Tag: Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerians to embrace unity, peaceful coexistence and tolerance as vital foundations for national progress. 

Speaking during an Eid-El-Fitr luncheon in Maiduguri, Borno State, Shettima emphasised the importance of national harmony while assuring citizens of the long-term benefits of ongoing economic reforms.

Represented by Hon. Abdulkadir Rahis, the member representing Maiduguri Metropolitan Constituency at the House of Representatives, the Vice President underscored the significance of maintaining the spirit of unity beyond the Ramadan season.

According to a statement  by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said :“We thank the Almighty Allah for sparing our lives to witness this Eid-El-Fitr. 

“I wish to also say that we should all perfect, maintain, and build on the sense of unity that exists among us for our collective gain and progress as a gift for one another,” Shettima said.

He reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to implementing policies that will foster sustainable development for all Nigerians, urging patience as these initiatives take root.

Read Also: Shettima, Opeifa extol Tinubu’s courage, wisdom

“Just as Ramadan teaches endurance, we ask for your continued patience as these necessary reforms take root and bear fruit,” the Vice President noted.

The gathering, which brought together Borno State elders and Shettima’s former schoolmates, served as a platform for key stakeholders to reflect on national progress and the need for continued peace and unity.

Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, representing Borno Central Senatorial District, prayed for lasting peace in Nigeria and urged citizens to rally around President Tinubu, whom he described as the “father of the nation.”

“The President needs the prayers and support of Nigerians as he implements the good policies he has for the improvement of the economy and overall development of Nigeria,” Lawan stated.

He further praised Vice President Shettima as a leader of integrity and resilience, calling on Borno residents and Nigerians at large to emulate his virtues.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, also commended Shettima’s humility and generosity, particularly towards the less privileged.

“When he is in Abuja, his schedule is overwhelming, yet he always finds time for his people. Seeing the joyful faces of his classmates, elders, and other guests at this event is a testament to his character,” Kyari remarked.

Chairman of the Borno State Elders Forum, Alhaji Gambo Gubio, expressed gratitude for the Vice President’s hospitality and assured him of continued prayers for success in his national duties.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that the Federal Government was working on a review of the Land Use Act for conformity with current global realities. 

Shettima, who spoke at a three-day National Land Conference with the theme: ‘Reforming land governance for sustainable development in Nigeria’, by National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and Johnbull Amayaevbo Foundation, said the government was also working to establish a sustainable land administration system in the country. 

Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, the Vice President said the Land Use Act enacted in 1978 has been the legal and policy framework for land ownership, management, and administration in Nigeria.

He said while the Act has significantly shaped land administration and management in Nigeria, it has also contributed to a systemic challenges that must now be addressed immediately. 

Read Also: Don’t be swayed by the mob, Shettima tells Judiciary

He said: “The Act, now 48 years old, is undeniably due for review and reform. The time has therefore come for a thorough reassessment to identify necessary amendments and ensure its relevance in the evolving socio-economic landscape.

“Analysts have criticised the Land Use Act as an impediment to Nigeria’s socio-economic development, underscoring the need for comprehensive review to realign its policies with the goals of sustainable growth, equities and efficiency”.

He disclosed that the government has inaugurated four reform task teams to develop a strategic blueprint for implementing reforms aimed at streamlining land administration and ensuring easy, cost-effective and efficient access to land in Nigeria.

 Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the Judiciary not to succumb to the noise of the mob but remain steadfast in to their commitment to doing justice at all time no matter whose ox is gored.

The Vice President noted that the legal profession carries the burden of sustaining the nation and its democracy depends on the This is why the legal profession, adding that the judges should not see themselves as just interpreters of the law, but custodians of justice.

Shettima spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at the maiden annual lecture of the Body of Benchers (BOB) and public presentation of the report of the directions of the Legal Practitionera Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).

He said : “One of the gravest mistakes we make is believing that justice is the wish of the loudest party. In reality, justice is just as essential to the most voiceless individual. 

“It is the clearest affirmation that a nation is not governed by a mob. That is why we recognise that the mandate entrusted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was affirmed by a Judiciary that did not yield to the weight of vested interests – a Judiciary that understood that the fate of a nation is too sacred to be intimidated by any party or bartered for compromise.

“Laws are not mere technicalities; they are the scaffolding of civilisation. Without laws, there is no order. Without order, there is no society. 

“Every time justice is delayed, every time the law is bent to serve the interests of agents of anarchy, and every time institutions waver in the face of blackmail, we erode the very foundation of our nation. 

