The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari not sick, says Lai Mohammed 

    Buhari not sick, says Lai Mohammed 

    The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed on Wednesday disowned media reports suggesting that President Muhammadu Buhari was ill and that was the reason for his absence at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting presided by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Information Minister said that the President was hail and healthy and carrying out other state functions during the FEC meeting.

    He was with the Minister of State for Health, Osagie Ehinare and Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jubril.

    The Information Minister said that the absence of Buhari at FEC didn’t mean that he was not working.

    He said; “I want to make some remarks on what I think is trending. Clearly when you came in this morning, Mr. President was not in the chamber and the Vice President did preside over the council meeting. Understandably, that has sparked controversies and agitations in the mind of the people. I just want to make this clear that Mr. President is in town, Mr. President is attending to other issues.

    “Mr. President looked at the agenda, a very light agenda, and decided that the Vice president should preside. It is not unusual for the kind of interest that has been shown, especially given the fact that Mr. President was away for a while on medical treatment. We are not surprised that people will be wondering if the President is ill again.

    “He is not ill, he is not sick. I am sure that later in the day or tomorrow morning he will be back in the office. I just want to clear that misconception. It’s not unusual, even if the President is hail and hearty and everything going on well, for the Vice President to preside over the FEC meeting.

    “The fact that Mr. President is not in the office does not mean he is not working. I have just been told that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is with him at the residence and they are working. The fact that you did not see him in the office, did not mean he is not working at all,” he added

    Ehinare disclosed that 420,000 persons have been vaccinated against meningitis type C in Zamfara State.

    While there are 4,637 suspected cases in the country, the Minister said that 489 persons have died from the disease.

    He said that 823,000 vaccines are expected this week from the United Kingdom.

    The Minister of State for Environment said that FEC ratified the universal convention banning the use of mercury.

    He said that Nigeria was among the 128 countries that signed the convention while 50 countries are needed to ratify it to make it effective.

    So far, he said, about 40 countries have ratified the convention.

     

  • President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR since 2015

    President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR since 2015

    President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR (born 17 December 1942) is the President of Nigeria. He assumed office on 29 May 2015. He is a retired major general in the Nigerian Army and previously served as the nation’s head of state from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after taking over power in a military coup d’état. The term Buharism is ascribed to the Buhari military government.

    He unsuccessfully ran for the office of president in the general elections held in 2003, 2007 and 2011. In December 2014, he emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the March 2015 general elections.

    Buhari won the election, defeating the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan who is from the southern Niger Delta region. This marked the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost to an opposition candidate in a general election. He was sworn in on 29 May 2015.

    Buhari is a Muslim from Daura in Katsina State, who has given his support to Sharia in the north. He has previously had to deny allegations that he has a radical Islamist agenda. This proved a problem for him in the 2003 polls – he failed to secure much support among Christians in the south, where he was viewed with some suspicion.

    However, having escaped an attack on his convoy in Kaduna in July 2014, which bore all the hallmarks of a Boko Haram assassination attempt, he promised to end the insurgency within months and is at it.

    He also fought corruption in the Nigerian civil service system head-on.

    President Buhari is the first Nigerian President to engage more young persons in his administration, through the introduction of New Media Department. Thus, he appointed Tolu Ogunlesi @toluogunlesi as Head Digital Communications for the Office of the President ,  and 

    President’s Official Twtter Handle: @MBuhari

  • Lawyer urges Nigerians to stop celebrating corruption

    Lawyer urges Nigerians to stop celebrating corruption

    A Legal Practitioner, Mr Stanley Dien has called on Nigerians to stop celebrating each time the Federal Government loses its case against alleged corrupt individuals in court.

    Dien made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja against the backdrop of corruption cases the Federal Government has been losing in courts.

    According to him, “I shudder at the rate at which some Nigerians celebrate people that were alleged to have made away with the country’s money.”

    He called on the citizenry to have a sober reflection on the way they celebrate allegedly corrupt people whenever they won their cases in court.

    He said that such could send the wrong signal to the international community.

    The legal practitioner said that though the decision of the court had been very worrisome, especially in the fight against corruption by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the law must however be allowed to take its course.

