The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Obaseki to meet Buhari on Edo security challenge

    Obaseki to meet Buhari on Edo security challenge

    • Decries state of facilities at ICE

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has disclosed plans to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari to strengthen the security apparatus in the state to address the security challenge.

    Obaseki stated this while responding to questions on the killing of three police officers and the kidnap of the Chief Executive Officer of Ogba Zoological Garden and Nature Park, Mr. Andy Ehanire on Sunday, in Benin City.

    He said the incident was unfortunate and assured that a revamp of the security structure in the state especially the strengthening of the State Police Command will curb crime and improve security in the state.

    “As we move towards the end of the year, crimes of this nature tend to raise their ugly heads, but we have taken the necessary steps to ensure the state is safe and secure for everyone and we have enough information on what has happened,” he added.

    The governor, who also paid an unscheduled visit to the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) in Benin City for an on-the-stop assessment of the facilities at the institution, decried the state of facilities at the institute.

    Obaseki who was taken round the institute by the Acting Rector of the, Victor Ajagun, told journalists after the inspection that based on the facilities on the ground, the institute did not deserve to be called a school.

    “I am here to see things for myself and this does not deserve to be called a school. I have seen the facilities and I am heartbroken. We are going to take a decision on what to do with the institute,” he said.

  • Agbakoba: Buhari cannot delegate restructuring 

    Agbakoba: Buhari cannot delegate restructuring 

    President Muhammadu Buhari cannot delegate the responsibility of leading the process of restructuring Nigeria, a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) said on Tuesday.

    At a briefing in Lagos, Agbakoba said contrary to the President’s position that the National Assembly should lead the process, the Constitution empowers him to do so.

    He said: “The president has delegated the responsibility to restructure Nigeria to the National Assembly and National Council of State.

    “But, this responsibility cannot be delegated. Section 5 of the Constitution vests the President with executive powers of the federation and this includes the power to restructure Nigeria.”

    Agbakoba said President Buhari would be compelled to reconsider his position if all Nigerians, especially key Northern and Southern leaders, agree on restructuring.

    He urged the South, which he said appears to have reached a consensus on restructuring, to engage the North and persuade Northern leaders on the need for a new Nigeria.

    Agbakoba faulted the military action against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), saying it has complicated the issues.

    He said were he the President, he would have engaged IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and face the issues rather than “crushing” the group, which he said is “gaining international traction”.

    To him, the agitation for true federalism and complaints about marginalisation went beyond IPOB.

    The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also blamed Kanu for misusing what he described as a good opportunity to push for a referendum, which he said international law allows.

    Agbakoba said agreed with eminent constitutional lawyer Prof Ben Nwabueze (SAN) that Nigeria needs a new constitution anchored on a new political order.

    “The way forward for Nigeria is for the citizens, in exercise of the power inherent in them as a sovereign people, to make, through a referendum, a new constitution, constituting a new political order.

    “The process must be led by the President as the elected leader of the people,” he said.

    Agbakoba said Nigeria was increasingly becoming a fragile state, with conflict and agitation everywhere, and most parts of the country feeling either marginalised or excluded, leading to calls for restructuring.

    According to him, besides restructuring the political arrangements and have new region, the economic and administrative governance need to be restructured.

    Agbakoba said restructuring must address other connecting issues, such as the bloated size of the public service in which 80 per cent of the national budget is used to service three per cent of the population.

    “The Orosanye committee reviewed 263 statutory agencies of government and asked government to scrap 102 agencies. Government should implement the Orasanye report immediately.

    “Government should then focus on its core mandate, which is, policy, execution and regulation and stay completely away from business matters. This will empower a new set of economic actors (civil society and the private sector). This type of restructure is critical for economic development,” Agbakoba said.

    On how the restructuring should be done, he said it must have a national outlook in which every constituent part of Nigeria is carried along.

    “The president should initiate the restructuring project by providing context. Restructuring can be implemented by executive and administrative orders and also presenting the 2014 National Conference Report to the National Assembly.

    “The 2014 National Conference Report actually examined and resolved a lot of the restructuring issues. So, we should start with the report,” he said.

    Agbakoba said the restructuring process must resolve fiscal federalism and determine how to create a balance between the federal and federating units in revenue sharing.

