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Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Osinbajo’s panel meets in Aso Rock

    Osinbajo’s panel meets in Aso Rock

    The Presidential Investigative panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday night met behind closed doors at the State House, Abuja.

    President Muhammadu Buhari last week Wednesday had set up a three man committee with membership including the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

    It was mandated to investigate allegations of violations of law and due process made against the suspended Secretary to the Government of Federation, Babachir David Lawal, in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).

    The panel is also investigating the money linked to the suspended Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke concerning the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The committee had grilled Oke on Monday for about 10 hours while Lawal appeared before the committee for about 2 hours on Tuesday.

    The Wednesday meeting, which started around 6.45p.m., only have members of the committee in attendance.

    It was not clear if Oke or Lawal will appear later before the Wednesday meeting comes to an end.

    It was also not certain if any private or other public officials have been linked to the investigation as it had vowed to invite anyone uncovered.

    A reliable source, who does not want his name in prints, however disclosed that the Wednesday meeting was to review what the panel has gathered from the investigation so far.

    The committee is expected to submit its report by next week.

    The meeting was still ongoing at the time of filing this report.

     

  • Babachir to appear before Senate panel Thursday

    Babachir to appear before Senate panel Thursday

    The suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal is expected to appear before the Senate ad hoc committee that investigated the N200 million contract scam that earned him suspension by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He is being invited for questioning over his alleged role in the mismanagement of funds earmarked for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in the North East.

    He is expected to appear before the panel at 10am.

    The Senate had indicted Lawal in an interim report submitted by the Senator Shehu Sani led committee. He was indicted for breaching relevant provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

    Lawal, who is currently being investigated by a presidential panel, was fingered to have run foul of the Federal Government Financial Rules and Regulations on the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on North-East (PINE).

    After spurning invitation by the senate panel on two occasions, Lawal was invited again in fulfillment of the principle of fair hearing, which he complained was not extended to him by the Senate panel.

    The invitation letter to Babachir which was signed by the clerk to the adhoc committee, Mr.  Barau Bungudu, asked the suspended SGF to appear for fresh hearing.

    The letter inviting Lawal to the investigative hearing read in part, “You may recall that the Ad-hoc Committee had invited you to appear before it for the second time on Wednesday, 15th March, 2017.

    “The Committee has granted your request conveyed in your letter dated 22nd March, 2017, and re-scheduled the meeting.

    “By this letter, I am directed to formally invite you to appear before the Committee on Thursday, 27th April, 2017“.

     

  • Buhari renominates 82-year-old ambassadorial nominee, two others

    Buhari renominates 82-year-old ambassadorial nominee, two others

    . . .CBN board members too

    President Muhammadu Buhari has renominated 82-year-old retired Justice Sylvanus Nsofor (Imo) for the Senate’s consideration for a second time.

    The Senate had, a few weeks back, rejected Nsofor on grounds of old age and health related issues.

    Besides Nsofor also failed to recite the national anthem and refused to answer questions directed at him by the Senate committee on Foreign Affairs that screened him and others.

    The names of Joseph Olusola Iji (Ondo) and retired Commodore Yusuf Hinna (Gombe) were also included in the list.

    The bulk of the ambassadorial nominees had already been screened and cleared by the Senate and the successful candidates had already been assigned their designated countries of posting.

    President Buhari’s letter to the Senate was dated March 29, 2017 and addressed to the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

    The President also forwarded the names of five nominees for confirmation as Non-Executive Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The nominees are Prof Ummu Ahmed Jalingo (North East), Prof Justitia Odinakachukwu Nnabuko (South East), Prof Mike Obadan (South South), Dr. Abdu Abubakar (North West), Adeola Adetunji (South West).

    The President’s message was conveyed through a letter to the President of the Senate, dated April 11, 2017 addressed to the President of the Senate.

    President Buhari urged the Senate to expedite action on the screening and consideration of the two sets of nominees.

  • Buhari seeks Senate nod for $12.921b World Bank, Chinese loan

    Buhari seeks Senate nod for $12.921b World Bank, Chinese loan

    President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday asked the Senate to approve a loan of $12.921 billion as part the 2016-2018 external borrowing (rolling) plan of the Federal Government.

    The loan approval request was read by Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki in the chamber Wednesday.