    Dien said that there was no point to celebrate such losses, adding that since Nigeria operates a democratic government, the rule of law must be allowed to prevail.

    He said that a situation where the court would keep relying on technicalities to rule on a case would not augur well in the fight against corruption.

    He said that the judge handling the case involving Justice Adeniyi Ademola should have gone into a full trial, adding that the justice should have been allowed to state how he came about the money

    The legal practitioner said that the judge should have allowed the case to go on its merit and people should not be allowed to celebrate it.

    The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) recalls that an FCT High Court in Abuja had on April 5, dismissed the 18-count criminal charges brought by the Federal Government against Ademola of the Federal High Court and his wife.

    Also, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on April 3 ordered the unfreezing of the account of Lagos lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), with a sum of N75million professional fee paid to him by Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had alleged that the money was proceeds of corruption.

    The initial forfeiture of the sum of 900,000 dollars found in an account of former First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan was similarly reversed on the order of another court.

    Former Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe was also discharged and acquitted on offence bothering on corruption after the Attorney General for the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami told ICPC that the case filed against Orubebe did not exist.

  • Ojudu: Buhari has delivered on corruption fight

    Ojudu: Buhari has delivered on corruption fight

    Senator Babafemi Ojudu is the Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Muhammadu Buhari. In this interview with reporters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he speaks on the face off between the executive and the legislature, particularly the refusal of the Senate to confirm Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the rift with the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), among other issues.

    What’s your comment on the Senate’s handling of the Ibrahim Magu’s and the Hameed Ali’s affairs?

    I hate to criticise an institution in which I have served and where I still have many friends and colleagues. How I wish these issues have been handled more carefully and in a manner in which the image of the institution won’t be tarnished.  The reactions I have read both on social media and the traditional media about the conduct and handling of these matters have been unsavory and not complimentary to the image of this noble institution.

    How would react to the insinuation that President Buhari is not taking on critics of his administration, including Fayose, Wike and Fani-Kayode?

    We are in a democracy. The people, whether high or low, are entitled to their opinion about government and its activities. The people too, who are consuming these opinions and criticisms, are enlightened and equipped enough with the antecedents of these individuals to know what much store to set by what they say. I think it was former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill who said you do not stop to throw stone at every dog that barks at you. If you do, you won’t get to your destination. Our concern is to work assiduously to solve the problems confronting Nigerians and as you can see we are beginning to get results. So, let those who want to bark continue to bark until they lose their vocal chords.

    Why has the APC not deemed it fit to call Saraki to order?

    Saraki is the President of Nigerian Senate and he is a member and leader in my party, the APC.  If I have anything to say about how he conducts himself either as President of the Senate or leader in our party, I will walk up to him and say so. That is what decency and decorum demands when you belong to same party and holds positions of responsibility in a government run by your party.

    By May, the Buhari administration will be two years in office. Would you say it is on good standing with the people, in terms of performance?

    I can confidently say that when it comes to fighting corruption this government has done its bit. It is left for the other arms of government, the judiciary and the legislature, to do theirs. In all ways, President Buhari has demonstrated his readiness and preparedness to fight corruption. But, the executive cannot do it alone. You need the legislature to come up with the enabling laws, the security apparatus to carry out its investigation and the judiciary to carry out the trial expeditiously. If President Buhari begins to fight the war against corruption without carrying the other arms of government along, we know what the noise will be. It is you people who will start shouting that he has come again; he is a dictator; he has jettisoned the rule of law and all that. The government has even gone further to introduce the whistleblower initiative, to assist in providing information on the activities of looters. I think within the limits of what we have now the President has acquitted himself in the fight against corruption.

    Why is the President not taking charge as the leader of the party?

    I can assure you the President is taking charge. What you have seen is a man, who as he once said, has transformed from the command and control ethos of the military to a consensus builder. In the military an order is instant and must be obeyed by all subordinates, while in a democracy you have to employ persuasion and lobby.

  • NASS budget lacks transparency – El-Rufai

    NASS budget lacks transparency – El-Rufai

    …Govs should publish salary, security votes, LG funds too – Dogara‎

    Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai on Friday hit hard on the National Assembly (NASS) members, saying their budget lacks transparency.

