The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • FG to finalise process for return of $321m looted money – SSA

    FG to finalise process for return of $321m looted money – SSA

    The Presidency on Monday says that Nigerian Government is concluding plans, latest by December, with the Switzerland Government for the repatriation of the looted money ($321 million) from Nigeria.

    Mrs Juliet Ibekaku, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Justice Reforms made the disclosure at the Conversation on Anti-corruption Campaign organised by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) in Abuja.

    She said that before now, Nigeria had no agreement or Memoranda of Understanding with foreign countries for the return of looted money.

    The development she necessitated why it took Nigeria awhile to initiate the process of discussion and recovery at the international level.

    “So far, we have recovered part of the Malabu fund held by the UK courts.

    “We are also working to finalise the process for the return of $321million and by December, we are going to sign the MoU for the return of the money held in Switzerland.

    “I am happy to also note here that some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in the area of asset recovery were involved in the negotiation of the MOU and will be involved in monitoring the assets.

    “This is to ensure that the returned funds are managed in a transparent manner as other recovery plans continue in countries like UK, Island of Jersey and France,’’ she said.

    Ibekaku said that the Federal Government had also opened up discussion with the US government for the return of the money that left that country for two or three years from 2013.

    The Presidential aide said that an example of such money was the Diepreye Alamieyeseigha’s money, adding that different fronts were being opened up for the recovery of the money.

    She said that the money recovery mission was hinged on the Open Government Partnership Initiative which was committed to four thematic areas: Transparency, Anti-corruption, Access to information, Citizen engagement and Empowerment.

    She said the government had set up one asset recovery account which made it easy for anybody that wanted to track recovered money to know where the money was going to.

    According to her, this put to rest worry by Nigerians over the whereabouts of the recovered money, thinking the money were not being accounted for or managed properly.

    Ibekaku said that over the years, it was identified that there was a problem with the management of recovered money both domestically and internationally because there was no way to account for it.

    She said that when this administration came to power, the president set up a presidential assets recovery committee to monitor what was going on with recovered assets from the agencies.

    Ibekaku said that the presidential committee, in turn, set the Assets Tracing subcommittee, adding that work was ongoing to determine where these sums of money went from 2012.

    She said that the administration also created a central account in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), called the Asset Recovery Account.

    The presidential aide said the president also directed all the law enforcement agencies to put all recovered money in the central account.

    Ibekaku said that the president also directed that asset recovery should now be ploughed into the budget to fund part of it, starting from 2017 “so that is what the money is being used for.

    She said all the money being recovered by anti-corruption agencies would go into such to fund part of the budget.

    The Executive Director of CDD, Ms Idayat Hassan, said that the event was organized with support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa and the Department for International Development (DFID).

    According to her, the event is getting answers to some questions on the recovered money.

    Hassain said that it was obvious that tackling corruption remained one of President Buhari’s main priorities.

    She said it was in line with the presidents’ vision that the event was organised, to provide a platform for constructive review and interrogate government’s approach to anti-graft campaign.

    The executive director said the platform also sought to proffer alternative opinions for robust, effective and sustained interventions in the anti-corruption fight and effective usage of the recovered money.

    She called on the government to make more open to Nigerians the amount recovered so far and how the money was being spent to ensure much confidence from the people in its programmes and policies.

  • Buhari mourns Ekwueme

    Buhari mourns Ekwueme

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday sent condolences to Nigerians, and to the Government and people of Anambra State, on the passing away of elder statesman and former Vice President, Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (GCON), on Sunday, November 19, 2017.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, commiserated with the entire Oko Kingdom, the Aguata Council of Traditional Rulers, and the Ekwueme family, over the loss of the family’s patriarch.

    He said that his regular counsels on national issues and mediations for peaceful co-existence would be sorely missed.

    Read Also: South East Governors, Ohaneze mourn Ekwueme

    The President affirmed that Dr Ekwueme’s unwavering commitment to the unity of Nigeria had been a major encouragement to many governments, recalling the personal sacrifices he made in helping to lay the foundation for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.

    The President believed Dr Ekwueme worked assiduously to improve the livelihood of many poor and underprivileged people through the Alex Ekwueme Foundation, describing him as a man who served his country and humanity.

