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Nigerian youths are talented, ready to compete globally – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has said his administration will strongly support public-private partnerships aimed at creating dignified work and employment opportunities for Nigerian youths.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday, January 24, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu stated this at a meeting with the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mastercard Foundation, Ms. Reeta Roy, at the State House, Abuja.

The President also assured the Mastercard Foundation CEO that Nigerian youths are vibrant, talented, and eager to learn, and ready to compete globally.

The President commended Mastercard Foundation’s initiative, which aims to create 10 million jobs for young people in Nigeria, noting that the programme aligns with his Renewed Hope Agenda for economic development and job creation.

He said: ”We believe in what you are doing. We are determined to run an inclusive government and change the dynamics and perception of this country. Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa and, as such, must take its leadership of this continent very seriously.

”We must give hope and assurance to our teeming youth population. God has blessed Nigeria with a vibrant youth population, ready to learn, and capable of competing in the global economy of the 21st century. Leadership is what is necessary.

”The incubation is growing, and we are earning a good reputation, and we will continue to do that across sectors of the economy in order to achieve sustainable growth,” the President said.

President Tinubu also welcomed Mastercard Foundation’s emphasis on digitization, recognizing the role of technology as a potent and indispensable tool against corruption.

“We are ready to work with you and remove all impediments, and we have assembled a great team to work with you. The hope of the youth must be built on a solid foundation of sustainable growth and prosperity. We are working with other partners, and we assure you of our robust and focused collaboration,” the President stated.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, noted the wide-reaching impact of the Mastercard Foundation across Africa and its proven capacity to change the fortunes of human capital development in Nigeria.

“This is an institution that holds assets worth more than $40 billion and they are prudent in ensuring that their resources are applied digitally and in a way that reaches their target beneficiaries directly.

“Mr. President’s strong commitment to reforming social intervention and health service delivery in Nigeria will be greatly boosted through this partnership,” the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare stated.

Mastercard Foundation CEO, Ms. Reeta Roy informed the President that the Foundation’s focus on education and financial inclusion in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, aims to impact 30 million young Africans by 2030.

She reported progress on the Foundation’s 10 million target for Nigeria, stating that 2.1 million young people trained under the ‘Young Africa Work Strategy’ are already engaged in dignified work.

Furthermore, she said no fewer than seven million people have gone through programmes classified as work enablers, including skill acquisition, education, access to financial tools, networks, or linkages into opportunities.

Read Also: BREAKING: Tinubu departs Abuja for Paris on private visit

“We are still on a journey and have more work to do. We are excited about looking at a whole new frontier, and that is in the healthcare sector.

“While we may not historically be a health organization or health foundation, we are looking at that sector as part of a vibrant economic landscape ripe with opportunities for young people, and our focus will be on workforce development.

“Thank you for placing young people at the heart of your economic growth agenda across multiple sectors. We appreciate your contributions to the health sector. I know there are many things that require your time, but I am really grateful and very much encouraged to see that healthcare and education are also critical parts of the way forward. We hope that you find in us a partner that is steadfast, open, and ready to learn,” the Mastercard Foundation CEO said.

January 24, 2024
APGA leadership crisis: Tinubu, AGF urged to prevail on INEC chair, Yakubu

President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, have been urged to prevail on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu to comply with a Supreme Court judgment recognizing Edozie Njoku as the authentic national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, January 24, Njoku wondered why the INEC would choose to ignore court orders and take sides in a dispute involving members of a political party, which the highest court in the land has since resolved.

He said: “It is not just that the Chairman of INEC is not obeying a Supreme Court judgment delivered on March 24, 2023; INEC has also disobeyed an injunction and an order of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari, to recognize me as the National Chairman of APGA.

“Instead of INEC to obey the enforcement judgment of the High Court or appeal same, he and Victor Oye rushed and got a stay of a committal judgment given against them for refusing to obey the earlier judgments of both the Supreme Court and the High Court of the FCT.

“The court had given them a 14-day grace period to purge themselves of contempt. The court has come out to say that the INEC chairman is in contempt of court and Victor Oye, who submitted the names and held a congress and convention, is also in contempt.

“But that is not our problem. We are calling on Nigerians, we are calling on President Bola Tinubu, and also calling on the Attorney General of the Federation to look into the issue, why is it that a parastatal can get a stay from the Court of Appeal, on a committal judgment that already had been given?

“Prof Mahmood Yakubu and Oye are relying on the stay to flout and disobey a direct order of the court.