    This was just as he said the NASS, particularly the Senate, is seen as an opposition to the fight against corruption being championed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    El-Rufai stated categorically that the NASS is seen as one of the fighters of the war against corruption, stressing that though, he does not believe it is entirely true, neither does he believe that it is entirely false.

    The governor stated this in his goodwill message at the closing ceremony of the  5-day retreat ‎of the National Assembly management personnel held in Kaduna. 

    Dogara
    Dogara

    Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Yakubu Dogara in a swift reaction told the Governor to champion the campaign for transparency in the budget, saying that, he would like to see Governors publish their monthly salaries, allowances, security votes and local government funds.

    Governor El-Rufai who reacted to the paper presented by the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said he won’t be diplomatic like Baba-Ahmed, but blunt, because he doesn’t work for the National Assembly.

    According to him, “the National Assembly is seen as an opposition to the fight against corruption, the National Assembly particularly the Senate is seen as one of the fighters of the war against corruption and that image has to be worked on, now that we are going towards election year, the leadership and members of the National Assembly has to do something about the narratives.

    “I don’t believe that it is entirely true‎, I also don’t believe it is entirely false but it is important that the National Assembly do something about its image.”

    On the budget of the NASS, the governor noted that “no transparency in your (NASS) budget, nobody knows your budget, how much you get paid. Publications are made about your salaries and allowances that I don’t believe are true but cannot be defended because there is no transparency about your budget,  personal cost‎ and so on and so forth. I think you can do something about that to clear all the rumours and remove all the evil stories that are largely untrue,” he stressed.

    Speaker while delivering his address, however, told the Governor ‎that instructions have already been given to the appropriate quarters to publish the National Assembly budget.

    The Speaker who expressed reservation about joining issues with the Governor said, “you will have some kind of misfortune if you attempt to join issues with intellectuals like my Elder, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, but as intellectuals we expand issues and add to discussion, so I will like to challenge you to champion the call for transparency in budgeting and budgetary process of NASS to other arms of government.

    Most repeated words in the report include National Assembly, Budget, Corruption, Senate, NASS, etc.

    “We want to see Chief Executives of states published how they are paid, what they spend monthly as security votes, and also publish what happens to local government funds,” he challenged the governor.

     

    Similarly, the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan who represented the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki at the occasion said, the National Assembly fights corruption and support the fight against it at all levels of governance contrary to whatever belief of many. 

    He said: “In the National Assembly, we fight corruption through our support and as a matter of facts, the anti-corruption agencies are our creation and for our budget, it is always in the public domain.”

    He said, the legislature and Executive must work together to deliver on promises to Nigerians, adding that, Nigerians expect higher and better performances in terms of service, as legislators we are prepared to continue to support the administration of President Buhari either through the fight against corruption or in the confirmation of political appointees.

  • South Africa PDP charges FG on Nigeria’s economy

    South Africa PDP charges FG on Nigeria’s economy

  • Buhari lauds Aregbesola’s commitment to social intervention

    Buhari lauds Aregbesola’s commitment to social intervention

    • As N-Power monitoring team visits Osun

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday commended the Osun state Governor Rauf Aregbesola for promoting policies and programmes designed to eradicate unemployment, poverty and hunger in the state.

    He said Osun has been a model of the social intervention programme in the country as some of its policies were adopted by the federal government.

    Buhari, who made the statement in Osogbo, the Osun capital during an interactive session with some of the beneficiaries of the N-Power programme, said the state had proven its weights in building capacity for youths to thrive.

    This was just as Osun disclosed that out of 200, 000 unemployed youth that had been successfully engaged in the first batch of the N-Power nationwide, Osun came third after Lagos and Oyo states in terms of the population of the beneficiary.

    The State’s Vocal Person on N-Power, Hon Idiat Babalola explained that 10,004 unemployed youths had successfully engaged in the state out of 400,000 beneficiaries of the N-Power programme nationwide.

    The visit was part of the 3-day monitoring and evaluation tour to the state by the National N-Power team of the office of the Vice President.