    Entitled “Request for approval for Federal Government 2016-2018 external borrowing rolling plan” President Buhari in the a memo dated 21st April, 2017 referred to his earlier letter on the same subject matter.

    It is however speculated that the request for the approval of the loan was part of the $29.96 billion loan request rejected by the Senate.

    The memo read in part, “I wish to refer to my earlier letter in respect of the above subject and to inform the distinguished Senate that the China-Exim Bank has approved our request for a loan to execute the Lagos-Kano Railway modernisation project (Kano-Kaduna segment) for a sum of $1.231billion.

    “The Chinese have also informed us that approval of the Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project (Kano-Kaduna segment) and coastal Railway project, Lagos-Calabar segment, are imminent.”

    The letter listed China-Exim supported project to include 1. Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project, the Lagos-Ibadan segment, $1.231billion; 2. Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project, Kano-Kaduna segment, $1.146billion; 3. Coastal Railway project, Lagos-Calabar segment $3.474billion; making a total of $5.851billion.

    It added, “As you are aware, the funds available under the China/Africa fund are limited and loan applications from all African countries are funded based on first come first serve. And therefore there is an urgent need for us to sign these loans as soon as they are approved or we will lose out in the event that we delay in signing the loan agreement. These loans form part of our overall rail funding strategy.

    “We are already in the process of completing the concession of the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri line to immediately link the eastern part of the nation. We fully intend to source further consessioning funding to ultimately upgrade this critical line to high speed standard guage line. These projects form part of our overall plans to resuscitate the rail transport across the nation and thereby drive inclusive growth.

    “You may also recall my earlier request for the speedy clearance of some emergency projects earmarked for the North East in the 2016-2018 borrowing plan. You will also recall that my request was based on the need to consolidate the relative peace at that time. Since then the situation as you are aware, has changed dramatically and introduced even more urgency to the situation in the zone than ever before.

    “While the capture and destruction of the stronghold of Boko Haram in Sambisa forest was welcome news, the recent and unfortunate incident of the bombing of an IDP camp by mistake with loss of civilian lives, brings to fore the need to resettle the people back to their homes quickly in other to avoid such incidence in the future.

    “However, for us to be able to do this, there is need for urgent consideration of the identified projects, which will enable us to start reconstruction and rehabilitation of the region in other to create jobs for the people and rehabilitate the schools to get the children of the streets into schools.”

    The letter said that the World Bank has approved a sum of $575million to assist the Federal Government in these reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts as well as for the procurement of vaccines and other ancillary facilities for national routine immunisation to eradicate polio after the outbreak in the North East in 2016.

    It said that the projects earmarked for the emergency rehabilitation and reconstruction in the North East are as follows: Previously requested emergency World Bank supported projects.

    1. Polio eradication support and routine immunisation project, $125million
    2. Community and social development project, $75million
    3. Nigeria’s states health programme investment project $125million.
    4. State education programme investment programme investment project $100million
    5. Nigeria youth employment and social support project $100million
    6. Fadama 3 Project $50million; making a total of $575million

    President Buhari also informed the Senate that “our national Social Safety Net programme, which is intended to assist the poor and most vulnerable people in our society nationwide started this January 2017 with the first cash transfer payments in eight states.

    The President noted that “for us to expand the programme to all the states, we need additional resources in addition to our 2017 budgetary allocation.”

    “It is for this reason that I am requesting your early consideration of a proposed World Bank-assisted $500million loan to help expand the assistance and support to the poor, our most vulnerable especially in these difficult times,” he said.

    He listed additional emergency World Bank supported projects to include, “Social inclusion and welfare advancement project $500million”

    President Buhari noted that giving the current state of the country’s economy and the need to urgently address some of the country’s infrastructural deficiencies in other to quickly improve the livelihood of Nigerians, “it has become imperative that we work together in an expeditious way to get our economy out of recession and back to growth.”

    He appealed to the Senate, for an expeditious consideration and approval of the requests, which he said will go a long way in bringing stability to the North East and improvement on the infrastructure and by extension a great improvement in the economy and livelihood of our people.

    “In view of the above, the Distinguished Senate is invited to urgently consider and approve all the above projects totaling a sum of $6.926billion to enable us commence the construction and rehabilitation of the North East, provide for the poor and most vulnerable people and commence rail projects in ernest,” he said.