“We are therefore calling on every well-meaning Nigerian to appeal to the INEC Chairman to obey a valid order of the court.”

He assured members that despite the uncooperative attitude of the INEC chairman, his party was ready to participate in the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.

Njoku said: “By virtue of the November 9, 2023 committal judgment on Prof. Yakubu Mahmood by the FCT High Court in Bwari, for not recognizing the executives of our party that emerged from the Owerri Convention of May 31, 2019, we remain the legitimate executives of the party.

“We want to urge the people of Edo and Ondo states that APGA is a party that has a lot to offer them, irrespective of any setbacks that we may have been through as a party.

“I want to assure all the governorship aspirants from Edo and Ondo states that have been calling to express their willingness to contest on our party platform that they should rest assured that a free, fair and transparent primary which has remained elusive to others will be made the cardinal virtue and practice in APGA.”

The Supreme Court had on March 24, 2023, in a judgment on an appeal marked SC/687/21, affirmed Njoku, as the Chairman of APGA.

The apex court pronouncement followed an application by Chief Njoku, in which he sought the regularization of the amended judgment of Justice Mary Peter Odili (rtd) delivered on May 9, 2022.

Njoku’s motion followed a letter from the Supreme Court to him on January 19, 2023, in which the court addressed him as the National Chairman of APGA and advised him to approach the court by way of a motion to correct the typographical slip.

The slip which the Supreme Court corrected, restored Njoku as the actual national chairman of APGA, which was wrongfully removed by a Jigawa High Court in Suit No: JDU/022/2021 between Alhaji Garba Aliyu and Chief Jude Okeke & 2 Ors.

Read Also: APGA chieftain dumps party for APC with members

In a lead Judgment, Justice Garba Lawal held that it was Chief Njoku who was wrongly removed at Jigawa without being joined as a party, and held that his application was meritorious and consequently granted the same as prayed.

Following the apex court judgment, two national officers of APGA, Otumba Camaru Ogidan, and Alhaji Rabiu Mustapha, approached a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Bwari to enforce the judgment of the Supreme Court due to INEC’s refusal to recognize Chief Njoku.

Justice Mohammed Madugu of the High Court of the FCT, in a judgment on June 6, 2023, ordered INEC and Chief Victor Oye to obey the court order by recognizing Chief Njoku as APGA national chairman.

On November 9, 2023, Justice Madugu held that Prof Yakubu and Oye were in contempt of court by refusing to obey valid court orders.

January 24, 2024
BREAKING: Tinubu departs Abuja for Paris on private visit

President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday afternoon, departed Abuja for Paris, the capital of France, on a private visit.

A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the President will return to Nigeria in the first week of February.

Read Also: Tinubu: Our interventions in oil, gas sector will enhance investment value

“President Bola Tinubu departs Abuja for Paris, France, on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, for a private visit.

“He will return to the country in the first week of February, 2024”, the statement said.

January 24, 2024
Tinubu has no plan to move federal capital to Lagos, Presidency clarifies

The Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga has said that the president has no intention to move the federal capital from Abuja to Lagos.

He explains that the recent controversy that has been sparked due to moves by the CBN and FAAN to relocate their departments from Abuja to Lagos has misrepresented the situation.

He argues that the movement of the FAAN to Lagos has nothing to do with the moving the federal capital and that the conspiracy is fueled by ‘dishonest, ethnic and regional champions’

He wrote: “The movement of FAAN, a department of Aviation Ministry to Lagos, where it was based before former minister Hadi Sirika moved it to Abuja during the last administration, does not amount to moving the FCT to Lagos.

“The administrative move should have attracted scant attention, as Lagos is the commercial capital and the hub of aviation business in Nigeria. FAAN should be no where else but near the industry it regulates.

“FAAN will still maintain some presence in Abuja, as it is not a wholesale movement.”

Read Also: Tinubu: Our interventions in oil, gas sector will enhance investment value

On the CBN’s move, he wrote: “Similarly, the movement of some departments of the CBN to Lagos should not trigger any hoopla. The departments concerned, including the bank supervision department, are those dealing with commercial banks, all with headquarters in Lagos. A regulator ought to be close to the businesses it regulates.”

He said that there are many parastatals that aren’t based in Abuja depending on their mandate.