    He prayed that the almighty God will receive the soul of the former Vice President, and grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Read; Buhari greets Jonathan at 60

  • Buhari seeks judiciary’s support in anti-graft battle 

    Buhari seeks judiciary’s support in anti-graft battle 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday called the judiciary to support the anti-corruption fight of the current administration.

    He made the call while declaring open the 2017 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts in Abuja.

    The President also pushed for speedy administration of justice in order to reduce prison congestion in the country.

    He said “My lords, as all of us are aware one of the objectives of this Administration is to combat graft and other forms of corruption so endemic in our public life. The executive can not achieve these objectives alone. We require the close cooperation of other arms of government.

    “My lords, earlier this year the Judiciary came under investigation. Let me again assure the judicial community, this action taken by the Executive was in no way a prelude to usurping the powers of the National Judicial Council or aimed at intimidating the Judiciary as wrongly portrayed in some sections of the media. Executive and legislative officials were also investigated

    “I am aware that the majority of judicial officers are learned and incorruptible and day in day out acting in the best spirit of their oath of office.

    “At the same time, I am quite aware of the problems besetting the Judiciary including under-funding, inadequate personnel and absence of modern technological aids.

    “Bearing these in mind, this Administration increased allocation to the Judiciary from N70 billion to N100 billion in the 2017 Budget. A similar figure has been proposed for 2018.

    “Mr. Chief Justice, our Administration’s commitment is to accord the Judiciary its constitutional rights. I therefore commend your recent decision to ask all judges at lower courts to provide you with a comprehensive list of all corruption and financial crimes in order to designate special courts to handle them. I support your action and the public is awaiting the results of this initiative,” he said.

    Stressing that the theme “Strengthening Judicial Integrity and the Rule of Law” was apt,  he said that a democratic system like Nigeria’s cannot survive or prosper without strict adherence to the Rule of Law.

    According to him, the prime purpose of any government is to regulate social relations within its territorial jurisdiction.

    He also said that without the rule of law the government will degenerate into dictatorship or anarchy.

    He said “The theme you have chosen this year keys in with our Administration’s resolve to strengthen the three arms of government to effectively fulfill their constitutional obligations.

    “For the judiciary, the public expects fairness, impartiality and speed in the administration of justice. Regrettably court cases can drag on for years and years, sometimes decades without resolution. I need only mention land cases in Lagos to illustrate my point.

    “Furthermore, there are huge backlogs of cases waiting to be dispensed especially at the Appellate levels. Reform of the judiciary should start at eliminating these seemingly endless delays in settling what to the layman are apparently simple cases.

    “Again, litigants expect that higher courts should endeavour to harmonize their rulings. There are contradictory decisions of superior courts on the same subject matter in cases where facts are substantially the same without a clear attempt in subsequent cases to distinguish the earlier cases. This lack of clarity leads to serious confusion to the lower courts.

    “The knock-on efforts of these delays and dis-continuities range from loss of confidence in the judicial system to over-crowding of prisons. This is an area Your Lordships should pay close attention to in your efforts at reforming the system.

    “Last month I wrote to all State Governors urging them to make special visit to prisons in company with State Chief Judges and release prisoners unnecessarily detained without due process,” he stated.

  • Buhari working hard to make things better, says Oyegun

    Buhari working hard to make things better, says Oyegun

    The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, says President Muhammadu Buhari is working hard to make things better, urging all Nigerians to give the needed support.

    Oyegun spoke in Uyo on Saturday while flagging off the APC local government election campaign in Akwa Ibom, slated for Dec. 2.

    “Your president is working hard to turn things around for better. APC needs people of vision, people with passion to bring about a new Nigeria,” he said.

    Oyegun said that the APC was poised to reposition Nigeria on the path of progress by sweeping away corruption and the evil of the past.

    He said that he was overwhelmed by the crowd at the rally ground, describing it as an indication that the Akwa Ibom people were ready to embrace change.

    Oyegun, who received formally some defectors from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by Sen. Nelson Effiong, representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, said that APC was proud of the state.

    He described Sen. Effiong as a gentleman; a man of vision and integrity, who could look into the future.

    The national chairman commended the defectors for seeing the new Nigeria which APC had promised to deliver to all Nigerians.