    He suggested that Federal Government allow states control over natural resources in their domain.

    An alternative, he said, is to isolate hydrocarbons, and create transitional provisions (a sunset clause) to transfer ownership to oil bearing states over a period, but in the meantime review percentage derivation.

    A third possibility, he said, is to demarcate onshore hydrocarbon to be left to the littoral states, and offshore to the Federal Government.

    According to him, there is the need for “subnational groups” to develop a blue print on restructuring so as to have charity.

    “A fifth challenge is to recognise the difference between devolution of powers and redistribution of powers. The relevant concept for restructuring is redistribution and not devolution of powers. The concepts are mixed up.

    “Redistribution is when power is rearranged between the federal and regional governments. Devolution relates to powers given up by the unitary government to the regions. Nigeria is a federation and not a unitary state,” Agbakoba said.

    On former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s advise to Agbakoba to join politics, the former NBA president said: “When I met Obasanjo, I said: ‘Thanks for the reply, but know that to contest for a political office today requires all kinds of resources.

    “There is no way that a young man can become Nigeria’s president if the obstacles that are on ground do not shift. Obasanjo has the capacity, in collaboration with others who should be concerned with bequeathing the legacy of a strong Nigeria. If they part the red sea, people like us will cross it.”

  • APC blasts Sagay, accuses him of disrespecting Buhari

    APC blasts Sagay, accuses him of disrespecting Buhari

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday came down hard on the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay, accusing him of disrespecting President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The party described Professor Sagay as “rogue elephant”, saying the Professor of law was arrogant and forgets that it is impossible for him to call out the leadership of the party as “weak” and “unprincipled” without indicating the President, who is the leader of the party and has the fundamental responsibility to build the party. 

    The party was reacting to an interview granted by the Presidential Adviser and published in The Nation newspaper of Sunday, September 24, 2017, where he described the party leadership as the “most unprincipled group of people who are encouraging and accepting rogues into the party.” 

    In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said if Prof. Sagay had any iota of respect for the President, he would have channelled his opinions and advice to the President on how to make the party stronger and more principled. 

    The party said It appears that Sagay does not have anything constructive to say about anything, but only knows how to tear down and assault everyone and everything which is the typical habit of a rogue elephant.

    While reminding the Prof Sagay and all other appointees of government that the only reason they occupy their current position is because the APC won the election, the party said it is a matter of honour to show decorum and respect for the party and its leadership since you cannot love the fruit and hate the tree that produced it.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been brought to an interview published on pages 46-47 of The Nation Newspaper of Sunday, September 24, 2017, granted by the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay (SAN).

    “In the said interview, Sagay described the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as “the most unprincipled group of people” who are “encouraging and accepting rogues” in the party. He said: “When I say ‘rogues’, I don’t mean stealing. In literature, when you say someone is a rogue elephant, it means people who are running riot and destroying the party.”

    “The Webster dictionary defines ‘rogue elephant’ as “one whose behaviour resembles that of a rogue elephant in being aberrant or independent.” Clearly if we have today, anyone in our government or, by extension, the party who feels accountable only to his own ego; who does not feel the need to bridle his tongue for the sake of anything that is higher than himself; who feels independent of everyone and every institution; that person is Professor Sagay.

    “Asked by the interviewer if he would stop speaking if the President asks him to stop speaking, he said: “Yes, he is my employer. If he tells me to stop talking, I’ll stop talking. But I have certain rights too that I can exercise in addition to that, because I’m not going to be in a position where I am impotent. So, I must obey him, but I can go beyond that and obey myself too. 

    “That’s it.”  Framed in another way, what Sagay is saying here is that, no matter what is at stake, he would rather resign than obey the President if the President tries to restrain him. This is the quintessential rogue elephant behaviour.

    “In his sheer arrogance, he forgets that it is impossible for him to call out the leadership of the party as “weak” and “unprincipled” without indicting the President, who is the leader of the party and has the fundamental responsibility to build the party. 

    “If Sagay had any iota of respect for the man who dug him back from inevitable oblivion and puts him in a position in which he now feels superior to everyone, he would channel his opinions and advice to the President on how to make the party stronger and more principled. 