Read Also: Shettima leads FG’s delegation to Katsina

“And if that foundation crumbles, no matter how high we have built, everything falls apart. This is why the legal profession carries a burden unlike any other. 

“You, my lords, are not just interpreters of the law; you are custodians of justice. But this role is not without its burdens. The expectations are high, and the temptations are many. Yet, I urge you, my lords, to remain steadfast,” he said.

The Vice President noted that the pursuit of justice does not happen in a vacuum, but shaped by the gatekeepers and personnel of the law. 

He added: “Time and again, we are reminded that a nation is only as accountable, fair, and orderly as the people who make, enforce, and interpret its laws. Each of us is a stakeholder in this democratic arrangement.”

Shettima said President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated that the best way for the nation’s tripartite system of government to function “is when we do not treat one another as enemies, but as allies dedicated to the republican virtues of the nation and the advancement of our democracy.”

He urged all legal practitioners to remain true to the ideals of honesty and fairness, noting that “the legacy we build today will outlive our titles, our offices, and even our ambitions. 

“May we never be remembered as a generation that saw the light of justice dim and did nothing to keep it ablaze,” Shettima said.

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday led a Federal Government delegation to Katsina State to condole with Governor Dikko Umaru Radda over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Sarafa’u Umaru, on Saturday at 93.

Shettima, who spoke during the visit, said he was in the State on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sympathise with the governor, his family and the people of Katsina over the loss of their matriarch.

The Vice President was accompanied by the member representing Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri federal constituency, Borno State, Hon Usman Zannah; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari; Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia.

Noting that the late Hajiya Sarafa’u lived a life worthy of emulation, the Vice President described death as an inevitable destiny that hangs on everyone’s neck, saying “But for her, it’s largely a celebration of life for her to answer the call of Allah at the right old age of 93.

A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications Office of the Vice President Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima reads: “Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Dr Dikko Umaru Radda, we are here at the behest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to commiserate with you, the government and good people of Katsina State over the sad demise of the matriarch of the Radda family.

“Death is an inevitable destiny that is hanging on everyone’s neck. But for her, it is largely a celebration of life, for her answer to the call of Allah at the right old age of 93 is worthy of celebration.

“But the death of a mother is still a very sad loss. May Allah grant her soul eternal rest and reward her with his Aljannah Firdaus. May Allah also grant the family, the government and the good people of Katsina State the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” VP Shettima prayed.

Responding on behalf of the Katsina State Government, Deputy Governor of the state, Malam Faruk Lawal Jobe, thanked the Vice President for coming to commiserate with the governor and the people of Katsina over the loss of their mother.

Read Also: Shettima mourns victims of Karu tanker explosion

“Your Excellency, we can’t thank you enough. You have always been identifying with the good people of Katsina State and the government of the state.

“On behalf of the family of the governor, the government of Katsina State and the good people of Katsina State, we thank you most sincerely for coming to commiserate with us and also for the prayers that you offered.

“We ask the Almighty Allah to grant her eternal rest and give her Aljannah Firdaus. We wish you and your entourage a safe journey back to your destination,” the Deputy Governor said.

The Vice President was received at the Muhammadu Buhari House in Katsina by the former Governor of the state, Barr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema, former Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, the state Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Lawal Daura, among others.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima is billed to attend the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce’s (NACC’s) 65th anniversary with a grand gala dinner on April 12, on Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Senior PR Associate, Neo Media & Marketing/Chair, Publicity Committee, NACC Presidential Inauguration Dinner & Awards Night, Mr. Victor Ojelabi, said in a statement that Shettima would be the special guest of honour.

Read Also: Give it to the EFCC

He said the highlight of the event would be inauguration of Alhaji Sheriff Balogun as NACC’s 20th president, unveiling of his team and outlining of his initiatives to strengthen bilateral trade relations between Nigeria and the United States.

He said 40 members would be inducted and NACC multi-storey building project would be launched.

The gains of the Tinubu Administration’s economic policies are manifesting, Vice President Kashim Shettima said yesterday.

These, he said, are evident in naira stability and declining petrol and food prices.

He stressed the importance of political unity in sustaining the economic and governance reforms.

Shettima spoke at the Iftar (breaking of the Ramadan fast), hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for leaders of the Senate.

According to a statement by his spokesman Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President noted the falling food prices, the declining price of petrol and stability in the forex market, saying they are evidence of the gains of the President’s “bold vision and courageous decisions”.