    Speaking on behalf of the new entrants into APC, Sen. Effiong, said that he had the vision of change 10 months ago and took the decision to join the party.

    Effiong commended President  Buahri for taking Nigeria to the promised land and assured the APC National Chairman that the party would win the forthcoming council election convincingly.

    “I assure you sir, that we are here in the party with open mind and we will take the state to the main fold of Nigerian politics in 2019,” Effiong said.

    In his welcome address on the occasion, the APC State Chairman, Dr Amadu Attai, said that the Akwa Ibom people were committed to supporting President Buhari because of his sincerity.

    Attai, who applauded the Social Investment Scheme of the Federal Government, also thanked the APC-led government for taking Nigeria out of recession.

    He commended the quality and purposeful leadership of the party at the national level and promised that APC would work hard to win the local council election in Akwa Ibom.

    In his goodwill message, the chairman of APC Governors’ Forum, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, commended APC in Akwa Ibom for presenting a very strong opposition in the state.

    Okorocha said APC was the way to follow in Nigeria because the party was the antidote to corruption in Nigeria.

    “I am impressed with what I have seen in Uyo; come 2019, our victory is sealed. Let’s connect to the national grid for all the good things from the national,” Okorocha said.

    In his remark, the Deputy National Chairman, South, Chief Segun Oni, urged the APC people in Akwa Ibom to unite and work as a team in the state.

    Oni, who is a former governor of Ekiti, noted that some people were disenchanted and effort should be made to reconcile them into the party.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign featured official presentation of party flag to 31chairmanship as well as 329 councillorship candidates of the party by the national chairman.

    The campaign flag-off was attended by APC stalwarts such as the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Nsima Ekere and Senior Presidential Special Assistant on Political Matters, Mr Gideon Zamani.

    Others are Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly, Sen. Ita Enang; the Managing Director, Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, Mr Umana Okon Umana; APC chieftain in Akwa Ibom, Chief Don Etiebet.

  • Buhari’s tall ranking on terror war

    Without mincing words, I did like to confess publicly that I am one Nigerian who believes in President Muhammadu Buhari. I am not his partisan adherent, but my admiration for him as a person and now leader of Nigeria blossoms everyday like a flower.

    Buhari is awesomely an intriguing leader and to me, he is not just a cerebral force, but someone in the region of an impenetrable being, who has overpowered all human debilitations, like some gods. Elsewhere in the world, leaders derive their sacredness and veneration from the effervescent of unassailability. And candidly, a leader is not just a piece of cake on a street shop to instantly decode in shape, colour and countenance. So, President Buhari has a big and matured heart. He rarely speaks, but believes more in action.

    Today, President Buhari has proven that he emerged not just as an enigma on Nigeria’s political firmament, but on Africa’s delicate leadership ladder to rescue the continent. When one recalls African fables, and the thrilling roles of a talisman, the image of Buhari assail the senses defiantly.

    So, when he sought leadership of Nigeria for the fourth time in 2015, many Nigerians, Africans and the world generally thought, this Mr. Uprightness was coming to battle corruption alone. They misconstrued him and underrated his personage.

    I keep recounting that throughout his tedious campaigns for Nigeria’s presidency in 2015, the words “corruption and insecurity,” consistently dropped from his lips. His audience, supporters, haters and traducers alike heard him this loud, but never believed that he could do anything else outside battling the monster of corruption in Nigeria. Nigerians who busied themselves with such satanic mindsets, least remembered that President Buhari inherited a country on the cusp of extinction, propelled by these two vices, insecurity and corruption.

    I can bet that Nigerians with good retentive memory would reminisce how the engaging immediate past first lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan, echoed at the peak of the electioneering campaigns in the early months of 2015 that Nigerians should avoid conceding power to General Buhari.

    And her simplistic reason was that if given the Presidency of Nigeria, Buhari would build more prisons to incarcerate many Nigerians, up to 300 years in jail. She sumptuously and contemptuously dwelt on Buhari’s years as military leader of Nigeria. She was emphatic that she has no resources to feed her husband, former President Goodluck Jonathan in jail, then, President Buhari’s main contender in the 2015 general elections.

    But today the reality is different. Among Nigerians and stretching further, the international community, I might be one soul who may not necessarily trust President Buhari as the liberator of Nigeria. I could even prefer to freely flow with his antagonists and critics to maliciously proclaim how worse or the depths he has rendered Nigeria prostrate.

