to attract investors to set-up soya-beans processing mill in Danko-Wasagu Local Government.

    Furthermore, general electric is looking into the possibility of establishing a 200 Megawatts solar-plant in Kebbi State to generate electricity. 

    On local governments, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu consented that, there have been significant challenges in the Local government system, saying that, it was unacceptable that, resources of local government were being shared amongst few people, with nothing left for development.

    The Governor made it’s clear that the state government was committed to sanitizing the system towards achieving the target objective of creating local governments as the third tier of government. 

    Responding to question on the need to improve the services of State-owned broadcast stations, Kebbi Radio and Kebbi Television Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said his administration would soon embark on the digitalization of the two the stations in line with a modern broadcast.

    Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu renewed his standing order for the automatic employment of Doctors and Nurses to make up for shortage being experienced in some hospitals in the state.

    In commemoration of the 57th Independence Anniversary of our great country Nigeria.

    Governor Atiku Bagudu, therefore, advised the citizens to live and lead a perfect life towards attaining economic prosperity peaceful coexistence and brotherliness.

  • Niger Delta elders to meet Buhari with new template for peace

    Niger Delta elders to meet Buhari with new template for peace

    Niger Delta leaders of thought under a new platform of Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC), have prepared a new template for sustainable peace and development of the region to be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The new body, which said it had been mandated by the coalition of the Niger Delta agitators to negotiate for the region, expressed optimism that the meeting with Buhari would hold in October this year.

    The group of elders emerged a few weeks ago after the coalition of Niger Delta militants passed a vote of no confidence in the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).

    The elders drawn from all the states in the Niger Delta region including Cross River met at the palace of Ibedaowei of Opokuma Kingdom, King Okpoitari Diongoli, in Opokuma, Bayelsa State, at the weekend, to adopt the new template.

    The National Chairman, PNDPC, His Royal Majesty Charles Ayemi-Botu, said the new body was put in place to selflessly fight for the development of the region through dialogue with the Presidency.

    Ayemi-Botu, a former National Chairman of Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria (OMPCN) and paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom, said the body was formed to change the negative narratives of the region.

    He said: ”This is an all-encompassing Niger Delta people, who in consonance with our sons and daughters, agitating in the creeks, come together to see how we can provide a lasting solution to the age-long marginalisation and problems of the region.

    ”This body is independent of any other body. We have set up a strategic planning committee and after a month, we are now ready with our own vision and mission. We have just gone through it, circulated it among our members and in our subsequent meeting, we are going to adopt it and the world we know what we stand for.

    ”So, our being here is to show that we are a different set of people from the region that has the interest of the people of the region at heart. And we will in this October meet with the Presidency to discuss and come out with what and what we are going to do to better the lots of the people of the region.

    ”We know the problems of the region and we are going to present these problems to the Presidency. We want to make the Niger Delta region like ‘Dubai of Nigeria’ because nature in its infinite mercy has bestowed on us the ‘black gold’ which is the economic livewire of the country.

    ”Over 98 per cent of the gross domestic product is coming from oil; but because we have bad leadership, people who are self-centred, people who only feel to better themselves and leaving the rest to suffer, that is how we are where we are. But it is no longer going to be business as usual.”

    He insisted that the group was not partisan adding that members comprised traditional rulers, religious leaders, eminent persons, technocrats, among others.

    He said the activities of the group since its formation were the reason for the relative peace enjoyed in the region following commitment by militants to ensure ceasefire.

    Ayemi-Botu said: ”You see last year when the agitators or freedom fighters  went to the creeks and started destroying the economy. That added to the recession but when we came and asked for peace, they sheathed their swords and allowed peace to reign.

    ”The production that was up to 2.2million barrels went down to 700,000 barrels, but as at August when we met them and they embraced peace and ceasefire, you can see that our economy has jerked up to 2million barrels per day and the recession is gone.

    ”We pray that given the time and understanding of the Federal Government, the peaceful situation in the country and the upsurge in the production of oil in the country will continue and Nigeria and Niger Delta will not remain the same again.”

    Also speaking, the National Coordinator, PNDPC, Chief Mike Loyibo, said the body was not formed to fight any group but to advance the peace, security and development of the region.

    ”Our mission is to see how we can advance the fulcrum of the Niger Delta people. We are not a political party, we have activists, clergy men, opinion leaders and we came together when we realised that there was a problem about leadership,” he said.

  • Don’t insult Buhari, Umahi advises PDP members

    Don’t insult Buhari, Umahi advises PDP members

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has advised politicians in the opposition not to insult those in government but to criticise them constructively to enhance development.

    Umahi spoke at a gala-night to celebrate 21 years of the creation of Ebonyi and the 57th Independence anniversary of Nigeria in Abakaliki on Sunday.

    He advised members of his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to refrain from insulting the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government.

    The governor also urged members of APC in Ebonyi to refrain from insulting him and his PDP-led state government.

    .“I always tell my people (PDP) that opposition at the centre is not about insults; I also advise the opposition in our state to tow the same line.

    “Opposition is about constructive criticism, putting the leader in check and reminding him that he has not fulfilled the promises he made.

    “It should not involve lying to the people, deceiving them and practising politics with bitterness and anger.

    “I will ask our grandfathers who are tackling us to do so with wisdom and love because it is a shame that a grandfather would tackle his children,” he said.

    Umahi said that the opposition would not succeed in the state because the state was neat and did not need to be ‘swept.

    “We have been holding the umbrella for an old man who was under the umbrella for eight years and we will take him to the boundaries of Ebonyi to sweep.

    “We are standing on God’s mandate and not shaking because over 10,000 people are praying for us day and night to succeed and take the state to another level, “ he said.

    Umahi commended the president for agreeing that the country needed to be restructured and noted that such stance had established a platform for Nigerians to discuss their agitations.

    “We will now talk, disagree, agree and arrive at decisions that will take the nation to greater heights and achieve the desired unity and development,” he said.

    Mr Augustine Nwankwagu, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, said the party was to celebrate God’s mercies since the state’s creation and the successes of the governor.

    The governor has been heavily criticised for his actions by the opposition, with his predecessor, Chief Martin Elechi, who decamped from PDP to APC, leading the critics.

    Elechi during a recent interview told newsmen that he did not support Umahi’s emergence as governor and would not support his re-election  for a second term in office.