The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari to return from London on Sunday- Osinbajo

    Buhari to return from London on Sunday- Osinbajo

    *Says Buhari in perfect health condition

     

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday said that President Muhammadu Buhari will return to Nigeria on Sunday.

    Buhari had taken 10 days medical vacation to treat an ear infection in London.

    The medical vacation expired on Wednesday and the President was supposed to resume on Thursday based on the letter communicated to the National Assembly before he traveled out.

    But speaking with State House correspondents before the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting commenced at the Presidential Villa, Abuja

    Osinbajo said that it is best for the President to take the weekend off.

    According to him, the President is in perfect health condition and will be ready to resume office on Monday morning.

    He said: “The President will be back on Sunday. I spoke with him yesterday evening and I think it is just the best that he takes the weekend off. He will certainly be back on Sunday.

    “I think the most straightforward thing is when he will be back. He will be back on Sunday. There is no point rushing back on Friday or something like that.

    “He will just take the weekend off and be back on Sunday. He is in perfect health and ready to resume work on Monday morning.

    “Mr. President is in good condition, he is fine, he is very well. He should take a day or two off in London and rest a bit and come back hale and hearty on Sunday and be ready for work on Monday. So we expect him back on Sunday.” He stated.

  • Buhari condoles Ghanaian President over mother’s death

    Buhari condoles Ghanaian President over mother’s death

    President Muhammadu Buhari has spoken to President John Mahama of Ghana to offer condolences to Mahama’s family on the passing away of his mother, Hajia Abiba Nnaba.

    In a telephone call on Wednesday, President Buhari prayed that Almighty Allah will grant the soul of Hajia Nnaba eternal rest and comfort all who mourn her.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, told the Ghanaian leader that his personal thoughts and prayers as well as those of Nigerians are with him as he mourns the passage of a beloved mother.

    He further prayed that the loving memory and virtues which Hajia Abiba Nnaba lived for will continue to inspire all who knew her and generations to come.

     

  • Fifteen “Skolombo” children to get free education

    Fifteen street children popularly known as “Skolombo Boys” were picked off the streets and offered free education during a rally organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Ministry of Women Affairs protesting violence against children in Calabar, Cross River State, yesterday.

    The children, who were picked up along the route of the rally, said they were on the streets because their parents died or were chased from home by their guardians.

    Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Stella Odey, said the state would not relent in its effort to ensure that the state is fit for children.

    She condemned parents who abandoned their children, sent them away to relatives or perpetrated any kind of violence against them.

    Child Protection Specialist UNICEF, Enugu Field Office, Mrs Nkiru Maduechesi, said violence against children is prevalent the state and country and more efforts should be made by the society to check the scourge.

    She urged stakeholders such as the government, security agencies, the media, traditional institutions, families among others to take the issue more seriously and step up the fight against it.

    The launch of the campaign on violence against children would be flagged of in Calabar today (Thursday) at the Tinapa Resort in Calabar, the state capital.

    Cross River would the second state to do so after Lagos State.

    It had been launched at the Federal level by President Muhammadu Buhari in September 2015.

  • Ambassadorial nominees:  Senator raises alarm over omission of Bayelsa State

    Ambassadorial nominees:  Senator raises alarm over omission of Bayelsa State

    The Senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Emmanuel Paulker, Tuesday raised the alarm over the omission of Bayelsa State in the list of ambassadorial nominees submitted to the Senate for confirmation and approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Senator Paulker noted that he was inundated with calls by his constituents and other concerned Nigerians who drew his attention to the fact that no nominee from Bayelsa State was included among the ambassador designates.

    The lawmaker said that he carefully went through the list sent to the Senate and discovered indeed that there was no nominee from Bayelsa State.

    Paulker said that the non-inclusion of a nominee from Bayelsa State is made more painful when it is realised that some states had three nominees while others had two.

    He prayed the Senate to mandate its committee on Foreign Affairs to take up the matter to ensure that justice was done to the state.

    President Buhari had on June 9th, 2016 forwarded a list of 47 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation and approval.