    Whatever negative excuses, or grudges the anti-Buhari elements have nursed against him in other sectors, I don’t want to know or give a thought to it. They have their reasons, whether false or genuine. But on security and corruption, which these adversaries have often attempted to flatten him, the world has continued to persistently acknowledge his outstanding performances. Buhari is like no any other Nigerian leader since independence in 1960. He’s just in his own metaphysical realm, and I cannot stop admiring him.

    We may disagree with President Buhari, and even insult his ancestors for breathing life into him. But in sober moments, we all accept it as unfair and influenced. The good works he is executing in Nigeria or the positive impact on leadership of this country has not escaped the lenses of the world in appreciation.

    So, the doubting Thomases were again shocked when Nigeria cum President Buhari’s efforts on security or precisely, on defeating terrorism were celebrated globally, as impactful to reduction in terror-induced deaths across the world. Nigeria was part of the marginal reduction of 22 percent in five countries and as one of the nations which recorded 33 per cent fewer deaths on global terrorism index rating. We look back at 2011, 2012 and up to 2014; yet, we prefer not to see the changes on terrorism in 2016 and 2017.

    But nothing has gladdened my heart in recent times like this global endorsement that in five countries around the world, most tortured by terrorism and condemned to its consuming inferno, Nigeria is mentioned in the report positively. Nigeria is one among the four countries , namely, Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, which were in the furnace of terrorism, but have managed it effectively, thus contributing to global reduction of terrorism . The report expansively covered 163 countries, some 99 percent of world population.

    The American-based Institute for Economics and Peace’s report titled, “ Global Terrorism Index 2017,” officially launched at the Royal United Services Institute in London, a few days ago, published a comprehensive synopsis of “ global trends and patterns in terrorism over the last 17 years.” It highlighted its peak in 2014, on the eve of Buhari’s Presidency and cheeringly disclosed a decline in years 2016 and 2017.

    And the indicators’ upon which the report was based were incisive and commendable too. It looked at terrorism in Global results and trends, Terrorism trends in Europe and other developed countries, Characteristics driving terrorism recruitment, Profiles of the four most deadly terrorist groups and the Economics of terrorism. Yet, Nigeria came up tops.

    And the most critical of audience within and outside Nigeria are unconsciously singing songs of Nigeria’s redemption under Buhari. Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) has led the pack of appreciators of President Buhari’s volte force on security, eloquently and elaborately commending his commitment to ridding Nigeria and the world of the de-humanizing crime of terrorism.

    NDMG’s President, Dr. Ibukun Ola, succinctly submitted that Nigerian Army’s operations like ‘ Operation Python Dance,” “Scorpion Sting”, “Lafiya Dole,” “Crocodile Smile” are the backbone to such amazing accomplishments’ in security ranking of Nigeria. But some demented and cursed opposition elements never thought it wise to say “thank you, Mr. President.”

    Nevertheless, diasporan Nigerians led by Dr. Ola pricked their conscience in these words, “We note particularity the report by the Global Terrorism Index and that of the BBC on the development which has confirmed Nigeria’s contribution to winning the war against global terrorism and other crimes against humanity…the number of terrorism related deaths around the world fell according to the report for a second year in 2016, showing that the biggest drop was recorded in Nigeria where there’s being an 80% reduction.”

    The group added, “In the South-south region too, the President has through the launch of military operations and other subtle and diplomatic means, been able to nip activities that could graduate into terrorist acts in the bud… these are by no means incidental but results of meticulously designed and worked-out templates borne out of experience in intelligence and strategy that culminated in the appointments of tested Generals who could key into the programme leading to the formulation of the military interventions across the nation.”

    I cannot be less proud of my country. The wailing wailers can go and burn themselves in whatever fire pleasing to their souls. But for me, I am proud of President Buhari for ingraining his name in gold prints on global map of nations indubitably committed to rescuing humanity with fatal blows on terrorism. It is his prestigious seat in the history of the global fight against terrorism.

    Quite strongly, I am grateful to the COAS, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai, and leader of this delicate counter-insurgency war and an incontestable emancipator of the afflicted masses of Nigeria. No current serving Service Chief of the Nigerian federation deserves lesser commendation and ovations.