Onanuga added: “There are many parastatals that are not based in Abuja depending on their mandate. NIMASA is in Lagos. So is NPA. National Inland Waterways Authority( NIWA) is in Lokoja, not Abuja. Will the people opposing the movement of FAAN and some CBN departments want those agencies to be in Abuja, where there is no single port and no maritime activity?”

January 24, 2024
Grant amnesty to insurgents, bandits, ethnic militias, Tinubu urged

To curb the worsening insecurity, President Bola Tinubu has been enjoined to emulate the late President Umaru Yar’Adua by granting amnesty to the insurgents, bandits and ethnic militias currently destabilising the country. This was contained in a statement by a leader of ex-Niger Delta agitators, Eshanakpe Israel, a.k.a. Akpodoro.

In the statement, Akpodoro who holds the honorary title of the Mayor of Urhoboland said it has become imperative for the Federal Government to adopt a carrot-and-stick approach to resolve the security challenge because military might alone would not be enough to tackle it.

He said a new amnesty programme coordinated by state governors should be instituted to get thousands of criminal elements in every state to lay down their arms and become part of the community policing structure in their respective domains. This, he added, “is because it is the best approach to stem the tide of insecurity currently ravaging the coup try”.

Akpodoro said the repentant armed men would be trained by the government under the proposed new amnesty programme and paid stipends monthly for several years “until they are morally fit to eke out a living”. He added that the same beneficiaries of the programme would in turn be conscripted into civilian components of the state security apparatus.

He said: “Granting amnesty to repentant bandits, insurgents, hostage takers and other sundry criminals will automatically cut down the crime rate in the country and this can begin with a national summit of critical stakeholders on national security to map the strategies for the success of the proposed amnesty programme.”

Akpodoro said the late Yar’Adua would be remembered for his sincerity and boldness in declaring the Presidential Amnesty for the Niger Delta militants. He added: “Little did the nation know that the non-kinetic approach could stem the tide of the raging military onslaught that was fast metamorphosing into full-blown war.

“Giving the then insurgents shield was the terrain (creeks), which the alien forces couldn’t navigate, giving the militants more impetus to launch an offensive on the oil and gas facilities then. During those confrontations, the militants broke into camps feeding their central command information and claiming victory most of the time. Jomo Gbomo was handy at every point in time to announce every progress made by the rag-tag militias.

“It was an era marked by ethnic agitations and responses from the government at the time. Then, the military reaction was that of kinetic approach which in every sense of it wasn’t successful as it ended in no victor no vanquish at the declaration of the amnesty programme.”

Read Also: I’ll take on your concerns one by one, Tinubu assures South-south indigenes

Akpodoro called on President Tinubu to liaise with state governments to grant amnesty to all criminal elements in the country under the national security architecture. He urged the various levels of government to put security votes to use effectively, adding that it is not meant to be pocketed by the helmsmen at the states.

The ex-militant leader said he has assisted the Federal Government several times in the past to quell militancy in the Niger Delta and that he is ready to work with the current administration in any capacity to bring peace to the region and the country in general.

He said hardened criminals have taken over the entire geographical space of the country with different appellations and that each state is host to about five thousand such suspected criminals. Against this background, he said state governments must bear part of the financial burden of the proposed amnesty.

He said most criminals are willing to drop their arms if they are given the assurance of their safety and protection by the authorities. He said: “Give them amnesty and watch kidnappers, insurgents and bandits drop their arms.

“The governors must be made to work with the central government by putting their security votes into action. We as a people have complained for too long. Enough is enough for lamentations, and this is the only seeming way to carry everybody along in our national drive to end security threats.

“Drop your arms and enjoy your stipend from the amnesty programme. Our forests harbour criminals, and only repentant criminals can uproot them. Please send them to the creeks, forests, and highways as we see in both the Kogi and Edo axis of our highways and see crimes reduced drastically. Disarmament and rehabilitation are the way out of our security quagmire.”

He urged the Federal Government to involve the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the re-orientation of the youth population, to tinker with their value system. He added: “The political elites, too, would have to be challenged to parade wealth less than they do so as not to inadvertently provoke the younger generations to crimes.”

Going further, the mayor said he would offer himself for such a national assignment where he will lead, manage, and coordinate repentant criminals under the new amnesty programme.

January 24, 2024
Tinubu: Our interventions in oil, gas sector will enhance investment value
- Hosts Chevron’s global leadership in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday spoke of his administration’s commitment to continue providing the needed interventions in the oil and gas industry, in compliance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He gave the assurance when he received a delegation from Chevron Corporation, led by President of Chevron International Exploration and Production, Clay Neff, at the State House, Abuja.