    “It appears however that Sagay does not have anything constructive to say about anything. He only knows how to tear down and assault everyone and everything.

    “We want to remind Sagay and all other appointees of our government that the only reason they occupy their current position today is because the APC won the election. There is, therefore, a matter of honour to show decorum and respect for the party and its leadership. You cannot love the fruit and hate the tree that produced it.”

  • Buhari, Osibanjo, Oyegun, others to participate in Abia mega rally

    Buhari, Osibanjo, Oyegun, others to participate in Abia mega rally

    President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, John Odigie Oyegun and other ranking members of the party are expected to participate in the party’s mega rally in Abia State.

    The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Benedict Godson while speaking with newsmen on Monday in Umuahia, the state capital after the inauguration of the party’s Contact, Mobilization/Rally Committee said that the event would hold in the state capital in October.

    Godson said that the essence of the planned mega rally was to present new members of the party including former Governor of the state, Dr. Orji Kalu, Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu, immediate past President Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Dr. Sampson Uche Ogah, CEO Masters Energy and former Abia PDP governorship aspirant in 2015 election, Chief David Ogba Onuoha, MD of defunct Bourdex telecommunication and Abia North Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, MD of defunct Hallmark Bank and brother to former senate president (Adolphus Wabara), Mark Wabara among other Abia political big weights who will be presented to the public at the event scheduled to hold at the state capital.

    According to Godson, the rally was preparatory to the party’s efforts to woo more supporters ahead of the 2019 general election.

    Earlier in his speech, state chairman of the party, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa who stressed that the party’s doors were wide enough to accommodate others who may join the party even after the rally charged the committee to work hard in order to make sure that the event was a success.

    Nwankpa who recalled how the immediate past government in the state barred the incumbent President Buhari from making use of public facilities during the campaigns and the use of state’s machinery to frustrate efforts of the founding fathers of the party in the state to reach out to intending in 2015.

    The state chairman of APC maintained that he was sure that the people in the party and the popularity of the party in the state, that they were going to produce the next Abia governor.

    He restated that the party would not zone the governorship position in the state to any zone, stressing that the party through an open and credible primaries would present candidates who are willing to serve Abians and deliver dividend of democracy to all parts of the state.

    “A governor is like a father with many children. He loves the children equally and shares his wealth to them without favouring anyone. APC will produce a governor and leaders that have the interest of their subjects at heart. We are not going to promote godfatherism, but to present candidates based on their acceptability by the people who will elect them through a credible primary.”

    Chairman of the committee and deputy chairman of the party, Chief Ogumka Adiele promised that they were going to do the work entrusted in their care with their best.

    Adiele assured that the committee would make sure that more people would join the party before the event holds, stating that they would make sure it became a success.

    Other members of the committee including Hon Acho Obioma, former House of Rep member and chairman Akoka Federal College of Education Governing Board Council, Chief Oxford Wabara and others pledged their commitment in ensuring that they work cooperatively with the committee’s chairman to produce a positive result.

  • IPOB urges court to set aside proscription order

    IPOB urges court to set aside proscription order

    The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Friday prayed the Federal High Court in Abuja should set aside the order of injunction proscribing the activities of the group.

    Recall that the Chief Judge of the Federal High, Justice Abdu Kafarati, on Wednesday in Abuja, granted Federal Government an interim injunction proscribing activities of the group.

    Kafarati granted the injunction in chambers after the Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, had approached the court with an exparte motion urging the court to do so.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier given written approval for the proscription of the group, pending legal process.

    Governors of the Southeast states took the first step to ban the activities of the group after the military had declared it a militant terrorist group.

    NAN reports that Ifeanyi Ejiofor, counsel to IPOB, led Maxwell Okpara, Chinwe Umeche, Habila Turshak, P. M. Umegborogu and Augustine Ezeokeke to file the process on behalf of the group.

    The motion, with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/871/17 was brought pursuant to Section 6(6) (1) (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended in 2011.

    It was also brought under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

    The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation was listed as respondent.

    The applicant averred that the grounds upon which the application was brought hinged on the fact that the Sept.20 exparte order made against it by the court was without jurisdiction.

    The lead counsel said the order granted against the entity was unknown to law.