  • FG reduces number of days for businesses registration

    FG reduces number of days for businesses registration

    …Also company registration to be done within 24 hours

     

    Towards ease of doing business in Nigeria, the government has reduced the number of days required for registration of new businesses in Nigeria from 10 to 2.

    It also okayed a 24-hour timeline for company registration from when application form is completed and all required documents made available.

    Prospective business owners can also search on Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) portal   (www.cac.gov.ng) to avoid duplication of names and prevent selection of prohibited names.

    Company registration also no longer requires lawyers as it is now optional for SMEs to hire lawyers to prepare registration documents.

    These were among the highlights of a report presented at a Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.

    The meeting, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, marked the end of the 60-day Action Plan on Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria reforms.

    The Council established by President Muhammadu Buhari is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    But Monday’s meeting was chaired by Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, as the Vice President was busy with the work of the Presidential Investigative Panel.

    According to the report, CAC has introduced single incorporation form (CAC1.1) to save time and reduce costs while the agency has introduced document upload interface on its website to enable e-submission of registration documents.

    Other aspects of the reforms now actualized in the last 60 days include the Integrated FIRS e-payment solution into CAC portal to enable e-stamping while the reform empowers CAC internal lawyers to certify company incorporation forms and conduct statutory declaration of compliance for a fixed fee of N500.

    According to the report, the PEBEC listed “Dealing with construction permits, Getting electricity, Registering Property, Getting Credit and Paying Taxes,” as some of the areas where the council has recorded progress in the past 60 days.

    The report also highlighted the completed reforms on the “Entry and Exit of People,” indicator which includes Simplified Visa-on-Arrival process, Infrastructural improvements at the Abuja airport, and the new Immigration Regulation 2017.

    It also indicated that the completed reforms are being closely monitored to ensure diligent implementation with minimal disruption while pending reforms are being escalated to ensure completion in the coming weeks.

    On Trading across Borders, some of the completed reforms include palletisation of imports, advanced cargo manifests, reduction in documentation requirements and scheduling of Joint Physical Examination by the Customs Service.

    The National Action Plan contained initiatives and actions implemented by responsible Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the National Assembly, a number of State Governments, as well as some private sector stakeholders.

    The Council emphasised that with the conclusion of implementation of the Action Plan, the next phase would involve “deepening existing reforms; completing and implementing pending initiatives; engaging with the public; validating completed reforms and kicking-off medium-term reforms.”

    The Council would also kick-start “sub-national reforms across Nigeria’s 36 states; trading within Nigeria; kick-off of initiatives and reforms improving business processes and regulations within Nigeria; and ease of movement of goods within and across regions in Nigeria.”

    Other Ministers at the meeting included Foreign Affairs Ministers Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of State for Industry Trade & Investment Aisha Abubakar, and her counterpart in Budget & National Planning Zainab Ahmed.

    Other government dignitaries at the meeting included the Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, and several heads of MDAs.

    The report was presented by Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Trade & Investment.

     

  • Buhari media office disowns CSO over Punch correspondent’s expulsion

    Buhari media office disowns CSO over Punch correspondent’s expulsion

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s media office on Monday distanced itself from the expulsion of the Punch correspondent covering the Presidential Villa, Mr. Olalekan Adetayo.

    All journalists in the Villa are directly attached to the office of the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina.

    Adetayo was on Monday afternoon expelled by Buhari’s Chief Security Officer, Bashir Abubakar, over story considered offensive to the Presidency.

    The Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, on his Twitter handle said that he was not consulted before Adetayo was expelled.

    He said “We weren’t consulted in the media office by the CSO before he expelled The Punch reporter.

    President Buhari is committed to press freedom.

    “An amicable solution would be found to The Punch reporter matter. President Buhari does not intend to muzzle the media in any way.” he added

  • I’ll heal Buhari if he comes to me – Satguru Maharaj ji

    I’ll heal Buhari if he comes to me – Satguru Maharaj ji

    The Founder of the One Love Family, Satguru Maharaji ji, a self-acclaimed saviour after Jesus, Mohammed and others has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to seek salvation in him and he will save him from his undisclosed protracted illness.