According to a statement endorsed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President said Nigeria would strengthen its long-standing partnership with the multinational company in line with evolving dynamics in the oil and gas industry.

The President welcomed Chevron’s commitment to build on its investments in shallow and deep water operations in Nigeria, noting the company’s ongoing $1.4 billion drilling project with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

He also commended Chevron for its dedication to reducing its carbon footprint in the country.

‘’You must see the PIA as a legacy law. We assure you of quick interventions and turnaround on any issue you may have in your operations in our country.

‘’Nigeria is proud of the 60-year partnership with Chevron, and we believe this partnership will be strengthened to add mutually-beneficial value for the benefit of your shareholders as well as the living standards and economic opportunities of our population,” Tinubu said.

In his remarks, Mr. Neff pledged that the company would continue to operate in full adherence to the highest standards, even as it meets its investment commitments in Nigeria.

He highlighted the company’s contributions to domestic gas supply, noting the delivery of 25per cent gas through a joint venture with NNPC Limited.

Read Also: Tiers of govt share N1.1tr from Federation Account revenue

He also said Chevron was scaling up its investments in the country with its recent efforts in a new phase of development which include “the conversion, under the Petroleum Industry Act, of all the NNPCL/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (JV) Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) and Agbami OML 127 to Petroleum Mining Leases and Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs); entry into OPL 215 block to boost deep-water development opportunities; signing of 20-year renewal of three deepwater leases; commencement of seismic data acquisition in several deepwater leases; commencement of life extension work on the Agbami project, and, in partnership with NNPCL, securing of $1.4 billion financing to fund the NNPCL/CNL JV infill drilling programme between 2022 to 2026, which includes the drilling of 37 wells in the shallow offshore and onshore Escravos area and associated facilities”.

Mr. Neff further informed the President that Chevron’s average annual tax and royalty remittances over the past three years had reached $3.4 billion.

‘’The bold steps you have taken since you assumed office are quite impressive. We are encouraged by our partnership of over 60 years, and we look forward, God willing, to continue that partnership for many decades to come.

‘’We are also looking at other opportunities as well, while operating with the best environmental practices. We will continue to grow our traditional oil and gas business because we know the countries where we operate are in need of those products, and the world needs those products,’’ he said.
January 24, 2024
Tinubu seeks U.S support for G-20 membership, Security Council seat

President Bola Tinubu has called for the support of the United States (U.S.) on Nigeria’s pursuit of a United Nations(UN) Security Council permanent seat and G-20 membership.

Tinubu made the call during bilateral talks with the U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, in Abuja yesterday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar made the President’s request known during a joint press conference with Blinken.

Tuggar added that fruitful deliberations were held by Tinubu and the Secretary of State on Agriculture, food security, pharmaceuticals, security and Artificial Intelligence.

The minister said: “Today (yesterday), we’re happy and honoured to be receiving the United States Secretary of State. Blinken at the Presidential Villa here in Abuja. He met with His Excellency, President Tinubu, along with myself and a number of my colleague ministers and during the meeting, several issues were discussed on the bilateral nature as well as multilateral issues.”

Read Also: I’ll take on your concerns one by one, Tinubu assures South-south indigenes

Tinubu, according to Tuggar, emphasised that Nigeria being the largest economy in Africa deserved to represent the African voice on the UN Security Council following the fact that 60 percent of resolutions passed by the UNSC are Africa-related.

“It is also important to note that President Tinubu brought up the issue of Nigeria’s membership and participation in the G-20 as well as the United Nations Security Council”, he said.

The minister also disclosed that during the talks, decisions were made on other issues, including the Nigeria-US bi-national commission billed to hold March 11 and 13.

January 24, 2024
Court strikes out suit challenging Tinubu’s intervention in Rivers crisis

The Rivers State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital, has struck out a suit challenging the legality of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention to resolve the political crisis in the state.

The court struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

The case was filed by 10 representatives of sons and daughters of Rivers State, led by His Highness Anabs Sara-Igbe against President Tinubu, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, House of Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the state House of Assembly, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The plaintiffs had sought the constitutional interpretation of the peace accord the President brokered in the state to know whether or not the directives contained in the documents to resolve the political impasse was not at variance with the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

They also sought to know whether or not the President had the legal right to direct the governor to re-present this year’s budget to 24 members of the House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, even after their seats were declared vacant.