    Ejiofor posited that there were clear suppression and misrepresentation of facts in the AGF’s affidavit evidence, pursuance to which the order was granted.

    “The order is unconstitutional, as it was made in clear violation of constitutionally guaranteed right of the Indigenous People of Biafra to self-determination.

    “It also violated Article 20(1) of the Africa Charter on Human & Peoples Rights, now domesticated into our law under (Ratification and Enforcement Act) (Cap 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

    “It ran against the right to fair hearing, right to freedom of expression and the press.

    “It further violated the right to peaceful assembly and association clearly provided for under sections 36, 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as (Amended) 2011,’’ Ejiofor said.

    According to him, a declaratory order cannot be made pursuant to an exparte application without hearing from the party against whom the order is made.

    He submitted that the Indigenous People of Biafra who were majorly of Igbo extraction had no history of violence in exercising their right to self-determination.

    “The Indigenous People of Biafra does not carry arms and has no history of arms struggle in the exercise of its constitutionally guaranteed right to self-determination.

    “Prior and during the military invasion of the South Eastern states, IPOB members had never at any time resorted to arm struggle or engage in acts of violence capable of threatening national security.

    Justice Binta Nyako of Federal High  Court No 4 had in her ruling delivered on March 1  held that the Indigenous People of Biafra was not an unlawful organisation.”

    Ejiofor further said that Justice Nyako’s decision still subsisted as it was not appealed against to be set aside by any appellate court.

    NAN reports that the matter is yet to be assigned to any judge of the court.

  • FG begins North-East humanitarian Makeathon in october

    FG begins North-East humanitarian Makeathon in october

    The Federal Government will begin a North-East focused Makeathon in October, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Mr Laolu Akande, said on Thursday.

    Makeathon is a process of crowdsourcing ideas around solutions open to interested persons, humanitarian actors, engineers, designers, scientists, innovators, investors and entrepreneurs in the region.

    According to Akande, the programme is in line with President  Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s policy of promoting use of technology as critical tool for public service delivery.

    He said The programme would be conducted through the Presidency’s National Social Investment Office.

    The North East Makeathon is slated to run from October 2017 to December 2017 and will usher in the first set of incubation activities in the proposed North East humanitarian innovation hub.

    He said the focus of the hub would be to address challenges faced by persons in the region, some of which include Nutrition and Food Security, Early Recovery and Economic Security (Diversifying Livelihoods).

    Others are Camp Coordination and Management, Education (innovative and creative learning solutions) and Health (innovation, which addresses the health issues faced by pregnant women, children and communities in the region.

    Another critical area of focus in the hub, he said, would be the protection of women and children, gender-based violence, innovative and preventive measures.

    The Vice Presidential Spokesman said that the establishment of the proposed hub for the North-East was being driven by the National Social Investment Office working with the Presidential Committee for the North-East Initiatives (PCNI).

    Also involved would be the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in partnership with International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC).

    Akande said it would serve as Humanitarian Innovation Hub and be situated in Yola, Adamawa State.

    The Federal Government intended to create eight private sector-led Innovation Hubs across the country, one in each of the six geo-political zones, as well as in Lagos and Abuja, he added.

    He explained that the main objective was to foster innovation in the country, through the National Social Investment Office.

    “The proposed innovation hubs would also provide training of varied IT skills, empowering youth for entrepreneurship and employment.

    “Additionally, the hubs would provide platform at an entrepreneurial level for support from the venture capital sector, as well as create job opportunities for graduates and trainees.”

    According to Akande, the goal is to catalyse growth and employment-focused partnerships while bringing together IDPs, humanitarian actors, social entrepreneurs, businesses, as well as the public and private sector.

    The agencies would have the shared goal of scaling effective, timely, efficient and ethical solutions to address common challenges and provide local solutions for local problems, including religious matters, he said.

    He noted that for further details on the challenges and how to participate, interested persons could refer to the website at www.nemakeathon.org.

  • Presidential panel donates N.2m to teenage amputee

    Presidential panel donates N.2m to teenage amputee

    The Presidential Panel of Investigation for Review of Armed Forces Compliance with Human Right Obligations and Rules of Engagement donated N200,000 toward the education of 13-year old amputee, Muhammad Sale.