    Maharaji ji stated this Monday while addressing journalists after seven days program of celebrating the 30 years of existence of Maharaji ji Village along Lagos – Ibadan expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    According to him, the president does not need to seek his assistance because he doesn’t know God. “He supposed to seek help from black man and not white men in London.

    “Remember the last time he was going out of the country for medical attention, I was the only one said he would come back safe. What I’m saying is that let’s harness our power here to save ourselves. You cannot seat down and be saying Maharaji ji is not a Muslim or Christian. Is God a Muslim? So, if he can come to me, I’ll heal him”, he said.

    Also while reacting to Southern Kaduna crisis; He said if the people can invoke the holy name of Maharaji ji on Kaduna, there will be solutions to the crisis ravaging the area adding that even El Rufai will flee away.

    While receiving the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Ogunguniso 1 who was represented by his two wives, Kudirat and Rashidat Adetunji, Maharaji ji said the that, the secret many people don’t know is that, civilization started in Ibadan.

    He said, “Ibadan is the first Nazareth while Ile Ife is the first Israel. Contrary to insinuation that Maharaji ji sucks blood, I’m rather a saviour whose name is Akanji Akinbami Ajirobatan, a Yoruba son from Adeoyo in Ibadan and I was prophesied by the first Maharaji ji as his successor.

    “I enjoin us to go back to our root as my mission is to save Yoruba culture from extinction and put stop to religious discrimination in the land. The celebration is a reawakening to embrace love and make sure we don’t longer work in vain but reap from our labour.

    “Maharaji ji is a holy name and a paragon of virtues whom everybody must celebrate. We therefore want your royal majesty to support us to promote the faith to better our society. Ibadan was chosen as the next place of Maharaji ji after USA because it is a powerful land”, he said.

    While speaking, one of the wives of Olubadan, Olori Kudirat Adetunji said during their sojourn in London, the white men warned them never to forsake the rich culture of Yoruba.

    “We were also told that you are not evil as some people may be saying from some quarters. We believe in your faith and we believe that by your power and support, Olubadan will succeed on his reign “, the queen said.

  • CAN to Buhari: Look inward in fighting corruption 

    CAN to Buhari: Look inward in fighting corruption 

    • Ayokunle accuses government of insincerity over Southern Kaduna killings

    President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, on Friday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the fight against corruption to those around him to avoid been partial.

    Ayokunle said the government should also show sincerity in strengthening the local currency so that: “the siege of economic hardship that has almost crippled the lives of Nigerians and increased the rates of suicide might be lifted. Salaries owed the workers all over the nation must be paid without delay. My Bible says that the wages of the workers must not be delayed overnight.”

    The CAN boss who is also the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), spoke in Abuja at the 104thAnnual session of the NBC.

    The theme of the session: ‘moving forward, overcoming the challenges of life through Jesus Christ will hold Saturday 22nd to 27th.

    His words: “Government should be more broad-minded on the issue of the fight against corruption because corruption in Nigeria was not restricted to any particular political party or any religion.

    “As President Muhammadu Buhari is outward looking he must be inward looking because the church is against corruption and like the former president of Gambia said, let us chase out corruption like mosquitoes. Let us chase corruption out of our country.

    “Government should know that they are not dealing with infants. The people that elected them into office have the right to call them to order and call them to account for all their actions. The executive, legislative and Judiciary are not immune from our questioning and we need to audit them.

    “They are responsible by law to all of us either we are at the religious section or circular. Nigeria belongs to all of us and Government must act with transparency and fairness. Otherwise, it will be to your tent oh Israel.

    “All must be done in political appointments and in the conduct of government business to reflect Federal Character not only on ethnicity but equally ensuring religious balance. The suspicious of favouritism by the government of one religious group to the detriment of others must be avoided. The more government adheres to these admonitions, the more coherent we would be as people and the greater the peace and development.”

    Ayokunle expressed sadness over the recent alleged killing of 13 people by the Fulani herdsman in Southern Kaduna adding that government has not been able to act decisively on the issue of the killings.

    He accused the Federal Government of not being in control of the situation.

    His words: “When there was a clash between the indigenes of lle-Ife and the settlers there, the northerners; immediately that happened government was so swift and active to arrest suspects but the same government with all the same state apparatus have not been able to act decisively on the issue of southern Kaduna.