“The economy is projected to grow at 4.3 to 4.6 per cent this year and in the fullness of time, posterity will be kind to you, Mr President,” the VP said.

Shettima expressed gratitude to the Senate for the cordial relationship with the executive.

Read Also: Living in fear of herders and kidnappers

“What unites us supersedes whatever it is that divides us,” he told the lawmakers.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio thanked President Tinubu for the support given to the 10th Senate.

He promised improved cooperation, saying the Senate was proud of the achievements of President Tinubu.

Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua offered prayers for the unity of the country and its leadership across all levels.

Also present at the Iftar were the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele; Minority Leader, Abba Moro; former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno, among others.

…as Nigeria-Brazil strategic dialogue resumes after a decade

Vice President Kashim Shettima has credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bold leadership and transformative policies for placing Nigeria on a new growth trajectory, making the country ripe for investment across various sectors.

This is just as Brazil’s Vice President, Geraldo Alckmin, is set to lead a delegation of top executives in the country’s public and private sectors on a state visit to Nigeria for the second session of the Brazil-Nigeria Mechanism for Strategic Dialogue, after over a decade-long break. 

Speaking on Tuesday during an update meeting with relevant ministers and heads of agencies at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Shettima noted that “in President Bola Tinubu, we have a leader who has shown that dexterity, that audacity to hope for a better tomorrow.”

Senator Shettima expressed satisfaction with the firm grasp of the real issues by ministers in the key sectors targeted for deliberations during the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism slated for the later part of the year.

He called on all the key actors on the Nigerian side to make adequate preparations for the meeting, noting that there has to be some clarity, strategic coherence and a deep understanding of issues that will be tabled for discussion.

In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said, “I want to urge all Ministers involved in this Nigeria-Brazil strategic dialogue to take charge of the initiative of the discussions so that we can take it to the next level, let’s walk the talk. 

“Please, drive the process, engage with the different strategic focus groups to give you weekly updates to prepare us for the visit of the Brazilian Vice President and his delegation.

“The most important thing at this moment is for us to actualize the dreams of our nation’s development. We have the resources and institutional knowledge to make this work for our country.”

On the similarities between Nigeria and Brazil, the Vice President stressed the need to leverage the huge opportunities inherent in the partnership between both countries to actualize Nigeria’s vision across agriculture, culture and tourism, livestock production and military technology, among others. 

Read Also: Shettima, Sanwo-Olu reaffirm govt commitment to tackling climate change

Earlier in his speech, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the dialogue presents a renewed opportunity for Nigeria to revitalise the nation’s agricultural sector to attain the food sovereign goals of the administration.

“On behalf of the agriculture sector, it is time for us to walk the talk. It is a good day for Nigeria because agriculture will play a major role in the partnership. We have an opportunity to catch up with the rest of the world and be on our way to food sovereignty,” the Minister said.

Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa spoke on the cultural significance of the partnership, saying, “There is a huge population in Brazil of Nigerian descent who have a lot of interest in Nigeria. 

“What we have done in the Ministry is to engage Brazil actively in working together. Already, we have an MoU, but we want to expand that beyond cultural diplomacy. Brazilians have a lot of interest in tapping into our creative industry,” she added.

The Minister hinted on plans to rebuild the Nigerian House in Brazil as well as host an annual Orisha Festival soon.

On defence cooperation, Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru, stated: “All is set for signing of a defence agreement with Brazil. We are also engaging with them on defence industry development to start production centres in Nigeria.”

Also, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Ali Pate, highlighted healthcare opportunities that dialogue presents to Nigeria, noting that the platform is an important relationship for Nigeria.

He said, “Brazil is able to produce almost everything they need, including pharmaceuticals and vaccines. We are keen on turning things around and with the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are unlocking the healthcare value chain. Manufacturing vaccines, diagnostics and pharmaceuticals is on the agenda, but it’s a very long journey and we are determined to walk through it.”

Also, Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture (Office of the Vice President), Ms. Marion Moon, said, “Brazil’s agricultural expertise—from their successful cropland expansion to their global leadership in key commodities—offers invaluable insights for our development. 

The upcoming $1.1 billion Green Imperative Project exemplifies the depth of our relationship and its potential to revolutionize Nigerian agriculture through modernization and technology transfer.”

She explained that the Strategic Dialogue will be preceded by a Trade and Investment Forum coinciding with the anticipated visit of Brazil’s Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, H.E. Geraldo Alckmin.

Others who spoke at the meeting included the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, and a representative of the Minister of State for the Environment, Balarabe Lawal, among many others.