Read Also: I’ll take on your concerns one by one, Tinubu assures South-south indigenes

The applicants also demanded to know whether or not it was proper for the names of commissioners, who had willingly resigned their offices, to be re-submitted for screening.

They wanted the court to determine whether or not the 24 House of Assembly members, led by Amaewhule, after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), still have the rights to be members of the legislator.

But when the matter came up yesterday, the presiding judge, Justice Chinwendu Nworgu, discountenanced all motions and declined jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

The judge cited the judgment of James Omotosho of Abuja High Court, which nullified the activities of the Edison Ehie-led faction of the Assembly.

January 24, 2024
Ijaw group pleads with Tinubu on substantive MD for Bayelsa FMC

An Ijaw group, under the auspices of Good Life for Ijaw People (GLFIP), has pleaded with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint the substantive Medical Director for the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

It bemoaned the non-appointment of the substantive medical director after 10 months of conducting exams, interviews and screening of qualified candidates as in other FMCs across the country.

GLFIP said despite the screening of three candidates with scores and recommendations made on who is the most qualified to be appointed MD of the federal facility by the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), the Federal Ministry of Health (FMH), Department of State Services (DSS) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); the Federal Government had allegedly been reluctant to appoint the MD to the detriment of the institution.

The President, GLFIP, Chief Tamunoemi Mindiwari, in a statement yesterday in Yenagoa, said since the completion of the two-term tenure of the former Medical Director, Dr. Dennis Alagoa, on March 10, 2023, the Federal Government appointed an acting medical director to oversee the affairs of the hospital, thereby playing politics with the health of the Ijaw.

Read Also: Court adjourns Saraki’s suit against EFCC, ICPC, others

He said the power of the acting MD was limited, noting that for the hospital to operate optimally for better health care services for the people of Ijaw land, the Federal Government owed the Ijaw a duty to appoint a substantive medical director of the health facility.

Mindiwari stressed that seven other FMCs where candidates were screened and recommended at the same time had since been appointed and functioning.

He said: “We want to plead with President Tinubu to appoint the best among the three screened consultants as the substantive medical director, to enable the people of Bayelsa State enjoy the facility.”

Mindiwari, however, said the GLFIP, as a pressure group, believed in the Renewed Hope mantra of President Tinubu and hoped that the needful would be done soon to assuage the people.

January 24, 2024
I’ll take on your concerns one by one, Tinubu assures South-south indigenes

President Bola Tinubu has assured indigenes of the oil-rich South-south region of his administration’s commitment to addressing all their development and environmental concerns, one after the other.

Tinubu, who gave the assurance when he met with the South-South Monarchs Forum at the State House, Abuja, also emphasised the importance of the traditional institution, saying traditional rulers are the intelligence needed for the holistic development of the country.

According to a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the monarchs were led to meet the President by Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers and Vice-Chairman of the South-South Monarchs Forum, Major-General Felix Mujakperuo (Rtd).

The President told the Royal Fathers that his administration is diligently working, domestically and internationally, to strengthen Nigeria’s durability and approach to climate change, environmental restoration, infrastructure development, all while ensuring security and stability in the region.

Commending the monarchs for their understanding approach to his administration’s ongoing economic reforms, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy, President Tinubu promised that Nigerians would soon enjoy the benefits of these tough, yet necessary decisions.

Read Also: Court adjourns Saraki’s suit against EFCC, ICPC, others

”We are working to revive the economy from the damage of several years. We seek your support, prayers, and understanding, and I am glad that the Vice-Chairman of the Forum served in an organization where we need intelligence to operate.

”You (the traditional institution) will be the source of the intelligence we need for the holistic development of our country, and anytime you need to tell us something, do not hesitate to reach out to this office. I will take on all of your concerns, and I will address each of them one by one.

”We cannot underestimate your contributions to the peace and stability of this country. Continue to uphold us in your prayers and in talking to our youths to keep faith with the country because light is already visible at the end of the tunnel,” the President said.

His Royal Majesty, Major-General Mujakperuo appealed to President Tinubu to follow up on all developmental efforts in the region to be sure that progress is tangible to the people.

“Mr. President, you know the problems of our region as an expert with experience in the energy industry. We see you working hard to solve our problems, and we are comforted that you have pledged to take on our concerns and bring a final solution to them,” the South-South Monarchs Forum Vice-Chairman said.

January 23, 2024