    “When the Federal Government was sometimes accused, it was saying that they were liaising with the governor of Kaduna State, he was the one briefing the president but why didn’t they liaise with the governor of Osun State so that actions might be delayed as it is delayed in the case of Southern Kaduna?

    “All partial alibi or actions that were delayed trying to satisfy him, it is an unnecessary defence mechanism which the government must avoid.  Act with sincerity so that all might know that there is justice and fair play. It is in that way that all of us as Nigerians can do a successful pilgrimage together as a nation.

    “Just in February this year, the United States House of Representatives cited Nigeria as the most dangerous place for Christians in the world. Certainly, this is a most unpleasant classification for a country that is a democracy and the giant of Africa. What type of giant are we? It is a classification that should not make patriotic Nigerians glad in a country where the population is roughly divided equally between Islam and Christianity. It is essential for the Federal Government in whose care instruments of cohesion lie to quickly remedy this situation. We appeal to the government to desist from giving excuses anymore why the killings are still occurring, we want an end to be put to the killings henceforth. Enough is enough.”

    Ayokunle commended the Federal Government for waging war against Boko Haram sect and for sustaining it and that: “we equally salute the courage of our gallant military and we shall continue to pray for them over this good work of defending the people on this matter.

    “Equally, the release of the 21 of the several Chibok girls kidnapped three years ago is commendable but more efforts are solicited for the release of the rest before their lives are completely ruined for no sin of theirs.”

  • PDP chief sad over absence of tangible FG’s projects in Rivers

    PDP chief sad over absence of tangible FG’s projects in Rivers

    The Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, has expressed sadness over the absence of tangible Federal Government projects in the state.

    He alleged that two years into the administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led, Muhammadu Buhari’s government, the Niger Delta state had not benefitted from capital-intensive and people-oriented projects of the Federal Government.

    Obuah, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, said the ruling party in the state frowned on the alleged obvious indifference towards Rivers.

    The PDP chairman cited the Port Harcourt International Airport, which he claimed had remained abandoned by the Federal Government.

    He alleged that the APC-led Federal Government had failed to complement the efforts of Governor Nyesom Wike in the execution of capital projects,  which he said would have improved the wellbeing of the people of the state.

    Obuah claimed that the APC-led Federal Government deliberately abandoned the Rivers and also accused the Buhari’s administration of treating the state badly, despite all the support Wike was giving to the Federal Government.

    He mentioned the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, as projects completed in record time, whereas the Port Harcourt International Airport remained allegedly abandoned.

    Rivers PDP chairman also urged the APC-led Federal Government to have a rethink, by giving deserved attention to the state, described as the treasure base of the nation.

  • APC chieftain wants Buhari to sack incompetent, corrupt appointees

    APC chieftain wants Buhari to sack incompetent, corrupt appointees

    A member of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Timi Frank, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack appointees, including cabinet members, who had brought the Federal Government to disrepute.

    He made the call in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, while reacting to the suspension of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr David Babachir Lawal by the president.

    In the suspension announced in a statement by Mr Femi Adesina, his Media Adviser, on Wednesday in Abuja, Buhari also ordered an investigation into allegations of violations of law and due process against the SGF in the award of contracts.

    Also suspended by the president was the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ayo Oke.

    Lawal was alleged to have committed the offences as Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on the North-East (PINE).

    Frank said the suspension of the SGF and the NIA boss was long overdue.

    Oke’s suspension followed the recent discovery of a large amount of money in local and foreign currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an apartment on 6, Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The NIA and Oke had claimed that the money belonged to the organisation.

    The President also ordered full-scale investigation into the development.

    Frank had earlier written an open letter to Buhari, demanding openness in the handling of controversial money discovered by the EFCC.

    According to him, the suspension of the NIA boss will boost the confidence of Nigerians in the Federal Government`s fight against corruption in the country.

    He expressed confidence that the three-member committee set up by the president to investigate the matters would come up with a result that would please Nigerians.

    “The president should take more bold steps like this to sack all the incompetent hands in his government.

    “Some of these actions are long overdue; Nigerians want to see a type of action President Zuma took in South Africa.

    “This government must do more to ensure that the act of corruption become a thing of the past in Nigeria by getting to the root of this controversial 49 million dollars,’’ he said.

    Frank advised that anybody found wanting at the end of the investigation should be prosecuted.