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Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

I’ve ordered security agencies to deal with rampaging herdsmen – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday night restated his administration’s resolve to deal decisively and expeditiously with continued attacks on communities across the country by armed herdsmen.

He spoke at a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), at the State House, Abuja.

President Buhari confirmed that heads of national security agencies have been ordered to take all necessary action to apprehend and expose those behind the heinous attacks.

Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “We are determined to secure all Nigerians and I have told the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies, in very strong terms, to deal decisively with the attackers.”

He expressed his personal condolences to the Catholic Bishop of Enugu, the people of Ukpabi Nimbo and all other communities that have suffered fatalities and other losses from the recent attacks.

Speaking on other national issues, the President assured the Bishops that he was acting with deliberation and moving methodically to implement his change agenda for the good of the country.

He said: “We need to rebuild our institutions methodically, we need to change the way we do things.

“In the last 10 years, crude oil sold for more that $100 per barrel, but Nigeria did not save. That is why we have found ourselves where we are today,” President Buhari told the Catholic Bishops, led by Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, the Archbishop of Jos.

The President also assured them that his administration was working very hard to fulfill all the promises it had made to Nigerians, adding that his greatest motivating factor now is the desire to bring positive change to Nigeria.

On behalf of the bishops, Most Rev. Kaigama expressed the solidarity of the CBCN with the President.

“We are willing to collaborate with you and with your administration, in which we see hope for a greater Nigeria,” he told the President.

The bishops pledged continued prayers for Nigeria and the government, expressing their conviction that current hardships are temporary, and Nigeria will soon overcome its present difficulties.

May 3, 2016
Buhari mourns Walin Sokoto, Ambassador Hamzat

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Sultanate, the Government and people of Sokoto State on the passing away of the Walin Sokoto, Ambassador Hamzat Ahmad over the weekends.

President Buhari in a condolence letter to the Sokoto State Government, described the late Walin Sokoto as a reputable public servant and a highly distinguished diplomat, who spent most of his life in the service of his country.
According to the President in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Garba Shehu, the demise of the former Nigerian Ambassador, who served in London and Washington DC, is a great loss to his community and the entire Nigeria.

‘‘I have learnt with deep shock and grief of the passing away of Alhaji Hamzat Ahmad (Walin Sokoto). His death is a great loss to Sokoto State, the diplomatic and business communities and to the Nigerian public service.

‘‘Alhaji Hamzat served meritoriously as a senior civil servant in the old Northern Nigeria Government and with the Federal Civil Service.

In Lagos, he held the post of Principal Secretary to the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, whom he served with diligence and loyalty.

‘‘Please convey my sincere condolences to His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Sokoto, his family and the good people of Sokoto State on the demise of their illustrious son,” the President wrote.

President Buhari prayed that the Almighty God will grant the soul of the late Walin Sokoto a peaceful rest, and grant his family the strength to bear the loss.

May 2, 2016
Full text of President Buhari’s May Day Speech

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER – IN – CHIEF, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2016 NATIONAL MAY DAY CELEBRATION HELD AT THE EAGLE SQUARE, ABUJA ON SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2016

Great Nigerian Workers!
Great Nigerian Workers!
I bring you greetings.

It is with great pleasure that I honour the invitation by the two Federations of Trade Unions, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to attend the 2016 National May Day celebrations. As you all know, this is my first outing in this forum which has a long and historical tradition that are noble and progressive. The efforts of all the heroes past who had fought for the workers of all nations to have a ‘voice’ in determining the course and direction of both national and international issues affecting the state of their being, are commemorated today, the first day of May all over the world. Labour remains unarguably an important element in any policy, programme and project propagated for national development.

This year’s celebration is significant in a number of ways. First, it marks the first May Day celebration under the All Progressive Congress (APC) Administration which brought an end to the sixteen (16) years of national squander, bad governance, unbridled corruption and economic woes by the previous administration. Second, it is coming at a time when the whole world is experiencing some form of economic crisis or the other.

For us whose main foreign exchange comes from oil, the global decline in the price of oil has further exacerbated our economic crisis. The resultant effects of this are noticeable in government dwindling resources, reduction in operational capacities of most companies especially in the Oil and Gas Sector, threats of workforce reduction by multinationals and the escalations of volatility amongst others. These developments no doubts, have socio-economic implications for the economy as well as the working class. I therefore appreciate the theme you have chosen for this year’s National May Day celebration – The Working Class and the Quest for Socio – Economic Revival. A quest it is, and the realization of the revival is not far fetched. It only requires a reasonable time to remedy the mal-administration and put forth a change so desired by all of us.