    The entire grain of the Nigerian military, especially, Nigerian soldiers have all occupied this hall of global fame and etched their names on the marble. If opposition Nigerians are not grateful and appreciative, I am truly and unfathomably grateful. And like the Late Captain Thomas Sankera of blessed memory once echoed, and I paraphrase, I stand to raise a voice for every liberated Nigerian, who cannot find a medium to raise a voice in appreciation of the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff and the President.

    Okanga, is a traditional warrior from Agila, Benue State.

  • Buhari commiserates with Iranians, Iraqis over earthquake

    Buhari commiserates with Iranians, Iraqis over earthquake

    President Muhammadu Buhari has joined world leaders to commiserate with President Hassan Rouhani and the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran over the devastating earthquake which struck the western province of Kermanshah recently.

    The earthquake caused the death of hundreds and injury to thousands.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, also described the natural disaster and its fallout as “very unfortunate, sad and massive,”

    He said that the “thoughts and hearts of Nigerians are with the people of Iran at this trying period.”

    The Nigerian leader prayed that God will console the grieving families and wished the injured speedy recovery.

    President Buhari also expressed similar condolences to the government and people of Iraq over human and material losses suffered in the wake of the earthquake on their border with Iran.

    It will be recalled that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, had on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 while declaring open the 6th D-8 Ministerial Meeting on Industrial Cooperation with Member Countries in Abuja, on behalf of President Buhari, expressed condolences to the government and people of Iran on the disaster caused by the earthquake.

  • Buhari not doing enough in his anti-corruption war – Falana

    Buhari not doing enough in his anti-corruption war – Falana

    Activist lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, on Friday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari is not doing enough in his battle to rid the nation of corruption and recovers stolen wealth from looters.

    Falana urged Buhari to muster enough “political will” to go after Nigerians who have deprived the country of her legitimate earnings through stealing and cheating, and caused them to return the  I’ll gotten funds instead of seeking local or foreign loans to fund projects.

    The Human rights lawyer who made this known at the Obas Complex, Oke – Mosan Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, also faulted the Dr. Bukola Saraki – led Senate for approving the $5.5bn loan request put forward to it by Buhari.

    Falana who was the keynote speaker at this year edition of the 78th International Students Day organised by the Ogun State government, said if unremitted funds in some federal government agencies, companies and others hidden offshore haven by looters were retrieved by Buhari – led government, there would be enough funds to execute projects instead of Nigeria going about with cap in hands begging for loans.

    Speaking on the theme: “Restructuring, Pros and Cons: The Place of the Nigerian youth,” the legal luminary argued that what had been recovered from looters by the Federal government in the last two years remained a mere “tip of an iceberg.”

    He said the bulk of the looted funds are still out there with the looters and urged the government to go all out to retrieve them.

    He also lamented the state and standard of education in the South West, insisted that the zone was not doing well in education, saying the evidence could be seen from the recently released West Africa Examination Council results where the zone performed woefully.

    He recalled that in his home state, Ekiti, excised from Ondo,  there were times when most families in the state could boast of a professor each because they embraced Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s philosophy of education, lamenting that Ekiti is being governed today by a man who showed grave “contempt for education.”

    “Look at Where are we in education in South west, from the last WAEC results, no State in South West made it to top 10 and that for me, is a shame. We need to go back to where we are coming from,” he said.

    Falana urged the youths not to join those calling for the breakup of the country, saying those behind it are not only making “backward call,” but also fighting only for selfish interest.

    He noted that for the country should leverage on her huge population potential to move forward and erect knowledge based system.

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun who was represented at the event by the Education Commissioner, Mrs Modupe Mujota, urged Nigerian youth to take responsibility to build themselves.

    Amosun urged them to step forward to occupy their place in nation building, warning that if they don’t prepare, plan and execute their plans to be relevant, their voices and names would be missing in history.

    Also, a Federal legislator representing Yewa South and Ipokia Federal Constituency of Ogun State, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, said the restructuring Nigeria needs is that of the mindset restructuring.

    Akinlade said Nigerians should steer clear of looking at every issue affecting Nigeria from the religious, tribal or ethnic prisms, adding that countries like Singapore, United Arab Emirate and some Asian countries are able to grow and develop because their citizens live above primordial sentiments.