    The Panel’s Chairman, Justice Obiolele George-Will, announced the donation at the closing session of an event on Thursday in Maiduguri.

    George-Will said the donation was to enable Sale to enrol in school.

    He explained that N100,000 of the amount would be kept under the custody of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for Sale’s education, while N100,000 would be given to the parents for his upkeep.

    “Only N100, 000 would be given to the parents for his upkeep. The remaining balance should be put under the custody of NHRC,” he said.

    He added that the panel would present Sale’s case while submitting its report to President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that his right to education was guaranteed.

    The Borno Commissioner for Justice, Mr Kakashehu Lawal, also donated N250,000 to the boy, while the Borno chapter of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) also contributed to Sale.

    Malam Muhammad, the amputee’s father, commended the panel, the commissioner and the NBA for
    the donations.

    Narrating his ordeal, Muhammad said that the boy lost his hands after a brutal punishment by a soldier serving in the war against Boko Haram insurgents.

    Muhammad said the incident occurred in the past 15 months at Cimari area of Maiduguri.

    He explained that his son served as house boy to the soldiers deployed in the area, adding that they also sent the victim on errands.

    Muhammad added that the soldier in question accused the boy of stealing, thus, used rope and tied him to an electrical pole.

    He said “Sale remained tied to the pole for over seven hours and when released, his hands were damaged.

    “We went to the hospital but they could not treat him. His right hand had to be amputated,
    while the left hand was mutilated.”

    Sale’s father said he reported the case to NHCR, which took the case up, adding that the soldier was later court-marshaled and sentenced to four years imprisonment.

    “Military authorities took care of the medical bills but we came to the panel because nobody cared about his education,” Muhammad said.

  • Photos: Buhari departs US

    Photos: Buhari departs US

    BUHARI
    PRESIDENT BUHARI DEPART THE US AFTER UNGA72 PIC 5 , President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Interior Lt General Abdurahaman Dambazau, NAS Major General Babagana Monguno and others as Pressident Muhammadu Buhari departs JFK Airport after A successful outing at the United Nations General Assembly 72Session held in New York USA. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE/STATE HOUSE. SEPT 21 2017

    PRESIDENT BUHARI DEPART THE US AFTER UNGA72 PIC , Pesident Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Oyeama, Minister of Interior Lt General Abdurahaman Dambazau, NAS Major General Babagana Monguno and others as Pressident Muhammadu Buhari departs JFK Airport after A successful outing at the United Nations General Assembly 72Session held in New York USA. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE/STATE HOUSE. SEPT 21 2017

     

    PRESIDENT BUHARI DEPART THE US AFTER UNGA72 PIC 1. President Muhammadu Buhari Exchanges handshake with Minister of State Environment, Alh Ibrahim Jibrin, Minister of Interior Lt General Abdurahaman Dambazau nd others as he departs the UN Plaza to the Airport after after A successful outing at the United Nations General Assembly 72Session held in New York USA. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE/STATE HOUSE. SEPT 21 2017

     

  • APC faults Fayose’s claim on alleged marginalisation of Ekiti

    APC faults Fayose’s claim on alleged marginalisation of Ekiti

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has challenged Governor Ayo Fayose’s claim that the state is not gaining anything from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

    It said instances of the Federal Government’s assistance abound that should have lifted Ekiti people from their present sorry state if the governor had applied various financial aids by the Federal Government honestly.

    Fayose had said in his last media chat, Meet Your Governor, on state radio and television that the Federal Government has not rendered any assistance to Ekiti State.

    He also said that he had not borrowed any money since his assumption of office in 2014, maintaining that all the state’s debts were incurred by the administration of his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

    He also said the loans taken by the last administration would be fully repaid in 2036.

    But reacting in a statement on Thursday by the Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party berated the governor for always lying to the public to deny various aides he had received from the Federal Government to settle workers’ salaries and projects implementation.

    Listing various instances of assistance the governor had enjoyed from the Federal Government, Olatunbosun explained:

    “Besides regular payment of statutory monthly allocations, including the August allocation that Fayose himself put at N2.3b, the governor borrowed N10b from the Federal Government for projects and took another N2b from the Central Bank for small-scale business but diverted the money as no small-scale entrepreneur received kobo.