I make no excuses as this Government of the APC is determined to tackle headlong all socio – economic ills that have troubled our nation and we shall evolve solutions to emerging threats to our well being and the realization of sustainable development as well as growth anchored on equity and social justice.

Development must be sustainable for it to benefit society in general. It is therefore the responsibility of those in the citadels of power to align themselves with the working class who make development possible by generating and sustaining the momentum of positive change. That is why the present Administration has sought and will continue to seek the hands of Labour so that together we can attain the enviable heights of progress in our beloved country.

It is for this very reason that I aspired to become President which the Nigerian people have now made a reality. This Administration shall effect positive Change in the lives of average Nigerians, to ensure that the downtrodden are elevated and most importantly to fight the intense pain of corruption which has enriched the very few to the detriment of the majority of Nigerians who groan under the overwhelming weight of poverty and all the superstructural and infrastructural maladies resulting from corruption.

In this fight against corruption, I need you all to be very willing partners. Fighting corruption in the Public Service in particular, requires the workers to play major roles by cooperating with the Government.
I have listened to the speeches made by both the Presidents of the TUC and NLC. By the speeches, you have without any equivocation affirmed your faith in the greatness of Nigeria as a nation. The challenges facing Nigeria have been highlighted and I assure you that they shall be accorded due consideration. It is worthy to note that solution to some of those issues and requests are already being considered and would be made public in the near future. The times may be tough, but we Nigerians are by nature resilient and strong and it is that nature that propels us to overcome adversities and still thrive as a nation.

Let us use this National May Day to celebrate the workers and Nigeria as a Nation. There will always be challenges in the life of a man and what defines greatness is the way and manner such challenges are tackled and overcome. I assure you, great Nigerian workers that this Administration is able and willing to constructively handle the challenges.

In so doing, I request your cooperation and understanding, as partners in progress. The need to ensure a conducive atmosphere devoid of incessant industrial actions becomes paramount to ensure no loss of man – days and accordingly promote high productivity, which is perquisite for sustainable development based on increased investments, creation of jobs as well as protection of jobs. I further assure you that working together, this Administration protect workers’ rights and shall promote incentives for great productivity and hence greater prosperity.

Thank you and I wish you all happy May Day celebrations.
God Bless.

May 2, 2016
Impossible to run states with falling oil prices – Ambode

With the falling oil prices in the international market, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode said that it is currently impossible to run any state in Nigeria.

He threw his weight behind granting of 18 months moratorium to states in order for them to have more money to meet their obligations in the face of the economic crisis.

The governor spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said: “There is nothing wrong in asking for moratorium. Lagos State has just restructured its bond programme. It is about financial intelligence.

“The states are not saying they are not going to pay back. We are saying that based on the present circumstances, we can hold down principal payments and just take interest.

“Maybe for a while, let us also ask for moratorium to be able to pay principal at a future date. The issue is that you cannot operate a state in the manner in which the financial in flows are coming now. It is very difficult. We have to be realistic.

“It is like any other organization. If the inflows are not up to what the fixed costs are like, you have to do something drastic and that is what we are all doing.

“I am an accountant first before being a politician. You need to see the numbers. The numbers do not tally.

“It has nothing to do with the status you are finding yourself now. It is about the past record, it is about the present status and it is about taking drastic decisions to be able to allow the state’s to stay afloat,” he stated.

On the purpose of his visit to the President, he said that he came to thank him on behalf of Lagos State and the people of the state on the outcome of his visit to China.

He said: “You will recall that Lagos State is a major beneficiary of that visit. The Lagos metro rail project of about $2.5bn is being signed up by Nigeria and the President.

“The Lagos-Kano rail project and other projects are also there. There are many benefits coming to Lagos State. That is why it is important to come and thank him personally,” he said.

He also noted that people will always oppose government policies and programmes just as they criticized the President’s visit to China.

“What is important is about the majority of people who are going to benefit from it.

“For Lagos, we cannot do any other thing than to say thank you,” he added

April 29, 2016
Photos: Ambode visits Buhari at State House

April 29, 2016
NYSC to drive the Change Mantra- Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari said on Friday that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme would be used to drive his administration’s change mantra.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the president stated this at the swearing-in of 2016 Batch `A’ of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Keffi, Nasarawa state, Ise-Ekiti, Ekiti and Gusau in Zamfara.