    The President who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Job Creation and Youth Empowerment, Mr Afolabi Imoukhuede, said the flag-off of the monitoring and evaluation tour to Osun was in recognition of the state as the pioneer of the idea behind the establishment of the N-Power programme.

    President Buhari further explained that the flag-off of the tour in Osun was also in recognition of the successes recorded by the state through her Osun Youth Employment Scheme popularly called (OYES).

    Addressing the volunteers at the Executive Council lounge of the Governor’s office, in Osogbo, Buhari acknowledged the leadership style of Governor Aregbesola for the machinery already set in motion to enhance the smooth running and success of the N-Power programme.

    In attendance were the representatives of the partnering agencies of the scheme like National Orientation Agency (NOA), Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), State Ministries of Education and Health, Nation Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as well as State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB).

    According to the President, out 24,000 applicants that applied for the empowerment programme in Osun, over 10,000 unemployed youths ((both on graduate and non-graduate components) had been successfully engaged across the state on different specified areas like teaching, agro-economic and health.

    He disclosed that the scheme was designed as part of effort to fulfill all his electioneering promises made to Nigerians.

    “We came up with this programme having understood the socio-economic challenges of our people and to the glory of God, our administration had impacted greatly in the lives of Nigerians through this initiative.

    “We are fully aware that unemployment has reared its ugly head in the national life of millions of Nigerians, that is why we designed this programme so as to tackle the menace and as well tailor our youths on the path to be economically and financially self-sustained and self-reliant.

    “Though this programme among others were adopted from the already sustained policies of Osun government and today, it has not only been nationalised but also maintained as thousands of Nigerians can boast of being beneficiaries of N-Power Programme initiated by our administration.

    “As part of our administration’s change mantra, it has been confirmed and repeatedly reported that this empowerment programme is not only impactful but apolitical by all standard and measures.

    “Hence, there is no doubt that this step has become a genuine reflection of the change that our administration promised Nigerians as this empowerment scheme is designed to give a chance to live by providing the basic means of earning a living by the teeming Nigerians.

    “So, as our government is keen on the need to eradicate unemployment from the system, we are assuring that the current administration would not relent to ensure that every Nigerian is empowered to feed his or her self through our numerous social intervention programmes.

    “We believe strongly that this is a life line programme that has the capacity to enhance our economic value-chain just as the funds put into it would not only stimulate the economy but also have a multiplier effect on the nation’s economic fortunes”, he added.

    Speaking on the success recorded so far, Buhari described the scheme as a helping-hand initiative designed to liberate the nation from abject poverty and hunger.

    He said the intervention had made unprecedented success since its inauguration in eliminating poverty, unemployment and idleness most especially among the unemployed youths.

    Buhari said the programme has also helped in promoting the spirit of self-dependence and self-reliance among Nigerian youth through which the beneficiaries would be exposed to technical skills, innovative skills and employable qualities needed in the labour market.

    According to him, “This administration would not relent in pursuing ideal society being aspired by all as we are ready to continue in our efforts to provide enabling environment to enhance general well being of the citizenry.

    While assuring the volunteers of utmost competency and efficient management of the scheme, the President reiterated that all the technical challenges confronting some of the beneficiaries would soon be resolved.

    In her welcome address, the Osun State Vocal Person of the N-Power, Hon. Idiat Babalola commended President Buhari for rescuing the nation from the scourge of unemployment.

    Babalola, who described the initiative as a prototype of the youth empowerment programme already initiated by the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration in Osun, said the adoption of the scheme by the federal government would go a long way to stimulate the nation’s economy and as well eradicate the challenges of unemployment in the country.

    She said the N-Power was part of the President’s innovative ideology to set the country off poverty and encourage self-sustainability among Nigerian youths.

    Babalola added that the scheme was initiated by the federal government as part of its social investment programmes to curtail youth restiveness having understood that “an idle hand is a devil’s workshop”.

    She disclosed that out of 200, 000 unemployed youth that had been successfully engaged in the first batch of the N-Power nationwide, Osun came third after Lagos and Oyo states in terms of the population of the beneficiary.

    Babalola explained that 10,004 unemployed youths had successfully engaged in the state out of 400,000 beneficiaries of the N-Power programme nationwide.