    Paulker said, “Mr. President, just as we left here (Senate) at the close of work (on Thursday June 9th, 2016) my other two colleagues and I were inundated with calls drawing our attention to the fact that no nominee from Bayelsa was reflected on the list of ambassadorial nominees sent to the Senate.

    “Mr. President initially I thought those calls were misplaced but we have gone through the record and discovered that the calls were not misplaced.

    “Mr. President, facts are available to us that even in the Foreign Affairs Ministry at least we have two Bayelsans that are on the level of deputy directors.

    “I believe that these two personalities can fit into where these nominees came from.

    “Equally in the list there are some states that have up to three in number. Non-inclusion of any Bayelsans on the list is a clear violation of the Constitution.

    “My only prayer is that before the committee considers this list, I implore you and my colleagues to tell the committee and in fact communicate to the Presidency about the omission so that justice can be done to the state called Bayelsa.”

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki noted that in line with Senate rules Senator Paulker discussed the matter with him.

    Saraki added “You know according to our rules under Order 43, there would be no debate but however I am happy that the chairman committee on Foreign Affairs is here, they will take note of this observation while they carry out their work on this matter. By tomorrow (Wednesday) we would have committed that to the Foreign Affairs Committee to work on it.”

  • Photos: Buhari in London, receives Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby

    Photos: Buhari in London, receives Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby

    R-L; President Muhammadu Buhari with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby and Secretary General of the Anglican Communion Worldwide, Most Reverend Josiah Idowu Fearon at the official residence of the Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain in London.
    R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby and Secretary General of the Anglican Communion Worldwide, Most Reverend Josiah Idowu Fearon at the official residence of the Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain in London.

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari (R) receives the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby at the official residence of the Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain in London, on Monday.
    President Muhammadu Buhari (R) receives the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby at the official residence of the Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain in London, on Monday.
  • Adegboruwa sues FG over deadly Biafra protests

    Adegboruwa sues FG over deadly Biafra protests

    Activist-lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to restrain the Federal Government from authorising soldiers and policemen to invade Biafra protests, which often leads to human casualties.

    He is praying for a declaration that he and every citizen are entitled to assemble freely and express their opinions lawfully in the exercise of their fundamental rights guaranteed by sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution.

    He said the violation of such rights, which are also guaranteed by Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 (1), 11, 20 and 28 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff are the respondents.

    Adegboruwa is praying the court to hold that members of the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), are entitled to assemble in any part of the country for the purpose of demanding self-determination without any permit or licence.

    The lawyer is praying the court to declare that the arrest, detention and killing of innocent and unarmed citizens in Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi states while gathering in Nkpor, Ifite-Dunu and Nnewi in Anambra State on May 30 to commemorate the International Biafra Heroes’ Remembrance Day by the respondents’ agents is illegal.

    He said the arrest and shooting of the citizens over their “peaceful and lawful gathering” in respect of Biafra constitutes a flagrant violation of their fundamental rights and is therefore null and void.

    Adegboruwa wants the court to hold that the citizens are entitled to their freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly and association without let or hindrance from the respondents.

    The lawyer urged the court to hold that since Nigeria is entitled to hold “Armed Forces Remembrance Day” in remembrance of dead soldiers during the civil war, the citizens are also entitled to hold and organise “Biafra Heroes’ Remembrance Day” without any threat to their liberty and freedom.

    He asked the court to grant an injunction the Federal Government from further violating the fundamental rights of the citizens through unlawful arrest, detention and killing except and in a manner permitted and sanctioned by law.

    The court, he prayed, should hold that the respondents are not entitled to quell, suppress, subdue and crush a peaceful gathering of the citizens in commemoration of Biafra Heroes’ Remembrance Day.

    He sought an order directing the respondents to release forthwith all detained innocent citizens of Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi state held over the International Biafra Heroes’ Remembrance Day.

    According to Adegboruwa, unless the court acts urgently to restrain the respondents, they would “continue to kill and maim IPOB members and stop other Nigerians from expressing themselves.”