  • Nigeria not isolated from global changes, says Buhari 

    Nigeria not isolated from global changes, says Buhari 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday maintained that Nigeria is not isolated from the global changes taking place in the various sectors.

    He spoke at the Presidential Villa, during the Presidential Parley with Participants of the Senior Executive Course No.39 (2017) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.

    According to him, Nigeria is being affected by changes in security, trade, technology, global warming and population demographics.

    He said “Today, we are at a very critical juncture of history. The world, as we know it, is changing.

    “I am sure you will all agree that in the first two decades of this century, we have seen significant shifts across the globe. Whether it is in security, trade, technology, global warming or population demographics, the world has truly changed.

    “Nigeria is not isolated from these trends. We are doing our best to respond to these changes. But we cannot be comfortable with just being a passive nation. We must be proactive.

    “Exactly one year ago, during my Parley with the Participants of the Senior Executive Course No.38, I tasked the Management of the National Institute with the responsibility of looking at Science, Technology and Innovation for the Development of Agriculture and Agro-Allied Industries.

    “I was therefore very pleased to hear this proposal was adopted as the theme for Senior Executive Course 39.” he said

    The National Institute, he noted, was created as a policy formation center where senior Nigerians from all segments of society work together with the common goal of making Nigeria better.

    “I am pleased that the Participants of Course 39 focused one on how Nigeria can address its Food Security Challenges leveraging Science, Technology and Innovation.

    “I have listened attentively to the presentation by the Course Participants and I am glad that the findings and policy recommendations are apt and implementable.

    “As I mentioned in my budget speech just 2 weeks ago, “only tailored Nigerian solutions can fix Nigeria’s unique problems”. I am proud to say your report is in agreement with that.

    “Your submission has come at a time when Nigeria is recording significant successes in Agriculture and food security. However, we cannot afford to be complacent. We must develop strategies to sustain this momentum.

    “Be assured that the economic management team will carefully study your Report and work towards implementing its recommendations.” he said

    He said that his administration will also continue to address the challenges of the National Institute in both infrastructure and manpower for improved performance.

    “On behalf of the Government and the people of Nigeria, I congratulate you for your patriotic efforts.”

    The Acting Director General National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Senior Executive Course 39 (2017) participants. Jonathan Mela Juma said that the President has tasked the institute to look at ways and means that science and technology can impact on agriculture and Afro-allied industries.

    He said “This is what we have been able to do, we have the report to him based on the 10 month period the participants undertook, study, research, travel, gather information, synthesis and then come up with this report.”

    On challenges, he said “One we requested for direct intervention by Mr. President, it might not necessarily be from the budget, there are other revenues you can tap to be able to raise money and support for these tools. And one of these areas is the setting up of the endowment fund, if that is done it means we will have other sources other than what comes from the budget.

    “We do recognize the fact that the budget is limited, there are other competing needs and so we cannot rely 100 percent on funding from the budget.

    Asked to give figure of the debts the institute is owing, he said “I don’t have a figure but one of those areas in which we are indebted  is power supply. The NERC just released new MYTO which means that power generators and distributors have increased their tariff by almost a hundred percent. When we started the year we didn’t anticipate that there will be this increase. And so, we have to contend with that and our suppliers will not listen to us because the budget did not take into account the increase. So these are liabilities we have accumulated and we have to find a way of dealing with it because we cannot do without power.

    “In the national institute we operate virtually 24 hours, every minute of day and night they are participants working and so we must have 24 hours supply of power.

    “So good enough we have NESCO that is very good in that area and couple with Jos electricity distribution company. And so we enjoy very good supply but we need to pay for those services.

    “Mr. President has given us assurance that the funding needs of the national institute will be addressed. Particularly the need to address the decay infrastructure. We have requested for additional chalets for accommodation for directing staff. We hope that this will be resolved as soon as possible,” he said.

  • No plan to place embargo on Social Media – Minister

    No plan to place embargo on Social Media – Minister

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has no plan to place any form of embargo on the use of social media platforms by Nigerians to air their views on the socio-political and economic development of the country, the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu has assured.

    Shiitu said Thursday in Abuja that “Government will not limit Nigerians’ access to social media solely on the basis that it may be used to express views critical of the government or the social-political system “.