NAN reports that in Keffi (Nasarawa State), Buhari, represented by Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa state, said the Federal Government (FG) placed a high premium on the NYSC scheme.

The President’s address was read in Ekiti by Mr Odunayo Adesoye, the Director of Youths, Ministry of Information, Youths and Sports Development, who represented Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti.

Also in Keffi, the president’s speech was read by Alhaji Ishaq Galadima, Nasarawa state Commissioner for Youths and Sports on behalf of Gov. Tanko Al-Makura,

The president said the scheme is useful because it had proved itself over the years to be a reliable vehicle in inculcating sacrifice and patriotism in Nigerian youths.

“My dear corps members, the National Youth Service Corps which was established four decades ago has demonstrated its ability to remain relevant in the life cycle of the nation,” he said.

The president said the Federal Government would continue to invest hugely in the youth.

While the president decried the dwindling economy of the country, he assured that his administration would strive hard to ensure that challenges facing the nation’s economy would be a thing of the past.

He, however, warned the new youth corps members to shun social vices such as cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery, drug peddling thuggery, prostitution, terrorism, militancy, cybercrimes, bunkering and the get-rich quick syndrome.

“I charge you to use the various NYSC Community Development Services platforms at the grassroots to carry out public enlightenment and mobilisation for change in behaviour, thinking, cultural orientation and outlook,” he said.

According to the president, one of the disturbing problems inherited by this administration is increasing unemployment among the young people, and that will soon be a thing of the past.

“Thousands of graduates from the higher institutions of learning get frustrated daily as they search for non-existing jobs.

“This is why this administration is anxious to recover illicit wealth to channel them to productive economic venture to absorb thousands into employment,” Buhari said.

The President also charged corps members to work with enthusiasm to better the lives of their host communities.

In his address of welcome, EKiti NYSC Coordinator, Mr Tobechi Ibeh, urged the corps members to be hard working in order to build an egalitarian society for the nation.

Ibeh restated the commitment of the NYSC scheme to attitudinal change that would make the youths to be self-reliant.

NAN reports that no fewer than 1,581 corps members comprising 902 male and 679 female in the 2016 Batch `A’ were administered oath of allegiance by the Ekiti Chief Judge, Justice Ayo Daramola.

Also, NYSC State Coordinator in Nasarawa state, Mrs Habiba Bappah, said that out of the prospective corps members who reported to camp, a total of 1,935 corps members were duly registered.

“This number is made up of 835 males and 1,100 females ready to be sworn in today,” she said.

She then urged the new corps members to participate actively and take various the training sessions seriously; as the sessions were mapped out to give them a better future.

In Gusau, Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara urged the 1, 600 corps members posted to the state to use the period of their service to acquire various entrepreneurship skills.

According to Yari, who was represented by the state Commissioner of Youth, Skill Acquisition and Sports, Alhaji Abdullahi Gurbin-bore, these skills will assist them to be self reliant after the service year.

“I call on you to use your service year to contribute to the development of our dear country by using the service period to enhance the national productivity,” he said.

He advised the corps members to show respect to the values, culture and traditions of their respective host communities, while extending the benefits of national service to the grass roots level.

Also, the Zamfara NYSC Coordinator, Alhaji Ballama Bello, said the three weeks orientation programme was one of the cardinals of NYSC.

However, Bello urged the corps members to be obedient to NYSC rules and regulations and avoid crimes and other social vices.

NAN reports that the swearing-in was conducted by Justice Awwal Gummi on behalf of the state Chief Judge, Justice Kulu Aliyu.

April 29, 2016
Buhari condemns increased global risk to journalists

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja condemned the increased global risk to journalists in the performance of their professional duties.

The President spoke at the opening of the Congress of the Federation of

African Journalists hosted by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president delivered a keynote address on the theme: ”The Political Change and the Safety of Working Journalists in Africa”.

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the risk came in the form of “harassment, arrests, detention and murder”.

“According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 72 journalists were killed globally in the year 2015, the most recent information available in that respect. Eleven of the 72 who died in that year were killed in Africa.

“The same year, out of 20 listed deadliest countries for journalists, five were from Africa – South

Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo and Libya.

“Also, 90 journalists are currently being detained in many countries.

“It is, therefore, fitting that the safety of working journalists in Africa will be of concern to your organisation, the Federation of African Journalists, ” he said.