    “I am happy that President Muhammadu Buhari has not in anyway reneged on any of his promises made to Nigerians as the N-Power Programme was initiated in fulfilment of his promise on social intervention services to the people.

    “I am also elated that my state (Osun) is the pioneer state of this initiative as we all know that Osun state government led by Governor Aregbesola had recorded huge success in establishing the nationally and internationally recognised Osun Youth Employment Scheme (Oyes) which had not only impactful but sustained.

    “So as the state vocal person, I will continue to do the needful to ensure that the programme is well coordinated and properly monitored in line with the vision of the federal government”, she added.

    Babalola who encouraged the volunteers to see the scheme as an opportunity for them to contribute their own quota to national development, charged the beneficiaries to use the various opportunities of the scheme to acquire relevant entrepreneurship skills.

    “You must all see this as a clarion call to service the nation and humanity. You must use this opportunity wisely by ensuring that it does not only relief you from financial burden but also add value to your future lives”, Babalola added.

    She, therefore, promised to always open her office for whoever has challenges among the beneficiaries.

    Speaking on their experiences about the empowerment programmes since its inauguration, some of the volunteers commended President Buhari for the initiative which they described as “impactful and rewarding”.

    They also lauded the Presidency for adopting a policy devoid of impartiality and political motivation in all the recruitment process and exercise of the programme.

  • Constituency disown Jubrin over comments on Buhari

    Constituency disown Jubrin over comments on Buhari

    Thousands of residents from Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency Wednesday stormed the state headquarters of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in protest over recent comments credited to former chairman, House Committee on Budget, Abdulmumuni Jubrin, who declared that President Muhammadu Buhari should resign on health grounds.

    The protesters openly disowned Jubril, their representative in the House of Representatives, over what they described as, “mischievous and unwarranted utterances.”

    The protesters, who marched round the Kano state APC secretariat, spreading through Maiduguri Raod and Zaria Road, demanded for the sanction of Jubril.

    Alhaji Mutari Ishyaku Kiru, APC chairman in Kiru Local Government who led the protest, together with Alhaji Sani Kanti Ranka, APC chairman in Bebeji Local Government Area, said, “the people were dissatisfied over the unscrupulous comment of Jubril. He did not consult us who voted for him before making such reckless utterances.

    “We remain loyal to the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, we are loyal the government of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, we are loyal to the leadership of Hon. Abbas Abdullahi, our party chairman in Kano.

    “We have nothing to do with Jubril and his inciting utterances. This was the same move that earned him suspension from the House of Representatives. He has not impacted positively on our people. We are no longer with him.”

    Also speaking, the chairman of Kiru Local Government Area, Alhaji Nasiru Mu’azu and his counterpart from Bebeji, Alhaji Mudam Umar, also stated that, “the people remain resolute in their decision to distance themselves from Jubril and his mischievous statement.

    “We are hundred percent in support of President Buhari’s government. That statement is senseless and holds no water.”

    Responding to the demand of the protesters, APC chairman in the state, Hon. Abbas Abdullahi commended the protesters for their peaceful disposition and promised to take their grievances to the appropriate quarters.

    According to him, “we have received your letters, we have listened to you. I promise you that we are taking urgent steps to address the situation. We will abide by the party’s constitution and take appropriate action and sanctions. Surely, we will deal with the situation.”

     

  • Buhari launches Economic Recovery Plan

    Buhari launches Economic Recovery Plan

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday launched the Nigeria Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP)  (2017 to 2020) at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Stressing that his administration is committed to delivering its electoral promises, he said that the new plan will not only take Nigeria out of recession but place the economy on inclusive growth.

    According to him, the successes being recorded in the fight against corruption and securing the nation, under his administration, are clear to everybody.

    He said “As we all know this Administration inherited numerous challenges. Our political campaign was based on a recognition of the difficult situation Nigeria was in and the need to bring positive and enduring change. And we remain committed to our electoral promise to change our way of doing things and to change Nigeria for good.

    “We are committed to delivering on the three key areas that we promised – That is improving security, tackling corruption and revitalising the economy. Security in the North East, and other parts of Nigeria, is significantly better today than when we came in.