    “He took two tranches of bailout of about N20b, N14b in Budget Support Facility and the last Paris Club N4.7b refund largely for salary payment but diverted all to the flyover and new market projects awarded to his friends’ companies in which he allegedly has interest.

    “Fayose who said that the state has not benefitted anything from the Federal Government is in charge of the Federal Government’s N-Power project, school feeding programme and cash transfer programme in which beneficiaries take N5,000 and he has used his position as governor to ensure that it is only his supporters that have benefitted from some
    of these schemes.

    “The Federal Government has also commenced Federal Housing Project around Agric Olope area of Ado-Ekiti while the Federal Secretariat construction has started in the state capital even while his needless but most costly flyover in Nigeria in Ado-Ekiti is a Federal road on which he will be reimbursed by the Federal Government.

    “The question is, where is Fayose getting loans for these projects if it is true that the Federal Government is not patronising the state in spite of Fayose’s refusal to attend National Economic Council meetings where his colleagues in other states table their problems for the assistance of the Federal Government that he prefers to abuse through paid adverts in the newspapers?”

    Olatunbosun accused the governor of sabotaging the state’s interest in his needless fight against the President, explaining that while other governors were keying into the Federal Government’s development projects, Fayose preferred to launch attacks against the President.

    He added: “While Lagos, Jigawa, Kano, Benue, Osun, Ondo and Kebbi, among others, were keying into the agricultural scheme of the Federal Government in rice production and were showing the blue prints for the scheme, Fayose had nothing to show to the point that his Commissioner of Agriculture was asked to present the state’s agricultural agenda but the poor man was askance, as he was not able to say anything because Fayose has no plan for agriculture.

    “Again, recently, when other governors were being asked to show interest in mining prospecting licences, Fayose was at the time busy in the media talking about the non-existent 11 pictures of President Buhari on life-support machines while other governors were signing up for their states, including Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who was sworn in just a few months before the time.”

  • Buhari hails Jordan for military hardware donations against terror 

    Buhari hails Jordan for military hardware donations against terror 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in New York thanked the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for its support to Nigeria’s campaign against terrorism and insurgency with the donation of military hardware and pledge to further supply helicopters.

    Speaking during a bilateral meeting with King Abdullah II shortly after his address to the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the President said the very expensive donation of about 200 Armoured Fighting Vehicles “reflects true concern for Nigeria’s security situation and genuine goodwill towards a friendly nation.”

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, also reassured King Abdullah of Nigeria’s commitment towards the proposed Aqaba Process with countries in the region as well as Nigeria’s willingness to play a leading role in bringing together countries in the West African sub-region into this collective security arrangement.

    The President pledged Nigeria’s continued desire for enhanced bilateral ties with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

    The Jordanian King had earlier informed the Nigerian President that his Government was in the process of opening an embassy in Abuja in the next few months, and appreciated the support being extended to his country by the Nigerian government in this regard.

    He told President Buhari that his National Security Adviser would soon be working out the finer details of the Aqaba Process with his Nigerian counterpart.

    President Buhari was accompanied to the bilateral meeting, the third of its kind since the inception of the current administration, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations,  Professor Tijjani Bande.

    “It would be recalled that soon after President Buhari took office in 2015, the Jordanian King had offered a hand of friendship, cooperation and support for Nigeria in its fight against terrorism and insurgency.

    “This resulted in the National Security Adviser undertaking two visits to Jordan to follow up on issues previously discussed with the King, and the donation of military hardware and pledge of further support.

    “These gestures are aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s operational capabilities in the fight against terror both within the country and the Lake Chad Basin which affects neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger where the Multinational Joint Task Force is engaging the Boko Haram insurgents and terrorists.

    “The National Security Adviser’s second trip to Jordan on the invitation of the King in January 2016 to attend the 3rd Aqaba Process, also resulted in a renewed commitment between the two countries to consider multilateral action in confronting the menace of terrorism by replicating the Aqaba arrangement which the Kingdom of Jordan has with East African countries battling protracted terrorist menace.

    “Nigeria has agreed to work with countries in the region on a similar arrangement with Jordan. It is anticipated that the first Aqaba Process for Nigeria and sister countries within the sub-region with Jordan will be held in late November or early December 2017,” it stated.