    No hearing date has been fixed for hearing.

  • FG begins recruitment of 500,000 unemployed graduates next week

    FG begins recruitment of 500,000 unemployed graduates next week

    The Federal Government on Wednesday announced the commencement of recruitment of 500,000 unemployed graduates to benefit from the N500 billion social investment Programme included in the 2016 Budget.

    This was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande.

    The Buhari presidency, the statement said, will start taking applications via online for positions in the 500,000 direct teacher jobs scheme, through an internet portal named npower.gov.ng.

    It said that the applications were expected to start coming in on June 12, as the portal would formally be launched on Saturday, June 11.

    Qualified young unemployed Nigerians were therefore urged to visit the website and apply.

    It reads: “It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari in his May 29th Democracy Day broadcast to the nation formally launched the unprecedented social investment programmes already provided for under the 2016 Appropriation by the administration.

    “The 500,000 Teacher Corps, nicknamed N-Power Teach on the portal, is one of the three direct job creation and training schemes Nigerians can start applying for from Sunday, June 12.

    “Others are N-Power Knowledge which will train 25,000 Nigerians in the area of technology, and N-Power Build, which train another 75,000 in the areas of building services, construction, utilities, hospitality and catering, automotive vocations, aluminium and gas services.

    “All trainees would be paid for the duration of their training. The N-Power Teacher Corps initiative which will engage and train 500,000 young unemployed graduates is a paid volunteer programme of a 2-year duration.

    “Unemployed Nigerians selected and trained will play teaching, instructional, and advisory roles in primary, and secondary schools, agricultural extension systems across the country, public health and community education-covering civic and adult education.

    “Besides their monthly take home pay estimated at about N23, 000, the selected 500,000 graduates will also get computer devices that will contain information necessary for their specific engagement, as well as information for their continuous training and development. They get to keep the devices even after exiting from the programme.

    “According to the plan of the Buhari administration, the N-Power Teacher Corps programme is an invaluable opportunity for young Nigerians to make immense economic and social contributions to the nation while developing their skills. It will also help to address the problems of inadequate teachers in public schools.

    “Also, persons enlisted under the scheme will gain work experience and acquire key competencies through academic and non-academic capacity building programmes intended to improve their competitiveness in the workplace. Their devices will come loaded with knowledge-oriented applications and software that will enable them acquire the skills and capacity.

    “Under the N-Power Knowledge scheme, there are three aspects: Creative, Technology Software and Hardware. These three sub-divisions would will train 25,000 young Nigerians in all.

    “5000 of them would be trained in Animation, Graphic Design, Post-Production, Script-Writing. All of those under the sub-division of N-Power Knowledge-creative category.

    “The N-Power Knowledge scheme also has a technology category in two aspects: hardware and software. 10,000 Nigerians would be trained, and equipped in the area of software development, including web designers, and another 10,000 in hardware expertise including to repair, maintain and assemble mobile phones, tablets, computers and other devices.

    “Also the N-Power Build category was designed realizing that the presence of a well-trained and highly skilled youth population in any economy has direct impact on entrepreneurship/wealth creation, which in turn leads to a decline in unemployment.

    ‘N-Power Build is therefore an accelerated training and certification (Skills to Job/Enterprise) programme that will engage and train 75,000 young unemployed Nigerians in order to build a new crop of skilled and highly competent workforce of technicians, artisans and service professionals.” it stated

    On other schemes, the statement said: “The other schemes in the Buhari presidency Social Investment Programmes which would soon be rolled out in the coming weeks. These include the Conditional Cash Transfer that pays N5000 monthly to one million Nigerians, the Micro-Credit Scheme for more than 1.5 million Nigerians, the Home Grown School Feeding programme that will serve 5.5 million Nigerian pupils in primary school a free hot meal per day this year and the Education support grant programme for 100,000 tertiary students in Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics, STEM and education.”

  • Nigeria football won’t be same without Keshi – Buhari

    Nigeria football won’t be same without Keshi – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday commiserated with the family of former Super Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi, and Nigerians over the African Nations Cup (AFCON) winning coach’s untimely death.