    “With regards to our fight against corruption, as you all know, our law enforcement agencies are prosecuting very many cases of corruption. Our successes in these two areas are clear for all to see,” the President said

    He also assured all Nigerians that his administration is handling the economic challenges with the same commitment so far demonstrated in the fight against corruption, against terrorism and militancy.

    The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, he said, brings together, in a single document, all sectoral plans for agriculture and food security, energy and transport infrastructure, industrialization and social investments.

    He said “It builds on the Strategic Implementation Plan and sets out an ambitious roadmap to return the economy to growth; and to achieve a 7% growth rate by 2020.

    “Our aim simply put, is to optimise local content and empower local businesses. We seek not just to take the Nigerian economy out of recession but to place it on a path of sustained, inclusive and diversified growth.

    “We are determined to change Nigeria from an import dependent country to a producing nation. We must become: A nation where we grow what we eat and consume what we produce.We must strive to have a strong Naira and productive economy.

    “The Plan I am launching today therefore sets out what we, as Government, are committed to do, to create the enabling environment for business to thrive.” he said

    While noting that the Plan is a national plan, he said that the role of State Governments is critical to its success.

    He therefore urged State Governments to draw inspiration and strategic direction from the Plan to articulate their economic programmes, particularly in the development of the real sector.

    The President also called on all Nigerians to work with the administration to ensure the objectives are achieved.

    He pointed out that the contents of the Plan are already familiar to a broad cross-section of Nigerians because it was developed in consultation with a wide group of stakeholders, including the National Assembly, State Governments, the business community, labour unions, academia, civil society groups and development partners.

    “I am pleased to present this Economic Recovery and Growth Plan for use by the Nigerian people, our friends and partners and to guide our development efforts over the next four years.” he stated

    The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, said that the Plan has 60 interventions and initiatives to be implemented in the next four years.

    But he said that the government is focusing on five of the interventions.

    He said “Right from when he was campaigning he has shown single-minded commitment to change Nigeria in a fundamental way. He promised three things. Firstly, to restore security, particularly in the North East. Secondly, to fight corruption, thirdly, to repair the broken economy. And the cabinet was sworn in in November, 2015, he gave us our marching orders.

    “This Economic Recovery and Growth Plan is therefore a fulfillment of his promise to re-invigorate the economy

    “Whilst Economic Recovery and Growth Plan is being formally launched today, its implementation is not starting today. This is because the plan puts together in one place, for easy access, all the sectoral plans that the government has been working on, from inception, including the Strategic Implementation Plan for the 2016 budget proposals which were submitted to the a National Assembly in December last year.

    “The broad objectives of the ERGP are to restore growth, invest in our people and build a globally competitive economy. As our President, has repeatedly said, our some is to build a self-reliant economy. A country in which we can grow what we eat, use what we make and produce what we consume.

    “A country which embraces the world of technology, ideas and investment from everywhere, but domesticated these ideas for the use of our people. A country which produces high quality goods, not just for our own consumption, but enough to export our neighbours, and, indeed, the world.

    “Our aim is to create a culture where Nigeria continuously seek ways to add value to the resources we have been blessed with. In short, our aim is to change Nigeria, and change for good.

    “To achieve this, the Plan articulates up to 60 interventions and initiatives, that must be executed and/or completed within the next four years to tackle, and to remove, impediments to growth; to make markets function better; and to leverage the power of the private sector.”

    He however, said that it will be archived without compromising the core values of the nation, such as discipline, integrity, social justice, self-reliance and patriotism.

    “And, of course, all the initiatives in the Plan will be  implemented in such a manner as to continue to strengthen and promote national cohesion and social inclusion.

    “Even though the ERGP outlines up to 60 initiatives, it focuses on five execution priorities, which are central to achieving the seven percent growth projected by the end of the Plan period.

    “These are namely, stabilizing the Macroeconomic Environment; Achievement of Agriculture and Food Security; Expansion of Energy Infrastructure and Driving Industrialization principally through local and small business enterprises.” he said

    He said that the ERGP is the work of very many people as consultations were widely done.