The President said that journalists were targeted not only to restrict the free flow of information, but increasingly as leverage to secure huge ransoms and political concessions through sheer violence.

He charged the Federation to work with the governments of their countries to remove the existential threats to media practitioners.

He said the Federation could also work with other organisations committed to the protection of journalists.

Such organisations according to him, include the Committee to Protect Journalists, the International Federation of Journalists and the International Press Institute, to eliminate or reduce the risks to journalists

“It is also important for media institutions to ensure the adoption of best safety protocols for their journalists.

“They must develop and implement procedures and tools aimed at ensuring the physical and

psychological safety as well as the digital security of journalists, ” he said.

The President said his administration saw the media as a partner in progress, and “has never contemplated harassing, not to mention killing, any journalist” .

“The media represents the eyes and ears of the world and attempt to

silence it through the harassment, arrests, detention and murder of

journalists, is akin to making the world go blind and deaf.

“I can report to this Congress that not a single journalist is being detained or harassed in our country today.

“The government of the day is not a threat to the media, and it is not about to stifle press freedom or deny anyone his or her constitutionally guaranteed rights, “he said.

The president also noted that his Administration placed preference to security and welfare of its citizens.

He declared the summit open and wished participants fruitful deliberations.

April 29, 2016
Multinational task force to patrol Gulf of Guinea – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that a multinational task force will soon be established to patrol the waters of the Gulf of Guinea.

He spoke during an audience with the French Minister of Defence, Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that patrols by the multinational task force will augment and boost ongoing efforts to improve security in the Gulf, and curb crude oil theft and piracy.

Buhari and Le Drian also discussed ongoing French support for the Federal Government’s efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

The President expressed his government’s appreciation of the assistance and support of France and other G7 countries, which he said, has helped Nigeria achieve significant successes against Boko Haram.

He said: “When we got into office in May, last year, Boko Haram was effectively controlling at least 14 local government areas. But now, it is no longer so, and they have resorted to attacking soft targets with Improvised Explosive Devices.

“We are determined to secure all of our territory effectively. We are doing our best and our troops are now operating in the Sambisa Forest,” President Buhari told the French Defence Minister.

The Minister assured President Buhari that France will continue to assist Nigeria to overcome Boko Haram, saying that all terrorists must be seen as common enemies of the free world.

April 28, 2016
Buhari shocked by states’ inability to pay salaries

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that it was a matter of great concern to him that nearly two-thirds of states of the federation are still having difficulties with salary payments despite the bail-out funds provided to them by the Federal Government.

He made the remark while speaking at a closed door meeting with members of the Nigeria Governor Forum at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that he was very disturbed by the hardship which state government workers across the country and their families were facing due to the non-payment of salaries.

To ameliorate the hardship being faced by affected workers, the President said that the Federal Government will strive to make more funds available to the states by expediting action on refunds due to them for the maintenance of federal roads and other expenses incurred on behalf of the Federal Government.

He also said that he will establish an inter-ministerial committee to study a Fiscal Restructuring Plan for the Federation which was presented to him by the governors.

The President said that the committee will review the plan to improve the finances of state governments and make recommendations on how proposals in the plan should be dealt with by the Presidency, the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly through legislation.

President Buhari urged the governors, however, to understand that while he was ready to do all within his powers to help the states overcome their current financial challenges, the Federal Government also has funding problems of its own to contend with.

“You all know the problems we have found ourselves in. You have to bear with us,” he told them.

The Chairman of the Governors Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State and the Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, who chaired the committee that worked on the Fiscal Restructuring Plan, asked the Federal Government to do more to help the states financially.

The governors told the President that while they had resolved to take other measures to boost their internally-generated revenue, the implementation of the Fiscal Restructuring Plan will help them to deal with their funding problems on short, medium and long-term bases.

They said that if the plan was adopted and implemented by the Federal Government, states of the federation will become more financially empowered to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities.

Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Yari called for amendment of the sharing formula in order to increase federal revenue to state governments.

According to him, it was impossible for state governments to save for raining day with the current 26% allocation to states and 52% to the Federal Government.

On the allegation that the Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun blamed state governments for their current financial crisis due to their inability to save, Yari said: “The states are only taking 26 per cent whereas the federal government is taking 52 per cent and you are asking us to save?

“Anyway, I doubt if the Minister made that statement or it is coming from the media. The truth remains that the states are taking 26 per cent and the federal government 52 per cent, what are they doing with the money?