    According to a post on the Presidency official social media handle, President Buhari lamented that “Nigeria today Wednesday) lost a great sportsman, football player, coach and citizen.

    “Nigerian football will not be the same without Stephen Keshi. He gave this country his all. May his soul rest in peace,” he summed.

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”Keshi” count=”5″ show_more=”on”]

  • Buhari writes Senate over medical vacation

    Buhari writes Senate over medical vacation

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter informing the Senate about his medical vacation in the United Kingdom was Tuesday read on the floor of the Senate.

    The letter entitled “Medical vacation” read by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, was dated June 6th June, 2016.

    President Buhari said in the letter addressed to the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, “In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, I wish to inform the Distinguished Senate that I will be away on a short medical vacation from 6th-16th of June 2016, and while I am away, the Vice President will perform the functions of my office.

    “Please accept, as always assurances of my highest esteemed consideration.”

    The President travelled to the United Kingdom on Monday to rest as well as seek medical attention to an ear weakness.

  • FG assigns NSA to lead dialogue on Niger Delta crisis

    FG assigns NSA to lead dialogue on Niger Delta crisis

    President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed his National Security Adviser, Retired Gen. Babagana Mongunu to head the team that will dialogue with the warring Niger Delta militants.

    The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu broke the news to journalists in Abuja Monday.

    According to him, he is a member of the team which also includes the nation security and service chiefs and other stakeholders to distill military intervention in the area so that dialogue can take place.

    “We are making contacts with those involved that we can identify and through them to the ones we cannot identify so that there will be inclusiveness for dialogue. Our prayer is that this works so that we resort to dialogue instead of use of force to solve problems. ….it is always difficult when arms are used against fellow citizens whether by the militants or by the government, “he said.

    He however noted that the crisis in the region has culminated in a loss of 600,000 barrel per day.

    Kachikwu said that for the government to recover the lost barrel it has to first win back the hearts of the aggressive militants.

    He added that that he has always been of the disposition that government has to engage the unhappy citizens.

    Assuring the country that government is opened to dialogue, the minister said that “unless that the government is pushed to take extreme measures, the desire of his excellency, Mr. President is to try engage and dialogue with issues.

    “The President has appointed a team led by the National Security Adviser to head the process of a very intensive dialogue…and I am sure in the ensuing one week the intensity of that dialogue will ramp up.”

    Kachikwu said that intensity of the attacks was causing a lot of problems such as pollution and affects on consistent production.

    His words: “Coming to what is happening in Nigeria in terms of security challenges in the oil industry, over the last two months we have lost about 600,000 barrel from various attacks of militants in the area.

    “We are making efforts to see how we can get those back obviously and getting the barrels back is also getting the hearts of people back. My attitude has always been that when citizens are unhappy about something we try to engage.

    “And I know given the intensity of the attacks which is causing a lot of problems, both in terms of pollution and in term of continuity  of production and sanctity of career paths of the oil industry to what has been happening, the response has been to ensure adequate security coverage in those areas and for the safety of lives and property and equality to bring tranquility back to what is ordinarily a very serene and wonderful geographical space to be in.

    “I am from the Niger Delta and my first appeal is to my brothers who engage in those protests to sheath the sword and the dagger and then get back to the table so that we can have conversation as Nigerians. …the answer to the issues is not taking up of arms. The Federal Government is committed to continue this dialogue.”

    He stressed the fact that the President was interested in restoring peace to the Niger Delta, adding that Buhari has urged the use of every available opportunity to dialogue with the militants to end the matter.

    In terms of effects of the crisis on oil production, the minister said that “in terms of production, I think we are producing 1.5 and 1.6million barrel per day down from 2.2million of this year’s the basis of this year’s budget.”

    According to him, between now and August, if peace reigns, the sector would be able to raise the volume of production substantially.

    Kachikwu promised that the ministry and its related agencies would work hard to cover the gaps in a manner that the losses would not affect this year’s budget significantly.