    He said “I would like to thank the general public for the very positive and encouraging feedback we have been receiving since the ERGP was exposed on our websites.”

    Unlike some past programmes,  he assured that the Plan will be effectively implemented.

    “Whilst the Ministry of Budget and Planning will be coordinating the Plan, the President has approved that a Special Delivery Unit be created in the Presidency to monitor its implementation and remove all bottlenecks to the plan’s implantation. This is one Plan that will be implemented with vigour, with focus, and with success.” he said

    Delivering a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, said that the plan is not only important to the Federal Government, but also to the state governments because of its inclusive growth.

    He said that the State governments take ownership of the plan at the State level.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, pledged the support of the lower chamber to the implementation of the plan.

    “I have no doubt that if successfully implemented, it will usher in the turnaround we all desire.” he said

    On his part, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said “We must make it work, it has to work.”

    Among dignitaries who attended the brief ceremony included the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun and many cabinet members.

     

  • My govt committed to a prosperous economy – Buhari

    My govt committed to a prosperous economy – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that, he leads a government that is committed to creation of a prosperous economy for Nigeria, saying that, his administration will continue to support private sector to provide the investment to drive the economic growth.

    President Muhammadu Buhari stated this in his goodwill message sent to the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KADInvest 2.0), held at Umaru Musa Yar’adua Hall, Kaduna on Wednesday.

    The Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KADInvest 2.0), a brain-child of Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, is the second in series since his coming on board as Kaduna State Governor.

    President Buhari’s address said his government considers as urgent priority the creation of a prosperous economy where talents of Nigerians can thrive and sustainable jobs and opportunities for youth in the country.

    He however assured that, his administration will continue to support the private sector to provide the investment to drive the economic growth.

    According to the President’s goodwill message, “That is why we launched presidential committee on the ease of doing Business early in life of this administration”.

    He said, the mandate is to simplify the processes and procedures for starting and running a business so that the cobwebs of archaic bureaucratic and administrative tradition do not stifle initiative exacerbate the cost of doing business

    While commending Kaduna State government for replicating the ease of doing business committee, the President said, the action reflects the state government’s understanding of the responsibilities of the sub-national actors have in the quest for national rebirth

    “If we succeed in making our state governments adept at attracting investments, creating jobs, providing infrastructures and delivering much needed public goods like education, health and potable water, then we would have delivered a country that works for all our citizens”, he said.

    He however expressed hope that, KADinvest 2.0 with the theme making kaduna the investment destination of choice would result in a reliable partnerships can promote economic prosperity for people of Kaduna and Nigeria at large.

    In his own message to the occasion, Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai said, Kaduna State realised highest ever Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of over N18bn in 2016 due to its investment promotion moves.

    He said, his government is overwhelmed that, major investments resulted from Kaduna Investment Summit 2016, especially the Olam $150m poultry and livestock feed project, while exploration work has continued for gold, nickel and other minerals.

    According to him, “last year, we unveiled the first Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit as a practical statement that, Kaduna is open for business; that we view investment by private sector as the surest platform for job creation, improved revenues and development in our state.

    “Our credentials as an investment destination are anchored on the human and natural resources in our state, as well as the policy and legal environment our government has created.

    “At the inaugural edition of Kaduna Investment Summit, we presented the state development plan, explained our new, transparent tax code and demonstrated how digital land registry we are developing is critical to supporting investments. In 2016, these efforts earned us over N18bn in IGR, the highest ever in the state.

    “As a sub-national actor, we established the link between our state development plan and the decision to prioritise agriculture and minerals as main investment sectors. And we are glad that, major investments resulted from Kaduna Investment Summit 2016, especially the Olam $150m poultry and livestock feed project. In mining, exploration work continues for gold, nickel and other minerals.

    “Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit 2.0 seek to consolidate on the gains so far made. We shall be presenting our new Ease of Doing Business Charter, reflecting the hard work of our MDAs have put into simplifying the process of obtaining licenses and shortening the time it takes to get a business running in Kaduna State”, he said.

    The Governor however took time to give highlights of major achievements his administration has so far achieved across all sectors of the economy as well as the social sector and unveiled the plan of the government between 2017 and 2019.