    “Protecting critical expression on the internet is the standard by which governments are now held to be genuinely democratic.

    Nigerians should, therefore, feel free to discuss government policies and engage in responsible political debates; report corruption and exercise their right to expression of opinion and dissent. Government will defend and keep to its commitment to human rights, transparency, rule of law and accountability,” the Minister asserted.

    Shittu made the remarks at the opening ceremony of a two-day Ministerial Retreat on Social Media for Good Governance organised by DigitalAfrica in conjunction with Ministry of Communications for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) stakeholders at The Treasure Hotel, Abuja.

    He said: “Government will proactively propound free and secure policies that ensure use of technology based platforms of interaction in the social media.

    “The Buhari administration’s activities are being delivered by leveraging ICTs; better still, government activities are enhanced by the adoption of new media tools that provide interactive and instantaneous feedback on achievements of government as presented by the various MDAs”.

    According to the Minister “about 75% of Nigeria’s online population uses social media; and the number keeps growing on both social networking sites and blogging sites growingby around 70% in the last year.

    “Time spent grew by 82% within the same period (Nielsen study 2016).  The size of social media, taken as a whole, can be overwhelming.  As of June 2016, there are about 80 million tweets per day.   Facebook chat usage is currently over 1 billion messages daily according to the Nielsen report of 2016”.

    Speaking further on the significance of social media in modern world, the minister said “From the Arab Spring in Egypt, to our 2015 General elections, the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom and the recent US Presidential elections, the growing importance of Social media in shaping society and how it is governed can neither be overemphasis nor underplayed.

    “In Nigeria where our youth constitute more than 50% of our over 180 million population, the social media has become too critical to be ignored or undermined.

    “On the other hand, social media can also be nuisance to the government and society at large. Mudslinging, hate speech, cyber bullying, rants and unbridled ventilation of anger are common features in these platforms.

    “It is therefore very necessary to moderate these counter-effects to promote positive, development-driven and responsible social media usage platforms.

    “There are however, some challenges to moderating social media platforms:​lack of effective Legislation; ​abuse of political gains; use of Fake ID’s; and ​cross-border Threats (Cybercrime and other security concerns). “

  • Buhari, Baru lauded over oil exploration in Chad Basin

    Buhari, Baru lauded over oil exploration in Chad Basin

    President Muhammadu Buhari and Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru, Thursday received commendation for oil exploration drive in the Chad Basin.

    A group, PMB’s Oil and Gas Progress gave the commendation after its annual meeting in Abuja.

    A statement by the coordinator of the group, Mohammed Abdullahi, said President Buhari and NNPC GMD has won the heart of majority of Nigerians for their political will to initiate and encourage oil exploration in the northern part of the country.

    It accused past governments in the country of paying lip service to oil exploration in the north.

    It expressed hope that with the commitment of the President and the zeal of the NNPC GMD, some states in the north will soon assume oil producing status.

    The group noted that the commitment of President Buhari administration toward the discovery of oil in the northern part of the country would go a long way to douse tension in the country and ensure economic stability in the north.

    It recalled that the GMD had visited some states in the north, including Nasarawa, Sokoto, Bauchi, Yobe, Katsina, among others, with a view to commencing oil exploration in the areas for the purpose of generating more revenue for the country.

    It also recalled that the GMD NNPC had declared his readiness to grow the country’s crude oil reserves and increasing daily national production with a view to boosting the nation’s revenue generation.

    The group noted that the GMD had expressed this desire during the flag-off ceremonies of the NNPC/First E&P Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 83/85 partnership for marine seismic data acquisition in Lagos.

    It said that Baru while performing the flag-off ceremony aboard Marine Vessel BGP Prospector offshore Lagos, declared that the project would boost NNPC’s drive towards enhancing the nation’s abundant hydrocarbon deposits.

    The development, Baru added, also reinforced the Federal Government’s commitment to further harness Nigeria’s numerous resources to enhance income streams and ultimately boost the nation’s economic prosperity.

     “Without doubt, this development resonates perfectly with NNPC’s commitment to growing the nation’s reserves and increase production, as enshrined in our corporate vision of 12 Business Focus Areas (12 BUFA),” Baru was quoted to have said.