“We are not sovereign so how can we save? We are dealing with our different states economy which we are trying our best to fix. Most times, we are busy shouting that what is suppose to be given to us has not been given. For the past three years, we have been asking them to show us
if the excess crude has been used judiciously or not.

“So, the question of saving or not does not arise,” he added.

Noting that the meeting is about the economy, he said that the governors passed state-by-state demands to the federal government.

He said: “You will agree with me that states are the landlords, we own the land
and the people, so therefore the economy of this country lies in the state. Everything comes from the state, the oil, agricultural produce, mining and people are in the states while the federal government is in Abuja.

“So therefore if any state has any issues and is known to Mr President, I doubt very much if he will be able to sleep with his two eyes closed.

“We are closer to the people and have many challenges in the states. Today we have received support from the Federal Government in terms of bailout, restructured our debts, given us 15% of the Excess Crude Account for development.

“All these are temporal measures. Each state has a programme right from short to mid and long term which we presented to Mr. President and he graciously accepted and he plans to put a committee in place that would look at the matter starting with short term.

“For the short term we are looking at a situation whereby our refunds that are hanging since 2005 right from Obasanjo’s exit of the Paris club, some of the monies that were not paid so that the states that are having difficulties can get money from there.

“Loan restructuring, bailout and ECA, we are asking for 18 months moratorium before we can start paying, so that we would able to strategize.

“To develop IGR is not overnight, it is a long term programme that one has to plan for. And also our workforce have increased and there is nothing we can do about it because people are getting their daily bread from there and we cannot say we are going to cut salaries and wages.

“We have to find a solution otherwise we would keep going back and forth because you will not achieve anything as oil been sold for $100 per barrel is now selling for $28 and $31.

“So therefore we have devised a plan for short term, medium term and long term. These are part of short term.

“As part of the medium term programme, we are looking at the revenue mobilization formula in ensuring that resources which were due for the past 10 years to states will be made available to them after the National Assembly’s approval.

“While the agriculture and mining will be a long term programme.

“The committee that will be set up will have the Vice President, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola will be in that committee because he headed similar committee on revenue formula at the Nigeria Governors Forum in 2012/2013.

“At the same time, some states have committed their resources to some federal government projects like roads and airports, there is a committee that was set up to look into that, we are urging the committee to hasten and complete up their work and present their report to Mr. President so that states can get relief,” he said.

Stressing that the Nigeria Labour Congress’ (NLC) demand for increased minimum wage is justifiable, he urged the workers to exercise patience because of the present economic problem.

He said: “Well, they are right because we agree that what they are being paid is too
small. But they must understand the situation the country is because where we are deriving our resources from is now lower by 60 percent.

“So how do we do the magic? But we are going to do our best,” he stated.

April 28, 2016
Buhari to launch UNEP clean-up of Ogoni June 2

Barring any last minute change of plans, President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to launch on June 2 this year, the clean-up of Ogoni land, recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The disclosure was made Thursday by the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Muhammed, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, while being received by the Rivers Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.

The minister, who was represented by the Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jubril, stated that the team was in Rivers to seek collaboration and cooperation with the state government and Ogoni stakeholders in the implementation of the UNEP report.

The Rivers government also assured of its preparedness to collaborate with the Federal Government in the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of UNEP on environmental assessment of Ogoni land.

Wike, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, expressed happiness with the commitment of the Federal Government in the implementation of the UNEP report, noting that the devastation of the Niger Delta environment had impacted negatively on the people.

Rivers governor said: “As a state, we strongly reiterate our support towards the holistic implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoni land. We are excited to see the drive of the Minister for Environment in ensuring that the Ogoni clean-up exercise becomes a reality.”

Wike also expressed the readiness of the Ogoni people and indeed Rivers state to cooperate and collaborate to see the successful conclusion of the clean-up exercise, in accordance with internationally-acceptable standards, to enable the people to return to their farmlands.

The governor noted that his administration was determined to do all within its powers to provide people-oriented governance, disclosing that efforts were on to restore the garden city status of Port Harcourt.

The minister for environment also assured that the clean-up of Ogoni land would be driven by all stakeholders in the region and would ensure that the people benefit from it.

Muhammed lauded the Rivers government for the warm reception accorded the team, stressing that it was an indication that the Federal Government could partner with Rivers in many areas.

April 28, 2016